Weekly Geek Outs - 01/29/16

Greetings!

Hope all is well with everyone out there! I'm happy to give this weekly post of mine a little bit of a refresh, courtesy of the excellent design work of Alice Rugoletti, She was kind enough to whip this up for me (as well as my new main logo) to allow for an image unique and custom-made that is solely my own. You'll see something new for my movie reviews as well, so get excited for that.

Without further ado, here's what is going on in my world this week:

• The Man in the High Castle

I've been checking out this Amazon Original Series that depicts an alternate 1960s America where we lost World War II and the country is divided between Japan and Germany. Based on an acclaimed novel of the same name, we follow a small resistance that is trying to fight their overlords from the shadows. It's pretty grim and dark, but as a history major, I enjoy this intriguing setting for a show. I haven't finished the first season but I am going to finish it soon, unlike other shows I've invested time in lately, like Heroes Reborn, of which I will not be wasting any more time with.

• Parenthood

I've been slowing working my way through this show with my partner, and we just began season 3. I geeked out about this show several months ago, and while it has been slow going so far, we have really enjoyed it. The drama and comedy are great as well as the emotional family moments, which never fail to warm my heart. It's another great show to share with my partner too, so I look forward to continuing to watch it with her. You can find it all on Netflix if you want to check out the entire series yourself.

• 7 Days in Hell

This one-off comedy event came out a little while on HBO, and before my trial expired, I checked it out since I had remembered hearing good things about it. It stars Andy Samberg and Kit Harrington (of Game of Thrones fame) in a sports mockumentary about this epic, never ending tennis match. It is silly, smart satire that is also just ridiculous enough without being over the top. I'm a pretty big Andy Samberg fan and this is true to form for him, so if you get the chance to watch it, definitely do so!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 01/22/16

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Agent Carter

Some of my favorite shows are coming back this week, which makes me very happy. One of them is the limited series Agent Carter, which like last year, is covering the mid-season break of Agents of SHIELD. Season 2 premiered with a two-hour event on Tuesday, and I'm excited to continue to explore the story of Peggy Carter. These first two episodes (out of a total of 10 this season) were great and I'm looking forward to where the rest of the season goes. They have done her very well in the past, and she is a hallmark character of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so I'm optimistic that they'll continue this trend. There is so much of her story to tell too, since we know she has a big role to play the in the creation of SHIELD, and based on the beginning of Ant-Man, is still influential up until at least the late 1980s. So that means we still have over 40 years of story to cover for Peggy, and I hope we at least get to glance at some of that at some point in some form or another. I'd be totally down for some deep, Cold War Agent Carter action!

• The Dark Knight Returns

I checked out this two part animated movie on HBO Now the other day in anticipation of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, which takes some inspiration from this story. I had some cursory understanding of what this pivotal comic book was about, but I never read it so I was really excited to delve into the story deeper. The setting is a dystopic 1980s America, where a older, grizzled Batman comes out of hiding to free Gotham from the grips of a new wave of criminals. There are a bunch of nods to the rest of the DC Universe's fate in this timeline, which is cool, and I overall enjoyed everything about this. The action is good, the animation is solid, and the performances are good too. It's a unique interpretation of classic characters and settings, but I liked it's take on everything. These alternate universe stories always intrigue me since they allow for very fresh interpretations of well known tropes, and at times have no responsibility to be accountable to what came before or what comes after. Seeing this also has me even more excited for what Dawn of Justice will entail, and we're only like two months away now!

