Clint Eastwood Reviews Breaking Bad

Media Reviews

Whats that? No, Mr. President, I can't review Breaking Bread for you. No, neither can he. I don't think anyone can do that. Unless he had a lot of butter. What did you say Mr. President? It's not called Bread Breaking? Ah, Jesus, fine, I'll watch your stupid show and type some gibberish for your dang website.

Right, so, Breaking Bad is it? Yeah, Breaking Bad. The show is about some guy named Walt. I played a guy named Walt once. I got shot. Anyway, this show reminds me of my time in Grenada. There was always so much blood...and meth. No, wait, that was '94. Grenada was in '83. Ah, jeez, I wasn't at Grenada. I only played a guy who was at Grenada. Anyways. Wait, I see some kids on my lawn...

Okay, so Clint Eastwood isn't actually going to review Breaking Bad. I think that would be hilarious though. His performance at the Republican National Committee was a personal favorite of mine. He's so gruff and irritable. I can only hope to be like him when I'm old and angry! Without further adieu, here is my review of the wonderful show that is Breaking Bad:

SPOILERS BELOW! DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ALL SEASONS!

In the opening season, we find Walter White, a meek high school chemistry teacher at a crossroads of his life. A mid-life crisis consisting of one order of cancer is on the docket for Walter, along with a heavy dose of financial & marital troubles. After seeing a news segment on a methamphetamine lab bust where the money which was seized in the raid is displayed, Walt decides that in order to pay for his cancer treatments and ensure the financial future of his family, he will begin cooking and selling meth. After doing a ride-along with his brother in law Hank who is a DEA agent on another meth lab bust, he sees one of his former students, Jesse Pinkman, escaping the scene of the raid. After finding and convincing Jesse to cook with him, they both embark on a journey into the criminal world that takes them to places they would have never imagined. This is the premise of Breaking Bad.

From the first cook that Jesse and Walt create in their crappy camper, to the most recent cook with Walt and Todd using the pest company as cover, Breaking Bad has managed to keep the art and form of making drugs fresh and interesting. The development of the main story-line and the characters within that story-line is nothing short of awesome. The actors have managed to mature the characters they play in such a way that the development of the character seems natural and real. One problem other shows seem to have is developing the characters in a way that does not seem either rushed, or too slow; however, this is not a problem that BB seems to possess. The paragon of this assertion is none other than our own Walter White himself and his slow but steady metamorphosis into Heisenberg.

Bryan Cranston and the writers of the show have managed to develop a character that is not static or stagnant, but intense, dangerous, and believable. The situations in which the show moves the story along are not silly or inundating, but have actual weight to the end game of the show. The way that the elements are tied into one another throughout the show is more evidence of solid scripting. One of the things that I found endearing about the show is how each episode title was relevant to the content of the episode. Not only that, but some of the titles are actually related to each other: for example, in Season 2 four of the episode titles elude to the ending of the season, "747", "Down", "Over", "ABQ". 

The change that takes place in Walter is not unplanned, as the show's creator Vince Gilligan has stated that he wants the protagonist to become the antagonist, which is exactly what has taken place. In this past season, or half-season, I myself sometimes did not know who to pull for exactly because Walter committed deeds more heinous than ever before and has displayed an attitude so dark it could blot out the sun. This change is what separates Breaking Bad from other drama shows on television. Drama shows are at their core about drama, and BB does not disappoint when it comes to tension and drama. This show is one of the most refreshing additions to cable television in a long, long time. The cold opening of Season 5 that is set a year ahead from the current season was one of the most interesting and curiosity-inspiring openings of a show that I have ever seen. All that remains is to see if the show will end like it has developed.

-M

The Author Returns!

Update

Hello again everyone! 

I am terribly sorry that I haven't updated this blog since April, but as everyone knows, the summer tends to consume one's free time with its draw of beaches, sun, relaxation, pools, and general laziness. So I'm using that as my excuse.

I intend to resume posting to this blog as often as I can, though this semester I have a heavier workload than I believe ever before. This blog does provide me with a good place to provide what viewers I can with what advice I can provide. Everything in this blog is information that I have either garnered through the small amount of life experience I have, or through the education that I have been given, and I hope to impart whatever I can to the world if it can help someone.

