Jessica B. Burstrem

As in most things, I can find something to value and enjoy in all kinds of music. My music collection includes about 500 different albums ranging - both alphabetically and musically - from Bryan Adams and the Bloodhound Gang to Frank Zappa and Rob Zombie. (My favorite artist settings on my XM Radio include Beethoven, the Coasters, Elvis Presley, Jim Croce, CCR, Queen, Billy Joel, Elton John, Metallica, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz, Gorillaz, Eminem, Maroon 5, BNL, Brad Paisley, and Jeff Foxworthy.) Nevertheless, usually I just listen to country, hip hop, or hard rock (when I can find it). As in most areas of my life, I also especially enjoy anything different or unusual - for instance: Yat-kha, Ravi Shankar, electric violin. I used to play classical music on the piano and cello myself, but now I'm afraid that I just don't have the time.

I get something out of almost every nonfiction book that I pick up, and I enjoy literary fiction when I can read any. However, reading books for (academic) work has resulted in much the same thing as watching movies for work, with the added issue of the practically limitless amount of such reading that I should do for work and the obviously limited amount of time that I actually have to do so. That makes reading for fun practically a sacrificial act ... and thus I'm afraid that I don't get to do it very often anymore. The downside of doing what you love for a living, I suppose. I do listen to a lot of books on CD while I'm commuting in my car, though. Unfortunately, I think I'll have exhausted the selection at my local libraries long before my commuting days will end. At any rate, my current favorite non-academic author is Barry Eisler - who is also, incidentally, on my MySpace Friends List., Jane Austen, bell hooks, Carol Gilligan, Patricia Hill Collins

Not surprisingly, I also appreciate all kinds of movies. Watching movies for my work has resulted in much the same thing as reading books for my work, though. The key to a good movie for me is really how realistic its ending seems, which is often a deal-breaker. Thus I tend to prefer independent films, documentaries, movies with sequels (because the endings don't attempt to artificially tie up all of the loose ends), and silly comedies that make no attempt to be realistic. Movies with negative representations of mothers make me angry. The BBC version of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has always been a favorite.

I almost never watch TV. In general it makes me feel as though my IQ is dropping, the invasiveness of the commercials and the way that the news forces you to take in all of it in order to see what you actually want (as opposed to just turning the page as in a newspaper) truly scare me, and anyway, I really don't have the time. I make exceptions for Wolverine football games, when I can, and certain other specific programs once in a while (such as the Discovery Channel's MYTHBUSTERS and DIRTY JOBS). When would I find the time anyway? The last show that I watched "religiously" was the first season of 30 Days; I am disappointed to have missed it this year.

Family, travel, Mystery shopping, writing, blogging

Liberal

Episcopal

Michigan Renaissance Festival, Gordonwood Episcopal Camp and Conference Center, The Nectarine Ballroom, Citizens Bank, the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, The University of Florida University Writing Program, The Princeton Review, The University of Arizona

University of Michigan, University of Florida, University of Arizona

Grand Blanc Community High School

American Mensa, Triple Nine Society, University of Michigan Alumni Association, National Women's Studies Association, Association for Research on Mothering, American Civil Liberties Union, National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood