Wednesday, February 24, 2010

CHATROULETTE

Okay, so I didn't sleep last night on account of this incredible new social media cleverly called Chatroullete. A website solely dedicated to connecting people all around the world using technology enabling users to utilize cameras/mikes on their computers to see and hear complete strangers. I really like this particular web er thing (?) because it's so interactive and you're speaking with real people in real time! Although, as you can probably gather, there are quite a few risks with exposing yourself to the unfiltered, uncensored computer screens of THE WORLD. There were a plethora of penises, indecent proposals, and creepy older gentlemen on the prowl. Luckily, the beauty of chatroulette is your ability to immediately disconnect and move on to someone/something else. However, amongst the nauseatingly bold sexual deviants are some really awesome people. My friend and I began tallying actually, pleasant conversations against crude, disgusting behavior and the pleasantries outweighed the eye-numbing crazies! By the end of out session we met 4 or 5 really cool people and had really great conversations with them about nothing at all really. One devastating thing did happen though! While speaking with two particularly funny guys from LA we got one of their fb links, but it was lost when we disconnected =( It was the saddest thing ever. It took me a few chatroulette sessions to get over the loss. I'm still not sure I'm over it. So, if you're out there chatroulette buddy- add me!! Crisis Scarlett on fb!! Oh and if anyone else feels inclined to add me either, go right ahead!
There were a few people who did some really cool computer tricks and that were just plain silly! We conversed with a guy from France who was THE NICEST guy ever. It really gives you hope that there are genuinely good people in this effed up world. It gives you hope. Sigh.

All in all chatroulette is yet another time-consuming activity to add to the list. Thanks a lot internet. Ho hum.

Oh and here's a link for some of the ridiculous screenshots captured during Chatroulette sessions from buzzfeed.com. Some of this stuff is pretty HILARIOUS.


I'm out.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Justin Bieber

Okay, I have just shamelessly jumped on the bandwagon. It's mildly embarrassing admitting my instant predilection for what I thought was an 11 year old, but look at him! He's adorable. He's singing about adorable teeny bopper things, how could you not tilt your head to the side and sigh in amusement. Plus, the song "Baby"(below) is just so catchy! Ugh. Where did he even come from?!

(twilight zone music)


According to Wikipedia (my Bible), he's from Canada, 15, and was discovered on youtube by Scooter Braun, who flew him to Georgia to consult with Usher (about what, I have no idea!). Bieber was then signed to Island records. His first album was released last November and it's called My World. He is "the only artist in Billboard history to have four singles from a debut album chart in the Top 40 of the Hot 100 before the album's release." How lucky is this kid?! He's already collaborated with Usher and Ludacris! Insanity.

Without further adieu here is the cutest video EVER...





I'm out.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The PIT

The People's Improv Theatre
(The PIT)

Going to see improv shows is somewhat of a gamble. Sitting nervously in the audience you watch people use their wits and instincts to entertain you. With every scene there is a chance of unbearable amounts of discomfort and embarrassment. However, my night at The PIT was devoid of any of the aforementioned, save one improv team that shall remain nameless. It was probably just an off night, which happens! Anyway, I saw 6 brilliant improv groups this fateful Wednesday night and was impressed in one way, shape, or form by their immense talent. My favorites were Local 154, Senator, Big Black Car (Kristen Schaal from HBO's Flight of the Conchords is actually on that team as well, but was not there last night), and The Baldwins. Though, I must say, I am a little biased considering my friends were on a few of those teams, but I really did have a lot of respect for all of them because everyone had such great energy.
Sitting in the audience that night, I have never felt so proud of my friends. For years they have steadily, wholeheartedly worked on their craft and eventually landed into these two amazing improv groups at The PIT that really allow them to showcase their considerable talent. Not to mention they are two of the best people you'll probably ever meet! Anyway, the teams I mentioned made a significant impact on me and performed the kind of imrpov you would easily drop mad bank on, but their performances were free! These guys effortlessly took random suggestions from the audience and put on such an incredible show! From the minute they received the suggestion to the black out they had the entire audience's attention.
The PIT is such a great place to see improv because of it's size and intimacy. Walking out after the show and seeing the actors mingling and joking around really makes you feel more involved in the experience and not just a mindless theatre-goer.

