Tonight on MTV's Making the Band 4, Season 3!!!

Season three

At the live finale of the second season of Making the Band 4, Diddy announced that the subsequent season would feature Danity Kane, Day26, and Donnie Klang on a U.S. Tour, the Making the Band Tour. On August 12th there was a 1 hour special that aired on MTV called "Making The Band's Greatest Hits." The special was hosted by Aubrey from Danity Kane, Donnie Klang and Robert from Day26, looking back on past events throughout the seasons of Making the Band 3 and 4. The new season premiered on August 19, 2008 on MTV.^[1]

Según la Wikipedia, la Generación X considera rangos que van del año 1965 hasta el de 1984 pero aclara que se debaten las fechas exactas que definen a esta generación, en terminos generales suele afirmarse que la Generación X va del año 65 al 75, aunque también hay quienes lo llevan hasta el 81.

Crecimos viendo caricaturas inmersos en la fantasia de la televisión, la gran mayoria hijos de Baby Boomers (esto en referencia de aquellos nacidos en tiempos de gran crecimiento poblacional), entrando a los 80's nuevamente la televisión pero ahora con MTV como protagonista acercandonos música en video, New Wave, Rock Pesado ligeramente empapado de la esencia del Pop, siendo jovenes con menos manifestaciones ideologicas que la generación anterior, pero con la misma rebeldía de todas las otras generaciones.

Sumando a todo esto, la cinematografía ochentera con Los Gremlins, Poltergeist, Amadeus, Los Cazafantasmas, Footloose, Flashdance, Top Gun, las peliculas de Molly Ringwald...

Además del gran descubrimiento de esa generación: los videojuegos desde su forma más primitiva, el Pong y el Breakout, hasta llegar al Pac Man y al Mario Bros, pasando por Space Invaders, Asteroids y Galaxian, entre otros, al principio por medio de las consolas que habia en los establecimientos y después con el Atari.

Ya después del cubo de Rubik, el walkman y todas aquellas cosas que ocupaban nuestro tiempo en los 80's, llegaron los 90's con un sonido nuevo llamado Grunge, con Nirvana como principal representante, junto a Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Pixies y Sonic Youth.

A continuación DIEZ DIFERENCIAS GENERACIONALES que circulan por la red:

Estas son, de acuerdo con los expertos, diez diferencias específicas de mentalidad:

1. Colaboran más.

"Los integrantes de la generación "X" son más colaboradores. Se toman el trabajo de equipo en serio. Los miembros de la generación "X" crecieron con la idea del equipo, y les gusta". En cambio, en el caso de los ejecutivos tradicionales el concepto de trabajo en equipo se introdujo cuando muchos de ellos ya tenían algunos años inmersos en la empresa. Algunos todavía manifiestan reticencias en cuanto al valor del trabajo en equipo.

2. Dan menos valor a las jerarquías.

Por lo tanto se debe tratar a los miembros de generación "X" como iguales, no como subordinados. Es necesario incluir a los miembros de la generación "X" en el proceso de aprendizaje. Si un instructor le da una orden a un ejecutivo tradicional, probablemente la lleve a cabo. En cambio, es muy posible que el de la generación "X" no lo haga hasta que esté convencido de que es lo correcto.

3. Son más altruistas.

Los miembros de la generación "X" ingresan a las empresas y aceptan participar en proyectos laborales por razones más altruistas que los ejecutivos tradicionales. No consideran que el estatus está necesariamente vinculado con el éxito y la felicidad.

4. Se sienten más a gusto trabajando al lado de mujeres que los ejecutivos tradicionales.

Esta es la primera generación en la cual tanto hombres como mujeres no tienen ninguna preferencia por tener un jefe hombre o mujer.

5. Son más hábiles para la administración.

Más miembros de la generación "X" han estudiado administración formalmente, y tienen un enfoque más profesional que el que tenían los ejecutivos tradicionales a la misma edad". A diferencia, los ejecutivos tradicionales terminaban en puestos directivos sin ninguna capacitación.

6. Son la generación de la informática.

Las computadoras siempre han formado parte de su vida, y las manejan mucho mejor que los ejecutivos tradicionales. Los "X" son la primera generación de la informática".

7. Insisten en equilibrar la vida y el trabajo.

Para un miembro de la generación "X" esto es de suma importancia y generalmente valoran mucho el tener y disfrutar una vida independiente del trabajo.

8. Tienen diferentes estilos de comunicación.

Los ejecutivos tradicionales son poco asertivos y tienen un estilo de comunicación mucho más "diplomático" para hablar, incluso cuando se dirigen a sus compañeros de curso son más indirectos; los de la generación "X" tienden a ser más abiertos y directos.

9. Son menos leales.

Si la lealtad se define como la disposición a quedarse en una compañía en las buenas y en las malas, los miembros de la generación "X" no pasan la prueba. Siempre están listos para cambiarse al próximo trabajo, ya que tienen más confianza en sí mismos que los ejecutivos tradicionales. Cuando un trabajo ha dejado de ser satisfactorio desde el punto de vista creativo, intelectual, emocional o económico, no tienen miedo en actualizar su curriculum e ir en busca de un nuevo empleo. Los miembros de la generación "X" son leales a su profesión, no a su empleador, mientras que los ejecutivos tradicionales mantienen la lealtad a su compañía y sienten que los demás deberían pensar igual.

10. Ignoran las reglas.

Los miembros de la generación "X" siempre están deprisa, luchan para obtener resultados y tienden a esquivar reglas y procedimientos. Están dispuestos a correr riesgos e innovar, incluso cuando ello pueda enloquecer a un instructor.
Los miembros de la generación "X" no dudan en criticar los estilos de administración de los ejecutivos tradicionales y con frecuencia se quejan de ello. Dicen que los ejecutivos tradicionales se saben el discurso pero no lo siguen; ponen poca atención en la participación y el trabajo en equipo.

Es más, consideran que muchas veces los ejecutivos tradicionales y los instructores a menudo piensan: "Estamos en lo correcto, ellos están mal", y tratan de cambiar la actitud de los jóvenes.

