One of the best blogs I found from Time's Top 25 Blogs of 2009 was /Film. I may not exactly be the hardcore movie buff this particular sight is referring to (I know several people who are much more into movies than I am), but I still love, love, love movies!
One of the best features of this site is that anyone can type in an actor, actress or even director's name in the search bar and find out what they've done lately and what they will be doing in the near future. For example, I can type in Orlando Bloom (don't judge me!) and find out that he is due to star in a sci-fi film called The Cross directed by Andrew Niccol in the near future.
I've always loved reading movie reviews, whether they are professionally written or just a friend telling me what they thought of the latest feature flick. I'm addicted to finding out what people loved about movies and what they despised; what worked for them and what didn't and why. On the front page of /Film (pronounced Slashfilm, by the way) is the blog's opinions on movies, characters, marketing techniques, etc. Everything about this blog is right there and easy to access, and for the technologically-challenged like myself, the easier the better!
Movie lovers--novice or seasoned--unite at slashfilm.com!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Heath Ledger's Joker was no joke
I didn't watch the Oscars, but when I heard that Heath Ledger won the award for Best Supporting Actor, to say I was thrilled would be an understatement. I was up until well past midnight waiting for someone to post a video of his family's acceptance speech. A friend of mine (who is the biggest Joker fan I know) told me that the other actors in the audience were tearing up during the acceptance speech, and that even he started tearing up at one point.
I've followed Heath Ledger's career ever since Ten Things I Hate About You, and I went to The Dark Knight three times this summer (and have watched it numerous times since), just to see his intriguingly demented Joker character. I think he was an amazing actor and I don't believe there was anyone who deserved this award more than he. Even if he hadn't died so suddenly, I believe his truly outstanding performance in The Dark Knight would have earned him this Oscar regardless. It's heartbreaking to think that he wasn't around to see his biggest film success to date. It may be trite, and I know they'll never read this, but my thoughts and congratulations go out to his family, especially his daughter.
BRAVO!
I've followed Heath Ledger's career ever since Ten Things I Hate About You, and I went to The Dark Knight three times this summer (and have watched it numerous times since), just to see his intriguingly demented Joker character. I think he was an amazing actor and I don't believe there was anyone who deserved this award more than he. Even if he hadn't died so suddenly, I believe his truly outstanding performance in The Dark Knight would have earned him this Oscar regardless. It's heartbreaking to think that he wasn't around to see his biggest film success to date. It may be trite, and I know they'll never read this, but my thoughts and congratulations go out to his family, especially his daughter.
BRAVO!
Kearney/UNK issues
For our next assignment, we are supposed to find three issues dealing with Kearney/UNK. As I was reading through some other class blogs, I was actually slightly pleased to find that others were having as much trouble finding three things wrong with our community/school as I was.
I was pretty excited when I found this first article...then I discovered that Callie had already used it. But, I'm going to use it anyway (you know, great minds and all). According to the Kearney Hub, Nebraska lawmakers have recently begun debating a bill which was brought before them to require seat belts in school buses. KPS Transportation Supervisor Jim Catterson believes that restraints in school buses would be more of a hazard than a help and that, despite what may be best, parents are going to push the bill through, and all states will have to have seat belts in school buses before long.
The second issue I came across was another article in the Hub about the solidarity of Nebraska's banks compared to others around the nation. Director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, John Munn said that he even hired several recent UNK graduates to work on his bank examination staff. Even if the economy is in a downhill slide, Munn encourages future students to start careers in banking and finance, saying that there are plenty of job opportunities in rural Nebraska and community banks.
For my final issue, I found an article on the Hub's website about possible salary cuts for UNK faculty and staff. University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken said the idea was "premature," especially in mid-February. Since the union contracts which University faculty members are under already preset their salaries, the possibility of reducing staff salaries could become a legal matter.
I was pretty excited when I found this first article...then I discovered that Callie had already used it. But, I'm going to use it anyway (you know, great minds and all). According to the Kearney Hub, Nebraska lawmakers have recently begun debating a bill which was brought before them to require seat belts in school buses. KPS Transportation Supervisor Jim Catterson believes that restraints in school buses would be more of a hazard than a help and that, despite what may be best, parents are going to push the bill through, and all states will have to have seat belts in school buses before long.
