July 2005
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Does Scientology make you dress a little gay?
05 July, 2005 at 01:53 PM by Ren | Permalink
During the summer months, full-time staff members of Texas A&M University-Kingsville work modified hours, so we can leave early on Fridays. A mostly shitty deal, if you ask me. We work 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Mon-Thurs, and 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Fri. I already have a hard enough time getting here by 8:00 a.m. (Alright, 8:15 a.m. you nitpicky bastards!), so getting here by 7:30 a.m. (Alright! 7:55 a.m. Bastards.) is a near-impossibility.
Lately, though, I've learned how to make productive use of the extra four hours on Friday this modified schedule gives me. Usually, I do some grocery shopping, take a nap, or go to a movie. This week, I went to the movies and caught War of the Worlds.
I won't review the movie, as so many other places have done it much better than I ever could. It's disturbing and frightening and wickedly intense. I understand where people come from when they say that the end is rushed and anti-climactic. After having the tension torqued up for so long, ending the movie the way the WoTW story ends seems almost an afterthought. I didn't mind it, but I can see where others would say it's a dissapointing ending.
Still, the movie was good enough to leave me breathless at the end; more importantly it made me forget that Tom Cruise is batshit-crazy.
Anyway, that's not why I'm writing. I'm writing to discuss something that took me out of the movie. Normally, I can suspend disbelief pretty well. I mean, I dig when starships thunder past the screen...in for reals, they'd make no noise at all. But this totally took me out of the world Spielberg was creating.
You see, we're introduced to Tom Cruise's character, Ray, while he's at work. Ray's a longshoreman and the movie depicts him moving crates of cheap bangaladeshi clothes or perhaps pakistani manufactured tennis shoes off a cargo ship and onto the loading dock. No, that's not what's disturbing. I can buy Tom Cruise as a blue-collar worker. What I can't buy into is Tom Cruise jumping out of the operator's booth on the crane after a hard shift of moving boxes around wearing a pair of low-rise boot-cut jeans. With an antique finish.
You know, because all New Jersey longshoremen wear $200 jeans. I know most people wouldn't notice something like that, but it was distracting enough to me to take me out of the movie for a second. If for no other reason than the fact that it makes no sense that a dockworker would wear expensive shit like that to do manual (well, sort of) labor.
It's not that it's a big deal, just an ill-advised costuming choice. I can buy Tom Cruise as a dockworker. Hell, it's not much of a stretch to imagine him as a self-absorbed prick--that's like not even acting for him. But put a blue-collar worker in gay vague jeans? Hold it right there, sister. Blue-collar workers wouldn't wear expensive shit like that to sweat in. Their jeans show ass crack because they're sweaty and don't wear belts, not because they're making a fashion statement.
Perhaps the Scientologists made the costumer do it? Lord knows the ghost of L. Ron makes you do some weird shit. Anything to rid yourself of Body Thetans, I guess. Even if that includes looking a little gay as a longshoreman. Because it's ok to look a little gay. Just, you know, don't go play hide the sausage with Rob Thomas, because that would make you a little gay.
Not that flaming heterosexual Tom Cruise would ever do that. He is, after all, very, very in love with Katie Holmes. Right.
A list
16 July, 2005 at 12:43 AM by Ren | Permalink
The Oracle sent this to me, and rather than email it back, I figured I'd just post it here and let everyone share instead.
Feel free to place your own answers in the comments section. If not, I don't care either.
- First Name
Rene - Were you named after anyone?
Sort of; my first name is my dad's middle name. I was supposed to be a Jr., but he hates his name so he dropped the Hugo part. Too bad, H. Rene Echavarri, Jr. has a very sort of plutocratic ring to it, doesn't it? - Do you wish on stars?
I have, does that count? - When did you last cry?
Uh, on my last birthday--out of happiness and sadness. But mostly drunkenness. - Do you like your handwriting?
Totally. - What is your favorite lunch meat?
Roast Beef. mmmm, roast beast. - What is your birth date?
September 1 - What is your most embarrassing CD?
Oh, so many choices...but by far, Los Del Rio - Macarena. It was a gag gift from my grandmother. I swear. - If you were another person, would YOU be friends?