Con frecuencia el primer error que se comete al tratar de capacitar a un integrante de la generación "X" es suponer que él o ella se parecen a un ejecutivo tradicional. El segundo error consiste en tratar de cambiar a toda costa su mentalidad. El tercer error es garrafal y tiene que ver con el hecho de dar demasiada importancia a las diferencias generacionales.

Douglas Coupland, escritor canadiense, popularizó el término Generación X en su novela "Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture" publicada el 11 de marzo de 1991, que fue aclamada por la crítica al capturar el momento de la gente de aquel entonces, para la cual el título resultaba especialmente apropiado. Sin saberlo, había hecho popular uno de los nombres de toda su generación (su edad coincidía aproximadamente con la de la Generación X). A raíz de esto, Coupland participó en una serie de anuncios promocionales de la MTV, leyendo fragmentos de su libro. A la "Generación X" también se la conoce a veces como Generación sin nombre. La sucesora de esta generación se conoce como la Generación Y.

In Pretty In Pink, Molly Ringwald plays Andie, a girl who is literally from the wrong side of the tracks.  In the movie, Andie's tiny home is located directly next to a set of train tracks supposedly in the Chicago area.  In reality, her home can be found just outside of L.A., in South Pasadena, right next to the Metro Gold Line tracks.  Andie's train tracks looks much the same today as they did back during the filming of the movie.  I was actually pretty surprised to discover that the majority of the filming of Pretty In Pink took place in Los Angeles, as John Hughes usually prefers to film on location in Chicago. 

Anyway, I was absolutely amazed to discover that Andie's house also looks EXACTLY the same today as it did back in 1985 when filming for Pretty In Pink  took place.  The only major difference I noticed is that there is now much more foliage located in front of the house than there was 23 years ago.  Otherwise the home is exactly as it was portrayed onscreen.  It is always amazing for me to stalk a location from a movie or television show that was filmed over two decades ago only to find that little to nothing has changed over the years.  I've never been a big fan of change.  : )                 

Until next time, Happy Stalking!  :)

Stalk It: Andie's house is located at 1010 Hope Street in South Pasadena.   Literally directly around the corner from Andie's house is Michael Meyer's house from the original Halloween  movie.

Sink to See have played many cool stages, however, the view from the top of the Manhattan high rise was too cool to capture on camera, but take our word it was epic to say the least! The Director and all the cast where very nice to us, and clapped when our name came down the screen credits :) Stay tuned as S2S sleep off the hangovers and trim our stashes for yet another red carpet adventure as the band strutts their stuff back on home field at the Hollywood premier of 'Forever Strong'...go out and see it in theaters this weekend!!!

S2S

Anyhow, the free movie watching experience is a must for any San Anto resident. The weather has been absolutely amazing for outdoor movie watching, and with Mission Drive-In now gone forever this is a nice alternative. Plus, you have a pretty nice view of the Tower of the Americas.

Back to the Altered Images “Happy Birthday” song … so there’s a show on Nick Jr. called Yo, Gabba Gabba! that has been featuring a bunch of really awesome indie bands and a few reputable actors (ie. The Shins, Elijah Wood, and The Aquabats). Christian Jacobs, who is a co-creator of the show, is also the lead singer of the pop-punk outfit The Aquabats. (Jacobs was also a child star who appeared in .... wait for it …. Pretty in Pink, I believe he played the role of the kid in the record store who was attempting to steal.) Anyhow, Jezebel.com once again reminded me of the awesome of the show with this recent post that features a cover of the “Happy Birthday” song by The Ting Tings. I like.

… and this is how I originally found out about the show.

Resulta que en noviembre pasado "descubrí" que tenía un admirador en el trabajo. Lo de "admirador" se lo puso la persona que me lo contó, y la verdad es que me hizo gracia el apelativo, porque sonaba a historia de comedia romántica de los 80, de esas que protagonizaba Molly Ringwald o Patrick Dempsey antes de convertirse en el Doctor Macizo.

Además, la situación en la que me lo contó también fue de película: chico y chica que son amigos toman una tarde de domingo un café. Hablan de sus cosas y, de pronto, él le dice a ella:

-Por cierto...tienes un admirador en el trabajo...

-¿En serio? -contesta ella sorprendida - ¿quién es?

-No puedo decírtelo o la persona a la que tu admirador se lo ha contado me mataría porque me pidió que no te dijera nada...

-No puedes tirar la piedra y esconder la mano...¡dime quién es por favor!

Al final me lo dijo. Al principio yo no sabía quién era...o sea: además de secreto, desconocido. Tarde poquito en descubrirlo: vistacillo por ahí y ¡pum! ya sabía quién era.

Así pasaron las semanas y nada: jamás se me acercó a hablarme. Aunque claro, yo estaba "ocupada" en otros menesteres masculinos que se extendieron desde antes de noviembre y hasta final de abril en plan bien (positivo, interesante...) y desde final de abril hasta hoy en plan mal (negativo, odio profundo y recíproco...). O sea: yo estaba ciega (por otro) y mi Patrick Dempsey en el...llamémosle limbo.

Y mira tú por dónde que mi "Loverboy" (título de una peli del Doctor Macizo) volvió al redil este verano...bajó del Limbo para acompañarnos en las tareas diarias. Y mira tú por dónde ahora voy yo y me da por fijarme en mi "Secret Admirer" (otra peli de los 80 con chica que le envía una cartita de amor anónima a un tío el último día de curso jurándole amor eterno)...

Y no sólo eso, sino que me encanta cruzármelo por los pasillos o por las mañanas, verle...lo que sea. Me siento como una estúpida porque escucho una voz en mi cabecita que me dice "Nena, perdiste tu oportunidad"...