The second issue I came across was another article in the Hub about the solidarity of Nebraska's banks compared to others around the nation. Director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, John Munn said that he even hired several recent UNK graduates to work on his bank examination staff. Even if the economy is in a downhill slide, Munn encourages future students to start careers in banking and finance, saying that there are plenty of job opportunities in rural Nebraska and community banks.
For my final issue, I found an article on the Hub's website about possible salary cuts for UNK faculty and staff. University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken said the idea was "premature," especially in mid-February. Since the union contracts which University faculty members are under already preset their salaries, the possibility of reducing staff salaries could become a legal matter.
Friday, February 20, 2009
an hour in the drive-through
Fast food my foot...
Last night, my friend and I were going through the McDonald's drive-through at about a quarter after 1 in the morning. It was absolutely packed and we could tell the few people inside were swamped and getting stressed out. So we patiently waited our turn as we crept toward the second window. When we got there, the lady told us it was over $9. For a 6-piece nugget and a snack wrap? My friend corrected her, telling her our order (twice) and she came back with a different bag. As we pulled away, I opened the bag and found a chicken sandwich and fries.
It was past 1:30 am, I was tired, cranky, hadn't eaten all day, and I really wanted my chicken nuggets. So we got out of the car and walked up to the door. The manager said she couldn't open the door to let us in (which I understood--it was almost 2 in the morning after all) but that we would have to go back through the drive-through. It had taken us nearly 20 minutes to get through the first time, and now the line was even longer! So she took our order--again--and went (we assumed) to get our food for us. Fifteen minutes later, we were still standing outside with the wrong order in our hands, and no one would even acknowledge that we were there. I think they were waiting for us to just give up, take what we had and go home. Haha, try again. We were not leaving until they gave us our chicken! We got back in the car and went through the 20-minute drive-through once again.
After a total of one hour spent in and around the McDonald's drive-through, we finally got our chicken nuggets and snack wrap (both FRESH!), as well as a free order of french fries and a free chicken sandwich (hey, the lady didn't ask for it back...) AND an apology from the manager. Because they messed up our order, they gave us each a coupon for one FREE medium extra value meal. I've worked in the food service industry, so I know how irritating persistently picky customers can be, but I also know how embarrassing it is when it's YOUR mistake. Moral of the story: speak up when your order is wrong...and avoid the McDonald's drive-through after 1 am if possible.
Last night, my friend and I were going through the McDonald's drive-through at about a quarter after 1 in the morning. It was absolutely packed and we could tell the few people inside were swamped and getting stressed out. So we patiently waited our turn as we crept toward the second window. When we got there, the lady told us it was over $9. For a 6-piece nugget and a snack wrap? My friend corrected her, telling her our order (twice) and she came back with a different bag. As we pulled away, I opened the bag and found a chicken sandwich and fries.
It was past 1:30 am, I was tired, cranky, hadn't eaten all day, and I really wanted my chicken nuggets. So we got out of the car and walked up to the door. The manager said she couldn't open the door to let us in (which I understood--it was almost 2 in the morning after all) but that we would have to go back through the drive-through. It had taken us nearly 20 minutes to get through the first time, and now the line was even longer! So she took our order--again--and went (we assumed) to get our food for us. Fifteen minutes later, we were still standing outside with the wrong order in our hands, and no one would even acknowledge that we were there. I think they were waiting for us to just give up, take what we had and go home. Haha, try again. We were not leaving until they gave us our chicken! We got back in the car and went through the 20-minute drive-through once again.
After a total of one hour spent in and around the McDonald's drive-through, we finally got our chicken nuggets and snack wrap (both FRESH!), as well as a free order of french fries and a free chicken sandwich (hey, the lady didn't ask for it back...) AND an apology from the manager. Because they messed up our order, they gave us each a coupon for one FREE medium extra value meal. I've worked in the food service industry, so I know how irritating persistently picky customers can be, but I also know how embarrassing it is when it's YOUR mistake. Moral of the story: speak up when your order is wrong...and avoid the McDonald's drive-through after 1 am if possible.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
2nd Editorial - Final Draft
Imagine watching the person you love leave to fight overseas; your father, mother, brother, sister, daughter, son. Imagine hugging him/her for what could possibly be the last time. Now imagine doing this for the second or third time.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, many Nebraskan soldiers of the 443rd Transportation Company will be flying out of Indiana later this week for Kuwait to complete a yearlong deployment in Kuwait and Iraq. Of the 300 soldiers preparing to deploy, about half have already completed at least one previous deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. They will likely not return until early 2010. Many of their families have already faced the uncertainty of watching their loved ones deploy at least once if not twice. It would be hard to imagine the separation getting any easier with time.
