As per usual, I talked to a bunch of people I didn't know yesterday. I was on assignment for the Talon, taking photos of Food Inc. director Robert Kenner. The turnout in Ward 1 to hear the man speak about his Oscar nominated documentary gave me a bit of a thrill; that a mass of people actually cared to hear about this food issue that no one wants to think about.

As a big supporter of the democracy movement in Burma, I was (and maybe still am) rooting for Burma VJ to win in the social documentary category at the Oscars. But I can't lie--it was awesome getting to shake hands, talk with, and share corn chips!, with Robbie Kenner. I was surprised to hear him say that he thought we needed more journalists in the world to keep our world honest. I mean, not surprised about that sentiment since he is doing investigative work himself, but I haven't heard anyone say much about journalism lately other than saying it's dead. Or impossible to find a job in. Or unsustainable from a business perspective.

Thank you, Robert Kenner.

As I was walking back to my dorm today...

...someone opened their window and made a Chewbacca noise at me. I was the only one outside at the time. Compliment?

blog following

I plan to follow The Daily Dish for my class assignment. TIME says Andrew Sullivan's commentary was "defying political labels long before it became fashionable," and that "in a blogosphere choking on its own partisan entrees, The Daily Dish is a welcome meal that's good for you."

I just read one of the posts about Ryan Sorba's outburst at CPAC this weekend. ---> http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/02/a-conversation-with-ryan-sorba.html

The dialogue below the video clip is between Sorba and an AU student, Alex Knepper. COOL. I've never met Knepper, but his presence in a legit blog makes me feel sort of unaccomplished. Aaand the Olympics are on in the background as I type. Double whammy on the self esteem today.

Obama says Nevata, I say Nevahdah

So today I have officially become the queen of pale. I host a film critique show with another guy on ATV, and we got an email today from our producer saying that the show was going to get powder makeup...so that the lights wouldn't be so reflective.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In other news, I am waiting for the viral video to be created from Obama's speech at a school in Henderson, Nevada today. It was Q&A time, and Obama took off his jacket--he was in the "hot seat," he said. I squealed a little. So our hero was parading back and forth in front of the crowd. He took a question from this pointy-nosed woman who was basically Professor McGonagall, and as he was answering her concerns about support for free health clinics like hers, he artfully broadened the conversation into a rallying cry for the need to reform health care. That's not to say he avoided the question; he answered it and nailed the opportunity to get a frenzy going in the crowd too. Tis truly a gift.

BUT ANYWAY in all his wonderful confidence and suavity, he reached up an arm and scratched his side with his fingernails. But not just normal scratching...he curled his arm around in that way that monkeys do. And there is was. A solid 3 second long piece of monkey scratch video ready to be mixed and mashed up, maybe with some autotune.

While waiting for the new vid, some classic autotune for everyone:

for those who are always late...

I enjoyed contemplating my own reasons for being late while doing this radio assignment.