Join the Spartan Legacy

With the RA application process now opened I get a lot of questions about being an RA so I thought I would share my thoughts and suggestions and offer this as a forum for any questions you may have.

First I want to recommend applying to anyone remotely thinking about it. Being an RA has been an incredible life experience. I've met wonderful people, some lifelong friends, and I have gained valuable experiences that I believe have made me a better person. However, it is not an easy job. There are very stressful moments and it requires you to be authoritative and assertive among your peers. The job also has a tremendous time commitment meaning it requires great time managements skills and even some sacrifices. Whether those sacrifices are social time, extracurricular clubs, or just your free time in general.

So if you're still interested here's what you need to do. There are informational sessions all over campus the next couple of days that I highly recommend you attend. You can find those dates on the LiveOn site here. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what the job requires so you can know how best to sell yourself for the position.

Next you will need to fill out an online application here. This application is due by December 17th. There are essay sections which I recommend taking quality time to review both for content and grammar.

By January 9, 2013 you will receive an e-mail saying if you made it to the second round where there will be group interviews taking place between January 26-27 2013. Finally you will find out if you have been accepted for the position on February 13, 2013.

Again if you have any questions on the job or the process feel free to leave them in the comments. I just want to encourage you one last time that if you are considering it, to definitely apply. 

Election Day

After almost a year of constant campaign ads, social network bombardment, and exhausting attacks from all sides, today is mercifully election day. It would be an understatement for me to say that I am excited for November 7th but at last the circus will be over. Regardless of the outcome life in America will continue on. However, that should not stop you from voting in an election that will have a direct impact on you, from the proposals in Michigan shaping the Michigan Constitution to deciding who our Commander in Chief will be. I want to spend today encouraging everyone, regardless of their political leanings or activism, to exercise their most essential freedom and Vote!

Happy Thoughts

This is a sad day on campus here in East Lansing. For the first time in my years as a Spartan we lost to the University of Michigan. Worse, we have the worst conference record (1-3) in my time here, and we are all but eliminated from the conference title game. We must win 2 of our last 3 games (no easy task at Wisconsin, then Nebraska and Northwestern) to sneak into a bowl likely with a lowly MAC opponent and sponsored by a fast food joint.

Turning to happy thoughts Basketball is mere weeks away, and even without our fearless leader, Draymond Green, we boast one of the most talented teams in the country. Moreover it has turned to that time of year again, my favorite time to walk around campus. While Autumn does signal that Winter is coming it is still incredibly beautiful time of year, so much so that I stop riding my bike and start walking to class so I can take in the sights. Furthermore the weather is cool and temperate. And finally yes, Midterms are over!

Yes the football season died far too young, but it does no good to dwell on it. We Spartans have a lot to look forward to, and I for one plan to enjoy another great fall in East Lansing.

Playoffs?!

For those who haven't read this blog regularly or don't know me personally I've recently picked up an interest in volleyball. It began last year when at the end of an MSU basketball game, the announcer told us that there was a women's volleyball game against highly ranked Illinois that was going down to the wire, and attendance is free. My friends and I went across the street and I've been hooked on volleyball ever since. This summer I watched every point of beach and indoor volleyball for both US men and women. My thoughts summed up: volleyball is an incredibly deep, intricate, and action packed spectator sport.

So this fall my friends and I decided we would try to compete in beach volleyball co-rec. The season just ended and playoffs are around the corner. I'm so excited I decided to share how it was going for us. The games are 4 on 4 so the first game we went with what we thought was a standard 2-2 formation. We went up against a team that had obviously been together awhile and their chemistry showed on the court. For our first game ever playing together we did really well, we even had a game point although we lost in straight sets (best of 3). We did learn a lot though in that game, and we ended up stealing their formation. They went with a diamond 1 - 2 - 1 formation that seemed to make for clearer responsibility areas, and allowed for an easier flow; ideally we start with a volley from the back 3, followed by a clean set from the front player, allowing for an offensive strike from one of the two wings. By the way, this might be a good time to apologize for my limited knowledge of volleyball terminology, I've been a fan for less than 8 months.

So unfortunately our next opponent had to forfeit but that did allow us for some much needed practice of our new diamond strategy. Our third game was a tough battle against another very strong opponent much like the  first game. They were cohesive and very sure-handed. We did well but our new formation struggled at times allowing big runs that buried us in holes we couldn't overcome. Again we were swept in straight sets. This past Sunday was our last chance to get momentum before the playoffs. We had strong defensive plays including blocks at the net and tough digs (look i'm getting better!) and we managed to put together solid offensive plays using all 3 hits (well maybe not...). We finally put it altogether winning nearly on straight serves (we lost 3 points)!

Winning was never mandatory, we had a great time competing, but I won't deny its sweet taste. I can't wait for the playoffs to begin! I'll have (good?) news soon!