In August of 2006, the Lincoln Journal Star published an article featuring a statement from Senator Chuck Hagel that “the United States needs to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within the next six months.” Two and a half years later, we are instead redeploying troops overseas.
During his campaign, President Obama was adamant in his plans to bring American soldiers home from active duty overseas. Recently, according to the Miami Herald, the Obama Administration is currently considering at least two different plans for withdrawal from Iraq. The first plan would preserve Obama’s campaign pledge to get all American soldiers out of Iraq within 16 months. The second would stretch the plan to 23 months. A third option of 19 months is also being considered, officials said. According to the article, “the main focus appears to be on the 16-month and 23-month options; 23 months would run to the end of 2010.”
Hopefully, within the next couple of years, our troops will be brought home to stay. If Obama’s plans for troop withdrawal go through, the families of these brave men and women will finally be reunited with their loved ones for good, and many will finally be able to enjoy a sound night’s sleep. After seven years of overseas duty, it is safe to say they have earned it.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, many Nebraskan soldiers of the 443rd Transportation Company will be flying out of Indiana later this week for Kuwait to complete a yearlong deployment in Kuwait and Iraq. Of the 300 soldiers preparing to deploy, about half have already completed at least one previous deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. They will likely not return until early 2010. Many of their families have already faced the uncertainty of watching their loved ones deploy at least once if not twice. It would be hard to imagine the separation getting any easier with time.
In August of 2006, the Lincoln Journal Star published an article featuring a statement from Senator Chuck Hagel that “the United States needs to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within the next six months.” Two and a half years later, we are instead redeploying troops overseas.
During his campaign, President Obama was adamant in his plans to bring American soldiers home from active duty overseas. Recently, according to the Miami Herald, the Obama Administration is currently considering at least two different plans for withdrawal from Iraq. The first plan would preserve Obama’s campaign pledge to get all American soldiers out of Iraq within 16 months. The second would stretch the plan to 23 months. A third option of 19 months is also being considered, officials said. According to the article, “the main focus appears to be on the 16-month and 23-month options; 23 months would run to the end of 2010.”
Hopefully, within the next couple of years, our troops will be brought home to stay. If Obama’s plans for troop withdrawal go through, the families of these brave men and women will finally be reunited with their loved ones for good, and many will finally be able to enjoy a sound night’s sleep. After seven years of overseas duty, it is safe to say they have earned it.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Retraction
I recently discovered that the NASA "Sex in Space" article I posted and commented on earlier this year was in fact false. I didn't do a very good job of researching the story, so I would like to apologize for the false information. From now on, I'll do a little more investigating, especially with such a seemingly-strange story.
PS - Dr. Hanson (our JMC professor) gave me a great website where you can check if a story is really true or not: snopes.com
PS - Dr. Hanson (our JMC professor) gave me a great website where you can check if a story is really true or not: snopes.com
Foxes on a trampoline
A friend of mine showed this video to me last week (with my last name being Fox, I get a lot of this sort of thing) and I loved it so much I just had to share it with everyone. It really has nothing to do with anything (except maybe to demonstrate how many random things you can find on YouTube), but it made me laugh. Hope you all enjoy it too!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Nebraska issues for editorial
Nebraska troops returning to overseas duty
Many Nebraskan soldiers will be shipping out for a year to Kuwait and Iraq, likely not to return until early 2010. Half of the soldiers have already completed at least one tour of Iraq or Afghanistan. How much longer will our men and women be leaving their families to go overseas? Does President Obama have any plans that will soon be put into action to start bringing troops home from overseas?
Nebraska banks are strong compared to others around the country
John Munn, director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance says that Nebraska banks are in good shape compared to other banks around the nation. Munn credits Nebraska's large agricultural economy as a saving grace. How long will Nebraska's booming economy keep its head above water in today's economy?
College students awarded over $12 million in grants
Nebraska's neediest students were awarded over $12 million in college grants in the 2007-2008 year. Funding for the grants comes from Nebraska lottery proceeds, among other things. Will the declining economy, will college students ineligible for grants and scholarships be forced to re-evaluate their educational plans?
Many Nebraskan soldiers will be shipping out for a year to Kuwait and Iraq, likely not to return until early 2010. Half of the soldiers have already completed at least one tour of Iraq or Afghanistan. How much longer will our men and women be leaving their families to go overseas? Does President Obama have any plans that will soon be put into action to start bringing troops home from overseas?
