My Sevillano Style at State ~ Anthony Shelton

So Long, Farewell!

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:37:19 -0500

Four years (and three in the PLA) have come and passed. Here I write my final blog post for the Presidential Leadership Academy. I find great amazement on how the time has flown by. For all the underclassmen reading this post, I offer this piece of advice: savor every moment. Because before you know it, it all ends in a flash. In my experience, each semester has gone by exponentially faster and faster.

Even so, I have many things to find thanks and appreciation for during my time at Penn State During my four years here in State College, I have accomplished many things. If I told eighteen-year-old Anthony the things he would cover in four years, he probably would not believe me. Luckily for me, I involved myself in Schreyer Honors College programming and activities early in my Penn State career. Schreyer developed into my first family in college. The SHC provides a close-knit community that looks out for one another. My time as a Scholar Assistant has represented a rather rewarding one, working with Schreyer staff, alumni, students, and faculty to make Penn State a better place.

The PLA also has afforded me many opportunities to get outside my comfort zone. The program has forced us to question the status quo, to think critically, and to find solutions to tough problems. I have found some of the most valuable experiences to promote these goals included the spring sophomore class, HONOR 301H, and the visit to the US Army War College. The first, the HONOR 301H, required us to problem solve under the focus of fan behavior at sporting events. First, we had to define the problem. Second, we had to break down the problem into smaller subsets, including by constituent, so that we could "divide and conquer" the issue. Within each subgroup, we utilized the collaborative nature of the group to find innovative ideas to solve our problems. Once each group had its ideas, the groups could report back to the whole to create big-picture solutions to the overarching problem. Similarly, the US Army War College forced us to work together to solve the mock peace crisis in the Middle East. Even with limited information available to each party, we all must collaborate together if we want to find a solution that helps the common good the most.

Beyond the classroom, the PLA has opened my eyes to the world around me. First of all, the PLA has provided us many trips to see how society, the government, and cultures differ all over the country. Whether in San Francisco, New York, New Orleans, or the Grand Canyon, we had the chance to see how others think, act, and value the world around them. Along this point, I had the fortune to also study abroad in Sevilla, Spain. This educational experience of a lifetime really showed me that the world of possibilities remains infinite, especially beyond our borders. In Spain, I experienced this liberating feeling, where I could accomplish anything. The Spaniards showed a true openness to welcome anyone of different ideas. Furthermore, as things went wrong, such as a broken American cell phone or a nonfunctional laptop, I learned to roll with the punches. Not everything will go as planned. Therefore, we must prepare for contingencies and hope for the best. Now that I have returned to a country where the vast majority speak English and WiFi remains only a click away, little can worry me now.

Furthermore, I have broadened my horizons at Penn State. Even though I definitely endured some intense struggling, I finally accomplished the momentous task of writing a thesis. I found the topic of international hospitality quite interesting. However documenting more than one thousand instances of international expansion by hotels can take considerable time. Outside of academics, I have made other pursuits, such as in music and Spanish. I took on officer positions in both my a capella group, ' No Strings Attached," and the Penn State Spanish Club. Both of these opportunities exposed me to new ideas, interests, and people.

As such, I can't complain about what I did in my four years here. In just a few short weeks, I will move from the Happy Valley of State College to the happy island of Manhattan to embark on the next part of my journey. Until next time, I would like to leave you with a fond farewell by the von Trapp family.

Comments: Abu and Sri and the Actual versus Virtual Experiences of Sports and Education

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:34:42 -0500

This past week I examined the blog posts by Abu regarding sports, and Sri discussing education. Interestingly enough, both blog posts discuss the experiences that one gets from actually being on location versus interacting with the subject elsewhere. In his post, Abu discusses his personal experience with sports. Abu implies that fans get the best experience when attending the sporting event at the arena itself. However, Abu claims that he would rather watch sports from home via the television, a virtual method. Even if the arena can provide an authentic experience, I can understand Abu's point. Sometimes we enjoy things better from the comfort of our own homes, watching a game with family and friends, enjoying a refreshing drink and munchies with comfy clothes. Even if the television provides a virtual experience of the game itself, the time spent with family and friends represents something much more authentic

In Sri's post, he examines how education can change in the modern era of technology. Sri suggests that the World Campus, Penn State's arm of online classes, could save the University significant money in this age of rising tuition and healthcare costs. Online classes do not require the same infrastructure, i.e. classroom space, which can cost the university significant funding. The World Campus also allows students who live elsewhere outside the reach of University Park and the Commonwealth Campuses to get a Penn State education.