Improv is such a hard art to master considering there is no room for fear or inhibition. Being an improv actor means you are fearless and incapable of timidity. All of the actors last night showed a fearlessness that cannot be denied and brought their A-game.

I can't wait to go back! I'm actually considering (meaning I'm most likely) taking classes offered at The PIT. I have always loved improv and after seeing those shows last night a wave of inspiration swept over me in an overwhelming way!

So go check out The PIT, they have free shows Wednesday nights and other days of the week if you look at their website, but paying that $5-$10 is totally worth it! They offer classe and many chances for amateurs to perform in front of an audience FOR FREE!

Go Improv!!



I'm out.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Doves Cry

This made me cry. Compliments of a JimmyEW twitter.







I'm (crying) out.

Monday, February 15, 2010

The Bell House



On Saturday night, I dragged my friend from VA and my friend who just relocated back to Brooklyn to The Bell House for an event called
CHERYLYMPIX. According to the facebook invite I got, Cherylympix is...

CHERYL (the dance party that will ruin your life) invites you to curl your hair, hurl your disco balls, and streamline your body with an ergonomic, aerodynamic padded flesh tone luge suit. Fall face down on the skeleton track and thrust your body through hyperspace in .00000238 seconds in the direction of the Bell House for the largest compulsive compulsory competititive LIFE exhibition on this side of GoGo.

CHERYLYMPIX events commence with the traditional mannequinhand torch running, opening ceremony with 1,000 tiny native GoGo children, and the annual kozy shack eating championships. Additional events include inappropriate javelin thrusts, breath holdings, and the face smashing playoffs.


Then there was a link to this...


(yes, it was that amazing)

So my friends and I sat around my apartment for several minutes trying to figure out how the hell to get there. After realizing our trip would take an hour and a half using trusty ol MTA, we decided on a cab. We finally got there and to my dismay the bar seemed devoid of activity. Looking nervously at my two friends hoping they would forgive me for bringing them to the lamest party ever, we stepped further inside. We ordered some drinks and started heading towards the back of the bar, and that's when I saw it. The golden gates. There was an entire other room! A sigh of relief escaped my lips and my friends and I headed into the dark room with the colorful flashing lights and loud music. The venue is a great size. Not too big, but not a claustrophobic's nightmare. It's actually very beautiful inside, but you couldn't really tell with all the lights out and an innumerable amount of people grinding on each other. There's a stage right in front of you when you walk in and plenty of standing room for dancing. A bar stood towards the back wall and another was elevated left of the stage. There were couches littered around the edges of the room where one could sit and take a breather from the massive pulsing crowd.
The music was excellent: yeah yeah yeahs, cut copy, CHROMEO. Dancing was indisputable, there were no options, your feet were required to move. We danced all night!
The only negative thing I have to say about the experience was the horrible transportation. Because it was the weekend, the trains were running at unreasonable hours. After we left we had a small squabble with an asshole cab driver that insisted on running the meter without knowing how to get to our destination. My friend loudly voiced her discontent, consequently getting us thrown out of the taxi. It was one of the funniest/ most absurd things I ever witnessed. The cabby was truly a piece of work. With spirits high, and the adrenaline (amongst other things) from hours of dancing still pumping through our veins we set off to take the subway- that didn't work. We wound up even further away and elected to take a cab after a pit stop at D and D. America runs on dunkin- apparently.

Saturday night was epic, consisting of fortified wine (cisco. you know the deal)and friends. I totally recommend The Bell House ( a bar/venue) for all your entertainment needs.



I'm out.

