Woah-M-G
I don't know if you know this but most of my readers probably do. On July 10th I got on a plane at JFK and headed to the magical Land of Oz. No, not the one with the wizard and Glinda and the scarecrow. I mean the real magical Land of Oz, Australia.
You also should know that this strictly was not a vacation, it was an educational experiece. Aw who the hell am I kidding it was pretty much a vacation with some learning involved.
Now you may be wondering "Of all places, why Australia?" Well the thing is, 3 years ago i got an invitation from an organization called People to People Student Ambassador programs to go to England and France. I went to the information meetings and decided that this group was safe and responsible. The program was started by Dwight Eisenhower, yes our president in the 50's, to promote world peace through learning and understanding. Anyways, the point is, I went to England and France and had a ball. In the fall of '09 I got my 4th invitation (I decided not to go on the two after England and France). In a nutshell, I accepted this offer and had been looking foward to visiting this place ever since I started watching "The Crocodile Hunter" on Animal Planet. I know this sounds cheesy, but this truely was a dream come true.
Oh and people always ask me the same two questions so I'm just going to answer them now. Yes, my parents did not go. And no, it certainly is not free (but it's all-inclusive)
Also, I took 976 pictures and the ametuer photographer in me really wants to get on with deleting, sorting, and editing but the true procrastinator that I am is telling me to put it off and do things like write this blog entry.
Anyways, if you're still reading this, I saw Dispicable Me yesterday. It was amazingly hilarious. Go see it. Grade A entertainment.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Return of Glittertits and the New Teenwolf
OMGOMGOMG!!!!!
I SAW ECLIPSEEE!!!!
AAAHHHHH!!!!!
That was an example of a typical audience member of Eclipse.
I saw the movie on Friday and let me tell you something. Something that may shcok you.
It wasn't terrible.
-GASP-
Suprised? Me too.
Anyway I read the book in preperation for the movie and so I am going to do a mash-up review. Enjoy!
Title: Eclipse (duh!)
Author of Novel: Stephenie Meyer
MPAA Rating of Movie: PG-13
Genre: Romance, "Action", Comedy (for people who don't take it seriously)
Summary: Bella is now being pressured more than ever to choose between a vampire, Glittertits aka Edward, and a modern teenwolf, Jacob in the third installment of the teenage phenomenon.
Mash-Up Review: Okay so, there are a few things I actually liked about Eclipse. In general, I liked how we got to see ALOT of history in this installment. For instance, we get a peek at Rosalie's human life and how she became a vampire. We also see Jasper's story and the history of werewolves. In the book I think that Rosalie's story is told in the perfect amount of details, Jasper's story made for great visuals in my mind, and the werewolf story was told in far too much irrelavent detail such as names and characters that just end up dying anyway. However, in the film adaptaion Rosalie's history scence could've been about 5 minutes longer. I felt the movie gave just the right amount of detail for both Jasper and the wolves story.
The Team Edward/Team Jacob Debate - The Twihard Approach: Bella is so torn. She says she loves Edward and Jacob. Edward says he would let Bella go to Jacob if it made her happy but he would want to kill himself (for good). This makes Bella make him love him more and would make her feel worse if she really did leave him. What a manipulative vampire. Letting Bella be happy shows how devoted he is. Jacob, on the other hand, seems to want Bella more. Like he would do absolutley anything to get her. This shows determination and strength of heart. Jacob also would be able to grow old with Bella and Bella could live a human-like life. If she becomes a vampire she has to leave everyone she loves (except the Cullens). OMG WHO DO I PICK!?!?
The Team Edward/Team Jacob Debate - The Serious Approach: Bella, shut up. You give yourself a guilt trip about everything. Just pick someone. One of them will get hurt one way or another. Deal with it. Or as I would like to put it: "Life's a bitch because if it were a slut, it'd be easy".