¡Ah! Y luego está el asuntillo de la edad...¿25 años?: ¡venga ya, hombre! Si uno de 28 me dió grandísimos dolores de cabeza (aún me los da, para qué engañarnos) ¿qué me puede dar uno que no conoció ni a Naranjito? ¿que nació con toda la trilogía original de Star Wars estrenada? ¿que no acompañó, como yo, a sus padres a votar en el referendum de la OTAN? ¿que probablemente viese Blade Runner remasterizada y con montaje del director? ¿que ni recordará el vídeo Thriller de Michael Jackson, cuando era negro, si no fuera por el Youtube? ¡¡que iba a la EGB (en realidad la ESO, porque ya la EGB ni existía en 1997) cuando comencé en la Universidad!!...y lo más importante: ¡que tiene la edad de mi hermano!

Pues nada, resulta que ahora soy un poco Señora Robinson y me gusta un jovencito de 25, ¿qué pasa? Ahora soy yo la admiradora secreta...la vida tiene un sentido del humor muy peculiar...y no sólo porque hayan cambiado las tornas, sino por alguna que otra cosilla más relacionada con este asunto que reconozco tiene su gracia...

[The Lemonheads - Mrs Robinson]

Y lo más grande es que esto vuelve a ser un amor platónico...¡siendo una mujer, presuntamente, adulta! que Dios me coja confesada...habré hablado con él 4 veces en 10 meses pero supongo que será como una válvula de escape a la olla a presión que ha sido mi vida amorosa desde principios de año, y él es como una alegría, algo positivo, dentro de todo lo demás (sólo teneis que leer el 90% de mis post para saber a qué me refiero...): es algo así como que a nadie le amarga un dulce, ¿no?...y él tiene pinta de serlo. Aunque ya se sabe que luego los tímidos son los peores y puedo dar fe (reciente) de ello.

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P.D.: Lo admito públicamente. Estoy loca  y colgada...que alguien avise a Woody Allen para que me pase, definitivamente, el número de un buen psicoanalista.

Those of you who have been paying attention will remember my Friday entry – for what it was – where I described the coming weekend as one spent alone, getting used to the idea of just being me; recognising all the old crappy patterns if and when they come up, and generally practising some good old fashioned self love. (Meant non-pornographically)

I wish to report some resounding success. This weekend has passed without incident (read: pattern) and I have allowed this state of relaxation and ‘me’ time to open my mind, and I have made a number of decisions, and come to some really rather stark realisations.

Those of you with an even better memory may remember an entry from some time ago, where I described a huge desire to go out to the nearest Starbucks, and sit pretty much where I am now, blogging away in a desperate attempt to look poetic, and to be noticed. I’d just like to make clear that this trip here this evening has nothing to do with any feelings like that; rather, I have spent an entire weekend stuck within the confines of my house, and was going a little stir crazy. Add to that a severe lack of food in my house – unless you consider what my parents eat ‘food’. I’ll blog about my completely mental parents’ obsession with calories and fat and other nonsense one day. Someone ate half a Jaffa Cake the other day. HALF! – and a trip to Starbucks for a muffin was born.

I am a big fan of internal resolution, and I’m pretty good at it, too. It was that same resolution which, some years ago, allowed me to look yet another line of coke in the face, and go ‘not this time’, and that same resolution that allowed me to quit the many many many many many other vices I have lived to enjoy, but ultimately know to be no good for me – smoking, I miss you!

So this weekend, I have had another one of my famous moments of internal resolution. And it’s about women and sex, a favoured subject of this occasionally amusing, and often baffling blog.

In one of my many moments of thought this weekend, I began to think about the sort of relationship I have with the fairer sex, and the sort of women I seem to attract. The women I see generally fall into one of two categories:

1. The needy: I engulf them in passion and fill that hole in their lives before sleeping with them and pissing off, or some variation on ‘the dynamite effect’, a process of anticipation/KABOOM!/damage, or…
2. Madonna/Whore: These are generally longer-term projects, or, as they are more popularly known, girlfriends. Madonna/Whore is, I stress, not my saying, but rather it refers to the sort of woman who you can happily take on a family outing for finger sandwiches, but would also like a finger sandwich of a different sort on the car ride home. Oh, they’re the best. Sigh.

I think, historically, it would be fair to say that I have always gone for the wrong sort of woman. Sometimes, the attraction and subsequent failure has been either my fault; by means of deliberate espionage or general post-coitus disinterest, and sometimes, it’s been them – either I’ve been too mental, or not mental enough in the long term. And sex. Basically, all my relationships, whether they’ve been for 5 minutes or 5 months, have all been about sex. If you want a long term relationship with me, the absolute best thing to do is to not sleep with me. And I mean EVER. Sad, but very true.

So this weekend, I made a decision. And I feel as though this one is real – it has that same air of finality that I felt when I made the decisions I mentioned above. And that is to start looking for a different sort of person; and I don’t mean look in an Indiana Jones, whips-and-gold-mines sort of quest - perhaps a better way to describe it would be to ‘become aware of’ or even ‘limit myself to’ a nicer sort of girl. For all the fuck ups, sexual freaks and desperately needy women in the world, there are an equal number of genuine and pleasant women out there – I’m convinced of it. And I think that is what I need. I just feel as though… Oh I don’t know… I am kind of ‘done’ with the world I once inhabited. Those regular readers will know my dismay at occasionally finding myself inhabiting an impulsive world I am not entirely comfortable with, and I just feel as though I have grown a little past that. I am not stupid enough to think this won’t mean I get ‘the horn’ from time to time, or I will suddenly will see someone and not think ‘I wonder if the curtains match the drapes’, but I have come to realise recently that having those feelings and urges unfulfilled from time to time is not the end of the world. In fact, it could be the making of it – my world, at least.

It has taken a long time for me to this point, and to make this choice – I have had to ask at what point do you stop trying to conquer the mountain of women there are in the world, and realise just why you’re doing it? I’m fairly certain that eventually, it stops being funny, and actually gets very self destructive and a bit silly, and worse, a bit sad.

The new question to myself is: what am I trying to prove? The new answer is: that you’re not THAT guy.

