Category Archives: NYC

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45 LIFE LESSONS, WRITTEN BY A 90 YEAR OLD

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(Source: Men who dress like men)

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short not to enjoy it.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for things that matter.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye… But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful.  Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to be happy.  But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose Life.

28. Forgive but don’t forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give Time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d
grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you think you need.

42. The best is yet to come…

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

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Documentaries I happen to like:

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“The Thin Blue Line”:

“The Thin Blue Line” is an Errol Morris film about a man that was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit. The documentary is conducted by a series of interviews with Randall Dale Adams, the man who was convicted, David Ray Harris, the man that identified Adams as the murderer, and the attorneys that represented Harris. One of the more noticeable documentary qualities the film has is the reenactments of the crime, but they kept replaying the same clips over and over which made some of the film seem monotonous. Another was the interviews conducted with the people of the story. The style however was very hazy and reminded me of late night crime dramas. It worked when the film was released but now that style wouldn’t be used at all. The film really proves what a documentary can accomplish since a year after it was released publicly Adams was released from prison. Morris proved that five of the witnesses committed perjury on the stand, which helped Adam’s death sentence become overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. I was very excited to watch this documentary, but after the first 20 minutes it lost my attention. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a different time and I’m used to more graphics and ‘pull out’ information on the screen. Also, I kept getting really confused with the story when the interviews would play one after another and the titles/names of each person weren’t there anymore.

“Scaredy Cat”
Andy Blumbaugh’s film “Scaredy Cat”is a half-real/half-animated mini documentary about his experience being robbed on a bridge while riding his bike home. Blumbaugh discusses  his obsessive compulsive disorder before his trauma and his unintentional racism after the robbery. Blumbaugh used animated renactments to portray the robbery, and footage to describe how he would avoid black men (footage on the bus and the random cuts to black men standing in front of a wall). By using these techniques, the audience feels a little more connected to the trauma than just simply explaining or using actors to convey the point. Through this experience Blumbaugh was able to stop his compulsive behavior and really understand his reactions. Using film as a way to understand your own personal story is a great use of documentary even if the story is something hard to deal with.

“Weightless”
‘Weightless’ is a film about plus size scuba divers and how size does not define a person’s limitations. The film begins with Liz, a plus size accountant, explaining how she began to scuba dive. In the beginning she was fearful about being humiliated and not being able to fit into any of the gear, but once she became a licensed scuba instructor she decided to create “Big Adventures.” The objective of “Big Adventures” is to have fun with women with similar experiences and so they can see their bodies do something positive. Also, they want to send a message to people who doubt their abilities that they shouldn’t  take people for their size but what they can do with that size. The rest of the documentary follows four other women learning to scuba dive, and the social, and personal, challenges each must face as heavier women. During the interviews with each of the women, they all explained how they are active but because society has made differently-bodied people the face of laziness and diabetes it is not as socially acceptable for them to participate in sports. The major issue experienced by most of the women was buoyancy. Even though these women are heavier, they still have to use weights to sink them in the water. Another issue was the fitting of equipment, but Liz gave the women great tips on fittings and how a person should go about buying a wet suit. During the discussions, director Faith Pennick explained that she wanted to create a documentary about plus size women doing things they normally might not be seen as doing. There was a lot of talk about how there weren’t any breakdowns or feelings brought up by past experiences that might have made the women uncomfortable. Pennick said that all those stereotypical stories have already been done. She wanted to create a film where plus size women are not the victims of their situation, but are immensely happy with their situation and who they are as people. Liz ended the discussion by revealing why as a bigger woman if feels so nice to be in the water: to be completely weightless in the water – when on land you are absolutely not – is a spiritual experience for anyone who has ever felt to big to accomplish their goals.

