5 of 5 of 5

So here we are, at the finale to this little event, eh? What do I have left to say to you? I've given you movies and books and video games and songs. What could be left?!

5 Random Things About My Month

1) Eastern Promises
I saw this movie and it was made by the same team that made A History of Violence, which also featured Viggo Mortensen playing some guy that could kill a room full of men with his bare hands. This one was about a Russian mob, however, and since I had a Russian present with me, I learned way more about things in that movie than I figure they wanted to share with me in the movie.

It is violent and it is awesome. Acting is solid and the ending is so unfulfilling you will feel cheated at first, but then, later, you'll be excited about it.

2) Openings to the Simpsons
The new season of the Simpsons is pretty good, but the new openings are amazing. The first one was an epilogue like thing based on the aftermath of the recent movie. Tonight's was an evolution of Homer from single-celled organism all the way to now. It took about three minutes and was hilarious the entire time.

The highlight, though, was when Homer was a caveman and ran into caveman Moe, who then evolved back down into a rat for no reason. Fantastic! These are funnier than the episodes, themselves.

3) New Hooverphonic
The band has a new album coming out in the second week of October. And they have the full album up to listen to on the main website. And it has no buffer time. And its all good music. And I love Hooverphonic.

4)Anti-Puns
Puns are great. But what I like better is to have a group of people taking part in a pun fest, in which everyone makes puns on the same word. And then... here's an example, based on the not-actual death of the main character in the Disney film, Cars:
Me: He died of car-ncer
Someone else: He inhaled too many car-cinogens
Me: He died in a CAR accident!

Yeah, its better in person.

5) Watchin' LOST
My friend Daryl and I are running through the show LOST on D V D and its awesome.

.....
That's it. 5 posts about random things to end out the month.

See you guys next month! Tomorrow!

4 of 5 of 5

Well... I am sorry I didn't post like I was supposed to. My week got crazy-go-crazy.

Today, I'm going to simply keep on going as if nothing happened, though. So...

5 Bands You Should Listen To And Love

1) Hooverphonic:
http://www.hooverphonic.com/
Hooverphonic is a trio from Belgium that plays a very different kind of music. Its not really "pop" but more... "awesome."

The main site's front page currently features three tracks off their upcoming album, The President of the LSD Golf Club. It's a drastic shift from their previous sound, moving into an almost 60s-esque psychedelia-inspired sound. I don't care, however, because - as always - they can do no wrong.

The first single off the album, Expedition Impossible can be viewed on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNOZa_VcDeI
And I recommend it. Otherwise, here's two other links to two other great tracks from Hooverphonic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVsqRM-LBP8 -The World is Mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_8BfVJFL6g - Day After Day (Live)

Otherwise, if you like what you hear I recommend starting with The Magnificent Tree as an album, otherwise some tracks I'd suggest for download are:
-Green
-Mad About You
-Out of Sight
-Battersea

2) Porcupine Tree
http://myspace.com/porcupinetree
The band is awesome. Check the track "Blackest Eyes" for a wonderful example. Then listen to Trains. Then buy a bunch of their albums.
This video, Piano Lessons, isn't the best song they've ever done, but its a good starter track to listen to if you're a YouTube fan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CvxoeasJ2E -Piano Lessons

Give 'em a try. DO IT.

3) Minibosses
http://myspace.com/minibossess
The Minibosses play video game music, but they do it with enough flair that you won't.... (God, here it comes...) ....care.

Here is a video of them playing the Contra theme live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsNngmdPiCI -Contra (live)

If you're a nerd and played any NES back in the day... you'll understand why this is awesome.

ADDED BONUS!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDXLmNLMGuw -SUPER MARIO BROS. 2 (ignore the guy in the blue shirt...)

4) VAST
http://myspace.com/vast
I saw VAST live awhile back, if you remember (or even read this at all) ... gosh I'm hungry right now... anyhow. Its really one guy named Jon Crosby and he's awesome.

