The Producers

Well, although I've been in London so far, I haven't actually gone to see a musical till tonight. Butler, the program I'm studying here through, took us to see "See how they run" which was a very comical play set during WWII. I had never seen the producers (although the movie is rampant, and I did want to) because my grandmother said that the live production was so much better, so I've waited, and now I've seen it. I had no idea what was going to happen at all really, and ended up loving the story and the music and all of it. :). It's about two men who set out to make a flop on Broadway, knowing that they can then misdirect some money and then run off with the money made to Rio. Very funny, and I loved it 100 percent! I plan on seeing many more musicals while I'm here, as it should be real fun.

A Million Little Pieces

I know I said I'd never read it, but I finally caved after taking it from my Grandparents (who couldn't make it past the start) and hearing some good reviews of it from others. The book is about a man who makes it through rehab after years of horrible drug/alcohol use in his life, and his realization that he has two choices: rehab or death. People have said that it seems fictional when you read it because of the varying writing styles that change between sections of drug memories and the eloquence he posses (coherently) when speaking to the counselors and his family. I agree with this idea, but knowing that the book wasn't real, helped me get through. Some of the book is especially vivid, and it would have been a great story of someone getting through rehab, but I think it gets by as fiction anyway. Final Review: A book to be recommended to those that can 1) stomach it, 2) handle books about serious issues and drug use, and 3) like the sort of stream of consciousness writing. (Most people can handle all three, so read if it interests you)

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

A japanese animated movie by Miyazaki, which was quite good. This one had more of a point than the last one I watched, the name of which I can't recally. Essentially, Nausicaa is the princess of a region and she tries to get the other regions to stop fighting each other, the earth, and the insects so that they can all overcome the poison that is spreading through the world. It held my attention, and for what it's worth, that's pretty good considering I could have been napping instead. Recommended for those that like animated movies, or cutesy ones.

Pomegranate, Nutella, Yellow Lights

Ah, the wonders of London. Things are different here, but really ever so slightly. A few interesting things I'd like to point out for my own amusement really. When the traffic light is about to turn red, it goes from green to yellow and to red. When it's going to turn green, it stays red -- adds yellow, and then becomes green. Very neat indeed. And a good reason for cars to get rip roaring to go at the red light.

I've been eating nutella on my bread, yum. And had a pomegranate beverage (like a cola) just today. Very interesting. There is a lot of blackcurrent in their drinks, and it's odd, but I think I'll grow to like it mixed with apple. It's just a bit tangy.

Class registration here has been a pain, but it's all almost over now and classes will start soon. Hoping for exciting doings this weekend, but as with any other, it'll unfold as it all comes along.

Speed Reading

I found something awesome on the internet once again. Or that I believe to be neat.

Spreeder

Yes, it sounds odd, but you paste text in there from the internet and the words flash by real quick and times it all out. I tried an article from BBC and it only took me 2 minutes to read through, but I'm not sure how long it would have taken reading it the old fashioned way in huge chunks. They recommend that beginners do one word to four words at a time, and then move on to quick large chunks. Seems like a good idea if not much faster... considering I was already a quick reader. Put perhaps it increases absorbancy or something. Good to check out anyway.

London at last!

So, the lack of posts has been due to the fact that I've been in London. First we had Orientation with the Butler students, from all school with a start similar to my own, including schools semi-far like in Leeds. Then we had a short homestay for a weekend, and then off to Queen Mary. Finally the internet is all set up and working properly and my pictures are up.

Click here for the pictures.

The school is really great, and classes are getting worked out, and class begins on Monday. So till then it's "Freshers Week" and we're getting orient-ed once again for the school now rather than London itself. Met a bunch of great Americans studying here (the university is 20 percent international students), and my flatmates are ... interesting! I'll try to post up general information about how everything goes, or what's up in my life, but leaving the details out for those who are near and dear and deserve to know! Email me if you'd like... really do.

