Defying Gravity

[Glinda:]
Don't be afraid.

[Elphaba:]
I'm not...
It's the Wizard who should be afraid...
Of me!

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap

It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down...

Quick get on!

[Glinda:]
What?

[Elphaba:]
Come with me. Think of what we could do - together.

I'm Limited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been, Glinda,
Dreams the way we planned 'em

[Glinda:]
If we work in tandem

[Both:]
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I
Defying gravity
With you and I
Defying gravity

[Elphaba:]
They'll never bring us down...
Well? Are you coming?

[Glinda:]
Elfie, you're trembling!
I hope you're happy
Now that you're choosing this...

[Elphaba:]
You too - I hope it brings you bliss

[Both:]
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy, my friend...

[Elphaba:]
So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately -
Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me -

Tell them how I
Am defying gravity!
I'm flying high
Defying gravity!
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!

[Citizens of Oz:]
Look at her, shes wicked!
Get her!

[Elphaba:]
...bring me down!

This is truly an exceptional show (for those who are not familiar with it!) Jimmy and I were lucky enough to have the opportunity to see this musical last year. It was amazing! The story is based on the Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the witches, Elphaba (better known to people who are familiar with the Wizard of Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda. Wicked is the back-story of the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda… their rough beginning and rivalry (especially around a common love-interest) that develops into a strong friendship. The story comes to a major climax near the end of the first act (during this song, "Defying Gravity") when Elphaba realizes that the Wizard of Oz and his government are corrupt and she will have nothing to do with it! (It is at this point that the Wizard tarnishes her publicly as “wicked” and an evil witch, even though it is really the other way around in this story.)

This song has been exceptionally encouraging for me lately with regards to work, or as I like to call it, hell. I try my best to focus having things perfect and right, and when others suffer from mediocrity (at best) or just unadorned apathy, it really brings me down! When things need to be addressed and corrected immediately, it seems that there is a remarkable lack of urgency and will from others to comply.

This song helps me recognize that I must to do my best, even though others may not follow suit. I need to stop playing by their rules. I need to trust myself and my instincts and do what I know is right despite the fact that others simply do not care. I need to stop allowing the indifference of others to influence my outlook, and I must only focus on me and what I can do. That is all I can ask of myself… that is all that I truly require. Perhaps there is hope that I will one day free myself from my shackles of anguish and the place I know as hell, my job.

It's Just Chick-Fil-A

I took this picture on the way home from work two days ago. A new Chick-Fil-A was about to grand open, and people were camping outside days before! Don't get me wrong - I enjoy some Chick-Fil-A from time to time (that is before I became a vegetarian few weeks ago) - but this is absolutely insane! This isn't the opening of a new Star Wars movie, it's just Chick-Fil-A!

-- Posted from Frank's iPhone

Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter

I don't even know how I came upon this ridiculous YouTube video, but after watching it, my interest was peaked. And sure enough, I found the book, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter online. Being a pervasive history buff and a huge vampire fan (for the exception of all of that Twilight crap), I am obligated to read this now! Thanks weird YouTube video for playing on my unusual fascination with the bizarre. I guess I need to make my way to Borders sometime today or tomorrow.

Weird Science News

I read some pretty crazy science related stuff today on my lunch break at work...

So apparently, one of the most common weed-killers in the world, atrazine, causes chemical castration in frogs and could be killing off amphibian populations worldwide. Even more so, 10 percent of adult, male, atrazine-exposed frogs developed into females that copulated with other males and produced eggs. WTF! How the hell is that even possible!?

Also, that huge earthquake that just recently hit Chile… well, it shortened days on Earth… by about 1.26 milliseconds! Perhaps even more impressive, it moved the Earth’s axis of rotation by about 3 inches too… one earthquake did this!

Bill Murray Talks "Ghostbusters III" With David Letterman

I've been hearing for years now that there is supposedly going to be a "Ghostbusters III" movie... for years now! Recently, as in this year, the chatter on the internet about this possible trilogy has been been getting much louder and appearing to be much more of a realistic. Hell, it's even already on the IMDB website for release in 2011. And then just last night on David Letterman, we hear from Bill Murray...

