Donna Freitas: October 2008 Archives

Here are two new exciting updates for fans awaiting the November 21 release of the first movie from Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series.

First, the new movie trailer! The new trailer is heavy on the Bella scenes, focusing on Bella Swan looking concerned, quizzical, and, perhaps, conflicted (we presume) over her vampire soul mate Edward Cullen.

 

 

Whether there will be four film features to complement each of the four "Twilight" novels is up in the air after the extremely mixed reaction to Book 4. But, then again, I think we "Twilight" fans should be happy with what we've got to look forward to in the next few weeks....

Second, if the trailer's not enough to satisfy your "Twilight" cravings, you can spend time analyzing the new "Twilight" movie soundtrack.

So the word from the Pew Research Center is that "religious voters appear to be gradually gravitating toward Barack Obama as their pick for president." While Obama is edging out McCain among the mainline Protestant demographic, apparently, "McCain still holds an advantage over his rival among white evangelical Protestant voters," says the CNN article about the poll.

And while we're on the subject of Obama, I have to give props to my two Jewish friends who turned their pro-Obama "Hey Sarah Palin" Youtube video into a minor franchise (they are now selling T-Shirts), producing a video which is currently one of the most popular on all of Youtube (!!!). They are approaching two million hits...

And back by popular demand, they've done it again with another video called "Vote Barack"--this time rewriting the rap lyrics to Young MC's "Bust A Move." I have to say, this is one of the funniest things I've seen. Disclaimer though: there is a bit of swearing! Enjoy...

Well, apparently, keeping everyone from having a simultaneous spiritual, emotional, and physical breakdown, that's what.

At least according to the New York Times.

In a recent article, "Staying Healthy in a Sick Economy," reporter Mandy Katz had this to say about apparent the (economic) healing powers of yoga:

"On Wall Street, when the going gets tough, will the tough get yoga mats? Adding classes in yoga, meditation and other so-called mind-body regimens is just one way fitness professionals in the financial district are responding to recent economic uncertainties roiling their corporate clientele...Fitness matters more than ever if you're laid off, career counselors advise, not just for health, but to network and stay positive. "The last thing you want is to gain 20 pounds during a job search, " said Dr. Jan Cannon, author of "Finding a Job in a Slow Economy." "That just compounds that sense of, 'What's wrong with me?'" Exercise, she added, can also spur creativity. "You know how we always have those 'aha' moments in the shower?" Dr. Cannon said. In the same way, "a good brisk walk can be very helpful."...Dr. Cannon recalled a client whose workouts last spring "got more frequent as time went on" -- to block out the disappointment, and to give her something to get up and do every day."

I'll do yoga if it helps us all get through this. What "spiritual exercises" are you taking up to help get through these tough times?

The filmmaker Abel Ferrara finds Catholicism an irresistible background and foreground to movie making--whether he's filming the streets of New York City's famous Little Italy or Rome.

Dennis Lim's article "Struggling With Faith and Gentrification" in the New York Times explores Ferrara's latest venture into the underbelly of the Catholic tradition:

I'm happy to report that one of my favorite new television shows from last year, "Pushing Daisies," is back for its second season and quirky as ever (Wednesdays, 9 p.m., ABC). In addition to the usual, madcap fun of Ned and Chuck's chaste love for each other (if Ned touches Chuck, she'll die--again), and Chuck's wacky, former synchronized swimmer aunties, Olive Snook, played wonderfully by Kristen Chenoweth, has a fun twist in her character as of the season premier:

Olive has become a nun. For now.

And Olive is a beautiful, "Hills Are Alive" singing nun, wearing not the usual nun-navy-blue, but instead a bright, happy, aqua habit. Olive has long been in love with her boss at The Pie Hole, Ned, and when she finally faces facts--that she only has eyes for Chuck--in a fit of despair she runs away to a convent. True to the show's writing, they play Olive's move for all its worth to hilarious, comic effect, between the singing and the mother superior and the giving away (oops) of all Olive's earthly possessions.

I've broken up with television shows before. The most painful in my memory was "The Sopranos"--a show I adored, but could no longer watch at the end of its fifth season because it had gotten so brutal. With J. J....