Slowly Learning...

So I know that I claimed I would write more this year, and I still plan on trying to do that, but recently I have been rather busy. Between school and work my free hours have been rather limited, so I appologize for that. But enough of that, let's get into what has actually been happening.

As you may know, I was/am in grad school to become a high school math teacher. But, recently I've been rethinking that (is anyone surprised that I can't decide on my college path after 4 majors and 4 schools?). So I've yet again decided to change things up. Insted of going for my masters of education, I've decided to get my master's in mathematics. That will put me in good shape to either get my phd (most likely) or teach at the community college level (also a possibility). Basically what it comes down to is that I felt like I didn't fit in the high school level. Plus, I will be done with my new masters degree faster than the old one. And I'll get paid more to teach in college. So now I will be able to teach sooner at a level I enjoy more, and get paid more for it. When I thought about it that way I pretty much had to make this change. Add to that the fact that I have been put at the front of the line for a fellowship that would take care of the costs of 9 credit hours and pay me $3,000 a semester as well...

The only drawback is that I have to reapply to the new program, so I have lots of paperwork again, but it'll be worth it.

Other notes:

- I was listening to the radio the other day, and I actually understood what Sean Paul was saying. I was terrified when I realized this.

- I went hiking through the cold with Nicki the other night and hopefully got a nice roll of film out of it. I just need to get the roll developed and scan in the good ones. And then the bitter cold evening will be all worth it.

- I haven't seen much of anything movie wise lately, and I unfortunately won't be seeing too many anytime soon either as my schedule isn't looking like it will get any lighter.

- I really will post more. I just need to get things straightened out...

Posted by Thom at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

very busy
very tired
very sorry
big changes
big post tomorrow

Posted by Thom at 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hooray for not being able to get into my car this morning because it was covered in ice and therefore needing to get a ride from my dad and ending up 15 minutes for work! At least the rest of the day went rather well.

Posted by Thom at 10:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I may be in the vast majority here (and judging by the 91% rating on rottentomatoes I am) but I was not overly impressed. I've read multiple reviews calling the movie "fast paced" and I'd have to agree. The problem is that the film is fast paced because they seem to be trying to squeeze too much information into too little time. There are two big problems with adapting a book into a film, you either cut too much out (leaving the story impossible to follow) or you put too much in (leaving no time for actual development). This movie falls prey to the later of the two. Sure it gives a nice sense of urgency to everything, but it also leaves little time for a back story or anything else. I would have almost preferred to see this as a mini-series as opposed to a single film. Maybe then more of the actual story could have been explored.

The movie does has a very nice cast with Clive Owen, Julliane Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Michael Caine, but there isn't enough time to actually develop all of them. You get bits and pieces of each, but not enough of an glimpse that you can really relate to them.

So let's talk about the story here. In the future the people have become infertile (at least the women have apparently), which I guess has driven the world insane (not really explained fully), except England is still (semi)functional but they have great disdain for foreigners and round them up and put them into camps and/or kill them. However there is one woman who has been found to be pregnant and must be escorted safely to an organization that we are told nothing about (other than their name: Project Human?) which will somehow save us all? Maybe there's a good reason for all of this, but for me it just seems like pointless chaos without proper explanation. And for those reviewers who claim "it is a terrifying vision of the future, all the more gripping for ringing so true," what are you talking about? The main problem with the future that seems to be presented in the film is that people can't have babies anymore. I'm personally unaware of that becoming a problem any time soon. Sure there is the issue of illegal immigration, but that seems to be more of a setting for the movie (in the "refugee camp") than anything else. (Although I must find it humorous that "homeland security" ships all the immigrants off to "sex hill refugee camp.")

The one good thing in the film was the action sequence of Owen making his way through the camp overflowing with violence at every turn as the millitary and rebels are fighting. The single camera shot as Owen works his way through cover and around gun fire is fantastic. But, it feels like a cut scene from a new first person shooter, not a shot from a film. It's something that I want to play, not watch.

Perhaps my biggest problem is that I've seen/read too many dystopic views of the not so distant future, and this one just doesn't stand up to that in my eyes. Give me V For Vendetta over this anyday.

RATING: Worth a Dollar Theatre Ticket, Worth a Netflix Rental (if only for the scene of Owen working through the camp).

Posted by Thom at 9:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So the new year is upon us and so is my return. I'm not big on new year's resolutions, mainly because I always seem to peter out on ones I actually make in January, but I do have a few for this year.

First off I resolve to post much more often. I'm shooting for 3 to 4 times a week, with a minimum of 1 or 2. And with a little bit of effort I think I can easily accomplish that. The main component in that equation is mastering the short, simple, yet (semi)interesting post. If I can do that then 3 posts a week won't be a problem at all.

And this even brings me to my second resolution. I find myself saying way too many stupid and/or lame things in the course of a week (or even a day), so I plan to shut up a little more. Unless I have something of value to say I'm going to try and keep my yap shut.

Conversely, and sort of contradictory, I also resolve to speak up more often. I do say a lot of stupid things, but I also tend to keep my mouth closed in other situations where I should speak up. I want to be more helpful, social, etc. I don't want to just sit back any longer expecting someone else to say something/do something/lead the way. I need to be bolder.

Fourthly, I have lots of other changes that I wish to make, many small, but I don't have the energy or time to list them all now. I'll leave them to a later point when I actually come up with an official "To Do" list regarding my personal growth and adjustment.

So that is where my resolutions for the new year stand at the moment. And as for other quick notes of the end of 2006...

- I had an official girlfriend (ended just recently, but once again on amicable terms).

- I had 3 Thanksgivings in 3 days, and then 3 Christmases in 3 Days (but only one new year's)

- I finished my first semester of grad school (semi-semester) and somehow managed to get a 90 on a 8 page term paper that I researched, wrote, and edited in 4 days. I rule!

- I played a Wii, and was sore the next day. Damn you Wii Sports!

- I went skating, avoided running over a little girl who fell in front of me, didn't knock anyone over myself, and only fell once (while distracted).

- And finally, I continue to work at Wegmans and have managed to avoid slicing off any more digits.

Posted by Thom at 6:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)