In honor of me going Vegan for Lent, I thought I would share this article with you:

7 Foods So Unsafe Even Farmers Won't Eat Them
Grocery stores may sell them, but experts won't touch them; what you should know about your food.

Laurel House

By Laurel House
Santa Monica, CA, USA | Tue Jan 26, 2010 06:30 AM ET


Smoking was proven to be cancer-causing, tanning beds were shown to be on par with arsenic, but what about canned tomatoes, corn-fed beef, conventionally grown potatoes? What would it take to convince you to clean out your pantry and change your eating habits? Scientists, doctors, even simple farmers were asked what foods they refuse to eat. The responses had nothing to do with things like donuts due to fat content, or white bread because of the concentration of empty carbs. We're talking seemingly healthy things like tomatoes, beef, popcorn, potatoes, salmon, milk, and apples. For them, it's all about how they are produced and packaged.

7 experts in fields pertaining to both food and the environment answered one simple question: "What foods do you avoid?." Their answers, published in an article entitled "7 Foods the Experts Won't Eat" on Yahoo! Shine, will make you re-think food. When it comes to food and its affect on your health and the health of this planet, this is what they answered:

1. Canned Tomatoes


The Expert: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.
The Reason: Tin cans are lined with a resin that contains the synthetic estrogen bisphenol-A, which has been linked to a slew of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, reproductive problems, and obesity. But that's not the biggest problem. The acid in tomatoes breaks down that bisphenol-A, leaching it into the food, and not just in insignificant amounts. According to the article, Saal comments that "you can get 50 mcg of BCA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young." That's why he's not touching the stuff.
The Solution: If you lo0ve the taste of "canned" tomatoes but prefer to skip the bisphenol-A, select glass bottles instead.

2. Corn-Fed Beef


The Expert: Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming.
The Reason: Cattle are naturally grass eaters... not grain eaters. In order to fatten the animals (and profit margins), farmers feed them corn and soybeans. And while the farmers are beefing up their earnings, they are minimizing the nutritional benefits. The article mentions the findings from a recent USDA-conducted study comparing corn-fed beef and grass-fed beef showing that grass-fed beef is "higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease."
The Solution: Pretty straight forward: Opt for grass-fed beef instead.

WATCH VIDEO: Why Grass-Fed Beef? Emeril Answers

3.Microwave Popcorn


The Expert: Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group.
The Reason: It's not the popcorn itself, but the chemically-saturated lining of the bag including a compound called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that, according to a recent study from UCLA, may be linked to infertility. Microwaving vaporizes the chemicals as they move from coating the bag to lining the popcorn. But it's not like this fact is un-acknowledged. In fact the article points out that DuPont, as well as other manufacturers, have "promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then."
The Solution: Pop your own popcorn the way they did it in the olden days--in a pot.

4. Conventionally Grown (Not Organic) Potatoes


The Expert: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board.
The Reason: Herbicides and pesticides may not be sprayed directly on root vegetables (since they're underground), but they absorb the chemicals through the soil and water. Because potatoes are considered the nation's most popular vegetable, producing a healthy crop is essential to keep up with demand. In order to maintain their health, the article exposes the scary fact that "they're treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting." But here's the scary thing, Moyer says that he's talked to potato growers "who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."
The Solution: Another no-brainer— Only buy organic potatoes.

5. Farmed Salmon


The Expert: David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany and publisher of a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish.
The Reason: When salmon is crammed into pens, fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers (obviously an unnatural environment for the up-stream swimmers), they're levels of healthy vitamin D lowers as the contaminants increases. Those contaminants include carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides (like DDT). The article points out that DDT has been linked to both diabetes and obesity, quoting Carpenter in saying that "You can only safely eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer... It's that bad."
The Solution: Avoid farmed salmon and instead select wild-caught Alaskan salmon. But make sure the packaging reads "wild." If it just says "fresh Atlantic," according to the article, "it's farmed."

6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones


The Expert: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.
The Reason: Unlike in the olden days when fresh milk was some of the purest nutrients you could get, dairy cows today are fed growth hormones like rBGH and rBST to increase milk production. Problem is, while they may be making more milk, they are also increasing their chances of udder infections (which can lead to pus in the milk). More than that, the article points out that high levels of IGF-1 from the rBGH may play a role in the development of breast, prostate, and colon cancers... which is why North says that "it's banned in most industrialized countries."
The Solution: Read the labels and be sure that your milk doesn't contain rBGH or rBST and that it is labeled organic or "produced without artificial hormones."

