Acing their final with flying stars

9th Inning. Rangers took to the field in attempts to seal their victory against conference rivals the Oakland Athletics. The Rangers had experienced a bit of a dry spell loosing six straight games when they faced the Toronto Blue Jays during the prior week. Hoping to make a comeback against the A's, Pitcher Joe Nathan stood on the mound ready to throw the final pitch of the game. Seth Smith, outfielder for the A's, stepped up to bat ready to swing at whatever pitch came his way. With two outs already accumulated, there was a runner on first. The game would be decided in the final inning by the final play.

Nathan drew back his arm and threw the closing pitch. Batter Smith got a piece of the pitch and sent it flying out to center field. Craig Gentry, center fielder for the Rangers, made a class A effort to catch the ball as it flew towards him, but came up inches short. The ball bounced off of the ground and glanced off Gentry's glove. Quickly, Gentry retrieved the ball and threw a perfect throw to Elvis Andrus at second base who was able to relay the perfect save to catcher A.J. Pierzynski at home. Pierzynski then did the unthinkable.

With just seconds to work with, Pierzynski was able to tag Donaldson, the runner who had been on first, out at home. It was the play of perfection that won the game. It gave the Rangers a winning record, 3 of 4, against the A's. As Gentry told a reporter, "It's just instincts. You work on cutoffs and relays so much, it's second nature to come up and fire it to the cutoff man." It all comes down to speed and precision.

This series against the A's was a great way to show and reclaim the success the Rangers had lost in the week prior. As Rangers manager Ron Washington said, "We could've gotten buried if we didn't play well, but we played well." With these wins now under their belt, the Rangers have climbed back up in the standings, only one game behind AL West leaders, Oakland A's (ironically).

The Rangers will be going on the road, playing the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at 7:15 pm. The game will be televised on channel 21, so be sure to watch and continue cheering for the Rangers. You never know. You might see yet another amazing save and victory from the strong team.

Iron Man 3: A must see of 2013

I know, I know. Long time, no type. Well here I am, writing yet another blog entry promoting another A+ movie of the year. For those of you who know me personally, my obsession with the Avengers movies is obvious. I own all the movies from Iron Man to Captain America, quote the movies everyday with a big smile on my face, and countdown until the next episode in the series is released.

Well about two weeks ago, Iron Man 3 was released upon an eager and waiting fandom. I was able to work its viewing into my schedule like any and every loyal fan. It was AWE-wait for it...-SOME! Iron Man 3 took a new road, following a plot line focused on Tony Stark's human side rather than his indestructible superhero aspects. This element introduced a new character to the viewing public, but the Marvel production still contained the phenomenal special effects and witty humor that originally captivated audiences worldwide.

After The Avengers saved New York City, and took their deserved time off, Tony Stark was able to refocus his life on Pepper Potts. The love he realized he had for her altered his manner and way of thinking on a daily basis. For this reason, the plot of Iron Man 3 has a more dramatic side than before. Thankfully, the movie does not become too cheesy or predictable. The eccentric and unexpected nature of Tony Stark keeps the audience guessing throughout the movie. Enemies are also lie just around the corner, no matter what. That means the need for Iron Man doesn't lessen, even if Loki is locked up in Asgard.

Due to Tony Stark's sudden "free time" and the fact that he is a super genius, new developments on the Iron Man suit are to be expected. This is where the talented special effects team comes into play. Thanks to their jaw dropping talent, new Iron Man suits are featured throughout Iron Man 3. These suits are product of the latest technology. There are suits that can simply be stepped out of, suits that can be parked at the local bar while Tony goes in for a drink, and suits that Tony can actually call to his aid from miles away. Audiences will be amazed and entertained as they see what Iron Man has become in the past year.

Credit, in the end however, must still be given to the acting talent of Robert Downey Jr. His witty comebacks and banter with other characters during the movie is hard to compete with. It reminds me of Hugh Laurie's performance as Dr. Gregory House. Because of the character's unique and untouchable persona, the audience is never bored or indifferent. The character and acting ability are what make this movie and movie series so popular in the end. You can have all of the special effects, music, and costumes in the world, but without acting talent to fill the roles of a script, there is nothing. For this reason, I give two big thumbs up to Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.

So if you are looking for a way to spend a couple hours of free time, go watch Iron Man 3. You will not be disappointed. There will be laughs and gasps and maybe even a few tears. One more piece of advice I have for all you readers before you go see Iron Man 3 is WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE MOVIE. When the credits are over in every Marvel movie, there is always an extra little tidbit that should not go unseen. So wait until the credits scroll by. You won't be disappointed.