• Legends of Tomorrow

This brand new series just premiered last night and sets up a tantalizing premise of what boils down to Doctor Who with superheroes. The first episode has me excited for what is to come, and the time travel inherent to the show will allow for some cool DC Universe nods, like Jonah Hex. It will exist outside and alongside it's sibling shows of Arrow and Flash, since, again, with the time travel ability, the characters can come right back to where they left their timelines (a clever trick) which I'll be intrigued to see how that exactly works in practice versus in theory. For the next couple of months, we'll be spoiled with new weekly episodes of Flash, Arrow, and LoT, further bolstering their already robust shared DC TV Universe. As much as I enjoy Agent Carter and Agents of SHIELD, DC has them beat here.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 01/15/16

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• True Detective, Season 1

My partner and I blew through this over this past weekend, and we really enjoyed it. We had friends who had recommended it to us for a bit, and with my trial of HBO Now that I was playing around with (more on that later) we decided to check the show out. It's a slow burning, haunting, journey into a dark world of crime and mystery. Led masterfully by the two main actors, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the show pulls you in and takes you on this long, winding journey towards the truth about what happened in this bizarre fictional case that took place several years before. We haven't checked out season two yet (I've heard conflicting reports of its quality) but at the very least, I'm glad we checked out season one.

• Silicon Valley

This was another show that I had heard some good things about. I am a fan of some of the actors and creative people behind this show, but unfortunately, I am not a huge fan of this show. It isn't bad or off-putting in any way, it just felt bland to me. Granted, I only watched the first handful of episodes, but still, there is so much good, scripted television out there that I don't feel the need to invest a bunch of time into a show that just doesn't feel like it is worth my time. Maybe the show gets better, but I gave it a chance and am going to move on. It doesn't feel like it is groundbreaking in any way or at all doing anything terribly creative so I don't feel like I am missing much. It had a sort of Big Bang Theory vibe to me, which while it at times celebrates geeks and nerds, sometimes it is laughing at us rather than with us.

• HBO Now

I've been playing around with the free trial of HBO Now for the past month, and I've enjoyed what it has to offer. You get your pick of all of HBO's past shows, documentaries, and their current selection of both modern and classic movies. The quality is good and the interface works pretty well too. It works on my Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku Stick, and a myriad of other devices like my iPhone, iPad, or laptop. While the price tag of $15/month is a little steep, I do feel like it is staking a claim to a pretty robust, unique, and competitive viewing library. Nowhere else can I instantly stream Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies unless I am deliberately paying to rent or buy just that movie.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 01/08/16

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week (for the first time in 2016!):

• Winter Holidays

I spent two weeks down in New Jersey and Delaware seeing friends, family, and taking in all of the local flavors and sights that I've been missing (even though I was down in October). I continually miss the area more and more since I can only visit a few times a year. I sort of took it for granted when I was there, so now every time that I go back, I try to soak it all in since life in Maine is far different than life down in New Jersey. There is more diversity, more awesome food, more cool things to do, and I can also pop down to where I grew up in Delaware to check in on everything to see what has changed and what has stayed the same. While visiting new places is nice, it is also nice to go back to your favorite spots too.

• Marvel Civil War

In anticipation of the upcoming movie, Captain America: Civil War, based on this pivotal comics crossover event, I've been trying to dig into all the nooks and crannies of this story-line, since it is one of my favorite events in Marvel Comics. There is so much interesting stuff that happens, especially everything with Spider-Man since it leads up to my favorite Spider-Man arc that I've read, One More Day. While I know the movie is going to be a pretty big departure, I just really enjoy the philosophical and moral dilemmas of this story-line. Whether it is reading the comics or seeing the adaptation on-screen, I know it will be enjoyable and entertaining.

• Deadpool

This is the first big movie of 2016 that I am excited for. It finally looks like they're doing the character some proper justice on-screen and I'm really stoked to see it. It also is going to be far different than any other comic book/superhero movie to come this year (or perhaps ever) so I'm absolutely going to see it in theaters when it comes out in February. What is usually a dumping ground for less entertaining fare at the beginning of the year, Deadpool is a bright spot for me that will get me out to the cinema (which I always enjoy doing when it is worth my time).

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 12/18/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• The Blog

As you can see, the blog has gotten a bit of a face lift. I switched platforms and am working on refreshing my logo as well. I wasn't intending on doing this switch so soon, but I got pulled down a rabbit hole when looking at different options, and just decided to take the plunge. A nice part of this process was I found a bunch of random broken links on the site that I had no idea were there (frustrating that I didn't notice them). Here's to a new and improved site!