7. Conventional Apples


The Expert: Mark Kastel, former executive for agribusiness and co-director of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods
The Reason: Apples are the recipient of the most pesticides of all Fall fruits. Chemical producers swear that the residue is not harmful for human consumption, but the Yahoo! Article goes on to quote Kastel in saying that "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers."
The Solution: Buy organic apples where available or at least thoroughly wash and peel apples before eating them.

Quick Update

Sorry for the lack of posts, lately. Life has been significantly more hectic than planned. Though, I guess I should have predicted this with three jobs, full course load, and a conference to put on.

I'm all settled in after the move. We are hopefully getting heat today, FINALLY! Just in time for the latest batch of freezing temperatures.

Wren and Harris are in the hospital, so everyone please say a prayer for them.

I'm leaving one job, heading to the next, so I must end this lame post here. I will try to come up with some more interesting blogging topics over the coming weeks!

ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION! PREPARE YOUR BRACKETS!

Best picture

"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
"Up in the Air"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Up"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"An Education"
"A Serious Man"

Actor

George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"

Actress

Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"

Supporting actor

Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Supporting actress

Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"

Director

Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron, "Avatar"
Lee Daniels, "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"

Animated feature

"Up"
"Coraline"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"

Original screenplay

"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"The Messenger"
"A Serious Man"
"Up"

Adapted screenplay

"District 9"
"An Education"
"In the Loop"
"Precious"
"Up in the Air"

Best foreign-language film

"Ajami"
"El Secreto de Sus Ojos"
"The Milk of Sorrow"
"Un Prophète"
"The White Ribbon"

Best film editing

"Avatar"
"District 9"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"

Art direction

"Avatar"
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Nine"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"The Young Victoria"

Cinematography

"Avatar"
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"The White Ribbon"

Costume design

"Bright Star"
"Coco Before Chanel"
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Nine"
"The Young Victoria"

Best documentary feature

"Burma VJ"
"The Cove"
"Food, Inc."
"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers"
"Which Way Home"

Documentary short

"China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"
"The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner"
"The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant"
"Music by Prudence"
"Rabbit à la Berlin"

Makeup

"Il Divo"
"Star Trek"
"The Young Victoria"

Music (original score)

"Avatar"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"Up"

Music (original song)

"Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog"
"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog"
"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36"
"Take it All" from "Nine"
"The Weary Kind (Theme from "Crazy Heart") from "Crazy Heart"

Short film, animated

"French Toast"
"Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty"
"The Lady and the Reaper"
"Logorama"
"A Matter of Loaf and Death"

Short film, live action

"The Door"
"Instead of Abracadabra"
"Kavi"
"Miracle Fish"
"The New Tenants"

Sound editing

"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Star Trek"
"Up"

Sound mixing

"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Star Trek"
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

Visual effects

"Avatar"
"District 9"
"Star Trek"

Gender Inequality in Law Firms in Georgia

In the state of Georgia, women account for 50% of law school graduates. But only 12% of partners at law firms in Georgia are women.

Educational Tools for the Masses

I'm pretty sure I've done a similar themed blog before, but I think it's time it got resurfaced. I start with a list of things that irritate me, followed by a list of things make me happy. I conclude with a few things that are awesome (or a lesson in cool.) Absorb this information.

Things That Annoy Me Today:

• Two SUVs taking up 4 parking spaces on the first floor of the parking deck. Some of the rest of us would like to park on the first floor.
• No toilet paper in the bathroom stall I go in to. This happens to me at an alarming rate. It must stop or I'll simply start carrying toilet paper around with me
• Spending money of ingredients for a new recipe, following all the directions exactly, and the end product just tasting horrible. Yes, I'm talking to you, Puerto Rico Cookbook!
• Whatever is happening to the skin of my right hand index finger
• The newest version of Microsoft Office Word.
• Making a stupid, careless error at work that costs me more time!
• Certain smells
• The complete lack of commitment from any of my legal support staff.

Things That Make Me Happy Today

• My jobs. I might complain about no free time, but I legitimately enjoy all three of my jobs.
• My house. Sure, the roof leaks, we don't have heat or AC and a colony of feral cats inhabits the back yard, but I do love it.
• Walking around campus and feeling like everyone knows who I am, even if I don't know them. (I've always loved that feeling - even way back in high school.)
• New York City
• Comments on my water rights blogs from people I don't know - which means people are reading it! (The link again: http://waterrights.wordpress.com/)
• My family
• My delicious lunch (though I wish I had packed more!!)
• Friendly text messages from those I love!

Things That, For the Record, Are Awesome:

Some Pictures

My schedule this semester is nothing short of insane. So my posts are not going to be long or eloquent or even well written. In fact, they might only be pictures. So here are some pictures.