Taste of Summer

The sun is shining bright on East Lansing. While that means Michigan State's campus is as beautiful as ever it also means that its hot as heck outside. So this week my floor and I decided to walk over to MSU Dairy, the perfect hot afternoon activity. If you have never been to the MSU Dairy Store you are missing out. The ice cream is made right here on campus and rivals any ice cream chain I've ever been to. It's also about half the price of places like Ben & Jerry's or Coldstone. There are so many ridiculous and creative flavors (usually sporting puns which I also support) that every time I've been there I've had a different flavor. This time I had Banana Choc-Eye Chunk and Gopher Smore which proved to be a fantastic complimentary taste and I whole-heartedly recommend it. In fact I recommend everyone make the trip to MSU Dairy while the sun is still shining. As we in Michigan all know, Winter is Coming.

Saved by the Le'veon Bell

This past weekend a Big Ten star asserted his role in what promises to be a very heated Heisman Race. In what came as no surprise to Spartans but somehow shocked the rest of the nation, this star was not media darling Denard Robinson. Instead powerhouse running back Le'veon Bell continued his meteoric ascent that began two years ago when he steamrolled Western Michigan in his back up role.

One of my favorite things about college football, and college sports in general, is the joy of watching our peers succeed while representing our school. I am particularly excited to watch Le'veon succeed, who lived on my floor freshman year. To see him grow from the hard working freshman who graduated from High School early to get a head start into the dominating star he is today.

I remember freshman year, when I was lucky enough to get to know him, how much he liked to play video games. In particular he  beat the crap out of me in the NCAA football video game. He had an incredible ability to find the perfect hole, utilizing spin moves and stiff arms to get every inch he could. Its no mystery why though. His genius for the game shows all over the field on Saturday for all the same reasons. I love watching him play more than any other Spartan as he uses every tool in his toolbox: spin moves, hurdlers, and vicious stiff arms straight out of the video game. He always uses the right move at the right time. Le'veon has such a knowledge for the game, combined with the strength of a bull and elusive speed, that I honestly believe he could play any position on the field and succeed. I can't wait to watch him the rest of the season and I will be following his career with baited breath, waiting for the next play that will make my jaw hit the floor.

GO STATE!!

Welcome (back) to MSU!!!

Welcome (back) to MSU!!! Its been a bit chaotic lately with everyone moving in so hopefully you feel comfortable in your new surroundings. As an RA again I've spent a lot of time this past week helping freshman feel settled in. In fact, a lot of freshman have moved in with a roommate they never knew before this week on top of finding themselves in all new surroundings, Therefore I figured I would offer a few tips on living with a roommate. I promise I will try to avoid the generic ones.

1. Speak your mind

In my experience, one of the easiest traps people fall into is holding in their thoughts. They get upset that their roommate never takes out the trash or leaves his shoes in the shower but instead of communicating with their roommate they let it bottle up. Then the small stuff adds up, issues escalate, and things get out of hand. Remember they have no way of knowing that you have a problem with their behavior until you speak your mind.

2. Don't force a friendship

A lot of people move in with their roommate and decide that they have to be friends. They dream of the incredible relationships tv roommates build together and hope for the same. They think the only way they will get along is if they do everything together and have common interests everything will work out. the truth is it isn't necessary to be friends to be great roommates. If it happens, great! But don't force it, be yourself.

3. Fill out a roommate contract NOW

Don't wait. A lot of freshman meet their new roommate and think "He's cool, no way we are going to have a problem." Hopefully you are right, but when you are wrong, and you have no established boundaries or rules, it makes conflict resolution just that much harder. It is important to have these conversations early with your roommate so you can be on the same page all year.

4. Start watching Breaking Bad together

Okay so this one isn't really necessary but still comes highly recommended. In reality I don't think there are more than 3 real keys to having a successful relationship with your roommate. As long as you communicate your needs, cooperate, and work together to share the room there really isn't a conflict you can't handle together. If you need a moderator in a discussion that gets a little heated hit up your RA, that's what they are there for. So really, kick back, watch the best show on Television and have an awesome semester!!

Back On Campus!

Sorry guys, I haven't been able to blog for awhile as I was moving around this past week. But more importantly,  I'm officially moved in to my new room and back on Campus! I had a great summer but now its  over and time to get ready for another great year of being a Spartan! For those who don't know I'm going to be an RA again this year which will offer its own unique challenges and rewards. I also hope to get more involved with the clubs this year as I am nearing my final opportunity to participate in college life. Mostly I hope to get more involved with Spartasoft. As I've discussed earlier, Spartasoft teaches a lot and hopefully will help me develop into the game programmer I need to be to get a job when I graduate. I'm looking forward to so much not even to mention the giant scoreboard perched on top of the football stadium! Are you ready for some football! Even better. Are you ready for the fall semester! I can't wait to see everyone back on campus in only a few short weeks!

