Just a few things

1) I was supposed to work last night, but I got to be on call all night. Thanks to my excellent charge nurse Molly for her consideration in this matter. I’ve been running myself ragged with school and work lately and I needed a “day” off.

2) Because I was on call last night, I had time to watch a lot of TV. I watched CSI, Without a Trace and ER. All of which were good, but for it being sweeps time, none of them overly impressed me. I also watched the end of Human Trafficking. This was a Lifetime miniseries about unfortunate women and girls that are lured into an international sex-trafficking ring run by ruthless criminals and the American FBI agents who are trying to break the ring up. While the movie wasn’t great (acting, etc.), it really was pretty disturbing and eye-opening. The people that enslave these women are disgusting, but the men who, with their patronage, allow this practice to continue are even more repulsive. According to the UN, an estimated 2 to 4 million people are trafficked worldwide every year. The US State Department estimates that 80% of victims trafficked across international borders are female and 70% of those women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation. The revolting individuals who are responsible for this despicable practice make an estimated $7 to $13 billion every year. Interested in finding out more? Check out the following links:

HumanTrafficking.org
MTV Exit Campaign
UN Office on Drugs and Crime

3) Because I got to have a lazy morning today, I had time to watch the Today show. I caught the tail end of some guy skating out on the Rockefeller Center skating rink. It then occurred to me that the Winter Olympics in Torino are actually coming up in February. I really haven’t seen much advertising for the games yet, but maybe that will start in December or January. Or maybe I’ve just been watching the wrong shows/channels. Check out the official websites of the 2006 Winter Games and the US Olympic Team.

4) I went to see the new Pride and Prejudice over the weekend. It has gotten very good reviews from fans and critics alike. Those people either have not read the book or are mentally deficient in some capacity. All I have to say about the movie is boooooo! Jane Austen is probably turning over in her grave in England somewhere. The characters were not well developed. Some characters vitally important to plot and character development were practically cut out (e.g., Wickham). Certain important relationships were not portrayed well (e.g., Jane and Lizzie). Way too much time was spent on pointless scenes (e.g., Lizzie spinning around on a swing), when the time could have been spent on plot and/or character development. I mean you only have two hours here, think about what’s really important! Dialogue that was beautifully written by Jane Austen, was unnecessarily changed (for the worse):

Movie:
Mrs. Bennet: But don't you wish to know who it has been let to?
Mr. Bennet: What I wish is immaterial, my dear, as you so obviously wish to tell me.

Original:
“Do not you want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”

Some people have complained about the casting, but I have to say the casting didn’t bother me too much. Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen were pretty good, although nothing can really compare to Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth from the 1995 BBC version. The most absurd of all, however, was the last scene in the movie. It was completely out of character for Jane Austen and should NOT have been put in. Apparently Joe Wright (the director) and Deborah Moggach (the writer) had a meeting with John Hughes of Sixteen Candles fame or something. I mean I’m all for happy endings and everything, but that scene was just stupid and their weak weak weak attempt at giving the movie a Hollywood ending. I have decided that I must reread the novel for my own edification, to make sure that I am not being unfair to this movie, but I have a feeling I will find I am not. If you really want to do this wonderful story justice, please buy/rent/borrow the 1980 BBC version and/or the 1995 BBC/A&E version. Or even better, READ THE BOOK!!!

5) Clementines are back in the stores!! I love these sweet juicy little treats which are cross between an orange and a mandarin orange. If you haven’t tried one before, you should!!