Less controversial, equally important

Have I mentioned on here how obsessed I am with Lady Gaga?

(going back through recent archives to see if I've mentioned how obsessed I am with Lady Gaga)

No. Ok. 

Get her album and thank me later. She is so fantastically crazy.  

If I had to choose between finding the perfect man or really awesome pop music, I'd choose pop music. 

I've currently got this one running 24/7.  

Common Ground

In the wake of Proposition 8, Utah is experiencing a wave of constituent reaction to it's passing in California.  For the last three months, Equality Utah has been petitioning to the Utah State Legislature a series of bills, collectively titled the Common Ground Initiative.  These bills are an attempt to award gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people equal rights on the grounds of employment, housing, and healthcare. I've only just recently been researching and reading up on both sides of the issue, but I will say that I was shocked to learn that some of the most basic, seemingly obvious rights, such as fair housing, are currently denied to LGBT people under Utah law.  

If you've got 26 minutes to spare, I'd recommend watching this piece presented by Utah NOW and Doug Fabrizio, which was aired on KUED.  It takes a look at the lobbying efforts from both sides of the issue, as well as identifies where the LDS Church stands as a dominant cultural and sociopolitical force in Utah. It also includes a thoughtful interview with Equality Utah's Executive Director, Mike Thompson.

Click Here to view the clip.

The Round-Up

Ok. Let's do this.

Right off the bat, Freida Pinto was my best dressed on the night. I thought her dress was delicate, bold, vibrant and intricate. I loved how it had a Bollywood meets Hollywood thing going on. She's obviously insanely beautiful and I thought her hair and make-up were very complimentary for the dress.  

A close second on my scorecard would go to Natalie Portman.  It seemed like the majority of dresses were white, so like Freida, Natalie stood out with her ethereal pink/lavender dress.  I had to blow up this photo to really see the draping on the bodice and it's amazing. It fit her perfectly and really, she looked so pretty.

Most reviews I've been reading didn't like Amy Adams' dress, but I loved it.  It was  great color choice and the black lining was very interesting.  I also thought her jewelry was amazing with it.  I'm sad she lost. I was rooting for her. At least she looked good!

Ok. I'm not sure how to put this.  Let me just say that I'm one of those people who believes that Angelina Jolie is the most beautiful woman on the planet.  Like, she's so gorgeous, I'm numb to it now.  But, I will say this, she needs to liven it up a bit with the fashion choices. I swear, all she wears is black.  Yes, she looks amazing and could probably wear neon orange and still be ridiculously beautiful, but that's just it. Why, if she can literally not go wrong because she's Angelina Jolie, doesn't she take some risks?

Oh dear. Where to start. I'm not sure if I could consider myself a Beyonce fan.  I mean, sure. I know the words to "Single Ladies" and totally turn it up on my iPod when I'm on the treadmill, but there's just something amiss about her for me.  And this might be making things a little clearer:

Ok first of all, stop posing like that. You look so uncomfortable and stiff with your hand unnaturally resting on your thigh...in fact, I've noticed you do this pose a lot. Like, all the time. Seriously, what's the deal? I'm not sure who told you this was a winner, but they have clearly lead you astray.  The fabric looks like the drapes you might find at the Luxor in Vegas and the bottom, well, I just don't like it.Someone is going to have to explain to me how and why Heidi Klum and her one-hit wonder of a husband get invited to the Oscars every year.  I mean, do either of them have any connection to the cinematic industry? I would say the same thing about Miley Cyrus, but apparently she co-wrote an un-nominated song to a nominated animated movie (Bolt). Whatever, bottom line, this looked like a failed attempt at Fashion Origami and I wish someone at the Academy speaks up and edits the guest list next year.

And because he is just so dreamy....

I mean, come on. No words needed.

Weather Patterns

When it rains, it pours, if you know what I'm saying.

Love

 I do not love you as if you were a salt rose, or topaz

or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
So I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

-Pablo Neruda

Happy Valentine's Day

Dear Grammy Foundation,

Who do you think you are? 

I mean, do you really think it's cool to copyright every single performance made on your telecast last Sunday so that no honest, hard-working person can sit down and enjoy a little Jay-Z/Coldyplay collaboration in the comfort of their own home, having missed the live show because they had better things to do, like making money to pay their rent?

I mean, I've heard of a lot of uncool things, but this might be the worst.  Here I was, all amped to see M.I.A, 9 months pregnant but still rocking out to "Paper Planes" when every YouTube video I click on gives me, "This video has been removed do to copyright claims by the Grammys."

How is it possible to copyright a musical performance, one that has been televised on network t.v.? And more importantly, who does that?

And just when I think you couldn't get any lamer, you go ahead and advertise on your hideous web site that "select" performances will be available for purchase on iTunes.  

