What Am I Paying For?

Why am I paying about $6,000 a year to attend classes taught by lackadaisical people? I feel completely uninspired by the humans teaching these courses. Of course I don't understand what kind of stress they are under, whether it's with outside life or the stress of teaching multiple classes, but they CHOSE this profession.

I also hate the fact that I have to take "mandatory" classes for my major that have nothing to do with it. I'm wasting my fucking time in classes that I frankly don't give a shit about. What the hell am I going to do with my "society in environment" class info? NOTHING.

If I am paying this much to go to classes, I should have the freedom to arrange what classes I need to take in order to further my knowledge of the subject that I want to perform as my career.

10 things that sucks/rules to be an arizonan

In no particular order

SUCKS:

Always being asked,"How can you stand this heat?"

Dealing with the heat

SCORPIONS

45 year old Scottsdale women

Bro Dawgs (guys that wear affliction, ed hardy, etc...)

Shitty Music Venues

Horrible public transit system.

We're surrounded by mountains yet Phoenix can't seem to get snow.

Bandwagon Sports Fans

TUCSON

RULE:

Zoolights

Zia Records

San Diego, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas are only 5 1/2 hour drives away

Casinos

Consistent Weather

Salt River

Monsoon Season

The Meteor Crater up north

Phoenix is the easiest place to get around

The lego exhibit at the science museum 

Favorite's of the Film Industry

Top 5 Favorite Actors

5. Patrick Wilson - His performances are always astonishing and is very selective on what films he does which is a rarity these days.

4. Denzel Washington - The most versatile actor around.

3. Ryan Reynolds - Completely natural at what he does. Unfortunately, he has been pigeon-held into comedies. He'll take over the world when The Green Lantern comes out.

2. Joseph-Gordon Levitt - After seeing The Lookout and 500 Days of Summer, I am convinced he is the next big thing.

1. Christian Bale - He invests so much into his character portrayals. Why hasn't he won an oscar yet?

Runners up: Billy Crudup, Brad Pitt, & Casey Affleck

Top 5 Favorite Actresses

5. Amy Adams - Sky's the limit for her. Has already been nominated twice for an oscar.

4. Jennifer Connelly - I always seem to be so satisfied with each of her performances. 

3. Zooey Deschanel - Can anyone resist her amazing charm? If you can, see All The Real Girls, Yes Man, & 500 Days of Summer, and you will go weak in the knees.

2. Cate Blanchett - The female equivalent to Marlon Brando. Is there anything she can't do?

1. Natalie Portman - How many girls have shaved her head for a role? She is awkwardly amazing in every role she has ever portrayed. 

Runners up: Laura Linney, Rachel McAdams, & Alison Lohman

Top 5 Favorite Directors

5. Martin Scorsese - All of his films are instant classics. Can anyone debate his genius.

4. David Fincher - His dark visions can even be portrayed in a lighter film (Curious Case of Benjamin Button). 

3. Christopher Nolan - Has such a unique vision for films which results in spectacles.

2. Judd Apatow - Has a daring look on comedy where rather creating absurd and far fetched situations, he relies on natural occurences.

1. Cameron Crowe - Never exploits his genius and never over does it. His films showcase his attention to detail.

Runners up: Frank Darabont, The Cohen Brothers, and Wes Anderson

Top Ten Current Shows

10. Chuck - Great mix of action and comedy without feeling repetitious.

9. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia - One of the few shows that can translate "dumb" humor to the small screen.

8. Weeds - Witty dialogue and insane situations is what makes this cable show a hit.

7. Californication - David Duchovny's portrayal of a struggling writer can be the only reason to watch this show, thank god it's not the only reason to.

6. Lost - Hate to love this show. Intense back stories bring a much needed depth to the show.

5. Scrubs - John D. Dorian (Zach Braff) may be one of the best sitcom characters ever.

4. 30 Rock - Going to go down as the best sitcom since Seinfeld.