Look for some more meaty posts coming very, very soon! 

Regards,

-Michael

How To Write Any Length Paper in 8 Hours or Less

College Tips

Papers. Both the bane, and sometimes the bread & butter of us college students, writing papers is one of those things that no one likes. Yet it's something that we have to do whether we like it or not. One thing that I find many college students, including myself, tend to do is to procrastinate. And why shouldn't we? College is some of the best times that we will ever have in our lives, so why not enjoy it? Now, with that said, please don't be one of those idiots that forsakes all work for all fun, all the time. Why? Because they suck at life, and will never amount to anything.

This will be you the morning after. Learn to accept it.

With that said, I'm here to give you my tips on how to write any length paper in 8 hours or less. Why eight hours you say? Because when most of realize we have a paper due tomorrow, it's around 12 midnight and we start freaking out. I picked eight hours because that's enough time to do most anything provided you follow these tips, and also because 8 hours after 12 midnight is 8 am, the time when college classes begin. Even if you don't have an 8 am class/deadline for the paper, follow these tips should you ever find yourself staring at your computer until it spits out a 10 pager that you need for tomorrow.

• Map your essay out. Take 5 minutes, some scrap paper, and write down your intro, thesis, 3-5 main points, and conclusion in that order. Keep it short and to the point, this isn't the essay. Just a sentence or two will work for every part. Make sure your thesis sounds good by saying it out loud. Many a thesis has fallen short because it sounds stupid when you actually read it.
• Don't take energy pills, shots, drinks, or whatever. Trust me when I say those things are poison for you, because they are. Make some coffee or tea, or perhaps have some chocolate. It's been scientifically proven that your brain consumes a large amount of energy when writing or studying, and the sugars that give your brain that energy come from chocolate or candy. So have a cup of tea and a chocolate energy bar instead of a 44oz. Power Super Monster X-Fuel N-R-G, or whatever those stupid things are called.
• Don't write your paper in double space just yet. Leave it in single space. For some reason, perhaps it's a psychological thing, I write faster and better in single space. I once wrote 7 pages in 1 & 1/2 hours because I only used single space. Once you've written a few pages worth of single space, then double space it. The feeling you get is awesome, and you'll see that you've written a lot more than you might have thought. 

• Devote 2 hours of this time to research. Sure, you can write 7 pages of anything, but unless you've got some general knowledge about what you're writing about, your paper will be 7 pages of crap. Start with the Wikipedia page on your subject. This will give you an overview of what you need to know should you know absolutely nothing about your subject. Need sources? Check the References section at the bottom of the page. Then, move on to detailed research. Use Google Scholar and your school's online databases to find some article that are hopefully remotely about your subject. If you're not a freshman and you can't use or can't find either of these, just drop out of college. Just quit while you're ahead and you'll save yourself the headache of sucking at school.
• Don't do citations yourself, or use Easybib. Easybib is a rip. It's good if you need a quick MLA citation, but you'll have to pay if you need anything else. Use Citation Machine instead. This site is free, and all you have to do is enter the info into the blanks, and poof! Instant citation in the format you need, for free! It even gives you the in-text citation. Citations you say? More like yawning I say.
• Listen to calm music, and just write. Throw on some headphones, pop in the Beethoven, and get typing. Look at it this way, as soon as you start writing, that's chipping away at your page length no matter what. Follow your essay map, and try to write with your subject or essay question in mind. Try not to just write whatever comes to mind, instead, take a second and think "How does this relate to what my problem or question is?" Trust me, it'll make your paper better so you don't have to revise as much later, which is quite the blessing to someone writing an 8 pager at 4 a.m.
• Revise it, dang it! Congratulations, you've just written your essay! Are you finished? No. Go back through your paper and check for any spelling or grammar mistakes, stupid sentences, or crappy supporting arguments. Take 20 minutes people. It's not that much work, I mean you've already written the thing, so what's 20 more minutes to make it an A- paper instead of a B+? 

And that's all she, or he, wrote folks! Paper writing isn't so hard once you actually just start typing. Once you've finished revising and turn that sucker in, take a nap as soon as possible. You've earned it, champ.