Ring Day 2013

What defines a college in the United States differs campus to campus. Each has its own special characteristics and qualities that attract new students each year. Texas A&M University is one college that, because of its history, is based solidly on tradition and campus unity. One tradition that is striven for by every student at Texas A&M is to participate and receive an Aggie Ring. This symbol of the university links all Aggies, current students and formers, together because of what it represents.

The ring as we know it today was designed in 1894 by E.C. Jonas. On top of the ring, a large eagle and shield are displayed representing the desire to protect the reputation of the university and the agility and power each Aggie possesses in order to reach new heights. On the shield thirteen stripes stand out symbolizing the thirteen original colonies. Above the stripes five stars shine out in representation of the five phases of development every Aggie experiences: mind/intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise, and integrity of character. On one side of the ring, a large star is engraved representing the Seal of Texas. This star represents the desire for peace and the strength each student possesses to fight for country and state. This ideal is heavily engrained into the Aggie identity because of the strong ties Texas A&M has with the military. On the opposite side of the ring a saber, cannon, and rifle lie symbolizing how Texas fought for their land. The saber stands for valor and confidence, while the cannon and rifle represent the steadfast preparedness and defense Texas and the US will always have. Along with all of these meaningful symbols lies the graduate's class year binding them together as a whole.

However, the symbols are not what make the Aggie Ring so valuable. While, yes, the symbols do have deep and powerful meaning, the ring is what links the student body together as a whole. After students graduate and go off to continue their life, the Aggie ring will identify them as a member of the upstanding university. If an Aggie sees another person wearing an Aggie ring, there is an instant connection. Class year does not matter. The link stems from the experiences all former students lived through while attending the university. Instant camaraderie is had when two Aggies, strangers or friends, meet. The ring is what brings them together.

So on this day, April 12, 2013, Aggie Ring Day 2013, a new group of Aggie students will be given their rings that represent more than what traditional symbols stand for. The rings given out today will represent the hard work each student has completed in their last years of college. Ernest Hemingway once said, "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." So students, as you get these gold rings representing your collegiate accomplishment, remember everything you were taught so that when you go into the future you will achieve everything you ever imagined.

The Agent Coulson in Everyone

Role Models. Everyone has them. Everyone needs them. Role models are the people we look up to and try to mimic in our everyday lives. Sometimes they are close friends. Sometimes they are famous people that we hope to be like in the future. However they are always present in our minds as we make choices and decisions.

Recently, a new role model has been presented to the world through The Avengers comic book and movie series. The person I refer to is not Iron Man/Tony Stark/Robert Downey Jr, no matter how smart and devilishly handsome he is. It's not Thor the God of Thunder/Chris Hemsworth or Captain America/Chris Evans. It's not even the Hulk/Mark Ruffalo, even with his genius IQ level and green alter ego. The person I am referring to, that should become a role model to people worldwide, is Agent Coulson. Jaw dropper I know, but stay with me. I know what you are thinking. Agent Coulson? Phil Coulson? Kaitlyn how can he be the role model from the Avengers when there are much cooler and attractive characters with extraordinary talents and powers present in the movie/comic series?

Well, for one, Coulson is the main human character present throughout the whole series. Coulson is the man who brings the Avengers together to fight the alien attack descending upon NYC. By confronting Tony Stark about his participation in the group and supporting Steve Rogers (Capt. America) after his long nap in the Arctic Coulson acts as one of the main facilitators of the super hero group. He physically helps bring the group together and believes in their abilities wholeheartedly. This is demonstrated through simple actions like the vintage trading cards of Captain America Coulson collects and the relationships he has with each character individually.

Additionally, Coulson also shows the bravery needed by each human when seemingly unbeatable obstacles present themselves in life. In The Avengers Coulson confronts Loki with simply a gun whose functions are unknown. Coulson stood up to the "indestructible" foe, Loki, with nothing more than the belief that The Avengers would be able to defeat anything that presented itself as a threat to the world. Coulson even told Loki that he would not win the war citing Loki's lack of conviction as his Achilles' heal. Coulson's infinite faith in the Avengers symbolizes the support that the real world fans show everyday. Gathering behind this group of heroes, people have found their rally point so that they can get through tough times and obstacles in life.

Lastly, in Coulson's death, the Avengers were able to find their inspiration to fight together as teams in order to safe guard the human population. After Coulson's body was found, the Avengers knew that they could not allow more innocent people to be harmed by the terrible forces that were approaching fast. I believe that Coulson knew that his death would be a uniting point for the Avengers because as he took his last breaths talking to Fury, Coulson says that the heroes will need something to avenge. This shows yet another element of humanity that is present in Coulson that all people need to possess. Coulson was able to sacrifice himself, his life, in order to achieve a greater good.

