21 (2008)

This film is based on a true story. It's based on the actual story of a group of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) students learning to count cards in casinos all over Las Vegas. It's also based on a book called Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich

Summary

-Based on a true story, six students attending MIT learn the art of counting cards and blackjack and develop cues to let the others know when the hand was good, resulting in them taking Vegas casinos for millions of dollars in winnings

Cast

-Jim Sturgess: Ben Campbell

-Kevin Spacey: Mickey Rosa

-Kate Bosworth: Jill

-Aaron Yoo: Choi

-Lia Lapira: Kianna

-Jacob Pitts: Fisher

-Laurence Fishburne: Cole Williams

-Jack McGee: Terry

-Josh Gad: Miles

-Sam Golzari: Cam

-Helen Carey: Ellen Campbell

-Jack Gilpin: Bob Phillips

Did You Know?

-Despite being set in the present day era of 2007-2008, this film is based on an actual team of card counters who were active between 1979-1994. At one point, there were more than 80 people on the original MIT team

-Kevin Spacey, who played Professor Mickey Rosa, stated that some of the original players came with the actors and actresses to help with research. Despite not being allowed to play, they would push up against Kevin Spacey's chair every time he wanted to up the bet

-The main characters that the story was based on were of Asian descent. But when casting was done, many of the actors and actresses were Caucasian, which caused quite a controversy. In addition to that, actor Jim Sturgess, who plays Ben Campbell, had to work with a dialect coach to learn how to speak with an American accent, since the actor was born and raised in England

-This movie was used as a high level luxury prize on the TV program Big Brother 9. The prize being the chance to see an advance screening of the movie. The Big Brother game involved a blackjack competition. One of the winners won a trip to Las Vegas that was worth $21,000, and included a three night stay at the same hotel the actors from the film were staying in

-Many of the extras in the classroom scenes were actual Boston University students

-In the classroom scene with Professor Rosa, when he explains the three doors, is described as the Monty Hall problem. Named after the host of Let's Make a Deal from 1963, it's considered an example of a vertical paradox. It involves the best course of action usually not being taken because intuition tells you it might be wrong. As Ben accurately points out (and usually proven correctly), switching to the other door indeed increases chances, at least 2/3 odds versus the 1/3 odds for staying with the original choice

-The 2.09 robotics competition featured in this film is based on an actual 6.270 robotic competition held at MIT

-The source code for the robot is taken from the NOAA National Geodetic Survey GPS Toolbox

-In the scene where Ben apologizes to Jill (Kate Bosworth), a close look reveals that Kate has one brown eye and one blue eye

-The sunglasses worn by Laurence Fishburne throughout the movie are Randolph Engineering Aviators

-Jacob Pitts and Jim Sturgess both appeared together in the 2007 film Across the Universe

Day 20-Things to Do Before You Die

Sort of like a bucket list
https://never3nding.tumblr.com/post/2660644142/tumblr-30-day-challenge

Meet someone famous

-I've already done this with Def Leppard. Me and my sister had meet-and-greet tickets to Def Leppard when they played here in Cincinnati, OH in May 2018. The photographer had to tell my sister to relax while I was standing next to Rick Savage, the bassist and trying not to blow a microchip. It was only when we were around the corner and out of earshot that we had our little freakouts about being near our favorite member of Def Leppard.

-I would love to meet Iron Maiden. I've seen countless interviews and they all seem like genuinely nice, down to earth guys with a lot of funny stories to tell. If you need evidence of this, watch Flight 666. I laughed at parts of that movie, such as when Adrian Smith is being interviewed in a t-shirt and towel around his waist and bare feet. Or when a crew member is being interviewed and in the background you see Bruce Dickinson in underwear and socks getting his stage clothes off a hanger. Plus, me and my sister both have favorites in the band. I like Dave Murray because I think he is still handsome and has a nice personality. My other favorite is Steve Harris because he's still handsome. My sister's single favorite is Dave Murray. She thinks he is so handsome for his age