However, for students who live in State College and attend Penn State at the principal campus, University Park, little incentive exists to attend online classes. I know that some students take online classes to create flexibility in their schedules. However in online classes, students lack the personal interaction with professors and the students around them. Also with online classes, students don't have the same motivation to do the work. In the classroom, professors can hold students accountable for not completing their work thoroughly and on time. With online classes, students easily can fall through the cracks. As such during my time at Penn State, I have remained old school. I have never taken an online class. As an extrovert, I need the interaction with my professor to make the material more easy to understand and relate.

If I pay the same for tuition regardless of taking online classes versus courses in the classroom, I always side with the face-to-face instruction. Therefore if Penn State wants to create an incentive for students to take a cheaper class online at the World Campus, the University needs to provide a carrot. To attract Penn Staters residing in State College to take online classes, Penn State should provide a copy of their textbook, even the eBook, for students taking the online version. By providing the textbook, many students would take the online section, saving the University significant funding, which the school could use for other programming. Even though paying for the textbook would require additional money, the money saved in less classrooms, professor time, and more would easily recuperate the difference, especially if the University bought the textbook or licenses in bulk. Therefore if Penn State chooses to transition even further into the virtual experience of the classroom via the World Campus, the University must consider ways to create value for students, regardless of mode of learning.

My Life as an ENTP

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:57:20 -0500

Several weeks ago in HONOR 401H, the senior PLA class had the opportunity to assess our leadership style through the Myers-Briggs assessment.

In the assessment, we examine four different factors.

1) Extraversion versus Introversion

- where extroverts get energy from others, while introverts get their energy from within

2) Sensing versus Intuition

- where sensing focuses on the details of the now, while intuition focuses on the big picture

3) Thinking versus Feeling

- where thinking looks at the rational pros and cons of the specific decision, while feeling considers how his/her decision will affect others above his own individual interests

4) Judging versus Perceiving

- where judging likes to have everything planned ahead of time, while perceiving has more spontaneity and goes with the flow.

In the end, the assessment gave me the characteristics of ENTP. The first, I maxed out the score for extraversion, as I definitely had no surprise. I definitely feel more energized when interacting with other individuals. Again, I wasn't surprised by intuition because I generally focus on the big picture when making decisions. Furthermore, I agreed with thinking because I generally look at the rational side of a decision, looking at home I as the individual or we as the organization fare based on the decision. Finally, I remain more on the fence about the result suggesting I represent Perceiving over Judging. I exhibit spontaneity depending on the situation. I definitely remain open to new ideas and changing my plans if I feel that the new option represents a better opportunity. However sometimes once I set my plans, I don't really want to change them. I will use this information as an "independent, enthusiastic, assertive, and outspoken" person to make decisions at Penn State, Goldman Sachs, and beyond.

An Exploration of Food & Tolerance in "Chocolat" (Passion Blog)

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 04:16:42 -0500

With Easter right around the corner, this week seems like a perfect time to explore one of my favorite films: Chocolat. The film features an all-star cast, including the Academy Award-winning actresses Juliette Binoche and Dame Judi Dench and Oscar nominees Johnny Depp and Lena Olin. The film itself earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adaptive Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

The film opens up with Vianne, Juliette Binoche's character, with her daughter Anouk arriving in a small orthodox Catholic French town. The family of two live the lives of gypsies travelling the countryside following the North Wind, as Vianne's mother did before her. As the two gypsies move from town to town, they share their unique knowledge of chocolate, in arousing the passion and freeing the mind, body, and spirit. However, in the case of the film, Vianne and Anouk arrive in this very orthodox town at the beginning of Lent. Regardless of the fact, Vianne still opens up her chocolaterie. As a result, Vianne receives a lot of push back from the townspeople, in particular the mayor the Comte de Reynaud, played by Alfred Molina. The Comte definitely enjoys the traditions of the town and see Vianne as a threat to the establishment. As a result, the Comte attempts to have the town revolt against her and the pirates that arrive into town as well through a "boycott of immorality."

