The Year In Review

There's only a few hours left in 2013, which is hard to fathom, considering how I never thought I'd make it to this point so many times this year.  During those times, things really did feel that bad, but now that I've had some time to reflect, they weren't that terrible;  I struggled with family, relationship, and school issues like any person, but I got through them to have one of my best years in ages.  Yes, lots of my friends moved away, but I've still been in contact and seen some of them.  I got my best grades in school this past calender year, and I've progressed a lot in terms or my confidence, which is important for the future.  It's always sad to move on from something good, but no need to feel down, since that just means more opportunities in the future. 

It's not New Year's yet, but Happy New Year everyone!  Let's make 2014 as great as 2013 was!

I often ask/wonder what New Year's means, and this sums it up pretty nicely

Frozen

Frozen (PG)

Grade: B+

• Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
• Produced by: Peter Del Vecho
• Screenplay by: Jennifer Lee.  Based on "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen
• Starring: Kristen Bell (Anna), Idina Menzel (Elsa), Jonathan Groff (Kristoff), Josh Gad (Olaf), Santino Fontana (Hans), Alan Tudyk (Duke of Weselton), Ciarán Hinds (Grand Pappie The Troll King), Chris Williams (Oaken), Maurice LaMarche (King of Arendelle)
• Music by: Christophe Beck
• Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Distributed by: Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures
• Released: November 27, 2013
• Running Time: 108 minutes/1 hour and 48 minutes
• Language: English

"Why do you shut me out?  Why do you shut THE WORLD out?  What are you so AFRAID of?"

-Anna

Everyone feels or says what's above at least once in their lives.  If we didn't, then we wouldn't be human.  The same applies to the characters in "Frozen" as well, the newest film from Disney, that is perfect for the Winter season.  I saw this film recently with no expectations and knowing nothing about the plot.  And besides a few things I personally disliked, I think this is one of the strongest Disney films in quite a long time.

Seeing the film in the theater made it a sight to behold and kept me warm, but that changed instantly once the film started.  The film opens with two young sisters named Elsa and Anna (Elsa is older, while Anna is younger).  One day, while playing late at night, tragedy strikes when Elsa accidentally does something to Anna.  It causes great distress for their parents, who seek help to fix the problem.  The solution is not one Elsa approves of, but she has no choice but to accept it for the good of her family.  By accepting it though, her close relationship with her sister changes.  They don't see or talk to each other anymore, and they especially don't play in the snow, which they used to love to do.  Flash forward to a few years in the film, when both sisters are older.  It's a special day in both their lives because Elsa is having her coronation, and the castle gates will be open for the first time in years.  But by doing so, both of their lives are put in danger in ways they don't see coming.

Now, when I said that there were a few things I disliked about this film personally, I mean things that probably didn't bother others, but bothered me.  For instance, the music in the film film was below average to me.  Some critics say that this has been Disney's best musical film since the Disney Renaissance era, and while I agree with that sentiment, that's not saying much, since Disney hasn't tried putting memorable songs in their films for years.  And when they have, they've either been in Pixar films, or songs by other artists, like in "Wreck-It-Ralph", where you know the music wasn't solely made for the film.  "Frozen" has some of the same problems.  I enjoyed a few of the songs, but others were badly placed, and sounded too much like pop music on the radio.  Also, some plot events moved too fast and were never fully explained or referenced again.  This is nothing new for Disney, but it would help to give more depth to the characters, which I feel many Disney films often lack.  Lastly, I feel as though "Frozen" suffered from what some people call the "Full Metal Jacket" effect, where one half of the film is good, but the other half stinks.  The first half of this film wasn't that great to me, but the second half blew me away, which really made it spectacular.