-I wouldn't mind meeting Ritchie Blackmore. From this documentary I have seen and own on DVD about him, The Ritchie Blackmore Story, he does not seem arrogant as people have made him out to be. Opinionated? Yes. Demanding? Probably. He's probably demanding on himself, who knows. But he seems like a really sweet, nice, quiet guy who loves his privacy. I mean, imagine it. You're a musician in a really successful band. People are hounding you all the time. Yeah, you're going to want privacy. I read a book about him called Black Knight: Ritchie Blackmore by Jerry Bloom. It's a good book, but the person who wrote it seems to make Ritchie out to be almost like a bully, pulling pranks on people but getting bent out of shape when they turn the tables on him. And if that is how he really is, then okay, fine. I still think he's a cool guy. Although it would do him some good to learn about the values of monogamy, learning to stay with the one you love and not cheat. He seems to have finally learned that with his current music partner Candice Night. Plus, I've been a pretty big Deep Purple fan since high school and it was only after reading Black Knight: Ritchie Blackmore by Jerry Bloom that I discovered the band Rainbow and quickly became a fan of that band as well.

 



He looks very happy here. I'm happy for him.





Travel the world

-I want to travel to see various places in the world. I want my sister right there with me. We had our fights and troubles when we were younger. What siblings don't fight? But we seem to have grown closer over the years and it seems like we're best friends who do everything together-concerts, tattoos, special events and vacations. I would take my sister on vacation with me. I would love to take her to London with me because she is a massive punk rock fan and what better place for a lover of all things punk to go than London? I also want to take her with me to Australia to sightsee. If I can or if she wants to, either one of us could buy tickets to an AFL (Australian Football League) game, known as Aussie Rules football. She loves this incredibly violent sport known to some as "kill the man with the ball". Any places she wants to go, I'm sure she'll ask me just as I would ask her.

Fall in Love
-I wouldn't mind this. But I feel like my massive lack of self-confidence and self-esteem would push anyone away. Not only that, I have very massive trust issues and trust very few people. I have issues with opening up to people I don't know. I always try and find some common ground that me and the other person has in common, but if me and that person have nothing in common, why bother talking to them?

Go back to school
-I wouldn't mind going back to school if I knew something I was interested in and passionate about. My biological father drove all ideas and passions from my head. He told me and my sister that no matter how hard we worked toward something, it would never happen. Dreams are for suckers. That we would just be better off going the safe route and getting a regular job like everyone else and not bother with college. That we would never find a job in that market anyway. He also told us that if we couldn't do good in school, what good were we in college?

Day 13-Something You Wish You Could Have Done Differently

This will be short
https://never3nding.tumblr.com/post/2660644142/tumblr-30-day-challenge

I simply wish I could have never gone to college. I should have known it was going to be a failure, but I wanted to try it to see if I could hack it. I thought I did fairly well, going to a small community college for graphic design. I did fairly well in almost all of the classes except for Package Design. It was taught by a woman who worked at P&G (Procter & Gamble), a very large company based right here in Cincinnati. She told me all sorts of nasty things. Here are some of the things she told ME "You need to do yourself a favor and quit while you're ahead" "Your skills just suck" "You're horrible with deadlines. You don't even have a proper laptop like everyone else" "You are wasting not only my time, which is very valuable to me and your classmates who actually want to learn, but you're wasting your time as well" "If you go for an interview at a graphic design firm, they will not only tell you that you are wasting your time, but they will tell you that you are wasting their time and they will laugh you right out of the building".

Because of that, I lost what little confidence I had in something I could try and do. After that class, I dropped out in 2011 and have been working ever since to pay back the student loan. I have had it paid off for the last four years. I should known I was too ignorant for college. I had no issues at all with the general education classes. I aced those with straight A's. It was just the course mentioned above I had issue with. Other than that, all the other course classes were fun and easy

Day 23-Photo of you taken over 10 years ago

Private London by James Patterson

This is, yet again, another earlier entry in the Private series by James Patterson. This series of novels follows a fictitious investigation agency called Private, with locations all around the world.