14 Days of Summer

In two weeks I’ll be moving back in to campus (As an RA I’ll be moving in a little earlier than most) and I simply can’t wait. I’ve had a great summer, as I’ve chronicled in this blog, from hanging out on the Detroit River, to catching a Tigers game, to some of the fun perks of my Chrysler internship. This was my first summer in Michigan and even though most of my friends from State live in Michigan it has been hard to see them. As it turns out, Michigan is pretty big, and I am not the only one with an internship dominating my time.

I’ve also blogged about my unbridled excitement for the coming football season. It’s hard for me to express how ready I am for the season to start. Let me put it this way: if a genie came to me today, and told me he could fast forward time until 8 am August 31st but I would have to trade in the final 2 years of my life, I don’t know what I would do, I just don’t know.

So summer is coming to an end, and another chapter will close. But as soon as it does we’ll all be back at school, hanging with friends, interesting classes, and of course reminding those in blue why they fear the Green. See everyone soon!

Early Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Catwoman: You don't owe these people any more! You've given them everything!
Batman: Not everything. Not yet.

That’s not a spoiler because it is from the trailer for the Dark Knight Rises and I think it perfectly sums up this amazing summer of movies, From Prometheus to Ted, to the Avengers, movie buffs have gotten a great taste for summer blockbusters. The quote also sums up what Christopher Nolan has given us in his amazing, dark, and gritty take on the Caped Crusader. The Dark Knight was an amazing accomplishment in filmmaking and yet Nolan has more to give us in this breathtaking finale to his trilogy.

I had the amazing opportunity to see the Dark Knight Rises last night along with my fellow Chrysler Interns (Chrysler has a small amount of product placement in the movie) and I thought I would share my spoiler free thoughts.

As you may have noticed from my glowing introduction above, I really loved this movie and it absolutely lived up to the hype for me. Bane is a great villain to follow the devious schemes of the Joker. Bane is a menacing man who’s motivations remain shrouded in mystery throughout the movie. Its this kind of menacing unpredictability that left me guessing what his next move would be constantly.

Of the three Batman movies, this movie has Batman in his suit the least. Instead, Nolan chooses to explore the mental state of Bruce Wayne the man. A man who has carried quite a physical and mental burden over the past two movies for the city of Gotham. This exploration of Batman’s inner psyche really did it for me and I found it one of the most compelling sequences of the series.

I did have a couple of disappointments. Namely that Bane’s plan was far more straightforward than the crazy meanderings of Joker’s, and there was a bit of overlap as Bane tried to present himself as a man handing the power back to the normal people (It would seem the Joker and Bane have very similar views on Government). But these minor problems were eclipsed by the bad assery of Catwoman (played by Anne Hathaway) and the brutality of the hand to hand combat between Bane and Batman.

I’m sure its no surprise for me to conclude that Nolan has delivered again. The Dark Knight Rises is easily the best movie of the summer and will once again contend for the best movie of the year. It is a must see movie that I anticipate will cause the Box Office to explode this weekend. Don’t hesitate.

2012 Summer of TV

The summer is starting to wind down but the TV season is just  heating up. I’m excited to head back to school, back to campus and among friends. In the interim however, we are now 4 days away from the premiere of Breaking Bad, read: Best TV show ever, and that’s just the headline of a great season for entertainment. So without further ado, here are my five favorite summer TV shows for 2012:

1) Breaking Bad - Sunday, July 15th 10pm

As mentioned above, Breaking Bad is the best show and it’s definitely in the argument for best thing ever made by humans along with the 7 Wonders, electricity, and Dorritos Tacos in no particular order. Therefore if you are not caught up (or worse never started), now’s the time. This show is a scientist’s concoction of adrenaline, characterization, and flawless writing. Did I mention it is really good yet?

2) Newsroom – Sundays at 10pm HBO (First Episode in Full)

HBO got it right again. I’ve fallen in love with their programming and nurturing of creative minds. Newsroom is Sorkin’s newest foray into commentary on American Politics starring Jeff Daniels brilliantly portraying a popular News Personality who’s tired of ratings driven program and strives to educate his voting audience at the cost of ratings. The supporting cast too but the real genius of the show is its portrayal of actual events from 2010 from the perspective of the Newsroom.

3) Wilfred – Thursdays at 10pm FX

The re-make of the Australian comedy by the same name, Wilfred is a smart comedy on FX that plays with the meta questions of how crazy Elijah Wood must see a man dressed in a dog suit, who can talk, but everyone else sees as a real dog. The comedy hits me squarely in the funny bone as a dog lover, so bits like digging in the backyard for exercise, confusion over a laser pointer, and an inability to resist bubbles are all pure gold.

4) Falling Skies: Sundays at 9pm TNT

Falling Skies looks to build on a great inaugural season that surprised me each week with great special effects and action despite a limited budget. Its one of the better action shows on television. Falling Skies portrays a war against alien invaders that is already lost. We follow the survivors and their families as they struggle building a resistance. Not an original plot, but it is a very strong and humanized look at a hopeless war.

