That’s So Raven: Food for Thought

From my perspective, if I had to pick a favorite episode from the Disney Channel Original series That’s So Raven, it would definitely be the Season 3 episode Food for Thought, to be precise. The reason why is, I find it to be a good one to watch, as well as be inspired to write by, too. Also, Raven comes to a realization about the visions she has in the episode; they’re not only the bad kind, they’re also shown to be harmful if they eventually did come true as well. (So she does her best to put a stop to those visions, and succeeds as a result.) 😎😇

The episode begins at Bayside High School. Raven and Chelsea are at their lockers, and turn to see the other students walk by them (with some of them looking to be in various stages of excitement). Raven and Chelsea begin wondering where everyone is going, and Eddie walks by before stopping to tell them they’re going to the cafeteria.

Raven: (in disbelief) Our cafeteria? (scoffs) People are normally running away from that place.

Eddie replies that he heard some company had taken over the lunch program at Bayside High. So, they follow everyone to the cafeteria.

Much to the surprise of Chelsea, Eddie and Raven, as soon as they arrive at the cafeteria, they find a food court, which is just like the ones that are usually found at a shopping mall.

Eddie: (sounding excited) Man! A food court in school? Cha, this is like being at the mall, y’all.

Raven: (sounding giddy herself) Man, if they put a shoe store in the gym, I may never go home!

Then, a judge named Judge Foody (who happens to be a parody of Judge Judy) appears; she reveals that the food court is literally a court and merely a trial program that, when passed by the students, will be sent on to all other schools.

However, because of her being a vegetarian, as well as an advocate of eating healthy and exercising properly, Chelsea is both upset and in rejection at the idea, because everything is all junk food:

Raven: (after Judge Foody’s speech about the food court) Well, I’m sure we all came to a verdict when I say “Let’s eat!” (The other students begin cheering)

Chelsea: (angrily) I object! (At her words the other students stop and murmur to each other in surprise and confusion)

Raven: (turns to Chelsea, puzzled herself) What? Oh, Chels...

Chelsea: I’m sorry, but I don’t see any healthy choices.

Raven and Eddie stuff their faces with food such as giant hot dogs and onion rings, while Chelsea worries about them.

When they get to Raven’s house after school, and Chelsea suggests they go out and get some fresh air (as well as exercise), Raven and Eddie turn down her offer. Finally, she queries if they knew what the food from the food court is doing to them. 

Although Raven initially dismisses Chelsea’s claims by saying that nothing is wrong with them “or... this delicious food,” she changes her mind when she gets a vision of Eddie and the other students at school with a rump the size of their heads (and she discovers she has one when she turns to look at her reflection in a classroom window, and the sequins break off the seat of her pants when she shakes it a little). After coming out of the vision, Raven then realizes Chelsea’s hunch about the food court was right, while also agreeing with Chelsea when Chelsea points out that Raven’s vision could come true if she keeps eating there:

Raven: (to Chelsea, after she comes out of the vision) Oh, I saw the future, and it was huge! It was like Attack of the Giant Booties!

Chelsea: Really? Wh-What’d you see?

Raven: Well, the whole school was getting fat, Chels. I’m talking about a lot of ‘junk in the trunk,’ homie.

Chelsea: See, Rae? See, now that could be your future if you keep eating at the food court.

Raven: (sees Chelsea’s point) You’re right, Chels. I’m done with the food court.

Chelsea: Good.

With that, Raven gives up her habits of eating at the food court and decides to help Chelsea out with her campaign against it.

Raven: (to the other students) People, people, listen to me... please listen to me. Put down the pies. Do not maximize. You got to exercise! Or the scales will rise, and so will your thighs!

Eddie: Who wants some fries?

After Raven gets a vision where Judge Foodie is on her cellphone talking to someone about the kids voting yes to the food court and it means putting the food courts into all schools, she and Chelsea decide to take action in order to prevent this from happening. So, they take samples of the food and show the other students what is actually in the food on the final day.

