T2

A couple of nights ago I went to see a showing of the new Terminator. I'm not anti-action movies-with-endless-sequels, but they typically aren't my favorite thing either. 

However, when it comes to Terminator II, well that is just a different story. Seriously, how much more awesome can you get than a movie written/directed by James Cameron:

Starring Linda Hamilton's Biceps:

 And the hot police officer (who's actually just a freaky robot):

Not to mention (and just as cool), Arnold S. "Hasta la vista", a ridiculously long motorcycle chase scene, and totally ahead of its time special effects.  

The new Terminator Salvation also had many a neat effect (including a sweet cgi replica of the Arnold Terminator). Still I couldn't help but notice the difference between the two movies:

a. New Terminator submerged itself in the effects, relying on them as a sort of visual showcase to create fear, awe, excitement, humor etc. to inform, drive and create the story.

b. the original T2 used a well-developed story driven by well-rounded characters -  filled in by some freaking cool effects that contributed to (note: not created) the story. 

And therein lies my beef with the action genre. Sometimes I just want the writer/director/producer to get away from the computer and start investigating human interaction again. Look at J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Lost, Fringe).

Ok so even though I put T4 down, I still would recommend seeing it. If only for the fact that the effects are sweet and Christian Bale has a voice like a rock-crusher.

Books, Books, Books

Does anybody have any recommendations for reading material? I tend to like stuff that: -has a historical back-drop (not picky about where/when) -won't put you to sleep reading because it uses obscure words and difficult language (this is mostly older stuff which I try to be tolerant of, but you know). But I am open to pretty much anything. I'm going to have a lot of free time this summer at my job. I really don't want to end up watching youtube and gchatting the whole time (as fun as this is after about 2 hours, your head feels like the flux capacitor).

Any ideas about what to do to pass the time?

Allergies

So I don't get how you can go your whole 24 years of life without allergies and then BAM! one day you wake up with itchy eyes and after a week of burning, congestion and fatigue your eye looks like this:

(This is not my eye, but my swelling was similar)

The doctor gave me some flonase, eyedrops and pills. I'm feeling much better except for the itching. Seriously kudos to all of you who've had to put up with allergies your whole life.

P.S. School's out for the SUMMER!!!!!!