5) Louie Thursdays at 10:30pm FX

Finally we have the FX show right after Wilfred. A weird and off beat humor that you either love or you hate. For awhile I hated it, and then for some reason, the combination of stand up bits, dark humor, dry humor, and mainly laughing at the pathetic human condition, it clicked for me. I definitely say its worth checking out once to see what side of the fence you are on.

So that’s this summer of TV. If none of this excites you then maybe Homeland and Dexter (both coming at the end of September) will. Otherwise….are you ready for some football?

Fourth of July

 Happy Independence Day America! And Happy 4^th of July to everyone else! What a great summer holiday! The grill, family, and blowing stuff up with your neighbors. It’s a celebration of America and everything we as a nation have accomplished. A time for reflection as we stare into the lights in the sky. A time when we remember when this happened.

 

Okay so that was a bit self-serving (for those who don’t know I’m interning at Chrysler right now). I promise that’s the last time I shamelessly plug the company I work for. Today is also a great day to look forward, to see where our country is heading, and to remind us to come together as Americans to shape the future we want. 

  

Okay so I lied, but its still a great speech that reminds me why I am proud to be an American. So go ahead and enjoy the day. Wherever you are have a burger and blow something up, it’s the 4th of July!

Detroit Tigers: Pure Michigan

For those who don’t know this is my first ever summer spent in Michigan, and I’ve been trying to see everything she has to offer. Last week I went to the Detroit River. I decided to follow that up with a an afternoon at Comerica Park watching the Detroit Tigers taking on the Colorado Rockies.

I’m going to preface this by saying I’m not a big baseball fan. I haven’t played since I was 14 and I can’t watch it on TV until it’s the bottom of the ninth in a playoff series. But I absolutely love going to games in person. Perhaps Wrigley Field has spoiled me but I love the atmosphere of a ball game. The ebbs and flows and rhythm of the game feel more natural. There’s something magical about spending an afternoon with peanuts and hot dogs with 40,000 people watching 2 of the best teams in the world battle in a sport over 160 years old. And so it was this past Saturday afternoon. We showed up an hour or so early to take in the sights and sounds. Unlike Wrigley, we were able to park a mere block away for $10.

Once inside the first thing I noticed was how beautiful the stadium was, a true gem of Detroit. The entire skyline of the city the backdrop. The park itself a fitting arena for America’s pastime. It didn’t take long for the buzz of the crowd to come to life with a solo homer from Cabrera in the bottom of the first.

I don’t actually remember much of the game. I know it was never in doubt,  but the specific events of the game are inconsequential to me. The memories I will always have come from the time with the friends, the beautiful weather, good food, and the sounds and atmosphere of professional sport. That’s pure Michigan.

Detroit River

What a great weekend! Me and some friends went down to the Detroit River for the weekend and just relaxed for 48 hours straight, its been awhile since I've been on a vacation and I'd forgotten the amazing feeling of simply sitting still, and doing...well nothing at all. There was no work, no school, no responsibility, just the cool air from the river and the company of friends.

In fact the Detroit River itself was amazing. Heading up, I had heard the river had a reputation for being nasty and polluted, but I found the cold water refreshing and the scenery beautiful.

Its been a great summer so far, and really its only just begun!

Summer Reading

After a long hiatus and moving twice I’m now settled in for the summer, so let’s get back to it!

As I said, it’s the summer, which means freedom from homework, exams, and reading assignments. Therefore, we have time for one of my favorite past times, summer reading! I’ve purchased a few books I hope to read over the course of the summer and I figured I would share my goal with the interwebs.

1) Game of Thrones (Book 1 and Book 2?)

Season 2 of the amazing HBO television show is almost at its end, and I have already decided I will not be able to wait nine months until the next season to find out what happens next. So I’ve begun reading the source books by George R. R. Martin.

For the uninitiated Game of Thrones is an incredible fantasy world where warring factions struggle to control the throne, even as their enemies with supernatural power loom from just beyond the realm. Despite being a fantasy world this series is characterized by deep and dimensional characters and a gritty realism that is truly unparalleled.

 I am three hundred pages in and they are every bit as awesome as the show with the added bonus of insight into the minds of the characters, as well as added scenes the show didn’t have time to include. Hopefully I’ll be able to get through both Book 1 and Book 2 this summer.

2) Don’t Put Me in Coach

Written by a former college basketball benchwarmer and current Grantland columnist the book seems to be an autobiography of MarkTitus’ days at Ohio State with unique insight into the locker room. Mark being one of my favorite writers, I went and bought this book the day it came out but unfortunately I haven’t had the time yet to read it. I have looked at the pictures (right at my reading level) and found the captions full of the humor Titus is known for. If the book is anything like the captions or his amazing column, it will be a nonstop comedy train.

3) Blood of Elves

Another fantasy book and the sequel to one of my favorite books, The Last Wish, Blood of Elves should be a great collection of short stories based on a mutant monster hunter. If it’s anything like the first book it will be filled with moral shades of gray, vibrant characters, and gripping combat. Also the main character is a pure bred bad ass.