The really sad part of this all is that, ultimately, I’m a pretty nice guy, and I have a lot to offer; it was the patterns and the ways I acted which stopped me from living it. So no more of that, thank you. It’s time to set myself the challenge of not getting in your knickers…

It has taken time, and time is key to making any fundamental decision.

My friend Dom called me last week, and it was actually he which set many of these thoughts into motion. Dom is, like many I suspect, waking up in a post-process world where he has come to realise his pre-process life was a construct of a false him – and he doesn’t want it anymore.

I don’t want to get into this too much, mostly because now I’m sitting in my bedroom, and not in a Starbucks, I have lost my mojo a bit, but also you can overcomplicate it quite easily…

The point is, and what I have learnt – and I am also conscious this blog entry is quite long, and I’ve not even started working off my notes yet – is that decisions with any sort of weight are generally the considered ones. Ok, that’ll do on that. It’s now 9:26pm, and I am tiring of the sound of my own voice, so you lot must be close to topping yourselves…

David’s Very Quick Review of the Weekend Which Was Originally Going to Be Much Longer

Friday

(a)    Had coffee with my friend Shira – tea for me.

(b)   Managed to get parking ticket, despite all the parking meters – I tried 4 – being out of order. Sending letter of appeal today. (Monday)

(c)    On way home, got rear-ended by some dipshit, who then proceeded to drive away at high speed. No real damage, but according to insurance people, I have to inform police. Luckily, I’m eagle eyed, and got the registration plate.

(d)   Discovered Republican candidate for Vice President Sarah Palin’s son in called Truck? TRUCK?!?!?!? That country is utterly utterly fucked.

Saturday

(a)    Went to gym. Make heap big sweat. Me man.

(b)   Watched a film called ‘The Fall’, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/) which was one of the most visually stunning experiences of my film-watching life. Quick story overview: Hospitalised man tells a story to a young girl in a 1920’s Los Angeles hospital – film shows the story through the imagination of the child. It’s directed by an Indian guy called Tarsem, who previously directed a bunch of adverts, music videos, and ‘The Cell’. Anyway, it was incredible. Here’s some images:

[gallery]

(c)    Watched a film called ‘Baby Mama’. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0871426/) Apparently, this is a ‘comedy’, written by the very funny Tina Fey, who wrote ‘Mean Girls’ previously. Anyway, it wasn’t any good, or funny.

Sunday

(a)    Woke up late

(b)   Watched a film called ‘The Promotion’ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0803057/) which was one of those drama/comedies, but wasn’t particularly either of those.

(c)    Watched ‘Pretty in Pink’ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091790/) for the first time ever. I want to be a 16 year old in the 80s. Seriously.

And that was it until you joined me in Starbucks…

Now, it is Monday morning, and, as ever, I am sat at my desk, pretending to work when I’ve actually been editing this entry from last night. Strangely, that feeling of loneliness I was so happy about ‘overcoming’ hit me pretty hard last night when I got back from Starbucks. But, when a blog entry is this long, that’s certainly a story for another day...

Until next time, lots of love as always,

Closed Box

What a terrifying woman, and what a terrifying country the United States is sometimes.

Anyway, how are you all? I’m feeling really energised today, probably because I’ve not really written this blog properly this week – sure, I wrote one quick thing on the train on Monday, another on Wednesday, but that’s been about it.

Before I get into some very good news, I’d like to begin with something a little bit more serious, if I may.

Those of you who know me will know that I am not the sort to hold back – and those of you who have become readers will be largely aware of this too. This blog was started with the explicit purpose of externalising what was going on in my mess of a head after the completion of my Hoffman Process. In the weeks and now months since then, it has turned into something slightly different, but the target audience has remained the same – me. Ultimately, I write this blog for me.

I am pleased that so many people read it – I’m comfortably averaging over 50 readers a day – and I thank each one of you for sharing in my though processes, whether you know me, found me by luck, or did a search for ‘Hoffman Process’, as so many people have done, and found me that way.

Unless I name you specifically, I would urge you not to be offended by what I write. You can, with pleasure, call me a shitty writer, call me a chauvinistic wanker, write to me and tell me my opinion that God is no more real than Santa Claus will wind me up in an eternal, waking hell; but, as happened yesterday, if you write to me having a go at me about something I have said, having taken it personally, I am really going to be inclined to not want to justify myself.

That said, for clarity; please let me make one thing clear: I do not think women are stupid, weak, idiotic, or anything like that. Yesterday, all I was trying to suggest – actually, not even that, it was a theory - was that sub-consciously, I had developed a certain line of thought processes because of events of my past – it is not a conscious thing, and, as I have learnt certainly not my fault, and certainly not something that makes me a bad person. I will not justify myself on here again. I have a feeling that part of this blogs appeal is its honesty, and I will not allow that to be compromised if I have to consistently justify or apologise for what I write.

Hope that makes things clear.

Right, now back to the good stuff.

You know what sucks these days? Movies. They’re fucking awful. Thank all that is holy, then, for DVD, and the collected work of John Hughes. In a world where sticking your dick in a pie is considered the pre-amble for an entire movement of ‘teen movies’, Hughes’ work harks back to a more innocent time, where penis jokes where met with disgust by Molly Ringwald and a ‘I don’t want to see it!’, or a Saturday detention with a school drop-out who actually turns up when asked.

Last night, I watched ‘Sixteen Candles’ again. Sigh. (Trailer here)

In a wonderfully posh move, I have decided to join a tennis club, dusting off the old racket and short-shorts in a further attempt to flex my newly-found social muscles. Expect pictures when it happens.

And now the REALLY good news – I’M A STUDENT! Hurrah! Though I have been refused entry for the first year of an undergraduate degree at Birkbeck, yesterday, after some verbal cajoling with the admissions people, I have been accepted onto two 22-week diploma courses which, if completed successfully, would ensure acceptance of entry onto next years courses.