While the negatives of "Frozen" seem like a lot, they do not outweigh the positives I saw from the film.  Like I mentioned earlier, the second half of the film really surprised me because its plot twist, that changed the film in a way that I didn't expect at all.  I thought I could predict what was going to happen since I've done it before in so many other films, but I couldn't predict anything at all this time.  The interaction between characters, the humor, how the film ended; it was fantastic.  The cast also deserves credit.  Only one actress was known, yet they all did a good job, regardless of whether they had a major role or not.  The main reason I think the film appealed to me though, was because of the theme's that I thought it instilled.  The theme's that you should really get to know a person before making a decision with them, or that there's more than one way to show love to somebody.  They're things that we all know or believe, but to see how it was portrayed on screen was fascinating.

The animation of the film was something I marveled at, like I always do when I see how animation is done now.  It's changed so much for me, like it has for everyone who grew up with hand-drawn Disney films.  Whenever I see new HD animation for TV shows, I hate it because I think it takes away from the show and makes it look worse, but for films, such as this one from Disney, I think the new technology works since it does it gradually, and it's more consistent and realistic compared to some films and shows.  I'm surprised my stance on animation has changed, since usually when it comes to films, I'm pretty stubborn, but it's time to accept technology and what it can now accomplish.  Personally, I don't think I'll ever be used to it, but it's amazing to think it can make animation look that realistic, making me wonder what's in store for the future...

In the end, despite a frigid first half to the film, "Frozen" is a great film from Disney.  I don't know if it's better than "Wreck-It-Ralph" was (which had similar animation), but since it's about issues that relate to people, I think it was a bit more memorable and stronger.  Regardless of how I feel though, if you enjoy animated films, you'll like this film.  And if you love Disney like I do, I don't think you'll be disappointed.  Yes, some things are poorly tied together, and some songs sound like Carly Rae Jepsen, but it's great to see Disney go back to their roots, and do a film based off a fairy tale so well (even if it is loosely done).  "Frozen" isn't up their with some of the best from the Disney Renaissance, but it's safe to say it has stood out from the pack of recent Disney films.

Picture Of Your Life

I nearly almost dropped a picture frame in my house today, but luckily, was able to catch it before it broke.  As I caught it, I stared at the image, which was a picture of my mom.  It was striking, not just because it was an image of my mom in the past, but because of the fact, it was a picture.  Pictures are everywhere in the world now, especially with the advancement of social media and technology, but rarely do I see pictures developed and put into picture frames anymore.  Yes, people can post pictures online, but there's something disconcerting to me about posting so much information online.  Pictures are supposed to be personal, not things anyone can see.  And they represent a part of your life, which is why people hold onto them for sentimental reasons.

With Christmas now over until next year, and the fact I didn't get many presents (which is the norm now that I'm older), I think the perfect present I could get from anyone would be a picture frame with my family or friends in it.  It's simple, but it would mean a lot to have them with me (such as at school), even when they're not around.  Also, as crazy as it sounds, sometimes you forget what some of your friends look like, if it's been a long time.  Pictures can obviously never capture the real thing, but it's nice to see them at all, and remember the memories, which is why pictures are so important. 

I'm not a very photogenic or photo-positive person, but perhaps it's time I start being that way...

Holiday Traditions

With Christmas here today, I'm filled with nostalgia.  Even though my family doesn't celebrate it as much as they used to, I still feel happy for it because of what it entails.  The lights, the presents, the sports, but what really stands out to me are the music and films/shows since they encompass what the holidays are really about in their own unique way.  Many people are tired of Christmas songs and specials at/by this time, which I understand, but for someone like myself who doesn't experience the holidays the same way as others, I find them very entertaining and reassuring, since even though life may change, they never do.  So, with that in mind, here are some songs I hope you all enjoy, which have become tradition to me on Christmas.  I'd mention specials, but there are tons of those out there (and they're hard to find clips for).  Happy Holidays!

The first Christmas song I fell in love with.  Just a beautiful ballad to listen to overall

The newest Christmas song I discovered, but amazing because of its message and all the singers involved

But, who can forget the classic...

