So I decided what the problem is with Twilight: the screenwriter. Melissa Rosenberg, according to Wikipedia, was only given 5 weeks to write the whole script for Twilight. She was rushed and didn't really have any time to think about it. Even a twenty minute episode of The Office takes two weeks to write, so this whole movie in 5 weeks is really fast.
Then we have Catherine Hardwicke, the director. She's only directed three other movies, and those movies are in completely different genres (religion, sports, immorality), so her lack of experience in direction (of mostly Bella) is pretty obvious.
So I've decided that the actors and effects were great, but completely hindered by their written dialouge and direction. So good job Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Your youth shows through in your role, but you never had a chance with such a horrible script and director. Sorry.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Twilight
Well we just got home from the 12:20AM showing of Twilight. We're the first people we know that have seen the movie, but I have some issues with it.
I know that any book turned into a movie is not as good as the book. Its a fact of life. And I've never read the book, so that's ok. But there were some seriously awkward parts of this movie. I'm so conflicted inside on whether this was a good movie or not that I can't even decide on how many stars I would give it on IMDB.
The love story progression was HORRID! The effects were not amazing, but because of the nature of vampires (being fictional), I wasn't disappointed by the effects. They were good enough to convey the supernatural abilities of the vampires.
The beginning was way too long. I didn't need to know why Bella moved and all about the small town in Oregon, or even that the ol' Santa Claus still remembered who Bella was from when she was 4 years old. Basically, I think the whole 20 minute (or so) beginning of the film could have been taken care of with a couple sentences of narration.
So besides the effects, I really liked the characters. The Cullen clan is fabulous. Everyone that was cast was fabulous. Bella was a little weak to me, but I can't say that I didn't like her character. There were some really great comedic moments in the movie that were executed perfectly. But now that its 3AM, I think I'm going to go start my homework and see what kind of decisions I come to after some simmer time in the ol' noggin.
I know that any book turned into a movie is not as good as the book. Its a fact of life. And I've never read the book, so that's ok. But there were some seriously awkward parts of this movie. I'm so conflicted inside on whether this was a good movie or not that I can't even decide on how many stars I would give it on IMDB.
The love story progression was HORRID! The effects were not amazing, but because of the nature of vampires (being fictional), I wasn't disappointed by the effects. They were good enough to convey the supernatural abilities of the vampires.
The beginning was way too long. I didn't need to know why Bella moved and all about the small town in Oregon, or even that the ol' Santa Claus still remembered who Bella was from when she was 4 years old. Basically, I think the whole 20 minute (or so) beginning of the film could have been taken care of with a couple sentences of narration.
So besides the effects, I really liked the characters. The Cullen clan is fabulous. Everyone that was cast was fabulous. Bella was a little weak to me, but I can't say that I didn't like her character. There were some really great comedic moments in the movie that were executed perfectly. But now that its 3AM, I think I'm going to go start my homework and see what kind of decisions I come to after some simmer time in the ol' noggin.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
ADD-time
So I've survived today's deadlines. I finished my Javascript lab, I wrote the report that goes with it, I finished my Physics homework, and now I'm waiting for a tutor to show up and help save me from Computer Science.
Last week I got told I need to be medicated for ADD. I was sitting around, talking about life, and this doctor told me I need to get hopped up on meds because its making my wife unhappy. Well, I still haven't gotten any medicine, I've survived the last 24.5 years without using anything to chill me out, and my wife is still here at home with me.
I don't know how seriously urgent that lady was, but do I really want some meds to mess with the chemicals in my body? Not really. I'll go visit the Academic Support Services office sometime soon and see what they have to say, but I would much rather just control myself. I do wish they could find some meds to help me think like a programmer, though. Then after this programming class, I can go back to being social, normal, and NOT a crazy coder that sits in his dark basement 24/7/365 and does nothing but program the Matrix.
So if it will help my marriage out, I'll do whatever it takes. If that means a bunch of medication, then OK, even if I will want to fight it at first.
