"Stop Being Sad and Start Being Awesome"

    Hello everyone, this is a mix tape (or I guess a playlist) that I made on 8tracks (I mentioned it before in my post about mix tapes). It's for those times when you feel not awesome. It will make you awesome again. So check it out, and let me know what you think about these random posts that don't follow the structure of my regular posts. And if you end up making a playlist, or you already have, feel free to leave a link in the comments, so we can check it out. Remember, becoming awesome is not a spectator sport, so get out there and start being awesome.

5 Movies You Should Watch

    After writing my last post I decided I should at least make a few suggestions for movies to watch. Of course, feel free to pick your own movies, I just know how lazy people on the Internet are (since I am a person on the Internet), so if you don't want to make the trip over to IMDB or research movies you might be interested in I will give you 5 that I like (No promises that you will like them). I'll try to keep them somewhat non-mainstream because that would be boring; you already know about those movies. My descriptions will be minimal; this is not a movie review blog, but hopefully it gives you enough information to peak your interest. So without further ado, "5 Movies You Should Watch" in no particular order:

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox

When Fantastic Mr. Fox first came out, I wasn't in a rush to see it and I sort of forgot about it, but last week I was told to watch it by a friend and I loved it. And it's not your usual kid's movie. It's cutting-edge clever and the artistic direction is some of the best I've ever seen, making it a pleasure to watch. It will make you wonder why the cuss you didn't watch it before.

2. Life in a Day

Part collage, part documentary, Life in a Day is where home video meets Hollywood direction. This movie was created by sending an open invitation to everyone in the world via YouTube to submit videos chronicling a singe day: July 24th, 2010. The 4,500 hours of resulting footage were distilled down to only an hour and a half to create this thought-provoking film. Exploring life, death, love, hate, hope and fear, basically everything that makes Earth what it is, Life in a Day is a beautiful of example of what film-making could be.

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This is a mainstay as one of the top movies on IMDB, yet I'm always surprised by how few people have actually seen it (or even heard about it), since it's also on TV a lot these days. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind will make you think and may make you yell at your TV. At times nonsensical, but tied together well at the end, so be prepared to be temporarily confused.

4. The Great Debaters

This movie tackles the struggle for equality in the 1930's American South through the medium of debate. We've seen these types of stories in a sports context before, but in my opinion they haven't been quite so inspirational. Perhaps because in the sports movies there's only that one inspirational speech right before the big game, but in this film every debate - and there are several - provides it's own inspirational moments, not to mention the captivating storyline. And it's based on a true story.

5. Airplane!

I like jokes, so it would have been a shame to not mention a comedy. This is probably a fairly well-known film, but it's from 1980, so maybe some of you haven't seen it. If you haven't, I highly recommend it. Airplane! is a parody of the stereotypical disaster movie. The last time I saw it was many years ago, so I can't describe it in too much detail. I know Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was in it. I also know it is the source of many well-known (and hilarious) movie quotes. Surely you will enjoy this film.

Watching Movies Alone and Storage Wars

    Hello everyone, today it is cloudy and raining and my brother and all my friends have left for University (I'm going back this weekend), so I kind of just want to lie on the floor, but instead I decided to write this blog post that will hopefully start a trend of me posting somewhat more frequently. Also, I thought you deserved some more awesomeness in your lives/life (I'm pretty sure this blog doesn't receive that much traffic, so there might only be one person reading this) since it is kind of a depressing time of year what with all the change and starting school (mostly the work part of school). So now that I have no friends I have decided to watch some movies because movies are awesome. I can't write about the awesomeness of just watching movies though because that is way too broad and is frankly a terrible idea. Instead, I will pursue the much awesomer topic of watching movies alone. That's basically the same thing you say? I say... something that convinces you that watching movies alone is different and more awesome. I rest my case. Also, Storage Wars is awesome. You can find it on TV if you have one. If not, you should get one. It's much more entertaining than watching squirrels chase each other around the back yard or whatever you do with your time. Remember, becoming awesome is not a spectator sport, so get out there and start being awesome.

Watching Movies Alone

Level of Awesomeness: It's like if in Home Alone Macaulay Culkin just sat and watched movies instead of setting traps for the worst criminals of all time. Actually, that movie would suck, but trust me, this is awesome.

What Is It:

Not this. This is sad and not awesome.

In case you missed the large comic in the area above this, I want to specify that watching movies alone is awesome as long as you aren't in a movie theatre where there is supposed to be other people. But if you are at home in whatever room has a TV or computer it is pretty awesome. In order to watch a movie alone you must first pick a movie to watch. Don't know any movies? First of all, have you been in a coma since the late 1800's? Second, check IMDB they seem to know their movies. Now check to make sure you are alone. No one hiding under the bed, no one in the closet, no one under the rug. Make sure you are comfortable; grab your Snuggie, a nice cup of cocoa, and that heart-shaped pillow your roommate bought you in first year. Now you may begin enjoying your film.

Note: I'm not sure how enjoyable this is with horror movies, but at least no one will be there to see you soil yourself in fear.

Why Is It Awesome: Because it is a lot easier to concentrate on the content of the film without that friend who always talks during movies around. You'll gain a new appreciation for cinematography and acting. Plus, you can watch that movie that you really want to see, but you know it would be super embarrassing if any of your friends knew you had seen it.

Storage Wars


Level of Awesomeness: If finding $90, 000 worth of newspapers isn't awesome, I don't know what is.

What Is It: Thanks to the magic of reality television, it is now possible to experience the auctioning off of abandoned storage lockers without the hassle of leaving your house. The premise of the show: When a person renting a storage locker fails to pay rent for a certain amount of time, their locker is auctioned off to the highest bidder. The auctioneer cuts the lock off the door, and opens it. The bidders have five minutes to look in the locker (they can't go in or touch anything, all they can do is look from the entrance). Storage Wars follows 4 bidders in particular: Dave Hester, Darrell Sheets, Jarrod Schulz and Barry Weiss. When one of them wins a locker, the show follows them in their attempts to turn a profit on the contents.

Barry (L), Jarrod, Dan (auctioneer), Darrell and Dave

It may seem like a non-awesome premise, but I assure you if you watch it you will become hooked. And here to get you hooked is the Internet: Watch Storage Wars Online. It's like a modern day, urban treasure hunt! Also it's like the crack cocaine of Reality TV.

Why Is It Awesome: Because it's exciting. Imagine opening an old briefcase and finding $17, 000 worth of jewelry, but you could also find nothing, so try not to overspend. On top of the inherent excitement, Storage Wars offers some of the best characters in all of storage locker auction reality television (there are 3 separate shows on the topic). You can't help hating Dave and cheering for the underdog. For me, Storage Wars was this summer's go-to show to cure boredom, and it always worked. That's why it's awesome.