My Top 5 Male Spirit Animals

And by "Spirit Animal", I mean someone who is literally so close to the definition of perfection, so much a dude after my own heart, that I wish I could cram them into a Pokèball and use them at will to destroy my enemies.

K. Let's get started.

5. Hank Green

Hank is sort of the lesser-known Vlog Brother, simply because he doesn't have any best selling novels or movie adaptations of said best selling novels. HOWEVER. Not only did Hank's CrashCourse YouTube lessons help me get through Biology this year, but also his replies to John on their channel make my week every week. I just love how kind and fabulous he is, and yes, I love the crap out of John Green, but lets be real, as a recent Nerdfighter, Hank is my new obsession.

Best Character Traits: sweet, hyper intelligent, receptive

Hey. Those are my glasses . . . {via}

4. Kingsley

King Johnston Hill, otherwise known as Kingsley on YouTube, is best known for his viral videos from his first year on YouTube and his biannual Overexposed series, in which he pokes fun at all the ridiculous things that were talked about too much that year. Kingsley is hilarious, and I am so sad that this is his last year posting videos to his channel. I will certainly be enjoying every single upload of his in 2014, and I wish him well in whatever he does after YouTube.

Best Character Traits: funny, reasonable, friendly

It's like he fell from some fab version of Heaven. {via}

3. Misha Collins

Misha, Misha, Misha. What to say about Misha? His birth name is Dmitri Tippens Krushnic. He renewed his wedding vows in drag. His son's name is West and they do a YouTube cooking show parody called "Cooking Fast and Fresh with West", which is potentially the most adorable thing on the internet. He stars as the badass angel on Supernatural, better known as Castiel or Cas. He's the greatest thing since sliced bread, especially because his charity, Random Acts, literally works to spread kindness in all forms. I would kill to meet this man.

Best Character Traits: versatile, open minded, fabulous

We have trapped him inside Tumblr, and we are never letting him out. {via}

2. Patrick Rothfuss

Pat, as he is known to fans of his Kingkiller Trillogy, not only wrote one of the best modern novels I have ever read, The Name of the Wind (its sequel, The Wise Man's Fear, is also pretty great), but also runs a blog devoted to updating his readers on his book tours, his life, and his ridiculously cute son (nicknamed 'Oot' to keep him out of the public eye). Patrick's heart is bigger than his beard, and that's saying something. He's like a brunette Santa, especially because you'd need a sack to carry around those big-ass novels. 1700 pages put together. Worth. It.

Best Character Traits: talented, caring, soulful

Ignore the creepy face. He's actually a teddy bear. {via}

1. Jon Stewart

Jon gets the #1 spot because he is keeping George Carlin's front row seat to the freak show warm. By that, I mean he is the leading pundit in America, followed VERY closely by Stephen Colbert, and he is consistently a voice of reason on television. I know. I know. It's Comedy Central. It's all a joke, right? Yeah, no. All the best comedy is funny because it's true. Contrary to Carlin, however, Jon shows utmost respect for all of his guests, regardless of whether or not their politics activate his gag reflex. He also manages to destroy their ideals, but hey, all's fair in love and progressive satire. I will be a fan of this man long after the news channels he devotes his life to critiquing air video montage memorials of his legacy. Hopefully, this is a long way off. America needs you, Jon. Don't leave us.

Best Character Traits: devoted, tactful, hilarious

That moment when Jon fangirled. We have so much in common. {via}

Hope you guys enjoyed!

Female version coming VERY soon!!

With love,
Laney

Movie Review of Her

Somehow much more charming than a Roman emperor. {via}

SPOILERS. DUH.

So Her, written and directed by Spike Jonze, was, naturally, incredible. And delightfully existential, so I was down for that.

I'd just like to say, though, that in a way it is predictable. He falls in love with his computer, yes. Technology advances far beyond human compatibility, yes. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't go to the nearest possible theater and watch it right now. This film, truly, is the taste of your favorite food. It doesn't surprise you by anything except its never-failing ability to keep you warm. I am assuming your favorite food isn't ice cream. Apologies.

To be honest, I am not very familiar with Spike's work. But this movie, in another directer's hands, would not have been soft enough. Any other artist likely would have choked on the challenge of turning a terrifying concept of modernity into something sweetly beautiful. Jonze does not ignore the ramifications of an America in which everyone is more intimate with their phones than with each other, but Theodore does, and the truth passes him by in all his phases, because he simply sees nothing but the woman manifested in the voice of his personal operating system (so perfectly done by Scarlett Johansson).