4) The Girl Who Played With Fire

Back when I saw the trailer for the Daniel Craig movie “TheGirl with the Dragon Tattoo” I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. The book ended up being so good and such a complete telling of the story that I didn’t want to experience it in any other medium and have the potential to ruin my vision of these characters. I don’t know much about the sequel aside from that I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next.

So feel free to spoil these books for me if I don’t finish them by the end of the summer, I’ll deserve it. Really I wrote this because I want to know what you are reading this summer. Post in the comments below!

The Future of MSU Basketball

            Spring football is almost here, and I cannot remember being more excited for MSU football than I am for next year. Home games vs Boise State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Iowa, and Nebraska. Being so excited I started looking through the internet at highlights of our recruits, highlights from last year etc. And being that the internet is designed to waste time I stumbled upon recruiting info for MSU's basketball team and I couldn't help but get excited for our bright future.

           

            I thought in the name of Spartan Spirit I would share my internet journey through our future. Get excited!

2012 (Next year!)

Gary Harris:

Matt Costello

Kenny Kaminski

Unfortunately there isn't much footage of Kenny yet due to an injury his senior year, but get to know the young man who at one point was more highly touted than Mr. Michigan (Costello).

adidas May Classic: Kenny Kaminski from Inside The Hall on Vimeo.

Denzel Valentine

Obviously these next few guys are not committed yet, but still, fun to think about:

2013 

Jabari Parker

So Jabari Parker, the consensus number one pick in the class of 2013 is up for grabs between Duke and Michigan State. This would be the big fish to eat all other big fish if Izzo pulled it off. All that really needs to be said is this is an NBA ready player, who can easily succeed at four positions. Hopefully, he'll be dominating the 2013 season wearing Green and White.

2014

Cliff Alexander

Yes, we are looking that far down the line, as Michigan State is the favorite (yes, the FAVORITE) to win the Cliff Alexander sweepstakes. Personally he reminds me a lot of Anthony Davis. Apart from his Chicago roots he is a tall shot blocker, strong rebounder, and as a sophomore is already building a perimeter game. Enjoy:

A lot to look forward to Spartan fans even three years down the line! These are some amazing recruits, clearly Izzo is back on top of his game. In Tom we trust!

Area 52

Hey everyone, this may come as a surprise to you, but I decided to shamelessly self-promote (again). My blog so deal with it. Seriously though a while back me and my fellow Game Design classmates finished another group of projects that I haven't had a chance to share until now.

I am very proud just to be a part of the team that put this together. We all started with a basic theme of Discovery. Then one of our members discovered how to make an algorithm that would randomly generate a different maze every time you played the game. We ran with that idea and ended up with a Telekinetic alien escaping from Area 52 (bigger and badder than Area 51).

Its a small download so please enjoy!:

Area 52

I'm also really proud (and jealous) of what my fellow classmates were capable of, so I figured I would share them with you as well.

Haunted House Hunt

Its a game with a really cool atmosphere of a dark haunted house that has interesting puzzles involving light in unique ways. Its really eerie.

Unobtanium Factor

Another game that is different every time you play, this one randomly generates an incredibly deep and varied galaxy, yours to explore.

Austin's Awesome Adventure

Another haunted game, this time in a hotel. A young boy in a 2D world looks to avoid the monsters of this scary night.

Glo-Kid: The Searchfor El Chupacabra

Another side-scroller, this time you play a Cactus who along with his Donkey, trusty whip and boomerang, must save the Chickens, and defeat the El Chupacabra. There's also an insanely addictive endless mode.

Mistbane

This game features a fully realized RPG world that will take you hours to explore, and you never know what's around each corner of this beautiful world.

Way Overboard

This game features an open world style Boat with goofy achievements, a wacky story, and plenty to see and do. Also non-stop laughs. See if you can find everything!

I really enjoyed playing all of this round's games, yours to enjoy! 

Leave any feedback in the comments below!

Everybody Love Everybody

We are now three weeks away from finals. And while the summer can't come fast enough, finals are coming way too quickly. I've mentioned multiple times on here that one of the best ways for me to forget my stress is to watch movies. I consider myself a big movie buff. Luckily Michigan State has got my fix covered. For example this weekend Semi-Pro was playing on Comedy Central, but I realized I didn't want to watch it censored and with commercials.

So I decided I wanted to watch a movie on RHA TV on demand which has an impressive list of movies that rotates, including Semi Pro. And yet, most of my friends have never heard of this website available only to on campus MSU students. So I thought  I would list my favorite movies currently available.

1. Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring

Everybody has already seen this movie, but that does not change the fact that it is one of the greatest movies of all time.

2. Semi Pro

Easily the most underrated movie in Will Ferrell's resume, featuring a great supporting cast surrounding one of Ferrell's best characters, Jackie Moon. This movie is criminally underappreciated.