Soap Opera Tragedy

I've watched lots of TV over the years, but one thing I can't understand is the fascination with soap operas.  They're hard to define, but to me, they're shows with amateur actors and lots of melodrama about things that don't make sense with relationships, secrets, etc.  The first time I was exposed to soap operas was when my sisters constantly used to watch Days of Our Lives and Passions after school.  And while they were interesting because of their plot, that's about the only positive I could say about it besides the fact they usually had good looking casts.  The plot, while interesting, was terrible, the music didn't add anything, and the effects on some of the shows were so unbelievable, that they made me question if I was watching an Ed Wood film.

As time progressed, my feelings about soap operas began to change because of shows like The O.C.  They had similar issues as other soap operas, but at the time, something about it seemed different.  The cast was good looking, but seemed rugged.  And the plot, while unbelievable at times, at least seemed like it could happen to real people, compared to what I used to watch on Days of Our Lives and Passions.  With time, I eventually stopped watching the O.C., but eventually began to miss it as time passed by.  Once I re-watched it again though, I understood why I stopped.  It just wasn't that good anymore.

Now, with my sisters being home, I've been exposed to Degrassi; a show that isn't really a soap opera, but seems like it with how long it's been on the air and the ridiculousness of it.  I haven't seen enough episodes to really critique it (because why would I), but I hate the fact these shows exist!  They might be entertaining to viewers, but they're a waste of time.  What merit do they have?  Do they teach any morals?  I remember coming home from school as a child and being able to find quality TV programming that was either educational or taught lessons I could use in real life.  But now, it's all this soap opera garbage, which is the biggest tragedy out of all of this.   

Confession Of A Friend

Because I'm busy today, there isn't much time for me to say anything, so with that in mind, here's a song by 2AM I've been in love with for some time called "Confession Of A Friend".  It's a beautiful ballad song talking about what happens when friends like each other or become friend-zoned.  It's pretty sad, but very powerful at the same time.  And because of the topic, it's safe to assume everyone has been here before.  Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the song like I have. 

Pho

Today, I had pho (prounounced fa/pha) for the first time in years, which for those of you who don't know, is Vietnamese noodle soup with broth, meat, and veggies.  I wish I could say more about it, but with all the variations of it, I don't want to give inaccurate information.  During a winter day like this, nothing hits the spot like well done soup,  Yes, the ingredients may be rich and salty, which is bad for someone like me who has to watch my health, but sometimes, it's okay to indulge, which I've learned from my attempts at losing weight.

My day as a whole was alright with ups and downs, but eating this soup definitely made me feel better, showing the power food has to make a person feel better when the world makes you feel down.

Delivery Men At Your Service

They say "There's no such thing as a terrible job, just a job done terribly" (or something like that).  Even though I've never worked before, it's a saying I wholeheartedly agree with since getting a job of any kind and doing it well is difficult.  That's why I've never understood why people hate delivery men so much (I know there are delivery women in the world, but since I've never met or seen one, for the context of this post, I'll just talk about men).  Yes, some of them can have bad moods, but think about where things from their position.  They deliver things for a living, have to take orders from higher up, their jobs aren't guaranteed, and they work long hours with sometimes long commutes.  I'm not saying other jobs don't have these things, but delivery men are around in the world all the time, whether they're delivering packages or a pizza. 

This is on my mind because yesterday, my family tried having furniture delivered for the 2nd time, but like the 1st time, one piece got scratched.  It's not the deliverer's fault since they just picked the furniture up from the warehouse and delivered it, but most people would blame them, when I really think they they should back off.  Delivery men aren't perfect, but some of them (like those I met yesterday) are nice guys, just trying to do their jobs.  We wouldn't want to be constantly judged, so I think people should ease off on their treatment of these guys, especially since they're here to help/serve us.

