Expanding Movie Horizons
I enjoy movies, but I get into ruts... Really bad ruts focused on certain sci-fi and English shows. I am probably one of the most close minded movie/show people ever. This seems odd to me since I constantly crave things being different, changing up my life, going to new places and doing new things. Movie watching, however, is definitely kept in a certain comfort zone that I'm trying to expand. I think part of the problem for me is that type of entertainment is not a favourite for me. I really do enjoy movies, but part of my brain simply cannot comprehend good "bad" movies, or to watch any sort of movie just to experience it; therefore, I stick to my comfort zone because I know what to expect. I console myself with the thought that some people do not enjoy opera or Broadway shows or a certain style of art, which is certainly acceptable. Despite the occasional fear that I'll waste hours of my life, I'm realizing that I'm really missing out by not being more open to different movies. I mean, I waste time with books that turned out stupid (you have to finish them!), or a play that disappointed me (you can't walk out), or just stared into space daydreaming. So why not take a risk on movies? Thus my trek down the supernatural movie line. It's been quite interesting so far, and while I always have a knee jerk reaction, further analysis of each one has always led to a positive insight. This is my list of supernatural movies watched so far.
The Crow
Immediate Reaction: The retribution got a bit old.
Further Analysis: Appreciated filmmaking and ambience the movie had.
Stigmata
Immediate Reaction: Loved it.
Further Analysis: Well put together, well paced, deep.
The Ninth Gate
Immediate Reaction: Is it over yet? Is it over yet? Is it over yet?
Further Analysis: Enjoyed the perspective of the rare book world, but the ending seemed...weird at best.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Immediate Reaction: Really enjoyed the trial perspective, and the struggle between the supernatural and the explained.
Further Analysis: Same.
30 Days of Night
Immediate Reaction: Why am I watching this?
Further Analysis: Despite the hopelessness, the continual survival and choices the humans made kept your attention.
Dark City
Immediate Reaction: Smacked of Matrix-y type stuff.
Further Analysis: I was sick when I watched it, thus not very focused, but found the twists and turns interesting.
Stir of Echos
Immediate Reaction: Loved it.
Further Analysis: Realistic enough to make you think it could happen.
17 October 2007
Books Enlightening our Mindsets
I always consider it a mistake to read more than a couple books at a time. Typically, it's much easier to buzz through one book at a time...in my opinion. However, these three books are easy reads, very enlightening, and go hand-in-hand with each other.
French Women Don't Get Fat I was instantly insulted. As usual the Frogs think they are better than the rest of the world. I was also intrigued though, and my curiousity overcame my pride. Firstly, it's true. Go over there. Eighty year old ladies will buzz by you like you're crippled. All the guys are deliciously fit and most of the girls are annoyingly well in shape. Then I started reading it. Yes, it's true. You can enjoy food, eat wonderful food, and not overeat. Guiliano does a fantastic job of helping people not eat what I call "American portions" by shrinking your stomach and teaching you some minor disciplines, then she introduces delectible and easy recipes for those every day meals. It truly is the "secret of eating for pleasure" while losing weight and staying trim...depending on your current status. This book does a wonderful job giving us a "mindset".
Next, speaking of the term mindset, is the book Mindset by Dr. Dweck. I can only say it's changing my life. My perspectives. My thought processes. It takes the cliche terminology of "dumping the fixed mindset for a growth mindset" and makes it meaningful. I guarantee, as I am almost finished with this book, it will change your perspective in something, if not everything.
Finally, we come to Veronique Vienne's The Art of Being a Women. Another Frenchie! If you have not detected my negative bias of the French yet, I'm not too crazy about them. My experiences in their country and with their people has left me with a taste of their insecurity and arrogance that is annoying. So you KNOW that if I'm recommending two French authors, they are writing well. This book is great for men and women. Again, it focuses on mindset. A lot of us think that women wait for men to disappoint us and that it's a rat race with other women to be TOP woman. Well, isn't it? This book will change that perspective and make these seeming hurts and disappointments into fun, laughter, and happiness. Don't believe me? Read it.
You don't have to go crazy and read all three at once, but they are fast reading, and very enlightening.