In the end, I believe every person should strive to be a little more like Agent Coulson, or as his friends know him, Phil. He was a person who was not self-involved. He always worked for the achievement of something more. Most people today only worry about themselves. How will this action make me look? What will people say or think about me? Phil Coulson, on the other hand, only cared about saving humanity and ensuring that the world would live on to see another, brighter day.

Over the rainbow and back again: Oz the Great and Powerful

"There's no place like home." This immortal phrase has been uttered by countless children who were captivated and transported into a dream world with Dorothy Gale. Accompanied by a scarecrow with unknown wisdom, a tin man with a secret heart, and a lion scared into bravery, children have been traveling cinematically into the land of Oz since 1939. Meeting talking trees, munchkin peoples, and flying monkeys, viewers have learned that one of the main obstacles humans face during life is their own self-doubt.

A new rendition of The Wizard of Oz is now released for viewers at a movie theater near you. In Oz the Great and Powerful, the story of Oscar Diggs is told to viewers for the first time. Oscar Diggs is nothing but a small town magician living in Kansas. With questionable ethics and minimal talent, Diggs is hurtled into Oz after crossing paths with a tornado cutting its way through the Kansas countryside. Once in Oz, Oscar must figure out who to ally himself with in order to save the Ozian world. Oz the Great and Powerful acts as a prequel to the story known and loved by many giving the audience a unique view into the Wizard's life. By providing jaw dropping images of the Ozian world, showcasing entertaining acting talent, and including parallels to the original story, Oz the Great and Powerful acts as a perfect generational bridge introducing the younger children to the classic tale.

Technology has become the tool in many movies that pulls the audience into the story. By making the scenery and fictional characters look more realistic, the audience becomes able to live in the dream worlds Hollywood is able to create. The special effects team of Oz was able to do just that when imagining and animating the settings and characters of the movie. When Oscar first arrives in Oz via hot air balloon, the setting looks to be nothing short of perfection. The colors of the plant life combined with the bright lights of the sun work to create a mythical world unimaginable. When first seen on screen, the world of Oz seems nothing short of a Garden of Eden. This was possible due to the fact that the production crew based Oz on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the original Wizard of Oz book written by L. Frank Baum. Because of this, all the details first envisioned were included in the final movie production of Oz. Due to all of this attention to detail, Oz offers imagines that allow the audience to immerse themselves in the plot and action of the movie.

The actors showcased in the movie also hold much of the responsibility in personifying the characters for the audience. In Oz many of the actors accomplished this task 100% of the time. Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams did superb jobs with the roles of the witches. All three women adopted the role wholeheartedly making the audience believe the feelings and motives behind their actions. My favorite performance by far was that of Zach Braff who played Frank, Oscar's assistant in Kansas, and Finley, the good winged chimp who devoted his life to the Wizard in Oz. Zach Braff was able to bring the perfectly timed comedy to the movie. Ironically, I thought that the worst performance was that of James Franco, Oscar the Wizard of Oz. As the lead role, he had the responsibility of carrying the plot throughtout the movie. However, his acting seemed mediocre and intermediate at times. Franco smiled that goofy smile which made me want to roll my eyes rather than root for his character. Thankfully, the supporting actors saved the movie in the end.

With Oz being a prequel of a successful classic, the most admirable quality that I saw was the numerous parallels it had with the Wizard of Oz. One that I have already mentioned is the fact that the wizard also was transported to Oz by a tornado, just like Dorothy. I will not give them all away, but I do challenge you to see how many you can find. There are also parallels to the Wicked book series written by Gregory Maguire. These are not as obvious, but are included none the less. The parallels work well in connecting the stories together. Plus they are fun to find. It will probably take multiple viewings in order to find them all, but I am up for it.

In the end, Oz the Great and Powerful acts as a great reminder and tribute to the story that captured so many hearts. It may not have the memorable songs or ruby slippers, but it teaches the important lesson that sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Self-doubt is a fatal weakness humanity possesses. Learning how to overcome it and become a better version of ourselves is what everyone must strive for.