Shoveling Snow

Living on the East coast (or any place that gets snow), it's pretty common to see people shoveling this time of year.  It's a pain to do, but unless you have a snow-blower or plows magically learn to fit on sidewalks, it's the only thing you can do to clear snow.  Usually after every storm, I help out shoveling, but since I couldn't this time, I watched as all the inches of snow accumulated.  That was bad enough on its own, but add the snow to all the ice that was on the ground from the previous week, and you had terrible travel for drivers and commuters like myself. 

When I went to school this morning, I feared the worst, but was pleasantly surprised to see it wasn't that bad outside.  The temperature wasn't that cold and some of the snow was melting already, which gave me high hopes.  But my hopes quickly disintegrated when I saw some of the sidewalks I had to walk through were piled high with snow.  I couldn't believe it!  I wanted to go around the snow somehow, but since I couldn't, I took the plunge and just walked right onto it, with my jeans and shoes getting soaked from the ordeal.  Eventually, I got through all the walkways of snow and reached school, but my walk to school took an extra 15 minutes and I nearly slipped a few times.

Looking back on my morning now that a few hours have passed, I suppose it wasn't that bad.  I got some studying done, returned my rented books, got some candy, and even found an alternative, albeit more dangerous route back to my place, which avoided most of the snow.  But I cannot get over the fact that people did not shovel their walkways.  It's been a little over a day now since it stopped snowing!  Are you telling me that you couldn't find the time to make it a little clearer?  Or put some ice salt down or something?  I understand being a little lazy, but when your laziness has the potential to hurt or inconvenience someone, that's when I think it's wrong.  You live in Massachusetts.  You know the drill with snow.  I swear, they should make a law fining people for not shoveling, unless they have a good reason.  It's ridiculous that it's this tough to get around!

With more snow on the way tomorrow, hopefully it isn't worst, or else I'm going to have another tough day getting around, which I certainly don't want as finals end tomorrow.

Film Reviews Beforehand

Yesterday, I talked to one of my friend's I hadn't talked to in ages.  The first thing we did was catch up, but afterward, we immediately talked about what we should do the next time we saw each other.  We both agreed on eating, but he wanted to see "Anchorman 2" once it came out, while I was hesitant.  I like Will Ferrell films (which might surprise some people), but I was low on money, and not as high on this film from what I saw from the trailers.  Because of that, I told him I wanted to see some of its reviews first, but he said he didn't want to do that and would see it regardless.  I respected his motives, but didn't really understand that blindness to films.

When it comes to films, people are split on whether you should read reviews beforehand.  If you read the reviews before you see a film, the plot could be spoiled or your mind could be made up before you even see the film.  But if you don't read the reviews, you run the risk of wasting your money on a potentially terrible film, or being misled by the title.  I suppose it's up to preference what to do, but I wonder how other film critics/viewers feel since we take films seriously.  Artistically, you don't want to be influenced, but as a viewer, you want to know what you're getting yourself into, especially if you have limited funds and rarely see films in theaters like I do.

Of course, whenever conflicted, you can always do what I do and look at the Rotten Tomatoes score, which comprises the ratings of all critics and audience members.  The nice thing here is that while it tells you how others feel about a film, it doesn't spoil things for you, and gives you a percentage of how many people like or dislike a film.  It may feel wrong to leave the choice of seeing a film up to a number, but it seems even worst leaving it blindly to chance.  I don't know if I'll see "Anchorman 2", but I know what I'll be doing beforehand.

Question: How about you guys?  Do you ever look at other critic's reviews or a site like Rotten Tomatoes, or do you just wing it?

Naps

Waiting for my finals to come is a long and draining process, especially in this snowy weather, which has basically trapped me in my room.  With that being the case, besides watching shows on my laptop, I've been napping almost everyday.  I suppose it's a good thing, but to me, I see it as a negative because there's a myth that you gain weight if you nap/sleep often.  That may just be something I was told when I was obese, but it's something that has stuck with me my whole life.  Naps are good, especially in college, but everyone knows there is a time when you have to wake up and face life.  On weekends like this though, where the weather sucks, I don't think there is anything wrong napping and staying warm. 