This story in particular follows a former Royal Military Police officer named Dan Carter and his employees at Private London. His task is to go to the US and escort a young woman named Hannah Shapiro to London for schooling. She is reading psychiatry at Chancellors University, in central London. Her father is a wealthy industrialist who, when she was 13, had been unable to pay the ransom on her and her mother. But not before Hannah was forced to watch as her mother was raped and murdered by her captors. Years later, she is escorted to London and Dan asks that Chloe Smith, the daughter of his former commanding officer Richard Smith, act as bodyguard. But, one night, while at a bar on campus, Hannah is kidnapped and held for ransom while Chloe is attacked. Her, Hannah and another girl, Laura, are all under aliases, protecting their identities. It turns out that Hannah had staged the whole thing as a sort of payback to her father for not coming to get her and being forced to watch her mother die before her eyes.

It's kind of like reading an episode of Law and Order UK to be pretty honest. In fact, the main character, Dan Carter, if he were a real person, I would bet would look EXACTLY like Ben Daniels, who played Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel

Top 10 Reasons to Study Abroad

Something I wished I could have done!!!

Study abroad, for those who may not know, is when you go to another county and attend school there like the locals. You can absorb the local culture and also gain an experience that not everyone can experience. According to social media site Playbuzz.com, here are the top 10 reasons to study abroad

1.) Makes your resume more attractive
-Everyone wants a resume that is going to turn heads. Studying abroad shows that you are driven, independent, definitely one that can be trusted and able to jump right into new situations. An employer would be crazy not to want to hire you!

2.)Scholarships go long!
-For students looking for international education, scholarships help out! And grants, scholarships and loans often take off the burden of paying for that awesome experience

3.)Personal growth
-While it's daunting at the thought of picking up your entire life and going to a foreign land to learn, there is some excitement in it. You can pick up a new language, absorb the local culture, even make a friend or two. But the biggest reward is confidence in yourself and feeling more independent

4.)Making new friends
-This is the biggest and best reward. If you take interest in local cultures, you're bound to make friends in no time!

5.)Opportunity to travel
-Everyone loves travelling. Europe tends to be a popular area for study abroad experiences. You can learn about so many cultures within a certain area

6.)Getting in to another culture
-Understanding the culture of the country you study abroad in makes the experience so much more rewarding. It makes you more employable and you can learn the language

7.)Your perspective grows
-Like the song "A Whole New World" from the Disney movie Aladdin, this perfectly captures what studying abroad can do. It can open your eyes to the many vast and interesting cultures of our fine world

8.)The food
-Need we say more?

9.)Managing finances
-This one can be hard sometimes. Taking on the responsibility of managing your finances can be a daunting task, but it's a learning experience!

10.)The time is now for action!
-Sometimes life can get in the way of something like this. Whether it be family, mortgages, or a job, this may not be high on your priority list. It's good to take the bull by the horns and run with it!

Cute Guy Wednesday: Eric McCormack

For some reason, I've been watching the show Perception after my mom gets in her weekly fix of Rizzoli & Isles. I have to admit, that Perception is pretty awesome!! I love it. I think the main guy is attractive in a sort of mysterious way, and also attractive in a plain sort of way :D

Eric McCormack

Birth name: Eric James McCormack
DOB: 4/18/1963
Where: Toronto, Canada
Height: 5'11''

Spouse
-Janet Holden: 8/3/1997-present, 1 child

Trivia
-Became a US citizen, holding both US and Canadian citizenship
-Was inspired to become an actor after seeing Don Adams on Get Smart (1965)
-Currently plays Daniel Pierce, a schizophrenic college professor who helps the FBI on the TV show Perception

Known For
Perception
-Daniel Pierce

Street Legal (TV show)
-Barry Taylor/Cal
The Lost World
-Edward Malone
Return to the Lost World
-Edward Malone
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble
-Don Farmer
Lonesome Dove: The Series
-Col. Francis Clay Mosby
Dead Like Me
-Ray Summers
Will & Grace
-Will Truman
The Andromeda Strain
-Jack Nash

You're not gonna believe this!

There are true and false facts about college!! This definitely makes me feel a lot better about going back to school; it puts a little relief on my mind about it, eases my ever worrying mind, especially since my aunt last night called and all but discouraged me from going back. If you read this and find it shocking, don't be. My aunt's been like this for years; discouraging me and my sister from following our dreams!

