Most Influential YouTube Videos of All Time

Most Influential YouTube Videos of All Time 

(Or at least since it's appearance)

When I initially started this post I decided to theme Saturdays as 'Lazy Saturday': a post that took little thought, but would still be an entertaining extravaganza. Well, in case you didn't know this, researching the most influential, best, most viewed (whatever you define influential to mean) internet videos of all time was no easy task. Every blog, website, article I pursued said something different and before I knew it I had an excel database sheet marking which ones were discussed and how many times. So much for a lazy Saturday. I decided to limit my videos to the top ten and not in any particular order (trust me influential does not mean which video has received the most hits--another thing I discovered and, sadly, something I should have already known).

Exhibit A: "Charlie Bit My Finger"

Exhibit B: "Charlie Schmidt's Keyboard Cat"

Exhibit C: "Evolution of Dance" Judson Laipply

Exhibit D: OK GO- "Here it Goes Again"

Exhibit E: "Leave Britney Alone"

Exhibit F: "JK Wedding Entrance Dance"

Exhibit G: "Numa Numa"

Exhibit H: "Sneezing Baby Panda"

Exhibit I: "Dramatic Chipmunk"

Exhibit J:PSY "Gangnam Style"

Pinterest: Anti-Feminist or Just a Rockin' Good Time

Pinterest:

Anti-Feminist or Just a Rockin' Good Time

In the past few months I have come across several blog posts and newspaper articles all discussing the anti-feminist nature of Pinterest. Being an avid pinner and lover of the almighty pin board my mind was set totally against this outrageous accusation. So, I decided to do an experiment...super basic. I would go onto pinterest and count the number of pins that may cause a woman to feel less about herself, or ask her to fit into the status quo. The thing is, like any standard webpage, I only really look at the pins related to meal-making and crafts. All the others ones are discarded from memory...

Shockingly, after counting just one webpage's pins (the ending point being the 'fetching more pins' section), almost thirty percent were solely devoted to making a woman feel like she needs to follow a certain life path (marriage, babies, etc.) or that her body should be some preconceived idea of beauty (namely skinny).

    

The two images above are the extreme examples of body imaging on pinterest. The first image is like so many other ones on the board: show a girl who was fat, thus ugly, before and then show her diet and then look how she has transformed into a bombshell. The second image was a joke made by pinners with the caption reading: "this is how stuffed I feel right now." The demeaning image of this woman, made by fellow women, is appalling. Then there are of course the multitudes of messages/sayings meant to be inspirational for women, like the one below. 

While there are many lonely hearts out there, the highway of life image behind it makes it seem that finding one's partner and love is the ultimate destination. I have been lucky in this department, but there was a time when I was one of those women wondering when my prince charming would show up. It would have been nice to have had more words of inspiration from my fellow ladies discussing how my career choices will lead me to a happy, unexpected location...that the road of life will go on if your knight doesn't show up. These sayings/pins are limited in comparison to the one's about marriage and finding love.

Now it's time for me to discuss the flip side of this issue. Even though many of the pins about body type are aimed towards women, what about those pins connected to men? Like the below image that discusses dieting tips...

Now when someone sees a middle-aged guy who does a before and after one doesn't automatically think how anti-masculine. So, why can a tubby man going to thin mean nothing more than he enjoys exercising and wants to live a long and healthy life? In this way the anti-feminist propaganda against healthy eating and losing weight seems ridiculous. Or is it simply that the images accompanying the diet tips tend to make a woman think about her own body, even if it is healthy, as inferior. I'm not sure about this one...jury is still out.

Lastly, in major defense of pinterest, I want to say that a good deal of pins relate to helping the busy woman/man with easy cooking ideas, or to simply offer someone inspiration on holiday ideas and birthdays. One of the biggest rants against the board is that they promote traditional female activities. Please...some people just enjoy crafts and cooking. I'm not buying into this propaganda. The great thing about feminism is that it should be a movement which allows a woman to explore and participate in any activity they want without censure from their community. Pinterest is for the more 'traditional' female activities, but this is not to say men aren't also finding these pins helpful. Especially for men who, dare I say it, love to cook, love to plan, or oh my gosh like to be creative. For those anti-pinteresters: if you are not interested in these activities simply don't do them...not every pin is meant for everyone. 

