Let's all go to Korea!

For those of you who don't know, I'm planning to move to South Korea to teach English for a year or two. While doing a little research on my future home, I came across this video of a park in Anyang, a suburb of Seoul. I don't know why I like it so much. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's the soundtrack.


Now picture me in the middle of all those kids. Teaching English.

Health care debate simplified

Here's a great summary of the health care debate, compliments of John Green and Thought Bubble. (Much love to both.)

My So-Called Life words of wisdom

Here's a touching nugget from the original McDreamy (or McSteamy?) who will always hold a special place in my heart, Jordan Catalano. He offers Angela this parting advice when they break up after she decides not to have sex with him. I think it's Jordan Catalano's most sincere moment, though he might not get the double-meaning of his own words.

"At least you got in some driving practice. Just don't take your turns too wide or anything. I'm sure you won't."

-MSCL, Pressure

Summer trend: stripes and spots

This baby Malayan tapir tickles my funny bone. See more of her at zooborns.com.

Happy Independence Day!

In case you don't check YouTube everyday like I do, here's a cool video featured on the site's front page today in honor of the Fourth of July. I like the corn part.

Inszzpiration

Yum!

My So-Called Life words of wisdom

On tarot cards (and SO MUCH MORE):

"When you read someone's future, they must think of a question. They must hold it in their mind. The cards are read in sequence; each card leads to the next. We move from terror and loss to unexpected good fortune. And out of darkness, hope is born."

-MSCL, Other People's Mothers

Lil Mama is poppin' and cool

So I finally watched the third season of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, and this is what I learned: Lil Mama is awesome. Lil Mama is the rap artist who sings that song Lip Gloss and she's one of the judges on ABDC.

Lil Mama is also the bee's knees of personal style in both appearance and attitude. She earned her spot on ABDC with the choreography for her music videos, but she always reminds us that she's a lyricist first: her remarks as a judge are often way too poetic for MTV.

As for her fashion sense, sometimes she's classy and sometimes she's sassy--well, she's always sassy--but she's always herself. I can't decide which outfit I like best!

SASSY:

Some of this glam streetwear has got to be custom-made.


CLASSY:

Her back-up career plan was to be a flight attendant?


SASSY:

Lil Mama is the only person to make me like this Betsey Johnson dress, and HER NAILS MATCH HER OUTFIT.


CLASSY:

I lied. I by far like this one the best.


SASSY OR CLASSY?

Channeling the mad hatter.


Lil' Mama is my new role model, and guess what--she's only 19! The realization that I have role models who are younger than me makes me feel hella-old. Speaking of which, my 25th birthday is in just a couple weeks, which makes me feel a SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF A CENTURY old. But enough about me.

On Lil Mama's Web site, she calls herself "the voice of the young people" (also the title of her latest album). Granted, that's a bit reminiscent of Kanye West's arrogance, but hey, she's a confident woman! My suggestion for the NYC native's personal slogan is "Lil Mama: Bringing Harlem to Hollywood since 2007." Maybe that will be her next album.

Okay, we all make mistakes:


But if you take away the pacifier, even this marshmallow-esque onesie is totally fun and acceptable because Lil Mama works it. Check out those rhinestone sneaks! Girl does what she wants.


And check out how chic she looks in her new(ish) video featuring last season's ABDC finalist Fanny Pak:

James Franco suspiciously studious

This photo (NOT the one below) of James Franco studying in the Columbia University library has been all over the celebrity gossip sites today. It shows Franco sitting in front of his lap top underlining pages of a book, concentrating hard on his studies.

I think Franco looks suspiciously unaware of the camera right in front of him. Taking pictures in a library is weird--even a celebrity would notice. Perhaps he purposely posed as a diligent student to save face after this photo from last month:



I can't say I blame him--we've all been there. But doesn't everyone else in this photo look suspiciously interested in the lecture? I hope he wasn't snoring.

Are you a blogophile?

Yeah, me neither.

blogophile

blogophile (plural blogophiles)
1. A person who is fond of or obsessed with blogs or blogging.

BREAKING NEWSGirls Just Want to Have Fun honored in (Sarah's) Dance Movie Hall of Fame

I recently re-watched the classic 80s dance flick Girls Just Want to Have Fun starring a teenage Sarah Jessica Parker. The teenybopper film just happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies, primarily because it contains the best montage EVER. It even includes a Pepsi product placement courtesy of Shannen Doherty. Poor quality clip below.

My So-Called Life words of wisdom

"People always say how you should be yourself, like yourself is this definite thing, like a toaster or something, like you can know what it is even. But every so often, I'll have, like, a moment where just being myself in my life right where I am is, like, enough."

