When is a "friend" a friend?

I've decided it's time to feel important and use titles for my posts. Thoughts sound much more meaningful and scholarly with titles.

So regarding the title of this post, don't worry, I'm not feeling bitter about a failed friendship or anything. I just wanted to post about a funny thing came to my attention today. I've always thought it was a little silly how Americans call everyone their "friend," whether it's someone they've known since they were in diapers or someone they just added on Facebook but have never spoken to.

I never really thought about how weird this aspect of our culture was until today, when I was working at the grill. I was telling one of the girls about my friend Alicia who sings with the a capella choir The Spokes, and the girl said, "Oh yeah, one of my friends is in that group too." But when I asked her who it was, she couldn't remember her friend's name! Come on now! We clearly use the term "friend" much to generally if we're using to describe people who's names we don't even know!

Anyway, I think we should find some kind of medial word like "acquaintance," except not that one because it sounds too much like a word you'd use during an interrogation by the police.

Oh, and one more totally unrelated musing. Today I read an article for my German Women and Films class by Susan Sontag about how modern sadomasochism is largely influenced by fascist principles and the military uniforms of the Nazis (black, leather, etc.) Eye opening, to say the least.

I saw the film Children of Men last night, and I have to say, GO SEE IT. It's one of the few movies I can think of where I had to cover my eyes for about half of it due to the violence, but I still really liked it. (I generally write off movies that have a death count of more than two people.)

The film takes place in the year 2027 at a time when the human race is dying out because women have become inexplicably infertile. It's a really interesting premise, and all the actors do a really good job. I didn't really like Clive Owen before I saw him in this, but now I've changed my mind. And Michael Caine steals every scene he's in; he was definitely my favorite character.

Children of Men is super thought-provoking, and I want other people to see it so that we can analyze it together!

Thanks to the traditional American love of suing, products have been exhibiting weirder and wackier warning labels. This one was awarded as the most wacky of the year.

PS: I just bought Abbey Road. V. nice. Only the second Beatle's CD I own! And I call myself a Beatles fan.

PPS: Sadly, apparently working out while listening to an iPod does not have the intended effect of making you eternally indefatiguable. Especially if you just sat around and ate all Christmas break. But it DOES inspire you to use big words that you've probably never used before.