Afterwards, Chelsea rolls in a helium tank and uses it to inflate Raven’s tracksuit, and Raven gives a demonstration on how fat they would get. She then informs them that it is OK to eat junk food (but only once in a while), but if a person eats it all the time, they would get really sick.

Raven tells Chelsea to turn off the helium tank, but Chelsea breaks the knob, and Raven inflates out of control, eventually floating and flying wildly when Chelsea takes out the nozzle. The food court closes, and the school returns to normal.

Pollyanna (1960)

Pollyanna (1960) is a Walt Disney Productions feature film, starring child actress Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman, Karl Malden and Richard Egan in a story about a cheerful orphan changing the outlook of a small town. Based on the 1913 novel “Pollyanna” by Eleanor Porter, the film was written and directed by David Swift. The film marks Mills’ first of six films for Disney, and it won the actress an Academy Juvenile Award.

Pollyanna (Hayley Mills) is the 12-year-old orphaned daughter of missionaries who arrives in the fictional small town of Harrington to live with her rich aunt, Polly Harrington (Jane Wyman), early in the 1900s. Pollyanna is a cheerful, radically optimistic youngster who focuses on the goodness of life. In doing so, she makes a wide variety of friends in the community, including the hypochondriac Mrs. Snow (Agnes Moorehead) and the acidic recluse Mr. Pendergast (Adolphe Menjou).

After Pollyanna finally calls Mrs. Snow out on wasting all her time planning for her death when she should be enjoying life, and then runs out of the room, both Mrs. Snow and the undertaker (with whom she was having a discussion) feel terrible after seeing the look of despair on Pollyanna’s face, so much so that it snaps Mrs. Snow out of her finalist mindset.

Aunt Polly’s wealth controls the town, and, when Harrington citizens want a derelict orphanage razed and rebuilt, Aunt Polly opposes the idea. The townspeople defy her by planning a carnival to raise funds for a new structure; however, because of the control Aunt Polly asserts over every facet of the town, many people feel reluctant to show their support. Aunt Polly becomes furious over what she views to be their audacity, and she forbids Pollyanna to participate.

A group of citizens, led by Dr. Edmond Chilton (Richard Egan), do their best to persuade the town’s minister, Reverend Ford (Karl Malden), to publicly declare his support for the bazaar; Pollyanna also does so by reminding him that “nobody owns a church.” While conversing with Pollyanna when she delivers a note from Aunt Polly with recommendations about his sermon content, Reverend Ford is reminded of the truth in that statement.

At church the following Sunday, in defiance of Aunt Polly, the preacher declares his support for the bazaar and encourages all to attend. On the evening of the carnival, Pollyanna is coaxed out of the house by her playmate Jimmy Bean (Kevin Corcoran), who reminds her that she will lead “America, the Beautiful” at the high point of the event. With misgivings, she slips away and goes to the carnival, where she has a wonderful time. Also, after remembering Pollyanna telling her a story about how she always wanted a doll for Christmas but never got one, Mrs. Snow decides to grant Pollyanna’s wish by sneaking under the stand when Pollyanna goes to a stall where everyone gets a surprise toy and making sure Pollyanna gets the doll she wanted. (This is, quite possibly, the most heartwarming defrosting of an ice queen character if there ever was one.)

After returning home, Pollyanna manages to avoid Aunt Polly by climbing the same tree to her attic bedroom (which she used to sneak out of the house). When she reaches her bedroom window, she slips and falls to the ground; she is severely injured, losing the use of her legs.

Her spirits sink with the calamity, jeopardizing her chances of recovery. Upon hearing that, Aunt Polly realizes that she never showed her niece the love she wanted, and feels a strong sense of sadness and guilt over Pollyanna’s injury (as she believes it was her fault for not allowing Pollyanna to go to the carnival in the first place). When the townspeople learn of Pollyanna’s accident, they gather en masse in Aunt Polly’s house with outpourings of love. Pollyanna’s spirits gradually return to their usual hopefulness and love of life. She leaves Harrington with Aunt Polly and Dr. Chilton (who has fallen in love with Aunt Polly) for an operation in Baltimore that, it is hoped, will correct her injury.

