Art vs. Artist

So for starters let me just go ahead and say that I'm sure some of you are going to make fun of me once I tell you where my latest blog entry came from. Despite how you might feel about the show, I really think that they brought up a good point on the last episode and if you disagree then feel free to skip this entry. Onward to my post:

  Today I spent time getting some of the shows on my DVR watched so my box would stop reminding me that it was slowly running out of room for new shows. (I hate falling behind on shows but at least I have things to watch!) As I was watching an episode of glee I found myself very intrigued when many of the characters flipped out on a guy who was planning to sing a Chris Brown song for the week. (For those who don't watch, usually each week they have a theme for the songs they are going to sing at practice like guilty pleasures or diva songs.) Most of the group is telling this one guy that he can't sing a Chris Brown song because he had an abusive relationship with Rhianna and if he sings Chris Brown it makes the statement that he thinks it's ok. This character decides that the group is right and decides to sing a Brown song, but instead of singing a Chris song...he sings a Bobby Brown song instead. Of course the group is still upset and informs this character that Bobby Brown was no better than Chris.

This is after he sang My Prerogative (I think)

All this got me thinking, when it comes to music or any form of art can we forget the terrible things he/she/they do in private if the art is wonderful? Are some bad choices easier to overlook than others? Does a person's private life affect how his/her art is perceived? Think of a song that you absolutely love, a song that you know all the words to, something you can't help but feel happy when it comes on. Now imagine that the person who sings this amazing song is a puppy killer.

Look at how adorable!

Are you going to stop listening to that song? If you bought the cd, are you going to throw it away? Odds are, you won't buy any more concert tickets or posters of this artist. Now if the artist is a tax evader or heavy on drugs, does that chance your stance? Michael Jackson was accused of messing with little boys...but you never hear people say anything negative about his music. Whitney Houston was on drugs and people talk about how horrible a loss it is for the music industry now that she's passed on. Am I trying to hint that I think either of the Browns are better than MJ or Whitney? No, of course not. My ears work fine but my point is that while they both had faults that were often the headline for the tabloid section at your local grocery store, it seems that the general public can overlook these bad choices and focus on musical talents and catchy songs.

If we turn from music to movies you can see that it's close to the same deal. Most of us have heard about Mel Gibson's slurs. If you haven't noticed...the offers don't seem to be pouring in for him anymore. Do we stop watching the good movies though? Braveheart may be one of his best know movies. AMC plays it very often. Do we stop watching it? Has anyone actually seen Gibson's latest movie that went straight to dvd? (Unless it's a movie for kids...this is usually a bad sign) How about David Hasselhoff who lost custody of his daughters when that video of him on the floor with the cheeseburger surfaced? Do we stop letting kids watch the Spongebob movie?

This is a real scene from the movie

So here's my opinion on the matter. If it's a simple mistake and they make great music...it's easy for us to forget and move on but some of the heavier things (like hitting women or having an addiction) are harder to overlook and while we won't talk badly about previous work...it will stop us from liking anything new. In my opinion, I don't really care for the music of Chris or Bobby Brown so I haven't ever supported either of them. Honestly,  I'd much rather be listening to Blink 182 any given day!

Blink 182

Ok readers, I want to know what you think! Is there a line you hope your favorite artist never crosses so you don't have to burn all that merch you bought at the last show? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about MJ, Whitney, Mel, ect... Feel free to tell me what you think about Blink (just know that I might have a comeback already lined up...hehehe)! Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Night Owls Unite!

For the past three nights this week...I've been up so late that I've debated just not sleeping at all! It would be so easy to blame being on the computer as the reason that I have stayed up all night, but two nights ago I wasn't on the computer...I was up with my husband watching tv. At the moment I can't think of what I was doing last night that cause me to stay up so long. My close friends will tell you that usually it doesn't take much of anything for me to get to sleep. Yep, I'm one of those rare and lucky people that are usually asleep before the head and pillow meet. However, the downside to that is most often if I can't get myself to want to go to sleep it simply won't happen (which is really what happened tonight...I just chose to make the most of my time and work on my blog and uploading pictures and finally getting all these pictures off my phone!)

 

Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, and Captain America

So in the event that you find yourself up all night and you really need to get some beauty sleep, try a few of these tips to see if the sandman will come:
1.) Get some reading done. Sometimes curling up in bed with a good book will help you get to sleep.
2.) Take a warm shower at least thirty mins before you want to go to sleep. Cooling down from the shower will help give your body the signal that it is time to sleep.

3.) Try not to eat anything or have anything to drink other than water at least three hours before you want to go to sleep. (I know this one isn't always easy to follow, but try to limit the caffeine intake in the hours before bedtime)

4.) Drink a warm glass of milk. (This one has never worked for me...but you never know)
5.)  Play some soft music. Like classical music before you crawl into bed
6.) Turn off everything that puts off light. Studies have shown that people sleep longer and better in darker rooms. If you simply can't imagine turning off your phone, at the very least leave it face down so it you do get a random text during the night it won't light up your room.

7.) If you find yourself staring into the darkness and can't seem to get to sleep, start daydreaming. I know this one is really hit or miss but it does work for me. I've started thinking about remolding the basement and turning it into a studio apartment. Imagined myself in a nice gown trying to waltz around a ballroom. For the most part, I've found that daydreams that don't really take much of an effort work very well for me and do help me get to sleep when I'm having trouble with it.

Some things the internet had to say, a few of these I've mentioned but they list more:

Forbes: reasons why you can't sleep
Prevention: 10 reasons you can't sleep


Did one of my tips work for you? Do you have the perfect trick to bring on sleep? I want to know! Make sure to leave your tips or comments below cause I would love to hear from you. May you have a great night of sleep readers!

I shall end with this cute pic!

Getting Started...

   It's always so exciting when you begin something new. A new job, or let's say starting a new project (like maybe a blog), your mind begins racing with ideas and things that you want to accomplish. For most people, these amazing ideas pop up at the most inopportune times like taking a shower or while buying groceries. It's very hard to stop what you're doing a grab a pen and jot down an idea. Even now as I have decided to start my blog, my mind is racing trying to remember all of the ideas and topics that I already had mostly written in my mind. I know that for most people, we tend to look at the start of a new year as a time for new beginnings and to change things about ourselves.This is something that I've been bouncing around in my head for a while now!

So this is actually my second attempt at starting my own blog. I actually went back and deleted everything I had already posted simply because I didn't like the direction that I went. I feel that this time around I'm wiser and prepared to do something helpful...even if I only get on here and make a joke or post a few funny pictures. I think I just put so much pressure on myself the first time. "What if you don't really have any thoughts that are really worth sharing"? Or "Do you really think people will care to even read your opinions"? While it would be a bit of a downer to find out that no one is really interested in what I have to say, I've decided that I will take pride in the fact that I went for it. I took that step and did something that I wanted for myself!

To give you a taste of what I already have planned...I will give you a few of my ideas for upcoming entries. For starters, I plan to open my blog up to anyone who would like to seek advice about anything in life. Like a Dear Abby I suppose...and keep from using any one's real names. I also plan to tell you about the shows that you've been missing out on, as well as movies, books, and bands. I've also become addicted to a site called Pintrest and I plan to do some of the crafts and meals I have pinned and let you know how they turn out. I promise to include pictures...maybe even video (if I can convince the hubby to hold the camera). I also hope to post about random things that puzzle me (without getting too personal or soap boxy).

For now, please bear with me as I get this ball rolling and I think it will be worth it! I will end this entry with a picture that I know geeks will enjoy...