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/CrisisScarlett

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Dear John

John Mayer was interviewed by playboy and made some extremely controversial remarks that seemed to be neither thought out or considered before effortlessly jumping from his mouth. Okay, so he effed up- BIG TIME.
I have been following @johncmayer for months now and have been pleasantly surprised by his humor and intrigued by his insight, however after watching the Wendy Williams show and hearing (out of context) some of the things he said made me resent my partiality towards him. Not only did he use the N word, but he said this after being asked if he'd date a black woman:

“I don’t think I open myself to it. My d*ck is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fu*kin’ David Duke c*ck. I’m going to start dating separately from my d*ck. …I always thought Holly Robinson Peete was gorgeous. Every white dude loved Hilary from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And Kerry Washington. She’s super hot and she’s also white-girl crazy. Kerry Washington would break your heart like a white girl. Just all of a sudden she’d be like, ‘Yeah, I sucked his d*ck. Whatever.’”

This above everything else said in the interview upset me the most because try as I might I could not find the clever, witty insight. All I saw was a stereotypical, glaringly unfunny testament of ignorance. Though I know this is not the case, it's hard to defend such a blatant disregard of respect or tact. I know I know he's trying to be biting and edgy, but I just don't see it here.

He has issued a number of apologies about his grand-scaled faux pas and honestly, I believe him. I have, on more occasions than I care to recall, said stupid things I didn't mean in order to get some kind of reaction out of people. It's hard to make a mistake like that when you're a celebrity of his caliber, but I truly believe that's what it was- a mistake.

Here's a link to an apology he made at a concert in Nashville.



And here's something Holly Robinson Pete wrote in her blog about the fiasco, which I think was done very well. She's cool. Not a "mammie" at all! (you'll have to read her post to get that ha)



So...



Dear John,

I think it's time we had a discussion about your flagrant insouciance for other people's feelings when answering questions on interviews. No one knows you except for your friends and family, so when you say inflammatory words like the n word and wax on about liking black woman that act white, and speaking explicitly about past sexual relationships with other celebrities people may get well- angry? Upset. Confused. Really freaking pissed. In lieu of recent events, it's probably best if you are slightly more careful with what you say. Now, keep your chin up! This too shall pass! America has the attention span of a cocker spaniel. Oh and don't worry, your true fans will stick by you.
Best of Luck!

Sincerely,

Chris

p.s.- It also probably doesn't help that it's black history month. Just saying.


(EDIT): p.p.s- You're still a flaming idiot, but people like you say shit like that all the time and get away with it. I will never let you or anyone else dictate how I feel about myself so though your comments are in fact ignorant and bigoted, and you too are most likely a bigot, all I can do is pity you. No harsh feelings. Just good ol' pity.


I'm out.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Snowpocolypse+ Valentine's Gay

In the words of my roommate and I, "It's blizzarding outside."

I love the snow. I'm a huge fan- always have been. Snow days, sledding, snow ball fights, making snow men, all activities including copious amounts of snow and wonderful friends. How could you not like snow?! Alright, I know, it could be a pain, but I love it anyhow.
I'm sitting in my apartment today watching harry potter and the half blood prince, drinking hot chocolate. We actually just braved the cold to procure cake mix and cookies. It was such an adventure, an incandescent adventure! What could be better?!



This will be my last time talking about V-day! Promise.
So Valentine's Days is ever approaching and the biting reality that I am not apart of a couple (womp womp) is slowly caving in on me in an excruciatingly, mortifyingly devastating way. Every shop window (and even freaking delis) is decorated with blood red hearts and teddy bears with little black, encroaching (almost taunting) eyes. And love songs and specials about love and people talking about love escalates to unbearable levels and all you want to do is drown it out with your own desperate screams, entreating the insanity to stop. Sigh. Maybe that's just me. I don't know what it is about Valentine's Day that really just gets on my nerves... Maybe it's the gross amount of time couples put into the impudent floundering of romantic gestures for gratification or to prove their love for each other. Maybe it's the unfortunate societal pressure that insists people need romantic relationships in order to be happy. Maybe it's because this one day spotlights people who are not involved with anyone and somehow manages to embarrass them for choosing singularity.
And now for the mad scramble of people to find dates for Valentine's Days so as not feel the inevitable sting of bachelor/bachelorette(?)-hood on the "holiday of love."
I hope the title of this post didn't offend, it's strictly in jest/humor. As a testament to my distaste for using the word "gay" in a negative context I shall post an important public announcement done by the talented and apparently socially aware Hilary Duff and comedian Wanda Sykes.



