Quick Hits: Hello Friday!

On 01/12/2018 at 12:23 PM by goaztecs

So get this, yesterday I thought I was going to be super busy today so I started writing a Quick Hits entry and sure enough I got caught up in some other things and here we are. I have an unfinished entry and I figured I would just cannibalize that entry for this entry because as it turns out I do have some time to get you good people updated. So let’s get started with another Quick Hits

Chris Watches

Narcos - Netflix

*black box spoiler time*

I finished season 2 and I think I am done with the series. Don’t get me wrong, the show is really good, but I loved the storyline about the US/Colombia vs Pablo Escobar. The story line for me was such a good roller coaster ride that after his death on the show, what’s left. I know they’re going after the other cartels now but the buildup of Pablo as this larger than life character leaves an immense shadow that I don’t think the next season can be as good. I figure I might as well leave on a high note.

*Non black box spoiler*

If you have Netflix and want a really good drama check this series out.

The Challenge: Vendettas - MTV

Oh a new season of The Challenge is back and this time they included some folks from the British MTV, and CBS’ Big Brother. This looks like its going to be a good season with more of the same things: drama, comedy, hookups, and crazy sporting events.

Chris Reads

I finished my first book of 2018

I started Lies My Teacher Told Me after Christmas and since it was an audiobook, each disc was an hour long which is like a podcast. I already knew about most of the topics covered but it’s crazy to hear it out loud. Christopher Columbus all the way up to modern history is some shady stuff going on and it is amazing how high school textbooks tend to slant the stories to make the people we read about heroes. I guarantee if history books told an accurate story a lot more high school students would be interested in reading about them. Anyways its a good read and interesting to see what really happened and how people really were.

I started two books after this one, the first being the first issue of Avengers from I think the early 60s and this book

I usually like political books because they’re interesting but damn this one reads like someone wrote down the account of a bitter ex-girlfriend on why they were dumped. It’s not a fun read at all, and isn’t even interesting enough to be a TV Show. Hopefully I can finish it soon so I can move on to something more interesting or at least fun to read. I like to blame hype for starting this.

On Goodreads they have a section where you can keep track of your Books Read Goal for 2018. Usually I put 12 because one a month seems like a good pace but since I’m mixing in Comics I kicked it up to 20. The crazy thing is that the first issue of Avengers isn’t listed so I have to read the first 10 issues to count for this collection that I found on their site.

As for my subscription to the Washington Post I’ll mix in one or two national stories, but now I’m starting to search for the random local stories. One of them was this officer left his cruiser running and went into a convenience store and while inside someone hopped in and took his car. I like local news stories. This is one of the reasons why I like watching the local news over the national news because there isn't a slant. Seriously how can you put a slant on a story involving the local car show on the weekends, or how some kid donated money to a charity.

I like downloading the newspaper on my phone and when I have a free couple of minutes I pull up the app, check out an article, maybe save something and go about my day. I’m really thinking about keeping the subscription once my trial is up.

Pickups

I’m doing good, no games, no music, and no toys. I might hit up the local mom and pop CD store today so I might find something new. I also have a list of things I want to get in 2018 and I do need a better turntable to rip some records and a pair of open back headphones. I might get the headphones next week.

Alright Pixlpeeps I am off. Have a good week!*

*I’m going to read the blogs here today. I'm going to get this goal on track for 2018

That’s all for now, more later!

-Chris

Matt Snee Staff Writer

01/12/2018 at 06:46 PM

the washington post is a good paper. A little lighter than NYTIMES or WS Journal, but good stuff, and a clear head. I was in it once too, for my band way back in the day.

goaztecs

01/16/2018 at 03:33 PM

I listen to the Tony Kornheiser Show podcast and he always talks about this paper (mainly because he used to work there). So far I like it because there are so many different opinions. There's always something in there for me to read.

That's badass you and your band got in that paper!

Super Step Contributing Writer

01/13/2018 at 08:44 AM

I don't have much reason to doubt some of Wolff's characterization of the Trump White House, but I also don't think either one of those men is a reliable narrator, so I think I'll pass on frustrating myself even more with Fire and Fury and the distracting media circus around it.

The other book I'm really interested in, especially as someone who harps on primary sources as much as I can when teaching. If my dept ever made me teach a media literacy class, I might assign that one as required reading once I was done with it. I might actually pick that one up.

WaPo's paywall has me curious though. Did you have a free trial? I keep going over my 3 articles a month, but only see paid options.

01/16/2018 at 03:35 PM

Yeah pass on the book, its not good or fun to read. Lies My Teacher Told Me is interesting and when I checked out who else read it on my Goodreads profile a couple of friends also checked it out.

I forgot to mention on Twitter that if you read articles on the incognito mode in Chrome or the private viewer in Firefox you can usually get around the paywall. I do that with the San Diego paper when I hit my limit.

KnightDriver

01/13/2018 at 09:18 PM

The stuff I've read about history lately. Makes me think the history taught in school is complete nonsense. Of course, the real history is super shocking. I wouldn't know how to present it to kids.

What? No pickups? No toys? I'm disappointed, but I support your goals. Maybe show off something you already own. I'd like to see that.

01/16/2018 at 03:39 PM

History is crazy especially if you were taught something completely different. I would guess that teachers should present the good and bad to the student and let them make their choice. Of course that probably (most likely) wouldn't happen. At the very least just give the students a brief overview when they were younger and as they grow older start presenting more and more of the good and bad.

Yeah I couldn't even get myself into buying some new music last Friday even though I didn't have the CDs in my library and it was stuff I kinda wanted. I might show some of my stuff for 2018 BAD.

01/17/2018 at 10:46 PM

I'm still kind of shocked by some of the stuff I've read in the last few years. It could be really disturbing to teenagers. I'm not sure what the right approach is, but whitewashing it all is not an option.

PixlBit