Quotable

“You can’t expect everyone to have the same dedication as you.”

-Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Haley’s Ultimate Guide to Pride & Prejudice

My sister is reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time and I am beyond ecstatic. I cannot wait to share my admiration for Lizzy, my annoyance for Caroline Bingley, and (swoon) my never-ending love for Mr. Darcy! I’m practically hyperventilating at the thought of it all (not really, calm down). So here it is, for you, baby sis. My ultimate guide to Pride and Prejudice: After You Finish The Book.

1. WATCH THE MOVIE

The 2005 version. It’s my personal favorite (That dance scene between Elizabeth and Darcy gets me every time); plus, the soundtrack, cinematography, and casting are phenomenal. It’s not the most accurate in accordance with the book, but it’s still a wonderful film that I’ve watched over and over and over . . .

2. WATCH THE BBC SERIES

This is a bit of a time investment—but worth every last second. My family friends watch this version every New Years and I think that’s a perfect time to squeeze in the whole series at once. Or you could do an episode a day. Your choice. People who’ve read the book countless times (like, moi) appreciate that this adaption is practically word for word from the novel. Also, Colin Firth.

3. WATCH THE LIZZIE BENNET DIARIES

This is one of the most brilliant adaptions of Pride and Prejudice that I’ve ever witnessed. Spanned over about 100 vlog posts, this series follows Lizzie Bennet as she works on her master’s thesis while dealing with real life issues. These issues are the same as presented in Austen’s novel (finances, the struggle to find a man), but adapted in a modern setting that is so wonderfully detailed that true fans of the book cannot help but adore it.

4. WATCH DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY

This 3-part series finds Elizabeth and Darcy years after they’ve been married on the eve of a big party. And then, someone gets murdered. It’s a thriller that gives you an interesting take on the lives of our favorite characters after the last page. It’s fun, intriguing, and an absolute must for die-hard fans.

5. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Bride and Prejudice. Austenland. The list goes on. After you’ve hit up the main important Pride and Prejudice spin-offs, keep digging. Jane Austen’s classic novel has inspired so many people over the ages and I doubt we’ve see the last of Pride and Prejudice adaptions.

Not an Austen fan? What book turned phenomenon would you like to hear more of?

3 Travel Blogs I Can’t Get Enough Of

WEST AMERICA

These guys make traveling look like a permanent Indiana Jones adventure. Their outlook on seeing the world puts a rugged spin on classic vacationing. Their mission statement says it all: “It’s popping wheelies and getting rad, breaking that back tire loose and jumping off cliffs. It’s about working your ass off for something, or to do something right. Family, where ever you find it. Overcoming fears and discovering new ones.” And don’t even get me started on some of their pictures—absolutely breathtaking.

All photos found here.

EAT THIS POEM

I’m a total lit nerd and somewhat of a foodie, so this mash-up blog for food-lovers and book-lovers who love to travel is nothing short of a God-send. The blog contains lovely shots of cities across the country and internationally, awesome recipes, and a fantastic Literary City Guides that help you feed your book-addiction no matter what city you go to.

Processed with VSCOcam with g3 preset

All photos found here.

ESCAPE BROOKLYN

I live in California, so about as far from NY as you can get, but that doesn’t stop me from checking this blog on the regular. For one, I just love the web layout. They also have pretty cool ideas—travel guides for the day or the weekend (cause sometimes we can’t take that week-long vacation). This is the cool kid’s guide to a good time with references to bars, cool venues, and even a music page to get that road trip playlist started.

All photos found here.

What are some travel blogs you love?

Because Segregation is Always the Best Solution

Let’s face it. The South doesn’t have the best track record with segregated schools. Now, before you start throwing out accusations about the negative connotations of the s-word and how they don’t necessarily apply in this case, let’s have a look at my good friend, Merriam-Webster. A definition of segregation, as presented by this dictionary, follows, “to separate or set apart from others or from the general mass.”

And a segregated school is just what organizers like Christian Zsilavetz plan to open in the fall of 2015 under the name Pride School Atlanta. PSA plans to provide a safe learning environment for LGBT families and students from Pre-K to 8^th grade. However, the notion of a school specifically for a certain type of student makes me reminiscent of those “separate, but equal” days. Now, doesn’t that just leave a bad taste in your mouth?

Schools in the South segregated by race dates back to the 1900s where the education offered to black students versus white students was vastly different. The term “separate, but equal” was nothing but laughable when one looked at the schools for black students—decrepit buildings, hand-me-down books, and teachers with less-than-desirable training. But, this isn’t the only example of separate schools. For a long time, the practice of segregating schools by gender was a tactic used to get failing schools back on their feet. However, research by Rebecca S. Bigler and Margaret L. Signorella led to this conclusion on The Woman’s Stats Project Blog: “We do see that gender-segregated schools do help with problems such as: dropout rates, classroom sizes, and test scores. However, we could argue that this is simply due to external factors and co-ed programs could fix the problems given the same amount of budgeting and resources.” With these examples, what do segregated schools have to offer? Let’s look at what Pride School Atlanta promises to its future students.

PSA’s mission statement states that the school “does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, affectional preference, sexual orientation, marital or relationship status, gender identity or gender expression.” Aww, what a wonderful thought, right?