-M

Gif Collection #2

Humor

It's that time again folks! Gifs, gifs everywhere! We all love them, we all enjoy them, so without further adieu, here they are!

For when you've had enough of something.

Someone just said something so dumb, you can't even correct them.

That moment when you almost drop something and fumble to recover.

LIKE A BOSS

Self-explanatory.

This one is just funny. Heh. Dog.

Ah, gifs. They just add that little bit of lol needed to get you through the day. And before you go, I'd like to share with you the coolest picture in the history of the internet. It's Heath Ledger skating over Christian Bale on the set of the Dark Knight. Bask in it's glory.

You can all quit your lives now.

-M

Save Money & Earn Money (If You're in College or Otherwise)

College Tips & Life Hacks

A topic of debate that has come up a lot recently in my life is that of budgeting and taking care of one's money. This is an important topic for everyone, but is also especially of importance for us college kids who are usually on a tight budget that can range from lint-pocket broke, to my-parents-pay-for-everything. So my objective for this post is to provide you with a few ways to make some spending money, and some ways to save money. Now these will mostly be directed towards students like myself, but I don't think I know anyone that will say no to some money-saving tips and extra cash. Don't worry, this isn't one of those crazy-all out-penny pinching lists, this is just simple and easy tips to keep you from going broke. So let's get started!

Save Money:

• Borrowed, loaned, or thrift store. For those of us who like to have some amenities & appliances in our rooms or apartments, new hipster clothes that you've probably never heard of, or some good furniture, borrowing from a friend, getting it loaned to you, or buying it from a thrift store is the way to go. Sure, it's probably used, and sure, it might not be in the best condition, but that won't really matter when you are sitting in your free couch you borrowed and enjoying a cold beverage from the fridge you got from the thrift store for next to nothing. Trust me, don't be that guy who has nothing in his room. No one likes hanging out in that guy's room.
• Do matinees, lunch instead of dinner, and cook your own food. Planning a date? Make it a lunch date, and see a matinee after. Lunch prices and matinees cost way less than they do at night as they do during the day. Cooking your own food is also a very good choice, and has some really great benefits such as: you can cook healthy, you save money (it's less than a restaurant), you don't have to worry about not getting a table, crowds, or the loudness of most places, and you can do everything at your leisure. Plus you learn a valuable life skill: cooking. Not knowing how to cook is one of those things that if you are guilty of, you should really get on. It'll impress the opposite sex, teach you independence and healthy lifestyles, and you'll appreciate your parents that much more.
• Don't buy frivolous crap. I'm looking at you, fellow college students. That awesome DVD set you saw in the store the other day? Yeah, you probably don't need that. Borrow it or look for a deal on it online at least, if you must. Please, when you see something you want to buy that's not clothing, food, or other essentials, now stick with me here cause it's about to get intense, take 10 seconds (gasp!) and really think, "Do I actually need this?" The answer is usually no. You don't need that new Angry Birds app. If you want Angry Birds, go toss pebbles at some pigeons. The graphics are way better.

Earn Money

• Look for an online or temporary job. Do freelance writing, babysitting, freelance photography, become an online tutor, sell plasma, sell some of your junk on eBay or Craigslist, start a blog, etc. Don't wait around and hope that a job and money will come around and smack you in the face, get out there and look people. I make money online all the time, and yes, I do have to work for it, but trust me, if you've got even a little extra time on your hands, you can turn that into money in your account. With a little bit of searching and some elbow grease, you'll find something that fits your schedule and that you can do soon enough, I promise. If I can do it, anyone can. Well, most people can. As long as you're willing to work you'll do fine. But please, don't be one of those people (we all know one) that whines about having no money and needing a job. C'mon people, you've got the Internet at your disposal. Use it.
• Reward sites. I know you think these are gimmicks, but I have two sites that are 100% legitimate.  Check out Swagbucks or download Checkpoints if you have a smartphone. Swagbucks is an easy and awesome way to earn points that you can turn into Amazon gift cards or whatever else, including actual cash through Paypal gift cards. I got my copy of Skyrim for absolutely nothing thanks to Swagbucks, and that is a true story. I've earned about 85$ in Amazon Gift Cards by just doing surveys, polls, offers or whatever else on the site, and I've never paid a penny for anything. Checkpoints is a cool little app that gives you points for scanning items whenever you're out shopping. That's it. Just scan, earn points, and use those points to get awesome stuff. 