Last week I got told I need to be medicated for ADD. I was sitting around, talking about life, and this doctor told me I need to get hopped up on meds because its making my wife unhappy. Well, I still haven't gotten any medicine, I've survived the last 24.5 years without using anything to chill me out, and my wife is still here at home with me.
I don't know how seriously urgent that lady was, but do I really want some meds to mess with the chemicals in my body? Not really. I'll go visit the Academic Support Services office sometime soon and see what they have to say, but I would much rather just control myself. I do wish they could find some meds to help me think like a programmer, though. Then after this programming class, I can go back to being social, normal, and NOT a crazy coder that sits in his dark basement 24/7/365 and does nothing but program the Matrix.
So if it will help my marriage out, I'll do whatever it takes. If that means a bunch of medication, then OK, even if I will want to fight it at first.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Scholarship vs. Happiness
So for those of you who don't know, I have a scholarship. The mother of all scholarships. I don't say that to brag or be haughty in any manner, but I'm trying to paint a picture here.
So in 2007, I was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. It's a very long name, but if you want to learn more about it and why it is such a big deal (besides the hundred pounds of paper I shipped for it), here is a link to more information:
http://www.jkcf.org/scholarships/undergraduate-transfer-scholarships/
This is a fabulous scholarship which has been a tremendous blessing to our little family. What hasn't been a blessing is the incessant need of BYU faculty and administrators to make life so difficult for their students. So I've been suffering through classes with the help of tutors, peers, and a few helpful instructors (no, not all instructors do something to help students other than give horrible lectures), not to mention the 5 books I have sitting on the floor next to me just for my physics class. Even with all this help, I don't get the grades my scholarship expects without spending 10 hours a day studying outside of class and working on assignments; SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
So Val and I have decided I have to do something different. We never have any fun anymore. We haven't been to the movies in months, we don't go out to dinner, we don't really do anything. So I've decided all the studying is not worth my time when all it does is make me hate school. In fact, it is well worth it to me to take 2 classes a semester and just work full-time for the next 2 years that it will take to actually finish my degree.
So I don't know how this is going to work out, but something has to change. If my scholarship gets pulled, I guess that's just my problem. If they let me keep it and are understanding of my situation, then hats off to them. I hope some sense of happiness and humanity will prevail here.
So in 2007, I was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. It's a very long name, but if you want to learn more about it and why it is such a big deal (besides the hundred pounds of paper I shipped for it), here is a link to more information:
http://www.jkcf.org/scholarships/undergraduate-transfer-scholarships/
This is a fabulous scholarship which has been a tremendous blessing to our little family. What hasn't been a blessing is the incessant need of BYU faculty and administrators to make life so difficult for their students. So I've been suffering through classes with the help of tutors, peers, and a few helpful instructors (no, not all instructors do something to help students other than give horrible lectures), not to mention the 5 books I have sitting on the floor next to me just for my physics class. Even with all this help, I don't get the grades my scholarship expects without spending 10 hours a day studying outside of class and working on assignments; SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
So Val and I have decided I have to do something different. We never have any fun anymore. We haven't been to the movies in months, we don't go out to dinner, we don't really do anything. So I've decided all the studying is not worth my time when all it does is make me hate school. In fact, it is well worth it to me to take 2 classes a semester and just work full-time for the next 2 years that it will take to actually finish my degree.
So I don't know how this is going to work out, but something has to change. If my scholarship gets pulled, I guess that's just my problem. If they let me keep it and are understanding of my situation, then hats off to them. I hope some sense of happiness and humanity will prevail here.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Competition
So I am sitting here watching Grey's Anatomy with my wife. So I'm not thinking about being a doctor specifically, but I did start thinking about competition.
I'm all for competition to some degree. I think its important so that we don't all get bored and stale and don't progress in our lives. In fact, it is essential to feeling human and being alive. Complacency kills us. Mediocrity makes us mindless cyborgs.