Hope things improve outside, but until then, I guess I'll take another nap.  Wake me up when this storm is over.

LaMarcus Aldridge

Now entering his 8th season in the NBA, LaMarcus Aldridge is finally getting the recognition he deserves

The NBA All-Star game isn't for another few months, but that hasn't stopped the league from releasing the voting leaders in each conference.  In the East, LeBron James leads the Eastern Conference in votes, while Kevin Durant leads the Western Conference.  No surprise considering they're both the best and most popular players in the game arguably/currently.  What's surprising though, is that LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the top players in the NBA this year (and quietly over the past few years) is 8th in voting and 3rd in the power forward race behind Kevin Love and Blake Griffin.  I can understand why that is since they're both accomplished, and talented, but so is L-Marc.  And it's time the league recognize he is one of the best power forwards in the game.

The first time I was exposed to LaMarcus Aldridge was when he played for Texas back in college.  That was such a long time ago, but I remember those as better times since I was in love with college basketball back then.  Since I live in Boston, which isn't a huge college basketball town, it was hard to follow L-Marc, but whenever he was on TV or playing in the tournament, I watched with envy, wishing the Boston Celtics would draft him (or anyone that could make them better).  He ended up being drafted by the Chicago Bulls, which drew criticism because he was taken so high,  and was then traded to the Portland Trailblazers for basically nothing.  It took a few years for L-Marc to develop his game since he was so lean and just had a few moves, but after a few years, his hard work showed.  His jump shot improved, his post moves got better, and he got bigger.  His defense and rebounding were always his weakest attributes, but even they improved by his 5th year.  Now in his 8th year, it's safe to say he is entering his prime, as he has lead the Trailblazers to the best record in the West.  It's premature to think they can stay there all year, but just the fact they've surprised this many people shows how many people doubted them.

With L-Marc's play this year being this spectacular (30-20 stat-lines some nights), I'm annoyed that even though he has more recognition than usual, he's still behind people like Kevin Love and Blake Griffin in all-star votes.  Kevin Love, I will give you, is a better player, but Blake Griffin is not.  Even though he is having his best statistical year (finally), all he does is dunk.  He has not carried his team like L-Marc has.  Yes, L-Marc has Damian Lillard, but Blake has CP3, who last I checked, was the best point guard in the game.  I know that the all-star spots are up to the fans, and they should be allowed to vote for who they want to see, but I wish they would reward someone who works their tail off, plays in a small market, and is a humble/quiet superstar, who leads by example.  L-Marc will probably be a reserve, which is a great honor in itself, but if he started, he would be on prime time, and people would finally start giving the Trailblazers the recognition and respect they deserve.

I know I'm one voice, and I can't make up the thousands of votes that others have in front of him, but let's acknowledge and throw our support to LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the best and most underrated power forwards in the game today, who plays not only fundamental basketball, but most importantly, team basketball.  The Trailblazers may be a long-shot to win the NBA title, but if they do, LaMarcus Aldridge will be one of the reasons why.

My First Resume

Like everyone, whenever I accomplish something, I can't help but feel proud.  There haven't been many instances in my life that I could do that, but I can honestly say, I feel that way now because I just completed my first resume.  I have to admit, it probably isn't perfect, and was only created as a final assignment for class, but I MADE IT!  I'm not sure if you understand that.  I have no experience and don't think I have any important qualities, so making this is a big deal since I didn't think it was possible for me to make one.  I wish I could take credit for making it, but credit has to go to those at Career Services for helping me.  They talked to me, and gave me handouts, which had resume tips and sample resumes I could look at to help format mine.  Since the resume I made is only for a writing job, I'll probably have to make another, but I don't mind now because after looking back on the experience, it was pretty cool and definitely rewarding.  I just wish I had more information to put on mine, but you have to deal with what you have.  Regardless, this is a step in the right direction for my confidence and my future.  Even though I'm late, I hope I can make it.