I am so fucking over the moon – and not because I have just been accepted. In the past, a letter of rejection would have killed me inside. I would have packed the whole thing in, or just sat in some sort of mute resentment. But, I didn’t take it personally, saw the positives, and actually, it made me more determined than ever. And yesterday was my reward. So. Fucking. Happy. Right. Now.

Well, this being Friday, this is the last entry of the week. The England football team are playing, and, with any luck, they’ll finally disappear up their own arses as they’ve threatened to do for quite some time now, and we can be done with the whole thing. Unfortunately, they’re playing Andorra, or Luxembourg, or one of those sorts of countries, so they’ll probably scrape a win.

So, until Monday, I hope you all have a lovely weekend, filled with happiness and light and love.

Lots of love,

Closed Box

more to come :)

S2S

 

Sean Faris

Sean Faris

For actor Sean Faris, life as he knows it has kicked into high gear. He recently showcased his talents in the coveted lead role of Summit Entertainment’s Never Back Down which has been likened to a cross between Fight Club and Karate Kid, and recently returned to New York City starring for filmmaker Jessy Terrero in Brooklyn to Manhattan. Also on the horizon is the central role in the rugby-inspired feature Forever Strong. Additionally, he appeared as Dennis Quaid’s eldest son in Paramount’s hit remake of the classic Yours, Mine & Ours and previously starred as the hunky object of affection in MGM’s comedy romp Sleepover. In direct contrast, Sean starred as the lead in Fox’s acclaimed drama series Reunion which followed six close friends from their high school graduation to their 20th reunion. He previously led the cast of ABC’s dramatic series Life as We Know It. Based upon British author Melvin Burgess’ controversial novel Doing It, the acclaimed show chronicled the sexual antics of a group of high school friends in Seattle. For his role as sensitive jock Dino Whitman, he was heralded as a breakout talent by the likes of Daily Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. No stranger to television, Sean has also guest-starred on such shows as Smallville, One Tree Hill, and Boston Public. His big screen debut featured him alongside the likes of Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett in Michael Bay’s epic Pearl Harbor. A Texas native, Sean moved to Ohio at age 12 and has been honing his craft in Los Angeles since moving four years ago upon his high school graduation.

If you were around in the '80s (like I was), or at least have a penchant for '80s culture, then you wouldn't miss the name of the woman in the drawing above. Or if you missed that, then probably you'd remember the album/CD cover where I copied this drawing from. If you guessed Pretty in Pink, you are right! And the name of the lady? Molly Ringwald!

Although I couldn't really remember what the 1986 movie Pretty in Pink was all about, I love its soundtrack! I have listened to it countless times in the past! And to a young, impressionable man that I was during that time-- who grew up listening mostly to British bands-- hearing the first cut on that album was mighty unforgettable! The first song, "If You Leave," by OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) was so catchy it was difficult to shake it off my head long after the music was done! Then it was followed by Suzanne Vega's "Left of Center." Then by Jesse Johnson's "Get To Know Ya." Then by INXS' "Do Wot You Do." And so on and so forth! It was capped by The Smiths (The Smiths, no less!) with their song "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want." It's like a "torture" of delight! Unbelievable! This album is truly remarkable in that all the songs here-- every single one of them, in my opinion-- are great! Not one cut here did I not like! I think this is one of the greatest soundtrack albums of all time!

#10: Molly Ringwald, 1980's Edition

Yeah, the guideline obedience didn't follow suit for too long. But I clearly stated that every guideline has its exception. And this is the exception - it's the only one for this one, I swear. I just couldn't leave her off the list.

If I was born 15 years ago and God didn't develop the 90's, and just eternally kept the world's state in the 1980's, I'd be a human metallic element and Molly Ringwald would be my magnet. She'd probably even take number one. Not so much now, though. She's packed on the pounds a little bit, over the years, not to mention that she's hit the big four-oh. And she had a go at that nudie thing in Malicious, ruining the very essence of Molly Ringwald. Maybe she felt she needed to equal Demi Moore?

Molly always had that charming, innocent quality about her. Which is probably why she played similar characters in her heyday movies. You couldn't help but to sympathize over her misfortunes, or to side with her in the angst. The thing I admired most about her was her lip-biting habit, which normally projected awkwardness, eagerness and/or excitement. It'd be the death of me if I saw it in person. That assassinating smile simply compliments it perfectly. Undeniable. I've ventilated my adoration for Miss Ringwald before, so you guys get the point.

The Brat Packer has been absent from production the past couple of years but it's great to see her getting back into it, with her new show, The Secret Life Of An American Teenager. I haven't seen any of Molly Ringwald's films past the 80's, but it's pretty safe to say that it's the safest thing for me not to see her in the same light as I would decades ago. But I'm definitely going to start checking out her later work. It'll be interesting to see how her different personas develop. Maybe she'll make my Celebrity Mum's list.

Oh, and Molly, I Wanna Be Loved By You, too.

I Might Be Able To Marry Her If...
I built a flux capacitor.

I'll describe the way I feel
You're my new Achilles heel
Can this savior be for real
Or are you just my seventh seal?

So I'm watching the godawful show entitled "The Secret of Life of the American Teenager," and I have to say this - the Lohans are better actors than most of the people on this show. Not sure if that's difficult, being that bad, but they pull it off. The only decent actor on the show is Molly Ringwald, but really, it's just Molly Ringwald and memories of The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles (but never Pretty in Pink, but I hate that movie) come to mind.

What I especially dislike is the character played by "actor" India Eisley. Or maybe, I just hate India's so-called acting. Her voice is so monotonous that nothing comes out like it should. She shows no emotion and fails miserably. I wonder if the other wannabe child stars who auditioned for the part were horrendous, or if she was a shoe in because someone in the production staff was a family member or slept with a family member.

The whole show is stupid, pointless and boring. I don't know why it still exists, but I hope that it's not picked up for a second season because that would be the fall of the television show if such a piece of drivel is allowed to continue. There's nothing special about the show and there's nothing unique about it. A teenage girl is pregnant out of wedlock and it's supposed to be shocking? Why, because she's white? Had the show been about a Hispanic or Black girl, I'm sure that the show's ratings wouldn't be so high.

