The Jazzy Bahsoun

Life's our oyster and we're gonna suck that bitch down with a champagne chaser.

Behavioral Therapist
MA Developmental Psychology, Columbia
BS Psychobiology/ French, UCLA

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Movies to See:
Mission Impossible
Haywire
Shame
A Dangerous Method
Underworld:Awakening

TV Shows to Watch:
Portlandia
The Life & Times of Tim

Book to Read:
Game of Thrones
by George R.R. Martin

Album to Listen to:
The Black Keys
El Camino

Person to Hate:
Newt Gingrich

Group of People to Despise:
Fox & Friends

Bitchin Links

Blogs and Writers of Note

Mary's Website

Mary's Blog

Ravi's Blog

Lauren's Blog

Cheryl's LiveJournal

TV Squad

The Soup

Cracked

Best Week Ever

The Chive

On Location Vacations

Cute Overload

Michael Moore's Blog

Joel Stein Columns

Maureen Dowd Columns

Secular Coalition of America

Richard Dawkins

Personal Stuff

My Facebook

My Twitter

My YouTube Videos

My DVD Collection

My Books

Machatz Self-Defense

For Politics and Political Satire

The Huffington Post

Salon.com

Politico

The Daily Beast

The Onion

The Colbert Nation

Truthdig

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

For Entertainment

Ain't It Cool News

IGN

Rotten Tomatoes

DVD Active

Movie Stinger

AdTunes

The Daily Wav

Movie Mistakes

For Humor and Other Things

HuffPost Comedy

Funny or Die

The Lonely Island

Shit My Dad Says

F My Life

Daily Python

College Humor

Super Mario Crossover

People of Walmart

E-Mails from an Asshole

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

God Checker

Church Sign Maker

Strong Bad Email

Japander: See Actors Embarrass Themselves Abroad

Landover Baptist Church: Jesus Loves You Sometimes

For Bruins

The Daily Bruin

Bruins Nation

Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA Bruin Marching Band: The Solid Gold Sound

The REAL $UC Application

Old Stuff

March 2003
April 2003
May 2003
June 2003
July 2003
August 2003
September 2003
October 2003
November 2003
December 2003
January 2004
February 2004
March 2004
April 2004
May 2004
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
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June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
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May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
September 2007
November 2007
January 2008
March 2008
April 2008
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June 2008
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November 2008
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November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
June 2010
August 2010
November 2010
December 2010
February 2011
April 2011
May 2011
July 2011

Friday, December 31, 2010
Unresolved Resolution
As the first decade of the millennium winds down, I came to the startling realization that it has taken exactly 10 years for me to graduate from high school, graduate from college and graduate from graduate school. I started high school in the '99-'00 school year, the first year of the decade, graduated in '03; started at UCLA in '03, graduated in '07; started at Teachers College in '08 and graduated in '10, the last year of the decade. But as of now, other than being slightly taller, slightly smarter, slightly hairier, with cat and with lady, I am pretty much in the same position. I'm still out of work and spending more money than I actually have. Three degrees, a thesis and three years of work experience later, I'm back at square one.

It's not all bad though. I've gotten really good at writing cover letters, watching movies and playing video games. I also have time to ponder the important questions in life such as, "What is mayonnaise? Where does it come from?" and come to ground-breaking realizations such as if you read off the lyrics to the "Growing Pains" theme song, in a low, Hannibal Lecter-esque voice, it will sound like a serial killer whispering to his latest victim.

Therefore, in the New Year, the obvious resolution would be to get a job. But that would be implying that it is not something I've resolved to do prior to 1/1/11. Isn't the point of a resolution to enact a change on your life?

So I decided to take suggestions regarding potential resolutions.

That was a mistake.

The girlfriend, after reflecting on my various self-gifts this holiday season, in the form of DVDs, video games, DVDs, Blu Rays and video games, decides that I should resolve to abstain from buying anything for myself that I don't "need" for a month. First off, a month I can do. Second, I don't "need"? Of course I don't "need" them.... but I want them so so badly.

And then she escalated it. "Maybe you should think about why these objects make you happy. Do you think you would be any less happy without them?"

YES! I would be!