Back to the Review: I think in the novel, Meyer's writing was at her best so far. It wasn't great, but it was better. I think alot of people confuse Bella's personality with Meyer's personal style of writing. If you go by Bella's personality, the book sucks but alot of people misjudge Stephenie's abilities. Also, in the book, the storyline was kept pretty simple.
In the film adaptaion, alot was different from Twilight and New Moon. It was by far a better movie than Twilight and a huge improvement from New Moon. Moviemaking skill was exxistant. This does not make up for Bella's whining. The movie was awkward and that made it hard to take seriously. I do not reccommend you read or see a Twilight book/movie with a serious mind. You need to expect lots of awkward moments and ridiculous scenes. These actually improve the experience by providing humor. Like when the Cullens are chasing Victoria (the antagonist) I couldn't help but laugh at the swoosh noise made when they ran. Also the scenes of tension between Edward and Jacob are pretty hilarious.
One small scene in the book and movie that I'd like to point out is the scene in which Edward and Jacob kind of reconcile. Firstly, it was oddly homoerotic. Secondly, and more importantly, Bella is asleep. For those of you unfamiliar with Twilight, the books and movies are told from Bella's point of view. How is she telling us what is happening if she is asleep? It's mistakes like these that make me mad. I also think that in both the movie and book versions, the inclusion of Bree Tanner is unneccessary. She just gets her head ripped off anyway. Whatevs.
Round Up: Eclipse deserves the most improved award. In the film and literature department. Just remember not to take anything seriously (fangirl/boys are a different story entirely)
Book Grade: B-
Movie Grade: B
I SAW ECLIPSEEE!!!!
AAAHHHHH!!!!!
That was an example of a typical audience member of Eclipse.
I saw the movie on Friday and let me tell you something. Something that may shcok you.
It wasn't terrible.
-GASP-
Suprised? Me too.
Anyway I read the book in preperation for the movie and so I am going to do a mash-up review. Enjoy!
Title: Eclipse (duh!)
Author of Novel: Stephenie Meyer
MPAA Rating of Movie: PG-13
Genre: Romance, "Action", Comedy (for people who don't take it seriously)
Summary: Bella is now being pressured more than ever to choose between a vampire, Glittertits aka Edward, and a modern teenwolf, Jacob in the third installment of the teenage phenomenon.
Mash-Up Review: Okay so, there are a few things I actually liked about Eclipse. In general, I liked how we got to see ALOT of history in this installment. For instance, we get a peek at Rosalie's human life and how she became a vampire. We also see Jasper's story and the history of werewolves. In the book I think that Rosalie's story is told in the perfect amount of details, Jasper's story made for great visuals in my mind, and the werewolf story was told in far too much irrelavent detail such as names and characters that just end up dying anyway. However, in the film adaptaion Rosalie's history scence could've been about 5 minutes longer. I felt the movie gave just the right amount of detail for both Jasper and the wolves story.
The Team Edward/Team Jacob Debate - The Twihard Approach: Bella is so torn. She says she loves Edward and Jacob. Edward says he would let Bella go to Jacob if it made her happy but he would want to kill himself (for good). This makes Bella make him love him more and would make her feel worse if she really did leave him. What a manipulative vampire. Letting Bella be happy shows how devoted he is. Jacob, on the other hand, seems to want Bella more. Like he would do absolutley anything to get her. This shows determination and strength of heart. Jacob also would be able to grow old with Bella and Bella could live a human-like life. If she becomes a vampire she has to leave everyone she loves (except the Cullens). OMG WHO DO I PICK!?!?
The Team Edward/Team Jacob Debate - The Serious Approach: Bella, shut up. You give yourself a guilt trip about everything. Just pick someone. One of them will get hurt one way or another. Deal with it. Or as I would like to put it: "Life's a bitch because if it were a slut, it'd be easy".
Back to the Review: I think in the novel, Meyer's writing was at her best so far. It wasn't great, but it was better. I think alot of people confuse Bella's personality with Meyer's personal style of writing. If you go by Bella's personality, the book sucks but alot of people misjudge Stephenie's abilities. Also, in the book, the storyline was kept pretty simple.
