Recent DVD rentals...
Date Night - Dynamic comedic duo...oh yeah! Carrel and Fey were really good in this movie, especially since I read some interviews with them about making the movie. I enjoyed this movie for what it is -- a cute, older couple who is trying to get through married life without getting dull and happen to get themselves into some trouble with a mob. It's got a cute message in it about being married and how life tends to get into this rut, but also about the simple thing of enjoying your life and how you wouldn't change it anyway. It was entertaining, though. Not overly funny, but cute. Its appeal is probably more because Fey AND Carrel are together in one film than it is for the actual movie/story. Grade: B
Letters to Juliet - Predictable film from the get-go, but it's a cute chick flick with one of those very romantic stories intertwined into the, well, main love story building. :P Not much to say, other than there's some great Italy scenery and some of the foods make you want to drool, but it's cute. Learning a little about the Juliet Club is also cute. Grade: B
Dear John - Oh Nicholas Sparks...when will you have a book made into a film where I won't cry through half of it?! This one, at least, has a relatively happy ending at the end compared to say...Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe, etc. Good film, just like the others. It's emotional, heart wrenching, happy, etc. I think it's slightly different than his others since this one's love story ends up revolving around 9/11 and the male lead re-enlisting in the army to serve after 9/11. It's still a good film, but I seriously cried through half the film at least. LoL When will I learn?! Grade: B
The Back-Up Plan - Well...it's Jennifer Lopez in a pretty typical rom-com from her. Unfortunately, I think I enjoy the Wedding Planner and Maid in Manhattan more than this one. It's okay. Predictable storyline with a different twist in a rom-com than you normally see (she wants a baby, hasn't found a guy, gets artificially inseminated, bumps into a guy!), but that's about it. Grade: C
Kick-Ass - This film was more amusing than I thought it was going to be. Chris wanted to see it so we rented it. It's basically a normal guy wants to be a real life hero. He has no powers or money like Spider-Man or Batman. He buys this dorky outfit and tries to save someone, but ends up in the ICU with pretty much pins and screwed up nerves so he tries to go out and help again! It's kind of on the stupid end of films and there is some cussing, but it's amusing in its own way. The little girl and Nicholas Cage (her father) are an interesting pairing and nice addition for the film. The father has actually trained the girl to be a fighter and love all things weapons and be able to take being in intense situations. She's like 7 too. So there are some funny moments involved with that. The father used to be a cop and a mobster basically ruined his career by setting him to look dirty so he trains his daughter and himself to be able to get revenge one day (the mother was killed by them or committed suicide or something because of it). So they run into Kick-Ass (the main character's "hero" name) and end up being caught together. If you don't mind the slightly stupid factor and like super hero films (this one can give an air to spoofing, but it's not), then this would be for you. Grade: B
Cash - So utterly bizarre...This has Sean Bean in it (Boromir in LotR), but...that's about the best thing with the film. LoL It's basically Bean trying to get back this several hundred thousand dollars his brother (who happens to be him...) back from this couple who stumble upon the money. His brother was robbing the bank, got caught, and dumped the money so he could get it after he got out of jail. Unfortunately, the couple found the money and started to spend it right away. Bean sees the brother and tracks down the couple to get every penny back from them. The brother in jail wants him to just forget getting everything back, but he won't stop! So it's basically a movie of Bean getting the couple to rob stores and sell stuff to make the money back. It's...weird and not exactly thrilling to watch. :P I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a HUGE Sean Bean fan. Grade: C-
Diary of Wimpy Kid - Having sold the book so many times, it was necessary to see this movie! It's definitely a cute pre-teen movie. It has an interesting message about friends and liking people the way they are instead of trying to change them and being there for each other. The story is pretty gentle. Nothing too scary or gross, but takes place at the school most of the time. It's cute. Not much to say really. Probably wouldn't be a normal thing for adults to watch without kids around or unless you read/know of the book. :) Grade: B
Looking forward to seeing Secretariat in Oct. I know it won't be the book (the book by William Nack is an EXCELLENT read) nor what the real story is, but it'll be entertaining and great to see the horses and such. It's also a good cast. I'm just trying to remember it's Disney...they take liberties.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Welcome back to school -- have a cold!
Unbelievable...Tuesday I came down with a cold. It's nothing too big, but it affected my head the first few days and now it's moved to my nose and sinuses. It's rather annoying because I keep waking up in the middle of the night coughing because a part of my throat dries out (it happens when I'm getting sick or am sick ever since my tonsils came out). My throat also hurt a lot the first few days too (the most in a long while). It's all so annoying, especially since it's so warm here! It was in the low 80's today! What the heck? It's now fall! Where's fall weather?! On the other hand, it's been kind of nice having the sun since Monterey's summer consisted of about 5-7 sunny days the entire time I was there. :) Now I miss the fog...grass is always greener on the other side, right?