And I also think the anti-feminist propaganda is missing out on the other part of pinterest...the humor. Vast amounts of pins deal mainly with putting a smile on your face. My favorite is the animal humor. So, in the tone of this adorable puppy...enjoy it if you want and if you don't just don't visit the website. 

Les Misérables (wedged between tears and yawns)

Les Misérables: A Review

(wedged between yawns)

I decided to ask my dad and husband to take me to see Les Mis, which is why included the subtitle: wedged between my two men, I was crying, the men almost dozing. In fact, I think one did fall asleep at one point. I cannot really blame them. I guess I have never really seen a true musical before, because I kept asking myself when are they going to speak the words instead of sing everything. If only they would have just spoken a few things I wouldn't have had my butt go numb from the three hour long show.

I was not surprised by the tone of the movie--I think 'the miserables' leaves little to question that you are going to leave the theatre much more depressed than when you entered it. There were a few choice songs that left me excited, however. I loved Anne Hathaway's version of "I Dreamed A Dream." She deserves an Oscar and that is why I chose her for the image to this post. The little actress who played Cozette, Isabelle Allen, gave a heartwarming rendition of "Castle on a Cloud."  And the lover's song between Seyfried, Redmayne, and Barks in "In My Life" was moving.

The roles of Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen also should be commended. Their song was disgusting, but they fit those roles so well. I felt as if I was watching Sweeney Todd all over again and at point, while my face was bathed in salty tears, wishing that was what I was viewing. Hugh Jackman also gave a stellar performance, but I expected nothing less from the wolverine. Russell Crowe, on other hand, someone please pass me some cotton balls my ears are bleeding. I know it was live singing, but he needed some dubbing (or muting). Love you in Gladiator Russell, but the singing shouldn't be attempted again even if you were once wishing to become a rock star.

There were quite a few inaccuracies in the movie. The biggest one being that the setting is in France but everyone was speaking in British accents. Not sure why this happened. I just pretended they were British immigrants in France. I did enjoy the swarthy sounding syllables but it did not remind me of the historical moment in the play, which I thought was half the point of the show. Overall, I give this show an OK. It made me cry, but I wasn't compelled to think about it too much after I left my theater seat.

Where Pants Go To Die...

Where Pants Go To Die...

(bad ideas for your posterior)

It's hard to know exactly what one should write about after the biggest holiday of the year, but I guess the topic of bad fashion is as good of a discussion as any. I have been wanting to examine the topic of 'meggings' since Anderson Cooper did a segment on it four days ago and, yet, was unsure what to pair it with until hit me...investigate some of those 'other' ugly pants that we have been guilty of wearing.

Just in case you don't know what 'meggings' are they are, specifically, really tight pants for men. Now I would be fine with a man wanting to wear some britches that were androgynous and comfy--the problem is it is based on the leggings which truly doesn't need or deserve a doppelgänger. The meggings do for the male form what they do for the feminine: accentuate the butt and thighs. If you have a nice butt and thighs I guess this is fine, but for the most part it makes a man look like, well, the picture to the right. Thank you Conan! 

What Conan is actually donning is the jeggings, but the male meggings looks very similar. Actually, Conan looks a little bit better than a trained model in the actual thing. 

Now that I am on the subject of leggings I would like to do a little 1980's hail to the legging with stirrups. If you lived during this decade and were a girl/woman you owned a pair of these. They slipped over your sock, allowing a nice little pooch to happen behind the knee while accentuating the buttocks. These were perfectly acceptable to wear with slouch socks or stilettos, as seen...hmmm...so versatile.