In the film adaptaion, alot was different from Twilight and New Moon. It was by far a better movie than Twilight and a huge improvement from New Moon. Moviemaking skill was exxistant. This does not make up for Bella's whining. The movie was awkward and that made it hard to take seriously. I do not reccommend you read or see a Twilight book/movie with a serious mind. You need to expect lots of awkward moments and ridiculous scenes. These actually improve the experience by providing humor. Like when the Cullens are chasing Victoria (the antagonist) I couldn't help but laugh at the swoosh noise made when they ran. Also the scenes of tension between Edward and Jacob are pretty hilarious.
One small scene in the book and movie that I'd like to point out is the scene in which Edward and Jacob kind of reconcile. Firstly, it was oddly homoerotic. Secondly, and more importantly, Bella is asleep. For those of you unfamiliar with Twilight, the books and movies are told from Bella's point of view. How is she telling us what is happening if she is asleep? It's mistakes like these that make me mad. I also think that in both the movie and book versions, the inclusion of Bree Tanner is unneccessary. She just gets her head ripped off anyway. Whatevs.
Round Up: Eclipse deserves the most improved award. In the film and literature department. Just remember not to take anything seriously (fangirl/boys are a different story entirely)
Book Grade: B-
Movie Grade: B
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Museum Mile and Andromeda Klein
PART I: THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM/MUSEUM MILE
Don't you just love Museum Mile?
Always a beautiful springtime evening in New York City.
5th Avenue is closed from 84th to 104th street.
10 Museums are of free admission and include internationally renowned museums such as The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Neue Gallery.
There is live music, chalk drawings, and free activities all along the mile.
The main museum I wanted to visit was the Guggenheim. However, I did not know what I would be getting myself into. I knew that the main exhibit featured in the rotunda was called "haunted" but I thought it would be works that had to do with people who were haunted by something. For example, the pictures n the pamphlet featured an original Andy Warhol and a Princess Diana portrait. However, I was very wrong. Little did I realize that the Rotunda would have quite gruesome and disturbing images. Example #1: collages of photographs which each had an eerie/creepy theme. Example #2: An x-ray shot of the oral sodomization of a DOG! Example 3: There were some photographs of naked children. Nothing sexual, but the lighting of the exhibit and photos around made them seem a little out of place. Example 4: The top rotunda level featured about 5 or 6 different angles of one continuous shot of an old man sitting in the chair. Nothing happened to him but they put the explanation of the film at the end of the exhibit. I did not like this because I thought something bad or disturbing was going to happen to the old man.
If you are interested in this "modern art" you still have the chance to see "Haunted" until the beginning of September.
On the other hand, the annex levels of the Guggenheim featured amazing original peices from the likes of Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso. Another special exhibit on one of the annex levels was artwork created by NYC elementry school children. I recommend these exhibits, but you should wait until the Haunted exhibit is gone so the general admission of $18 is worth it.Other museums on the mile I recommend include The Museum of the City of New York and the Cooper–Hewitt, National Design Museum which is affiliated with the Smithsonain.
PART II: BOOK REVIEW: ANDROMEDA KLEIN
Title: Andromeda Klein
Author: Frank Portman
Genre: Dark Comedy
Summary: Andromeda Klein focuses on high school occultist, Andromeda, who simultaneously tries to save her beloved local library from modernization and solve the various mysteries surrounding: her missing much-older boyfriend; the strange signs seemingly being sent to her from her recently deceased best friend Daisy; and her ever more prophetic tarot readings. (From Wikipedia)
Review: Andromeda Klein is the second novel by Frank Portman (the first being King Dork, an excellent read, I might add.) and has a similar style of writing and themes. I've noticed Portman tends to write about teenage misfits and let's face it, we've all been there. He also tends to write in stereotypic high school figure. Ex: a geek, the hot popular girl, etc, etc. Even though in the grand scheme of things Portman's writing has sunken to a lower level since King Dork. Maybe I feel this way because King Dork had a male lead and Andromeda just wasn't there for me. In fact, Portman made me feel like I was there for Andromeda. At least Tom from King Dork was loveable whereas, Andromeda was just weird and not developed enough. Sure, Portman included daily rituals and specific things about Andi's life but they just kind of felt like minor details that were just there. But, I did like that Andromeda Klein was a quick and easy read that was, for the most part, entertaining.
