The BEAST: In Memoriam

The BEAST served its purpose and is now destined for the nearest chop shop where it will either be melted for low grade metal or violently dissembled. I had the beast for nearly four years and am happy to see it go. We did have our fun times together like when it overheated in the rain, the times it wouldn't start in the cold, the time it destroyed a new Honda Civic's rear in Huntley, the joy rides, the rides to the mechanic (these exceeded the joy rides), shuttling dates back to their dorms, impressing said dates with the "classic" nature of the beast. Oh memories.

I present a look back at what can only be described as The Beast

Suggested accompaniment:


or

...Go on

Hello Paycheck

It's official. After nearly a year and a half (and 109 blog posts) toiling at internships and scouring classifieds, I have landed a permanent position. Put simply: I GOT A JOB!

I will start in January and will be part of the creative team. My duties will include copywriting, design and media planning. There is talk that I'll have these things called "benefits."

This blog was started as a way to keep sane while looking for a job. I had no inkling that the hunt would take this long, but am relieved it is over. Now, as I assemble my wish list of consumer goods to purchase (a car is high on the list), I renounce my monastic, frugal ways.

To those still fighting the good fight:

Network--even if it doesn't lead to a job, it helps to have people to converse with and get advice from. Having a strong social network consisting of friends and family, as well as alumni helps support you and prevent you from hitting the bottom of the pool. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to alumni. You will be surprised at how many people are willing to offer you their advice and share their path to their current job.

Setup search agents to do the work for you. I used indeed.com, which searches several sites.

Find a way to be creative. For me, this blog served as a forum to write about the news and the plight of the recent graduate.

Volunteer--Whenever you feel that your life is horrible, you need to realize that it is always worse for someone else. Volunteering enables you to get out of the house and give some of your time to help others. An added bonus is you may make some connections.

Faith--Probably the biggest thing that got me through this period beside my mom and sister was having faith that I would end up wherever I was meant to be. Pouring on the prayers didn't hurt either.

I will continue to post about stories that catch my eye and working always provides stories. Thanks for reading. ...Go on

If really bored

For the Obama obsessed, your very own Obama game. ...Go on

Gobble Gobble

To everyone and their families:
Have a wonderful Turkey day. Or Tofurkey Day if that floats your gravy boat.
-Andrew

P.S. Feel free to post your holiday traditions. Mine starts and ends with gluttony. ...Go on

Crafty Bastards

As an added motivation to find employment, I swore off using Facebook. (Sadly it has been replaced with online dating sites.) My logic was based in the fact that Facebook is especially depressing after you graduate. Pictures of parties you weren't at, notifications of who's now single and the always inspiring wall posts with the insipid LOL. It has been two weeks since I last touched the sweet nectar. And then tonight, I got this email:

Unfortunately, the settings that control which email notifications get sent to you were lost. We're sorry for the inconvenience.

To reset your email notification settings, go to:

http://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php?notifications

Thanks,
The Facebook Team

Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in. Lost? Really? You lost my settings. I expected more from you Mark Zuckerberg.

I am staying strong. The next step is removing the bookmark.

I'm also working on a video to combat the other posts on Facebook. It'll be huge if I actually make it.

Tentative title: F Facebook. ...Go on

Memories

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

...Go on

Shit Pit

I will be using "Shit Pit" for the next week. Start your watches....Now.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

...Go on

'Tis the Season for Pardons

As President Bush's tenure draws to a close, the requests for pardons and clemency start trickling into the White House.

Today, Conrad Black's lawyers submitted legal papers to President Bush seeking clemency for his conviction for defrauding shareholders of Hollinger International. He was sentenced to six and a half years.

Dick Cheney was indicted Tuesday for "conspiring to block an investigation into abuse at privately run prisons."