3. 50/50

I am a big fan of both Seth Rogan and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (ever since his performance as the lead in one of my favorite movies: theLookout). Although this movie was sold as a comedy, it ended up being a pretty compelling drama.

4. Moneyball

A good sports movie that I enjoyed because it bucked some of the normal trends of sports movies. For example, the climactic success of the team was experienced somewhere towards the middle, usually that's a moment saved for the very end. Moreover Jonah Hill and Brad Pitt had very good chemistry.

There are other movies I've been wanting to see such as Blow and Hoosiers, and a bunch more that may be exactly what you are looking for, so check it out!

Spartan Zombies!!

Zombies are taking over Michigan State! No not really, but Michigan State clearly has a deep attachment for the reanimated brain eaters. First came the news that Michigan State would be the first accredited university to offer a course on surviving the Zombie apocalypse. Officially titled "Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse: Catastrophes & Human Behavior", the course will cover events like the Great Plague and natural disasters before focusing on the coming invasion of the undead. If you are interested the 7 week course is two credits, and is offered this summer.

And that isn't the only thing going on with Zombies on campus. Coming April 7th is the annual Spartans vs. Zombies nerf tag game. Basically you register with your friends, and carry a nerf gun while wearing a bandanna on your arm. You use the nerf gun to shoot the zombies who are wearing the bandannas on their heads. If a zombie is shot they are out of the game for 15 minutes. If a zombie tags a human that human becomes a zombie and begins their quest for brains.

Its a great time for zombies after the explosive finale of the Walking Dead. Everyone needs their fix. How are you preparing for the coming apocalypse?

Looking Back on the Basketball Season that Was

            Not a great weekend for Spartans. MSU lost in both the NCAA basketball and hockey tournament. Although it is truly a great achievement to reach the hockey tournament for first year head coach Tom Anastos, its hard to remember that being in the Sweet 16 is also a great achievement for Izzo and the basketball team. This is a team that started out unranked, and climbed to the top four at the end of the year. This a team that truly earned a number one seed despite not having number one seed talent.

            Draymond Green, through hard work and dedication, overcame his lack of raw talent to be in consideration for Player of the Year, and actually captured the Big Ten Player of the Year. MSU lost four key players from past final four runs (Chris Allen, Korie Lucious, Durrell Summers, and Delvon Roe) and a former Big Ten Player of the Year (Kalin Lucas). Moreover the recruiting class featured only one five star recruit. Despite all this Izzo took his young team of role-players into some of the toughest places to play and battled like old school MSU basketball teams do: winning with tough D and relentless rebounding.

            And so the season ended on a disappointing loss, but I'm not going to let that sour my memory of this season. The season MSU returned to top of the Big Ten. Draymond Green soared as a leader and finished his tremendous career with 2 final fours, a sweet sixteen, and Big Ten player of the year. We found promising freshman that will get better and be joined by an incredible recruiting class. We are back at the top, and that's where we are going to be for a long time. Great season boys.

Go State!

March Madness: MSU Watching Party

Its madness! What a start to the NCAA tournament! Duke, Michigan, and Missouri all go down, and Draymond Green nabs another triple double en route to a dominant victory. I couldn't ask anymore from the Basketball Gods!

Tom Izzo has this Spartan team doing what they do best: peak in March! A friend of mine shared this stat with me: MSU is 18-1 when Green has at least 4 assists, and 13-0 when he has at least 5. This team is nearly unstoppable when Draymond is attacking and seeing the court the way he is now. He's passing to where his teammates are going to be, and there's nothing the defense can do about it.

It hasn't been all Day Day. Clearly the regular season loss to Ohio State was a wake up call, and the loss of Dawson has motivated everyone to step up in his absence. Winning the Big Ten championship has given this team all the confidence it needs, with the ultimate goal: win a national championship.

This Sunday our second round match-up is scheduled for 2:45 against St. Louis. Wilson hall will be having a watching party in the East Lounge where we have pizza, drinks, prizes, multiple TV's and other fun activities. Its a great chance to watch the game with your fellow Spartans!

Hope to see you Sunday!

Go State!

Top 3 Late Night Snacks

            Well its that time on campus where everything is really ramping up. Everyone's returned from Spring break, and classes hit a breakneck pace as we approach finals. You can feel it as you walk on campus. Everybody has their thoughts turned to their projects and papers, and everyone's schedules are constantly full.

            To help my fellow students in this time of anxiety and stress, I thought I would, over the course of the next few weeks, share what helps me relax and tackle the day.

            Often I will be up late at night preparing for a deadline, desperately working to finish a paper or project. These are the nights that can really drive me crazy. Its dark outside, most everyone else is happily sleeping, and the end seems completely out of reach.

For me it helps to treat myself with some delivery food, and so I have a rotation of these top 3 treats to get me through the longer nights.