Grade: B-
Sunday, May 16, 2010
BRONX ZOO!!!!
HI GUYS!
Today, I went to the Bronx Zoo.
I saw baby lions.
What is not to love?
I took about 400 pictures
The best of the best will be on my Flickr.
The Bronx Zoo is a beautiful zoo, obviously, I had a great time.
Photos from the gallery walk are on my flickr now too.
I expect zoo pictures to be up later tonight or this week.
ENJOYING SPRINGTIME IN NYC!
Have a wonderful day! :)
http://www.flickr.com/robs320 --> my flickr account
Today, I went to the Bronx Zoo.
I saw baby lions.
What is not to love?
I took about 400 pictures
The best of the best will be on my Flickr.
The Bronx Zoo is a beautiful zoo, obviously, I had a great time.
Photos from the gallery walk are on my flickr now too.
I expect zoo pictures to be up later tonight or this week.
ENJOYING SPRINGTIME IN NYC!
Have a wonderful day! :)
http://www.flickr.com/robs320 --> my flickr account
Saturday, May 15, 2010
2010 Madison Avenue Gallery Walk
HEY GUYS!
Wow, its been almost exactly a month since my last post. Sorry! I haven't really been doing anything interesting lately. However, I did do something pretty interesting today, because it was FREE and in MANHATTAN. Today (May 15, 2010) was the 2nd annual Madison Avenue Gallery walk running from 57th and Madison all the way up to 83rd. This event was alot of fun and it was for a good cause! First, let me give you a desciption of what the event was about.
The Madison Avenue Gallery Walk is an event where most of the high end galleries on Madison Avenue in the Upper East Side of Manhattan are open and any artwork bought from a partcipating gallery donates a portion of the proceeds to NYC Public Schools. This event gives regular people a chance to go into high-end galleries and not feel so intimidated. On the otherhand, the artwork is expensive. For example, there was a gallery of photographs in the Hermes store and another that sold classic Tiffany jewlery and another that sold ORIGINAL PICASSO'S! Also, most of the galleries required that you rang a doorbell to enter which made me feel like I was entering a space where I didn't really belong.
Anyways, there were a lot of really beautiful galleries that were really interesting to look at. This reminded me of the annual Museum Mile Festival (This event is coming up soon; I will be attending again this year.) where you could go into a museum-like space for absolutly no cost.
Overall, next year you might find some of the stuff interesting. And besides that, there are plenty of luxury fashion retail stores you can peek into. This event is also great for people watching. Today, I saw the EXACT kind of people you think of when you think of the Upper East Side. It was really fun to watch. Today was a beautiful day and I hope you all got some fresh air!
Tomorrow, I'm going to the Bronx Zoo to see the three new lion cubs! I'll definitly be posting about that along with pictures on my Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/RobS320
ENJOY SPRINGTIME IN NYC! ITS BEEN GREAT THIS YEAR!
Wow, its been almost exactly a month since my last post. Sorry! I haven't really been doing anything interesting lately. However, I did do something pretty interesting today, because it was FREE and in MANHATTAN. Today (May 15, 2010) was the 2nd annual Madison Avenue Gallery walk running from 57th and Madison all the way up to 83rd. This event was alot of fun and it was for a good cause! First, let me give you a desciption of what the event was about.
