Bridgewater State College

In Your Queue: Kick-Ass

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by johncondry on November 9, 2012

Have you ever wished you could be a super-hero? That is the question Dave Lizewski asks himself in the comic book-based movie Kick-Ass. The film follows his crime fighting life as Kick-Ass: a real-life superhero (with no powers). Kick-Ass meets Hit Girl and Big Daddy (Chloe Grace Moretz and Nicholas Cage) and gets involved in some serious action. Together Kick-Ass and Hit-girl take out the city’s biggest drug dealer.

Review

This is a really fun movie. For anyone into comics superheros or gritty comedies, it’s a good pick. I think the beginning is a little weird and David’s voice sounds a little cartoonish at first, but that’s the point. As much as this is a movie about superheroes, its also a movie that makes fun that same subject. It’s got a lot of humor and surprisingly graphic action scenes. If you ever wanted to see a ten year old girl impale someone with a naginta, you’re in the right place.

My Take

For me this movie is pretty simple- it’s about action and how to take it. Before he gets into the crime fighting game, Dave has a regular life- he just decides that he wants something more. Haven’t we all felt that way at some point? But what do we do? Well, Dave put on a mask and become a superhero even though everyone including himself thought it was pretty crazy. He didn’t want to settle for the mediocre life he was headed towards.

So what are you going to do when you get out of college? We all have different aspirations and dreams I’m sure, but a lot of us will probably just get some job to get by and forget about our crazy dreams… But don’t we all want more? It might be moving somewhere totally foreign, traveling abroad, starting a business, or anything you’ve ever dreamed of doing. Why do we settle for so little when we want so much more? That’s the message to take away from this movie: don’t settle be your own hero.

What did you think of Kick-Ass? Do you have any dreams that you think are to weird or crazy to actually act on? How much do we give up when we settle for less in our lives?

 

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Research Papers

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by MelanieMitchell on October 8, 2012

It’s time-consuming to do and takes even longer to prepare for, it’s a huge portion of your grade, and it’s something you’ll probably do numerous times throughout your college the career: the research paper. But it doesn’t have to be something to dread. Whether you are a seasoned college writer or just starting out, here are some tips to make it a smooth experience.

DO: Talk to your professor.

Every professor has different standards and expectations tailored specifically to the assignment or subject that you are writing about, so it’s important to find out exactly what he or she wants. Professors are usually more than willing to guide you in the right direction with your topic if you reach out to them. And it’s definitely better than finding out later that you have to start over!

DON’T: Wait until the night before.

It can sometimes take a surprisingly long time to find the resources that you need. It may take hours of online searching or pulling books off of shelves in the library. And don’t forget: once you finally have your resources, you still need to read them and find what applies to your paper. It will help you feel a lot less pressure if you start your research a week or two in advance so that you will know exactly what to include in your essay.

DO: Narrow down your topic.

After collecting your sources and reading what other scholars have to say about your topic, this often makes it much easier to shape your own opinion. Make sure that your thesis statement does more than make an observation; tell what the significance is of that observation.

DON’T: Work in a distracting place.

Some need complete quiet to focus on assignments that require a lot of thought; others like to have some background noise and find that this actually helps them to prevent their mind from wandering. It’s all about what works best for you. So do a little experimenting, and either find that comfy seat in Maxwell, or a place where your favorite music is playing.

DO: Cite your sources… in the RIGHT format.

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense, and even if you simply forget to cite, you could wind up with a zero. It’s better not to take the risk. Remember to also arrange your paper correctly, whether it’s in MLA or APA format. That way, you won’t lose any points for a technicality!

DON’T: Forget to proofread.

It’s usually such a relief to finish your paper, that the last thing you would want to do is proofread. Yet sometimes it can be surprising just how many mistakes we miss while we’re writing in the zone. It pays to look it over, even if you have to wait until the next morning when your mind is fresh again or to ask a friend.

Students can sometimes get overwhelmed by the enormity of a research paper, but if you break it down into manageable steps, it won’t be as stressful.

What are your best tips for research papers? What has or hasn’t worked for you in the past?

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Top 4 Spring Break Destinations of 2011

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by Alanna Mehrtens on March 3, 2011

Spring break: The time of year every college student looks forward to. A break from the norm, a time to rest the brain and have some fun. But many students are finding that their friends’ colleges hold spring break a week after Bridgewater. How can you keep yourself entertained, without going overboard on getting ahead with homework? Three words: take a vacation! Where to, you ask? Here are the top spring break destinations, not according to the news, but according to the most frequently mentioned destinations I have heard people mention across campus.

Florida

You may hear everyone say “I’m going to Florida!” and groan because it seems like everyone is going there, and at one time I was one of those people. Florida is really a wonderful place to take a vacation. Every time you return, you discover something new! There’s something for everyone! Some may prefer to visit the city of Orlando. There, you have a range of possibilities to keep you entertained, from visiting theme parks such as Disney, to living the night life through venues such as Margaritaville, Hard Rock Café, and Pat O’ Brians.

If the city is not your thing, you may be inclined to tour other destinations, such as Daytona Beach. The city even hosts events specifically for spring break, such as beach sports, deep sea fishing, jet skiing, surfing, paddle-boarding and parasailing. Also, Daytona offers other year-round attractions such as the Daytona International Speedway. You can even relax in the remote areas such as Cocoa Beach. Set off from the main beat of the city, and the setting for the show I Dream of Jeannie, Cocoa beach has much to offer, including the Kennedy Space Center and the surf company Ron Jon Surf Shop.

Colorado

If the travel expenses to Florida don’t appeal to you, Colorado seems to be another location hitting the right notes. Plus it is a top skiing location, not just for Bridgewater students, but for people around the globe. Deep in the heart of the Rockies, ski season in Colorado lasts from late November to early April. Some popular ski spots include Aspen Mountain (which is famous for its steep slopes) Cooper Mountain (for all ski levels) Crested Butte (famous for non-commercial skiing), Howelsen (where some Olympic athletes have trained), Silverton Mountain (which includes difficult slopes for more advanced skiing), and Vail (featuring over seven miles of skiable terrain. For the adrenalin junkie, there is heliskiing, where skiers and snowboarders venture of off-the-beaten-path that are only accessible by helicopter and ride down rough terrain.  Silverton and Telluride are the only two resorts that offer heliskiing.

Vermont

For some, Colorado may be too far or expensive to travel. Another popular destination during Spring Break is Vermont. Often referred to as New England’s Winter Playground, Vermont is the center for a lot of your winter recreation needs. You may wish to ski and visit places such as The Vermont Ski Museum. Or, you may prefer skiing, skating and snowshoeing at the Mountain Top Inn and Resort.Or, even if you don’t like to ski at all, you can enjoy the wonderful scenery of Vermont through snowmobiling, taking a sleigh ride, sledding, an visiting sugarhouses, where maple syrup is made.

California

With spring break hot spots like San Diego and Los Angeles, if you have the few extra bucks, it makes for a lovely vacation. With various climates in California it’s easy to find one that fits your needs. From Yosemite National Park to Disneyland, the possibility of running into a movie star or two, beaches and shopping are only several reasons why California is a big draw. In San Francisco,  travel to Alcatraz, Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, or Pier 39.

 

Where are you traveling for Spring Break? Are you going to any of the places listed in this post?

Vail

  • Vail features over seven miles of skiable terrain including seven back bowls and three terrain parks.

    • 3. Vermont

    If the travel expenses to Florida don’t appeal to you, you can always head up to Vermont for some spring break skiing.

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