Subplots include the return of Aunt Polly’s girlhood sweetheart, Dr. Edmond Chilton, to the town, the freeing of Reverend Ford of himself from Aunt Polly’s dictates and the union of Aunt Polly’s maid (Nancy Olson) with her sweetheart (James Drury).

Home Alone 2: The Pigeon Lady

“It’s Christmas Eve. Good deeds count for extra tonight.”

The Pigeon Lady is the deuteragonist from the 1992 film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. She was portrayed by Brenda Fricker.

About The Pigeon Lady

The first time Kevin sees her is when he hears the sound of a pigeon’s wings flapping and looks to see where it came from; he is then surprised when he sees the Pigeon Lady.

Later on, using his father’s address book, Kevin gets to his uncle Rob’s home, but the door is locked and the home is being renovated, as Uncle Rob and his wife are still living abroad in Paris. While wandering the streets, Kevin initially becomes wary of a few homeless people and two prostitutes, and then gets paranoid of a taxi driver when he tries to get a ride. Finally, Kevin goes into Central Park, where he encounters the Pigeon Lady again and attempts to run only to get his foot caught, and she frees him. Kevin apologizes for being scared of her, saying she was just trying to help him; when he suggests a cup of hot chocolate, she agrees. When he adds that he’d hate to spend Christmas Eve in Central Park and wonders if they could go someplace warm, she agrees and says she knows a place. 

They go to a concert in a loft above Carnegie Hall, where they listen to Oh, Come All Ye Faithful. There, she tells Kevin about having heard the world’s great music from the loft: Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavoratti. When Kevin asks her if she brings her friends up to the loft, she tells him she hasn’t got many friends. When Kevin apologizes for that, she says that she’s like the birds she cares for. People pass her in the street; although they see her, they try to ignore her, as they’d prefer she wasn’t part of their city. Kevin agrees with that and refers to himself as the “pigeon” of the house because of his status as the youngest. The Pigeon Lady nods and says that everyone fights for position and wants to be seen and heard (implying that she herself had probably grown up in a family similar to Kevin’s).

After Kevin replies that he is seen and heard pretty much (but also gets sent to his room a lot as well), the Pigeon Lady tells him that she was not always like how she is now. Kevin asks what she was like before, and she replies that she had a job, a home and a family. But then it had all fallen apart: she had wanted kids, but the man she loved fell out of love with her. This broke her heart, and whenever the chance to be loved came along again, she ran away from it. As a result, she stopped trusting people, and her way of coping was taking care of the pigeons in the park (which led to her current distraught and homeless state). When Kevin tells her that that seemed like sort of a dumb thing to do, she replies that she was afraid of getting her heart broken again before adding this piece of advice:

“You see, sometimes you can trust a person, and then when things are down, they forget about you.”

Of course, the Pigeon Lady also tells Kevin that a good deed erases a bad one, and that on Christmas Eve, good deeds count for extra tonight, and suggests to Kevin that he think of the most important thing he can do for others, and go and do it. 

“Just follow the star in your own heart.”

Kevin eventually tells her that if she needs someone to trust, it could be him, and that he won’t forget to remember her, and the Pigeon Lady then gives one final parting piece of advice (which consists of “Don’t make promises you can’t keep”) before smiling herself as her way of saying “thanks” to Kevin. 