The Financial District, Lower Manhattan, as seen from the Brooklyn Bridge

18 in. of snow in NYC

Jude Thomas Orsini

First Time I Met Jude

My New House

Jude Thomas Orsini

Christmas Hiatus Officially Over

As this post's title suggests, my Christmas Hiatus is officially over. I start classes again next week so I'm back to the ball and chain. Over break, I went to New York City, Savannah, and Charleston. All trips were fabulous, but it's nice to finally sleep in my bed again, though that bed might be moved soon. We think we've found a place to live, final decision to be made Thursday. Pictures of the trips and new house will surely follow.

My class schedule is pretty hectic this semester, when combined with my three jobs. Good news, I'm only on campus Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; bad news is I'm there for 13 hours each of those days, with Top of Mind on Monday and Tuesdays. Not to mention the LSRJ events and conference I have to put on. Oh, brother!

Finally, I've started posting on my water rights blog the paper I did on invasive species. Please check the site, linked here: legal water issues by Carmela Orsini, to learn about invasive species and other legal issues.

YES!!!

I got a GRA position as a researcher for the research librarian in the law library!! SWEET!!! (It pays half tuition and stipend...)

Looking for a Dog?? Let Me Help:

1. Dolly:
Are you looking for a super sweet female dog that gets along with anyone and everything? Great with kids, great with people, great with dogs, and LOVES to give hugs and kisses? Then Dolly is the one for you:


2. Bruno:
Are you a marathon runner and/or triathlete looking for a dog that not only keeps up with you, but encourages to keep going? Want a dog with more pure athletic ability and running stamina than an Olympic athlete? Then Bruno is the one for you:


3. Zorro:
Are you looking to grow up with a younger, year-old pup who never forgets and wants nothing more than to explore and love? Want to help him remember there is love in the world and that he doesn't need to be so scared of everything? Need to feel unconditional love? Then Zorro is the one for you:


If you are interested in any of these dogs, or are looking for something else, please contact me. I had the privilege of walking all three of these dogs today, and I've really fallen in love with how great they are!

Also, if you are looking for an older dog, my sister-in-law found one that had been abandoned in a rental home in the greater Savannah area. I think he's some sort of lab-mix. She's looking for a home for him as well!

The Best Commercials from the 2000's

This is a supposed list of the best commercials from the last decade. You can vote on your favorite, but I don't really remember most of these. Does this mean I didn't watch enough TV, because if so, I'm working hard to fix that!

Professional Blog

I've started my own blog on Water Rights - a career interest of mine. I, Carmela Orsini, am the main contributor but take guest posts as well, if you interest in contributing as well. I post on upcoming water issues, events, and people. Please check it out, leave a comment, and let me know what you think!

Here's the Link:
Carmela Orsini's Water Rights Blog

YAY! Life is Complete.

On The Office tonight, which by the way is my favorite TV show like ever, they did one of those games where there's a fake murder AND the murder was set in SAVANNAH! They all walked around with southern accents and everything. It was pretty much awesome.

Unsung Heroes

In honor of Veteran's Day, I thought I would spotlight some lesser known veteran heroes from America's past - K-9 Soldiers. Thank you to all Veterans, human and animal! While researching this post, I discovered a movement to make a Nation Wide K-9 Veterans Day (some states already have it) on March 19th. I'm still honoring them with all the Veterans today! [PS - the dog bios are edited versions of one's I found on various web sites. I'm not citing properly, I admit, but before suing me over it, please ask, and I'll take the time to cite your article properly.]

