a different kind of Chappell show

the quarter is winding down but that doesnt mean the learning has stopped. Today my Global Studies class seemed extremely unsuspecting, last week before finals, day after 4 day break, guest lecturer, its all been done before, right? not this way it hasn't.

Captain Paul Chappell is a former US army serviceman who in lack of a better word, floored me today. His lecture was on "World Peace" very cliche right? not the way he presents it. He talked about whether or not world peace is possible in this world of ours and how wars are basically never a positive factor in the search for it. He talked about killing and violence is not a natural and that the government and military desensitize and dehumanize people to get them to partake. Wars use moral, psychological and mechanical distancing as a way for soldiers to be able to take things easier. He says wars are brought about by fear and the only thing that is bigger than the flight response to attack is the natural reaction of a person to protect and risk their lives for their loved ones. This part of his speech brought out the biggest reaction from me, i started silently crying. It made me think about how i would do just about anything to protect the people i love from pain and trouble and how helpless i am in my current situation. my mom has breast cancer, and i hate how helpless i am. shes sick and is going to go through tons for pain and as much as i want to use my fight response on her, its not like most other things. I can't give her my kidney and make it better or tell off a bully thats bugging her, i just have to be there for her. more than ever, more than i thought i ever could. Perspective is hard when you feel do helpless, but in many ways I believe Captain Chappell helped me gain it without even trying.
Chappell went on further and talked about peaceful leaders like MLKJ and Ghandi and how powerful they became through non-violence. He even showed perspective on dictators who are so obviously paranoid and the only thing they think will successfully assert their power is through power. Chappell self described himself as an anti-war, pro-military individual, and I don't think I've ever met someone who I believed more. He is literally the most rational and relatible speakers I have ever had the privilege of listening to. For someone of just 30 years of age i believe he could change the world in the most literal and useful sense of the phrase. Considering I heard him speak less than an hour ago I have yet to read his books, The End of War: How Waging Peace can save Humanity, Our Planet and Our Future and Will War Ever End?: A Soldier’s Vision of Peace for the 21st Century but im confident that by suggesting it, i and you will not be disappointed.

this is not the end (only the first part of it)

Tonight I donned a tea cozy (or a pillowcase), a number of socks and hats, and stapled on some floppy ears and for the first time in my life showed up to a mid night showing as one of "those" fans. Yes i went to the Harry Potter 7 pt 1 premiere dressed as Dobby the house-elf and i could not have had a better time. I sat in line for 3 hours with 10 similarly dressed friends and in my mind paid tribute to a book series that essentially defines my childhood.

I really feel that the end of this series is going to be a revalation to millions of people around my age that our childhoods are over. For 12 years every summer its been a new book or movie, its going to be beyond weird when there will be no more to come. Its really in a sense like its the death of a beloved friend and all we will have when its done is the memories it gave us. I know this sounds ridiculously sappy and might seem like an over-reaction to 7 books and 8 movies but I really think it is not. Harry Potter will always be a symbol for my transition from childhood to adult, and how the inner child will always be there. :)

Futhermore, the movie was incredible. really as close to perfect in my opinion as they could get and I was expecting a lot. I haven't been too impressed with the other movies but this one was just amazing. I cried at every part I did in the book and felt everything was almost exactly how i pictured. I am so glad. I only wish part 2 was released at the same time.

the new is yet to come

so i the last few days i've been watching some of the new trailers for upcoming movies and i thought id share a few i'm looking forward too...

The Adjustment Bureau - Starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt

- I saw the trailer for this for the first time right around the time i saw Inception and my initial thought was...hmm similar super ominous foundation... is that going to ruin it? With its release date being pushed from this fall to spring I think that is wise, let people forget a little about Inception so it wont be compared to it so much. That being said I think this looks awesome! The cast is great and I love how very romance-y and action-y it is. I'm optimistic! My Prediction: I will be compared to Inception which will help and hurt it, for the lovers of Inceptions mind twists I think this one will come a bit short but for those who found Inception too confusing I think this one will be right up their alley...plus this one seems to have more romance which is a-ok with me. oh and ps matt damon, why the fedora? just no.