He's so obscure that there's really no "music videos" so I'll just suggest downloading the following:
-A Better Place
-Turqoise
-Here
-Lost

5) Hooverphonic (again)
http://myspace.com/hooverphonic
I love this band. I will never stop pushing them.

.........
Sorry for the really lame post this time. I'm tired and hungry and having a really good weekend.

That is all (tune in tomorrow for 5 of 5 of 5 and the end of the month!)

3 of 5 of 5

Keep this sucker goin', eh? This time I'll do video games. Keeping in mind that some of these aren't going to be huge titles that you'll have heard from, rest assured I play enough Half-Lifes and Final Fantasy games. I just figured I'd try to tell you about some games you maybe haven't heard of. So:

5 Video Games You Should Probably Own

1) Parasite Eve

Squaresoft (before they became SquareEnix) put out this game, which was supposed to be the "cinematic RPG" and... well, it was. It featured plenty of CG and a film-like plot that made it feel like a big-budget science fiction/horror film, which rocked.

Dealing with enough medical mumbo-jumbo to make people's heads hurt, PE's plot involved mitochondria, tiny organisms that live inside each and every one of the cells in our body. And they're under the power of an evil woman.

It mixed RPG elements with horror scenes much akin to the Resident Evil series. Also, as you can see in the video below... mutated rats and creepy women! Speaking of that video, its the intro to the game and I used to watch it over-and-over when I first got this game... Yeah, I had no semblance of a sane childhood.

(sorry, video ain't workin' right. here's the link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=M-Tcl6qvfy4)

People on fire, people melting, explosions, and giant freaky baby monsters with wings. Its a sure-fire winner.

2) Beyond Good & Evil

This is not a game about Nietzsche philosophy. Instead, its a game about a girl with a big stick and a camera.

Dealing with propaganda, journalism, and... well, aliens, BG&E is a very underrated Zelda-esque adventure game with enough heart and plot to win awards. Of course, no one played it and it died quickly and silently... but! It has a space whale! A SPACE WHALE!

Its short but sweet. And has really good animation. I'd give it a shot. You can get it for real cheap.

3) Silent Hill 2

This is one that maybe you've heard of, if not simply because there was a Silent Hill film a few years back that you may have seen.

This game will scare the poo out of you, no doubt. It is all about atmosphere and ambiance. Sound effects such as metal clangs and radio static will never be the same after you play this frightening and psychologically terrifying game.

Its long, its dark, and its got Pyramid Heads. You'll know what I mean when you see them (or if you saw the movie... Yes, THOSE things!)

Without a doubt, this is the scariest story told in film or video game format that I've ever experienced. ...'cept for maybe 28 Weeks Later, but that was less 'scary' and more 'really bad.'

4) Shadow of the Colossus

Basically you go around and fight things that are THIS BIG:

5) Xenosaga series

There are three games in this series, each one more crazy than the last. Its an RPG about space-faring humans trying to solve the riddles of the universe. And also about strange lesbian relationships between an android woman and her designer. And life and death. But mostly about the lesbianism.

Deep rooted in philosophy (enough to make up for Beyond Good & Evil's distinct lack of it), psychology, science fiction, and... well... Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalen... these games are beautifully organized and fun to play, so long as you've got money for all three and don't mind some serious religious overtones from time to time.

.........
Two more days of this then I'm done. WOO-HOO!
See you tomorrow!

2 of 5 of 5

To continue the trend (why I can't I be this productive when its not 'down to the wire'?) I have selected five books to talk at you about. I will also tell you that you should buy them all based on the covers I will provide you with. Get your debit cards ready (and hold on to them, for the love of God. I've either lost or destroyed enough of my own in the past month to know to KEEP. AN. EYE. ON. THEM.), and here we go:

5 Books You Should Buy and Read Because I Said So

1) "The Time Traveler's Wife"

Audrey Niffenegger

This is a romance story. I'm ok sharing this with you. This is because this is a lovely tale of love lost to time (literally). The author weaves an elaborate tale of multiple versions of the main two characters (the lovers) as the male lead goes back and forth through time. It kind of sounds confusing, but let me break it down.