Nebraska banks are strong compared to others around the country
John Munn, director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance says that Nebraska banks are in good shape compared to other banks around the nation. Munn credits Nebraska's large agricultural economy as a saving grace. How long will Nebraska's booming economy keep its head above water in today's economy?
College students awarded over $12 million in grants
Nebraska's neediest students were awarded over $12 million in college grants in the 2007-2008 year. Funding for the grants comes from Nebraska lottery proceeds, among other things. Will the declining economy, will college students ineligible for grants and scholarships be forced to re-evaluate their educational plans?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
presidential sugar rush
I ran across this video and wanted to share it with everyone. I might come back and write a more in-depth blog about it later, but for right now I just wanted to comment on his level of enthusiasm (no more Red Bulls for this kid!) and how impressed I was with his question for President Obama. I didn't realize how much people his age (and my age) actually paid attention to this sort of thing (maybe it's just me).
Maybe Miss Daisy needs a new driver
You slam on the brakes and hit your horn, yelling a few choice phrases at your dashboard. You quickly change lanes, fully intent on teaching the jerk who just cut you off a little sign language as you pass, but instead you see the sweet old couple from Perkins puttering along in their Buick. So instead you sigh in resignation and drive on. You can't flip the bird to Granny and Gramps, they're old!
I was on my way to Wal-Mart the other day (which is an entirely different blog in itself) and while I wasn't in a huge hurry, I still wanted to get where I was going in decent time. So I'm cruising down 2nd Ave at around 37 mph when I see almost every car in my lane switch suddenly to the other. Once the traffic cleared, I saw why. A white Taurus was puttering along ahead of me, and from the back, all I could see was a puff of white hair just barely above the seat.
I slowed down, thinking the person must be turning soon, but their blinker never came on. Their brake lights did though. Repeatedly. On every. Single. Hill. The speed limit along that stretch of 2nd is 40 mph. We were racing along at the whopping speed of 25 when they would hit their brakes and slow down to a more-cautious 20 mph while going downhill (because roads are so dangerously slick on bright sunny days). Finally, their right blinker started to flash...the only problem was it flashed for a good two blocks straight. We approached a green light and I exhaled a sigh of relief that maybe they would finally turn. Well, not quite. The car stopped. It came to a complete stop, and I slammed on my brakes while fighting back the urge to honk my horn and yell obscenities out my window. We paused at the green light for a couple seconds before the car began to inch its way around the corner just as the light went from green to yellow. I didn't make it through the stoplight.
Now, I know that someday I am going to be a senior citizen and I would be extremely upset if someone told me I was "too old to drive," but I really do believe that after a certain age, drivers should have to retake the driving test (I don't mean the written part, I mean the actual driving part) more often just to make sure they are still suitable to have a driver's license. That's my opinion anyway. If you would like to read a little more on the senior citizen driving debate, check out this article.
I was on my way to Wal-Mart the other day (which is an entirely different blog in itself) and while I wasn't in a huge hurry, I still wanted to get where I was going in decent time. So I'm cruising down 2nd Ave at around 37 mph when I see almost every car in my lane switch suddenly to the other. Once the traffic cleared, I saw why. A white Taurus was puttering along ahead of me, and from the back, all I could see was a puff of white hair just barely above the seat.
I slowed down, thinking the person must be turning soon, but their blinker never came on. Their brake lights did though. Repeatedly. On every. Single. Hill. The speed limit along that stretch of 2nd is 40 mph. We were racing along at the whopping speed of 25 when they would hit their brakes and slow down to a more-cautious 20 mph while going downhill (because roads are so dangerously slick on bright sunny days). Finally, their right blinker started to flash...the only problem was it flashed for a good two blocks straight. We approached a green light and I exhaled a sigh of relief that maybe they would finally turn. Well, not quite. The car stopped. It came to a complete stop, and I slammed on my brakes while fighting back the urge to honk my horn and yell obscenities out my window. We paused at the green light for a couple seconds before the car began to inch its way around the corner just as the light went from green to yellow. I didn't make it through the stoplight.
Now, I know that someday I am going to be a senior citizen and I would be extremely upset if someone told me I was "too old to drive," but I really do believe that after a certain age, drivers should have to retake the driving test (I don't mean the written part, I mean the actual driving part) more often just to make sure they are still suitable to have a driver's license. That's my opinion anyway. If you would like to read a little more on the senior citizen driving debate, check out this article.