Museum Exhibits Cathcing Attention

Sometimes the most exciting things can be found not at a concert building or movie theater, but at a local museum. History, science, and art allows for people to experience an attraction hands on and encounter past events first hand. Two exhibits offer these exact aspects for everyone in the Fort Worth area. At the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, an exhibit showcasing artifacts from the RMS Titanic is on display for the public to experience.  The tour gives spectators a personal experience and connection to the tragically sunk ship memorialized as its 100th Anniversary dawns this year. Additionally, at the Kimball Art Museum, a Bernini exhibit is being showcased. Bernini: Sculpting in Clay presents many of Bernini's most famous clay sculptures. These two exhibits provide an excellent opportunity to plan an educational outing for the whole family.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History offers everyone the chance to get a ticket on the infamous cruise liner RMS Titanic. As you enter the exhibit in Fort Worth, each person is given a Boarding Pass with the details of an actual passenger of the Titanic. For example, the identity I given to personify was that of Lady Duff Gordon, a forty-nine year old first class passenger. Lady Duff Gordon boarded with her husband, Sir Cosmo Edmund Duff, and her personal secretary. Lady Duff was a pioneer in fashion in the 1900s, and was the first to introduce slits in skirts for women. Other information included on the Boarding Pass includes the passenger's cabin, reason for traveling, and intended final destination. After receiving your boarding pass, exhibit guests are ushered into the world of the Titanic, from construction to wreckage discovery.

Each section of the exhibit focuses on a different aspect of the ship's grand history. At the beginning viewers are shown how the mammoth ship was first conceived, engineered, and constructed. Artifacts recovered from the Titanic's final resting place are on view throughout the exhibit. Further on in the exploration of the Titanic story, guests are shown the accommodations for each class. In the third class section, guests are also made privy to the constant engine sounds that would have been heard by the passengers. The most interesting section of the exhibit would be the section dedicated to the sinking of the ship. In this part quotations from actual crew and passenger members are displayed to demonstrate how different people separated by economic class experienced the tragic event. Additionally, a large piece of ice is on display so that all viewers can experience the conditions of the passengers forced overboard. It is a very humbling experience. At the end of the exhibition, a list of all the passengers is on display so that you can see if your passenger survived. This list also shows how differently the classes were treated with respect to rescue attempts. The Titanic exhibit is educational and touching at the same time and teaches everyone a lesson no matter his or her age.

At the same time, across the street at the Kimball Art Museum, the Bernini exhibit is displaying many of his most famous sculptures from across the world. This exhibit is spans across half of the museum exposing each step of Bernini's art to the viewers. Artwork pieces, such as the Fountain of the Four Rivers and the angels Bernini created for the Ponte San'Angelo, are displayed only in pictures since Rome could not be robbed of these divine pieces of art. However, preliminary drawings are shown displaying how Bernini designed these noteworthy creations. It is astonishing to see these pieces broken down into step-by-step fashion. Sculptures included in the exhibit are jaw dropping because fingerprints of the famed artist can be seen by the naked eye. It makes the art so tangible since most people have just learned about Bernini's creations from textbooks. I do have to say that I think this particular exhibit is for a more mature audience. Small children's attention spans are quickly burned through and the exhibit is quite long. I can say that most people high school age plus will enjoy this showcase immensely. Being able to see the history making artwork first hand is life changing and impacting for those who know of Bernini and the impression he left on the world.

Both the Bernini and Titanic exhibit will be in Fort Worth until the end of the month. The Titanic exhibit will end on March 24, 2013 whereas the Bernini exhibit will stay until April 14th. I highly encourage people to see both of these exhibits as soon as possible. Tickets can be purchased online at the museum websites. Prices are low, especially for museum members. Audio tours can also be purchased for a guided tour. So if you want a fun filled, educational weekend just plan for tours of your local museum and learn facts and details you never knew.

The Five Senses of Cognitive Computing

Science Fiction is one of my favorite genres of literature and movies. I love being transported to a new setting where boundaries can be pushed, altered, and sometimes broken by the imagination. However, as time goes by, the reality of the world we live in comes closer to the worlds of science fiction. New ways of communication and healthcare are developed that far exceed the expectations people had ten years ago. In the 1990s, people worldwide became connected via the internet and personal computers. Then the cellular phone technology took off, taking people from owning phones that could only make a call, while being the size of a large textbook, to having cell phones through which people could access their email, social networks, and Internet while being small enough to simply slip into their back pockets. After the past two decades, technological advancements have brought the world into a new age, an age that was only a dream twenty years ago. These new improvements reach further than the communication sector. The effect is also felt in the health, food, and business industries. The question that now needs to be contemplated is what will happen in the next five to ten years that will improve and advance society even further?

This question was recently explored and answered by IBM who has been researching and developing new software for the computer of tomorrow. This computer will be a cognitive machine, a "system that actively learns instead of passively relying on programming." Because of this, the cognitive computers will be able to push past the boundaries of human brains and senses becoming able to augment mortal senses through their mechanical learning. This is applicable to each of the five senses.