When I came to BYU, I was told it was hard here, but the competition here is ridiculous. Students here are so competitive that I feel like I'm not even being educated. I'm not learning anything, I'm just trying to survive the next test so that I don't flunk out of college all together. And since I'm not a genius when it comes to programming, physics, calculus, or really any class that I've taken lately, so that means I study all day, work all night, never get any sleep, and never spent time with my wife.
So this makes me wonder why I chose to be in the Information Technology major? All the other tech classes that I took in High School and at other colleges were difficult, but I learned and felt great about them. I studied hard, but still did well on the tests and assignments. I worked hard on the labs and completed them all.
I took Spanish, English, Mythology, Humanities, and Literature classes and only got one B. I was good at Spanish because of my time in the mission field, but I sucked at English. I didn't know any grammar. I didn't know anything about art and I hate reading. But I still succeeded in all of those classes. I know this was all college stuff and not "university-level" classes, but what is going on? Even in the hardest classes at the colleges I went to with the smartest people there (all more intelligent and knowledgeable than I am), I still could compete. But at BYU, I am the last of the pack. The slowest; the one who has to fight the hardest.
I don't feel like I'm learning anything here. I don't enjoy going to class anymore. I don't get excited to learn anymore. I feel like this is the survival of the fittest and I won't give up, but I'm really discouraged, disappointed, and I just wish it would be fun again. Why is BYU so nuts? Is graduate school or ANY class going to be any better?
I'm all for competition to some degree. I think its important so that we don't all get bored and stale and don't progress in our lives. In fact, it is essential to feeling human and being alive. Complacency kills us. Mediocrity makes us mindless cyborgs.
When I came to BYU, I was told it was hard here, but the competition here is ridiculous. Students here are so competitive that I feel like I'm not even being educated. I'm not learning anything, I'm just trying to survive the next test so that I don't flunk out of college all together. And since I'm not a genius when it comes to programming, physics, calculus, or really any class that I've taken lately, so that means I study all day, work all night, never get any sleep, and never spent time with my wife.
So this makes me wonder why I chose to be in the Information Technology major? All the other tech classes that I took in High School and at other colleges were difficult, but I learned and felt great about them. I studied hard, but still did well on the tests and assignments. I worked hard on the labs and completed them all.
I took Spanish, English, Mythology, Humanities, and Literature classes and only got one B. I was good at Spanish because of my time in the mission field, but I sucked at English. I didn't know any grammar. I didn't know anything about art and I hate reading. But I still succeeded in all of those classes. I know this was all college stuff and not "university-level" classes, but what is going on? Even in the hardest classes at the colleges I went to with the smartest people there (all more intelligent and knowledgeable than I am), I still could compete. But at BYU, I am the last of the pack. The slowest; the one who has to fight the hardest.
I don't feel like I'm learning anything here. I don't enjoy going to class anymore. I don't get excited to learn anymore. I feel like this is the survival of the fittest and I won't give up, but I'm really discouraged, disappointed, and I just wish it would be fun again. Why is BYU so nuts? Is graduate school or ANY class going to be any better?
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Proposition 8
I don't have time to write about this right now, but so many of my old friends have been expressing such distaste towards me for supporting something I believe to be right that I need to explain more about why I think Prop 8 is important. So look forward to a VERY long blog entry later about this issue.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Nov. 5
So a lot happened today. We have a new President-Elect, Barack Obama. I don't trust him to solve our problems yet, but I'm hoping he won't screw things up too much, especially with taxes and the economic situation we're dealing with right now.
Proposition 8 passed in California after a long and hard fight to preserve traditional marriage in the state. There were MANY similar propositions that were up in other states, including some abortion props as well, but only the one in Cali drew any attention.
But besides that, it was a normal day at school today. Which resulted in about 10 hours of homework today as well.
There was one great thing that happened today, however. It snowed. A week or so ago, it fake-snowed on a really windy night, but this morning it actually snowed, stayed on the ground, and made it silent outside. If you've ever been in the snow, you know what I'm talking about when I say its "silent." I love the snow. But just as I got to school and saw it was still snowing outside, it stopped and almost completely melted by the time I was walking back home.