1.
-American colleges are the best in the world.
Not true according to a study done by Jeff Selingo, who wrote a book about higher education. The U.S. only ranks about 14th in the world for education. Mainly because the cost is out of control and the quality of education is questionable. Also, more and more colleges anymore are taking up study abroad programs, which allow its students to travel to other countries, soaking up the local culture and attend college in those countries and learn like the locals do

2.
-You get what you pay for
He says there is really no difference in cost if you attend one college over another.  He says that some people would go to an expensive college thinking they'll get 5 star education when compared to someone who goes to a modestly priced college will get the same level of education

3.
Most students graduate in four years
-Fewer than 40% of students graduate in four years and 58% students graduate in 6 years. You're no better than a high school student, says Selingo

4.
-Majors determine your future
Most employers want employees who are quick to learn (ME) and have the ability to learn and love of learning (ME). These employers also want people who can find the answers to tomorrows' questions. Most fields the major matters.

5.
Community College is for losers
-It's said that students who come to a four year university after attending a community college graduate quickly. Because they're motivated to do well, tuitions are lower at community colleges.

An Extremely Goofy Movie

An Extremely Goofy Movie

Summary
-Max is college bound and determined to have a good time. Goofy, meanwhile, is suffering from empty nest syndrome and decides to follow Max to college, much to his embarrassment. He wants to be a top contender for the X-Games, and when Goofy learns that he can't get another job without a college degree, he enrolls in college. As Max falls in love with a local girl who happens to be the girlfriend of a fraternity pledge, Goofy falls for the librarian, who shares his love of 1970s fads

Cast
-Bill Farmer: Goofy
-Jason Marsden: Max
-Jeff Bennett: Bradley Uppercrust
-Jim Cummings: Pete
-Brad Garrett: Tank
-Vicki Lewis: Beret Girl in Cafe
-Bebe Neuwirth: Sylvia Marpole
-Rob Paulsen: P.J. Pete
-Pauly Shore: Bobby Zimmeruski

Flubber

Flubber

Summary
-Professor Phillip Brainard is a scientist trying to develop a new form of energy that will save Medfield College, where his sweetheart, Sara Jean Reynolds, is the president. He missed the wedding twice and on the afternoon of his 3rd wedding, Professor Brainard creates "Flubber" a rubbery material that can get anything flying through the air

Cast
-Robin Williams: Prof. Phillip Brainard
-Marcia Gay Harden: Dr. Sara Jean Reynolds
-Christopher McDonald: Wilson Croft
-Ted Levine: Wesson
-Clancy Brown: Smith
-Raymond J. Barry: Chester Hoenicker
-Wil Wheaton: Bennett Hoenicker
-Edie McClurg: Martha George
-Jodi Benson: Weebo (voice)

Did You Know?
-When Prof. Brainard is talking to Dale, in the background, the fight song for Duke University can be heard playing
-Wil Wheaton was cast because he was said to look like Tommy Kirk from The AbsentMinded Professor

Hot Man Monday: Robin Shou

Here's another piece of eye candy Love for Asian Guys might like...

Robin Shou

DOB: July 17, 1960
Where: Hong Kong, China
Height: 6'

Trivia
-Youngest of four kids
-Family moved to the U.S. in 1971
-Did not start learning martial arts until he was 19 years old
-While attending California State University, he started learning Kenpo (Karate). Since this did not hold his interest for long, he switched over to Wu Shu martial arts

-Obtained a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering

-In his spare time, he paints, does woodworking, takes ceramics classes, welds. He enjoys doing anything that involves working with his hands
-First real drama role: Forbidden Nights (1990) on TV
-Performs most of his own stunts
-Makes very frequent appearances at the annual Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker 5k/10k Run/Walk
-Starring in Mortal Kombat was a unique role for Robin. At the time, there were not many Asian actors or actresses starring as heroes in Hollywood films. The movie was also uncommon because at that time, the hero and villain were both Asian

Known For

Mortal Kombat

-Liu Kang

Beverly Hills Ninja
-Gobei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death Race

-14k

Cold Case
-Bo-Lin Chen
-Episode: Chinatown

Study Abroad!

