The Hunger Games has the odds in its favor.

Even in its second week out, as this article states, The Hunger Games is still the top grossing film for the weekend, over the new movies Mirror Mirror and Wrath of the Titans.


This, just isn't surprising whatsoever. I've seen Hunger Games and Wrath, and while they're both great, HG is quite the flick.


Now, I never read the books, but my girlfriend has, and she was dying to see The Hunger Games. As time has gone on, I saw more and more of the trailers for it, and honestly became a bit excited myself. We didn't get to see it opening day, but we saw it the next day. As most fans of the books have stated, it's apparently right in line with the books, save for one or two minor details, but that's always to be expected when translating something that takes a few days to get through into something that's only a couple hours long. The film didn't slow down from start to finish, and kept my attention every second through. We ran out to see Wrath of the Titans today, as well. A lot of critics have been bashing it, mostly for not having a "big, driving story", but truthfully, when you go to see a movie like that, you're really going to be entertained and watch some big battles! The CGI and 3D were much better than its predecessor, and we were both thoroughly entertained. However, it was no Hunger Games. Wrath was all about the big monsters, shiny Gods, and crazy fights. Games was about a dystopian world, where children are forced to fight to the death, and the struggles they face both in and out of the arena. Our teenage years are already the most trouble times of our lives, so to be shoved into such a dangerous situation only makes it tougher.



I suggest you go see both, if you're into the particular types of movies. Either one will surely entertain you.

Peyton's a Bronco?

As this article by the Washington Post states, Peyton Manning was recently picked up by the Denver Broncos, which in turn shortly made Tim Tebow a new Jet up in New York. As the news post states, the football world is ever-evolving, and no player seems truly safe at "home".


After going through the shock and upset of Manning being cut from the Colts, the last thing (or damn near it) I wanted to hear was that he'd be a Bronco. I've never really been a fan of the team, and now I have to root for the win, because they're being helmed by my hero.


There were rumors and speculations going around that he might be picked up by the Titans down in Tennessee. I would've been more than okay with that. Most sports fans have three groups of teams: the teams they like, the teams they "hate", and the teams that are basically neutral. Tennessee was a neutral team for me. I've enjoyed watching them from time to time in the past, and seeing Peyton go back home (he went to college in Tennessee) would've been fun. I had heard he might go with the Chiefs as well, and as much hate as I generally get for it, what with living in their turf, I haven't been a Chiefs fan since I was little (and only then because my family picked my clothes!).


I suppose he has to decide what's best for himself, and at this point I just want to see him finish his career in a strong manner, hopefully with another ring or two. He deserves to end with a bang, not with an injury-created wimper. Go Peyton! ...and go Broncos I guess.... lol

Spring Break's gone...

Well obviously, as my title says, spring break has come and gone. I was hoping to catch up on some makeup work over the week, but I ended up with some horrible throat issues.

I'm not exactly sure if it's actual strep throat, tonsillitis, or something different entirely, but I haven't been able to legitimately talk for a solid week now, and have had horrible pains for a few days more.


I've tried taking it easy, but nothing's been helping at all. We went to Olive Garden yesterday for some soup and salad, and even though my other (better) half had to order for me, as her voice is lucky and still present, the soup seemed to calm the pain a bit. Hopefully if I keep trying to rest this weekend, I can actually hit the campus next week.



It seems this semester/year/decade(?) is the "horribly-plagued-with-illness-almost-weekly" stage of my life? Who knows!

A rough week over here

The title here is pretty self explanatory. I have had a rough and busy week.

To tack on to my already frustrating health issues, I've been battling a good ol' case of the flu bug. I just can't seem to shake it either! I managed to get caught up on some work I'd fallen behind on in my classes though, so it wasn't a total loss. My Social Problems project group also got to meet with a community partner to discuss a bit of our project and get a big step forward, one we've been waiting to take for a couple weeks now. I must say I can't WAIT for spring break to get here. I'm calling this year's edition "Sleep Break".

I'll be heading down into Arkansas next Saturday for my girlfriend's uncle's wedding, then we're going to come back up here and spend the weekend hopefully relaxing and airing out our busy minds. I'm really hoping we have nice weather so I can sleep with my windows open all week.


Thinking about spring break just makes me realize the semester's half way over, and we're that much closer to summer break. I've got a nice playlist of summer-oriented songs I pop out sometimes when I start missing the longer days, nice and fresh nights, and most importantly the extra rest! Hopefully this spring and summer will be better than last year...

Cancer-Cola? I don't think so...

In this link from BBC News, there's apparent change occurring in the soda market. Coke and Pepsi are having a chemical compound removed from their caramel coloring syrup that is found to cause cancer in rats and mice, though not necessarily in humans.

I was a little puzzled at first, but not entirely surprised, as just about everything is harmful to us these days. Though as I read through, I will admit I let a small sigh of relief slip out.

As the article states, the FDA reported you'd have to drink over a thousand cans of Coke (not mentioning Pepsi, I'm a Coke man!) in a SINGLE DAY to receive the same effects that the lab rats and mice did. I just don't see that as a significant possibility for anyone, especially myself. I've lost loved ones to cancer before, so it's always nice to see a little less carcinogenic material in my life, but I was also glad to see that it probably wouldn't have been an issue anyway. With the headaches, I've been having lately, I've been drinking a little more than usual, so I really didn't need another worry on my shoulders!