Currently, whenever a person looks at something online, whether it be a piece of clothing or a piece of fruit, they can only imagine the texture based on sight. Within the next five years, consumers will no longer be limited in this way while shopping online. IBM has developed software that will allow users everywhere to experience the texture of products while simply looking at an image of the good. The recreation of texture is made possible through vibration. Vibrations are translated into a lexicon, a dictionary of textures that match the physical appearance of the good. Once the lexicon is developed, patterns of vibrations will match to different products allowing people to know exactly what a textile or fruit feels like before they purchase it. This will impact the business industry by allowing for increase in online developments and sales. Additionally, this feature could impact the health industry. By being able to send a picture of an injury to your doctor and having him feel and analyze the condition remotely, the diagnose speed could be increased exponentially.

The common catch phrase, "A picture tells a thousand words" may become true, especially if there is a way to see, categorize, and store the thousand words a picture captures. The IBM technology has taken a step in this direction. Through the cognitive approach, computers can detect patterns that are evident through a vast collection of pictures presented. Over time, the computer will being to sort the pictures based on color, distributions, texture patterns, and edge information in order to allowing for the identification of specific scenes, like an downtown skyline versus a mountain range. Through this technology, advancements in fields like medicine can be made. Doctors could be able to analyze MRI, X-ray, and CT images through cognitive computing in order to diagnose health concerns like blood clots, skin cancer, and tumors sooner.

How many times have you been "saved by the bell" hearing something coming from behind giving you just enough time to move out of the way. What if warnings for detrimental events could be increased from seconds to minutes or hours? IBM has sought to do just that. With cognitive computers, brain functions that respond to sound waves will be imitated and communicated to response systems through sensors placed in the ground in areas prone to environmental disasters. Places that experience many floods or land slides could be helped tremendously with sensors that detect what sounds are associated with severe rainstorms and land slides, alerting communities in danger of experiencing these catastrophes before they occur saving countless lives.

Health has become one of the hot button issues in the past two decades. People are always trying to see how many pounds and sizes they can loose. Some people, however, fall off the bandwagon because the food they eat does not taste good. Others have to live on a strict diet because of health concerns like diabetes or allergies. IBM has developed a program that is able to analyze foods based on their chemical composition relating to flavor in order to develop individual meal plans promoting health standards. This ensures that people will enjoy what they eat while also cutting down on the calories. This system can also be used to help people combat food and hunger issues in third world countries.

Smell is an essential sense that detects and carries a plethora of information with each breathe. Each breath can carry information and characteristics about surroundings like germs, viruses, and data about one's physical condition. Through cognitive computing, developers hope to integrate sensory detectors into devices like cell phones that will be able to identify biomarkers with information about an individual's health status. Through the information collected, the cognitive computers will be able to constantly learn and compare results based on a person's medial history. Through these developments serious ailments will be able to be caught and avoided quicker than waiting until the disease has gained strength and versatility.

However, with all of these developments made, one must ask what would happen if the computers and software were to shut down? If society, as a whole, were to depend upon technology so much, what would happen if the computers got a virus? What would happen if someone were able to hack into the system and steal information or cause the system to shut down? Would humanity remember how to function without a computer holding their hand? I feel as though people are already depending on technology too much. I remember when my family would sit down to dinner and talk to one another without interruption except from the waiter. However, now every time my family sits down for dinner, my parents pull out their cell phones to track calories and look up news online. I look around a see that numerous other families acting the same way. Tables of four or five people sitting in silence ignoring each other while being totally consumed and distracted by their cell phones is a depressing sight to see. And yet, we tolerate it. As I sit here, writing on my laptop, I know I am part of the problem. We escape into technology trying to find distractions from the scary reality that is always plaguing us. I hope, however, that society will not become so dependent on technology that we forget how to live on our own.

I see the benefits that can come from this new cognitive computing, and I hope that the people at IBM and other technology companies will figure out how to make it work. I am intrigued by the possibilities the future holds.

The Lost Generation

The world is constantly changing: sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Daily we experience heightened levels of threat and security worldwide. However, domestically changes are rocking life for people no matter their social class or level. I know that when I was younger I lived in a naive world where I had everything planned down to the second. I was going to graduate high school, go to college and graduate with a bachelor's degree from a highly credited university, and then I was going to get a job. BING, BANG, BOOM, I had everything for a comfortable life planned. If I went from A to B and B to C, everything would be perfect. I thought that after getting a job everything else would just follow as it presented itself. I would get married one day, maybe pop out a kid or two, and then travel the world seeing everything that had been purely mystery and fairytale from my childhood.

