Review and Recommend: Best Disney Movie

I could write a glowing recommendation for all of the Disney movies. I could tell you how appealing and gorgeous the colors are in Pocahontas or I could explain the graphics necessary to make someone fly like in Tarzan. Or I could mention the wonderful lessons Cinderella, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, or Lady and the Tramp teaches young children. But the best Disney film incompaces this and so much more. Mulan was released in 1998 and tells the story of young princess Mulan who impersonates a man so she can join the Chinese army to protect her injured father when the Huns attack the Great Wall of China. In the end Mulan prevails, gets the respect that she so greatly deserves, and finds her "prince". But what's important isn't what Mulan earns in the ends its what she learns along the way. She is strong, beautiful, and a princess. Mulan is smashed with wonderful songs including  but not limited to; "A Girl Worth Fighting For", "I'll Make A Man Out Of You", and "Reflection". Mulan was also one of the first Disney films to use exstensive computer graphics. In one scene they make 25 Hun soldiers coming down a snow covered mountain look more like 25,000. Mulan is my favorite Disney movie and I'm sure after another viewing it will be yours too.

Missives and Musing: Being Young

Why is it that young people are treated like second class citizens in this society. I have many examples of how older people treat young "naive" people

Last week my sister and I went on spring break vacation in Florida. We stayed at our grandparents condo run by Wyndham resorts. Since we were in Orlando we had to make an appearance at the Disney Theme Parks and our resort offered a shuttle to the parks for $11 per person and it was a round trip. The first day we arrived at the front of our resort at 8:15 for the 8:30 shuttle. The shuttle did not arrive until 8:45. That evening we were the first to be picked up and the last to be dropped off which in total was a two hour long drive. The following morning we were at the front waiting for our shuttle at 8:20 and at around 9:00 when the shuttle still had not arrived I went in the the lobby and asked that the front desk call and ask what was taking so long. They did and found out that the shuttle had apparently come and gone and that they would send a cab for the same fair as the shuttle. When the cab arrived the driver implied that we were late and had missed the shuttle. He continued to make jokes that we were two young girls and hadn't made it on time because we took too long to get ready, or that we didn't know that the time was different here than it was in Iowa, etc. When we arrived at the Disney property we were told that we needed to pay $15 to enter the park in the cab. The driver than laughed and said "he figured we knew that" In the end we payed double for the cab than we would've payed had the shuttle came on time.

This past year I have been living in Towerview Apartments here in Maryville and have had many many problems with my landlord whether it be things breaking and not being fixed or things not ever working but my main issue with him, and pretty much all landlords, is that he speaks to me like I'm a dumb kid who doesn't know what she's doing. I don't know if this is because I'm young or because I'm a girl. When I ask my landlord a question I expect a straight forward answer not for him to laugh at me and give me a condescending answer. On top of that when people "promise" that something will get accomplished I actually expect that it will get done. But I feel like they think I forget they promised something. I didn't forget.

Finally. I will be moving from Maryville to Kansas City this summer and going to school there. Last month my roommate and I went to visit a town house in Gladstone, MO. Now for the record we did our research we looked at the website of this complex many times and had called around to multiple places. When we arrived we were quite disappointed with the location and the inside. The women who was showing the apartment treated myself and my roommate like we were naive and stupid and had not done our homework. Basically talked to us as if we were little kids.

Basically I don't understand how old I need to get to be treated with respect.

Read and Respond: Juno

1. I see two girls, one pregnant, both are sitting inside some sort of window or case. I feel like they are in a school because behind them is a red and yellow banner with the word high school which is partially covered. There is lots of food and soda cups all around them. The pregnant girl is wearing a grey t-shirt with a graphic on it and a red zip up hoodie. The other girl is wearing tights, a short plaid skirt and a white button up. The props are arranged that way to show all the food because she is pregnant it is also supposed to be obvious that they are in a high school. The colors are very vibrant and the light looks like an over head bulb.

2. I know that these girls are in high school by the clothes they are wearing and where they are sitting. It seems like the pregnant girl is angry or maybe yelling at the other girl.