I always consider it a mistake to read more than a couple books at a time. Typically, it's much easier to buzz through one book at a time...in my opinion. However, these three books are easy reads, very enlightening, and go hand-in-hand with each other.
French Women Don't Get Fat I was instantly insulted. As usual the Frogs think they are better than the rest of the world. I was also intrigued though, and my curiousity overcame my pride. Firstly, it's true. Go over there. Eighty year old ladies will buzz by you like you're crippled. All the guys are deliciously fit and most of the girls are annoyingly well in shape. Then I started reading it. Yes, it's true. You can enjoy food, eat wonderful food, and not overeat. Guiliano does a fantastic job of helping people not eat what I call "American portions" by shrinking your stomach and teaching you some minor disciplines, then she introduces delectible and easy recipes for those every day meals. It truly is the "secret of eating for pleasure" while losing weight and staying trim...depending on your current status. This book does a wonderful job giving us a "mindset".
Next, speaking of the term mindset, is the book Mindset by Dr. Dweck. I can only say it's changing my life. My perspectives. My thought processes. It takes the cliche terminology of "dumping the fixed mindset for a growth mindset" and makes it meaningful. I guarantee, as I am almost finished with this book, it will change your perspective in something, if not everything.
Finally, we come to Veronique Vienne's The Art of Being a Women. Another Frenchie! If you have not detected my negative bias of the French yet, I'm not too crazy about them. My experiences in their country and with their people has left me with a taste of their insecurity and arrogance that is annoying. So you KNOW that if I'm recommending two French authors, they are writing well. This book is great for men and women. Again, it focuses on mindset. A lot of us think that women wait for men to disappoint us and that it's a rat race with other women to be TOP woman. Well, isn't it? This book will change that perspective and make these seeming hurts and disappointments into fun, laughter, and happiness. Don't believe me? Read it.
You don't have to go crazy and read all three at once, but they are fast reading, and very enlightening.
12 October 2007
American Economics
Granted, I'm not an economist. But I'm trying to learn through a couple of excellent books I'm reading since college Economics seems like millions of years ago. However, I've decided there is a certain kind of economics that is occuring in this country that is highly frustrating.
Has anybody noticed the dollar conversion rate? The Economist is highly astute to it, but they're British, so there's no fear, just observant. But in my decently consistent reading of the New York Times, I've seen little concern or even observation other than the required columns of conversion ratings. Anyway, it sucks.
Maltese lira a year ago? 2-1. Maltese lira now? 3-1. AGAINST our dollar. This of course has been noticed mostly by the fact that we're going to Malta in three weeks, so there is some selfish irritation here. I've been used to 2-1 with the British pound, but that's been up to 3-1 for a couple years now. The Euro? 2-1. I mean...CANADA is higher than the dollar right now. That is downright humiliating.
I don't understand why our consumer market doesn't really give a crap. Our imports are killing our dollar value, and I understand that imports are cheaper vs. making our own stuff, but sometimes I feel like the American consumer is more concerned about their imported living room sets, gigantic TV sets, vehicles and other materialistic things MORE than travelling. America has always sucked going on vacation, but I wish people would realise how much travelling does them good and DO it. Does this solve anything? Probably not because we will still import everything from our Christmas decorations up to our American car's engines, but I think travelling would make Americans desire and maybe seek a stronger dollar.
Perhaps I'm just bitter because the days of exploiting the weakass Franc and Lira are only memory.
Granted, I'm not an economist. But I'm trying to learn through a couple of excellent books I'm reading since college Economics seems like millions of years ago. However, I've decided there is a certain kind of economics that is occuring in this country that is highly frustrating.
Has anybody noticed the dollar conversion rate? The Economist is highly astute to it, but they're British, so there's no fear, just observant. But in my decently consistent reading of the New York Times, I've seen little concern or even observation other than the required columns of conversion ratings. Anyway, it sucks.
Maltese lira a year ago? 2-1. Maltese lira now? 3-1. AGAINST our dollar. This of course has been noticed mostly by the fact that we're going to Malta in three weeks, so there is some selfish irritation here. I've been used to 2-1 with the British pound, but that's been up to 3-1 for a couple years now. The Euro? 2-1. I mean...CANADA is higher than the dollar right now. That is downright humiliating.