This movie manages to be funny and real and sexy. Yes, sexy. I know, the mustache seems a bit off-putting. To me, as a major fan of Joaquin, I think that the facial hair serves to soften him, covering up the cleft palate surgery scar that has so often accented his characteristic sneer. But that's just me. In actuality, it helps to create this odd, sad man that wants to live vibrantly. It makes him who he is, along with the hipster glasses and pocket squares, in which he stores Samantha close to his heart.

Spike includes many scenes that contain what can only be symbols. The sleeping character on Theodore's boss's desk. The upside-down airplane without any commercial advertisement. The hanging, multi-colored shapes above his desk. Peace. Eccentricity. Dimension. The same is true of his friend's (Amy Adams is gorgeous and gentle in this; I'm ashamed to say I ever disliked her work) documentary, which appears to include only footage of her mother sleeping. The 'handwritten' letters that are pinpoint pieces of him. The growth he and his wife experienced in reading everything the other ever wrote. Peace. Eccentricity. Dimension. It is so perfectly whole, and best of all, expanding.
And the expanding is the problem. Any program created to learn ALL will eventually encompass the entirety of information. Imagine your phone learning how to love and then being exponentially exposed to the entire internet until he/she (it?) has to attempt to FULLY. EXPERIENCE. EVERYTHING. That gives a new meaning to 'all of the feelz'. No wonder Samantha falls in love with over 600 entities; humans and other OS's.

This is the main reason why I love this movie: When Samantha explains to Theodore that the information is becoming too much, that the words that encompass their love are too far apart and lost in infinite space, but that she still feels close to him, that is everything. Absolutely everything. It is why we write poetry. It is why we come up with nicknames. It is why some songs are better for one than another. The infinite space between love exists. It does. Be we are not computers. We do not have to feel that space. Instead, we MUST feel the love, instead. We must locate the glowing lights in the sea of everything-nothingness. To feel and to love and to lose is to be human, and it is the reason why hyper-intelligent operating systems may one day come to know us, but will likely never be able to emulate the selection of one singular person as infinitely more important, meaningful, and CLOSE than the galaxy of data demanding to be felt. So when Samantha says "If you ever catch up to where I am, come and find me", the closure is knowing that Theodore will never catch up. We, as humans, will never evolve to be file folders for the universe. So he sits with his best friend and looks out over the vast expanse of everything, and you can rest assured that her love for him is the only thing good enough in that moment to keep him warm.

Joaquin, by the way, was effortless in this. It is the best performance of his career, and yes, that includes his part in Walk the Line.

After the film, I immediately felt the urge to grab my phone and check for updates, and then I felt anxious, because the post-modern attachment to technology is a really terrifying prospect.

Then the lights came on, and I saw the "You are the John to my Sherlock" bracelet on my wrist, and the message of the movie was steadfastly clear once again. Technology, though it may try, will never replace love. See, my iPhone is pretty cool, but the bracelet that signifies the love my best friend and I have for each other, in the end, is the only thing keeping me warm.

Her was everything I had hoped it would be and more. Thank you Spike and Joaquin. So very much.

With love,
Laney

Pointless Fun Facts

You know how when you're reading something ridiculously boring and the author randomly throws in something that is actually entertaining in the hopes of catching the reader before they fall completely asleep?

Okay, okay, it's a rare phenomena, but when it happens, it's nice.

Like today, for example, I was reading my Roman textbook and came across a line that insisted "asses" were a Roman monetary unit. So something like, say, the Roman treasury, would have am"assed" millions of asses at any given time. *giggles in corner* Needless to say, that helped me finish my reading.

And you thought I'd disappoint you with a picture of coins. Never. {via}

Also, 300 million years ago, there used to be dragonflies so big that their wings were about the size of your arm. Yeah. And dragonflies are super badass predators that can lock onto prey like Army drones. Mmhmm. Have fun with your nightmares!

On a lighter note, the scientific term for tomatoes is "Solanum lycopersicum", which literally means "wolf peach". I mean. That's kind of perfect.

Just some of the weird, pointless facts I've learned this week that keep things upbeat. Carry on with your lives :)

With love,

Laney

My Top 10 Favorite Movies

I decided to do this before I see Her, just in case that movie knocks one of these off the list and I don't get to talk about it. I will review Her once I get to see it; hopefully soon :D Let's get started!

Spoilers. Duh.

10. Gladiator

I love this movie for two reasons: Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe. Can someone spell sexy? B.O.D.Y. A.R.M.O.R. Yup. But really, I am obsessed with the idea that in history, thanks to bloodlines, petty, weak, jealous, cruel men were handed empires on silver platters before they could walk. Meanwhile, honorable men faced awful fates and lost everything. This is such an awesome classic that I will probably love forever.