3. Dexter - Michael C. Hall is brilliant as covert serial killer protecting the public from the corrupt.

2. Entourage - Extremely hilarious one-liners and spot on performances may turn this into HBO's best show ever.

1. The Office - A team effort all around create this all-too-familiar 9-5 show seem as if you may know a thing or two about the characters lives. Get over the british version, this is nothing like it.

Top 5 Movies/CD's So Far This Year

5) Star Trek - Certainly the surprise hit of the summer. I've never been a fan of Star Trek but how could I doubt JJ Abrams.

4) Away We Go - The most heartfelt comedy since Little Miss Sunshine. 

3) I Love You Man - Even though it wasn't produced by Judd Apatow, his crew brings the magic in his absence.

2) Watchmen - The most visually stunning film in a long time. Great character portrayals all around.

1) The Hangover - By far the funniest fucking film this decade.

CD's

5) A Day To Remember - They have taken over the popcore genre

4) Set Your Goals - The wait for this album was well worth it. They perfected their sound.

3) Two Tongues - The combo of Chris Conley and Max Bemis can only be compared to the combo of peanut butter and jelly.

2) Thursday - They keep on getting better which each album. They continue to strengthen their sound.

1) Manchester Orchestra - The most complete album I've heard since Underoath's Define The Great Line.

Away We Go Review

Score: A-

After witnessing the ultra-depressing "Revolutionary Road," I didn't think Sam Mendes could pull of a dramedy (drama/comedy), but its time to insert my foot in my mouth.

"Away We Go" is the best dramedy film I've witnessed since "Little Miss Sunshine" hit the screens almost 3 years ago to the day. 

The film capitalizes best on creating situations that are not too far fetched. No scene or dialogue is over the top. 

Traveling to different area's to see what location is best to raise a child is a concept that is surprisingly original and amazing. The locations (Phoenix, Wisconsin, Montrael and Miami) beautifully play into the story.

Character portrayals are spot on here. Maya Rudolph actually rests her comedic personality and displays a serious side I didn't know she had. Her character is the perfect compliment to the scene stealing Burt, hilariously portrayed by the boy next door John Krasinski. 

After numerous dull and boring roles in Leatherheads and License to Wed, Krasinski finally is able to perform to the fullest extent of his abilities. His character is down to earth, hilarious, caring and hilariously obnoxious. All of which I'm sure Krasinski is in real life. I was unable to find a moment where I didn't want to be his character Burt. On a side note: His beard is magical.

The movie would not be complete with all the side-splitting cameos from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels and Catherina O'Hara (respectively perfectly portraying Krasinski's mid life crisis parents). 

Witty dialogue, obscene and awkward one-liners, amazing location shots and perfect chemistry turned "Away We Go" into a genre-defining film.

New Ears

Sometimes when I'm listening to my ipod stereo in my car, I kind of have the tense feeling of shutting it off. I have 3,955 songs on my Ipod. With that amount, one would be foolish to be bored with what they have, but sometimes I do. I just get the feeling of boredom and start to loathe the repeating of my playlists. But who doesn't get sick and tired of what they listen to? I guess that's why bands typically release an album every 2 years or so.

Sometimes I wish I could erase my memory of some albums I've listened to and re-listen to them so I can remember the feelings I had when I heard that first guitar riff or that machine gunned double bass pedal kick. To re-collect that feeling of awe is something worth reliving.

So in response to that feeling, I've come up with the top ten albums I would want to re-listen to.

10. Minus The Bear - Menos El Oso

9. Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want To Be

8. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

7. Alkaline Trio - Goddammit

6. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American

5. Finch - What It Is To Burn

4. Underoath - Define the Great Line

3. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

2. The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eye's Ahead

1. Set Your Goals - Mutiny!

Of course I could make a list probably up to 50 but I usually top ten's get the meaning across.

God I love top ten lists.