Due Sunday 5/3

Open prompt - Write about whatever you want this week.

*Extra credit - From now until the end of the semester, you can make up half of the blog entries you have missed over the course of the semester. These make-up entries don't need to be on any specific topic, though you can use any of the topic's we've had already if you are stuck.

Qualities

Well firstly I don't think I have the knowledge to assess what qualities make a movie good, and the same goes for a piece of art. Therefore I will focus on the music. Well let me put it quite simply, anything that sounds good and isn't repetitive I can listen to. What makes a song good? hmmmm that would take me at least a day to explain. One things for sure, what is all this screamo bullshit.... I mean seriously.. seriously. Are you going to sit there and tell me that you like listening to people scream, backed up by what I consider some of the worst melody though some good drumming. Well I'm going to jot down some qualities 

1) Consonant 

2) Standard tempo none of that math rock crap, even though I love math rock.. its jst bizarre 

3) It should be clear in the sense appeal to one emotion 

4) shouldn't be too long

5) should have a relatively simple form 

6) Really catchy vocals 

7) catchy guitar riffs, not jst the simple chord progressions

8) Smooth bass line 

9) Quick drumming that gets people moving if the songs mission is to make them move 

of course these are just some of the things that I thought up right now, and I know there are a million other things. These are just the most necessary according to me

Due Sunday 4/19

What qualities do you think make a great film/song/piece of art?

Due 4/12

Open prompt - Write about any topic you want this week.

Due 3/22

There is no blog post due this week. However, if you do post a blog it will count as extra credit, so if you've missed some entries before and you want to make one of them up, you can post a blog this week (any topic).
Have a good Spring Break.

Due 3/15

Why are you in your field of study/major?

*Reminder - Remember to post your entries on your own blog, not here on the homepage.

Random Thoughts

I can't stand this messy apartment.

My roommate and I just had a party this weekend and just haven't had a chance...or the energy...to get around to clean it. The walls are marked up and the floors are scummed. It really just makes me not want to have people over, if this is what we're constantly  going to get in return. Not to mention, our food is gone. Not that there was ever a ton to begin with, I just think it's rude, in general, for people, especially our "friends, to take away. 

Let's talk about the weather. When is it going to finally be warm outside? Here, it's already March, so I'd assume for it to be at least a little warmer than what we've been experiencing lately. And it snowed all day yesterday. What? I can't wait for these cold temperatures to pass. I'm ready for Spring. 

Random thoughts on a snowy sunday.

My apartment is so messy right now. We have stuff everywhere. we have like 4 bags of trash sitting by the trash can. Is it really that difficult for us to take it like 3 rooms over and dispose of it? haha. I guess it is, because I've been thinking about taking it out for the past 4 days, and it still hasn't happened.

I love the Katy Perry cd. All tracks are very strong, and I'm really shocked by it.

I have so much homework to do, but I think I'm going to watch a movie and then take a nap instead.

I wish I wouldn't have gotten caught smoking in my dorm, because I really want to smoke right now, and the RA's took all my weed and I don't have any money.

My roommate hasn't been home in like 3 days, and I have no idea where she is, but that's totally cool with me, because I have the room to myself. Even though I can't sign people in. Fuck.

I think I just broke my roommates lamp. haha.

It's snowing.

I had really good mexican food last night and then Ben and Jerry's and I just feel amazing right now because I had some left over, so I had it for lunch, and I love life.

I have 2 gold dollars sitting on my desk, and I remember being at 7 11 last night, making a drunk scene, and someone gave them to me, but I don't remember who or why, and I'm confused.

I think I lost my school I.D.

But I found an I.D. that belongs to Lauren Farley from Ontario.

I'm tired.
Goodnight.

-Liz

Due Sunday 3/1

Open - Write about any topic you want for this week.

A Life Changing Experience

I should inform most of you now that quite a few of my posts will be related to Bombay, India my hometown. Having moved to Chicago just one Month Ago I haven't quite had a myriad of experiences like I did in Bombay, but I know I will eventually and at that point I will talk more about Chicago.

This next story dates back to Mid May of 2008, a time most famous for the Inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL). A league dedicated to the sport of Cricket and its best players. There were Eight Teams that came from 8 different states in India. The hype was enormous an entire country of One Billion Got together to stand by their teams. A friend and I however although amazed by the oppening ceremonies and the bidding for the players etc wanted more from the IPL. After very little consideration we decided that we wanted to Bet on the fixtures to make it all the more exciting. The first fixture was between the Mumbai Indians and the Banglore Royal Challangers. We bet with the team supported the Mumbia Indians and well as the game ended we doubled our first investment. As the week went by we won more money of other games we bet on. We were on top of the world but I was noticing something about myself, I was changing I used to be an avid sports fan but I clearly was changing into an agressive well Asshole who was yelling at the T.V everytime something went wrong for the team I bet on. I was letting it get to my head, it only got worse when I started betting against the team I supported. I was no longer a sports fan I was merely doing it for the money.