The move down went well. My fish all survived and I picked up a new plant and 3 neon tetras! The neon tetras are much more lively than my glowlight tetras so it's kind of amusing. Since the water is also warmer here (easily between 78-82 degrees), my fish and shrimp are much more active in general. One day I caught all 6 fish chasing each other around in a conga line. I'm a little worried for my glowlight tetras because my neon tetras are much more aggressive food wise. I'm not sure if it's because that's thew ay neons are or if they're just smaller so they're more aggressive about it. My glowlights are full size so maybe they don't need as much food? I'm not sure. My glowlights seem to be getting enough, but the neons are FAST and definitely out compete them for food. My sucker fish are actually doing their job too. Not as well as when I first put them into the tank months ago, but they're seen actively eating on the logs. I MIGHT get an algae eating shrimp (they're smaller and look a little different than the ones I have), but we'll see. If my logs start growing hair again, I'll get one. Chris thinks I should get even more fish, but I like my tank balance right now. The problem with more fish is more waste. But...we'll see. I do enjoy my fish tank. :)
Classes started on Thursday and Bren had its reception on Thursday. I went to say hi to people and it was good to see the class again. I actually don't have class till Monday since I only have class on Monday and Wednesday. My classes are lookin' pretty easy at this point. I'm taking 232 - environmental modeling, 245 - cost-benefit analysis, and GP.
I'm pretty excited for cost-benefit analysis. I know a little about cost-benefit analysis and the different methods, but I've never in detail have gone through each of the methods and really tried to learn them. The class looks pretty easy with 50% of our grade based on the final, 40% on our term paper, and 10% for class participation. He lectures and also gives us examples to read (based on the syllabus). The book wasn't required to purchase since it's available to us electronically, but I decided to buy the book. It's $50, but it'll be easier to read (and I actually want to read the book) and it'll be something I can have forever since it goes over the basic CBA methods. It's published by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development), which is an international organization. So it'll be handy.
232's environmental modeling should be interesting too. I have to take a modeling/computer type class for my POS (program of study -- our "schedule" of classes we're taking to complete our specialization requirements to graduate). I was going to take GIS to fulfill the requirement, but I'm technically already certified (I have a certificate and everything) and it's offered only in the spring. I initially thought my spring 2011 quarter was going to be crazy busy, but it turns out I'm only taking 8 units and it'll be a light quarter. So I still might take it, but I'm taking ecological modeling as my requirement. That class looks like it'll be fairly easy too. We have a lab assignment due once a week (9 of them) and then the rest of our points is for participation so...90% labs, 10% participation for a total of 100 points. I have a good friend in that class too so I'm not sweatin' it. I'm hoping this prof is good, though. I'm planning to take conservation planning in the winter with her to make-up for a class I needed in the spring not being offered this year. So...we'll see. She's a visiting professor this year, as is the professor who's teaching CBA. So...interesting year at Bren!
GP is startin' up again. It's time to put back on my mercury remediation and BLM policy cap and start thinking, researching, and planning for the GP. We basically have to do all our research this quarter and have it pretty squared away so we can start writing and finalizing things the beginning of winter quarter. I think our paper is due end of winter quarter-ish and our defense presentation is close to the end of winter quarter (maybe week 8?). They haven't finalized dates yet. Should be intense! Hopefully I won't be cursing GP too much this quarter. :P
Well...with that. I'm off to watch my CSI: NY episode from yesterday. Fall TV shows started this week. :P So this week comprised of CSI, CSI: NY, Project Runway, America's Next Top Model (totally a guilty pleasure...though I never finish the season...), Bones, Glee, and Castle. I don't think I'll watch House or Dexter right now. Dexter is too high intense for me wondering if he'll get caught this season or not. LoL House is about the same thing, though Huddy happened so...maybe I'll tune in for the House-Cuddy drama as they try and work through their relationship while she's his boss. :P I'll do a movie update later. I've watched Date Night, Letters to Juliet, Dear John, The Back-Up Plan, Kick-Ass, Cash, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The move down went well. My fish all survived and I picked up a new plant and 3 neon tetras! The neon tetras are much more lively than my glowlight tetras so it's kind of amusing. Since the water is also warmer here (easily between 78-82 degrees), my fish and shrimp are much more active in general. One day I caught all 6 fish chasing each other around in a conga line. I'm a little worried for my glowlight tetras because my neon tetras are much more aggressive food wise. I'm not sure if it's because that's thew ay neons are or if they're just smaller so they're more aggressive about it. My glowlights are full size so maybe they don't need as much food? I'm not sure. My glowlights seem to be getting enough, but the neons are FAST and definitely out compete them for food. My sucker fish are actually doing their job too. Not as well as when I first put them into the tank months ago, but they're seen actively eating on the logs. I MIGHT get an algae eating shrimp (they're smaller and look a little different than the ones I have), but we'll see. If my logs start growing hair again, I'll get one. Chris thinks I should get even more fish, but I like my tank balance right now. The problem with more fish is more waste. But...we'll see. I do enjoy my fish tank. :)
Classes started on Thursday and Bren had its reception on Thursday. I went to say hi to people and it was good to see the class again. I actually don't have class till Monday since I only have class on Monday and Wednesday. My classes are lookin' pretty easy at this point. I'm taking 232 - environmental modeling, 245 - cost-benefit analysis, and GP.