Well, there you have it folks! I hope this helps a lot of you out there, because I know how much it sucks to not have money. If you're in college and you're really being hit hard in the wallet, just follow these tips, and trust me, you'll have enough saved or earned to pretty much do what you like. And for those of you not in college, these tips still apply! A little bit of money saved or spending cash earned never hurt anyone.

-M

Review of Dexter- And Not the Cartoon

Media Reviews


For any of you that have been paying attention to great cable shows, I'm sure you've heard of Dexter. Just like the title says, I'm not talking about the cartoon from the 90's (awesome as it was), I'm talking about the much darker, much grittier Dexter. If you have not experienced the show, or even trailers/season summaries for the show, then you should go check it out now. I'll wait.

Back? Great. So now you've experienced the awesomeness that is Dexter, prepare yourself for my in-depth and totally awesome review of the show (as a whole) so far.  Let's begin.

The show's premise is that of Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter analyst by day who lives and works in Miami, Florida, that, due to early childhood psychological trauma, feels the need to kill other people. However, thanks to his father Harry Morgan, a Miami Metro police officer, the need is caught early and knowing that his kind of urge is not one that will go away, Harry trains Dexter on how to take a life without being caught. He also gives Dexter a "Code" to follow so that he will not murder innocent people. Throughout the show, Dexter struggles with following this "Code", from taking extra steps to ensure that the people he plans to kill are absolutely guilty of some murder of their own, to straying from the Code and attempting to come back. I know some may find this whole premise to be too dark or too far, but the show does a very good job of making sure that the violence and macabre themes are acceptable within the context of the episode or season without going over the edge into the pure, unadulterated realm of "just-too-much".

Throughout the seasons, Dexter faces other serial killers, villains, and the underbelly of society as he works to fend off the urge to kill that always seems to get in the way of other things in his life such as his job and his relationships. This is the general premise of the show, and I must say that with a few exceptions (*cough* Season 3 and Season 5, *cough*), the show does an exception job of making each and every season new, fresh, and entertaining. The close calls, the thrill of the kill, the themes of life and death/light and dark, the balance between his urge and everything else, and the interactions of the characters in response to what is happening in the story are just a few of the elements that make this show what it is, and that is one dang awesome show. Though I have yet to finish Season 6, and issue that will soon be rectified, I have seen the other 5 seasons and I can certainly say that they are some of the best seasons of television available.

As I'm sure you saw above, a couple of the seasons are not as good as the others. If I had to rank each season, this is how I would recommend them:

1. Season 1 Hands down. Nothing else compares.
2. Season 4 The acting and story of the season is just phenomenal. 
3. Season 6 The ending to this season is just too game-changing to ignore.
4. Season 7 The newest season, while very different from the others, is engaging and gripping.
5. Season 2 As much as everyone hated one character in this season, I personally enjoyed it.
6. Season 3 Much as I love Jimmy Smitts, this season wasn't the greatest, but still good.
7. Season 5 All the seasons are good, but the others are better than this one. Still loved it though.

Now, as I've said, all of the seasons are good, but some are better than others. I'm sure most of you who have seen them all will probably agree with this listing of the seasons, though personal taste may lead to some differences in the later season choices. But nevertheless, I highly, highly recommend all 6 seasons, and cannot wait for the seventh season to come out in September. Rumor has it that the show will only run for two more seasons, so I recommend that you jump on the bandwagon as soon as possible!

-M

3 Easy Steps to Write Great Class Notes

College Tips

Taking notes is something that every college student needs to know how to do, because when you're sitting in class and the professor is speaking at 10,000 words per minute, blazing through PowerPoint slides, and at the end of the class you are paralyzed when the professor says "Make sure you took notes today, this stuff will be on the exam" because you didn't know how to take good notes. So pay attention, and be prepared to have your mind blown with these simple and amazing note-taking techniques!