-MSCL, Pressure

Happy Passover!

The only Passover tradition I continue to keep is watching The Ten Commandments on TV every year. Well, that and leaving a Bud Light out for Elijah. ABC will be playing the 1956 film this Saturday, and goy am I excited. What's your favorite plague? Mine is frogs.

In case you've never seen Charlton Heston rocking the (rap artist) Joaquin Phoenix look, here's a preview you don't want to pass over:

2010 budget?! woes and whoas...

After a looong debate yesterday involving a lot of bar graphs, the House passed the President's 2010 budget, adjusted after committee to $3.55 trillion in total spending. Even with all Republicans and 20 Democrats voting against it, the resolution passed by 37 votes (233 to 196, to be exact). The Senate's version also passed (55 to 43).

Yes, this budget boasts a huge number in front of that dollar sign, and I'm cool with it. (No worries, Barack--you and I are still good.) What I'm not cool with is that it's almost 2010. Seriously?!? I mean, remember those days when you couldn't wait to sing "We're gonna party like it's 1999" on New Years, basking in Prince's never-more-appropriate lyrics? The new millennium seemed so far away, so momentous and mysterious all at the same time. We thought Y2K would be the undoing of our strong economy, not bad loans and even worse legislation. Hell, we thought bodysuits were just a trend that worked well with baggy jeans but surely had no place in the 21st century.

The comforting thing in all this is that--27 years after the "1999" hit--Prince is still churning out albums regularly and even just won another Grammy in 2007. That, of course, we all could have predicted.

Now here's a little gift from me to you:

Watch more The Very Best of Prince videos on AOL Video

Obviously the bee's knees

This picture:

"Too big to fail is the right size to regulate."

Rep. Al Green from Texas said this in Thursday's House Financial Services Committee hearing on financial regulation. I agree--even if he is a bit cocky about it ("some things bear repeating"). More importantly, Green's rhyming skills and metaphors involving foxes and hens make him fun to watch. Here's a clip:


He also ended his comments by saying "God bless you" to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (who I'm almost kind of into, by the way). Blessing people usually freaks me out a little, but when Mr. Green said it I wanted to yell, "Bless me, too, Al Green! Bless me!"

As far as I can tell, Rep. Al Green and Secretary Timothy Geithner are both the bee's knees of congressional hearings these days. Yup, that's right--I have confidence in our Treasury Secretary. Watch the full hearing and decide for yourself.

Also, check out the facial expressions of the guy with the cool glasses on the left behind Geithner. Maybe he was trying to look alert because he knew he was on camera? If so, it backfired. Does anyone know who he is?

He looks like a deer in the headlights...


when he's not falling asleep.


Somebody farted.


In part 2 he switches places with the bearded guy who also seems to be alternating between confusion and nap time (okay, or taking notes).

My So-Called Life words of wisdom

Angela Chase was wise beyond her years. I'd like to start sharing her insight on a regular basis. (You're welcome!) Here is some pop culture-for-thought from everyone's favorite forlorn adolescent.

"There's the people who you've known forever who know you in this way that other people can't. Because they've seen you change. They've let you change."

-MSCL, Strangers in the House

Too cute not to blog

How painfully adorable is this newborn clouded leopard at the National Zoo?


See more pictures at zooborns.com!

H&M's virtual dressing room is... like Zima?

H&M's Web site has a feature that allows you to dress up a virtual model of yourself by entering your dimensions and other characteristics before scrolling through the virtual closet. It helps shopaholics like myself scratch that itch without actually spending any money (though this is probably not its purpose). The closet only offers a small selection of H&M items, and the virtual model is perhaps more hypothetical than virtual, but it's a fun way to procrastinate. And procrastination is why the Internet was invented in the first place.

This is supposed to be me.

Crab Man just plain rocks

Darnell AKA Crab Man's back story explained on tonight's episode of My Name is Earl is totally the bee's knees. Best secondary character ever. Although I will miss the mystery.

Impeachment can be fun

Fashionably late comment on now former Illinois governor Rod R. Blagojevich:

Did anyone else spend all day watching Blagojevich's impeachment trial? It was the greatest thing I've seen since all the inauguration hoopla (so in a week). The creepo governor spent all week on a publicity tour instead of defending himself under oath at the trial, and then he showed up the very last day and made a big speech about what a great governor for the people he's been and how innocent and honorable he is. The guy's a convincing public speaker, albeit arrogant and delusional. Unfortunately for him, actions speak louder than words. Every single member of the Illinois state senate voted yes both to impeach him and bar him from future public office. One member even switched up the roll call with an "absolutely!"

On a completely unrelated note on what's not the bee's knees, I'm averaging only about one post a month. Don't impeach me.