Friends Forever?

As I get older, one of the things that surprises me is how scared I am of lots of things.  Most people think you're more scared as a child, but that's only because of age and discovering fear for the first time.  Once you get older, I think you get scared about the responsibilities of school, being on your own, and what I've started to notice the past few years, which is that the people who once mattered in my life aren't around that much anymore; it's something that pertains not just to family, but friends as well.

When I was in high school, I had this absurd notion that my closest friends and I would stay friends forever.  Where I got this notion from?  I'm honestly not sure.  I know some of it was from TV because all the shows I watched like Boy Meets World and Saved By The Bell had their friends staying together for life.  Another influence were my parents because they both still keep in contact with friends from their childhood.  And if they could do it, why not me?  My friends and I were close, we were good people, and most of all, we had core values that were unique and made us stick together.  But even we couldn't plan for the future.  There were other schools outside of state, new job opportunities, the chance to start life anew, or people were just busy with their own priorities if they were still here.  It's something that's hard for me to adjust to, but I understand it since we're all getting older now.

Currently, I have what I would define as no social life.  Most of my high school friends are gone or too busy with their own stuff.  And others, I just grew apart from or had falling outs like all people do.  It's sad things ended up that way, especially since at the time, we almost seemed inseparable, but you can't be friends with everyone your whole life, which is why I'm glad for the few friends that are still there for me.  We all may still have our whole lives ahead of us, but there's a reason why we're still friends, and I hope we break the trend and do last forever.

2AM

Just when I thought I was done finding new K-Pop stuff to listen to since 2PM, SHINee, and miss A haven't released anything new I haven't heard yet, 2AM comes out of nowhere into my life.  And I have to say, they're now my second favorite K-Pop group after 2PM.  Why?  Well, for one thing, I love ballads, and since 2AM is a ballad group, they had me won over from the start.  Also, they have great vocals and sing with such heart.  I'm not saying 2PM or SHINee don't have great vocals because they do, but there's no doubt there are members in their groups that have stronger voices than others, while in 2AM, their voices are in unison, which makes sense since again, they are a ballad group.  After listening to them, I can see why some people call them the Korean Boyz II Men.  A stretch perhaps, but I love all their songs, and love their members, Jo Kwon, Seulong, Jinwoon, and Changmin.  I know it sounds like I'm being a JYP Entertainment homer because I like most of their groups, but give their songs a listen, and I think you will be touched like I've been.  It's a shame they don't get more publicity because they don't do as much dancing, or ripping their shirts off, but that's what makes them distinct.  And as I always say, that means more for us true fans.

Enjoy IAMS!

This is 2AM's song "You Wouldn't Answer My Calls".  I'm not sure if it's my favorite song by them, but it's one of their earliest hits, and one that leaves such a vivid image in my mind.  POWERFUL!

Finished With Classes

I just woke up from a 2 hour nap, which is nothing extraordinary, besides the fact I did it knowing I finished classes officially today for the semester!  Best of all, I handed in/took 2 of my finals already, so I only have 1 left I have to take on Tuesday.  It sucks I have to wait so long because now I have to use money on food, and I really want to go back home, but some time to study will do me some good and keep me motivated.  Whenever it gets to this point in a semester, I always look back and reflect since I have a good memory, and remember the first days of all my school years, so I'm just amazed it came and went so fast.  At that time, the semester felt eternal, but now that it's basically over, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hope anyone who has finals or is finishing school ends it strong!

Too Much Make-Up

Words with different meanings always stand out to me, especially when the two meanings are used so differently.  Take the word make-up, for example.  In sports, if someone has good or bad make-up, that has to do with character issues.  But with cosmetics, make-up is what it is.  Something artificial to enhance someone's looks (sorry if I'm inaccurate with this, but just an opinion).