I'll just wait until the announcement that the show's canceled. If it's not, then I'm hoping for a whole new cast to replace this old one. Except Molly Ringwald, because she probably needs the work.

EXPLODING SHEEP UNDERGROUND PRODUCTIONS
Movie screen comes down and starts to show different images. Several photos of Madonna appear. Next, a Rubik’s cube. Molly Ringwald. Debbie Gibson. Then ALF. Suave: “Oh! I get it. Old, washed up relics from the 80’s!”

Suave: “We are back at PCW Lock and Load 3. We’re still waiting for Barack Obama to formally announce who his aide de camp will be.” Suave notes that he’s still waiting for Obama to text the name of his aide de camp. Suave: “Okay, we’re going to check out another one of John McCain’s houses to see if he’s there.

JOHN McCAIN’S HOUSE…AGAIN
The camera shows no one there. Suave: “Damn. I guess we’ll try another one of his houses later.”

Suave recaps the Big Oil/American Trucker/Average Joe feud. Big Oil and his tag team partner, the Wall Street Market Analyst with a huge man crush on ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, Kirk Walstreit defeats American Trucker and Average Joe at the PCW Loose Cannons Unleashed pay per view in June and get revenge on the duo for taking Big Oil’s big ass wheelbarrow full of cash. Per the stipulation, American Trucker had to give back his brand new semi-truck and Average Joe his brand new house. But then…

The crowd boos and throws debris into the ring. Big Oil gives the American Trucker an Oklahoma Driller just for spit. He takes the mic and gloats. He holds up four fingers to signify ‘$4 per gallon of gas’ and tells both Average Joe and American Trucker that you ‘don’t @#$# with people with money and power.’ Big Oil: “We can do anything we want to and there’s nothing you can do or say to stop us.” More boos and debris. Big Oil holds his hand out and demands that American Trucker turn over the title to his semi-truck and Average Joe the title to his house. The Extreme Attorneys- Felcher and Felcher, walk out to the ring. R Felcher goes to Big Oil and hands him a sheet of paper. Big Oil: “What the @#$# is this?” R Felcher: “This is an injunction.” The PCW fans stand and cheer. Big Oil looks stunned. B Felcher: “This injunction prohibits you, or anyone else, from taking possession the American Trucker’s truck or Average Joe’s house.” R Felcher: “This means, both items in question will stay in the possession of the American Trucker and Average Joe. Suave: “I don’t believe it! The crowd is actually cheering the Extreme Attorneys.” Big Oil throws a major in ring fit and leaves. On the way out, he shouts if Average Joe’s house and American Trucker’s rig isn’t returned to him, he’ll push for $5 per gallon gas prices. The crowd continues to jeer Big Oil all the way to the back. Suave can’t believe that the Extreme Attorneys have come to the rescue of Average Joe and the American Trucker. Suave: “It’s almost like that scene from Philadelphia where Denzel Washington refuses to take Tom Hanks’s case. Then Hanks goes to the library to research AIDS discrimination cases. Denzel sees the way he’s treated and it totally changes his attitude.” B Felcher: “Naah. They just gave us part of the money in the wheelbarrow as a retainer.” Suave: “Figures.”

George W. sits ringside and continues to enjoys the action.

Big Oil in the ring with Kirk Walstreit. American Trucker and Average Joe come out with the Extreme Attorneys Felcher and Felcher. Big Oil gets on the mic and tells American Trucker and Average Joe that all the legal maneuvering won’t keep him from taking back what’s rightfully his. Big Oil: “This time, I’ve brought in my own…legal assistance.” Suddenly, Rough Justice (D.B. Ruff and Conner Justice- two former police officers fired for their rough, often over the top, and extreme style of justice) hit the ring and attack Felcher and Felcher. Referee in ring and calls for the bell.

MATCH #1- BIG OIL w/Texas Tex and KIRK WALSTREIT vs. AVERAGE JOE and the AMERICAN TRUCKER
Suave: “This will decide this feud once and for all. If Average Joe and American Trucker lose, they must give back the money, the semi-truck, and the house.” Rough Justice continues to mug the Extreme Attorneys outside the ring. Big Oil starts with American Trucker and proceeds to beat him all over the ring. Big Oil takes Trucker into the corner so he and Walsteit can isolate him. Average Joe jumps in and clips Big Oil’s legs. Trucker goes Chuck Norris on Walstreit and then hits a sweet enziguri. Double team clothesline on Big Oil followed by tandem drop kicks.

After leaving the Felchers lying in a pool of their own blood, Rough Justice climbs into the ring and blasts Average Joe and American Trucker from behind. A four on two beatdown ensues. Big Oil and Walsteit take turns hitting their finishers on Average Joe and American Trucker. Big Oil drags American Trucker back to his feet again and nails him with another Oklahoma Driller. Walstreit then follows with another Stock Market Plunge on Average Joe. Then American Trucker and Average Joe are draped over the ropes. Texas Tex gets in the ring and undoes his big golden money belt. Big Oil gets a mic. Big Oil: “This is what happens to little people when they bite off more than they can chew. I want money back now.” Big Oil spins American Trucker around. Big Oil: “NOW!” American Trucker: “F@#$ YOU!” and spits in Big Oil’s face. Another Oklahoma Driller follows. Suave: “That’s enough!” Big Oil takes the golden money belt and starts whipping American Trucker with it. Suave goes apoplectic. Suave: “Someone stop this…say…why is that old lady coming towards the ring? Wait a minute! That’s not just your ordinary old lady! That’s 85 year old grandma, Leda Smith. She’s the old lady who held an intruder in her house at gunpoint and made him call the police on himself.”

