Nerd Out!

So last Saturday I went to see "The Amazing Spiderman" with my roommates. I had a feeling (during the previews) that I will far surpass them in nerdiness. I could name all the previews after a few seconds, maybe a bit longer for the more obscure ones (Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed and Crooked Arrows) but still. I live too much in the world of film sometimes. Anyway. The movie was great, Andrew Garfield is a phenomenal Spidey, and I liked the twist of bringing in Gwen Stacy (who none of my roommates knew, just goes to show that I can really get into the cris-crossing story lines and back stories.) The acting was great, believable even, and I loved Peter Parker's closing line in the classroom. The teacher says "Don't make promises you can't keep." and he whispers to Gwen "Those are the best kind."

I judge movies on several criteria, which might be why I like/watch so many. It'll be good in one way or another for me. But what I really like is when a movie impresses me on several levels. Spiderman blew me away on a few different levels. It was amazing. So great.

Then today I went to see The Avengers, and I was completely alone in the theater, which was a waste, since it's more fun when it's just you and some friends alone in a theater. But I had been dying to see it for so long, so I went. It was so awesome, staggeringly impressive. Joss Whedon knew what he was doing when he was on the job. No "shakey-cam" nonsense, no dizzy spinning, nothing needless or frivolous. He knows how to deliver. I especially liked how he put in strong sensible female characters. I loved the camraderie between the characters and the actors. It must've been so great to film this movie.

And I want to try shawarma. If any one saw the movie and stayed after the credits, that's where they were eating, I thought it was so funny. Some of my roommates have seen it, but they didn't get what the extra clip was. This is who I live with. People I can't nerd out as well with. It's not fun...

But at least I can still see movies. That's good. I have a few more movies I'm wanting to see, but I don't know when they come out at the cheap theater. I'll just keep my eyes open. And I'll post reviews here.

Dishes, Cutlery and...

A RICE COOKER! A legitimate Pampered Chef rice cooker! I'm so excited! I can have rice with my meals, or a rice based meal. I'd like to thank whoever donated that to Deseret Industries. It's great. I also got "Jello-Bean" molds to try that fruit snack recipe I got from Pinterest. I'm excited. I also got a plate, cup, bowl, fork, knife, spoon and a mug. Because I don't plan on entertaining, and I don't want to buy a lot of dishes I'll just have to keep up here. True to form, I made sure they are all different. The plate has a yellow brim with yellow gold flowers. Its detergent, oven and microwave proof. Does that mean I can just cook my baked potatoes on it? The bowl is white with brown speckles and is from Japan! Cool. The mug is just normal. All my cutlery is mismatched too, but I cant remember which has which. One has a fleur de lis looking design on the bottom, another has roses. and the spoon is plain.

Gotta go, time for work!

Summer time....

My summer has been amazing! I got to come home and visit, and basically be awesome with my family. Highlights:
Seeing Marcus and Harper for a day: It was a long day, and an exhausting day, but a fun one. Harper is so adorably darling.
Seeing the Dark Knight Rises with family: That was the after midnight ending of my first day in California. But it was AWESOME! totally worth it, seeing that with my brothers and sister and cousin.
The Steampunk Museum. That was so cool. I want to go back and buy stuff. But school is starting soon, and I need money for that.
Going to the beach. I miss the beach when I'm away.
House/Babysitting: Change of scenery, chance for new fun randomness. And money, which is always appreciated.
Seeing and Awesomely Performed Shakespeare Play: As You Like It, set in the 20s-40s ish. With the female lead wonderfully diverse in her performance, and the male lead talented, believable and a Ryan Gosling knock off.

This is just a post, since I haven't posted in a while. My next post will probably be my notes from the Thomas Jefferson Lecture that I was super late to class for.

Thanks for reading!

Finals Week! And my Birthday was yesterday

Nearly done with my finals week. It's been long, but not difficult. Some written assignments (not essays, but similar in length and quality, just not as structured. In the testing center my computer kept messing up and having to fix itself. I kept worrying that it meant my final was done for, but it saves it for you and you just start where you left off, but with the original time, not whatever time you left of at. Nice, nice. Got a B+ on the first Odyssey test, and an A on the second! Now for my "Stand and Deliver" witing (connecting  things in the movie to writers we've read) for my Education 200 Class, and my math test tomorrow! And then I am DONE!!!! Le Fin!

Well...here's a real update.

So I've been accused of not posting enough on my blog, and when I do, it's homework. Sorry about that. Mostly been drama all up in the Great White North. I don't post often because I don't want people to think I'm just going to complain. And I'm only writing this now because I finally figured out how to see if people posted comments. I'm still getting used to this new set up. So, update of the good things this semester: I got a library card, a B so far in math and I've been told that it would be a tragedy to lose me in the teaching class.

Also, two Sundays now (not in a row) I've been able to get away from the stress of life. Once by myself and once with three of my roommates. It's nice to have places to go to get away. Today we drove to Twin Rivers and just sat on the dock and stuck our feet in the cold water. We just talked and sat and had a good time. I loved it, and I love being with these girls. Half our apartment is getting married before the end of the year, two of those are getting married before the end of the month. Nice, huh? BYU I do indeed. So there's that. I finished my nephew's blanket, want to get some other crafty things to do so I can get all my artsy energy out over this summer.

History and Philosophy of Education Metaphor

A Backpack Metaphor

Ideas: (1) We carry around with us who/what/how/why we are. We show people our outside, while hiding what we have inside until the right people or situation presents itself.

Doctrine: How important is education to you? Is it something you flaunt around like a status symbol? Or do you educate yourself to better yourself and those around you? Or do you just enjoy learning? 

            Backpack: Different types of backpacks have different secondary functions (after being something to hold other things in). Some are meant to be fun or flashy in design, others meant for heavy loads, or for carrying convenience. The better your backpack is for the primary function the less important it is that the outside look cool. You can decorate it yourself, you can add patches or pins, but at heart, it is still a backpack, and its what’s inside that matters.

Principle: How much knowledge are you trying to gain, to keep with you? (80 percent of the brain is built specifically to block new information from coming in. How are you trying to make what you know stick?) Do you carry reminders, do you review, re read, re learn what you want to remember?
                Backpack: What do you keep in your back pack? Do you even keep anything in it? Do you throw your binder in with your books, or do you carry them around because you don’t want to ruin the backpack? 

Principle: What knowledge are trying to gain? Is it important to you? Is it important to someone else?
                Backpack: do you only have textbooks, or do you have a few books meant for you in there too? Do you keep a sketchbook, a notebook or a little project in there for you to come back to every once in a while?

Tools: Do you make sure you understand the information you’re supposed to be learning? Do you take the time to study harder or longer concepts and ideas you didn’t get?
                Backpack: Do you keep pens and pencils and erasers on hand? Extra notes? A Library card? 

Tools: Are you making sure you’re using all your time and knowledge wisely? Everyone is intelligent when given a chance. Are you giving yourself that chance?
                Backpack: with all those pockets it’s easy to lose papers, pens or books. Do you try to organize things so you can pull out the right thing when it’s needed?

Tools: Are you taking care of yourself so you can continue to learn? Are you healthy, energetic for class? Are you getting enough sleep?
                Backpack: Did you remember to pack a lunch?

New Technology

I have a printer and a scanner. I'm excited because I can print out homework, and I can scan my artwork! I'm so glad to be able to be posting on dA again. Even if it's just sketches and the few water colors I've posted. I'm currently working on my Book of Mormon class midterm. It's not the five page paper, I talked to the teacher and he said I can do a few small water colors. I only have 1st and 2nd Nephi to find subjects from. I'll probably post them up later, once I finish them.