• Job Search Update

Just to give a quick update here, I've steadily been interviewing for various Residence Life jobs between Boston and Baltimore, have some leads dwindle on their own for different reasons, and some I have refused myself. I just haven't felt great about any of the offers or places so far, which has lead me to chase a bit of a wildcard option, which may or may not pan out but I'm excited about it. I'll keep you all updated as it goes. I'm also thinking I'll write at length about this experience for future reference, since it has definitely been a unique adventure.

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I saw this movie last night, after waiting for what feels like a very long time, and to not spoil anything, I will keep my thoughts brief. I enjoyed it, and I think pretty much anyone who sees it will have fun too. Go check it out this weekend my fellow geeks and nerds! (Also, public service announcement; don't spoil anything for anyone else, at least give folks the weekend to see it)

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 12/11/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Agents of SHIELD

The mid-season finale of SHIELD was this week (as well as Flash and Arrow) but just for the sake of simplicity, I'll focus on SHIELD since I talked about Flarrow last week. This week's episode of SHIELD was a solid one, more or less resolving the plot thread of the planet we found Simmons on, giving some answers about the "monster", and getting Daisy's (small) team together for the first time. While SHIELD isn't nearly as good as Daredevil or Jessica Jones (and I wish they played together at all), it is still a solidly enjoyable show that I feel like is continually acknowledging and embracing it's comic book roots more often. I'm glad I can have Agent Carter coming back in a few weeks to keep me engrossed until SHIELD comes back in a few months.

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens

In a week, the nationwide US release of this long awaited movie will be upon us. I have tickets for an early screening on Thursday night here in Maine, which I am very excited for. I've known for a while I'd definitely be seeing this movie, so I have been avoiding some of the trailers and clips to try to go in fresh. Even so, the trailers that I have seen have done a great job of getting me excited while not spoiling much.  Movies nowadays tend to reveal too much in hopes of getting people to to theater, but Force Awakens has done well keeping some mystery and bringing my cautious optimism around. I'll be sure to share my detailed thoughts with you all here on the blog!

• Winter Break

I'll be traveling down with my partner, Jenn, to New Jersey, Delaware, and New York for the winter holidays. I'll be taking a break from the blog during this time for the most part, jumping back into the normal routine after New Years. I'm excited to get back to the place I called home for two years, and where my partner called home for her whole life before we came up to Maine. We will see old friends, my brother and his fiance, my partner's family, and go to all the places we have missed visiting being away. Stay tuned for plenty of pictures on social media!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 12/04/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Thanksgiving Break

I enjoyed the holiday break last week by taking some time away from the blog (why there was no new post last Friday) and having a wonderful dinner with my mom and my partner. I also was able to just sleep in and take care of my life by getting all my dishes and laundry done. It's funny how such simple things can make a positive impact on our lives by helping us not feel so overwhelmed. I also always feel better with an empty sink and my favorite clothes ready to wear, but that's just me.

• Jessica Jones, A Retrospective

I finished watching all of season one of this spectacular Netflix show with my partner this past week. I was excited for it before watching and it lived up (or even exceeded) my expectations. On several different levels, I so glad this show exists. It explores themes of trauma, heroism, recovery, and so much more. It had a compelling story and great characters that I'm excited to continue to explore, like Luke Cage especially. I highly recommend it to anyone to check out. The fact that this exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also just as a stellar comic book property. It continues the long positive trajectory of all the recent adaptations and I feel like it is an engaging and entertainment property for any viewer, comic book lover or not.

• Arrow/Flash Crossover

It has been a big week or so for comic book movie/TV geekery. In addition to my previous geek out, there was the first big Captain America: Civil War trailer, the newest Batman VS Superman trailer, and we had this awesome DC TV crossover event this week too! My heart has been happy with all this good stuff coming out. The trailers both look great and the two episodes of Arrow and Flash this week were a lot of fun. We got introductions to Hawkgirl, Hawkman, and Vandal Savage in this event. There was a lot of legwork for both shows to do on top of the plethora that has been done already to set up the upcoming Legends of Tomorrow. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining team up with all the comic book fun we've come to expect from these two shows, especially Flash (which is more of my favorite).