I think I know what Cheney will be getting for Christmas. ...Go on

Scratch-N-Sniff

For all of you who cuddle up to your favorite celebs glossy image in your favorite rag mag you will be delighted by this story. The next issue of People is reported to contain a Scratch-N-Sniff section with the preferred smells of the magazine's sexiest people. So now you can not only snuggle up to their smooth image, you can tickle them! It's like they are in the room with you.

This is the latest development in the sensory marketing world.

Usually I relish the crispness of getting the latest issue of a magazine in my mailbox--unless the mailman decided to take a cursory glance during his lunch break in his clown car.

I don't mind the amalgamation of numerous scents in my magazines, which form some sort of meta cologne, but I'm not sure I like the trajectory of this trend. Just think, soon there could be before-and-after ads for deodorant. ...Go on

Murdoch Boyer Lecture: The Golden Age of Freedom

Rupert Murdoch gives the first in a series of lectures on Australia and the future of journalism.

...Go on

Everlasting Moments

"That which we cannot forget" is how Swedish Director Jan Troell translated Everlasting Moments/Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick, the title of his film that is entered in the main competition for the Chicago International Film Festival.

Foreign films often provide an unrivaled depth in the characters they introduce to us. Troell intersperses brief scenes with film stocks that lend a gritty, authentic feel to the life of Maria Larssons (Maria Heiskanen). The director was present along with about 50 attendees for the Tuesday afternoon screening of his film at the AMC on 600 N. Michigan Ave.

The story is based on the real life of Maria Larssons. Troell's wife met the Larssons' daughter and recorded their conversations during the last six years of Larssons' life. Troell turned those tapes into the book of the same name, which has yet to be translated into English and unlikely will be.



Set in the early 1900s, the film starts with credits over images of vintage cameras. We learn through a voice-over that Maria won a camera at a fair, but the man she was with bought the winning ticket. He insists the only way that she will get the camera is if she married him. So begins Maria's life with Sigfrid (Mikael Persbrandt).

While the pacing and story development are much more lethargic than American cinema, we eventually learn of the abusive and alcoholic ways of Sigfrid. With an ever-growing family, Maria comes across the camera from the fair in the bottom of a dresser. Desperately in need of money, Maria attempts to pawn the camera. In the process, she meets the gentle store owner Mr. Petersson (Jesper Christensen), who encourages her to take a few photos before selling the camera. Arranging her children in their cramped living area, Maria snaps her first photo of her children.

The film continues to follow Maria and her family as she turns increasingly to the solace provided by her camera. Everlasting Moments diverges from the predictable cinematic addiction to the Hollywood narrative and ending. She often is subtly presented with choices that would allow her to rid herself of her abusive husband and her negotiating those decisions provides complexity. Maria constantly grapples with her pride and independence. Instead of everything being neatly wrapped-up in 90 minutes, Moments (125 minutes) lingers with characters allowing for more development and depth, subsequently creating more empathy and attachment to Maria and her children. Despite Sigfrid's philandering and repeated abusive rampages toward Maria, at times eliciting gasps and winces from the audience, he is shown with some tenderness toward the end of the film.

In the post-film discussion Troell responded to a question regarding shots of a butterfly, which are present near the beginning and very end of the feature. He acknowledged the symbolism of the fluttering insect that is finally free at the end and mentioned his previous use of the bug in another film, Il Capitano. When he was working on this film, he noticed a dead butterfly in the window of the factory where he was shooting. Even though this image was not in the script or planning, Troell got a shot of the dead butterfly as it perfectly illustrated the potential future of the young boy in the film had he never left the factory.

Troell also mentioned the difference between making a film in Sweden and in the U.S. to the few dozen that remained after the screening. "Here you have maybe 100 people behind the camera. If I make a film in Sweden there's maybe 20, at most."

Like many foreign films that expose life through a different lens, Everlasting Moments/Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick lingers long after the final credits and is a difficult film to forget.

The film festival runs through Oct. 29 and I have a large list of films to see including several from France. ...Go on