Probably not, I'm a dick. - Are you a daredevil?
Me? Hell no. I only do what's expected of me. - Have you ever told a secret you swore not to tell?
Yes. But only because I couldn't hide the fact that I was in love with a Jedi that I wed on Naboo in the presence of two droids. Sorry, baby, Krysdol had to know. - Do looks matter to choose a guy?
Some, but a good wit is much better. - How do you release anger?
Formulating complex revenge plots. Use bitterness as a spice. Just a pinch here and there. - Where is your second home?
I don't have one anymore, stupid Krysdol and Crody moved out of their apartment. - Do you trust others too easily?
Nope. - What was your favorite toy as a child?
Anything Star Wars, or my Legos. Sh*t. Those are my favorite toys now. - What class in high school do you think was totally useless?
Precalculus. Seriously, when the f*ck do I use that? - Do you have a journal?
Does this weblog count? - Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Of course not. - Favorite movie(s):
Star Wars: Episodes II-VI , Star Trek: First Contact, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Murder By Death, Clue, Steel Magnolias, Oceans Eleven - What are your (acceptable) nicknames?
Ren; Alexander Calrissian, thousandaire playboy and philanthropist. - Would you bungee jump?
Probably not. - Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Nein. - Do you think you are strong?
Physically, no; I'm a wimp. But emotionally? I can hold out for years. - What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Cookies and Cream - Shoe size?
8 - What are your favorite colors to wear?
Blue, Green, Black, Grey. - What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
My gigantic fat head. - Who do you miss most?
Krysdol - Do you want everyone you send this to, to send it back?
I'm doing it on here, so I don't really care if they respond back. Feel free to, though (in the comments), if you'd like. - What are you listening to right now?
We Run This by Missy Elliott on my iPod. iPod equals iLove y'all. - Last thing you ate?
Baked chicken at Luby's - If you were a crayon what color would you be?
Lightsaber blue. That's a color, right? - What is the weather like right now?
Rain forest fresh (read: humid and rainy). - Last person you talked to on the phone?
Rollermog - The first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
Smiles - Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Yes, but we hardly ever hang out anymore. - Favorite Drink?
Non-alcoholic: Dr. Pepper (it's 1/4 of my blood!); Alcoholic: Vodka and Club Soda with a twist of lime (it's 1/4 my blood!) - Favorite sport?
Does marching band count? - Hair Color?
Brown. - Eye Color?
Brown - Do you wear contacts?
Nope. I stare at computer screens too much, and they dry out my eyes. The contacts, not the screen. - Favorite Food?
Green enchiladas...ooo or cold spanish rice. - Last Movie you saw?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Favorite Day of the Year?
The day the humidity in South Texas goes away for the Fall. - Scary Movies or Happy Endings?
Scary movies with happy endings? - Summer or winter?
As much as I bitch about the heat, I hate the cold even more--so, Summer. - Hugs or kisses?
Kisses. - What is Your Favorite Dessert?
Cheesecake - Most likely to respond?
F*ck if I know. - Who is Least Likely to Respond?
I don't know, all the schmucks who view my site but never say anything. - Where Would You Want to Go on your Next Vacation?
Walt Disney World. I've never been and I love Disneyland so I figure I'd like Disney World. - What Books are you Reading?
In between books at the moment. Soon will be reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince though. - What's on your mouse pad?
Laptop. No mousepad. - What did you Watch Last Night on TV?
Family Guy on Adult Swim. - Favorite Smells?
Wet dirt, freshly printed publications, new electronics (new plastic smells awesome!) - Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Como, duh? The Beatles. - Do you believe in Evolution or Creation?
Evolution, although I do believe that someone had to set the rules of the game up. - What's the furthest you've been away from home?
This one time when I was abducted by aliens, I was about 50 miles up from Earth. - Do you believe in love at first sight?
I do, but it's never happened to me. - Do you believe in love?
Yes, but oftentimes it's not enough. - Have you met the one person?
I thought I did, but it turned out he was a total fucking asshole.
There you have it. My sort-of bitter responses. Like I said, feel free to respond in the comments. Unless you're a spam bot. If you are, fuck off.