“Religious”
The idea centers around how ridiculous religion can be (hence the name) and the people that can almost border insanity to go by each rule in their holy book. In it, comedian and talk show host Bill Maher explores contradictions and proven scientific evidence that these stories could not be true. The documentary is definitely in the public affairs genre. It uses outside footage and is trying to make the audience aware of the possible false information in religion. Maher is a very out spoken person in the public eye about the religion topic, which made me concerned for biased filmmaking. However, he interviews too many people and gets too much information to prove that his is a valid point and not a stubborn crusade to convert people to his beliefs.

“Atomic Cafe”
‘Atomic Cafe’ is a documentary film, done entirely in archival footage, about the nuclear warfare era where people bought house with built-in fall-out shelters and students were taught how to take cover from a nuclear blast. I was pretty impressed by ‘Atomic Cafe’ and its use of archival footage. The film would seamlessly transition from a newsreel or clip from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. When I understood the concept of the film, I thought it would bore me since it’s just old pieces of film cut together without any real narrative. I wasn’t until about 5 minutes in I realized that nuclear warfare was a major reality for the people of this time, and once I took it out of the film context and thought of it on a personal level I became more interested. The film kind of makes you think of the era personally because of the familiar images we still see today. After our guest speaker Rosemary Rotundi visited the class, I started thinking about how much a film like that must have cost. Even though most places are willing to negotiated, it must have cost a ton of money to make a film entirely out of archival footage.

 

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This is the best news ever: Broad City pilot coming to Comedy Central

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I’m definitely late on this news but it’s still wonderful. If you haven’t seen “Broad City,” you need to do so right now…like now.

NEW YORK, October 8, 2012 – COMEDY CENTRAL has given a pilot order to Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, the comedy duo behind the urban-set web series “Broad City,” it was announced today by Kent Alterman, Head of Original Programming and Production, COMEDY CENTRAL. The pilot will be based on the Jacobson/Glazer web series and will star the two Upright Citizens Brigade alums. “Broad City” will be executive produced by Jacobson and Glazer, along with Amy Poehler (“Parks and Recreation”), Dave Becky and Sam Saifer. Tony Hernandez is Co-Executive Producer. Brooke Posch is the Executive in Charge of Production for COMEDY CENTRAL.

“Amy Poehler told me this would be a great show for us, and that’s good enough for me,” said Alterman.

“Broad City” follows two girls, played by Jacobson and Glazer, throughout their daily lives in New York City, making the smallest and mundane events hysterical and disturbing to watch all at the same time. Referred to as “sneak-attack feminism” by The Wall Street Journal, their dynamic relationship, combined with their impeccable comedic timing and chemistry, has earned the two comedians praise from The New York Times, Time Out NY, The Fader, and AV Club, among others. The series has been nominated for the ECNY’s “Best Web Series” award; Jacobson and Glazer also were nominated individually.

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Support Third Root Community center

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Check out Third Root Community Center! I plan to head there very soon! Also they are having a special event on Saturday to support people affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Storm Support Event all day this Saturday, Nov. 3rd…please join us!
Posted on November 1, 2012 by TeresaTheophano
Third Root invites you to a very special

STORM SUPPORT EVENT

Saturday, November 3rd, 2012

Please join us in a gathering to promote healing within our community in light of the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy.

Third Root is very sad to hear the devastating news about the two lives lost in Ditmas Park due to a fallen tree during the storm. Our deepest condolences to the families of Jessie Streich-Kest & Jacob Vogelman. We send our support, blessings and prayers.

1-3 pm: Open level, multi-generational yoga class taught by Emily and Jacoby, with live music by Morley
3-4 pm: Tea and Kirtan (devotional call & response chanting) led by Ravi and Roopa
4-6 pm: Community acupuncture with Geleni and Julia

A minimum donation of $10 is requested for services. All proceeds will be donated to Sean Casey Animal Rescue and Doctors Without Borders.

We encourage you to participate in any part of the day that you would like! We look forward to seeing you!

*Donations also can be made in the form of checks made payable to
The Jessie Streich-Kest Fund. Checks can be sent to the Jessie Streich-Kest Fund, c/o the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, at 241 Water Street, 3rd Fl., New York, New York, 10038.

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