Make-up has come to my mind separately 4 different times the past few months.  The first time was when I found out one of my friends wore make-up when she went partying; a surprise to me because I think she's beautiful just the way she is (but the club scene is apparently different than anything I'm accustomed to).  The second time I thought about it was in my Psychology and Women class, since it related to the Beauty Myth and women's self esteem, which I found particularly interesting.  And yesterday, I thought about the issue twice.  Once was in class, when one of my friends told the story of how much she used to weigh, which was shocking because I never knew she used to look like that before.  While the other time was when someone who lived in my building walked by and was wearing way too much make-up; it was toxic.

All of these experiences are different, but they have one commonality, which is that we live in a culture that is obsessed with beauty.  I've talked about it before in my other blog post, but this time, I'm focusing on one specific thing.  I understand why make-up is around, and why we all want to look our best, but I think for women and even men who wear it, it is so unnecessary.  You're beautiful for being who you are, and that is something make-up can never do.  All it does is attract the wrong person to you (if you go clubbing), or knock people out, if you wear too much of it.  Since I've never worn makeup before, I can't say firsthand it's really that negative, but anything that has activists angry, isn't natural, or puts a person at risk doesn't sound good to me.  Not to mention, it takes forever for people to put on.  And by the time you're done, you forget why you even bothered putting it on in the first place.

I know women won't change any time, and the cosmetics industry is booming unfortunately from their advertisements and sales, but I hope there comes a day when men and women can look at a mirror and be confident in themselves.  That's good make-up to me.

MLB Free Agency

(L-R) Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Marlon Byrd, Matt Garza, Brian McCann, and Hiroki Kuroda are just some of the free agents who have signed, or are still on the market

The Winter meetings started in Orlando officially today, but besides when the Red Sox signed Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to terrible contracts years ago, they've usually been a letdown to the weeks prior, in which at least one marquee free agent signs somewhere.  Last week was no exception as many stars took their "talents", as LeBron James would say, to new teams.  The biggest free agent Robinson Cano signed a mega 10 year, $240 million dollar contract with the Seattle Mariners, while Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, and Carlos Beltran signed with the New York Yankees for some questionable dollars.  None of this is anything new in baseball, but mega contracts for players during free agency is starting to become a problem, if it hasn't already been for the past decade.

Major League Baseball is not the only sport with contract issues, but they are the one that gives out the most money, has guaranteed contracts, and no salary cap.  It's bad enough that other smaller teams do not have an advantage signing free agents because they do not have enough funds, but it is even worse when players who aren't stars are getting paid as one, like Robinson Cano; he is a good player, and arguably the best 2nd baseman in the game, but his stats don't blow me away, he's never won an MVP, and is not the transcendent superstar Barry Bonds (despite PED allegations) or even Derek Jeter ever were.  Not to mention, he doesn't hustle all the time, which is a problem for any athlete.  For a team like the Mariners, who are starving to win, I see what they're trying to do, but I don't see this ending well since when was the last time a long term contract went well?  Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, etc.?  Those guys are once in a generation players, and as hard as it is to believe, another Robinson Cano will come along someday.  Baseball is not changing any time soon, especially with egotistical superstars who want money, but for the better of teams, I hope it changes.  No one is worth that much money!  And think of everything else that money could be used for.  Other players, advertising, improving the ballpark.

When a player asks, unless it's a good deal, just say no!

Downloading Music

Yesterday, I made an iTunes account for the first time ever (late, I know) because I wanted to download some K-Pop music I've been listening to.  It surprised me how much I wanted the music since usually I just ask my brother to help me or wait, but what surprised me even more was how complicated it was making an iTunes account.  There was so much information I had to put in, as well as other security features, which I was not prepared for.  But all things are like this now for protection, which I appreciate.