Here you can find Vianne hard at work making the "sinful" chocolate:

And here you can find the end result: http://youtu.be/evZBRsaMAIo?t=2m10s

Chocolat explores several themes. For instance, the value of tradition versus change demonstrates itself most clearly through the conflict between the Comte and Vianne. The Comte represents the past, while Vianne represents a more open future. The film also explores tolerance and acceptance. At first, Vianne does not feel at home at all in the town. However, as Vianne's kindness comes through, people begin to change their initial perception of her. Ironically, Vianne also goes through a similar struggle when she first encounters the pirate Roux, played by Johnny Depp. As she gets to know him better, she begins to see him as just a person, not a pirate.

This important theme of tolerance truly displays itself in full form following Lent on Easter Sunday. Father Henri gives a rather impromptu and surprising sermon. During that speech, Henri makes a very important point regarding Lent and the practices of the Church and tradition: "I think that we can't go around... measuring our goodness by what we don't do. By what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think... we've got to measure goodness by what we *embrace*, what we create... and who we include." Therefore, instead of patting ourselves on the back for how we act better than everyone else, we instead should find our commonalities and come together. Here you can find his sermon:

Overall, Chocolat has a nice mix of drama, comedy, romance, music, and story that makes the film a delight to watch. I hope that you have a chance to check it out soon. See you at the movies!

Comments: Abu and Sri and Decision Making within Groups

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 04:58:20 -0500

From reading Abu's and Sri's blog posts this past week, I enjoyed hearing their perspectives on leadership both in critical thinking and group settings. Abu's blog suggests that three steps exist in solving ethical dilemmas: (1) Analyzing the consequences, (2) Analyzing the actions, and (3) Making a decision. I agree that these steps are important; however, leaders must consider more in a decision. First, a leader must identify the problem. Without identifying the problem, we cannot begin to solve it. I do agree that step (1) should follow the identification because this step allows us to think about the different stakeholders would feel the effects of our decision. Step (2) has great importance as well because it allows us to brainstorm and think about all the possible ways of solving the problem. Finally step (3) has us weighing the pros and cons of each possible action and selecting the option that has the best benefit-cost ratio. However, after this final step, we really should reflect on our decision sometime period of time in the future to assess if our decision works out as planned. With such reflection, we then can make even better decisions in the future.

Sri's discussion of group dynamics really plays into the second step, analyzing the actions. When trying to find solutions, we must use innovation. However, as one person, we can find difficult in coming up with all the possible solutions. Therefore, we must utilize a diverse group of people of different backgrounds, schools of thought, and experiences that can come up with as many possibilities as possible. Sri then brings up the point that the relationships formed within a group cannot just remain professional. We must form personal connections as well. Without such connections, people will feel less comfortable and will remain less likely share their unique perspectives with the entire group. Therefore to find success in problem solving, one must have a combination of analytic intellect to go through the critical thinking steps and emotional intelligence to read the group dynamic in decision making.

A Final Farewell to the Grand Canyon

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:00:37 -0500

During Spring Break, I had the pleasure of joining my fellow Academy mates for my final big trip with the PLA. As I posted last time, I couldn't wait for this trip because my previous family vacations there to the South Rim and the North Rim were both amazing. I did find a surprising nostalgia when walking about the Canyon. When I walked into the Bright Angel Lodge lobby for the first time in about 15 years, I felt a strange sensation of déjà vu, as if I tapped into a deep memory that I haven't seen since I was much younger. I remembered the front desk with the slots for room keys, the rustic wooden benches, and then the warming fireplace. (I had remembered some of those details in distant dreams. Therefore, I find interest in seeing that these places in my mind actually existed.) Then once I walked through the back doors, I could see the Grand Canyon in its entire splendor. Even though I had been there twice before, one cannot quite capture the Grandness, pun intended or not, when see the awe-inspiring view.