Celtic Thunder - Hallelujah

I just recently downloaded Celtic Thunder’s new album, “It’s Entertainment!” To my amazement, one of the songs they perform on this new album is, “Hallelujah!” (And Keith Harkin is still a hottie!) This is my 3rd post that the song “Hallelujah” has been featured on (the first post from 10/10/06 and the second post from 5/23/08.) This song has always had a special place in my heart. Certainly it speaks to the darkness, the sorrow, and the tragedy that reside there and the hope and faith of overcoming it, but it’s more than just that. It speaks to all that I have been blessed with as well.

One of the things that has always fascinated me about the story of King David was how tragically flawed his character and thus many of his actions were. David was God’s anointed - God’s favored one – yet David commits horrible sins against God in sleeping with another man’s wife, and then essentially having that other man killed. Although David suffers greatly for his sins, God doesn’t lose favor with David – he remains king, and his bloodline will eventually include the Christ. I find it very comforting that no matter how much of a disappointment we may be, God still loves us for who we are – imperfect beings.

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

Though I certainly don’t deserve it, and I am fully aware that I’m not as grateful as I should be for it, but God has truly blessed me with a very rewarding life, more so than most in this world. My greatest, reoccurring sin and flaw is that I don’t place God above all things in my life – I’m too concerned and caught up in my own affairs. And though I do try to change this each morning as I start the day, the monotony of daily life brings me back to being too focused on me, and only in hindsight as I reflect on my day before I go to bed do I realize that I’ve failed miserably once again. Nonetheless, God continues to bless me each and every day.

I certainly have trouble with the second part of Christ’s commandment too, much for the same reason – I’m too focused on my own life. I don’t let the people I love the most know how I feel nearly as much as I should because I don’t think to do it – I’m too busy – too busy with me.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

I try to remember this prayer each day, but it somehow manages to get lost through day – and again only in hindsight at the end of the day to I realize that it escaped me. And still even though I definitely am not worthy of it, God continues to bless me each and every day.

So yes, there is one word I always have when I feel scared, feel despondent, feel fantastic, feel wonderful, feel things are too good to be true, feel things can’t get any worse, feel ashamed, feel like a failure, or feel broken – “Hallelujah!”

Cat Gives A Massage

This is too cute!

Happy Birthday...

Very exciting! I just noted (tweeted) via Twitter about 15 minutes ago that Levar Burton and I share the same birthday, Feb 16... just minutes later, Levar Burton sent me a direct message wishing me a Happy Birthday! I'm totally star-struck right now!!!



Happy Birthday Levar!

Johnny Weir STILL = Super HOT

It was Johnny Weir's skating ability (or was it because he is f-ing hot… can’t remember) that first drew my attention to him back in 2006 during that year’s Winter Olympics. I also certainly enjoy his personality - he says whatever is on his mind, regardless of how controversial or quirky it might be!

Here’s a snippet of a recent interview (and he’s still pretty f-ing hot!)

"I know that for the men's population of the Unites States, figure skating is a 'gay' sport and that's a misconception. There are so many straight athletes in figure skating. But I think it's the music and the costumes that turn most men off. Because they want to see, well, they want to see spandex-ed men hitting each others' ass and throwing a ball. It's very different."

The New Dune Movie Could Be 3-D

That new Dune director sure gets around! Last week in an interview, Pierre Morel told how he loved the novel as a teenager, read it at least 10 times and intended his film to be faithful to the book. But now he's spilling even more details about his plans—and those plans could include 3-D!

In an interview with IGN, Pierre Morel talked about how he was intimidated by the project, and that he had to "erase the image that David Lynch did" in order to proceed. But he also said that—

"I'd love it to be 3-D, of course. It's the kind of movie that has the scope to be 3-D. Will they do it in 3-D? I'd push for that, but I don't know. As a viewer, I've just been watching Avatar with my kids twice in the theater already and had a blast. It's an amazing experience."

