A Break From Usual Programming

In the past week, the Internet at large has realized that it is not safe. The recent fears concerning US-backed SOPA brought out the frequentors' of the internets' Guy Fawkes masks and V for Vendetta .gifs. Those who call the internet home (and believe me, there are quite a few) are making their voices heard in response to the government's attempt and subsequent success shutting down such file sharing websites as Meagupload and Fileshare.

Although SOPA has been shelved for now, a new global threat has come on the scene. ACTA is, according to Electronic Frontier Foundation.org,

"ACTA has several features that raise significant potential concerns for consumers’ privacy and civil liberties for innovation and the free flow of information on the Internet legitimate commerce and for developing countries’ ability to choose policy options that best suit their domestic priorities and level of economic development.

ACTA is being negotiated by a select group of industrialized countries outside of existing international multilateral venues for creating new IP norms such as the World Intellectual Property Organization and (since TRIPs) the World Trade Organization. Both civil society and developing countries are intentionally being excluded from these negotiations. While the existing international fora provide (at least to some extent) room for a range of views to be heard and addressed no such checks and balances will influence the outcome of the ACTA negotiations."

It may not sound too terrible, but ACTA encourages not only censorship of the internet, but also active monitoring of internet by the agreeing nations' government. Participating countries include the United States, Japan, the EU, Republic of Korea, Australia, Canada, and other major countries.

Here's a video for more info on ACTA, called "Say NO to ACTA."
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=citzRjwk-sQ)

Spread the word on ACTA!

I've been listening to too much Lady Gaga... help?

What's wrong with me?! I can't get her songs out of my head. "You and I" will not leave me alone, seriously.

Besides my somewhat random liking of Lady Gaga, I've also been listening to the newcomer Lana Del Rey. You may have heard her (apparently less than stellar) performance on SNL, but what I've heard by her I really like.

Her songs "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans" are ethereally beautiful and catchy at the same time.

Search her up on Youtube or Spotify!

Television Shows Out the Wazzoo

Recently I've realized that I need to watch more TV...

I know what you're thinking, "Kailyn, you really do NOT need to watch more television!" But, dear reader, I really do. Think about all the great shows over the years; how many have I watched? Probably less than half. My mom finally agreed to get Netflix so I've been freaking out.

I watched The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, and it was amazing. If you like ironic sub-cultures and "real" trash, you'd love this. "Renee, Renee! She's cryin' cuz CPS took 'er baby! Renee! Hey! CPS took 'er baby!" is one of the classic quotes from this documentary. I HIGHLY reccommend it.

I've also started watching this Korean drama, an interpretation of a Japanese manga, "Hana Yori Dango." I've been obsessed with it for the past three days; it's seriously addictive.

I also want to watch, among other things: The Walking Dead, Veronica Mars, Psych, Dexter, Deadwood, Breaking Bad, Trailer Park Boys, Modern Family, Portlandia, Boardwalk Empire, The Borgias, Bored to Death, BBC Sherlock, and lots of other embarrassing shows.

As you can see, I really love TV. Feel free to reccommend more shows to me, though!

New Makeup Staple?

Esteemed makeup brand Revlon has recently come out with a new product that has garnered much attention from makeup collectors and gurus alike. Revlon's new Colorburst Lip Butters came on the scene sometime in October, and ever since then, they have been raved about on Youtube and blog websites alike.

The lip butters are technically a colored lip balm, but they are so pigmented that they seem almost like lipstick. They go on the lips great and even though their staying time isn't too long, they're very moisturizing and have great coverage for a tinted lip balm.

I have one and I wish I had more! It looks great on, slides on smooth, and definitely leaves my lips feeling moisturized. They cost around seven dollars at Target, and are most often found there and at Rite Aid. I would definitely recommend picking one of these up if you're looking for a good lip balm that also has great pigmentation!

The Fault in Our Stars

Tomorrow, esteemed young adult writer John Green, author of Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and An Abundance of Katherines is releasing a brand-new book. 

The Fault in Our Stars has been highly anticipated on the internet, and many people have pre-ordered the book (sadly, this number does not include me, as I am stupid and have no money). It's already at number one on Amazon's Bestseller list -and it hasn't even come out yet!

If you're a fan of John Green, or hey, just like really good writing, check out The Fault in Our Stars, available in stores tomorrow!



2011 Favorites

Now that 2011 is over and the new year has begun, it's time for the ever-obnoxious list of the Best of 2011.


Movies:

• Crazy, Stupid, Love (I'm a girl and it has Ryan Gosling in it. So.)
• Insidious
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 (my inner Potter nerd is shining through)

Honestly, I didn't watch that many movies in 2011. I'm not a huge fan of "chick-flicks" or action, and last year's movies disappointed me somewhat. However, 2012 is going to be a GREAT year for filmgoers. I'm most excited for The Hobbit and The Dark Knight Rises, another take on Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, as well as the re-release of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.


Books:

• Tina Fey's Bossypants
• A Song of Fire and Ice series
• Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (I am a HUGE fan of hers!)

To be edited.