Monday, February 9, 2009
"Hard News" on Yahoo!...try again
I realized this morning that I have fallen very far behind in my weekly blog posts (as I'm sure my class grade will show) so I logged on to Yahoo! news to see what I could dig up to blog about. Well, I'm afraid I don't have any one topic just yet, but rather a whole list of them. The "Featured Stories" on the Yahoo! homepage were the following: "New 'Dancing' Cast Revealed," "Tiger Woods and Wife Welcome New Baby," "Best and Worst Dressed at the Grammy Awards" and "NBA Team Scores 7 Points in 1.4 Seconds."
I'll admit, I'm just as much of a sucker for what we dubbed "soft news" and the next person, but even I am starting to think this is a little overboard. The different news tabs read "Featured," "Entertainment," "Sports" and "Video." I looked through each one of those tabs, and not one of them had anything other than "soft news" stories listed. What is the point of having those different tabs if they all list the same stories? "Featured" is pretty much the same thing as "Entertainment" and "Sports" and even "Video" looked like the YouTube homepage. But then, maybe that's what I get for relying on site called Yahoo! for my "hard news" (I don't mean to knock Yahoo! as a whole, it's just a little disappointing). It makes me wonder, are we really so detached from the major issues going on around us that all we care to read about is the latest American Idol scandal?
I'll admit, I'm just as much of a sucker for what we dubbed "soft news" and the next person, but even I am starting to think this is a little overboard. The different news tabs read "Featured," "Entertainment," "Sports" and "Video." I looked through each one of those tabs, and not one of them had anything other than "soft news" stories listed. What is the point of having those different tabs if they all list the same stories? "Featured" is pretty much the same thing as "Entertainment" and "Sports" and even "Video" looked like the YouTube homepage. But then, maybe that's what I get for relying on site called Yahoo! for my "hard news" (I don't mean to knock Yahoo! as a whole, it's just a little disappointing). It makes me wonder, are we really so detached from the major issues going on around us that all we care to read about is the latest American Idol scandal?
Monday, February 2, 2009
"That's so gay"
"Oh my God, that's so gay."
Very few phrases annoy me more than that little one right there. Not only do I find it incredibly annoying (every time someone says it, all I hear is the stereotypical blonde valley-girl voice in my head: "Like, oh my God, that is like, so gay!") I also find it incredibly ignorant. I'll admit, I've been guilty of saying this atrocious phrase a time or two as well which may or may not make me something of a hypocrite, but it was never something that just casually slid out of my mouth without my noticing as it does so many people around me. I had to MAKE myself say it (which should have been enough to stop me from saying it in the first place).
When you're trying to say something is stupid, would you ever consider saying "that is so Asian" or "that is so Jewish." Absolutely not, you might offend somebody with that kind of talk! Um...hello?!?! In my opinion it would be easier, less-offensive, and it would sound much more intelligent to say "that is so stupid" or "that is so lame" rather than "that is so gay" or even worse, "that is so homosexual." From now on, every time I hear someone say one of those things, I'm going to try and say "that is so straight" or "that is so heterosexual" and see how long it is before someone notices (or stops).
A friend showed me these ads, and I think they are awesome! Maybe they'll help people see this "casual phrase" from a different perspective.
Very few phrases annoy me more than that little one right there. Not only do I find it incredibly annoying (every time someone says it, all I hear is the stereotypical blonde valley-girl voice in my head: "Like, oh my God, that is like, so gay!") I also find it incredibly ignorant. I'll admit, I've been guilty of saying this atrocious phrase a time or two as well which may or may not make me something of a hypocrite, but it was never something that just casually slid out of my mouth without my noticing as it does so many people around me. I had to MAKE myself say it (which should have been enough to stop me from saying it in the first place).
When you're trying to say something is stupid, would you ever consider saying "that is so Asian" or "that is so Jewish." Absolutely not, you might offend somebody with that kind of talk! Um...hello?!?! In my opinion it would be easier, less-offensive, and it would sound much more intelligent to say "that is so stupid" or "that is so lame" rather than "that is so gay" or even worse, "that is so homosexual." From now on, every time I hear someone say one of those things, I'm going to try and say "that is so straight" or "that is so heterosexual" and see how long it is before someone notices (or stops).
A friend showed me these ads, and I think they are awesome! Maybe they'll help people see this "casual phrase" from a different perspective.
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