Wrong. The essential problem lies in this very mission statement. Pride School Atlanta doesn’t tolerate discrimination or harassment based on these distinctions. Underlining the fact that this particular school is a discrimination-free zone should set off wild, police-like sirens in the moral hemisphere of our minds, ultimately begging the question: should any school tolerate discrimination or harassment?

Good for PSA for putting it in their mission statement, but it should be a given that schools everywhere should protect and respect the young students they are meant to mold into future progressive, critical thinking citizens.

I understand the appeal of all-accepting schools like Pride School Atlanta. Any parent would want to leap at the chance to protect their child from harm—especially in a place where they are supposed to be nurtured. However, taking LGBT students out of schools and placing them in an isolated hub will do little to nothing to solve the problem. This separation will only perpetuate the closed-mindedness of bullies and force the Pride School students to ask the painful question: “Aren’t I good enough to be in school with the rest of my peers?”

Yes. Yes, you are. It isn’t the LGBT youth that need to find another solution; give them a break, they’ve got enough to deal with. It’s the schools that need to get with the program. After all, it doesn’t say “with liberty and justice for straight kids only” on the Constitution.

My Friends and Family Say the Darndest Things

I’m a weird person. And I’ve got some weird friends. When you put that all together, who knows what’s coming out of anybody’s mouth?

On Creating Superhero Names:

Olivia: If we were super heroes, our name would be O Hale No.

Haley: It’d be like, so and so wants to destroy downtown? O Hale No.

Nicolette Commenting On Baggy Flannels:

Nicolette: What is that? A cape? A picnic blanket?

Texting Kylie While She Watches American Psycho for the First Time:

Kylie [30 minutes in]: Meh, it’s not that bad. No gore, no nothing

Kylie [30 minutes later]: I FUCKING CHANGE MY MIND. HOLY SHIT. HOLY SHIT. BATMAN IS NAKED CHASING A PROSTITUTE WITH A CHAINSAW

My friends, everybody.

Five Trailers That Have Me Freaking Out

1. SUICIDE SQUAD

I honestly could care less about Batman vs. Superman. I’m all about the Suicide Squad. This cast is the stuff of dreams—freaking Viola Davis, a tricked-out Jared Leto, and yes, thank you God for Cara Delevigne. T-Swift’s Bad Blood was just a rehearsal for this flick. Harley Quinn is my new style inspiration (also, down for her prison work-out routine).

I’m always a fan of the creepy, lilting music backing real violent action in the foreground. I’m also convinced this movie will inspire me to get a Suicide Squad tattoo–who’s with me? But, WTF is up with that random panda bear with a gun in the trailer?

2. MACBETH

I already know Fassbender can do an excellent rendition of a tortured soul (Magneto, Mr. Rochester, etc.), so his Macbeth is going to be fantastic, as will his leading lady with Marion Cotillard. The glimpses of cinematography we get in this trailer shows gorgeous shots—I can already see how much fun the filmmakers had with contrasts between light and dark. The few clips that show light streaming through a cross-shaped window in a wall are stunning.

Of course the costuming is lovely and the delivery of the classic Shakespeare is already giving me chills: “I am in blood, stepped in so far . . .”

3. LEGEND

I’m excited for this movie for a number of reasons. 1) I’m always down to see actors play multiples of themselves (The Parent Trap, Orphan Black). 2) Something about plotlines that involve the strength between brothers just somehow gets to me (any Supernatural fans out there?), so this will be double the fun.

3) As some of you may now, gorgeous costumes are a weakness of mine; sleek suits are practically my kryptonite and this trailer was full of them. 4) Finally, the brothers’ last name is Kray. Can it get any better than this?

4. HITMAN AGENT 47

I’m a simple girl when it comes to straight action movies. I like there to be all the things that make up a good action movie: cool city shots, sleek characters, interrogation room craziness, fun gadgets, car chases, explosions, complicated backstories, training scenes, guns (lots of guns), and pretty cars (damn, that cherry red Audi, though).

From what I’ve seen so far, Hitman Agent 47 meets all of my criteria.

5. CRIMSON PEAK

I’ll start this off by saying I’m an insane Mia Wasikowska fan. She’s brilliant in everything I’ve seen her in (if you haven’t watched The Double, Jane Eyre, or Only Lovers Left Alive it’s time to have a movie night). So when I learned she was playing in a beautifully terrifying Guillermo del Toro film aside Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, and real-life Disney prince Tom Hiddleston, I was sold.

The period costumes, lovely touches between bright colors and creepy darkness, and this house that’s the stuff of imaginative nightmares gone wild—I’m ready for all of it and more.

What trailers have you excited? Let me know in the comments section!

Born From The Streets

Some poetry from my personal collection:

Born from the streets,

Bathed in blood

High-score hardcore

Lips kiss pain

Worthless words

Never do stain

Finger-trigger-ready

Tastes like candy

Burns like acid

Heart of ice?

Heart of stone?

No heart at all?

Vagabonds, wanderers, outcasts, rejects, broken-hearts, betrayed, betrayers, angry, afraid—all pour into the city

Fill the streets

Bathed in blood

Hearts still beating

At least for now

This is the city

City of scars

Of streetlight sun

Of flashlight stars

Rang-ring bells

Siren-call wails

All want to get in

Can’t get out

Glamorous, gorgeous, famous lies

False mirror

Puppet stringing

Screams and laughter

Noose is swinging

One-way out

Take it?

Gates locked?

Find the key

-Haley Beasley