This is one thing that I would have loved to do!!

Unfortunately, my currently stupid school is too poor to actually do anything fun like that. Can you imagine the learning possibilities of studying abroad? The learning possibilities could be endless!! If I had enough money to go to Northern Kentucky University, one of the biggest universities near me in Kentucky, I would have signed on to study abroad in a heartbeat!! But the only bad thing is: I wouldn't know where to go! If I were a student there, I'd probably have the professor rolling on the floor laughing at my high level of excitement at doing something like this. So, about 2 minutes ago, I was bored and looking at random stuff on the Internet as usual and decided to see what NKU had to offer. They have tons of stuff to offer. I should have gone into something like Criminal Justice. For some odd reason, Law just interests me for some odd reason! Here is the site http://nku.edu/. They offer all kinds of Study Abroad programs. If I get enough money, I think I'm gonna go for Criminal Justice. Change around a few goals on my 'bucket list'. Instead of graduating for Graphic Design, I'm gonna try Criminal Justice and see what happens! If I study abroad, I might make some new friends?

Northern Kentucky University

Study Abroad
You can choose from:

Academic Exchanges
-Most independent study abroad program offered at NKU
-Students can spend a semester or academic year in one of the various exchange universities
-These experiences offer a very unique insight into the local culture and customs, a chance to improve a foreign language skill and a unique way to learn about culture
-The exchange universities working with NKU are as follows:
Australia
-Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia
-Would love to study here!

China

-East China University

-Not too bad here, either

Costa Rica
-National University

Denmark
-Aarhus School of Business

Ecuador
-University of San Francisco in Quito

England
-University of East London
-Wouldn't mind studying here. I hear the schools in England are excellent! 5 star level education!

France
-University of Caen-Basse-Normandie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

-Ludwig Maximilians University

Japan
-Gifu University
-Nanzan University
-Here would be pretty interesting!

Gifu University

Korea

-Hansung University

Hansung

-Sookmyung Women's University

Sookmyung

Mexico

-Autonomous University of the State of Morelos

The Netherlands
-The Hague University of Applied Sciences

Philippines
-Cebu Technological University

Romania
-Babes-Bolyai University

Russia
-Peoples Friendship University of Russia
-It may be cold, but I bet it would be pretty!

Scotland
-Glasgow Caledonian University

Spain
-University of Leon

Taiwan
-National Chengchi University

Short-Term Programs
-Many take place over Spring and May break, but can be offered any time of year
2012/2013 Winter Programs
-Nursing/Social Work: India. Dr. Giri
-Art: Hong Kong/Macau
2013 Spring Break Programs
-Alternative Spring Break: Mexico City, Mexico
-Biology: Costa Rica
-Art: Paris & Amsterdam
-History: Italy
2013 NKU May/Summer Programs
-Honors/Theatre: Barbados
-Biology/Geology: Belize

Cooperative Center for Study Abroad
-Higher education program with 24 colleges/universities working in it. These colleges/universities are located in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Tennessee.
-Winter break foreign exchange programs are offered in Australia, England, India and Ireland
Summer programs are offered in Belize, England, Hong Kong, Ireland, Scotland, and West Africa
-There are also internship programs that are offered in Dublin and Sydney, but a fall semester program is offered in England

Kentucky Institute for International Studies
-All programs are in non-English speaking countries
-There are 25 summer programs offered in Canada, Europe, Latin & South America, Africa and Asia
-Semester programs offered in France, Germany, Mexico and Spain
-Some of the offered programs are language-intensive and others are for interested students who wish to improve foreign language skills

International Student Teaching
-Students in the Education program are highly encouraged to take part in international student teaching.
-This program offers many advantages, such as: 1.) learning about a new culture, 2.) Learning new ways of teaching and learning, 3.) Learn about diversity and sensitivity, 4.) Learn how to connect with overseas classrooms, 5.) Learn to become a worldly, global citizen

Non-NKU Programs
-Students can happily embark on study abroad programs offered by another university or organization. But, in order to be eligible for NKU Study Abroad scholarships, you must receive approval from the Office of Education Abroad