Later, when Harry and Marv bring Kevin to Central Park and Harry has Kevin at gunpoint, the Pigeon Lady comes along with a bucket of birdseed, and tells them to let Kevin go (thus showing her “protecting, motherly” side). When they do, she tells Kevin to run, and he does (while making sure to pick up his backpack, which Harry had dropped a few feet away), but also makes sure to watch at a good place where she can see him. When Harry tries to shoot her, but is unable to do so (because of the gun being jammed with the varnish that covered himself and Marv), the Pigeon Lady then throws the birdseed onto Harry and Marv, and the birdseed sticks to the varnish on them. With that, the pigeons attack and knock Harry and Marv to the ground, and the Pigeon Lady laughs. When Kevin thanks her, she blows him a kiss in return. 

The next day, Kevin runs into the park where the Pigeon Lady is, and wishes her a Merry Christmas; she turns around, smiles upon seeing him and says, “Kevin! Merry Christmas.” Kevin then gives her one of the two turtledoves that Mr. Duncan had given him, and then adds that as long as they each have a turtledove, they’ll be friends forever. The Pigeon Lady is touched by this, and thanks Kevin, who reaffirms his promise to be her friend. She smiles, and they hug.

From my perspective, Brenda Fricker delivered a phenomenal performance as the Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and I like how she began to show the side of the Pigeon Lady that’s simultaneously wise and humorous, too.

Also, unlike the few homeless people Kevin encountered that were not exactly right in the head (with one woman even talking to herself while walking past Kevin before breaking into a fit of coughing), the Pigeon Lady showed that she was in touch with reality and had wisdom in her heart (like the warm and loving mother she could’ve been). This is saying something, as she did tell Kevin she wanted to have children (so she could practice her maternal skills).

Full House: D.J. Tanner

Donna Jo Margaret “D.J.” Tanner is the oldest girl in the Tanner household. She has blond hair, and her wanting to be the best in everything came from her mother, Pam Katsopolis-Tanner. When Pam died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, D.J. was ten, Stephanie was five and Michelle was a baby.

Shelly: I’ve got to tell the guys this one.

D.J.: And I’ve got to find a new school.

Being the big sister isn’t always easy, but she pulled it off with aplomb.

D.J. handles many tough situations with general ease. Though she gets upset at times over her father prying into her affairs or otherwise embarrassing her (and usually runs off to isolate herself in her room), she is always quick to apologize when she has acted rudely.

Sometimes D.J. gets very mad about the limits her father places on her; in many episodes, she ignores these limits. Nonetheless, however, she does eventually learn her lesson (usually the hard way). This structure of one of the “Tanner sisters” learning a life-important lesson is shown in many episodes.

The Great Outdoors (1988): My Thoughts

Nostalgic about the good old days in the honeymoon cabin, the patriarch Chet Ripley and his family set off to the idyllic woods of Wisconsin for the summer vacation. However, their plans for a peaceful family bonding in the heart of the untamed nature will be thwarted when Chet’s high-rolling brother-in-law Roman Craig and his family decide to crash the party. Eventually, as the two families try to have a good time together, a seemingly endless series of misfortunes and mini-disasters — including thirsty leeches, cunning raccoons and a mythical wild bear — threaten to ruin the vacation. What will it take to salvage the weekend?

It is summertime, and Chicago citizen Chester “Chet” Ripley (John Candy), his wife Connie (Stephanie Faracy) and their two sons, Buckley “Buck” (Chris Young) and Ben (Ian Giatti), are on vacation at a lake resort in Pechoggin, Wisconsin. All is going as planned until Connie’s sister Kate (Annette Bening), Kate’s husband Roman Craig (Dan Aykroyd) and their twin daughters Mara and Cara (Rebecca and Hilary Gordon) show up, thus crashing the vacation.

Among the ghost stories told at the family BBQ is one about a man-eating grizzly bear that Chet met face-to-face one day when he was younger. Chet says that, while he and Connie were honeymooning at the same lake they are at right now, he was attacked by a giant grizzly bear. When Chet fired at it with a shotgun, the buckshot shaved the hair off the top of the bear’s head, and from that day on, it was known as the ‘Bald-Headed Bear’ of Claire County.