The male lead, Henry, can't control when he'll go back or where he'll go back to, just that it will connect, somehow, to his wife Clare's past. He will never go in any kind of chronological order and will only ever be confused as he tries to piece his own past with his wife together.

It is split up with time stamps so you know when in the timeline of the story it is taking place, and lets you know from whose perspective you are reading at all times. It is fascinating and fun to read this, because you are thrown about time nonstop yet have markers to help you find your place in the characters' history. The only downside is it takes a long while to get through. But you won't care.

There are few books about time travel and love that make me cry at the conclusion, but this one did. The ending had everything it needed and just a bit more. Read it because you like time travel. You know you do.

2) "Syrup"

Max(x) Barry

If I was going to die and I had to take one work of "slick fiction" with me to Hell... It would be Syrup. This book alone got me interested in writing, marketing, and being awesome. It is also a back stab story and has tons of cool word choice, and the way the book is split up into mini-sections within chapters (which makes it feel like you're reading real fast), so you know I'd love it.

The story is about Scat and 6 (yes, a woman named 6. Read to find out!) trying to sell ads (and more!) to Coca Cola. Yes, this book is also why I selected to be a Coke fan over a Pepsi fan.

Despite what Rachel Samson thinks (you'll never really know who that is, so don't pay attention to it), Max Barry is a brilliant writer and his wit is sharp. Pick this up if you like comedy. Or books. Or things that are good.

3) "Shadows of the Empire"

Steve Perry

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is the rare example of a multi-medium media onslaught in the market of the same exact story. This was a book, a video game, an action figure line, and a graphic novel all at the same time. It was brilliantly done, and for once, all the parts were pretty cool as stand-alone entries into the Star Wars saga.

This book takes place between Empire and Jedi and has Dash Rendar to take the place of a frozen Han Solo. It features some other new characters and mentions Boba Fett at least twice, so it passes my standards test.

Its a quick read, as well, and worthy of a place among Star Wars fiction (haha! The thought of that just killed me... "Star Wars fiction"...).

4) "The Looking Glass Wars"

Frank Beddor

I read an article about a comic book featuring a character named Hatter M on ign. com one day and the concept of a reimagined take on Alice in Wonderland sounded so great I picked up the first issue of the comic. Turns out, the character was based on a book that dealt with the same topic, but was only released in the UK. So I ordered it. And read it. And loved it.

As stated, the book series (yes, series. The new one just came out!) takes place in Wonderland but is far more dark and sinister than the Disney version. Or the original version, actually. Its graphic, steam-punkish, and brutal. And sometimes, just plain mean.

Also, there's the character of Hatter Madigan, or "The Mad Hatter" who follows a lost Alyss to Earth to find, protect, and bring her home. He's got a hat that turns into knives, knives in his coat, knives in his wrists, knives on his belt, in his backpack, probably has knives for eyes. Who knows. He's awesome, so that's all you need to.

5) "Apathy (And Other Small Victories)"
Paul Neilan

You will hate yourself for laughing at this book. The main character should simply be described by the word "apathetic" in the dictionary from now on.

Entire pages of this book are quotable. The characters are stupid and funny and unsympathetic. You will wonder why you're reading the book after you get halfway through because you will realize there is nothing to gain from this book, aside from an ache in your stomach from laughing too much.

Of all the books I've listed, this is the only one that has the word "Apathy" in the title. So... I don't know... What I'm trying to say... Read these books! That's what!

.......
I'll be back again, tomorrow!