Vietnam:
Kaiser
Lance Corporal Alfredo Salazar and his German Shepherd partner, Kaiser, met in Fort Benning, GA. They completed months of training at Fort Benning and then in Camp Pendleton, CA before being shipped to Vietnam. Once there, they completed more than 30 missions together before joining D Company, First Marines, 3rd Marine Division on a search and destroy mission. The two were leading a patrol through heavy brush towards a small village when the Company was hit by heavy automatic weapon fire and hand gernades. Kaiser was hit almost immediately. The Company returned fire and proceeded with the attack, but Salazar stayed by his partner. The dog tried to lick his hand, but couldn't before passing away. The dog was carried back the Company tents and burried under a shady tree. The site was named Camp Kaiser in his honor.World War II:
Chips
Probably the most famous War Dog was Chips. Chips was trained at Fort Royal, VA in 1942 and was among the first dogs shipped overseas. He was assigned to the 3d Infantry Division and served with that unit in North Africa, Sicily, Itlay, France and Germany. Although trained as a sentry dog, Chips was reported on one occasion by members of Company I, 30th Infantry Regiment while stationed in Sicily, to have broken away from his handler and attack a pillbox containing an enemy machine gun crew. He seized one man and forced the entire crew to surrender. He was also credited for having been directly responsible for the capture of numerous enemies by alerting his company of their presence. In recognition of his service, Chips was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, both later revoked (WHY??).
World War I:
Sergeant Stubby
Stubby, served 18 months 'over there' and participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front. Stubby was a bull terrier. One day he just appeared when a bunch of soldiers were training at Yale Field in New Haven, Ct; he trotted in and out among the ranks as they drilled, stopping to make a friend here and a friend there, until pretty soon he was on chummy terms with the whole bunch. One soldier though, in particular, developed a relationship with the dog, a Corporal Robert Conroy, who when it wastime for the outfit to ship out, hid Stubby on board the troop ship. It was at Chemin des Dames, France that Stubby saw his first action, and it was there that the boys discovered he was a war dog par excellence. The boom of artillery fire didn't faze him in least, and he soon learned to follow the men's example of ducking when the big ones started falling close. Naturally he didn't know why he was ducking, but it became a great game to see who could hit the dugout first. After a few days, Stubby won every time. He could hear the whine of shells long before the men. It got so they'd watch him!

Then one night Stubby made doggy history. It was an unusally quiet night in the trenches. Some of the boys were catching cat naps in muddy dugouts, and Stubby was stretched out beside Conroy. Suddenly his big blunt head snapped up and his ears pricked alert. The movement woke Conroy, who looked at the dog sleepily just in time to see him sniff the air tentatively, utter a low growl, then spring to his feet, and go bounding from the dugout, around a corner out of sight. A few seconds later there was a sharp cry of pain and then the sound of a great scuffle outside. Conroy jumped from his bed, grabbed his rifle and went tearing out towards the direction of the noise. Stubby had captured a German spy, who'd been prowling through the trenches. The man was whirling desperately in an effort to shake off the snarling bundle of canine tooth and muscle that had attached itself to his differential. But Stubby was there to stay. It took only a few moments to capture the Hun and disarm him, but it required considerably more time to convince Stubby that his mission had been successfully carried out and that he should now release the beautiful hold he had on that nice, soft German bottom.

By the end of the war, Stubby was known not only to every regiment, division, and army, but to the whole AEF. Honors by the bale were heaped on his muscled shoulders. At Mandres en Bassigny he was introduced to President Woodrow Wilson, who "shook hands" with him. Medal and emblemed jackets were bestowed upon him for each deed of valor, plus a wound stripe for his grenade splinter. Not to be left out, the Marines even made him an honorary sergeant. Stubby returned home with Conroy and his popularity seemed to grow even more. He became a nationally acclaimed hero, and eventually was received by presidents Harding and Coolidge. Even General John "Black Jack" Pershing, who commanded the American Expeditionary Forces during the war, presented Stubby with a gold medal made by the Humane Society and declared him to be a "hero of the highest caliber." He was even made an honorary member of the American Red Cross, the American Legion and the YMCA, which issued him a lifetime membership card good for "three bones a day and a place to sleep."

Civil War:
Sallie
Sallie, a brindel bull terrier, joined the 11th Pennsylvanis Vol. Regiment as a puppy in the early days of the war. Through it all, she provided a source of comfort, pride, and inspiration for her fighting comrades. Sallie would hold her position on the line and bark fiercely at the enemy. At Gettysburg, the gallant little dog became separated from her unit in the confusion of the first day's battle. Refusing to pass through the Rebel lines, Sallie returned to her unit's former position atop Oak Ridge, staying among her fallen comrades, licking wounds of the injured and watching over lifeless bodies. Days later, after the Confederates retreated from the field, she was found weakened and malnourished, amidst the dead and debris. Miraculously Sallie had avoided being shot at Gettysburg, but on May 8, 1864, the same day the regiment's Captain Keenan was killed; she was shot in the neck by a minie ball. After a few days recuperation at the hospital, she returned to the unit with the painful and annoying wound. Upon reporting for "active duty" she felt it necessary to tear the seat out of the pants of a young soldier from another unit running away from the battle line as he crossed along the back of the "Old 11th." Sallie was in her usual position on February 6, 1865, at Hatcher's Run, Virginia, when a bullet struck her in the head, killing her. Heartbroken over the loss of their beloved mascot, the men buried her on the filed of battle under heavy enemy fire.

Number 77

80. Closer
79. Ocean's 11
78. Dogma
77. Strictly Ballroom (1993)


What It Is:
The Australian Dirty Dancing directed by Laz Buhrmann.