With that being the case, that brings me the issue of downloading music.  Everyone knows piracy is such a huge issue because it is easy to do and difficult to enforce.  But I do not think people should do it, whether for music, movies, or anything.  Yes, I know it saves money, and companies have boatloads of it, but think of all the musicians you listen to.  Some of them are struggling and need the sales to earn a living.  And for ones who do make a profit, depending on a contract, they may not even receive much money.  This reasoning is the way K-Pop fans feel because they truly love and want to help the musicians they listen to.  Some may think this is silly, but I don't think it's silly to obey the law and help support the musicians who bring happiness into our lives with the music they create.   

Downloading anything is a yes or no thought process, but know that it's more than that, and we, as individuals, have the choice to make a difference.

PS4 And XBox 1

In all my years of being a fan of video games, I can't recall as much buzz about gaming systems I know as little about as the PS4 and XBox 1.  I know they're the next generation video game systems of the top 2 gaming brands out there (sorry Nintendo), but that's it.  Other than that, everything I know is from commercials, parodies of it (like on South Park), and all the news stories I hear about what people will and have done for them.  It's crazy to think gaming systems cost over $600-700 and controllers over $50 now, when back in the day Sega and Nintendo 64 merchandise costing between $100-200 was too much.  I guess it shows how far technology has advanced in 20 years, or how obsessively crazy everyone has become.

I have yet to physically see or try either system, but they both look nice, while the graphics are ridiculously realistic.  In the past, I think I preferred the Xbox more than Playstation because my friends and I played games together more on that, and to me, it seemed a lot cheaper.  But now, I think I've shifted toward being a fan of Playstation since there's no question I play games on it more, there's less bugs, etc.  Of course, I'm no expert on gaming, but these are just my two cents on the two new gaming systems.  I only know one friend who has a PS4, and he says it is awesome, but there's no one else besides him.  Everyone may prefer new technology, but like a lot of things in life, I like the classic/vintage stuff.  Luckily, my Gameboy Color and Sega Dreamcast still work, so while everyone is playing their new stuff, I'll be stuck in the old.

If only my batteries and memory card still worked...

Half The Effort

At this time of the semester, when there's only one full week left of school, everyone is tired.  We're tired of the syllabi, the homework, the tests.  And we're just tired of going to class in general.  I think it's natural for teachers to assume students feel this way, and being a student myself, others vocally make it known how tired they are of school.  But one thing I cannot stand is when a student gives half the effort in class during this time.  In high school, this was something called "senioritis", when students at the end of the year didn't care about work or school anymore because they were on their way to graduation, but I hate it.  Why?  I hate it because it sends the wrong message to other students, and laziness is just so unbecoming of a person.  Also, you worked so hard the past few years to get to this point, so why stop now when you're so close?  I understand wanting to take a break, but what if something happens, like something messes up with your financial aid, or you slack off so much, you fail a class you need to pass?  I know these are all extremes, but they do happen to people.

In the end, I suppose I'm in the minority how I feel about this since I think anyone would want to celebrate being done with school; I just think there is a better way to do it than giving half the effort.  And if you do that, at least keep it to yourself.  We don't like having things rubbed in our faces.  Some of us are still trying to learn and are giving it our all.

Classic

Today has been a great day so far for a number of reasons.  I got through one class that I wasn't looking forward to, did better on an essay than I thought I would, and am inching another step closer to being done with school for the semester.  I think the reason I've been most happy today though is because of another new K-Pop song I just discovered, called "Classic", which is a very cute video about love, starring a bunch of my favorite artists/idols.  They have three members of 2PM appear in the video, and while that's not everyone like I would have wanted, Wooyoung, Taecyeon, and Chansung are better than no members.  And while I'm new to Miss A, I have to admit, I love Suzy and think she is adorably beautiful (if that makes sense).  Can't get much better than that, so I hope you all enjoy this music video that is more like a film, and prepare to feel good inside. 

Copyright 2012 to JYP Entertainment.  All Rights Reserved