Now granted, I am a materialistic consuming fiend, and I acknowledge I do not need a 200+ DVD collection. But what is it that one actually needs? You don't need clothes, makeup, books, fingernail clippers, underwear and computers. But they make modern life so much easier and add to one's quality of life. They are creature comforts.

And relegated to pseudo-housewife, this creature needs to be comforted.

But I guess I'll stick to the original plan of not buying anything for a month.

...Mainly because the girlfriend changed my eBay and Amazon.com passwords.

2:50 PM
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Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Labelmaker 2010
It's been about a month since the election. I don't know if you noticed, but I was bit engulfed in flames over it (the literal kind, not the euphemism kind). But that fervor has calmed itself a bit.

I can't say the same about the pundits though. Commentators from both sides have been throwing around words lately using labels to define an entire party or a person's ideology. I was not familiar with many of these terms... so I naturally Googled them (you thought I was gonna Bing them, I know).

But fear not, loyal reader, you don't have to use Google (or Bing, as it were), because I'm here to give you the true meaning of each of these terms, to the best of my ability, as well as other labels that have been over-used, of late.

Moderate
This is the wishy-washy political stance taken by people who don't actually follow politics. The people who define themselves as "Moderates" are the same people who, when given the choice of cup or cone, choose cone inside a cup. Cone is too "out there" for them, and cup is too boring. So a cone inside a cup is the lily-livered, safe choice.

Editor's Note: I hate to break it to you, but Moderatism is dead. There is only Liberal and (unfortunately) Conservative. Whenever anyone tries to do anything Moderate in the government, it doesn't work, or is lambasted by the extremes on either side. So pick a side people. We're at war.

Progressive
Defined as one who cares about social change, the use of science and technology for the betterment of mankind, civil rights, women's rights and the right to eat ice cream.

Another Editor's Note: I've got news for you, every movement in this country that did anything to change it for the better, from the Civil Rights movement to woman's right to vote to woman's right to choose, were progressive movements. Now if you're watching Fox News, the Progressive movement is synonymous with the march to the Apocalypse (literally). So basically if you are for civil rights, scientific research in medicine and technology and care about human beings in general, you are Progressive. If you're not, then Jesus hates your guts (but he loves you).

Conservative
Should I even bother?

Conservative
Alright fine. If you are someone who seeks to cut taxes for the rich, likes spending billions of dollars on various bombs and jets that are never used, is against civil liberties, science, the rights of women and minorities, is, in general, racist, and loves Jesus....ya might be a redneck. I mean conservative. Oh and also white.

Compassionate Conservative
Remember this awesome term made popular by the last guy? It refers to a Republican who is pandering to a Liberal audience. It doesn't actually reflect any personal belief in progressive policies or, you know, compassion.

Log Cabin Republican
This term refers to nihilistic homosexual people. That is, homosexuals who are against their own personal existence, and the existence of people like them. This description can be applied to "Low-Middle Class Republicans," "Mexican Republicans" and "African-American Republicans" as well.

Blue Dog Democrat
A democrat who is a sell out to the Republican party. (Can also be labeled "Republican.")

Now let's move on out of the political arena, to other prevalent labels.

Foodie
This term refers to one who enjoys the practice of looking at, researching and, ultimately, eating food. This term is popularized by obnoxiously loud, and often obese, Americans who describe themselves as being passionate about food. They separate themselves from other people who eat food, by endlessly talking about the food they have sought out and are eating. They are also characterized by their lack of knowledge of those in the world who are not able to look at, research or eat food.

Dog Person
One who seeks a submissive creature to offset their otherwise inability to impose control on any other aspects of their lives. Also can be characterized by one who enjoys physical proximity and having physical contact with feces.

Cat Person
One who seeks an adorable, fluffy creature to make themselves feel like they have no self-worth. Typically classified as single, white women or the unemployed.

Agnostic
The cowardly, safe choice between religiousness and atheism. Can also be labeled as "Future Atheist" or "Was Once Molested by a Priest."

And finally...

The Person Who Says They "Don't like labels."
This person is characterized by an overall air of pretentiousness and pomposity. Ironically, many labels can be applied to these people such as, "Douche," "Tool," "Anarchist," and/or "Libertarian."

I hope this guide was helpful to you all. If we put in as little time and energy into changing this world for the better, as I spent making this list ... well, we'd be where we are right now.

4:10 PM
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