Geeking out about higher ed since 2013.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX5PwfEMBM0] Thinking about making a trip out to see Snowpiercer this weekend. It has gotten a lot of good buzz and it is expanding its release to a lot more theaters across the country. Anyone see it already or plan on seeing it?
Salutations, good people!
Here's what I'm geeking out about this week. (Happy Independence Day!)
I've given love for this show many times in the past and this time is one of much joy, being able to say definitively that Community is coming back for season 6 on Yahoo. I was hoping to see it on Hulu since I want their digital network to have a killer show like House of Cards or Orange is the New Black but I'm still happy that it ended up somewhere. I'm mostly looking forward to some closure since just having this would be good to wrap things up (and then a short movie just to complete the prophecy). I'm sure I'll share my thoughts when the show comes back. If you haven't watched the show yet, all of the series is streaming via Hulu Plus. Long live Community!
I am continually exploring more of the world of comic books and my latest foray is into some of the recent Green Lantern comics, namely all the stories surrounding the Blackest Night story arc. I really do feel like Green Lantern (any and all of them) is my favorite DC character, right alongside Spider-Man from Marvel. I've only just started getting into some of the comics I've bought recently (Sinestro Corps War, Rage of the Red Lanterns, Agent Orange) but be sure I will be mining them for some relevant moral nuggets to share with you all.
So, as of today, I have been back up in my home state of Maine for a week now. I came here for my new job at a school up here and I've just started to get settled in fully. I've started to meet all the people I'll be working with, decorate my new office (which I'm excited to have, since it is my first one), and explore the surrounding area. I'm eager to get into my routine and start working on some projects since I'm still sort of the newbie after my first week who doesn't know how to do anything. I'll definitely be sharing thoughts about things as the process goes along.
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the holiday weekend!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpSaTrW4leg] Excited for this movie to come out next week! Who else is planning on seeing it?
Greetings!
Here are all of my awesome reviews for the month of June. Enjoy!
As always, if you have any recommendations for movies that I should watch that are streaming on Netflix, let me know! I always appreciate getting pointed in the direction of new movies I haven't seen.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hey there!
Welcome to another collection of my geek outs, this time, for the magical month of June. I had an eventful month but I still wanted to share what was going on for me in the realm of geekdom and life so check out everything from the past month below.
Thanks for stopping by and to all of you for your continued support. It means a lot!
Salutations good people!
Welcome to another Movie Review Monday! This week's film is World War Z, starring Brad Pitt.
This movie (loosely based on the book of the same name) is an interesting one for many reasons. First off, it had many production issues, creating a huge budget for the movie (nearly $200 million) as well as needing re-shoots to do the entire end of the movie over after the original cut didn't jive with the powers that be (the explanation of the original ending has some spoilers, so wait until you've watched the movie to find out how it was supposed to end).
The movie is also intriguing since it is so loosely adapted from the book. I haven't read it but I know at least that it is a journal retrospective of how the zombie apocalypse happened whereas the movie is more of a race against time action thriller. An adaptation of a book of faux interviews is difficult to be sure, but it could have been something more original with such a unique basis to pull from.
Alright, onto the movie itself. I watched the uncut version available on Netflix, which has more blood and violence than the PG-13 version shown in the theaters (check out the differences here after you watch the movie). I would recommend seeing this one since it is more of what the movie should have been. The violence gives the movie more of a tense, visceral feel that builds upon the best parts of the film.
For my actual review of World War Z; I enjoyed this movie. I enjoy the zombie genre enough and I like this different interpretation and worldwide scale to the story. Brad Pitt does well carrying the film, being in pretty much every scene. The zombies are great and I appreciate all the practical effects they used paired with CGI when it was needed. The tense action and investigative drama of the plot is engaging as you journey with Pitt's character to figure out this global epidemic.
While it could have been something completely different and original and isn't perfect, I enjoyed World War Z and would definitely recommend it. Stream it today and I hope you enjoy it as well!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hey there, friends!
Here is what I'm geeking out about this week (pardon the simplicity, I'm moving this week to Maine for a new job. Be on the lookout for posts on that soon...).
I downloaded a bunch of podcasts to get me through the ride up to Maine, which is 7+ hours. I'm not much for long car rides but having something thoughtful to listen to definitely helped. I'm a big fan of the Nerdist Podcast, Smart People, and The School of Greatness.