In this day and age we have taken the traditional and always flattering denim jean into new and terrifying places. One such place is the 'Pajama Jean,' which promises to look just like jeans but feel like comfy sweatpants. The problem with this theory is that the 'Pajama Jean' is made out of cotton spandex and it tends to cling like jeggings--not at all flattering for any "baby got back" girl. 

Jeans With Denim Lining

Another phenomenon is the jean that has flannel material inside. I'm guessing this is either for warmth, or for people, like myself, who find denim itchy. However, they are ugly. With all these attempts to trade comfy for fashion, and vice versa, I say life is pain. Wear your sweatpants at home, unless you don't give a crap, then shake your comfy a** around town with no worries. Or just wear the uncomfortable crap outside the house and deal with it. This attempt to turn the attractive into laid-back just isn't working and it's time to just call a spade a spade: enough with the lazy pants.

Most Popular Christmas Toys (1920's till now)

Most Popular Christmas Toys

(1920's till now)

A Christmas post should deal with one of the more important traditions, gift opening, and, in particular, TOYS!! When discussing the most influential toys over the past century there must be limitations, first and foremost, I am dealing only with American culture and, secondly, I am choosing to skip certain decades due to length--this post can't be a dissertation of American toys even though that would be a lot of fun! I researched several reputable websites and cross-matched the entries. These are the results I found...

1920's--

"Radio Flyer Wagon"

This toy has found it's place in so many films, books, etc. and even today many children still own this beloved classic. I remember carrying my kittens around in mine when I was a little girl, or towing a friend down hills at far too fast a pace (ahhh the good ol' days). Something so simple became a much beloved member of the family and an item that has more memories attached to it than most toys can boast.

1930's--

"The Sock Monkey"

My favorite of all stuffed animals and an inspiration for one of my other blogs, the sock monkey has the ability to turn any frown upside down. I have never had the nerve to make one out of used socks (a perfect toy for the depression), but appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted sock monkey. The cute button eyes and that happy red mouth, there's no jollier face to be found. 

1940's--

"The Slinky"

I had several of these growing up and all of them ended up looking like a mesh of metal shortly after taking too far of a tumble. The sad thing about a slinky is that once it's twisted it's done forever. I remember my parents buying me a plastic one once, and while indestructible, far less fun. 

1950's--

"Mr. Potato Head"

Oh Mr. Po Head (what I used to call mine) is a toy that should be incredibly boring. After sticking his parts in him and taking them out the fun should be over, but something ethereal happens when you put the eye where the nose should be and an arm sticking out of the forehead...the possibilities are endless! While my Mr. Po took a beatin' like no other toy in my toy box he was always good for a laugh.

1960's--

"Etch a Sketch"

Only a true artist can use this toy's canvas and yet it has been done in remarkable ways. Back in school I thought I was doing good just to write my name in cursive. However, this toy has taken on new dimensions as a platform for some very interesting art!

1970's--

"Simon"

Simon, or  as I like to call it, the dumb man's rubik's cube (not that I ever really accomplished this game). I think it was thrown around the room like a frisbee. This is not a game for the impatient! I can still remember pounding on the colored pop up pieces, knowing that pressing too hard or too soft could either not count towards the sequence or accidentally end up in the dreaded, accidental double hit. 

1980's--

"Teddy Ruxpin"

The other mother toy, the Teddy Ruxpin could read to you without the supervision of an adult and the great thing is you didn't have to wait until bed time. Teddy would happily read to you whenever you wanted. The biggest problem is that his mouth never moved with the words. It was just a standard up and down motion, but over time, miraculously, I forgot all about that major technological problem. 

1990's--

"Tickle Me Elmo"

I was stuck as to whether to bring up the dreaded beanie baby phenomenon or the mass craved Tickle Me Elmo. In the end the red guy won out, mainly because I saw mothers knocking each other down in Wal-mart one day for the last remaining one. Even at twelve I thought "you've got to be kidding me."