After Roman pulls Chet around the lake on an impromptu water ski ride with his rented speedboat, tensions between families erupt. Chet is ready to pack up his family’s things and go home — even as teenager Buck tries to romance a local girl named Cammie (Lucy Deakins).

However, while the budding romance between Buck and Cammie goes well, Chet, Roman and their families don’t get along, whether they are fighting over what type of boat to rent, how to wrinkle newspaper in order to start a fire or what to grill for dinner — until one night, when they go to Paul Bunyan’s Cupboard. Roman inquires about the Old 96’er, and is informed that it is “a 96 ounce prime-aged beef steak” which lands them all a free meal if it’s consumed entirely. Chet decides to take the challenge and manages to stuff it all down — or so he thinks. He is then confronted with a pile of fat and gristle, which he finds out he is required to consume; not only does he do it, he also gets a dessert down, earning them some free hats. However, Chet’s taking the challenge of eating said steak causes Buck to break his date with Cammie. Buck tries to apologize to Cammie for being late, but Cammie refuses to speak to him.

While at a local bar, Connie and Kate bond with each other when the conversation drifts to Kate’s challenges of being wealthy. Later, just at the peak of tension between families, a revelation of sorts emerges. Roman had spent some of the time flaunting his wealth and success and encouraged Chet to give him money for a deal; when they are leaving, Kate mentions how that was a lot for them. Roman feels his conscience eating away at him and stops the car, saying he has to go back, and Kate wonders if he forgot something; he turns the car around and heads back to the cabin. When Kate asks if he’s all right, Roman replies with “I’ll be all right once I settle this.”

At the cabin, Roman tears up the check that Chet had given him (symbolizing his decision to be honest with Chet and Kate). Finally, Roman makes a confession: he is actually broke and has been living beyond his means for some time in order to keep up appearances, because he has lost his job as a commodities trader and everything else after a deal went bad. When Kate asks why he didn’t tell her, thinking he felt she wouldn’t understand, Roman explains that she would have understood — but he also knew she wouldn’t let him “come up here to put the bite on Connie and Chet” because Chet was Roman’s “only last hope.” Chet replies that Roman knows he “would never turn (his) back on family,” and Roman agrees with that.

Later, during a thunderstorm, the twins leave the car and wander off; they eventually fall into a mine shaft. Chet and Roman eventually find them, but the claustrophobic Roman is reluctant to descend into the tiny mine shaft. After some encouragement from Chet, Roman summons up all his courage while Chet goes in search of a rope to pull them out. When he realizes the mine is stocked with old dynamite, Roman takes his daughters and manages to climb out of the shaft on his own.

When Chet returns with the rope, he is horrified to discover the ‘Bald-Headed Bear’ lurking in the mine. It chases him back to his house, where it smashes through the door; as it rampages through the house, Roman, Kate, Connie and the others are shocked when they realize the ‘Bald-Headed Bear’ is actually real. Roman attempts to ward the bear off with an oar and a fire poker. Wally (Robert Prosky), the cabin owner, bursts into the house with a loaded shotgun; Chet takes the gun and shoots the bear’s rear end, blowing off the fur and leaving the bear’s rump exposed. Roaring in embarrassment, the bear runs out of the house and heads into the woods.

The next morning, the two families part on good terms. However, unbeknownst to Chet, Connie has invited Roman’s family to stay with them until Roman is financially able to get back on his feet. Cammie and Buck make up and end their summer romance right before Buck and his family head back to Chicago.

I cannot find any more good and positive things to say about this film. As Chet Ripley, John Candy gives one of his best performances in this film, and he does a phenomenal job as well.

According to the film’s trivia, in real life, there is a restaurant called Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty in northern Wisconsin; however, the Old 96’er isn’t on the menu.

