Ok, I've alluded to this before. I've been working on getting video off of my DVDs and onto my file server so it can feed my iPod with my favorite standby movies... ones that I'll watch if I'm in a situation where I have nothing better to do.

Granted that doesn't happen very often... only boring people get bored, right?

However, mostly I'm thinking of when I travel... whether it's an overnight road trip or away for the week.

Anyway, I've rediscovered a short film that's on the DVD for Century Hotel called Moon Palace. I remember it blew me away the first time I saw it, and after watching again for the first time in a few years, I still love it.

"It's time to change your life and take flight."

The film is quirky, and I highly recommend finding a copy of Century Hotel so you can watch it. The main feature is incredible as well, but the short is the hidden gem.

I think I respect the film even more now... because I've come to realize that my "future, although it may appear cloudy at present, is actually very auspiscious."

Today, I happened upon a pre-release copy of Britney's new album. Just the notion that I would listen to it would make most of my friends cringe and cower in fear (although personally, I'm finding that not one of them knows me as well as he or she thought!), but I gave it a listen just the same.

It's a solid pop album. I would say that it is the best of her career, and unlike most pop albums, I made it through each song without skipping a track, which says something to me.

I don't know if I'd promote it as great... but then I know I wouldn't need to. The album is going to sell a bajillion copies to lovers and haters alike... many people will buy just out of morbid curiosity of what one blog calls "America's favorite train wreck."

It's definitely a dance album, and Spears and her producers put together something they can be proud of, and something that should make a lot of money. Something that deserves to make money.

Of course, while I'm not a fan of Britney, I do think that the media wanna-be's on the internet are largely responsible for at least some of her problems. I'm not saying that she wouldn't screw up if she wasn't under the scrutiny of the online community 24/7, but people need to realize that it isn't a big deal.

Just because she lives in a different world, loves the attention and commands a presence whether she wants to or not, doesn't mean she doesn't still shit, shave and sleep. Seriously, what would the world find out if the cameras followed one of the haters around with such enthusiasm?

Give the girl a break. She's only 25... she's supposed to be an idiot! I cannot think of a single girl in her early to mid-twenties who isn't. It's just most of them don't have the media and internet exposing every flaw.

Besides, we learn from our mistakes... and we should be allowed to without going through the trauma of the world judging us because of our mistakes.

Why can't we extend Britney, Lindsay, Paris, and all of the other celebutantes the same privilege. I know this will never happen, but ideally people definitely need to get a life and stop caring so much about the lives of others. We need to stop using the misfortunes of stupid celebrities (who are young and entitled to be stupid) to make us feel better about our own train wreck of a life.

If we really want to help rescue Britney, we need to stop judging her. Let her be twenty-five.

What i'm listening to:

Piece of Me
Britney Spears
Blackout

So, I've been going through another stretch where I just haven't felt like writing. This weekend, that'll change... because it'll be time to stick my nose back into my history projects.

At least I'm returning to some semblance of normalcy. I've returned to the gym, I've attempted to stop skipping meals, and my sleep is beginning to balance back out.

I haven't gone out and socialized, however. I'm not going to say that is a bad thing. It will be, and I'll need to begin my quest for a new place to hang out, but for now, I'm cool with it.

In lieu of clubbing, though, I'll at least need to put myself in social situations. I need to keep building my comfort level with being social. When I'm spending a great deal of time alone at the house, it is way too easy to get back into my old thought patterns and habits.

Way too easy. And waaaay less fun.

For instance, one fun thing that I've realized lately is that women don't like to be ignored. Just the other day, I was visiting my favorite coffee shop and ordering a sandwich from a girl I'd never seen there before.

From her behavior, she thought I wasn't funny, or I was just an ass, or something. Anyway, I wasn't getting anywhere with my flirting. Not a big deal... I've learned that some girls just aren't "fun."

Anyway, "Amy" returns to behind the counter from her break, and we start chatting. The conversation goes from iPods to cars to money to jobs... which for someone who used to hardly have two words for me, is pretty impressive. Anyway, this brought the new girl into the conversation... but the impression I was getting was that she didn't want to get left out of it. She even got pretty pushy about staying in it.

Of course, I just found it all amusing. Really, everything is very amusing when you look at it from the right angle!

So, there are benefits to being social. I have to say I'm learning more now than ever before... which is a good thing, and the pay off will be incredible! =^)

What i'm listening to:

Break It Down Again
Tears for Fears
Elemental