Make-Up (for Journal 3): What Has Happened to Lindsay Lohan?

A Lindsay Lohan Classic, Freaky Friday, Courtesy of All Movie Photo

It started with Parent Trap and ended with Freaky Friday.  Now I'm sure I missed many before, in between, and after, but to me, these two movies have always been favorites of mine.  In Parent Trap, Lohan plays a young, innocent girl who finds out she has a twin while away at summer camp.  During Freaky Friday after opening a fortune cookie, she wakes up in her mom's body the next day.  I don't know what it was about both of these movies that I loved so much.  Or maybe it was Lohan herself.  I thought she was a good actress, at least at the time I did.

Today, it seems every time we hear something about Lindsay Lohan, it is not a positive comment.  Normally it has to do with her and I hate to say it, jail.  The article, "The Lindsay Lohan Story Now Involves Boy Bands, Psychics and Gypsies, as it Must" written by Sean O'Neal was no different.  In the article I had read, it discussed how Lohan behaved and how because of the amount of alcohol contained it caused her to say and do some things a person in their right mind would not say. Or would they? Lohan was accused of hitting Tiffany Mitchell who happens to be a psychic.  Lohan took things too far when she called Mitchell "a f****** gypsy."

I read this article and just shake my head.  Last week I blogged about a Sesame Street character who has been having underage sex.  This week we hear about Lohan drinking too much and acting out by making a fool out of herself by the words that she has chosen to use.  Five to ten years ago, I would have never imagined either of these things possible.  If someone would have told me that Lindsay Lohan, the actress of some of my favorite movies, could do and say such hateful things, I would have never believed it.  It is sad to say, that it seems now more than ever, we continue to hear about actors and actresses that can't handle the spotlight and who once used to be such big idols, are now stars that are frowned upon for their inappropriate behavior.  Over the past couple years, I think this problem has continued to grow.  You always hear about celebs doing things that you could have never imagined.  If it is this bad already now, how bad will it be in a couple years?  Those celebrities that we "look up to" are supposed to be our role models, not in the news because of what they have done wrong.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-lindsay-lohan-story-now-involves-boy-bands-psy,89302/

Journal 6: The Pupeteer of Elmo Isn't Who We Thought..

Elmo Pupeteer, Kevin Clash, Courtesy of ABC 5 Eyewitness News

When I came upon this article, "Elmo Puppeteer Kevin Clash Faces a Third Accusation of Underage Sex, in Continuation of World's Worst Bedtime Story" I was shocked.  As a kid, I watched Sesame Street every morning before I left for school.  It was on at 7:00, so I always made sure I was dressed and ready so I could watch it while I ate my breakfast.  According to Sean O'Neal, Kevin Clash had been faced with two accusations of having underage sex with children.  It was recently revealed that it wasn't only two, but now a third child.  The third accuser told O'Neal about his apartment.  He remembers many Elmo objects such as Elmo dolls, an Emmy award, and many pictures of Elmo with famous people, in his living room.

After reading this article it really makes you think.  It is sad to think that something that I loved so much at one time could turn into this.  It is scary to think about what causes people to do such things.  And it is crazy to think about what these children have to live with that had to experience this.  They too, are forever scarred.  It does surprise me though how long people have waited to say anything to someone about the accusations being made.  Maybe they tried their best to just forget about what happened, or maybe they even didn't know what to do so they just stayed quiet.  Either way, I am glad to hear that they did finally say something, even if it has been awhile.  Clash should not be able to get away with something like that.  He should be punished for the wrong that he did.  

http://www.avclub.com/articles/elmo-puppeteer-kevin-clash-faces-a-third-accusatio,89158/

Journal 5: A Booming Cupcake Business

Jillian Hopke after 'Cupcake War's, courtesy of Billy Goble of WGX Productions

Jillian Hopke was just like any child at age 3.  She had big dreams of becoming famous and wanted to be part of the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade.  Although most children start realizing as they get older, that their dream may not be possible, that thought never crossed Jillian's mind.  "The Reality of Reality TV: Jillian Hopke's Sweet Victory in the 'Cupcake Wars'" by Lynnette Porter talks about the journey that Jillian went through, getting her to where she is today.

Throughout this article, it was made very clear that if you want something, you were going to have to work for it.  I loved Jillian's attitude.  She knew she was going to have to work hard for something that she really wanted, yet that never stopped her.  Jillian became a contestant on the Food Network's Cupcake Wars.  She talked about each week on the show and talked about how hard some weeks were.  She mentioned the judges comments and shared how it wasn't always easy to stay positive, especially after being told by the judges' that they did not like something.  Just as it is when a coach yells at you, or a teacher, normally getting feedback like that just pushes someone to try even harder.  Which was what Jillian did.  She went on to win Cupcake Wars, which made her cupcake business blossom.

Jillian's cupcake business, Jillycakes, become known world-wide.  People were coming in from all over wanting to try her cupcakes.  She even had people calling from over seas placing orders so when they arrived in the US they could stop for their cupcakes.  This really surprised me.  It continues to amaze me how much of an influence media plays in our world today.  Just from one show, Jillycakes is now known world-wide.  It is absolutely amazing how one person's business can grow so much, all from one television competition.

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/163241-the-reality-of-reality-tv-jillian-hopkes-sweet-victory-in-the-cupcak/

Journal 4: Championship Parades Not All That

Giant's Celebration Parade, Courtesy of Katie Baker/Grantland

I don't know what it is, but it seems in times like today, children are growing up differently than before.  Years ago, children wouldn't think twice about helping out their mother or father or saying please and thank you.  Today, it seems that many children do not respect their elders, or anyone around them for that matter.  After reading this article, "Stoners, Segways, and Some Horrible, Horrible Nudity" by Katie Baker, about the championship parade, it surprised me how rude some people have become, or maybe how rude they have always been.  