If I had to pick a favorite scene, it would be this one:

Roman: Chet, I’m gonna level with ya. I’m a phony, I’m a fraud, I’m a fake — from my fifteen-dollar imitation Bally slip-ons to our replicated Rolex’s. (Kate looks at her watch, and is shocked, realizing Roman is right) We’re broke. We’re bankrupt. We’re busted.

Kate: We’re busted?

Roman: We were living well, right? (Kate nods, mouthing “Yeah” soon after) Well beyond our means. (he then turns to Chet) I’m full of (nonsense), Chet. I haven’t been trading in over two years. (sighs) This deal came up; it looked good. I got overextended. Couldn’t meet my calls. I lost my seat on the Exchange. I got to work every morning — but now I wear a blue runner’s jacket and fetch coffee. I lost everything.

Kate: Why didn’t you tell me? Did you think that I wouldn’t understand?

Roman: Oh, baby, I knew you’d understand. But I also knew you wouldn’t let me come up here to put the bite on Connie and Chet. He was my only last hope.

Chet: Now, look, Roman. Now you know I never turn my back on family.

Roman: I know. That’s why I came up here.

Plus, the film shows a good message: helping your family out if they need it is a good idea.

I highly recommend this film to all John Candy fans — and I give it five stars as well.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Photos and Crossover Manips

Degrassi: Heat of the Moment

Teenagers and kids of all ages have probably been bullying and pushing each other around since the beginning of time. But now, since the invention of the Internet (which happened on January 1, 1983), with texting and IMing and MySpace and YouTube, bullies no longer have to face their victims on the school yard, like they did in the days before computers were invented; instead, they’re able to hide in the shadows and torture their victims online. The term for that is “cyberbullying” — and has since become very widely known ever since it entered the English language.

The Season 8 episode Heat of the Moment from Degrassi proves how hurtful cyberbullying can be. And in the case of Megan Meier, who was 13 years old when she killed herself in 2006, cyberbullying can also be harmful.

Holly J’s watching the Power Squad practice, and Allia “Alli” Bhandari notices this while walking by with her friend Clare Edwards (the younger sister of Darcy Edwards). She then remarks about how bitter Holly J must be for getting kicked off the Power Squad (which happened in Money for Nothing), and Holly J tells her to shut her mouth. Alli replies that maybe now Holly J can use her free time to find true love. Holly J says Alli wouldn’t know anything about romance, which makes Alli admit she’s going out with Johnny DiMarco. Holly J doesn’t believe it, so she goes up to Johnny and asks him if he and Alli are dating in front of his friends. Johnny denies this before breaking up with Alli, and Alli is heartbroken.

Hurt by what Johnny did, Alli then snaps at Holly J for ruining her relationship and that she can’t be mean to her. Holly J says she doesn’t need a reason to be mean to Alli. 

Alli then goes on Facerange (which is the Degrassi version of Facebook) and starts a group called “I Hate Holly J”, which many people sign up for. Holly J sees the site, and confronts Alli, insulting her. Alli then sees threatening comments about Holly J from people who had joined her group. However, instead of noticing that her dislike for Holly J has gone too far, she feels excited enough to write this post:

“Holly J is a dirty ginger virus infecting Degrassi. She needs to be eliminated. I’D LIKE TO STRANGLE HER WITH MY BARE HANDS”.

Then, the next day, Clare is stating that Alli’s actions are going way too far, but Alli disbelieves her. In the most famous scene of the episode, Bruce (aka Bruce the Moose), along with Derek Haig, takes what he views as an opportunity to lead the the other students in chanting “I Hate Holly J”. However, Clare is the only one that does not join in (as she is shown to be severely disappointed in Alli).

Angered and hurt, Holly J proceeds to storm out of the cafeteria after yelling “Like I care what you losers think!” She then decides to not return to school or her work at The Dot, out of her fearing the growing hatred towards her.