I'm pretty excited for cost-benefit analysis. I know a little about cost-benefit analysis and the different methods, but I've never in detail have gone through each of the methods and really tried to learn them. The class looks pretty easy with 50% of our grade based on the final, 40% on our term paper, and 10% for class participation. He lectures and also gives us examples to read (based on the syllabus). The book wasn't required to purchase since it's available to us electronically, but I decided to buy the book. It's $50, but it'll be easier to read (and I actually want to read the book) and it'll be something I can have forever since it goes over the basic CBA methods. It's published by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development), which is an international organization. So it'll be handy.
232's environmental modeling should be interesting too. I have to take a modeling/computer type class for my POS (program of study -- our "schedule" of classes we're taking to complete our specialization requirements to graduate). I was going to take GIS to fulfill the requirement, but I'm technically already certified (I have a certificate and everything) and it's offered only in the spring. I initially thought my spring 2011 quarter was going to be crazy busy, but it turns out I'm only taking 8 units and it'll be a light quarter. So I still might take it, but I'm taking ecological modeling as my requirement. That class looks like it'll be fairly easy too. We have a lab assignment due once a week (9 of them) and then the rest of our points is for participation so...90% labs, 10% participation for a total of 100 points. I have a good friend in that class too so I'm not sweatin' it. I'm hoping this prof is good, though. I'm planning to take conservation planning in the winter with her to make-up for a class I needed in the spring not being offered this year. So...we'll see. She's a visiting professor this year, as is the professor who's teaching CBA. So...interesting year at Bren!
GP is startin' up again. It's time to put back on my mercury remediation and BLM policy cap and start thinking, researching, and planning for the GP. We basically have to do all our research this quarter and have it pretty squared away so we can start writing and finalizing things the beginning of winter quarter. I think our paper is due end of winter quarter-ish and our defense presentation is close to the end of winter quarter (maybe week 8?). They haven't finalized dates yet. Should be intense! Hopefully I won't be cursing GP too much this quarter. :P
Well...with that. I'm off to watch my CSI: NY episode from yesterday. Fall TV shows started this week. :P So this week comprised of CSI, CSI: NY, Project Runway, America's Next Top Model (totally a guilty pleasure...though I never finish the season...), Bones, Glee, and Castle. I don't think I'll watch House or Dexter right now. Dexter is too high intense for me wondering if he'll get caught this season or not. LoL House is about the same thing, though Huddy happened so...maybe I'll tune in for the House-Cuddy drama as they try and work through their relationship while she's his boss. :P I'll do a movie update later. I've watched Date Night, Letters to Juliet, Dear John, The Back-Up Plan, Kick-Ass, Cash, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Thursday, September 9, 2010
My snail's radula: a video
I filmed my snail at the top of my tank last night and uploaded it to YouTube. You can see the radula moving (tongue with teeth -- sort of), which is pretty cool. The snail also eats a piece of fish food a little more than a minute into the video. Unfortunately, YouTube downgraded the quality so it's not as easy to see, but the video is still cool all the same. Or I think so at least. :P No music so excuse my sigh/excess noise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ICHC6p_Lc
Link to what a radula is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radula
Some snails CAN eat other things that are not plant related, FYI. Apparently my snail is one of those since it likes to each the fish flakes. My mini snails I think only eat algae.
Still need to post about the boat, which I'll do later. If I remember...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ICHC6p_Lc
Link to what a radula is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radula
Some snails CAN eat other things that are not plant related, FYI. Apparently my snail is one of those since it likes to each the fish flakes. My mini snails I think only eat algae.
Still need to post about the boat, which I'll do later. If I remember...
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