The Madison Avenue Gallery Walk is an event where most of the high end galleries on Madison Avenue in the Upper East Side of Manhattan are open and any artwork bought from a partcipating gallery donates a portion of the proceeds to NYC Public Schools. This event gives regular people a chance to go into high-end galleries and not feel so intimidated. On the otherhand, the artwork is expensive. For example, there was a gallery of photographs in the Hermes store and another that sold classic Tiffany jewlery and another that sold ORIGINAL PICASSO'S! Also, most of the galleries required that you rang a doorbell to enter which made me feel like I was entering a space where I didn't really belong.
Anyways, there were a lot of really beautiful galleries that were really interesting to look at. This reminded me of the annual Museum Mile Festival (This event is coming up soon; I will be attending again this year.) where you could go into a museum-like space for absolutly no cost.
Overall, next year you might find some of the stuff interesting. And besides that, there are plenty of luxury fashion retail stores you can peek into. This event is also great for people watching. Today, I saw the EXACT kind of people you think of when you think of the Upper East Side. It was really fun to watch. Today was a beautiful day and I hope you all got some fresh air!
Tomorrow, I'm going to the Bronx Zoo to see the three new lion cubs! I'll definitly be posting about that along with pictures on my Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/RobS320
ENJOY SPRINGTIME IN NYC! ITS BEEN GREAT THIS YEAR!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
Hola! Yesterday I finished reading the newest book by Chelsea Handler, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang.
Title: Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
Author: Chelsea Handler
Genre: Memoir, Humor
Summary (from dustjacket): Life doesn't get more hilarious than when Chelsea Handler takes aim with her irreverent wit. Who else would send all-staff emails to smoke out the dumbest people on her show? Now, in this new collection of original essays, the #1 bestselling author of Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea delivers one laugh-out-loud moment after another as she sets her sights on the ridiculous side of childhood, adulthood, and daughterhood. Family moments are fair game, whether it's writing a report on Reaganomics to earn a Cabbage Patch doll, or teaching her father social graces by ordering him to stay indoors. It's open season on her love life, from playing a prank on her boyfriend (using a ravioli, a fake autopsy, and the Santa Monica pier) to adopting a dog so she can snuggle with someone who doesn't talk. And everyone better duck for cover when her beach vacation turns into matchmaking gone wild. Outrageously funny and deliciously wicked, CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG is good good good good!
Review: I felt that Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang was a little too similar to Vodka. I knew that it was the same formating of Vodka, but I guess I was just expecting a different experience. I felt like there wasn't anything really different about the quality of writing. Don't get me wrong, I did like the book. Quite a few parts were laugh out loud funny. I also think that Chelsea Handler is much funnier in person because she's talking and thinking of the top of her head. Books don't really have the same sense of quick and cruel humor. Sorry this review is so short but those are my feelings in a nutshell. Also, I like Chelsea Handler so I am being very lenient with my grade. Plus, the book is worth reading if you want a very non serious book to read.
Grade: B
P.S. I have a suprise to tell you! Stay tuned!
Title: Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
Author: Chelsea Handler
Genre: Memoir, Humor
Summary (from dustjacket): Life doesn't get more hilarious than when Chelsea Handler takes aim with her irreverent wit. Who else would send all-staff emails to smoke out the dumbest people on her show? Now, in this new collection of original essays, the #1 bestselling author of Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea delivers one laugh-out-loud moment after another as she sets her sights on the ridiculous side of childhood, adulthood, and daughterhood. Family moments are fair game, whether it's writing a report on Reaganomics to earn a Cabbage Patch doll, or teaching her father social graces by ordering him to stay indoors. It's open season on her love life, from playing a prank on her boyfriend (using a ravioli, a fake autopsy, and the Santa Monica pier) to adopting a dog so she can snuggle with someone who doesn't talk. And everyone better duck for cover when her beach vacation turns into matchmaking gone wild. Outrageously funny and deliciously wicked, CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG is good good good good!