1 of 5 of 5

So, in order to meet the required number of posts this month (hey, I had a real slow month. What can I do?) I've decided to make a post every day this week that will give a short review/rundown of five things in five different categories that I really enjoy that you probably don't but should. So, today, to make it simple, I'll start with movies (why not, huh?).

So, without further ado:
5 Movies That You Should Love Because I Said So

1) The Fifth Element:

Luc Besson, who always writes the same movies time-after-time (for examples, check out The Professional and then watch his latest film, Unleashed, both of which star incredible killing machines who end up finding out life is about 'so much more'), did this movie called The Fifth Element to show people what life would be like in a future that was so awesome it hurt.

Visually this movie is stunning. You can't lose. Colorful hair, clothes, architecture, aliens, transportation, locations, geography.... You can go on and on. There are few scenes as iconic as the shot of Leeloo jumping off that building and falling into traffic in recent movie history.

The story is simple, the characters are archetypal, and the script is tight. But there is something about the entire structure of the film that is so perfect that, well... it really can't be described. Trust me. Watch the film. From the elaborate and fantastical reconstruction of Leeloo's physical body to the shot of Bruce Willis getting cold-cocked with a trophy to the robot bartender... You can't fail.

2) Mulholland Drive:

I can't talk about this movie. Not because I don't want to ruin it, but because I can't. So rarely is there a movie so confusing... so astoundingly complex and needlessly so... that I not only find I can stand to watch it more than once, but that I end up owning, loving, and watching as many times as I can find people who haven't seen it.

What starts out as an amnesia movie about two women in Hollywood ends up as so much more (in more ways than one) and has some great moments of humor, musical use, and human clarity that you will think it can't possibly be contained within one movie. But David Lynch did it. I don't know how.
Come for the lesbians, stay for the lesbians. And... the complicated and fun deconstruction and rebuilding of the movie you will find yourself forced to do at the film's conclusion. Forced by yourself.

3) The Lost Skeleton of Cadavera:

So you get tired of all the big budget horror movies that are out there and you want to stay in and watch something a little more 'in depth' with the human side of horror. Well, forget that rubbish and check this movie, instead. Its about martians, scientists, evil scientists, living skeletons, mutants, and women made of five different forest animals.

Its not a serious movie and will do its best to show you that its not serious. But you will not want to stop watching it because it is that stupid and silly. For an example, take the following line spoken by one of the film's main antagonists:
"I've always been hated by skeletons, even as a child!"

Yeah.

4) Disclosure:

He who says Demi Moore isn't hot back in her prime is a liar. And this movie is great because not only is she hot, but she is also SUPER-hot for a majority of the film.

I love revenge and back stab movies, and this one is one of my all time favorites. Michael Douglas and Demi Moore go round and round (in more ways than one) in a corporate thriller that has everything the doctor ordered. So long as the doctor ordered copious amounts of intolerable subterfuge!!!!!!

Sexy, sleek, and dynamic, this movie has one weak moment of cybernetic tomfoolery that is mostly worthless but nevertheless furthers the plot. But at the end, when one of the main characters emerges the clear winner over the other... you will be so happy when you find yourself cheering that, well... You won't care if you are wearing your pants on your head the entire time (spoken from experience that will not be detailed in any way/shape/form).

5) The World's Fastest Indian:

I love movies about guys going for their dream. And Anthon... SIR Anthony Hopkins does just that, playing an old guy that just wants to run his motor bike on a speed run to go for the world land speed record.

Full of trials and more trials, this movie shows the power of a dream in ways that make me sad I haven't gotten enough experience to really fulfill any of my own. This movie doesn't really need any further explanation. Its just that good.

........
And with that, I'm done. Check in tomorrow when I'll do the same for books or video games or TV shows or something. I don't know. I haven't decided, yet.

Drake is Home

I love here.

I would simply leave that as my only sentence but I feel I should explain myself.

I'm not going to really explain myself, though. I'm just gonna talk about school and life and stuff.