The first thing that stuck out to me was when two young boys climbed up on top of a storefront to sit and watch the parade.  The lady that owned the building was yelling out the window at the two young boys telling them to get down.  They sat there and acted like they didn't even hear her, more than not even hearing her, they lit up a joint right then and there.  It is one thing to make a mistake and listen when told to do something.  But to sit there (on the lady's property) and not move when asked, is taking it to a whole new level.  

The second thing that stuck out to me was the disrespect people showed during the parade.  Not only were just the athletes in the parade, but the coaches, trainers, concession stand workers, etc. all got their chance to be in the parade as well.  When the athletes didn't come right away, people got mad and started yelling at the people in the parade, "Where are the players?"  Another yelled, "We don't care about you" when the trainers went past.  

After hearing these things said, I just shake my head.  It is crazy to think that our world has come to this.  People will say things without even realizing the harm that it may be causing others.  For adults to be saying these kinds of things, whether or not they are a parent or not, more than likely there are children around them since they are at a public event.  Whether or not these adults know it, they are a role model for the children around them.  If a child hears someone saying these things, they think it is okay because someone with authority is saying it, so it has to be okay.  

Not many people think about such parades as places where hateful words and acts can be done.  It is sad to think that things have come to this.  People say what they feel, regardless of who it may be hurting.  It has become a world where even when you do take your children out to say, watch a parade, you don't know what they will hear or see because of the other people that might be there.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8579371/stoners-segways-horrible-nudity-year-sf-giants-victory-parade

Brief Screening Report: Fantastic Mr. Fox

        My favorite scene in Fantastic Mr. Fox is when Plan B takes place.  The farmers write Mr. Fox a letter telling him that he needs to come out or they will keep his nephew.  Mr. Fox then writes them a letter telling them that they should move the car that is on top of the manhole cover.  He tells them that they should meet at 10 a.m.  He will meet them there and will turn himself over, in order for his nephew to be returned unharmed.  At 10 am, the animals start throwing fire pinecones out of the hole.  Fires break out in the town from the pinecones.  Mr. Fox, Kylie, and Ash jump into a motorcycle and take off for Bean’s farm.
      I think this scene is important because no matter how many times their plans didn’t work and they were about ready to give up, they never did.  Which paid off in the end.  I think this shows a very valuable life session.  It shows that working hard for what you want and never giving up really does pay off.  Although it may not have been easy along the way, they fought until the end.

This scene occurs at the end of the movie, around 60 minutes.

Journal 2: More Than Just a Movie

     The term "favorite movie" seems to be a term that is thrown around often.  It often seems as though you hear people talking about their "favorite movie" only to hear them change their mind the next time it gets brought up, which is why it made it difficult choosing just one.  However, one movie stuck out more than others for me, The Proposal.  No matter what mood I am in, this movie can cheer me up.

     In this movie, I definitely respond more to the formal elements.  One of the formal elements that sticks out to me is the acting.  Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, and Betty White are three great actors/actresses.  The humor that they bring to this movie is why I like it so much.  I also love the plot.  The storyline is very intriguing for anyone watching.  I would consider this movie a romantic comedy.  I think in most romantic comedies, the formal elements are what matter most.  However, there are some movies where the cultural elements can be just as important.  An example of a cultural element from this movie could be prejudices about gender.  Ryan Reynolds works as an editor's assistant, and his father seems to think that job is not good enough for a man.  No matter how many times I see this movie, I laugh just as hard as I did the first time.  With acting like this, and a plot that is so intriguing, it isn't hard to want to watch it time after time, and call it my favorite.  

Journal 1: Winning Actually Isn't the Only Thing

       In the article David Maraniss talks about the Monday night football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks.  He recaps the last play of the game for us, telling us what happened and also his feelings about it.  He then began asking other questions about the game, what ifs.  Maraniss told us that he was more upset not by the call, but by what the quarterback, Russell Wilson, and the Seahawks coach, Pete Carroll said and did.  Carroll threw his arms up in the air, signaling a touchdown, almost implying that they had just won a game that was so close, yet they were the better out of the two teams.  Wilson did the same thing as Coach Carroll.  He made it seem like they had just won such a great game, that they had come out on top after all the fighting they had done.  Maraniss talks about his beliefs and that he never thought that winning was the only important thing.  Even though that play from Monday night can’t change, Maraniss stated, “But Carroll and Wilson and the Seahawks don’t have to pretend that the call was right and that they deserved to win.”

I agree with what Maraniss said.  One part of this article that really stuck out to me was the part when he was talking about Vince Lombardi.  “He once pulled his star corner- back out of a game when he saw him trip an opposing player, even though the refs missed it. He was always harder on his team when they played poorly but won than if they played well but lost.”  I was a three sport athlete all four years of high school, meaning I have had quite a few coaches.  My basketball coach had the same exact mentality as Lombardi.  If we were going to lose a game, he, as well as the team, would have rather it been a good game, where we played to the best of our ability, yet just weren’t able to come out on top.  I think as a coach, that is how it should be.  For the Seahawks to be proud of that touchdown, that’s like a slap in the face.  They know, just as well as we all know, that it wasn’t a catch.  Now it would be a different story if the team and quarterback of the Seahawks admitted that, or at least were a little more subtle about it.  The fact that they both reacted the way they did, was just an embarrassment to themselves.  Even if that is what the call was, it makes them look bad trying to make it something that it wasn’t.  It was not a touchdown.