You guys gonna fight or kiss? {via}

9. It's a Wonderful Life

This will always be my favorite Christmas movie. It's so sweet and I love thinking that "every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings". Or her wings, duh. Not to mention, this is where Meg from Supernatural pulled Castiel's nickname, "Clarence", aka the worlds most adorable angel. Anyhow, Ima watch this until it doesn't make me cry anymore. Still going strong.

Daww {via}

8. Inception

Holy DiCaprio. Why has nobody given this man an Oscar yet? Nolan refuses to disappoint visually, as well, and I love the idea of dream building. The best part of this is when Cobb recruits Ariadne and lets her play with the physics of the dream world. That, and the "You're waiting for a train . . ." mantra; that was creepy and sweet at the same time. I can watch this over and over and notice something new every time. I have also finally arrived at the existential conclusion that even if Cobb is still dreaming at the end, who cares? He's finally happy.

OMG IS IT GONNA FALL. No. {via}

7. Quills

Yup, the movie about the crazy guy who wrote very explicit porn in Napoleon's France, even when they took his quills away. Yes, it's a lewd film. Very much so. It's also very well done by Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, and (again) Joaquin Phoenix. I like him. Basically, it asks the question of whether or not smut counts as art, and it lashes out against censorship; especially of the religious sort. Rush gets naked, though, so it's not all fun. Ew stahp you're old.

Oh, the excitement. {via}

6. The Patriot

I mean, I hate Mel Gibson as much as the next person, but let's be real, he plays a real good father figure. The best part about this movie is that the actual 'patriot' is Thomas, who tries to save his older brother and is shot in the back for his trouble. The revenge-driven Benjamin and Gabriel Martin certainly do heroic things, but they are not pure human beings. They have faults and seek to avenge their family and the families of others. Not historically accurate, but a very good movie all together. And I love me some evil Jason Isaacs.

I like dat flag. Dat's a nice flag. {via}

5. The Prestige

I love everything about this film. It is smart and full of longing, and the ending isn't the most innovative thing I've ever seen, but it still was a surprise to me the first time watching. The best part is the whole 'suffering for your art' aspect that allows for the best magic trick of all: actual death. Tesla's magic wardrobe and voltage machine have nothing on self sacrifice.

Hey kid, I'm way better looking than you. {via}

4. Les Miserables

Hooray! More Hugh Jackman! But really, though, Hugh did an incredible job on this film; as did Anne and the rest of the cast. It is just so enjoyable to watch, and the story is timeless because nothing carries more weight than love and its redeeming qualities. Uh oh. I can feel "Can You Hear the People Sing" about to get stuck in my head again. It is the music of a people who will NOT be slaves again . . .

She's kind of my fave. {via}

3. There Will Be Blood

Thank goodness Daniel Day Lewis won "Best Actor" for his role in this movie. The director, Paul Thomas Anderson, has this incredible way of making anxiety tangible on screen, and Lewis was the perfect star in this allegory of Revelations. It is a creepy, terrifying, oily film (hehe), and I cannot get enough of it. Just, ugh, watch it. Please.

#selfie {via}

2. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

There isn't much to say about this except that it is perfection and Disney magic and adorableness and love. Pooh will always be one of my favorite animated characters. I love that in this film, Gopher keeps falling into his gopher hole and yelling back to the characters on screen, "I'm not in the book, you know!" So cute. There is always going to be a place in my heart for that silly old bear and the Hundred Acre Wood.

Hoo-hoo hoo-hoo! T I double-Guh Er {via}

1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

A lot of my favorite movies have something to do with differing states of mind and mental illness. Oskar Schell is a kid with a form of autism that enhances his desperation for challenging adventures, and when his dad and hero dies on September 11th, his fears and compulsions intensify on his search to stay connected to the father he lost. I just love this. It is perfect. Tom Hanks is perfect. Thomas Horn is perfect. It's just great.

:) {via}

Hope you guys discovered a new movie or an old favorite! Until next time :)

With love,
Laney

Testoderm and Febreze

{via}

There are Testoderm coffee cups and a spray bottle of Febreze in an awful scent on the windowsill in our bathroom. Somehow this perfectly describes our suite and the people that live here and come to hang out. Not that we are impotent, smelly people. Nah, we are just weird. And slapshod. And made of everything needed to keep going on. Or just weird.

Today I said goodbye and hello. Is it odd to say that I have found a new definition of Tarzan's "Two worlds, one family"? Because I have. Pain in leaving one behind is joy in greeting another. I know that I am only two hours away. That I could hop on an Amtrak and be home before dinner. But it doesn't work that way. I have a life here, and it consists of tests and papers and readings and remembering to shower and Testoderm coffee cups.

