Cheap Movie Tickets? Yes!

Like most people, I enjoy going to the movies. Like most college students, I have a very small amount of money to spend on things such as movies. Tonight, I took advantage of a very cool program on campus. At the information desk in the Gemmell Student Center, they sell Destinta movie vouchers for $3. This is simply amazing. Tickets usually cost $7.50 or $6.50 with a student ID. With this program, I'll be able to see a few new movies (Reno 911! and Pan's Labyrinth) that I'd usually have to wait for the DVD to be released to watch. If Meg and I would go to these two movies, it would have been $26.00 for the two of us. With the vouchers, it is only $12! The school has many deals such as this if you keep an eye out for them.

Another great thing on campus are the trips the school organizes. Between Fall and Spring semesters, I went on a school organized trip to NYC for New Year's Eve for only 15 dollars. And in a week in a half, I'm going to a nearly sold out Penguins game with the school for $15, $20 less than the ticket price. They have so many fun trips throughout the year that everyone should take advantage of.

Not too much went on this week, with exception of the Paul is Dead presentation on Tuesday. There are so many clues and hints that The Beatles (intentionally?) left on their albums. The weather was amazing yesterday and once again snowy today. This weekend's activities include bowling and the movies. It should make for a good time.

Thanks for reading!
Mike

Snow Day! Vagina Monologues! Paul is Dead! Woah!

      On Tuesday night, around  8:09 PM, the unthinkable happened. Clarion University,  after getting pummeled by snow and ice all day (and for most of the next), cancelled classes.  This may not seem like a big deal, but it really was. This was the first time since around 1993 that classes for an entire day were cancelled. My first snow day in over two years! So, what did I do to celebrate? Well, I did what every self-respecting college student would do. I slept until noon! The problem with the snow was that it was extremely powderly (my friend described it as "white sand", which meant snowballs, snowmen, etc. were not really options. Regardless, a good time was had by all (except all the kids that were planning on doing something special for Valentine's Day...the roads were horrible most all day).

      Today, it was back to business. Not too much exciting on the class front.  Just lots and lots of reading, as well as phonetics.  Tonight was something special, though. The Vagina Monologues! If you get a chance to make it tomorrow, the last night it will be running, you won't regret it! All of the cast did a very good job this year, and it was simply hillarious.

      Next Tuesday, there is a special presentation in Hart Chapel by one of my favorite professors, Dr. Todd. I had him last year for a class  and I have also attended several of his other events, including the Clarion ghost tour.  Dr. Todd can take any bland subject and explain it and present it in a way that will make it entertaining and also educational.  The subject of his next presentation does not need any help being interesting, however!  He is going through The Beatles album catalog and displaying the clues and hints of the "Paul is Dead" rumor. For those who don't know, there are dozens of references to Paul McCartney dying in the 60's and being replaced by a lookalike. These references include backmasking on songs, artwork, and many other forms of media. It should make for a very entertaining night.

See you next week!
Mike

(PS: If you have any questions about Clarion or anything, post them in my comments and I will reply!)

There's a Coldest Day in Every Year

The weather this week has been beyond ridiculous! I guess Phil was wrong last week...The wind chills have been all well in the negative digits all week. I honestly can't remember a colder week in my whole life.

All in all, it was a pretty uneventful week. I finished The Kite Runner a few days ago. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend checking it out. It really gives insight to life in Afghanistan, past and present. For the past year or so, I've heard really good things about it but never really got the chance to read it. This semester, it was assigned for my Contemporary American Literature class, along with Angels in America, Gilead, and others. I'm just glad I have a class to finally catch up on reading that I should have done a long time ago.

This weekend should be pretty uneventful. I think some friends and I are going bowling, but that's about it I believe. Next week on campus is The Vagina Monologues. Come check it out!

Mike


 

Ilya Kaminsky and the weekend!

But in the secret history of anger—one man's silence
lives in the bodies of others—as we dance to keep from falling,
-In Praise of Laughter

This evening, I attended a poetry reading by Ilya Kaminsky in the art gallery on campus.  It was by far one of the best events I have attended since I began going here. Kaminsky came to the country at the age of 16 after leaving the (then Soviet-Union) Ukraine.  Thus, he speaks with a thick Russian accent. When he reads, his speech almost has a singing quality that is truly unique.  It is full of passion and is really quite amazing. If you ever have a chance to see him, I highly recommend it.

Not too much else to report. School is making my life extremely busy. I have a few stories and a book to finish reading for next week's classes, so I have a lot of work ahead of me. This weekend, I'm going back home this weekend to good old Punxsutawney. It's been a while since I've seen my family, friends, and pets, so I'm going back to visit and see how everyone is doing. Hopefully it won't be too cold!

That's all for now. Thanks for reading!

Mike

p.s. To everyone heading to Punxsutawney for Groundhog's Day...
"Don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooold out there today!"