It was June 2nd or 3rd and we had not gone wrong with any of our bets at that point. The IPL was reaching the end I remember the Semi Final Game as we had put down around $300 each that was the money we made. The Semi Final saw the Chennai Superkings who were on paper the strongest team and even in terms of rank against the Punjab Kings 11. Inevitabely we bet on the Superkings and won which pushed our profits to $370. The Final set the stage for the Chennai Superkings and the Rajisthan Royals the weakest team on paper, we were really confident for the Superkings and therefore put in more money the total came up to about $500. The problem was we didn't actually have the $130 that we added but we were so confident that we thought we wouldn't need it. The night went on and instead enjoying the match I began I began cussing each and every player on the Superkings. It was dreadful to say the least, and obviously we ended up losing everything plus more. The bookie ended up coming over to collect the cash and we explained it to him. He threatened to kick our asses but knowing that we were both young he let us go. I will say that I hadn't ever been that scared in my life.

I have made a promise to myself to stop gambling in that form, and especially to never bet money I don't have. If I were in my mid twenties I would have gotten my ass beat by ruthless thugs.

Due Sun 2/22

For this week, write about a time you learned something about yourself or others from an experience, or about an experience or event that changed your worldview.

Due Sun 2/15

For this week, write about a social trend or phenomena that intrigues you or that you find strange.

Gossip Girl... pop culture

This show is said to be mind-blowingly inappropriate by the parents television council. Gossip girl, is merely about the lives of a bunch of Upper East Side teens and their parents. Taking place in New York City, capturing their past present and future affairs. The teasers pull you in with erotic commercials, and show it’s self is packed with sex, drugs and drama, along with heartache and everyone’s dirty secrets. The show leaves you hanging with mystery and suspense, and you’re never too sure who to trust.

It’s the life some wish we had, where money is endless and you fight the fight till you’ve won the battle. The fans become attached to the characters and can pick certain qualities, characteristics and situations where they can best relate. And Sadly, I am guilty as charged. I’ve been sucked into the fairytale hell land where I dream what life would be like if I were the glamorous Serena Vanderwoodsen or the cunning spoiled Blair Waldorf, even the young daring Jenny Humphrey… I have found a way where my life parallels each of theirs. Where I’ve sat there and watched the show and been able to say, “yep I’ve been there” and then it’s interesting to see how they handle it differently than I would in my own life. But in the end I must admit, Gossip Girl is not a positive influence on my life. But I am addicted, I can’t quit.

The music used during the show is the perfect ingredient, pulling the emotions to another level, helping end the mood and tone of the scene. They use new artists and help them get hooked in people’s heads. I think that’s one thing gossip girl has done to help others. They choose perfect songs and then have them ready for you to buy on the CW website. So in a way the show can’t be all-bad, they’re helping new artists get a start. Only if you look at the other end of the teeter-totter… it’s not really balancing out. I guess if you look at the show as a display of what not to do… it’d be acceptable yet the show glamorizes it all and makes you lust over the lives they live. Because I refuse to watch old episodes I will not have my Gossip Girl fix for weeks, I will be on my toes for a month trying to predict what is going to happen I can’t imagine how the withdrawal is going to go over. I’m pretty sure my mind can’t cope with the loss of risqué drama.

Intro to me

Hello, I'm Shannon, my roommate is Manashi and she's awesome. I'm a directing major. I enjoy horror films way too much. I love Scorsese and Tarantino. I have a new found love for Rock Operas. I used to do stand up comedy. I love Chicago, its like NY city... only cleaner and more friendly. I'm in love with the show Dexter. My roommate is obsessed with the show Heroes. so much so, that she got the Helix tattooed on her neck. it looks cool. I'm a huge fan of comedy films.

Top 5 favorite movies (in general):
Hard Candy
Repo: The Genetic Opera
Tropic Thunder
My Date with Drew
Pineapple Express

5 Least Favorite movies:
Gigli
Saw 2,3,4 and 5
Titanic
The Unborn
The Happening

in general i dislike:
People who walk really slow in front of me. people who take the elevator only one floor either way. Overly cocky people. the smell of pacculi. tripping over air. rude people (about everything.) People who are far too professional about everything in their lives like they are drones.

2 truths and a lie!
-I've had heart surgery.
-Although I've lived in NY for 18 years, I've never seen the Empire State Building.
-I'm a published short story author.

Teddy Billings

I don't really write blogs, so i don't know how this suppose to go. So, bear wit me. My Name is Stewart Wayne Billings but i go by Teddy. There's many different reasons why i chose that name. Mainly because the ladies like to be snug up all on me like i am a teddy bear. This my first year at Columbia I am a transfer student from Ivy Tech it is a community college in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am majoring in Film, concentrating in directing. Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Denzel Washington. I also like to screen write. I'm usually not quiet. I like having a good time.
1. I'm a Virgin
2.I hate kids
3.I'm afraid of escalators.