I'm a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due..... which is why this article affected me so.
Basically, Tilda Swinton who plays the White Witch in the soon to be released The Chronicles of Narnia, is claiming that she decided to make the White Witch, umm, white. She says that she thought it better to play her as white (aryan, in her words) instead of the typical dark skinned ghoul one thinks of when they think of a witch. That's all well and good, Ms. Swinton.. but I'm wondering if you might have been inspired by the fact that she is, in fact, called THE WHITE WITCH. Or maybe every other actress who has portrayed the White Witch has played her as well, white for lack of a better word...
Here is the way CS Lewis described her in Chapter 3 of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe:
"...She also was covered in white fur up to her throat... Her face was white - not merely pale, but white like snow or paper or icing-sugar, except for her very red mouth. It was a beautiful face in other respects, but proud and cold and stern."
Perhaps the problem here is that Tilda Swinton has never read CS Lewis...
I'm stepping off my soap box now... because after all, tis the season for love and cheer and good will towards all men and women! Even Tom Cruise and Tilda Swinton!
And by the way, I absolutely cannot wait to see The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I am so moved by the commercials that I tear up.... What will happen in the theater!??
Sunday, November 27, 2005
FOR PETE'S SAKE......
We interrupt the silence of this blog to step on the old soap box and rant...
It seems that Tom Cruise has bought an ultrasound machine for his betrothed who is also with child. I'm wondering how often he plans to look at the little bambino.. (and I wonder how much water Miss Katie is going to have to drink daily to fill her bladder up for a better view!) Hey, I'm as sentimental as the next gal.. really! I have my ultrasound pictures framed of my two babies and I've watched the video over and over... but I've also spent nights walking the floors with them as the suffered through ear infection after ear infection. Studies now suggest that those ultrasounds may not be as harmless as we once thought, and there is some evidence that links repeated ultrasounds to repeated ear infections.
We once thought X-rays were harmless. There was even a time when one would have their feet x-rayed when they tried on a new pair of shoes to make sure all the bones fit well in the shoe... that was until Madame Curie died of x-ray induced leukemia and we had to rethink the safety of that machine.
Sure both x-rays and ultrasounds have immense benefits that can outweigh the risks... but I don't think is in any way smart to subject tiny developing tissues to ultrasonic soundwaves just so Tom and Katie can have a look whenever the mood strikes them.
But then again, I don't know the entire history of psychology... but Tom does! Ask Matt Lauer!
It seems that Tom Cruise has bought an ultrasound machine for his betrothed who is also with child. I'm wondering how often he plans to look at the little bambino.. (and I wonder how much water Miss Katie is going to have to drink daily to fill her bladder up for a better view!) Hey, I'm as sentimental as the next gal.. really! I have my ultrasound pictures framed of my two babies and I've watched the video over and over... but I've also spent nights walking the floors with them as the suffered through ear infection after ear infection. Studies now suggest that those ultrasounds may not be as harmless as we once thought, and there is some evidence that links repeated ultrasounds to repeated ear infections.
We once thought X-rays were harmless. There was even a time when one would have their feet x-rayed when they tried on a new pair of shoes to make sure all the bones fit well in the shoe... that was until Madame Curie died of x-ray induced leukemia and we had to rethink the safety of that machine.
Sure both x-rays and ultrasounds have immense benefits that can outweigh the risks... but I don't think is in any way smart to subject tiny developing tissues to ultrasonic soundwaves just so Tom and Katie can have a look whenever the mood strikes them.
But then again, I don't know the entire history of psychology... but Tom does! Ask Matt Lauer!
Monday, November 07, 2005
THIRD PLACE AIN'T SO BAD
Ok, I've won a few things in my life... mostly raffle type contests BUT up until a week ago I had only won one thing based on talent. In 5th grade, I won my elementary schools poetry contest and it started me on a path of seeking glory and adoration that continue to this day.
Last week, I won something else. I entered the MomWriters Halloween writing contest and I won.... Ok, I won third place but out of 24 entries voted on by other writers... that's not too shabby!
So without further droning... here is the third place winner! Enjoy!
The Halloween Dreading
This was her favorite time of year. Between the colors and thesmells, there was nothing about this season she didn't adore… exceptfor this day. She hated this day and she hated what she knew she would become.