I don't understand why our consumer market doesn't really give a crap. Our imports are killing our dollar value, and I understand that imports are cheaper vs. making our own stuff, but sometimes I feel like the American consumer is more concerned about their imported living room sets, gigantic TV sets, vehicles and other materialistic things MORE than travelling. America has always sucked going on vacation, but I wish people would realise how much travelling does them good and DO it. Does this solve anything? Probably not because we will still import everything from our Christmas decorations up to our American car's engines, but I think travelling would make Americans desire and maybe seek a stronger dollar.
Perhaps I'm just bitter because the days of exploiting the weakass Franc and Lira are only memory.
10 October 2007
Full Circle
Glad to blog again! Here it is Halloween again; one year later from my last post.
Some things keeping me busy this past year includes
-raising a baby girl
-redecorating a house
-increased contract work with curriculum development
-struggling to obtain physical condition before baby
(instructor said it could take a year to get to full competing quality again)
I'm currently trying to wade through a lot of recent disappointments by looking on the bright side. I have learned a valuable lesson this past year though...trying to please people is a fruitless effort and I am now on the path of just doing what I feel is both right and enjoyable, ignoring the hurtful comments. That's the goal at least.
Some hurts are out of my control, however, such as being told that I wouldn't be welcome in an exclusive PhD program at IUPUI because I didn't fit the environment coming from profit schools. Also, my goals were more objective oriented, and not enough research oriented. I accept the second reason, but I'm struggling with the first - although I knew down deep that would be the killer for me to get into the program. My naive self is coming to realisation that 4.0's, successful ventures, and experience within the topic isn't enough. I was told that if I wanted to put the hours necessary into their masters of the same topic, I could most likely transfer directly before graduating into the PhD program since the faculty would know by that time and I would have the hours in that topic covered. Still, right now I'm kind of smarting from the rejection when I wasn't able to complete my sentence of my goals.
I know there is a huge rift of educational theories between profit and non-profit schools, but I had no idea it was this extensive. Now my curiousity is bugged...what value would it be to me to have degree experience in both environments? Maybe develop some theories to mend this rift? Non-profits are being forced to go online and accerelated degrees due to the consumer market, but the mindsets of these two massive educational forces are worlds apart. I think it would be a unique perspective at the very least.
These sorts of things are constantly running through my mind, thus killing my focus. I need to learn better meditation.
Glad to blog again! Here it is Halloween again; one year later from my last post.
Some things keeping me busy this past year includes
-raising a baby girl
-redecorating a house
-increased contract work with curriculum development
-struggling to obtain physical condition before baby
(instructor said it could take a year to get to full competing quality again)
I'm currently trying to wade through a lot of recent disappointments by looking on the bright side. I have learned a valuable lesson this past year though...trying to please people is a fruitless effort and I am now on the path of just doing what I feel is both right and enjoyable, ignoring the hurtful comments. That's the goal at least.
Some hurts are out of my control, however, such as being told that I wouldn't be welcome in an exclusive PhD program at IUPUI because I didn't fit the environment coming from profit schools. Also, my goals were more objective oriented, and not enough research oriented. I accept the second reason, but I'm struggling with the first - although I knew down deep that would be the killer for me to get into the program. My naive self is coming to realisation that 4.0's, successful ventures, and experience within the topic isn't enough. I was told that if I wanted to put the hours necessary into their masters of the same topic, I could most likely transfer directly before graduating into the PhD program since the faculty would know by that time and I would have the hours in that topic covered. Still, right now I'm kind of smarting from the rejection when I wasn't able to complete my sentence of my goals.
I know there is a huge rift of educational theories between profit and non-profit schools, but I had no idea it was this extensive. Now my curiousity is bugged...what value would it be to me to have degree experience in both environments? Maybe develop some theories to mend this rift? Non-profits are being forced to go online and accerelated degrees due to the consumer market, but the mindsets of these two massive educational forces are worlds apart. I think it would be a unique perspective at the very least.
These sorts of things are constantly running through my mind, thus killing my focus. I need to learn better meditation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)