3. I can tell by the colors and the food that it is a humorous film

4. To be funny?

Missives and Musing: Maryville

I have slowly built up a hatred for the town of Maryville. I don't know one thing alone that has made me hate this place but I honestly can't understand how anyone has been able to live here for more than two years. My parents attended Northwest in the 80's and after they graduated and bounced around the work force for a few years they came back to the University and worked for the next 20 years. My sister and I were born in Maryville and until the ripe old age of seven I lived in Maryville. Then my mom got a job at Iowa State University and we were moved to Ames, IA. At the time I thought my world was ending, and so did my sister. We didn't know what we would do without our school, friends, and town. Looking back on it I can't tell my parents how grateful I am that they moved us out of this town. I don't know if it's the size --- actually yes I do. Who wants to live somewhere where all you can do is go to Wal Mart, eat crappy food and get drunk at frat houses? I sure don't. Another reason may be that the campus is sworming with Greek Life. Which if I haven't made clear I can't stand. It makes me feel like I'm right back in highschool where your surrounded by clicks and girls in highheels and flower headbands. Thankfully I am transferring to a Graphic Design school in Kansas City, MO where there is not only shopping, but shows and musicals. I. Can't. Wait.

Review and Recommend: The Neverending Fear Project

I don't know about you but I love to see local or unknown bands and promote them to young college students like yourself. This past weekend I attended a concert at The Power&Light: Bar and Grill. Three local performers got on stage and showed us what they had to offer. The first to go on was a young rapper who calls himself Dubul Aye. Now for those of you who don't know how to say that it is pronounced as "Double A" like the battery. The next to go on was another young rapper who goes by Khan X. Both of these artists attend Northwest Missouri State University. The Headlining band goes by "The Never Ending Fear Project" with Gary Still on guitar, Sam Derry on drums, Phillip Patterson on Base and Kenny Tanner on lead vocals. The Neverending Fear Project has the perfect blend of music. Each member of the band can definitely hold their own but it sounds incredible all together. They have been together for the last four years and just released their EP with four of their favorite songs. For those of you who are 21 years old you can see NFP at The Riot Room in Kansas City, MO this Saturday.

Check out "The Neverending Fear Project" on Facebook or Reverb Nation

Read and Respnd: The Folly of Multitasking

Basically what this author is saying is that we were not meant to multitask. That when we try bad things happen; we get into car accidents, we fall down, or we get frustrated. I have a hard time agreeing with him. I don't think it's that we can't multitask I think it's that we need to choose when to multitask. When your driving down the highway in the winter checking your phone may not be the best idea. As a kid growing up I could not do my homework withoout having the radio blasting or the TV on. My mom would come home, turn off whatever electronic item I had going, and told me to do my homework. What she didn't know was that I worked better with noice! Either way some people can multitask and some cant.

Review and Recommend: It's Kind of a Funny Story

Craig is 16 years old and incredibly stressed out with pressures from his dad, who works too much, and his mom, who is too clingy. His school, his application to summer school, his friends, and of course, girls. He goes to the emergency room one Sunday morning at 5 AM begging for help, not realizing that he was committing himself for the next five days. Which would stay with him for much longer than that. It's Kind of a Funny story stars Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Graham, and Emma Roberts and is absolutely hilarious with all the eccentric characters ranging from Solemon, the acid head with sonic hearing. Bobby, the middle aged man who attempted suicide six times. And Muktoka, the Indian man who has never left his room. You become attached to all the characters the longer you watch it. You cry with them, laugh with them, and celebrate with them. Although it is quite funny they manage to mix a few serious moments. When Bobby blows his interview to the group home and has a breakdown in the living room we all felt his pain and anger. The acting is wonderful, new comer Keir Gilchrist, who plays Craig, is the highlight of a great film. When he comes on the screen you can't help but think of Craig and not Keir Gilchrist. I feel like we relate too much to actors and not enough to the characters they play. We go to the movies to see Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, and Brad Pitt. I sincerely hope that Keir is in another film soon. The graphics are incredibly well done, as a graphic design major that is the first thing I notice in a movie. They choose to use the main characters art as a way to create an interesting back drop for the film. With hand drawn cities supposed to represent New York. If you want a well made, well acted, funny, and interesting film you need to check out It's Kind of a Funny Story. You can get this film at Movie Magic it has not hit Red Box yet.