This is something I have to get used to . . . this letting go. It sounds ridiculous, but when I leave people for long periods of time, I catch them walking in strangers. Talk about them to friends that are here now. Wonder if they're worried. I think social media makes it worse as well as better; possible to talk but never touch. But at least we can talk. And Facebook. And text and email and tweet and Pinterest and Tumblr and YouTube and Snapchat and Facetime. That's something other generations never got. An I love you with a click.

Sending all my 'I love you's from Chapel Hill to the people in Mooresville with clicking the 'Publish' button on this post. All my love from the windowsill and the Febreze and the Testoderm coffee cups.

With love,
Laney

Bucket List (Part 1)

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It's about time I made one of these! And, you know, why not show it to the internet?

1. Meet Joaquin Phoenix (AKA my sexy idol who hates people. Eh, he can't deny my love for him, right?)

2. Go sky diving (duh)

3. Meet anyone from Supernatural (Preferably someone sexy. Or Mark Sheppard, who is occasionally also sexy)

4. Travel to every continent in the world (2 down, 5 to go)

5. Learn five languages (1.2 down . . .)

6. Write a novel (or 3)

7. Live for at least a year in 10 different countries.

8. Attend an amazing party and pretend to have a completely different personality.

9. Meet John and/or Hank Green and thank them for being awesome.

10. Attend a Chapel Hill v. Duke basketball game (go Heels! :D)

That's all for Part 1! Part 2 coming soon!

PS. I will edit these posts and cross through each item as I complete it :)

With love,
Laney

Back to School Thoughts

So in a day I will be in the car on the way back to Chapel Hill, bags packed with Christmas gifts, an empty agenda, and a jumbo box of Whole Grain Cheerios. I’m ready to go back, because I’ve had a very good break, and I can’t wait to hug my friends again and set out on doing better this semester.

See, these past three weeks have been awesome. I worked a lot and made a good deal of money for my college fund. I got to hang out with each of my favorite people—teachers included—sometimes multiple times. I had a calm and enjoyable New Year, and a fantastic Christmas. The Scandal and Supernatural mid-season finales were crazy, and the Sherlock series 3 premiere (AT LONG FREAKING LAST!) was the most perfect reflection of a fandom that I have ever seen on TV. I had long talks with good people, and plenty of time to watch Grey’s Anatomy with a bowl of ice cream and my new favorite sweats. So I’m prepared to go back.

But, I’m scared. I know that I have learned a lot from first semester: what libraries are too easy to fall asleep in, when to stop eating the brownies, how many hours it really takes me to fill out a study guide while reading a chapter, etc. But at the same time, I’m afraid that I will make equally stupid mistakes this time around, and I just can’t afford to do that. Honestly, though, one of my resolutions should be to ask for help more, because I tend to internalize things and assume I’ll figure them out later. Oftentimes I do this, which helps me learn on my own, but there were plenty of days when a Professor or Counselor could have made quick work of a pressing problem, and I should have gone for help. I should have. I will this time, and I am hoping that it makes a big difference.

Beyond the studying, I am hoping desperately that this semester I will not experience the withdrawal I did in the first semester. Not of substances, but of people. The intense missing of everyone back home whom I couldn’t hold anymore would hit me at random: before bed, in the middle of studying, out with friends . . .

I was feeling extremely homesick for the home I had found in other people. The thing is, though, my friends at school were so tender when I was feeling lost, as they often felt similarly, and I have built a home in them, too. It’s funny how the understanding that you are not the only one whose best friend is hours away, whose brother is applying to college, whose favorite people haven’t been seen in months, brings people together. I have so much love for the people at UNC that kept me from breaking down, and having them to go back to will make everything so much better this time around.

And of course, I have missed the Wendy’s and the Krispy Kreme. Very important.

Here’s to a better semester following a lovely winter break.

With love,

Laney

2014 Resolutions for 2014

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Who's ready?

1. Decide that writing over 2000 resolutions is a terrible waste of the first day of the year.

2. Write four instead.

3. Love out loud. This means that if I love you, I'm going to tell you. And then we'll hug for longer than the culturally accepted hugging time for Americans. Because I want to hold you for longer so suck it up :)

4. Write something every day. This does not include angsty tweets. But really, though, writing is a muscle I should be flexing all the time.

5. Be more productive. It's high time I decided to get up earlier on the weekends and do important things every day to help in achieving my dreams and career path, besides the general homework assignments.

6. Continue last year's resolution of saying 'yes' more often. See where it takes me this time around :)

Welcome to 2014, lovely readers! Hope it is the best yet.

With love,

Laney