Review: I felt that Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang was a little too similar to Vodka. I knew that it was the same formating of Vodka, but I guess I was just expecting a different experience. I felt like there wasn't anything really different about the quality of writing. Don't get me wrong, I did like the book. Quite a few parts were laugh out loud funny. I also think that Chelsea Handler is much funnier in person because she's talking and thinking of the top of her head. Books don't really have the same sense of quick and cruel humor. Sorry this review is so short but those are my feelings in a nutshell. Also, I like Chelsea Handler so I am being very lenient with my grade. Plus, the book is worth reading if you want a very non serious book to read.
Grade: B
P.S. I have a suprise to tell you! Stay tuned!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Date Night
Wow, it seems like a really long time since I posted. Almost a month! Great to be back. Whenecer I see a new movie or read a new book I think "Oh God when will I have time to update my blog?", but then I sign in and start typing and I feel like I could write for days! So happy to be back!
Title: Date Night
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Summary: Steve Carell and Tina Fey play Phil and Claire Foster, a "boring couple from New Jersey" in their first and highly anticipated on-screen colaboration. The night starts when they go out for a date night in Manhattan to an exclusive restaurant. There are no tables available so they take another couples reservations. Little did they know that the couple they stole a reservation from were on the run from the mafia. During their meal two suspicious characters ask them for the flash drive which Phil and Claire know nothing about. This leads to a comedy-filled, action-packed night in Manhattan that involves Will.I.Am, a strip club, and a car chase that will make you literally lol.
Review: I am a HUGE fan of Tina Fey and all of her work. SNL, 30 Rock, Baby Mama, etc. I had very high expectaitions for this movie and boy did it live up to them! Date Night was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Hands down. Steve Carell and Tina Fey have an amazing on screen chemistry which really helps alot. They are two naturally very funny people so there really wasn't any possible way this movie could've gone wrong. Another thing I loved about this movie were the rediculous amount of stars. These included Steve Carell and Tina Fey of course, Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas), Olivia Munn (G4TV), Kristen Wiig (SNL), Mark Whalberg (The Departed, Entourage), Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), John Franco (Spider-Man trilogy, Pineapple Express, Milk), Mila Kunis (That 70's Show, Family Guy), and SO MANY MORE!
Another thing about this movie is that I think alot of people think it's a romantic comedy but it really isn't! Sure there are some "aww" moments but this movie is purley a COMEDY! Guys will enjoy this just as much as girls will. There is an AMAZINGLY HILARIOUS AND ACTION-PACKED CAR CHASE and a pretty long scene at a strip club where Phil and Claire bust a move. See this movie. See it on a date, some friends, or even by yourself because this movie will make you leave the theater smiling.
Grade: A+ Tina, you've done it again.
Review: I am a HUGE fan of Tina Fey and all of her work. SNL, 30 Rock, Baby Mama, etc. I had very high expectaitions for this movie and boy did it live up to them! Date Night was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Hands down. Steve Carell and Tina Fey have an amazing on screen chemistry which really helps alot. They are two naturally very funny people so there really wasn't any possible way this movie could've gone wrong. Another thing I loved about this movie were the rediculous amount of stars. These included Steve Carell and Tina Fey of course, Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas), Olivia Munn (G4TV), Kristen Wiig (SNL), Mark Whalberg (The Departed, Entourage), Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), John Franco (Spider-Man trilogy, Pineapple Express, Milk), Mila Kunis (That 70's Show, Family Guy), and SO MANY MORE!
Another thing about this movie is that I think alot of people think it's a romantic comedy but it really isn't! Sure there are some "aww" moments but this movie is purley a COMEDY! Guys will enjoy this just as much as girls will. There is an AMAZINGLY HILARIOUS AND ACTION-PACKED CAR CHASE and a pretty long scene at a strip club where Phil and Claire bust a move. See this movie. See it on a date, some friends, or even by yourself because this movie will make you leave the theater smiling.
Grade: A+ Tina, you've done it again.
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