1. Insomnia Cookies

I hadn't actually had a single Insomnia Cookie until some friends turned me on to it this year. Now I can't get enough. You have to pay $6 to get delivery so I usually go with 2 jumbo deluxe cookies and milk. I can't stress enough: Don't forget the milk!

2. Domino's Pizza

Coming from Chicago I am a huge Pizza fan. I love all different kinds of pizza. And from my experiences at MSU I've learned that the Dominoes large pizza is simply the best deal when it comes to delivery pizza on campus. Its cheap, the garlic crust is delicious, and is my go to for late night meals.

3. Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches

Jimmy John's is so freaky fast that one time I didn't even order it and they delivered (true story). Seriously though Jimmy John's sandwiches are easily the best sandwiches on campus and do deliver quickly for my late night snack emergencies.

Hopefully a few of these ideas can help you through your stressful late nights as they do mine. Feel free to share your top late night snacks in the comments below.

Tanks, You're Welcome

A couple weeks ago I posted about my GameJam game Danh (The Snake God). And I got a lot of really good feedback which was cool considering I made that game in a short weekend. So I figured, why not show the game I made in class with a talented team over the course of 4 weeks? The following game we made under the theme Destruction in my TC 455 class Video Game Design and Development II.

Tanks, You're Welcome

I hope you enjoy it! Also if you can make the little download instead, the graphics receive a nice boost.

Also, if you are interested in video games as a career you should check out the video game specialization.

Rugby: The Gentleman's Sport

            Ah Rugby, they say soccer is a gentleman's sport played by hooligans, and rugby is a hooligan sport played by true gentleman. I love rugby, and have since I first dropped by my high school team's practice five years ago. I love that saying too, because truly you cannot know the chaos of a rugby battle until you've been on the pitch scrapping and fighting for 80 minutes. Yet in my experience the game has an unparalleled brotherhood. No other sport could be so brutal on the field, and yet both teams be so social and friendly immediately after the game

            Rugby is a true team sport, requiring the coordination, dedication, and unity of fifteen players towards one goal of moving the ball across the touch line. If there is a weak link on the squad, the entire team is exposed. Rugby is about standing shoulder to shoulder, holding the line when you defending ball, and supporting your brothers when attacking with the ball.

            Rugby is also a great way to get involved on campus, meet new people, and expand your social circle. I recommend anyone looking to stay in shape, looking to play a new sport, or just to stay in shape, that they try out the MSU Rugby Football Club. The Rugby club welcomes all experience levels and the best part of the sport is that there is a role for everyone from the big bruising forwards to the shifty backs.

            If you'd like more information on practices and whether the Rugby Club is right for you feel free to leave a comment or email the club at: msurfc@msu.edu.

Also, spending some time on youtube can really show you why the sport is so amazing:

IM Basketball: The Team of Destiny

Its not March yet but the madness is underway. I'm talking about basketball season in full swing. Now, Michigan State is doing great, as they have all season, and in fact, as I write this MSU has just wrapped up a signature win in Columbus. I am truly excited to watch and write about this team moving forward but at the moment I want to make a shout out to my IM Basketball team.

Our first game was our easiest opponent, which was lucky because we played sloppy. We were missing a few players and it was the first time a lot of us had played together.

The second game ended up being our hardest game. It was a battle back and forth and we really struggled for points in the first half. We fought back in the second half and we were down two with about thirty seconds to go, but we didn't have the ball. We intentionally fouled and the sequence that followed couldn't have been scripted any better. First the other team missed the first free throw. The ball awkwardly bounced to the corner where there was a scramble for the ball that we won.

So with 25 seconds left we passed the ball around on the perimeter and tried to penetrate. The ball ended up being deflected out of bounds. The refs didn't see it so they called a jump ball which meant our possession with five seconds left. We called a timeout, and there down 2 with no overtime, we were going for the win. We isolated our best player at the top of the key, who immediately drew a double team, he took a step back fade away  from 5 feet behind the 3 point line contested by two defenders that touched nothing but the bottom of the net. 48-47. Game Over!

We went on to easily win our next two games due to our new team chemistry and a confidence built by that trial by fire game. Its a really cool story and a Hollywood finish to that game which is why I love the sport of basketball. I cannot wait for the playoffs, and this is a message to other teams: give up now, you're facing the team of destiny!

Caf Showdown II: Case vs. Brody

Its the showdown everybody's been waiting for! The current title holder for best caf on campus, Brody Square, taking on the newest caf, South Pointe in Case, weighing in with a $13 million renovation. If you missed my first caf showdown Brody took down Sny/Phy in a slug it out battle.

Living in south complex I've spent the past several weeks eating at Case often so I've given it a fair shake, and I'm ready to give it my honest assessment. With that, here we go!

South Pointe (Case) vs Brody Square

Brody

Case

Great Lakes Plate vs Pangea

Both Cafs come out swinging. Great Lakes offers a good variety of rotating menu options. The rotating options are a welcome sight compared to the never changing menu offered at Brody. Yet Pangea's made-to-order stir-fry may be the best food station on campus. Its too close to call. 