Things, however, do not always go as planned. I graduated high school after overcoming trials and obstacles that few live through, went to a top university and graduated with a bachelor's degree. And then everything fell to pieces. The last part of my life plan gave me nothing but empty hands and confusion. I went to a few interviews, even worked for free temporarily, but I could not figure out what I wanted to do. I had this degree, but wanted to do nothing in the field that I had studied for four years. So what happened next? Well I moved back in with the parents, began writing this blog and for a local entertainment blog, and tried to sort through my muddled thoughts in order to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Time passed. I quit writing for the entertainment blog because it was leading me nowhere and paid me nothing. As all things crumbled around me, leaving me twiddling my thumbs, jobless, and lost, I began to think and wonder why no one had ever prepared me for this part of life's journey. It seemed as though people had omitted this part of the tale whenever they explained how life passes by. I never remembered hearing about how a person could not decide what they wanted to do, or where they wanted to go.

As I sat pondering these befuddling thoughts in a coffee house with a venti soy chai in my hand, I decided that I would not become a person who failed and made nothing out of their lives because of their fear of failure or rejection. I would research what I loved to do, find jobs that utilized my hidden talents, and then blaze my own trail into the world of dreams that had only been whispered about during my childhood years.

Now you may be wondering why I am writing all of this on my blog, posted on the internet for all to see. The answer is simple. I think that I am not the only one out there who is currently unemployed with no idea where and what they want to do. Because of different Facebook posts and status updates I have seen, there are a lot of us in the exact same situation. I just want all of you out there who are having difficulties getting a job or deciding where to go next in life to know that you are not alone. Many of us are experiencing the exact same things, and we can get through it. There is an end to the tunnel we are currently in, and as long as you listen to your gut and make the decisions that your heart tells you to, the happy ending will be found.

Zero Dark Thirty gives a different look into what we think we know

I have been trying to up my game on current movie knowledge ever since I saw the Golden Globes on Saturday. I thought that I had seen many of the notable movies like The Hobbit, Lincoln, and Skyfall, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Movies like Les Meserables and Django Unchained ran away with truck loads of awards, and while I may not be able to see every award winning movie every year, I will try to give as good advice about the noteworthy movies that I do see.

For that reason it might surprise you how short this particular entry and promotion is, but let that just be a testament to how perfectly produced this movie was. Zero Dark Thirty chronicles the ten year hunt for Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks America faced. Ending with the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 and the main character Maya, played exquisitely by Jessica Chastain, finding and killing Bin Laden, Zero Dark Thirty takes the audience through an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end. I cannot adequately express the emotions that I felt through the movie because, quite frankly, the words just won't come to me. What I can say is that I felt tears at one moment, patriotism the next, and then, ironically, shame at being an American. Because of this, what I must say is that if you are not ready for an intense movie that calls into question some of America's actions during the past decade, do not go see this movie. If on the other hand you are comfortable with events that occurred during the War on Terror, go see Zero Dark Thirty and be prepared for a whirl wind experience. The acting, directing, and producing is superb and will hopefully win many more awards.

On a connected tangent, I want to make it clear that I am very glad and supporting of our military and government. While I can find things to nit pick at and complain about, I would not have the ability to do what they do and make the decisions they make. Because of their decisions and strong wills, I live in a safer country. So thank you to all the military personnel and government heads for watching out for the little people and making sure that our day to day lives are as protected as possible.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure

Okay so I have long been a Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Middle Earth fan and aficionado. I saw all three LOTR movies in the theaters and extended versions, got the posters, and learned the lines so that I could begin the quoting, but lately I have been slacking on the job and people have noticed. When the critically acclaimed movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure opened up and debuted, I was not there. I was halfway across the world living my own unexpected journey in Australia. Yet, when I returned to the states, weeks passed and I still had not viewed the movie that I claimed to love and adore. People were astounded and aghast. Well things have changed. I was finally able to watch the whirlwind  adventure of Bilbo Baggins through Middle Earth and I was amazed. The framework of the plot, jaw dropping special effects, and magnificent soundtrack work together in order to transport the audience into a different time and place. You go from sitting in your neighborhood movie theater to walking down the roads of Hobbiton towards Bag End, and in the blink of an eye the viewers are taken on an adventure in search of mystical treasure by the notes of a seemingly simple song and soon enough find themselves transported into a sector of life never before seen.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure is directed by Peter Jackson, the same man who directed The Lord of the Rings Series. Because of this, the feeling of The Hobbit mirrors the same aura of The Lord of the Rings movies many ways. The use of the same actors as well as the same locations helps to integrate the audience into the plot from the very beginning. The plot works as a series of flashbacks that Bilbo Baggins experiences while Frodo is getting ready to set of on his expedition to destroy the one ring. For this reason Bilbo's memories of his first journey provide background and explain how the whole book series began. This works to answer some questions and fill in some blanks that some viewers may have had while watching The Lord of the Rings movies. There are some locations that are recognizable from The Fellowship especially. It shows how epic the series truly is in retrospect.