The world's a crazy place these days. Give it time, and someone will accuse anything of containing carcinogens. It really makes you think though, how much of it is just a story and some fake "crusade" against the businesses that run our country, and how much of it could actually be saving our lives?

Is it time to pick a new favorite team?

For any sports/football fans out there, it's recent news that Peyton Manning was cut from the Indianapolis Colts. What this article from Rant Sports reveals, however, is that he's not the last to go. Joseph Addai, Melvin Bullitt, Curtis Painter, Dallas Clark, and Gary Brackett have all been cut as well, so far. The list could easily continue daily.

My initial reaction is still here, still stinging. I'm not happy. The team I grew up loving and watching for the last decade is no more.

It was bad enough that my hero, the "captain of the ship", as you might call him, was forced off the team. But now all of the other guys that made the big plays happen? Granted, I'm more than elated that Curtis Painter's getting cut, he was a back-up quarterback, that's barely worth a dime. But the rest of them? This is heartbreaking. I know it's just gonna get worse, because many of the other senior, key players on the team are off contract now, and really just don't have a reason to stay. As the article says, they're even offering to trade Dwight Freeney, one of basically two or three strong defensive players that made up for the lack of a full defense.


All of this change makes me think about a lot of things. A big issue in the sports fan world is being true and loyal to your team. But with all of my heroes leaving, with all of the core members of THAT Colts team I fell into fan-love with, is it disloyal to move on with them? I'm beginning to wonder, I really am...

Windows 8 makes 10?

In this PC Mag article, Microsoft is apparently planning to release 10 different versions of their new operating system, Windows 8. The versions are currently listed as: Enterprise Edition, Enterprise Evaluation Edition, Home Basic Edition, Home Premium Edition, Prerelease ARM Edition, Prerelease Edition, Professional Edition, Professional Plus Edition, Starter Edition, and finally Ultimate Edition.

Technology is quite the interesting beast. I was a bit surprised by this, but after thinking a bit, it didn't really shock me anymore. People want choices, so the market tries to give them choices.


At first glance, it seems kind of silly to have TEN different versions of ONE operating system. Why would you need so many different versions? Will one edition of it really leave out JUST enough that someone will require a different "sub-edition" of that same type? What makes the Enterprise Evaluation Edition so different from Enterprise Edition that they need to be separated? Then when you get to thinking, this world, especially our home country, is built around options. There's always that thought in your head, when you buy something like this: "Man, this is great, it's so much better than the last version. But if only it had....[insert some random function you personally wish was included]." It's all about capitalism here. Sometimes companies almost compete with themselves.


Some day I hope to try out this new OS, but it won't be any time soon. I only recently upgraded my desktop PC to run Windows 7! It's just way to expensive for the average person to truly keep up with the advances of technology. You could literally be buying a new component or program every single day of the week, if that were the case. And not all of us are a Trump or Hilton...

Tornadoes... again.

As I'm sure you all know, we've already had a rough year for weather, especially over the last 2 days. I chose this article from the New York Times, but truthfully it's big news all over the country. While not near as powerful and dangerous as what our town went through last year, this storm system took a few lives as well. It has destroyed homes and business, and taken things people worked hard to get.

I'd say my response is to be expected. Part of the storm hit here, and I was huddled downstairs with my puppy for about an hour, while we waited for the machine gun-esque hail to stop falling, and for the lights to come back on. 

Last year's storm changed me for life. I may be able to handle storms better some day, but as it stands right now, they're terrible. Anything more than rain gives me chills, makes me hyperventilate. Hearing that we had a tornado watch, seeing the lights flash out, it brought on major flashbacks. So did the news afterwards of buildings and people being blown away. My heart goes out to my new-found brethren in the survivor category. 

I wish I didn't have to say that, I wish nobody else had to go through what we here in Joplin went through. I don't think anything of that extent will happen again, or I sure as hell hope not anyway. But no matter the size of the storm, there was still loss, and there is still new pain.

This article was a pretty obvious choice for my blog. It really, truly hit home with me. Mother Nature is a mean, mean lady.

Sick and tired of being sick and tired!

So, I'll come out and say it now. The source of my lack of activity in ALL things, not just this online class, is recent sickness I've been dealing with.

Over the last few weeks, I've been battling my body on a daily basis for a little bit of rest and recovery. Obviously, I'm not exactly winning. I'm not entirely sure what the cause of it is, as I don't have a doctor, or insurance to afford such care. I have however had a recent visit to Express Care out on Range Line, and they suggested I take a trip to Access, as they can provide more consistent and long-term care for me.

The best part is that they work on a pay scale, meaning I could potentially afford some real health care for the first time in probably a decade. I'll be able to have my blood tested again, and hopefully get to the source of the issues I've been having for years.

As the title says, I'm sick and tired, of being sick and tired. I want to feel healthy, happy, and rested. It's been a long time since I've felt any of this to a great extent, and I need this change. This year's been rough. Ever since the tornado last spring, I haven't really had a chance to slow down and take a breath even.


As soon as this semester's over, I'm sleeping for three months! ;)