Alli then randomly gets called to the office by Mr. Simpson and her father, where they discuss that her actions were unethical. Even though she gets suspended from school, she still refuses to believe that her actions were wrong, and even states to her older brother Sav (who also knows that she should not have done what she did, even though he himself is implied to have something against Holly J) that “it was totally worth it.” Suddenly, he gets a call from their father, who says the Sinclairs called the police on her for the threats on the group. Alli still believes that Holly J is just trying to make her life miserable, even after the cops explain to her clearly that her actions were illegal (as well as mean), and that she now has a criminal record.

Anya and Alli go over to Holly J’s house and, after seeing what a depressed mess Holly J is, Alli has an epiphany and finally sees that what she did was wrong. Holly J reveals that she did not hate Alli, and adds that she is not returning to Degrassi, and that Alli got what she wanted.

A few days later, the group is deleted, and Alli apologizes to the school and Holly J about her actions. Plus, Anya reveals that she convinced Holly J to give Degrassi another chance. However, Derek shows up and shows Alli the rope (in reference to the comment “Want to strangle her? I’ll bring the rope” about Holly J), which embarrasses Holly J.

From my perspective, this episode is really good and inspiring, as well as very well-written, too. Plus, in the words of Steve Barkin (voiced by Patrick Warburton) in the Season 1 episode Downhill from the Disney Channel cartoon show Kim Possible, cyberbullying is “sick and wrong” (and I couldn’t agree more there).

If you won’t say something in person, why say it online? Cyberbullying must be stopped!


What do you think about this? I hope you agree that cyberbullying is bad, too.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

On the morning before his twelfth birthday, Alexander wakes up to find gum in his hair, and cuts it out with a pair of scissors. Then, he gets an email about Phillip Parker’s expensive birthday being on the same day as his. He tells his family that he couldn’t compete, but they don’t listen. On his way to school, a boy is seen photo-shopping Alexander’s face onto the bodies of women in photos, and then posting them online.

By the time he got to school, not only is he humiliated, but he learns that his best friend Paul is going to Phillip’s party. He tries to ask his school crush Becky Gibson, but she refuses as well. Afterwards, Alexander accidentally burns down the periodic table with her notebook and gets blamed for it. While waiting for a long time outside of school, Alexander is put in charge of Melvin, the class guinea pig.

Later that night, Alexander tries to talk to Anthony about his bad luck. While Alexander thinks that Anthony loved him as a brother, Anthony is actually talking to Celia on the phone. While Anthony is talking to Alexander, Celia, thinking that Anthony is trash-talking to her, then abruptly hangs up, and Alexander hears Anthony calling him an “idiot brother.” 

At midnight, Alexander makes himself a birthday sundae and tells Melvin he wishes that his family would see what it was like to have a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.”

The next day, Alexander is the first one to wake up. While heading down the hallway, he sees Emily having a cold, and then wakes up his parents, who were oversleeping. As Alexander leaves the bathroom, Anthony comes in, and reacts in horror when he looks in the mirror and sees a zit on his forehead.

At school, Alexander hears from Paul that Phillip’s birthday party is cancelled, as Phillip has caught the chicken pox (which is shown in a picture that Paul got in a text from Phillip, which he shows Alexander on his phone). This implies that Alexander’s party was back on. (As Paul puts it: “His pox is your gain.”) Becky even mentions showing up. Alexander even hears that Becky’s brother Elliot Gibson, the boy who made the mean photoshops about him, had gotten suspended.

Throughout the day, while attempting to convince his family that their bad luck was his fault, Alexander learns that Trevor got green ink all over his face. Alexander and his family later see Anthony accidentally trashing their van, which resulted in failing his driving test. Emily gets drunk because of drinking too much cough medicine, and ruins the Peter Pan play as a result.

By the time the Coopers picked Celia up for the prom, Alexander and most of his family play music by using their fists and their mouths. At a Japanese restaurant, he sees his father catching food into his mouth eight times in a row, and then accidentally set his sleeves on fire (which he put out using water from a lobster tank). While Ben walked out, feeling disappointed (and trying to hide it), Alexander follows, along with the rest of the family. After realizing that they got to spend the worst day together, they begin kicking trash cans around.