Within The Hobbit there are also some amazing special effects at use. It is astonishing to see how much has developed in just the past five years. The Weta Workshop has produced some of the most phenomenal changes in characters like the orcs and the landscape of Middle Earth. For example, the changes that they made to Gollum were totally jaw dropping. The extra muscles visible in just his facial features that made Gollum's emotions much more evident and tangible than they were in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It brought the audience in a step closer to the interactions between the characters. Additionally, the extra features Weta was able to include in the landscape features brought another level of reality to the tale. While the story of Bilbo builds and his group of friends make their journey, the audience gets to see the amazing surroundings of Middle Earth. From the ethereal mountains standing guard around Rivendell to the bountiful forests Radagast the Brown protects from evil, the audience is taken through each part of Middle Earth and shown every detail with such precision. This is an element that many movies lack these days, but in The Hobbit you are shown what you cannot anywhere else.

Finally, what makes the movie is its soundtrack. The music playing in the background holds all the emotion and carries the viewers throughout the movie on a cascade of notes and rhythms. This is especially true in The Hobbit. The soundtrack composed by Howard Shore, the same musician who composed The Lord of the Rings soundtrack, brings an extra dimension into the movie. The music included in this Tolkien tale is not only instrumental. There are songs sung by the group of Dwarfs who travel with Bilbo on his unexpected journey. These songs transport the viewers to a time of old, a simpler time. In fact, when Howard Shore was asked about The Hobbit soundtrack said, "Everything I knew about composing, orchestrating, conducting-- everything I had learned about music was in it." Because of this, the music is correlates perfectly with the action of the film and story.

In the end, it matters not what the critics or reviewers say. The Hobbit works as it was meant. It is a story explaining the history of a character risking everything in order to make a real life for himself. Bilbo goes on an unexpected journey, just as every human does. Life is itself an unexpected journey. Each day you wake up you do not know exactly what will happen. You may have things planned for the day, but unexpected opportunities may pop up an change your life completely. I think that is exactly what Tolkien wanted everyone to realize as he wrote this classic literary masterpiece. Life may be filled with good and evil forces, but an individual's decisions and choices determine where their life ultimately goes. 

A New Year: Oh the Places You'll Go

The time has come again, the time in which we celebrate the coming and going of another year. People around the world remember what has passed within the last 365 days, while others may think about the possible events that have yet to come. For this reason, infinite possibilities are present for each person. Possibilities in an individual's academic career or possibilities in a person's professional career may come into the picture. Another person may be confronted with developments in their personal relationships and friendships. There will be loss and there will be gains, but what will never change is the power that an individual has to make the changes that present themselves prosperous in the end.

This concept was honored and depicted today during the 124th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. This year the theme of the parade was "Oh the Places You'll Go", based on the best selling children's book written by Dr. Seuss. Oh the Places You'll Go follows a young boy, referred to as "you", who leaves his hometown to set out on a journey that represents life. Throughout this journey the main character experiences ups and downs, visits places that differ in many ways, and spends time in places like the Waiting Place, an area that represents the periods of inaction that people often experience during life. This book, however, often acts as an inspirational tale for people entering new periods of their life. With quotes like, "Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (98¾% guaranteed.)" and "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...", Oh the Places You'll Go acted as the perfect theme for the Rose Parade this year.

Dozens of imaginative and astonishing floats made their debut this morning as the parade made its way down the streets of Pasadena. Ever since the Rose parade was first held in 1890, every float that is entered is covered with organic material, including thousands of roses. The first float shown today was the Honda float, which included a long metal slide surrounded by roses. The 2012 Olympic US female  gymnastics team rode aboard this float, sliding down the slide, and waved to fans as they passed by. The gold medal female gymnastics team also lent a hand in decorating part of the Honda float. This fun float was a great way to open the parade.

The second float to make an appearance was the Dole float. This float won the Sweepstakes award. Spanning the moving spectacle were several realistic tropical birds with rotating heads and working beaks, as well as wild cats and plant life. On the rear of the float, a twenty-six foot high working volcano released fire into the air. Several working water fountains were also placed intermittently throughout the float adding moving water to the jaw dropping sight.

The next float to make its way down the parade route was entitled Dino-Soar. This float won the award for Best Animation. Cute dinosaurs, akin to those seen on movies like Land Before Time, were set down the float with working heads and necks.

One of the most on point floats of the whole parade was the Kaiser Healthcare and Insurance float. This float was entitled "Oh the Healthy Things You Can Do". Featured on this float were eight patients that had been treated via the insurance company. The patients were surrounded in a Dr. Seuss world. The Cat in the Hat sat in the middle, reading a book to Sally and her brother, while Thing 1 and Thing 2 sat on the side of the float, smiling for all the spectators. This float ended up winning the Theme Award.