Parting is such sweet sorrow. I hope that more snow comes before its Christmas already and has only snowed for part of one morning. Curse global warming!
Proposition 8 passed in California after a long and hard fight to preserve traditional marriage in the state. There were MANY similar propositions that were up in other states, including some abortion props as well, but only the one in Cali drew any attention.
But besides that, it was a normal day at school today. Which resulted in about 10 hours of homework today as well.
There was one great thing that happened today, however. It snowed. A week or so ago, it fake-snowed on a really windy night, but this morning it actually snowed, stayed on the ground, and made it silent outside. If you've ever been in the snow, you know what I'm talking about when I say its "silent." I love the snow. But just as I got to school and saw it was still snowing outside, it stopped and almost completely melted by the time I was walking back home.
Parting is such sweet sorrow. I hope that more snow comes before its Christmas already and has only snowed for part of one morning. Curse global warming!
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Houston, TX in November
So Val and I are going to Houston in November. We'll be there almost the entire week of Thanksgiving this year, which makes me very excited.
There has never been a place like Houston. There will never be a place like it, either. At least to me. Houston, Texas has completely stolen my heart. During the two years that I lived in the Houston area serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which some people call the Mormon church, I met almost every kind of person that exists. From the homeless to the owners of multimillion dollar companies, every class of person lives in Houston. From cowboys to prostitutes and illegal immigrants to 100-yr old native Texans, I had the opportunity to teach all of these people about God and the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and to help them with anything they would let me do.
I demolished a house, built a bathroom, repaired cars, mowed lawns, and even did dishes, if that was what someone needed.
I listened to people's problems, helped people change their lives, and just plain made people happier than they were before they met me.
That's not to say that life was a walk in the park. Some people really didn't appreciate what I was trying to do. I had beer bottles thrown at me, shotguns shoved in my face, dogs sent after me, death promised to me, and was ridiculed plenty of times for my religious convictions.
All in all, any one positive experience made up for all of the threats and abuse that was shown towards me. In fact, there is not a day that goes by without a memory coming to my mind of the great Texas Houston South Mission area. Basically, I LOVE HOUSTON! I love Texas, I love Houston, and I love the people there. I loved to learn about the problems people deal with, the things that make our lives mean something to us, and how to live a happy and meaningful life of my own.
When I return to visit there in three weeks, I am afraid that I'll never come back. I told my wife about the humidity, fire ants, alligators, and banana spiders, but now I'm trying to allay her fears so that I can find some way to live there again.
God Bless Texas.
There has never been a place like Houston. There will never be a place like it, either. At least to me. Houston, Texas has completely stolen my heart. During the two years that I lived in the Houston area serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which some people call the Mormon church, I met almost every kind of person that exists. From the homeless to the owners of multimillion dollar companies, every class of person lives in Houston. From cowboys to prostitutes and illegal immigrants to 100-yr old native Texans, I had the opportunity to teach all of these people about God and the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and to help them with anything they would let me do.
I demolished a house, built a bathroom, repaired cars, mowed lawns, and even did dishes, if that was what someone needed.
I listened to people's problems, helped people change their lives, and just plain made people happier than they were before they met me.
That's not to say that life was a walk in the park. Some people really didn't appreciate what I was trying to do. I had beer bottles thrown at me, shotguns shoved in my face, dogs sent after me, death promised to me, and was ridiculed plenty of times for my religious convictions.
All in all, any one positive experience made up for all of the threats and abuse that was shown towards me. In fact, there is not a day that goes by without a memory coming to my mind of the great Texas Houston South Mission area. Basically, I LOVE HOUSTON! I love Texas, I love Houston, and I love the people there. I loved to learn about the problems people deal with, the things that make our lives mean something to us, and how to live a happy and meaningful life of my own.
When I return to visit there in three weeks, I am afraid that I'll never come back. I told my wife about the humidity, fire ants, alligators, and banana spiders, but now I'm trying to allay her fears so that I can find some way to live there again.
God Bless Texas.
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