No Strings Attached - Starring Natelie Portman, Ashton Kutcher

- While I admit it looks a tad hokey and probably less funny than one would hope, i love natalie portman and ashton kutcher is adorable as well so I will definitely beseeing this, not nessessarily in theatres but sometime for certain. The fact that this movie, which also looks cute is coming out with veeeeery similar premises, kind of takes away from their omph. My prediction: I actually am thinking Friends with Benefits will be overall cuter and have more substance but i really hope Im wrong and No Strings Attached shows Natalie Portmans to have awesome comedic timing and pressence....

All Good Things - Starring Ryan Gosling, Kristen Dunst, Frank Langella

- With this one I say: "Finally" I have been seeing the "in-production" of this film of wikipedia for a couple years now and finally after being pushed back again and again it has a semi-solid release date. This movie looks great!!! Ryan Gosling is really showing time and again what a good actor he is and I think this film will be no exception. I love the time period, the mystery the romance, the everything. My Prediction: I'm thinking it will be more heavily favored by critics than actual viewers probably because of how it ends but it looks like it will definitely be worth the ticket price. ...On another note I CANNOT WAIT FOR Blue Valentine TO COME OUT!!!

Restless - Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper

- This explains her haircut! Funeral crashing boy meets sickly girl, seems like a recipe for success there and it should be, add Gus Van Sant(!) and you've got yourself and award winner. I'm not usually a fan of ghosts and people seeing things but I think its going to work. plus: if the soundtracks anything like the trailer its going to be great. The dialogue seems smart but honest and real, which in my opinion is pretty hard to do these days(case in point: Juno). My Prediction: A laugh, cry, aw, no! mix that is subject to inevitable good reviews.

The Tempest - Starring: Helen Mirren, Chris Cooper, Russell Brand, Albert Molina, Djimon Hounsou

- I know a lot of Shakespeare fans are up in arms regarding this adaptation but i must admit i am so excited. I think its just the right amount of crazy for Shakespeare. If I'm judging the trailer as a trailer I think its very well done, music is perfect (Sigur Ros end song= perfection) and it leaves you saying wait, what? but wanting more. I love the role of Prospero being played by androgynous Helen Mirren and the fact that Julie Taymor (circa Accross the Universe, Frida, Titus) is directing means it is going to be a visual masterpiece. My Prediction: I will be floored by the end of the movie.

phoenix, we've got a problem (or lots of em)

i need to rant. plain and simple.


dear sleep,
i know being on medicine that effects sleep patterns means i was asking for this but could you maybe come back to me sometime soon. it would be one thing if i could concentrate on my massive amount of homework and studying i have to do at 4 am but because im so sleep deprived, i cannot. im fine going back to my usual ~5 hours of sleep but really, you're killing me.

dear global class test maker/professor,
i actually read everything and studied a ton but excuse me if all of the articles that we were assigned to read are all on the same topics with slightly different stats and minor differences in opinion. I don't think a good test of one's knowledge is asking questions on the opinion's of economists . Also don't have questions on stats when the stats are literally in 6 different sources all with slightly different numbers and time periods. i know this sounds like im complaining about things i should have known but really i studied and i actually do know quite a lot regarding the class but questions on insignificant hypothetical tidbits is not what i want to spend my quality time in college studying. question us on concepts not which of these 20 articles did this random quote come from.

dear shakespeare,
what were you thinking with merchant of venice? seriously, nothing happened in richard ll and the characters werent very likeable either but i came to respect it, merchant is just ugh, it really kind of disgusts me. the fact that its supposed to be a comedy is really what puts me over the edge, funny is one of the last things i would call it, racist and demeening sure; funny, no. I really can't decide weather this shakespeare class is making me like you more or less. but this book is making your approval rating go down.

dear online french homework lab,
when you claim to go along with the book and your answers do not reflect how it is taught in the book, this frustrates me. i like the language and am actually getting it which is amazing bc i did not get spanish but keep this up and you're going to confuse me out of a good grade.

dear big huge metaphoric sticks in your bike spokes that make you go flying,
...there are really no words for what you are doing to me. i know things are going to get a lot worse before they get better and all i can hope for is that they do get better.

now im done.

this is my study song, usually on repeat for ages...