Why I Like It:
Take out the cheese of Dirty Dancing and add the talent of So You Think You Can Dance. The dancing is incredible and powerful, since the story line involves competitive dancing, not a summer dance lodge. I fell in love with both Scott and Fran, the leading characters!!! Plus it has one of the best taglines ever: "There's something in the air. It might be love - but it isn't."

I Bet You Didn't Know:
This film is the first part of the Red Curtain Trilogy. Followed by Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Moulin Rouge! (2001). Strictly Ballroom was the only one not to receive an Oscar nomination - which is shameful!
The film received a 15-minute standing ovation when it played at the Cannes Film Festival.

Memorable Moments:
Again - the dialogue is magical (if you can understand an Australian accent.)
The dance scene with Fran's mom.

Number 78

Not one of my best reviews, but it'll do.

80. Closer
79. Ocean's 11
78. Dogma (1999) [wow, I didn't realize it's ten years old!]What It Is:
A movie about the fallen Angel of Death (Matt Damon) and his best friend (Ben Affleck) who try to get back into heaven using the loop hole of plenary indulgence offered by Cardinal George Carlin. Chris Rock as an Apostle, Alan Rickman as the voice of God, Selma Hayak as a muse, Jay and Silent Bob as prophets, and Alanis Morrisette as God try to step them from uncreating the universe.

Why I Like It:
It's funny. It's different. Most people don't like religious movies or humor combined with God. Me, I love it. I think God has a sense of humor. And this movie just makes me happy. The main lady isn't great at acting, but the rest of the cast, especially Jason Lee and Alan Rickman. Plus, Kevin Smith has a definite touch in his movies that make them his.

I Bet You Didn't Know:
All angels are identically dressed except for the color of their clothes.
Bartelby and Loki's address in Milwakee is 345 Redemption Blvd. This can be seen on the envelope containing the newspaper clipping in the airport scene.

Memorable Moments:
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck buying a gun. The dialogue of the entire film is awesome, funny and insightful.

It's Been Awhile

Sorry it's been so long. Last weekend, Katie was in town for her birthday. Then, I had to drive to Jacksonville Monday for an interview. Then, Monday night, I got sick. I've stayed sick until now. I actually pulled a muscle in my chest from being sick, so it kinda hurts to breath and laugh, but that's slowly getting better, too. On the plus side, I lost a pound and a half.

Lots of Congrats are in order: Katie turned a quarter of a century last Friday. My grandfather celebrated his 93 or 94th birthday last Saturday. I rocked my job interview last Monday. Dad turned 72 yesterday. And Don and Wren closed on the sale of their first house yesterday, embarking on what I have done many times: living with Mom and Dad. So a pretty stressful, yet celebratory week all around.

I'm going home this weekend for Halloween. I'm resurrecting Carmaflodge from the Halloween costume graveyard, because Anne Boelyn is not done yet. Next year. I also have my last interview on Monday in Savannah. Hopefully, by the end of next week, I'll know where I'll be/what I'm doing next summer.

I also realize that I haven't done a movie in awhile. This makes me sad, but finals are coming, so I don't know if I'll be able to get a movie in any time soon. I don't think it should take me more than a year to review 100 movies, so I have a goal to finish them before a year comes up.

Finally, I saw two movies with Katie: Where The Wild Things Are and Paranormal Activity. I don't recommend either. Paranormal Activity kept me from sleeping for two nights, and if I'm still awake between 2 and 3 am, I still have a hard time. I just think Where the Wild Things Are missed the mark, and I don't normally judge movies on their books or vice versa.

Great Dog News!!!

Found out today that SAILOR (one of my last posts in September) has been adopted! He has been in his new home for two weeks and is doing very well.

AND, one of the dogs, CARTER, from my last post, went on a home visit today. Let's all hope it went well and that he's found his forever home.

That's all for now. School is getting CRAZY busy, so I have to go. Oral Argument next week and two interviews in the next two week. Plus outlines, papers, and exams vastly approaching. YIKES!

This Is What Winners Look Like

Lists Are Awesome

I'm a list person. I like them.

The AFI Top 100 Films:
I have seen 35 of the Top 100 films.
Click here to see how many you have seen.

The Guardian's List of 1000 Novels Everyone Should Read (It's a GREAT list!!!):
I have read 43 of the 1000 Novels.
Click here to see how many you have read.

All of the Academy Award Nominees for Best Picture:
I have seen 95 of the 465 nominees.
This list only has 349 of the nominees on it, but it's the best I can do. Click to see how many you have seen.