Ihopeipass: 2014

Monday, December 8, 2014

5 TV Shows That I'll Watch... Eventually

Netflix has changed the way spend our time... wasting time. At our fingertips is a seemingly limitless application with television shows and movies.

Given the easy accessibility of binge-watching TV shows, practically anyone who owns Netflix (or their friend's Netflix password) is a TV aficionado.

I've watched too many hours of television, but I still plan on watching plenty more. Based on all of the shows that my friends are watching or have watched that I haven't, I have a lot of catching up to do.

Here's the five shows that I plan on watching first.

1. The Walking Dead

From what I've seen and heard, I don't believe this is a particularly great show on the same level of a Breaking Bad.

My sole motivation for wanting to catch up on this show is to be in tune with the conversations about The Walking Dead. So many people are watching it that it's pressuring non-zombie lovers to checking out the program, and I'll be sure to knock it out before the next season returns.

2. Mad Men

I tried getting into this show a couple of years ago, but I just couldn't get through the pilot episode. It moved to slow for me.

At this point, I regret it because from what I've heard, Mad Men is a slow-developing show that rewards the viewers for coming along for the ride. Like the Walking Dead, I'll be sure to binge watch before the next season. Plus, who doesn't love Jon Hamm?

3. The League

Being a fan of fantasy football and comedy, there's no worthy reason on why I haven't watched this show yet. It features several football players each season, features a comedians that I enjoy watching (Nick Kroll, Mark Duplass) and has structure that really correlates with myself.

I may have to wait until next NFL season to give it a watch, but there's no way I can go another year without The League in my life.

4. 30 Rock

One of my favorite shows right now is Parks and Recreation. It only makes to watch the NBC comedy that preceded it once I'm done with Parks and Rec.

Not only is the show surely well-written and well-crafted, but it features a powerhouse slate of actors. From Alec Baldwin to Tina Fey to Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock features a strong cast. I'll give it a watch after Parks and Rec ends this season.

5. Trailer Park Boys

So this last has taken a dramatic dip in terms of artistic quality.

Trailer Park Boys is not a show that will leave me as a smarter human being, but it seems like a really fun show that'll be enjoyable to watch from time to time. It's like watching Duck Dynasty, but not feeling bad about it because the show is scripted.

Actually, Duck Dynasty is also probably scripted too.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

5 Suggestions for UTRGV's Nickname

It's official. Bucky is gone.

When UTPA makes the transition to UTRGV, like the name UTPA, Bucky will also be eradicated (that's probably too harsh a word).

While I understand that nickname for UTRGV has already been named, it's also important to understand that "vaqueros" is an awful name. The reasons for why it's an awful name are long, but here's the cliff notes version of why it's a bad choice: the change is unnecessary, the nickname is sexist, lacks diversity, allows for easy-to-pick racial humor that degrades the student, doesn't have a significant history (just because it's a Spanish doesn't mean it has this dramatic history with the RGV. And just because someone says there's history, doesn't mean that name vaquero is particular to Valley area, and the name is just awful).

Being a giving student, I feel like it's my duty to serve the university, so here are my five suggestions for UTRGV's nickname.

1. Sharks

Sharks are fierce, threatening and command respect. Plus, there aren't too many pro and collegiate sports teams that have that nickname (the only that comes to mind is the NHL's San Jose Sharks). The look of the mascot could be really cool as could the school shirts, and the idea of playing Jaws music at athletic events is too good to not have happen.

2. Pizza

There are two types of people in this world, those that love pizza, and those that don't.

Don't trust the latter group of people.

Pizza is practically universally beloved, and it's about time a school's athletic nickname dawn the pizza name. UTRGV should be innovative and become the "Fighting Pizza". Seriously though, you want a unique nickname that will generate headlines? Look no further than pizza.

3. Direwolves

Wolves are great. Game of Thrones is great.

To have the opportunity to create a nickname that references both wolves and Game of Thrones, and not use that opportunity is not acceptable. Direwolves are one of my favorite parts of Game of Thrones, and it would also be one of my favorite parts about UTRGV is the university decided that direwolves would be the athletic nickname.

4. Rabbits

Continuing on the theme of unique nicknames, I'm fairly certain that UTRGV would be the first college to have the nickname rabbits.

Rabbits may be fluffy and unassuming, but a successful athletic program could lead to newfound respect for a species of animal that has long deserved it.

5. Stethoscope

The big addition to UTRGV will be it's medical school, so why not pay homage to it?

My 5 Favorite Superheroes

Let's entertain the hypothetical that an army of super-villains and aliens attack the earth, and I have the ability to bring to life five fictitious superheroes to save the planet as we know it.

Which five would I pick?

1. Spiderman

Is Spiderman the strongest, most powerful superhero? Absolutely not.

The answer to that question is probably the Hulk, but I don't care about power. I just want a really witty superhero, so let's bring to life Spiderman!

2 and 3. Superman and Batman

So I'm leaving a lot on the table from a pure strength standpoint in Spiderman, and it's probably important that my super-team wins this fight against supervillians and aliens for the sake of the planet.

My solution is Superman and Batman.

Superman is one of the strongest, most invincible superheroes, and Batman is one of the smartest. Like a great couple, opposites attract, and the chemistry between Superman and Batman is too good to pass up.

