Home Movies with a Twist

Last week our lecture about media and the family got me thinking about how modern technology has changed media in the family. This is a pretty obvious statement, but I was more specifically thinking about family home movies. I think videos are such a great way to keep memories of family, and now we have so many different ways of doing it! For example, my husband and I starting teaching our nephews how to longboard for fun. I took a lot of videos, and then compiled them into one with some music to make one fun video of all the things we did.

No one will probably appreciate it as much as we do, but it's so fun to be able to share with our family who is far away. Making videos like this is one of my new favorite hobbies!

The Economics of Sex

In light of our lecture on sex in the media, here is a really interesting and awesome video I found this week called "The Economics of Sex." It gives a perfect insight into how sex has changed the media so much - in this case, the dating world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Confession: I love Valentine's Day.

Second confession: I'm not even a little sorry about it.

I don't see what there isn't to love about letting the people around you know that you like them a whole lot. And not necessarily in a romantic way, but in a "Hey! I think you're great!" kind of way. It's the best.

This week I was lucky enough to find this awesome video of guys singing to girls they don't know. It's much less creepy than it sounds. Just watch.

ADORABLE. Letting people know they are awesome -even when you don't know them- is always a great idea. People should do it more often.

So whether you're taken, single, have your eye on a special someone, or are taking a break from love and stuff: get out there today and let someone you know that you're thinking about them! Even better, let somebody, even if it's a perfect stranger, feel special. Everyone deserves it.

You're Welcome.

I came across this adorable video this week. Amidst the stress of approaching midterms and a million projects, papers and assignments due, it's nice to see pure, unadulterated happiness. If Ellen isn't prosocial media, then I don't know what is.

Here are parts one and two of Ellen having a little boy named Elias on her show. First of all, he is by far the sweetest, most hilarious six year old I've ever seen, and he is just overflowing with compliments for other people. You can't see him and help but smile. Oh, and he's a 7-year old piano-playing prodigy who has already played at Carnegie Hall. You can be impressed now.

I loved the first, but I think the second interview is even better.

If you're ever having a bad day, just watch some Ellen. It'll do ya good.

Rain

As I'm sitting here on my couch in my cozy little apartment, I'm grateful to have a roof over my head instead of being stuck outside in the rain. 

But at the same time, I look outside at the very Seattle-esque weather today and can't help but feel joy in my heart for things I so often take for granted, like the rain. 

I'm feeling all sappy and stuff because of this sweet video that I'm sure many of you have already seen at this point thanks to social media. But in case you haven't, you're in for a treat. Here's a little girl experiencing rain for the first time.

There is absolutely nothing more precious in this world than the wonder of a child. The best moment is at :27 when she reaches her hands to the sky and just lets out the most honest "WOW" I've ever heard. 

For whatever reason, this video did more for me than just fill the daily cuteness quota. It struck a chord within me on a level I never expected from a silly youtube video. It has made me think about appreciating things a little better in life. Life is hard and comes with it's troubles, but really, everything around us is just. so. amazing. 

There should never be reason to lose that wonder. The world did not become less marvelous and awe-inspiring, but we've just become complacent with allowing the extraordinary to become ordinary. I hope we can all take a note or two on this little girl's enthusiasm over a little rain and learn to enjoy life a little more.

What Is Wrong With Me.

This week I was introduced to this video of a girl who had just gotten her wisdom teeth pulled:

It's long, she is whiny, and basically sobs uncontrollably throughout the entire video all because she wants to go to Target so badly. And I laughed so hard I literally cried. And almost peed my pants (too much?).

Anyway, just like videos that make me cry like a baby, there are some videos out there that I just cannot watch without completely losing my cool and cracking up like a crazy person. And a lot said videos are of people having an emotional break down over silly things. For example, this video of Kristen Bell crying over her love of sloths. If you haven't seen this already, I require that you watch it before going on with the rest of your life. It's hilarious.

Why are emotionally compromised people (under the right circumstances of course) SO HILARIOUS. Maybe it's because they are relatable? Maybe because it's absurd? Maybe it's because I really am heartless and will surely pay for the hours spent laughing at other people's expense?

Seriously. I have an issue. Karma will come. And I will suffer. I'm sure of it. In the meantime, I'm going to go get lost in the vortex that is Youtube and not feel bad about it. Happy Friday, ya'll!

So. Many. Tears.

Growing up, I was never really a weepy person. I certainly never cried in movies or shows. I was told once (by a boy) that I was heartless because I didn't cry at the end of The Notebook. Spoiler alert: it is really, really sad. The end. 

All of a sudden around my second year of college, I became a freaking basket case. I will cry at basically anything. Happy, sad, if there is any amount of "feeling" for the person or character portrayed, the water works will surely turn on. Ugh.

This week was no exception as I came across a slew of very emotional videos.

The first is happy, sweet, and exciting. It shows "Peter Pan" proposing to his real-life girlfriend and stage-love "Wendy." Here's the link to the article that goes into more depth about their story (it's adorable). But here's just the video itself:

The second is emotional for the opposite reason. It pulls on the heartstrings, it's sad, it's inspiring and I was a MESS when watching it. Beyonce fulfills a 12-year-old girl's dying wish to dance and sing with her. Bless Beyonce. Bless this little girl. I gotta go cry again. Bye. 

And in case you aren't in tears yet, here's one more of people just doing really wonderful everyday acts of kindness. All caught on the dashboard cams of Russian citizens (dashboard cams are mandatory there). 

It never ceases to amaze me how much emotion media can evoke in people. Whether it's happiness, sadness, pain, anger -- pretty much every human emotion across the board. It's incredible to me. I think the ability to empathize with others is one of the greatest aspects of being human. I both love and hate it when media is able to have such a profoundly emotional effect on me. 

Crazy.