Grandma hits the ring. Suave: “HOLY CRAP! SHE’S GOT A GUN!” Leda zaps D.B. Ruff and he falls unconscious. Suave: “STUN-GUN! She’s got a stun-gun! SHE JUST TOOK OUT RUFF. CHECK THAT, SHE JUST TOOK OUT JUSTICE TOO…HOLY CRAP! SHE JUST ZAPPED KIRK WALSTREIT!” Big Oil glares menacingly at the 85 year old grandma. Average Joe hops on Big Oil’s back. Suave: “SLEEPER! AVERAGE JOE HAS HIM IN THE SLEEPER HOLD!” Big Oil tries get away. Leda zaps him for good measure. Big Oil drops to the canvas. Average Joe covers…1…2…3.

WINNER: AVERAGE JOE and AMERICAN TRUCKER

Suave: “THEY DID IT! SCORE ONE FOR THE ORDINARY PEOPLE! Average Joe gets to keep his house and the American Trucker keeps his semi-truck! And speaking of miracles, let’s go back to the PCW TV title match at Loose Cannons Unleashed 4 in June…”

MATCH #2- REPLAY OF THREE WAY DANCE FOR THE PCW TELEVISION TITLE: INDIANOLA JONES © (Independent) vs. FUBAR w/his Life Coach, Dr. Bill (Jobber) vs. ‘No Frills’ CHRIS ESCONDIDO (Independent)
Suave:

Chris Escondido comes in and he DISAPPROVES! Escondido calls it a joke that a jobber aka talent enhancement holds the PCW TV title and challenges FUBAR for a title shot. FUBAR tells Escondido that his first TV Title defense will go to one of the jobbers! The jobbers cheer. Escondido thinks its ridiculous. Then an aide to Progressive Alliance leader Howard ‘The American Screamer’ Dean enters and asks Escondido to come with him.

JOHN McCAIN’S HOUSE- AGAIN
Shot of another empty house. No McCain.

HOWARD DEAN’S OFFICE
The aide escorts Chris Escondido into Dean’s office. Dean tells Escondido that it’s time for him to come back to the Progressive Alliance. Dean: “I am authorized by Barack Obama to offer you the number two slot in the Progressive Alliance stable.” Escondido mulls the offer and asks Dean what it means. Dean: “It means we would push you for the PCW Television belt. What do you say?” Escondido grins. Escondido: “You’ve got a deal.”

Suave: “Chris Escondido, back with the Progressive Alliance! All right, next on PCW…hold on.” Suave looks at his cell phone- he has a text message. Suave: “This could be it! We could know just who Barack Obama has chosen to be his aide de camp!” Suave checks the text message. Suave: “OMG…LOL…BFF? What the hell? This isn’t a message from Barack Obama; it’s a message from one of my daughter’s friends!”

‘Sports Entertainment Genius’ Mr. McMann saunters out. Suave: “Well. This is a surprise. The last time we saw the so-called ‘Sports Entertainment Genius, this happened to him…”

REPLAY OF MR. McMANN SEGMENT FROM LOOSE CANNONS UNLEASHED 4 PPV

A stretch limousine pulls up to Triple R and KRC. The darkened window goes down and ‘Sports Entertainment Genius’ Mr. McMann sticks his head out the window. Mr. McMann: “So. Are you in or are you out?” Triple R and KRC look at each other. Then they get into the limo.

McMann thanks his many fans (who are booing him). McMann: “PCW. Join the NEW revolution? What revolution?” More boos. McMann: “No, really. What’s the most traffic PCW has received on a given day? Seventeen? How many people clicked on the last pay per view? Twenty-five? Give me a break!” Louder boos. McMann then rips on J.D. Elder’s new book Loose Cannons and Other Weapons of Mass Political Destruction. McMann: “It’s an independently produced book. Who gives a rat’s ass about it? How many have you sold? Forty? Please!” McMann calls PCW and the author of the novel ‘incredibly naive. McMann: “Unrealistic. The fact is money equals power. Only corporations can efficiently produce wrestling shows and books for a mass audience. You need corporate strength to reach your objectives. That’s why no one reads this site. That’s why no one buys your books.”

McMann brings out his corporate business associates. The former team called Corporate World- Bradley Scott Wilson and Richard Emerson Brantley III walk to the ring followed by a spiffed up Triple R and Kathryn Randall Collins sporting a nice business ensemble. McMann: “I’d like to introduce my two mainstays who will help take our corporation to the top here in PCW. Kathryn Randall Collins aka KRC. And Randy ‘Road Rage’ Richardson…or as well now call him- Quadruple R!” Suave: “Quadruple R?” McMann: “Watch it, Suave. That name’s trademarked. Suave: “Sorry.” McMann goes on to explain that Quadruple R has more power and prestige than a measly ‘Triple R.’ He then proclaims himself as the only one true visionary of professional wrestling who knows more about what the audience wants than the audience themselves. McMann: “Once we get all of you trained to love my brand of pro wrestling, then, and only then, will you truly appreciate my genius.”

Female voice: “Bulls#$#!” The crowd rises and cheers. Suave: “It’s her! PCW Extreme Pizza Delivery Girl Tessa Martin- one third of the 3 Amigas! She nearly defeated the PCW Women’s champion Opal Winfree at Loose Cannons Unleashed 4!" Tessa tells McMann that he tried to buy her but she and her independent spirit can’t be bought. McMann reminds her that she lost at Loose Cannons Unleashed 4 and it was time for someone else to get a title shot- mainly Kathryn Randall Collins. McMann: “Prepare to feel the full wrath of my corporate power!” KRC clotheslines Tessa. Quadruple R then holds her so KRC can pummel her with shots. McMann: “That’s right! Who dares to defy me? Who thinks they can stand up to my corporate power!"

Apparently, the other two members of the 3 Amigas do. Daisy Cutter-Bomb rushes out and starts caning the crap out of Quadruple R with a Singapore cane. Tequila Sheila belts KRC aside the head with her blender. Daisy hits a ‘Daisy Cutter Powerbomb on KRC and then chases McMann and his other corporate cronies away.

JOHN McCAIN SEGMENT
McCain comes out with the PCW Champion Starz N. Stripes. Suave: “Jesus, John. We’ve been trying to track you down at all of your houses. Just how many houses do you own?” McCain: “Hell if I know.”