-- Posted from Frank's iPhone

Anything For Love : The Literal Video

Similar to the last "literal" music video that I posted from YouTube on Billy Jean, here's another one that's pretty funny too! This would be the "literal" video to Meat Loaf's "Anything For Love." (I think the Billy Jean one was a bit more humorous, but this one is still funny nonetheless!)

Billie Jean : The Literal Video Version

I've discovered several "literal" music video parodies on YouTube... this one of "Billy Jean" is pretty funny!

Friday's Historic Q&A Put Into Perspective By SNL

"On Friday President Obama appeared before House Republicans in a historic televised Q & A and performed so well,after wards GOP Aids said that allowing cameras to roll like that was a mistake. Come on Republicans,are you on such a Scott Brown high you thought you could take down Barack Obama by debating him? You realize debates are why he is President, right? Seriously, all you do is complain how Obama is all talk and then you invite him to a forum that is literally all talk. That's like saying lets see how tough Aquaman is once we get him in the water. I'm not saying you were out classed but the whole thing was like the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the guy charged at Indiana Jones with the sword and he just shot him."

Kermit's X-Ray Reveals A Harsh Reality

After a recent doctor's visit, Kermit's x-ray appears to have revealed a congenital condition that we all knew existed, but he always refused to believe!


-- Posted from Frank's iPhone

New Toy?

I encountered this amazing device this past weekend. It's the Dyson AirBlade! You place your wet hands in the device, and it blows high speed currents of air on both sides of your hands to dry them quickly!

I own a Dyson vacuum, and it is awesome! The Dyson brand really has their act together when it comes to ingenuity and design!

Anyway, back to the AirBlade... I was absolutely impressed with how quickly it dried my hands! Very innovative! I instantly had to show Jimmy and told him I wanted one for the house...

Tragically, I discovered that a Dyson AirBlade will cost some $1500! My heart was broken, and I was devastated!

Oh well... No new toy for now... Just need to try my luck with the lottery!

-- Posted from Frank's iPhone

Futon Finally Fixed

This is what has become to our futon during the peak of the dogs' seperation anxiety. They tore the cover to shreds! The futon also constantly slips down due to the dogs always jumping on and off it as the window behind the futon is their favorite spot to view the front yard when Jimmy and I are gone during the day.


Just in today from the Internet, a Futton Gripper, which supposedly will prevent the futon from slipping in the future. We'll see how effective it is in the coming days and weeks.


New cover now on the futon in conjunction with the new futon gripper... Hopefully the dogs are over their need to destroy it!

-- Posted from Frank's iPhone

Cindy McCain Joins the NOH8 Campaign

Today the NOH8 campaign protesting California's Proposition 8 announced a new high-profile Republican supporter: John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain. NOH8 is a photo project in which subjects are photographed wearing white, against a white background, with their mouths taped shut and "NOH8" painted on their faces. McCain's daughter Meghan McCain, a vocal proponent of marriage equality, posed for NOH8 last summer.


The NOH8 website posted the following note, along with McCain's photo, expressing the campaign's surprise and appreciation that she decided to join the cause.

In the year since we've started the NOH8 Campaign, we've been surprised at some of the different individuals who have approached us showing their support. Few, though, have surprised us more than Cindy McCain--the wife of Senator John McCain and mother to vocal marriage equality advocate Meghan McCain. The McCains are one of the most well-known Republican families in recent history, and for Mrs. McCain to have reached out to us to offer her support truly means a lot. Although we had worked with Meghan McCain before and we were aware of her own position, we'd never really thought the cause might be something her mother could get behind.

Aligning yourself with the platform of gay marriage as a Republican still tends to be very stigmatic, but Cindy McCain wanted to participate in the campaign to show people that party doesn't matter - marriage equality isn't a Republican issue any more than it is a Democratic issue. It's about human rights, and everybody being treated equally in the eyes of the law that runs and protects this country.