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 11/20/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Unroll.Me

If you haven't heard of this site and now newly released app before, check it out right now and you'll thank me later. It is the best and easiest (as well as free) way to clean up your email inbox from all the random mailing lists you've accumulated over the years. The new app especially makes it as easy as swiping left or right to keep or lose mailing lists. This has been quite the treat for me, since I am obsessive about email and like to keep my inbox nice and tidy.

• Agent Carter, Season 2

Marvel recently released a teaser promo for the new season of Agent Carter (linked above) that will premiere with a two-hour event on January 5th. While the promo doesn't showcase much new footage, it's nice to know when to look forward to more Agent Carter, since it had such an awesome first season, mostly for the standout performance of Hayley Atwell.

• Hardcore History

I have a long drive coming up so I'm starting to load up on some podcasts to listen to on the ride. I heard about this one a few times in different places and the history nerd in me was curious. Done in very long-form narration, these podcasts, produced by Dan Carlin, delve into the details of major historical world events, from Genghis Khan to World War II. I haven't listened to any episodes yet but from what I've heard, I should enjoy them. I'm also going to check out Carlin's other podcast that discusses current events. Yay for new podcasts!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 11/13/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Firefox for iOS

I've been waiting for this app for a while now. It has been long overdue and I am a big Firefox fan (I've dabbled with Chrome and Safari, but always come back to Firefox). I just love their functionality and like to support their efforts to continue to have a free, open, Internet for all. I recommend you check it out if you're a Firefox fan like me. I downloaded it on my iPhone 6 and iPad mini and it works great on both so far!

• Nathan for You

The newest season of this show just premiered a little bit ago, and much like the show Drunk History that I talked about last week, it is unique and hilarious. It essentially spoofs shows like Bar Rescue and is very funny. The show is carried by the deadpan delivery of its host, Nathan Fielder. I've been catching episodes as they become available on Hulu, but they are well worth the wait. You can check out all of the past episodes right now on Hulu.

• Student Affairs Spectacular Podcast

Many of you probably know this already, but if you don't, I co-host and produce a weekly podcast for the Student Affairs Collective that is gearing up to finish it's second season in December. We've done (including the episodes yet to air) 90 episodes so far, which is amazing and we're planning for season 3 to premiere in January 2016. If you are a professional who works at a college or university, I recommend you check it out, since we have episodes on all sorts of great topics that can help you be more successful. I'm really proud of this effort and I appreciate all of your support with it.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 11/06/15

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• 30 Day Photo Challenge

I was looking to do another 30 Day Challenge after showing the classic TEDx Talk about the concept to some students recently. I decided on sharing a new photo each day since I've been wanting to post more photos and it felt like something I could accomplish (and one that I hadn't done before). I'm hoping to take some time each day to reflect, observe, and share my life out with folks. Check out my Instagram to follow along!

• Drunk History

I love this show. I introduced my partner to most of the series when she was bedridden after her wisdom teeth got taken out. It is a brilliantly dumb show where comedians tell stories about true historical events while they're completely drunk (as the name of the show implies). It just came back for it's long overdue third season a few months ago, and it's been a nice change of pace from the other shows I watch week to week. You can watch the entire series on Hulu if you haven't already!

•  Star Wars Battlefront

So I've been waiting for this game for a very long time. I really enjoyed both the original Battlefront game and Battlefront II on the PS2 when they came out way back when. We finally have a new Battlefront game coming in the very near future, and I don't have a console to play it. Games like this one, the new Uncharted, Fallout 4, and others are making me consider getting back into gaming with either a PS4 or Xbox One (not sure which would be better for me). I haven't gamed regularly on a console in a long time, but I feel ready to get back into it. I may even want to get a Wii U to catch up on the Nintendo games I've missed since the GameCube (yeah, I know, it's been a while since I owned a Nintendo console or even a handheld).

Thanks for stopping by!