Suave transitions to the four-way fight for the PCW Title. First out is Libertarian Bob Barr. Barr brings Nic Koteen of Politically Incorrect out with him. Next is Darth (Ralph) Nader of the Green World Order. Nader’s champion is the Extreme Vegan Brock Cole Lee.

Then, small children unroll a plush, nice white carpeting down the aisle. Two girls skip down the carpet throwing rose petals into the air as they go. John Legend comes down singing some song that has various snippets of Barack Obama speeches interspersed in it. Trumpets sound. And then…he’s here! Riding a golden chariot pulled by a glistening white stallion. Suave: “Okay. I don’t know just quite what the hell that was all about. But here comes Barack Obama.” Obama’s followed by the Progressive Alliance contender for the PCW Title, O’Beck Bahama.

Finally, the PCW Champion appears. Suave: “Here comes Starz N. Stripes…HE GETS HIT FROM BEHIND! IT’S JOE BIDEN.” Suave’s cell phone signals a text message. Suave: “IT’S HIM! IT’S HIM. JOE BIDEN IS BARACK OBAMA’S AIDE DE CAMP!” Biden goes right after McCain and they brawl. Starz and O’Beck Bahama get into it. Nic Koteen and Brock Cole Lee also lock up.

MATCH #3 PCW TITLE MATCH- STARZ N. STRIPES w/John McCain (American Patriots) vs. O’BECK BAHAMA (Progressive Alliance) vs. NIC KOTEEN (Libertarian) vs. BROCK COLE LEE (Green World Order)
The second the referee calls for the bell, Mr. McMann and his new corporation suddenly return. Suave: “What the hell? They’re back?” Quadruple R, Bradley Scott Wilson, Richard Emerson Brantley III, and Kathryn Randall Collins hit the ring and attack. A scrum develops with the four contestants for the PCW title. Now working together, O’Beck, Starz, Nic Koteen, and Brock Cole Lee fight back against McMann’s corporation. Huge brawl develops. The ref scrubs the match and the free-for-all continues.

Suave: “PCW season four underway! We’ll see you next time as the road to PCW Extreme Election Night 2008 in November begins!”

i can't tell you how many times i've watched this film over and over again .. for one, the soundtrack probably started my whole love affair with the 80's - i never felt like i really participated in the 80's since i was still a kid and not a teenager or in my 20's or 30's .. so, yes i re-lived the trash 80's via the music .. but even more so, i had a huge crush on andrew mccarthy so much back then .. then the obsession turned to james spader after that ...

oohhhh ... you have no idea what goes in my head when i listen this song .. the things that never quite happened for me .. in my life - the stories i'd concoct in my head ..

you see, just as i was sitting for the SAT's to go to college in the states (i have family over there who were going to sponsor me), i ended up getting accepted into a selective high school back here in sydney and my dreams of going to an american college (doing that american high school thing) were over - just like that ..

all my fantasies - poof! disappeared in smoke .. the closest i ever got to it, was through john hughes films like this one, ferris bueller's day off & the breakfast club - lol .. man, i get so nostalgic for the wrong reasons don't i .. ?

I only turned to look at this thing for about 15 seconds, long enough to see Doogie's dad and the woman playing the mom.  I liked to have had a duck when it dawned on me who was playing the MOM.

Do what?  Why's Molly Ringwald playing a mom of teenagers, for the love of Long Duck Dong?  I mean, she just had her 16th birthday and everybody forgot it and....wait.  That was 1984, which would make that 24 years ago. 

I was totally trying to figure out how could it be that Molly Ringwald could be even portraying a mother of teens on the teevee.  I looked Molly up on the Google and she's almost exactly a year to the day older than me, so, that means she's 40.  Whoa.

Then I remembered I have a kid who will be 17 in January and another who will be 15 in about 2 weeks.

On top of that, the last couple days, I have spewed forth more Mom -sounding rhetoric to my teens than I can remember doing all at once. I have sounded very much like a grownup. (Scary) I mean, I am a parent of teenagers.  I know I probably shoulda been hit with this reality, oh, about 4 years ago when the Manchild crossed that threshold, and I guess I did.  I think given some circumstances flying around, there's been a lot more reality checks of late.

What's even scarier to me is that the Manchild is just a little over a year away from being a legal adult.  That means he'll be able to vote.  He'll be able to buy cigarettes if he so chooses (I hope that he doesn't), he'll have to register for the Draft or whatever they call it.

This navel-gazing moment was brought to you courtesy of Molly Ringwald.  Thanks a heap, Molly.

Sam (Molly Ringwald) ponders the 'confidential questionnaire' passed round her classroom at the beginning of Sixteen Candles.

Nos anos 80, a mulher usava ombreira para ficar poderosa - na competição com os homens, principalmente no ambiente de trabalho, era de praxe o tailleurzinho acinturado com ombreirão. Dá uma imagem de mulher mais forte, assim como nos anos 40 - período de guerra, elas precisavam se impor e não ficar com cara de coitadinha.

As yuppies dos 80 curtiam - no A garota de rosa shocking, que a gente comentou faz pouco tempo por aqui, tem uma cena em que a amiga mais velha da Molly usa um paletó largão e ombreirão - e esse é o look CARETA YUPPIE dela. Ela se veste assim (e com um cabelo inacreditável, curtinho arrepiado e cheio de gel) porque está paquerando um yuppie e, claro, precisa se equiparar a ele - no fundo, o filme gira em torno dessa discussão de relacionamentos entre pessoas de grupos sociais diferentes.

Volta para ombreira em si: para mim, hoje, agora, tipo às 17h20 do dia 22 de agosto, é coisa de fashionista ou de tia véia sem noção. Vai chegar na C&A? Tenho minhas dúvidas. Dá uma olhadinha:

Ombreiras de André Lima / fotos da Elle

Não é que seja feio... é que... ai. Fica com cara de "tô pagando de stylist", não fica?

Fiz uma materinha para Abril.com. Veja lá.