Detective Shows

Being at home, and having cable, alerts me to the fact that Law and Order can be found on television almost at any hour of the day. Not to mention there are now three different types of the show on NBC during the week airing new episodes, and I think it still hits the list of most watched shows and holds its own. Perhaps because it's of a different breed then all those reality shows now on television. But tonight, oh tonight, an episode of "Homicide, Life on the Street" a show I used to love to watch every Friday night was on television. In this particular episode, they had all my classic detectives from this show and a bunch that are still on television during Law and Order.

The Interpreter

A movie about Nicole Kidman who overhears a threat to a president of an African country. She reports this threat, and the movie is about following it through to see who is going to be the cause. Sean Penn plays a member of the secret service, who first want to protect the president, then protect Nicole Kidman as well. In doing so, her past is revealed as a member of a rebel group, and her path to becoming a peacemaker as an interpreter for the UN. A unique movie in a way, but action packed and nothing special overall.

Clay Aiken and Bush!?

Newsvine reports it here.

Clay Aiken is to be named to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Ridiculousness must be surrounding the president of the U.S., because this is just unreal. Do people actually get appointed to such positions who are regular-type people? I thought that politics was for the politicians. (Not to mention in my fair state, a past Governor just got sentenced 6.5 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy, fraud, etc.)

Blogger Beta

The new blogger beta causes me to change my template, create labels, enter specific HTML code in little boxes, all because I don't feel like looking into the new way Blogger does things. But it was quite simple, and the color scheme is easy to change if I get tired of the simple white and gray. It's all new and unique, and updates quickly without the loading clock. I approve.

Speaking of new things, apparently facebook has riled people against all the new changes taking place in things called feeds. There have been numerous articles that I read each day about how many people have signed how many petitions, and even one website suggesting a boycott if the changes aren't removed. Tech writers remark on how interesting the idea is, and how if it had been an integral part of facebook in the beginning, people would have cried at its removal. I'm not sure exactly about my thoughts, but you can remove yourself from the stalking easily, so it can't be all that bad.

Late Night Television

So, after deciding I was tiring of the computer and sitting in front of it, I changed directions and headed downstairs for the tv. Now, I'm don't mean Prime-Time, but I mean the after-the-news type of television. Yes, yes, there is all that junk (think infomercials and bad reruns), but I like the David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Conan O'Brien shows. Watching tonight just brought laughter to the surface. David Letterman had a segment called "Stump the Band" where members of the audience get to first get introduced, then offer up a song that the band doesn't know, and the band tries to make something up (typically funny). So, tonight, David Letterman talked to a man named Klaus, who then forgot the song he was going to volunteer, and resorted to saying he forgot and hitting his head a few times. An uproar. He just couldn't remember. I was thinking that it was kind of sad, embarrassing yourself on late-night tv, but it just happens I suppose. Life does go on, and I'm sure his friends will only remember it all for a brief bit of his life. And still funny, nonetheless.

Shopping, Suburbs, and soon-to-be London

I'm super shopped out.  After having to drive to some far away suburb (or sort of far) to get new tires for the car, I decided to hit up all the stores out there in search of some boots.  Yes, crazy me, but the roads out there are terrible and I ended up going around blocks and making turns in abandoned parking lots and waiting in long lines to turn left.  It's definitely a trade off between that and not being able to park in the city.  But I guess both worlds have their own perks.  Plus, I was able to get not one, but two pairs of lovely boots (one of which I'll return), making me almost ready to leave for London.

I spoke to Kenn this morning about his trip to Hokaido, and his welcoming (or some members of the family were) and lovely and kind host family.  I hope the family I stay with for the few days I do are nice too.  And I found out about my living situation in London (a specific dorm, hurrah), and got more approval for classes that I can take and which count for credit.  If only I could end up deciding.  Life isn't too tough, but decisions are nerve wracking.

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Indiana Jones

Now I've seen the whole trilogy, in a row too. I'd really only seen the second (something of Doom), but I liked the last one best. The last Indiana Jones movie had Sean Connery as the father of Indiana Jones, and he was just fabulous as the indifferent, not paying attention father-type. Quite a chuckle. If you haven't seen them, it's a time investment, but it's a good investment, because even though we know Indiana gets out alive and gets the girl, it's fun to watch. Enjoy if you'd like.