1. Write in red ink. Writing in red ink will imprint the knowledge of what you are writing down in your brain far more easily than writing in black, blue, or any other kind of ink. This a proven psychological fact, because red is the color that our eyes most see and remember naturally. One of the first colors that newborns can see is the color red. Don't believe me? Go grab something red and visit your little niece or nephew, and wave that thing in front of their eyes. Watch as they track the red object intensely. Trust me, writing in red ink will save your brain a lot of effort in remembering these things you write down. Why do you think teachers mark papers and tests in red ink? So you'll see what they wrote and remember it of course!

2. Know what to take notes on, and what not to take notes on. One of the hardest thing to do in note taking is to differentiate between what is important, and what is not important. What is important are things like formulas, dates, names, theories, new information, questions, definitions, and anything that is bolded or underlined on the PowerPoint or board that your teacher is using. Don't write down things you already know, and don't try to copy what is on the PowerPoint or what your teacher is saying verbatim, because you will just fall behind and have no idea if you missed anything important. Just focus on the list of important things above, and remember to only write down when necessary.

3. Take notes in a structured method. Don't just scribble everything important down haphazardly across your notebook or iPad or whatever. Divide your paper into thirds, use bullet points or Roman numerals, use subpoints, etc. Writing without structure is like driving without lane dividers or road signs: you'll crash and burn within minutes. If you have to, take a bit of time before class and just divide/bullet point/structure your notebook pages so that you won't have to do that in class. Trust me, this will keep your notebook looking clean and it will make it easier for you to go back and underline or highlight whatever you write down. Don't be that note taking guy who's notebook pages look like a blind chicken wrote them.

And there you have it folks! 3 easy steps to make your note taking life much simpler, and much easier. Don't sweat note-taking, it's just writing down information people. Take a breath, pay attention, and take notes!

-M

Gif Collection #1

Humor

Who doesn't love gifs from around the web? These little animated images are some of my favorite finds that I've been saving up for quite some time. I'll be posting collections of these gifs every now and then for your enjoyment, and perhaps for your own usage. Posting in response on a forum? Use a gif! Friend made a dumb comment on your Facebook status? Use a gif! These little things are pretty versatile. Hope you enjoy!

For when you trounce someone in an argument.

Your reaction to a good joke or burn.

When you get complaints for being awesome.

I totally meant to do that!

Nothing says victory like kicking down a door.

-M

How To Save 20 Minutes Tomorrow, With 5 Minutes Today

Life Hacks

Getting ready in the morning. Sometimes even just saying those words makes me sick to my stomach. Everyone hates getting ready, except for these mythical creatures called 'morning people' who apparently exist and actually enjoy waking up early and moving. I've heard these creatures are rare and can be detrimental to your health. Anyways, I've got some life hacks that will make your morning routine be about 20 minutes less with 5 minutes worth of work the day before. Simple, easy, and has a huge payoff. So pay attention:

• Lay out your clothes. I can't emphasize this enough. Picking an outfit, getting it out, and putting it on is about 1/3 of all of our morning routines, admit it. Just take a few seconds right now, go to your closet, pick out what you'll need for tomorrow, and lay it out somewhere. Trust me, this will save you a lot of energy and effort, which is a goal I religiously try to follow. 
• Brush your teeth in the shower. Okay, this might sound gross to some of you, and I don't know why. I mean, it saves you time, and you are going to do it anyway, so get over it and do it if you have to. Just make sure to remember to put some toothpaste on there before showering. Now that would be gross.
• Use 2 in 1 Shampoo/Body Wash. I admit, this is more for the dudes out there, because more girls I would assume do not use this kind of body wash/shampoo. But for girls, if you don't plan on using 2 in 1, I'd recommend just cutting down on the sheer amount of bottles and washes and cleansers that you use if you are in a rush. As long as your smell okay and your hair isn't just-rolled-out-of-bed, trust me, you'll be okay. Using 2 in 1 Shampoo/Body Wash cuts down on my routine pretty significantly. Instead of having to haul 2 bottles and use both separately, why not do it all at once? It makes sense people.
• Line up everything you need for the day before that day. What I mean is take 2 minutes and lay out your keys, wallet, purse, phone, pens, pocket knives, whatever it is you'll need for that day before that day arrives. Also included in this list is backpacks, people. Pack 'em before you start sprinting trying to get ready, trust me, it'll save you some pain from tripping on something.