I've had a blossoming coffee addiction grow since last summer when I did orientation for long hours all season. I am very grateful for it helping keep me awake, which allowed me to drive safe, which allowed me to not die nor kill anyone else in my car while driving to Maine. I am forever in your debt, sweet java!
Where I am right now when I sit and think about it is greatly humbling. I am very grateful to have gotten a job where I did, when I did and I am thankful to have a loving partner, good health, a freaking master's degree, and all the little things in my life that I'm sure I take for granted. I want to work to help others get to where I am in my life, in their own ways of course. I want everyone to be able to feel safe, have a roof over their head, and be able to do what they love. It's a continuing work in progress to be sure but it is sure to be a hell of a ride.
Be well, everyone and I'll see you next week!
Thanks for stopping by!
I stumbled upon this article recently and found it to be another thoughtful and relevant look into the images media is portraying for audiences today, similar to the "Flawless Rescue Stud" phenomenon I wrote about earlier.
I definitely agree with the author that Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow was a great character, and I wish more females in movies were like her. It is disappointing to hear of a lot of recent films with strong females who are given nothing to do to further the plot. It seems like such a waste!
I always enjoy reading things like this so I thought I'd share. Let me know what you think about it.
Reflecting back to my recent interviews, I found myself conceptualizing myself as being someone who, due in large part to my history major at the University of Delaware, needs to have some context to things to be able to fully understand and appreciate them. It could be current events and their historical precedence, or it could be an initiative from a supervisor and wanting some further explanation behind why we are doing something besides "because I said so" or "because that's how we've always done it". I need something more than that.
What I need to hear contextually as a proud history major working in student affairs is a logical context preceding our actions. I need to hear that a new effort is backed up by theory, data, or exceptional practices from colleagues and fellow higher education institutions. We should never be making decisions, in student affairs or otherwise, on whims or emotions or simply personal anecdotes. We need to pull from more credible bases.
A history professor I had in college once told me that the study of our past is captured well by the metaphor of "a turtle on a fencepost". This means to say that the turtle could not have possibly gotten up on that fencepost on its own. Someone had to do something to put it there. Pretty much every major thing happening in the world today is like that turtle. It was caused by the actions of someone or something. It is crucial for us to understand these phenomena and causes, as to not repeat the mistakes of the past.
While this contextual philosophy of mine was garnered from a very macro perspective, I see it being highly applicable to the work I do on a micro level every day. We need to learn from the past to improve for the future. We need to build upon the successes we've had, avoid making the mistakes again we've made before, and work to continuously improve to better serve our students.
I don't think I wasted my undergraduate degree coming into student affairs. I think it has made me a better professional.
Hey there!
This week's film is the 2002 sci-fi action movie, Equilibrium, starring Christian Bale, Taye Diggs, and Emily Watson.
I was turned onto this film years ago, which was also years after this movie came out. It is a hidden gem to be sure, a movie that had the unfortunate circumstance to live in the shadow of the more popular Matrix films of the early 2000s. The premise of the movie is that Christian Bale is a 'cleric' named John Prestion in the dystopic, futuristic, fascist society where emotions are outlawed. Bale must enforce these laws with brutal efficiency. He eventually becomes sympathetic to the resistance cause trying to overthrow the regime and starts to work both sides. Bale does well here playing someone who allows his emotions to come through and then becomes sort of addicted to feeling after not feeling anything for his entire life, questioning everything he has ever known. All the other actors in the film are people you've seen in other things before and do a fine job supporting Bale's protagonist in his journey. Sean Bean has a small role in the beginning of the film which is a fun sight now after his successful stint on Game of Thrones.
The sci-fi elements are pretty light and the action is solid. The drama of it all helps anchor the movie and prevent it from going into any hokey territory. It takes itself seriously and rightfully so. The tragedy of a whole society no longer feeling, no longer caring for one another, and most of all not being able to appreciate art or music, is given its due here. The message that feelings are important is a simple but important one. If we lose our humanity in the quest for peace, is it really worth it?
Overall, the plot is straightforward and simple enough, and the whole thing is a fun ride with some good twists and turns. So if you're looking for a good popcorn movie to watch, Equilibrium is definitely for you.
Check it out streaming now on Netflix and be sure to check out all my other movie reviews for more great stuff to watch.
Have an awesome day!