One Of My Favorite iPhone Apps

RedLaser is an amazing iPhone App! You to scan a UPC barcode, then RedLaser instantly searches for the lowest local and online prices. Genius!

I downloaded the RedLaser App a couple months ago, but only recently really began using it. The app itself cost me $1.99, but has already saved me $30 on just one purchase!



My dogs (my baby boys) love Greenies! I was paying over $30 for each box, but RedLaser found a website selling them for only $22! Sure, it's only $8 savings per box, but my dogs go through at least 2 boxes a month, so the savings certainly add up very quickly!

If you own an iPhone, I highly recommend the RedLaser App! I promise that you'll love it!

-- Posted from Frank's iPhone

Mass Backwards

So for anyone keeping up on politics, tonight’s the night of the Massachusetts special election to fill the late Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy’s seat. Democrat Martha Coakley, originally thought to have this Senate seat in the bag just weeks ago, is expected to lose to Republican Scott Brown.

So why is this of any importance to anyone not living in Massachusetts? If (when) Coakley loses, it will mean an end to the Democrats’ short 60 seat hold in the Senate, making it possible for Republicans to complete obstruct nearly everything in the Senate with a filibuster. Democrats fear that this could endanger the health care bill.

Leave it to John Stewart to put this into proper prospective – "If this lady loses, the health care reform bill that the beloved late senator considered his legacy, will die. And the reason it will die... is because if Coakley loses, Democrats will only have an 18 vote majority in the Senate, which is more than George W. Bush ever had in the Senate when did whatever the fuck he wanted to."

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Mass Backwards
www.thedailyshow.com
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Top Three Movies and TV Shows in 2009

These are the top three movies and TV series I watched in 2009, not necessarily movies or TV shows that came out in 2009.

Top Three Movies:

C.R.A.Z.Y.
This film is centered on the character of Zachary Beaulieu growing up in Québec of the 1960s and 1970s. He is the second-youngest son of a pretty conservative father and a mother who thinks that he possesses a gift to cure people. Being raised with four other brothers, Zac struggles to define his own identity, and deal with the conflict between his emerging sexuality and his intense desire to please his strict, temperamental and conservative father.


Assassination of a High School President
Wanting to be a respected high school reporter, Bobby Funke's sets out on tracking down and publishing a story on a set of stolen SATs. After he suspects the school president for the crime, Funke becomes one of the most popular kids at St. Donovan's High. Funke wins the respect of everyone at the school. As Funke's popularity grows so do his suspicions. He begins to wonder if the president really stole the SATs or if he's just a pawn in a conspiracy.


Constantine’s Sword
The title page of this film shows the shadow of a cross, with "No war is holy" written across the cross. Constantine’s Sword is the story of James P. Carroll's journey to uncover the roots of war. Carroll, a former Catholic priest whose father, Joseph Carroll, was a famous Air Force general, implies that there has been a relationship between religiously inspired violence and war, beginning with the adoption of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 312 AD. Constantine was convinced that he had won a battle because he had followed the instructions of a vision, to inscribe a sign of the cross on the shields of his soldiers. This was also the first time in the young history of Christianity that the cross became a symbol of Christianity. In Carroll's view, this event marked the beginning of an unholy alliance between the military and the Church.


Top 3 TV Shows:

30 Rock
This show is comedy series that takes place behind the scenes of a fictional live sketch comedy series depicted as airing on NBC. The name "30 Rock" refers to the address of the GE Building where NBC Studios is located, 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Jericho
The storyline of this show centers on the residents of Jericho, a small, rural Kansas town, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the United States.

Dexter
This follows the day to day events of Dexter Morgan's life, a forensic blood splatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department, who also happens to be a serial killer in his free time. He was taught by his adoptive father, Harry, only to kill those "who deserve it"; mainly, other killers who have escaped the traditional legal system or were never suspected in the first place. It shows him balancing an everyday life with his secret identity all while keeping up a facade of normalcy.