Oh, HOW GENEROUS OF YOU.  What a thoughtful, logical idea to offer music fans the chance to dip into their already scarce, recession-ridden bank accounts and pay $1.99 for 4 minutes of a Katy Perry performance that has already been broadcasted and probably TiVo'd by a million people.

My sincerest endearments of gratitude, Grammys. Your benevolent virtues know no bounds.

Thank you for proving to me that music, like everything else in this world, is produced solely to make other people richer.

Not So Best Regards,

Brianne Olsen

p.s. Get over Springsteen already. He doesn't even care about your dumb little trophies.

Pretty sure that 8th Habit should be, "You Sell What you Tell"

Sunday night I went to a fireside featuring Stephen Covey. I figured this would be an excellent fireside to attend, seeing as how Stephen Covey is supposed to be like the Michael Jordan of Getting Your Sh*% Together, if you know what I mean.

I arrived early, settling into my seat before all the good ones were gone and I was left sitting in the back of the room in one of those uncomfortable folding chairs, unable to focus on what was being said because I was so uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, I could have been sitting in a freaking Lay-Z-Boy and been completely uninterested in what Mr. Covey had to say.

His fireside was entitled, "Identity Theft" and initially, it sounded promising. It was everything you'd except a fireside from Stephen Covey to be; PowerPoint presentation, bullet points, charts, graphs, and inspirational quotes. I mean, I felt like I should have brought my day planner or something. However, for someone who makes his living as a motivational speaker, Mr. Covey was a lot of things, but motivating was not one of them. In fact, his entire 85 minute-long presentation seemed like random collection of quotes, thrown between slides of inverted pyramid diagrams and those pictures that look like an old lady or Jesus, depending on how you squint your eyes to look at them.

His delivery wasn't impressive either. I'm a firm believer in phrase, "Fake it till you make it." I live by this phrase. Stephen Covey does not. He was dull, his demeanor was cold and I swear it was as if he didn't even believe what he was saying. I mean, you've got to sell it, Stephen. You know that, right? 

I will say the one highlight of the evening was the two minutes during which he told us that during the Presidential transition, he had met with President Bush in Oval Office and gave him some advice. He explained to us how spiritual Bush is and how, after an emotional meeting to discuss his future as an Ex-President, Bush had asked him what was this light that shone through him was. Stephen Covey let President Bush know that it was the spirit and that was the feeling he was experiencing.

Ummm......ok.

Bottom line, I wasn't impressed. In fact, if I ever have the means to drop $50,000 on a motivational speaker, I will turn elsewhere.

Dang girl...

Best part of the Super Bowl...

A Few Things

So last night I went to a party.  I was sort of scanning the crowd, checking out if I knew anyone when I notice this girl who I thought I knew from somewhere. I was kind of staring at her when it hit me....TREASURE.  

Yes. Treasure, from The Bachelor, was at the same party I was at last night.  I grabbed my friend Charlsie, who is also obsessed with The Bachelor, and pointed her out.  She also thought it was indeed Treasure.  Pretty soon our guy friends, who happen to be our neighbors and watch with us every week, were taping her on the shoulder and asking her if she was on The Bachelor. I was mortified, but sort of excited at the same time when she confirmed that yes, she is Treasure from The Bachelor.  Me and Charlsie immediately, yet cooly, start grilling her on questions we've had. about the show.

"How tall is Jason?  (he's about 5'9")

"Were the other girls nice?" (yes, they were all very nice)

"How come you didn't talk to him?" (The producers actually decide who gets alone time.  Unless you do something crazy, there's really no way to get to talk to him alone.)

"Is Shannon really that crazy?" (Yes. She was in my limo and she was nuts. Rene, the one with the Vision Boards, was in my limo too.)

"How long did that first night take? What was it like?" (we got to the house about 8:00 PM and left around 6:00 AM. It was fun, but tiring.  Megan was hammered and Natalie kept going outside to smoke.)

"Who do you think will win?" (Melissa for sure.  You could tell right away they were into each other. Plus they're both Jewish.)

Treasure was so, so nice.  And tiny. I mean, seriously. She had the body of a 13 year-old gymnast or something. But she was incredibly friendly and didn't even care that we were asking her all about the show.  After a while, it felt like we were all good friends. I must say, as a Bachelor fan, it was a great moment for me.  

Other stuff:  The Australian Open final was so great. I'm stoked that Nadal won, but watching Federer cry was heartbreaking. You know he wants the Sampras record so bad and the only thing in his way is Rafa. It was really touching to see him so emotional.  They're both such humble players ad both were very gracious during the trophy ceremony.  It's hard to root for one over the other. But it is interesting to see the tide turning a little.  Rafa is definitely proving to be the dominant player on the tour.  It will be exciting to see what he'll do over the next few years.