"I'll just be strong", she thought as she put the finishing touches on her daughter's ghost costume but she knew she didn't really have any control. Her hands shook so, the eye holes in the sheet didn't lineup and she had to cut more. "Well, she could always be a slice of swiss cheese", she sighed as she held the costume up to the light. "Maybe she won't want to go tonight… maybe we can pretend it isn't Halloween."
But it was Halloween and the little girl was excited to be ghost, regardless of how many eyes it had. As she watched her daughter tripping down the sidewalk, she prayed that things would be different this night. She simply couldn't bear to hurt that little girl.
The moon, which started out so large and pale, had risen further in the sky, becoming smaller and brighter. She didn't want to go home because she knew that was where it would happen, but she also knew they couldn't stay out all night long.
The walk home was excruciating. Her mouth was dry, her stomach was in knots and she was both sweaty and cold. She tried to think of a wayto avoid what she knew was unavoidable. She looked at her little girl, who was twisting her neck to see out of the askew eye holes, and prayed that this curse would not pass on.
A tooth brushing, a face washing and a few Eskimo kisses later, her daughter was tucked safely in bed.
"I'll just go to bed too! It can't happen tonight! It won't happen tonight!", but she could already feel it starting. She shut her bedroom door locking herself in… She crawled into bed and pulled the covers up over her head. The full moon, now high in the sky, was shining through the window as if it were a spotlight illuminating the terror that would soon unfold. She fought it until she could fight no more... then, with one swift move she jumped from her bed and began her rampage. Soon the once quiet home was filled with sounds of gnashing teeth, ripping, and moaning. Once she started, she couldn't stop herself until moon beams gave way to sun beams.
She heard a soft tapping at the door but before she could run and hide, in walked the little girl screaming at the sight of her mother surrounded by candy wrappers and an empty orange pumpkin shaped bucket. Terrified and ashamed, she held up the one piece of candy that survived the night's annihilation. "At least I saved you a gummybear this year!"
Last week, I won something else. I entered the MomWriters Halloween writing contest and I won.... Ok, I won third place but out of 24 entries voted on by other writers... that's not too shabby!
So without further droning... here is the third place winner! Enjoy!
The Halloween Dreading
This was her favorite time of year. Between the colors and thesmells, there was nothing about this season she didn't adore… exceptfor this day. She hated this day and she hated what she knew she would become.
"I'll just be strong", she thought as she put the finishing touches on her daughter's ghost costume but she knew she didn't really have any control. Her hands shook so, the eye holes in the sheet didn't lineup and she had to cut more. "Well, she could always be a slice of swiss cheese", she sighed as she held the costume up to the light. "Maybe she won't want to go tonight… maybe we can pretend it isn't Halloween."
But it was Halloween and the little girl was excited to be ghost, regardless of how many eyes it had. As she watched her daughter tripping down the sidewalk, she prayed that things would be different this night. She simply couldn't bear to hurt that little girl.
The moon, which started out so large and pale, had risen further in the sky, becoming smaller and brighter. She didn't want to go home because she knew that was where it would happen, but she also knew they couldn't stay out all night long.
The walk home was excruciating. Her mouth was dry, her stomach was in knots and she was both sweaty and cold. She tried to think of a wayto avoid what she knew was unavoidable. She looked at her little girl, who was twisting her neck to see out of the askew eye holes, and prayed that this curse would not pass on.
A tooth brushing, a face washing and a few Eskimo kisses later, her daughter was tucked safely in bed.
"I'll just go to bed too! It can't happen tonight! It won't happen tonight!", but she could already feel it starting. She shut her bedroom door locking herself in… She crawled into bed and pulled the covers up over her head. The full moon, now high in the sky, was shining through the window as if it were a spotlight illuminating the terror that would soon unfold. She fought it until she could fight no more... then, with one swift move she jumped from her bed and began her rampage. Soon the once quiet home was filled with sounds of gnashing teeth, ripping, and moaning. Once she started, she couldn't stop herself until moon beams gave way to sun beams.
She heard a soft tapping at the door but before she could run and hide, in walked the little girl screaming at the sight of her mother surrounded by candy wrappers and an empty orange pumpkin shaped bucket. Terrified and ashamed, she held up the one piece of candy that survived the night's annihilation. "At least I saved you a gummybear this year!"
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