2000--

Bratz

I honestly know very little about this toy except for their gigantic heads. Coming from the Barbie age where dolls are supposed to be super attractive in order to gain the attention of the one man, Ken, that I owned, the thought of a disproportionate doll seemed odd. However, I guess it's better to play with a doll  that is funny looking than one that will give you a complex. 

Twas the Night Before Christmas...(and we made radish people?)

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

(and we made radish people?)

As Erik, my partner in crime, and I sat around the Christmas tree counting our gifts I couldn't help but look at my plastic tree and wonder: why is this fabricated bush giving me the holiday spirit? Is it not a little strange to hang lights on a forest friend, removing it from it's native land for me to put ornaments on and stick packages underneath (well, mine actually came from some kind of assembly plant in China, but still). I was going to research the origin of the Christmas tree, but that's so been there done that. In lieu of keeping with a Christmas theme, I decided to look at a few other culture's traditions.

Nativity Scene

It didn't take me long to stumble across the story of the radish people in Oaxaca, Mexico. Apparently every December 23rd the people get together and create elaborate scenes using very large radishes. The history of it relates back to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors were not only trying to convert the native people to Christianity, but also the growing of certain hometown crops. Since the people had great wood working skills they decided to have them carve radishes. These carvings soon began to furnish vegetable stalls in hopes of gathering more customers to their produce. Now, The Night of the Radishes, becomes a huge contest where the winner can walk away with over a thousand dollars. Not bad for a radish! (see NPR radish people for a more detailed account).

This next Christmas tradition is short and sweet, just the way I like them. In Japan it is customary to eat a bucket of fried KFC chicken on the big day. In fact, I read that the Japanese need to order their buckets weeks in advance to obtain them. In my town eating KFC happens only when you forgot to go to the grocery store, or you're just really wanting a digestive issue in the morning. Apparently, KFC has a major marketing campaign there and I must say that is quite a feat of commercial magic. (Watch this commercial, it's amazing: Japan KFC commercial)

I'm going to end this post with a pretty scary creature and he's called the Krampus. In Austria (or the larger Alpine region) the Krampus monster is seen as the helper to St. Nicholas; where the jolly Santa rewards good children, the "Krampus" punishes them. Now we're not talking about a slap on the wrist kinda discipline, certainly nothing like getting a lump of coal that American kids receive, we're talking about a monster who will grab you and take you to his lair if you are naughty. The Krampus, usually young men dressed up in elaborate demonic costumes, are seen roaming the streets on December fifth, scaring young children with rust chains and bells (or at least that is what I have read so far). These creatures sure do evoke that holiday spirit. I was going to write about the icelandic yule tide cat who attacks naughty children, but this creature would be enough to create some 'very' well-behaved kids. I'm pretty sure if I lived in Austria December 25th would not be worth having to go through December 5th! (I just have to share the song of Krampus, wow: The Krampus Song)

The Human Barbie Doll

The Human Barbie Doll

(Insane Culture or Artistic Expression?)

When I first heard of the Barbie look-a-like phenomenon the image that popped in my mind was some bleach-head blonde, similar to the like of Heidi Montag. And why not? She's undergone a massive transformation from the beginning of her days on The Hills. Seeing her now shows that plastic surgery has the power to create a new you, an adjustable physical form in a few (large) easy payments. Yet, this is not the Barbie phenomenon that is really occurring. In this case it relates to constructing an identity based on a pop culture icon, turning the new self into a representation of someone/something else.

The most famous of the Barbie trendies is Ukrainian, Valeria Lukanova, an internet sensation that has taken the expression 'beauty is on the inside' into question. For how can a woman who wants to be Barbie be anything other than an object of play for both men and women? Even though I am appalled by her sensational display (and objectification) of the female body, I am also slightly intrigued by it all. The poses, the makeup, the choice of clothing, and the very immense surgical procedures that had to go into this creation begs me to wonder is this a standard aspiration for the plastic female creation of beauty, or purely an artistic homage to the plastic toy that I admired when growing up? 

