Monday Videos

Monday at work can be a drag. Here are some videos to help ease you into the work week!



I love that while one person is in the foreground, you can see everyone else rocking out in back. I especially love the one woman who isn't participating and still trying to work during the madness.



Isn't it crazy what some people can do with a camera, cardboard, and paint? I wonder how long this video took to make!

We Were Once a Fairytale

I have no idea what I just watched. This short film starring Kanye West, directed by Spike Jonze starts out with a Kanye we're all familar with - drinking and clubbing and loving life. Then things take a turn for the strange, which is to be expected of Jonze's work. I really don't want to give it all away and take away from the experience of watching this short for yourself. So check it out. And if you have any insights into the deeper meanings that might lie within, please share!

[via Cinematical]

Farewell Mia!

Mia Michaels is leaving So You Think You Can Dance, after she just help pick the Top 20 for Season 6. She tweeted and posted on facebook about her departure before an official statement was released.

On facebook she said, "It's been an amazing five years on 'SYTYCD.' I thank them for all the great memories and movement I have been able to create for the world. Today was my official resignation of the U.S. show and look forward to what's ahead for me."

In an official statement, Nigel said "We are thrilled to have given a talent such as Mia Michaels a platform to create Emmy Award-winning choreography. During the auditions this season she has helped choose the best, most diverse top 20 we have ever had. She knows that she is always welcome to return later this season or next. She’s chosen to move on to new challenges, and we will continue to support her and wish her all the best."

I'm so sad to see her go! She contributed some truly great routines to the show and was an entertaining and intelligent judge. However, I don't think is the last we'll see if Mia in So You Think You Can Dance. I think she'll still work on the show in other countries - she's worked on SYTYCD Canada before, and now there will be a SYTYCD UK. Maybe she just got tired of being stuck in LA for the show.

I'm also curious about the timing of her departure. She left just after the Top 20 were decided, maybe she disagreed with the picks? Maybe her favorites didn't make the cut and she didn't want to work with the rest? I don't think that's the case, but the timing is suspicious. It also could be that she didn't want to dedicate her summer AND fall to the show, leaving little time for other projects. Whatever the reason, I hope she returns to SYTYCD soon!

Check out some of my favorite routines from Mia:

Season 4 Top 16 Group routine:

Twitch/Katee Door routine to "Mercy" by Duffy

Travis/Heidi Bench routine:

Kayla/Kupono Addiction to "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles

[Found on MTV News]

Dine LA: Royal T Cafe

Earlier this week, I had the best cupcake of my life. And it wasn't at a bakery, or made by my very talented friends, it was at Royal T Cafe. As I mentioned earlier, Dine LA is a great deal where at certain restaurants you get a 3 course meal for a reasonable price.

The whole meal was great! We had an appetizer of Pan-fried Duck with baby spinach:

For the main course, we had Kobe beef cheeseburgers. They were so juicy and delicious. I particularly loved the gruyere cheese and cucumbers, something you don't normally get on a burger. I don't have pictures of the burgers because we were so hungry I forgot about it until about halfway through. woops!

And then came dessert. The most delicious, moist, soft, amazing cupcake I've ever had. In such an unlikely place! I got a chocolate raspberry cupcake:

Not only was the food great, but I really loved the atmosphere. It's very asian, with asian pop art everywhere, even with a section in front where you can buy asian knick-knacks and the art on display. The uniforms were cute, with a slight tinge of fetishism in there too - very Japanese! I didn't get a photo of the uniforms, but here's some of the pop art they had around:

Overall, a great little cafe! I will definitely be heading back, especially for the cupcakes!

Bran Nue Day

I was lucky enough to catch an advance screening of Bran Nue Dae, a very unique new film that is making its way to America. It follows Willie, a young Aborigine, who has to decide between studying to be a priest or follow his heart to be with the girl of his dreams. He ends up on a haphazard adventure as he tries to make his way home from the big city. The movie is filled with interesting characters and catchy tunes. The shots of Australia are just beautiful, I wish they had shown even more. It's fast-paced and full of fun, but also manages to shine a light on Aborigine culture, something we know very little about here in the states. At a short 88 minutes, I wish it had gone on longer.

You can check out the teaser trailer below:


I really recommend you see it! The landscape shots are gorgeous, but you might want to wait til DVD if you can't justify spending $12 on a movie that isn't even an hour and a half.