First off; This week has been tiring to the utmost degree. I haven't slept properly since last Friday night and have had early mornings every day. Today I had an 8AM shift at the Help Desk but - whoops! - I didn't really have an 8AM shift so I woke up for nothing and am REALLY tired today. So tired...

Second off; I am off comic books for the most part. I read a fair number, still. But its gotta be like... half the number of what I used to read at the end of the year last year. This saves me a lot of money and a lot of trips to comic stores. But right now there's this thing where Thor and Iron Man get in a scrap and Thor.... well, I don't want to give away spoilers. Or paint myself to be a huge nerd (or a larger one than I'm already painted to look like). But it's awesome.

Third off; I just saw this movie tonight in class called Good Night and Good Luck and it was really awesome. Its a journalism class that I'm taking because... well... why not? And I'm loving that class. The assignments are great, we watch the films in class, and they are all good films. Its currently my favorite class.

4th off (I can't spell that); I'm really tired and have some homework to do tonight. So, I'm going to get to it.

Drake is awesome, right now. I love it here and can only imagine what I'd be doing now if I wasn't here.
(No, Drake is not paying me to say this)

2 Weeks Down... A Billion Remain...

Oh man... I am tired.

So, we're done with two weeks of school already. How many are there in a semester? Like, 15? So... 15-2= ............. Don't tell me.... hold on.... 1. I have one week left of school?!? Oh my God what will I do! I haven't done anythi... Oh, no I have 13 weeks left... God I'm dumb sometimes.

Classes are great; I'm, again, doing the 18 credit semester and while it is tiring, it is thrilling and wonderful. I don't have one class I hate being in (although its only two weeks in... give me some time) and the course materials and the work loads seem fair so far. The only one I think might be a nightmare is going to be my Monday night class... But it's getting me in to watch some LOST with an FYS so.... you can't lose with that kind of setup.

Work at the Help Desk has been slow. It's mostly my fault for having failed to get up one day during the first week and then having my hours given away. Now I work a majority of my week on Fridays which, while not terrible - since it starts at noon - is still a pain because that's a long time to sit there and fix the same problems over-and-over.

The DLS (Drake Lit Society, or L!T as it was cleverly dubbed) is off to a good start, too. We had our first meeting with an all-girl assembly (plus me...) but it was pretty awesome and actually moved along at a nice clip and stayed on topic most of the time (swaying once or twice into Harry Potter conversation which doesn't belong in ANY literary society because its not literature... its garbage. That is my opinion and the opinion of Drake University [note: not really the opinion of Drake University]).

Dating is awesome.

Otherwise, all I can say at this point is "GO SEE 3:10 TO YUMA BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME" and now I'm going to bed because I'm really tired.

See you on Wednesday when I make another post!
-Skyler

"Homework?!"

In Kingdom Hearts 2, right near the start of the game, a group of kids asks the hero, Sora, if he's done with his summer homework. Sora is seriously taken aback and stammers: "Homework?!"

This is how I feel.

I spent this entire weekend reading, writing, putting together the starts of presentations and papers, and then reading some more, posting on ye olde blackboard about a number of things, etc etc.

Someone invented homework for a reason. I'm trying to think if they did it because they knew people like me would hate it or not. If they did, and they wanted me to hate it, kudos. If they did, and they knew people like me would hate it but reluctantly pressed on... well, kudos again.

And let me be honest with you, here. I don't hate-hate homework. I mean, keeping up-to-date on the readings for classes is an important part of the school process. I just don't like that it takes time.

So, now I'm going to try to build a device similar to the things they use in the Matrix to learn kung-fu and all that. I'm going to jack a giant metal spike into my brain and then hook that device to these terrible books I have to read for Adolescent Lit (a great class, take it if you can) and have them downloaded into my head, rather than doing it manually.

...but I will need test subjects to run the device on a few times, first. No way I'm sticking a metal spike in my brain without testing it, first! I'm not making that mistake twice!

Any volunteers?