After going home, they discover a vicious lizard in the living room. In the backyard, Alexander sees his parents had rented an Australian petting zoo for his birthday party. During the party, he learns that Paul and Becky have shown up. 

During the credits, they are seen pretending to surf.

The Two Coreys

We all have our teen idol fantasies. For me, there are two teen idols of the 80s — Corey Scott Feldman and Corey Ian Haim. Corey Feldman is so cool with his charisma. Corey Haim had green eyes that were so intense, as well as an aura that makes him so irresistible to girls and women as well.

Together, the Coreys are an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. And they’re brilliant actors.

An example of Corey Feldman’s brilliancy is the 1986 movie Stand by Me, where he played the character of Teddy Duchamp.

In the movie, Gordie Lachance (who’s a writer at the beginning of the film) says this about Teddy:
“Teddy Duchamp was the craziest guy we’d hung around with. He didn’t have much of a chance in life. His dad was given to fits of rage. One time he held Teddy’s ear to a stove and almost burned it off.”

And one of what Teddy considers to be his “words of wisdom” is “I’m in the prime of my youth and I’ll only be young once”.

Then in 1987, on the set of the film The Lost Boys, he met another actor/teen idol who shared his first name — Corey Haim. They portrayed Sam Emerson and Edgar Frog in the fictional small town of Santa Carla. Showing they saved Santa Carla from four teenage vampires made moviegoers realize that the Coreys had chemistry.

In the 1988 film “License to Drive”, the Coreys bring back memories of what it was like to be sixteen years old and get your driver’s license.

“It was really, really hilarious.”

“It reminded me a lot of me.”

“I borrowed my father’s car once.” (Les Anderson’s father Robert: “What?!”) “Just kidding, Dad.”

“I’ve had some pretty wild nights, but nothing like this.”

In “Dream a Little Dream”, the Coreys explore what it’s like to be in love, and Jason Robards’ character Coleman Ettinger learns what it’s like to be a teenager with some help from Bobby Keller (Corey Feldman), whom he has accidentally switched bodies with.

May the Coreys live on in teenage dreams forever!

Update: I have learned that Corey Haim has, as of March 10, 2010, gone the way of all the earth. He will be missed dearly.

RIP

Corey Ian Haim (December 23, 1971 — March 10, 2010),

Jason Robards (July 26, 1922 — December 26, 2000), Marc Rocco (June 19, 1962 — May 1, 2009), and Marc’s adopted father Alex Rocco (February 29, 1936 — July 18, 2015).

Popularity and Unpopularity

You hear all those stories of cliques and the popular people. There’s a group of them in almost every school. And then, of course, there’s everyone else. Everyone else would usually fit into two basic categories: the ones who completely hate them, and the ones who would do absolutely anything to be a part of them. Luckily, that doesn’t happen all the time. When you are everyone else, there’s no median or go-between within the groups. When you happen to be a hater, you are disliked as well.

It’s seemingly simple, but it really isn’t. Also, the whole “You don’t like me? I don’t like you” concept makes for good drama. And when you’re a worshiper — well, you are hated too. There is something about the stalking and strange obsessions that turn the “in-crowd” to hatred.

Almost every teenager has been the victim and the predator — the one who taunts and the one who is humiliated. It seemingly can’t be helped. But those who are different, they must somehow have to be “punished” because that is supposedly the society of high school. And those who befriend the different (and are different themselves), are viewed as lower than the low in the eyes of judgmental teenagers.

And the social ladder is a frustrating thing. The popular students control the student body — or try to, at least, because some of the students believe they have had it with being mean to others. So, these students try being popular and nice simultaneously.

However, it’s not always like that. The ones below the popularity circle listen — listen and nothing else.

What do you think about popularity and being popular?