Next up, the Nurse's Float featured a doe and baby deer in the center surrounded by an owl, butterflies, rabbits, and other woodland creatures seated upon rocks and trees in the center of a forest. This communicated the feeling of nurturing and care that the nurses bring to their patients everyday. The float also won the Craftsman Award for the details included upon the float.

The winner of the Governor's award made its appearance next. The City of Glendale float showcased different aspects and characteristics of the city. Among these images a picture of the hospital and an large trolley care took center stage. The trolley car rode upon a strip of movie film highlighting the impact that the entertainment industry has had upon the town. Skilled decorators of the Glendale float were able to showcase the characteristics of Glendale that separate it from the rest of California.

From there, the Downey Rose Float Association float, called "Dew Drop By", made its way down the street. Upon this float a fairytale setting was featured within a magical English garden. Fairies tended to the tropical flowers and watched the butterflies which set upon different plants throughout the garden. There were also two houses made from different forest materials, including tree trucks and leaves. This magical land transported the viewing audience back in time to simpler days.

Another showcased float was the China Airlines float. As the winner of the International award, this float centered around a Chinese pagoda containing flowers, while being surrounded by palm trees and feathers. This float also promoted the activity of bike riding by featuring bike riders who followed the float down the route. This promoted a green way of transportation that is very popular within China.

A float that touched my heart was the Donate Life float. Also called the Float of Tears, the Donate Life float celebrates the gift of organ donation with pictures or people that have donated their organs within the past year. Because of this, tears of grief and joy are associated with this float. Surviving family members had the opportunity to take part of the Rose Parade by helping decorate the float and/or riding the float with pictures of their family members. Hearts made of flowers covered the float representing the love and impact that the organ donors had upon the world.

The City of LA was also represented during the Rose Parade upon a float of its own. The theme of the City of LA float was making connections, getting it the Mayor's award. The float was comprised of images of the international terminal of the LAX airport, a plane hovering above the float as if taking off, and a restaurant with an observation deck at the top. This ties together the idea of nations coming together as one.

The next float took the viewers into a world of talking cars. On the Disneyland Resort float, the movie Cars was opened up for the viewers. Characters of the movie, like Mater, Lightning McQueen, and Sally made special appearances bringing smiles to viewers young and old. Local hotspots of the movie, like Cozy Cone Inn and The V8 Cafe, caught the eyes of people everywhere. The scenery of Radiator Springs also brought in forty-five points of animation to the float for the nation to see.

From Radiator Springs the parade continued on to the Miracle-Gro float. This was the first float that Miracle-Gro ever entered into the Rose Parade. It featured different flowers, trees, and plant life that the Miracle-Gro formula can help grow. The main idea of the float was the idea that everyone grows throughout life, a main theme of Oh the Places You'll Go.

The HGTV float made rolled across the screen next. As winner of the Grand Marshall's Award for excellence in creative design and concept, the HGTV float highlighted the idea of a dream home. Comprised of an igloo, birdhouse, modern home, log cabin, castle, and pueblo house, the HGTV float showed that the idea of a dream home can be a reality for any person.

Another touching moment came when Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods float came down the road. The theme of this float was Canines with Courage, or Dogs for Defense. This honored the dogs that go overseas with the US military. At this point of the parade, a US soldier from Afghanistan was reunited with his wife and son. This was filled with smiles, tears, and a standing ovation.

Next, a float from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economies, Republic of Indonesia, highlighted the importance of tradition and history. On this float three women in traditional Indonesian dress and colors were focused upon. This float also received the President's Award for most effective use of floral decoration and detail.

The Farmer's Insurance float made the next big bang by rolling through with a bride and groom on top of their float. On top of a huge Faberge egg, a bride and groom were in the middle of their wedding. Their vows were broadcast on air as well as their first married kiss.

Following this love float the Department of Defense presented their float honoring war veterans. The float honored the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration. The Korean War Veterans Memorial was recreated upon the float. This highlighted the fact that freedom is not free. Members of the audience in California stood to honor the veterans and fallen soldiers. The Korean War was the first time that the military saw all creeds, colors, and nationalities of the US serving as one. It was also called the Forgotten War, but was remembered with a fly that honored all.

Finally, the last float of the 2013 Rose Parade was the Western Asset float. This float featured different notable locations worldwide. The features highlighted by the float included the London Bridge, the world's tallest building in Dubai, the Statue of Liberty, the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, and the Rose Bowl Stadium of California.

In the end, the 124th Rose Parade showed that a person's life can take them anywhere around the world. As Dr. Seuss would say, "You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left."