My opinion largely goes to my first assertion, exploitation of the female form, and albeit, a bad role model for on-looking adolescent girls. Of course, this goes further when young children themselves seem to be fashioning themselves as young dolls. London-based Venus Palermo is one such example. She offers help for other young girls on how to create this doll-like persona, including choice of clothing, makeup techniques, and posing to create the look. This need to be a doll is not unique to any one culture. A current dissertation on Japanese girls and their fascination with becoming a Barbie has shown that many cultures try to emulate the doll merely to aspire to become more westernized (see Arisa Shibagaki, The Barbie Phenomenon). This idea is even more horrific to me than the woman changing her body to personify an inanimate object, because a loss of culture will be made for the sake of a commercialized commodity.

While I do have an intense desire to change my body, in a non-surgical way, in order to look like my favorite play things (kind of like playing dress-up or a Halloween costume)--I know that it will more than likely turn me into the plaything it self. Sometimes I wish there was a change in culture and the image to the right was the new supreme female prototype (even though the Renaissance males were also portraying the beauty of women in a certain way, it would be easier for me to look like this than the Barbie). I think the big issue, however, is that while plastic surgery and image creation in the past has been geared to transforming your 'self' into a 'better' version of 'you' the Barbie trend is transforming the 'self' into another being entirely. In that sense, where are you the person and does this lead you to becoming just a walking piece of art, or something else entirely? 

Venus Palermo Tutorials:
Doll Tutorial 1
Doll Tutorial 2

For fun :) (sorry)
Aqua-Barbie Girl

Little Hairy Creatures That Live in the Ground

Little Hairy Creatures That Live in the Ground

(A review of The Hobbit)

I couldn't possibly start a pop culture blog unless a Tolkien topic was first on the menu and so here it is, a dish served lukewarm: my view on the newest franchise Tolkien production, The Hobbit.

Sitting in the movie theatre, listening to that oh so familiar music from Lord of the Rings, and watching the standard Tolkien font of gold appear across the screen brought back a flood of happy memories from a decade ago. The angst and frustration of having to wait so many years to see this production was eased as the voice of Ian Holm flooded my ears. I wasn't expecting to get the same emotion from this movie as I did from the more famous trilogy, but it did seem like an old friend that has the same appearance but slightly changed over the years (as so many of us have) had come to visit.

I felt a great tinge of happiness overwhelm me as a jollier version of Gandalf appeared, despite his aged appearance and the realistic anachronism of him being sixty years younger from his appearance in the trilogy, I did fine accepting Ian McKellen (as every Tolkien fan was meant to). While dwarves are not my cup of tea as far as mythical characters, I found many of them to be extremely entertaining to watch as well as, strangely, hot: hello Richard Armitage. The storyline needed some flourishing and Jackson did a great job pulling from the appendices to add suspense as well as embellishing certain sections of the book, like the storm rock giants.

The idea of it being made into a trilogy did not bother me at all. I like dragging it out--gives me something to look forward to for the next two winters. However, the length of the movie, three hours, was a bit too much. There's only so much goblin fights I can watch, but thank you Jackson for the parts with Gollum. Gotta love that sneaky little booger. It made my heart warm to hear that squeal-voice say "And if we's win we gets to eats it whole." Although, that may not have been the reaction the director was looking for?

The cameos of the characters from the trilogy were welcome, but the attention wasn't needed. We have more than our share of new characters to think about right now. I did love how Jackson shows the differences in cultures between Tolkien's worlds, especially in the dinner scenes. The hobbit hole is full of meats, and cheeses, and taters :). Good old home cooking. The dwarves focus is on meat as seen in the elf dinner that is full of greens vegetables. I can see now why the Elves are so skinny. Overall, this movie was not as thrilling as the Lord of the Rings, but I knew that was going to be close to impossible to create. I did have a good time, however, and appreciate the detail. Well done, Jackson!