4. Iron Man

He has the wit of Spiderman, the power of Superman and the smarts of Batman. He's a no-brainer choice for this group of superheroes. The combined brain power of Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne would be a phenomenal mixture that would guarantee victory in this hypothetical battle.

5. Katniss Everdeen

My superteam needs it's mockingjay.

My 5 Favorite TV Channels http://www.fixmypcfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/espn.png

Television.

It's the thing that's kept you from exercising or doing something productive with your life. But that's fine because television is awesome.

There is a plethora of awesome channels, here's a look at my five of my favorite.

1. ESPN

Being a fanatic of sports, it goes without saying that I watch a lot of ESPN.

It's simply the greatest channel in the history of channels (for sports fans). There's shows on ESPN, and it's family of other channels for news-seekers (SportsCenter), debate-seekers (Parden the Interruption), sports-seekers (actual NBA/NFL/MLB games) and even documentary seekers (their fantastic 30 for 30 series).

I watch an insane amount of ESPN, and what's even more insane about the amount of ESPN that I watch is that I don't regret it.

2. Fox Sports 1

Since FOX Sports 1 launched, it's served as a nice supplement to ESPN's channels.

Fox Sports 1, which goes by FS1, has it's fair share of important games, news shows and opinion-based programming. It's an essential channel for any sports fan, and it can serve as a change of pace from ESPN.

3. Comedy Central

Looking through some of the other posts on this blog, one would assume that I'm a fan of comedy, and one that would assume that, would be right. I love stand-up comedy and other forms of comedy (I guess everyone loves humor, but still).

Comedy Central is great because it has a huge library of stand-up specials, and also consistently fresh and must-watch programming like the Daily Show, Colbert Report, At Midnight, Key & Peele, Tosh.0 and South Park.

4. HBO

The offering of shows that HBO provides and has provided is jaw-dropping.

Currently, I'm infatuated with both Game of Thrones and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, so HBO is a must-watch for me. And I also don't mind Bill Maher's show although it leans way to left, but I guess that's what it is.

5. NBC

It's a close race between NBC, and CBS, ABC and FOX on which of the four is my favorite channel of the five major networks.

Nevertheless, NBC gets the nod because of Sunday Night Football, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Brian Williams and Parks and Recreation.

A Table for 6

I'm sure you've been asked the question, if you could pick (enter random number) of deceased person to eat dinner with, who would you pick?

Well here's my answer.

George Carlin

As a high-schooler, I fell down YouTube wormhole of clips from George Carlin's stand-up, and I left that wormhole a smarter person. Not only was Carlin one of the funniest stand-up comedians of all time, he was one of the smartest. His observations, reflections and analysis on the American society was something special. I'd love to hear his thoughts about the current state of affairs in the world.

John F. Kennedy

Any answer to this question that doesn't include at least one US President should be invalid. I pick JFK because of his vision and charisma. Out of all the Presidents, he'd be the most interesting to talk and tell stories about the secret tunnel beneath the White House. And oh yeah, I'd probably have some questions about the assassination thing. Granted, he probably would too.

Richard Pryor

Like Carlin, Richard Pryor is one of the all-time great stand-up comedians and one of my favorite. I would invite him to this hypothetical dinner just to hear the back-and-forth between himself and Carlin.

Albert Einstein

Einstein was a genius in every sense of the word. It would be an honor to share a conversation with him and pick his brain. To be able to listen to his theories on life and science and his experiences throughout his own life would be life-altering.

Andy Kaufman

Although I still have my suspicions that he's actually dead, I would love to talk to a serious Andy Kaufman. I'd like to know the man behind his on-stage, insane persona.

My 5 Favorite Alternative Rock Songs

Every day of the school year I've made the long hour drive from my home in Harlingen to the city of Edinburg.

It sucks.

The drive is really awful and boring, and it wastes my time.

The lone saving grace of those drives is that I'm able to listen to my favorite radio station, Alt Nation on Sirius XM. It's a radio channel that plays all the hottest alternative rock songs, and for some unexplainable reason, that's my favorite genre of music.

So without further ado, here are my five favorite songs (right now) in my favorite genre of music (for right now, until I mature and make the transition to the blues).

1. Hozier, "Take Me To Church"

The song is absolutely powerful. The lyrics are great, the sound of it is great and the vocals are great. It's a song that locks me into Alt Nation. If "Take Me To Church" comes on through the airwaves, the channel isn't changing.

2. Vance Joy, "Riptide"

The first two lines of Riptide goes as follows:

"I was scared of dentists and the dark"

"I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations"

Yeah, that song really resonates with me. #TeamAwkward4Lyfe

3. Kasabian, "Eez-Eh"

It's a really up-beat song that gets me jumping and my blood following. Honestly, I have no idea what the lyrics mean, but the beat of the song makes up for the lack of a point to the song. If you feel down, listen to "Eez-Eh", you'll feel better.

4. Passion Pit, "Take A Walk"

This song depicts the struggle of living life with little financially. Like "Take Me To Church", it's truly a powerful song that shows how valuable it is to take time to live in the moment and appreciate your loved ones.

5. Chet Faker, "Gold"

Chet Faker's vocals are second to none, and the song "Gold" has some well-written lyrics. What makes this song so enjoyable to listen to is it's repeatability. I've listened to this song dozens of times, and I still am all ears when it comes on the radio.