What Happens In Vegas

When I first saw the preview for this movie in theaters, I thought it looked absolutely hilarious. Unfortunately it came out at a time of year when I was unable to make time in my schedule to see it.

“What Happens In Vegas” was finally released on dvd last August 26th and I have to say… it is well worth every cent spent. Presently I’m only 14 minutes and 30 seconds into it and I’ve already had non-stop laughs. Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz make an excellent team in this movie with great on screen chemistry. It’s obvious that this movie will be hilarious all the way through regardless of whether it has a strong storyline or not (though, from all the previews and reviews I’ve seen… it has an equal balance between laughs and enough story to keep the viewer eager for more.)

If you haven’t seen this movie (or even if you have) I would highly recommend buying or at least renting this movie as soon as possible. It’s great enjoyment regardless of age or sex (this coming from a 22 year old, single, male, college sophomore). Definitely would make a great date movie or just an evening of casual viewing entertainment.

Now just over an hour into it and it seems I was 100% correct, this movie has a lot of laughs and a great story. You will NOT be disappointed in the slightest.

“What happens in Vegas… you go pay for when you get back home. That’s what the thing is.”

“If I could make someone dead, with my mind, it would be you.”

“Hey, don’t get hit by a bus. Or do… whatever.”

“Where’s the bathroom door?”
“We got robbed… and all they took was the door.”

On Wings of Wax

On of the BEST unsigned local metal bands.
Even if you're not a fan of metal/the scene I'd highly recommend checking them out.
Not my typical taste in music but I LOVE them as if I was a long time metal head.

UCO Wifi

Saturday night's storm knocked out my internet.
Called AT&T about 30-45 minutes after hoping the problem would fix itself, especially since the storm had passed. Nope, sure didn't.
After going through the bullshit automated menus and finally getting to a rep, we proceeded to dance through their script generated to solve all/most problems.
How do I know they use a script?
Besides the fact they tell you to do the exact same damn thing every time you call them in the exact same order? I went through training at one of their call centers in Ponca City. :p

So here I am at UCO... originally excited that the library is closed tomorrow because it meant that I didn't have to work. Now, not so much. It's Sunday evening, 5:59 PM, and I'm forced to use the school's internet.
This wouldn't be too bad except for four things:
1) The library closes at 11 PM (though I may try and stay later since I work here).
*2) THE UCO wifi policy.
3) The wifi isn't connecting to my laptop so I had to unplug one of their computer's dsl cable's and hook it to mine own (some things I need to do can only be done on my latop).
4) I have an event in Final Fantasy XI and I'm not used to using the laptop (PS2 version at home).

I mentioned the UCO Wifi policy above and placed an asteriks next to it for one major reason. I find it disturbing the before you log in you receive this message:
All data contained on UCO computer systems is owned by the University of Central Oklahoma, and may be monitored, intercepted, recorded, read, copied, or captured in any manner authorized by law and disclosed in any manner to the appropriate authorities, by authorized personnel.
THERE IS NO RIGHT OF PRIVACY IN THIS SYSTEM. Systems personnel may give to law enforcement officials any potential evidence of crime found on this UCO system. USE OF THIS SYSTEM BY ANY USER, AUTHORIZED OR UNAUTHORIZED, CONSTITUTES EXPRESS CONSENT TO THIS MONITORING, INTERCEPTION, RECORDING, READING COPYING, or CAPTURING and DISCLOSURE.
Anyone else disturbed by this?

Flowers For Algernon & Stargate Atlantis

Last Friday (August 22, 2008) was the premier of "The Shrine" (Season 5 Episode 6) on Stargate Atlantis. Of all the episodes to date, and with this being the final season, I can honestly say this is one of the best episodes in the entirety of the series as well as the most emotional one.

In this episode, Doctor Rodney McKay is inflicted with a disease known in the Pegasus Galaxy as "Second Childhood" caused by a parasite within the brain. By the time anyone realizes something is wrong (memory loss), the parasite had grown too big to operate. As the hours go by, more and more of the essence that makes Rodney who he is (memories, experiences, intelligence, etc.) deteriorates until he's in an innocent, child-like state of mind & being. Fortunately for Rodney's sister (Mrs. Miller) and his friends, Ronan Dex knows of a place built by The Ancients that will restore anyone afflicted with "Second Childhood" for one day... and then that person dies... with dignity, honor, and respect.

Upon watching this episode, I was instantly reminded of one of my favorite books in which I happened to been required to read during high school (otherwise I probably never would have heard of it due to it not being of my typical reading genre.)