STUPID.

Anyway, what I'm really trying to say is, will you be my valentine?


Im (going) out (with you).

ha

Thursday, February 4, 2010

HOME SWEET HOME + THE DARK ROOM

Home Sweet Home

A bar with a lot of character, and an even more interesting clientele. I went to the bar solely because of their drink special on Monday nights (2 for 1), but was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance and people. It reminded me of a hunter's lodge. The music was really fun and people were very friendly and social. One of my coworkers even shared a smoke sesh (cigarettes!) with Chloë Sevigny! -Funny story about Mizz Chloë Sevigny- She was sitting at the bar minding her own business when a gentlemen commented on her outfit, saying it was in so many words unattractive. She then went to smoke a cig, and when she came back the gentlemen was enlightened about her celebrity status and immediately went up to her to retract his statement in (embarrassing) shame. She smiled and walked away, obviously unmoved by his opinion, but gracefully accepting his pitiful apology.


The Dark Room

Though I did not stay there long (Monday night there's an open bar-free vodka drinks from 11- midnight), I must say this place was really entertaining, good people, great dj. It looks like it would be really fun packed, but the Monday night we were there, the crowd was sparse.

All in all it was a really good night.


I'm out.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Not a Fan of February

It's funny, because not even 2 weeks ago my roommate was talking about how much she hated February. Her reason was though it's the shortest month of the year people seem to forget it's also extremely cold. She says, "If I can make it through February, I know I'm gonna be okay." haha


Now. Here is why I hate February:


1. Black History month: The shortest month of the year is dedicated to history that is apart of American history, yet is marginalized by being squeezed into 28/29 days of watered down accounts of inequality and focuses on the same five black people: Martin Luther King, Jr; Rosa Parks; Jackie Robinson; Harriet Tubman; Malcolm X. I don't feel special during this month, I feel ostracized and paranoid. Are white people being extra nice to me because it's black history month? Probably.

2. Valentine's Day: The most absurd (okay, one of the most absurd) holiday in American tradition. A day when every "single" person in this country feels their worst, whether they admit it or not. A day where the darkest side of me emerges and the sight of affectionate couples enrages me. Can't they put that away?! Also, the shameless prostitution that's perpetuated every year, gifts in exchange for sex? We all know that's what happens. I think Feb. 14 should be called "Legal Prostitution Day." I know I probably sound bitter, but it's just because this society's whole concept of love is warped. Love is so much more than a card or a box of chocolates or a diamond necklace or a pink Cadillac (hm. maybe not the cadillac jk jk!), and yes it's something that you should want to celebrate, but not in a disgusting, capitalistic way like Legal Prostitution Day.

3. It's short. This month makes me nervous, because there are not as many days in it as the others, which makes me think ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. February is a month of mystery and wonder. Why is this month so short? Doesn't it have something to do with a farming calendar or did someone just lop off two days for the hell of it? LAME.

4. Retail is slow, which means I'm not getting a lot of hours, which means I'm barely making any money, which means I HATE FEBRUARY.

5. The name is just plain stupid.

6. Groundhog Day. That poor groundhog. Yet another redonkulous holiday. How two stupid holidays in one month are in such close vicinity is beyond me.


Alright, I think those are all of them. I'm sure I'll be adding to the list later... ha
STINKY FEBRUARY!

At least Lost is starting this month... nah, still don't like it.

*Let it be noted I enjoy many people who's birthdays are in February, but I still hate the month. sorry.

I'm out.