Wash

Ciao vs Ciao

Both cafs offer great pizza options. However, these stations also offer deli sandwiches. At first glance this would appear to be a wash, however, Brody's sandwich options blow away Case's options with more meats, breads, wraps, and well more everything. 

Advantage Brody

Bliss vs. Dolce

For the sweettooths both cafs offer great options of desserts. Case's dessert menu is headlined by delicious crepes that you can't get anywhere else on campus. However, Brody's tollhouse cookies, MSU dairy ice cream, and milkshakes are simply unbeatable.

Advantage Brody

S2 vs. S2

Both Brody and Case offer great salad, soup, and sushi options 

Wash

Brimstone Grille vs. Brimstone Grille

So apparently the MSU is looking for brand recognition in their dining stations. Unfortunately there is an unmistakable difference between Brody's grille and Case's grille. Brody's options are made to order, and include onion rings, fries, burgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, bacon burgers, and more. Case on the other hand has nothing made to order, instead you can choose between a burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries. 

Advantage Brody

Nothing vs Cayenne's

Brody has awesome made to order southwestern food from burritos to quesadillas to nachos. Case has nothing. 

Advantage Brody

Nothing vs. Boiling Point

Brody has really great made-to-order past options. Case has nothing. 

Advantage Brody

Layout

I really enjoy the layout of Case. The seating is in one location, the food and drinks are in another. In Brody the bizarre placement of spread out seating and dining options makes for a confusing and annoying layout. 

Advantage Case

Atmosphere

I definitely prefer the color scheme of Case. That's where the compliments end for Case. Case has two TV's that are both positioned very poorly with limited visibility from the seating. Brody on the other hand has seating sections that are completely isolated from TV, and others with 8 TV's in front of them. Moreover the seating in Case feels crammed by comparison to the spread out tables in Brody.

Advantage Brody

Overall

Unfortunately, it became apparent quickly that this was not a fair fight and Case could've used more time in the gym. Brody has more options, better quality, better seating, and overall a better dining experience. Obviously both cafs have great options, however this contest has a clear winner. In a landslide Brody defends its crown as the best cafeteria on campus.

WINNER BRODY SQUARE

Global Game Jam 2012

            What a fantastic weekend! I just finished participating in my first ever Game Jam, and it happened to be Global Game Jam 2012! For the uninitiated a Game Jam is an event that starts on Friday night and ends Sunday night, so groups of anywhere from 3 to 7 (or sometimes even just 1) have 48 hours to make a game that fits a theme. The Video Game Development Club, Spartasoft, usually puts on 2-3 Game Jams per semester. However, the Global Game Jam of this 2012 is a special Game Jam because it means 48 countries, of over 1000 participants making over 2300 games!

            So we kicked it off on Friday with a keynote presentation from Will Wright, famed video game developer of SimCity, The Sims, and Spore. After forming teams we were shown this picture:

And we were told, "That's the theme: go!" And off we went! Well, after pouring in hours, blood, and sweat (minus the blood and sweat) and sacrificing sleep and regular meals, we put together this baby:

 http://globalgamejam.org/sites/default/files/uploads/2012/22657/Danh.html

My current High Score is 65, can you beat it?

Also be sure to check out the other great games made by other groups in Spartasoft:

http://globalgamejam.org/og/games/17532/list

If you are interested in joining Spartasoft or learning more about the development of video games, we meet at 7 pm on Wednesdays, and all experience levels are welcome!

Drive

Last night I went and saw the movie Drive at the UAB movies. It felt like a movie designed specifically for me. It had all the action, violence, plot twists, and of course driving scenes, that I could ask for. The entire cast was incredible from the lead  Ryan Gosling , who played a very Steve McQueen/Clint Eastwood mold lead, to the ruthless villains played by Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman, down to the supporting cast. I especially wanted to make note of the beautiful Carey Mulligan playing the love interest, and the brilliant Bryan Cranston as the wise mentor to Gosling. Finally I want to include Kaden Leos who played the kid in the movie. Good child actors are incredibly hard to find, and have the potential to assassinate a smart, well written movie. However Kaden was right on par with the excellent cast.

I was actually very shocked by the amount of violence in this film. However, the sex and gore I found were very responsibly handled so as to add to the film without distracting us with gratuitous scenes much like the Fast and Furious series. The driving scenes of course stole the movie and were very gritty and suspenseful like I haven’t seen since the Bourne Identity series. It all looked and felt real, with a very minimalist approach to CGI if there was any.

This movie was excellent in a very unexpected way to me. It had a real soul that I find rare in a lot of the blockbuster hits filling the Hollywood landscape today. I recommend this movie to any action movie fan.

I’m so glad that UAB had this free opportunity available to see such a great movie before its even released on DVD. I found the quality of the Wells projection to be improved since the last time I was there, and the sound quality was great. I was a little disappointed there was no popcorn available, and for that I got to call you out