The book is called "Flowers For Algernon" and is about mentally handicapped 37 year old man, Charlie Gordon, (with an IQ of 68) who is nominated by his teacher, Alice Kinnian, at the University Center for Retarded Adults for an experimental surgery that will increase is IQ (to 185.)
Suddenly Charlie is pulled out of his care free, innocent world and put into that same world under a different light and must learn to adapt, cope, and endure all the changes within himself as well as the external influences of the world.
The following continues from the wikipedia review:
As his intelligence, education and understanding of the world around him increases, his relationships with people deteriorate; he is fired from his job at the bakery because his colleagues there are scared and resentful of his increased intelligence. Charlie also has a troubled romance with Alice. Even though they develop strong feelings for each other, he is prevented from having a physical relationship by the spectre of a younger Charlie whom the older Charlie feels is always watching. Unable to get close to Alice, Charlie starts a purely sexual relationship with Fay Lillman, a vivacious and promiscuous artist.

Charlie notices a flaw in the theories that led Nemur and Strauss to develop their intelligence-enhancing procedure. Shortly thereafter, Algernon starts behaving erratically, his intelligence fades and he dies. Charlie starts working on the project himself and discovers that his own increased intelligence is also only temporary. As Charlie regresses intellectually, Fay becomes scared by the change and stops talking to him. However, Charlie finally attains sufficient emotional maturity to have a brief but fulfilling relationship with Alice. Despite regressing back to his former self, he still remembers that he was once a genius and cannot bear everyone feeling sorry for him. Consequently, he decides to go to live at the Warren State Home where nobody knows about the operation. In a final letter to his friends he asks them to put flowers on Algernon's grave.

As you can see, the two stories share similar ground only instead of having his intelligence increased... Rodney loses his.

If you are to only watch a single episode of Stargate Atlantis in the entirety of your life then this is the one I'd recommend the most.
Presently this episode is being hosted on MegaVideo here:
http://www.megavideo.com/?v=8CFH2TWK

And if you haven't read this book, despite being a Freshman/Sophomore in high school level book... I'd still recommend reading it and maybe even watching the television movie soon after.
Amusingly enough, in my opinion, this book has been the subject of controversy by parents of high school students and is often challenged to be removed from curriculum as well as public and scholastic libraries (with occasional success).

For more info, please visit the entirety of the wikipedia articles here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowers_for_algernon

OKCupid Politics Test

You are a Social Moderate (55% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (20% permissive) You are best described as a: Democrat Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

goddess68

Comparing RavenwindX and goddess68 A thorough analysis. Unquestionable truths. More Artistic. (RavenwindX's max: 66.4% ...goddess68's min: 70.4% ...at least 4% different) More Good. (RavenwindX's max: 36.9% ...goddess68's min: 86.7% ...at least 49.8% different) More Kinky. (RavenwindX's max: 58.6% ...goddess68's min: 66.5% ...at least 7.9% different) More Desiring of Love. (goddess68's max: 34.6% ...RavenwindX's min: 75% ...at least 40.4% different) More Old-Fashioned. (goddess68's max: 5.1% ...RavenwindX's min: 14.9% ...at least 9.8% different) More Radcliffy. (goddess68's max: 15.8% ...RavenwindX's min: 23% ...at least 7.3% different) More Desiring of Sex. (RavenwindX's max: 80.5% ...goddess68's min: 85.8% ...at least 5.3% different) More Spiritual. (RavenwindX's max: 60.2% ...goddess68's min: 90.2% ...at least 30.1% different) Link: See the comparison with sweet graphs. Individuals: RavenwindX and goddess68. Created by Harvard math grads: OkCupid - Free Online Dating.

TurnItIn - Essay #2 - Great Expectations

So... for our Victorian Period essay, I decided to go with Great Expectations. Fortunately I already had a copy of this book prior to taking the class so I just used it, reread to brush up, then wrote my paper and turned it in on TurnItIn. I'm eagerly awaiting my grade for both essay #2 in our English Lit Since 1800s class as well as #2 for Advanced Composition (despite both being turned in early and me having been waiting for a week or so now.)

I didn't realize it but I think my copy and the copy assigned for the class may be "too" different so I'll probably have to skim through/reread parts of the class copy for the rest of our postings. Hopefully it follows true enough that my essay will still be accepted. Thus far I've managed to keep A-quality work and I'll be so disappointed with myself if it slips down even slightly.

If it doesn't and I do get lower... guess I can at least look at it as a reminder to follow the course instructions using the specified material 100%. Actually, even if it is accepted I think I'll play it safe for the future so I wont have to worry about "what if..."s.