Don't end up looking like this guy.

Well, there you have it folks! My 5 minute plan (if done now) to save you 20 minutes tomorrow. Because that 20 minutes could be 20 more minutes to get to work, or 20 more minutes of sweet, sweet, sleep, and who doesn't want to pass up on sleep?

-M

5 Tips on How To Study- And Not Forget Everything You Just Studied

College Tips

College is hard. That's a fact. 

Maybe not as hard as some jobs, and maybe not as easy as high school, but it has it's challenges. And one of those things is studying. Oh studying. The bane of many a college exam and student, studying is that elusive creature that everyone seems to chase, but can never 'catch'. But, that is all about to change. I am here to help all of you out there who are struggling to catch studying. By following these 5 simple tips, I promise that when you study, you'll do better than you ever thought you could do. And don't worry, I'm not going to just tell you what not to do and offer no solutions, because that would be pointless. I'll tell you everything you need to know to make studying as easy as pie. That's actually a terrible analogy, because making a pie is hard. Anyway, here they are:

1. Don't cram. Now I know this is probably the hardest one you will have to do. Cramming is the signature college student move, but it is so bad for your memory. Cramming sounds great, but in reality you're just wasting your time and energy trying to stuff a semester's worth of knowledge into about a night's worth of time. Studying all that information without focusing on a few items or subjects and just trying to absorb everything will take the information, place it in your brain for about a total of about 15 seconds, and then out it goes. Don't cram people. What you should do instead is just mark on your calendar, sticky note, scrap of paper, whatever, and set aside just a few hours at least a day or two before the exam. Then use the next tip as your studying method for those few hours. 
2. Study Smarter. Anyone can stare at a textbook like a zombie for hours and say they 'studied'. But not so for you! I have a proven psychological method that will help you retain the maximum amount of information while at the same time letting you take a break during your session. What you need to do is study in 15 minute increments, and take a 2-3 minute break in between each increment. In that 2-3 minute break, do anything but study or read. Run around your library, do jumping jacks, count to 100, whatever, but just do anything but studying. Implement this cycle for about 3 times per hour of studying. Also, never study for more than 3-4 hours. You will just burn out and give up or forget everything you just learned. 2-3 hours of good, clear-headed studying is what you need.
3. Don't study while tired. This. Whatever you do, try your darnedest to not study when you are tired. You will be burnt out already, and whatever you do will be in a haze of sleep deprivation or just absolute exhaustion. Study in the daytime, preferably the sunlight or at least a well lit area. Try not to study at night and if you do, here's a protip: turn down the brightness on your screen. It will reduce the strain on your eyes, which will in turn make it easier for you to read which means you'll actually pay attention to what your eyes are looking at.
4. Use your study guides (If you have one). Cannot emphasize this enough. Why read something and commit it to memory if you don't even need it for the exam?! If your teacher provides study guides, utilize them. Don't ignore them and say that they are useless, because the professor made them and I'm betting they didn't make them just to mess with your and make your life suck. Print out all the study guides at the beginning of the semester, and bring them to class. Fill them in, write notes on them, whatever you have to do to make sure all the essential information is there. By essential information, I usually mean formulas, definitions, solutions to problems, theories, those shorts of things. If you are not provided a study guide, then take good notes in class and during your reading. Use the list of important things above to give you an idea of what to focus your notes on.
5. Relax! Chill out! One thing people always seem to get stressed over is studying. It's frigging' reading and thinking people. It's not skydiving, or fighting a war, it's simply committing information to memory. Don't get overwhelmed by the info you need to know. Focus on what's important, use the tips given above, and breath. Always remember to breath. Take a break after a major study session, and reward yourself with some free time or a hobby. Don't immediately take your mind off what your were just looking at, but keep it in the back-burner for later use. Life isn't all work, so just keep that in mind as you work your way through your academic journey.

I hope this helps those of you who struggle with this. This is my personal experience combined with a little bit of common sense and knowledge about the human mind, so it shouldn't be too tough to follow.

-M