pop culture Archives - Page 11 of 11

May 7, 2007 By Christina

That may just be the title of every post from now until I go into labor, since it’s the primary subject people are wanting to read about. Then again, maybe I shouldn’t make it the title, or you might just skip over the post, having already read the most important news.

I’ll be 38 weeks tomorrow, and still nothing. I spent the weekend walking as much as possible (including getting to spend some time at the zoo with Kate and her kids!). Lots of painless contractions, but nothing regular.

Aaron and I were lucky to land babysitting last night so we could see Spiderman 3. The trailers before the movie showed many of the movies we’re looking forward to seeing this summer. Only I’ll have just had a baby. Plus we have a toddler. And few people want to babysit a newborn and a toddler.

While this baby was planned, I now realize that I should have looked forward a little to the entertainment schedule for May and June. Columbus isn’t exactly a hotbed of exciting things to do, but the next two months are busy. Figures – as soon as I’m busy with a new baby, all the cool stuff comes to town.

First, there are the movies. Spiderman 3 is just the first of the movies we want to see this summer. I really want to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3, as well as Shrek the Third. (What is it with the trilogies this summer?) Then there’s Harry Potter a little later.

I also discovered the Cirque du Soleil is coming to Columbus for the second half of May.

In theatre, two shows I would love to see will be here in June. First, The Complete History of America (Abridged), followed immediately by the musical Wicked.

While the theatre and the Cirque are most certainly off the list, we may still make it to the movies. One idea is to find a drive-in theatre somewhere in town to see the movies, having Cordy go to bed with a babysitter at the house, and taking the baby with us to the movie.

However, in the grand scheme of (admittedly shallow) entertainment pursuits, I did one thing right: I made sure I’ll be mostly recovered and ready for BlogHer 07 at the end of July. Priorities, people!

Grade Inflation: That’s A Fourth Grade Question?

February 28, 2007 By Christina

Did anyone else watch Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? last night? I could say pure inertia made me watch it because it was on after American Idol (my guilty pleasure), but I’d be lying. My curiosity for a game show that sounds so simple – yet isn’t – forced me to watch. I generally rate my appreciation for game shows based on if I think I could do well on the show. Deal or No Deal? I could easily do that show. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? I could do that, too, as long as Meredith let me ask her if she drinks around her kids. Jeopardy? OK, I’m not as good at that show, but I do feel proud when I can finish out an entire category.

My first reaction was one of smug superiority: with the questions they gave, I could clean up in this game. The first contestant couldn’t answer a single question without help! I found myself chanting the answers at the screen while he floundered for each question. The area of a triangle: 1/2 base times height…1/2 base times height…1/2 base times height! The second contestant was doing a little better, but still took a lot of time trying to find the right answers. The ship the pilgrims sailed on: the Mayflower! How hard is that?

OK, so the questions were easy for me. Yes, I’m a nerd who clearly paid attention in school, and has a ridiculous memory for useless information. And I’m not afraid to say I know the answers, which is probably why no one liked me in school. However, it was only the first episode, so I’m sure they will get to (many) questions I don’t know.

But here’s what I don’t get: these questions are supposed to match what the average fifth grader knows. I don’t know what freaky, gifted advanced-placement kids they hired for this show, but I doubt that the average fifth grader can tell you who was the first president to be impeached. (Andrew Johnson, by the way.) And the question about the area of a triangle seemed above an elementary school level. Are fifth graders really learning Geometry now? We didn’t cover that in school until eighth grade, and that was still ahead of many because I was in the accelerated math program.

I will watch the show again tonight. Partially because it once again follows Idol, and partially to see if the questions get any harder. I simply can’t believe that those questions are common knowledge for a fifth grade student. I also wonder what the qualifications are to be on the show? Do you think they let elementary school teachers play?