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?