Our trip had a nice balance of diverse speakers and time to explore the Grand Canyon. (I only got upset when the blinds blocked my view of Canyon during some of the speakers.) Some of the topics included sustainable hospitality (Morgan O'Connor from Xantera Resorts), immigration reform (Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery), civil discourse (Tara Jackson and Alberto Olivas from the Arizona Town Hall), Arizona arts and culture (Executive Director Robert Booker of the Arizona Commission on the Arts) and Navajo history and culture (Dion Bend). With my hospitality background, I found Morgan's methods for reducing waste by green initiatives. I love that Xantera can run its train on occasion to and from the Grand Canyon using recycled cooking oil once in a while. With my more artsy interests, I enjoyed hearing Mr. Booker's take on how different people perceive theatre when at events, such as noting sights, smells, and more. Additionally, Dion's perspective on Navajo culture provided a lot unique information that I would have never known, such as the Navajo's thoughts on a nature-based religion and importance of a practical moral life. As a result of their healthier lifestyle, including no alcohol, many Native Americans live and still work on the reservations past 100 years.

The Arizona Town Hall provided a unique concept for forming policy. Their method involves bringing in all interested parties of an issue, covering all demographics, to make sure that the group represents all sides of an issue. Two leaders assist in each meeting; one moderates discussion and another jots down common themes spoken. I like that the group focuses on forming consensus instead of assuming that someone has to "win" and someone else has to "lose" an argument. By forming consensus, one can reach a compromise, which results in a more comprehensive solution to society's problems.

In addition, we got to smell the roses, or the Canyon in this case, with the help of two great Park Rangers. We took a more strenuous hike into the Canyon one day on the Hermit's Trail. And then to contrast, we had a more relaxing hike along the rim of the Canyon, which allowed us to sight-see and take more pictures. With a break from it all (and civilization), I had the chance to reflect on many things. Now I know when my life seems on the edge (as it seems right now), I have to stop and just take a look around at what's great, such as I did in the Grand Canyon.

Going out with a Bang on a "Grand" Ole Time

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:34:45 -0500

This upcoming week, I will be joining the PLA for my final trip: to the Grand Canyon. As Melissa pointed out, I am one of the few remaining seniors who have been on all the trips, ranging from Pittsburgh and Gettysburg to New Orleans and San Francisco. Throughout the years in the Academy, I have had the opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers across industries and across the globe, especially with my study abroad experience to Spain with generous support from the PLA.

Even though I've been to the Grand Canyon twice before, once at the South Rim and once at the North Rim, I am excited to see if from a new angle. This time we will experience the Canyon in different ways, such as taking the train into the National Park. Also the speakers from hospitality, politics, and local native culture, will provide unique insight beyond the National Park that i haven't seen before during my visits to the region. I will report back next week on what I have say in reflecting on this third journey to one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.

But besides the logistics, I look forward to bonding with PLA members for one of the last times during my Penn State career. I can't wait to hang out with my fellow seniors, rekindle friendships in the other classes, and get to see Ed and Helen Hintz on a classic PLA spring break vacation for one last time. I find great sadness that I will depart from the program soon. But conversely, I realize that my life is only getting started. I have big things awaiting me in the big city of New York. There I hope to find my niche within the Goldman Sachs organization, while also experiencing everything that New York has to offer, from great food, culture, art, theatre, people, and night life. Even though we can find change hard, we must make big leaps and bounds when we can in order to spread our wings into the future.

The (Presidential Leadership) Academy Award Goes To . . . Finale Edition (Passion Blog)

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:03:20 -0500

It's Oscar weekend so you know what that means: my annual Oscar picks! Unfortunately, tis post marks my final predictions for the Academy Awards, as I go through my senior year with the Academy. As such, I will try to keep things exciting.

I have found some interesting trends this year. First of all, I find significant surprise that Ben Affleck, the director of Argo, my pick for Best Picture, did not receive a nomination in the Directing category. I found the film rather fantastic and quite exciting. (Read my November review here.) As such, I selected Lincoln for Best Director. One cannot go wrong with Steven Spielberg.

Some of the obvious choices include Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables (Read my January review here.), Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln, and Amour for Foreign Language Film, considering it received a Best Picture nomination as well.

Here you will find a hilarious spoof of Anne Hathaway's "I Dreamed a Dream." She may have a similar reaction this weekend on Oscar night. *DISCLAIMER: If she does NOT win an Oscar tonight, we will have experienced a quasi crime against humanity. Notwithstanding, I still love this video.*

In a similar light, I really hope that Jennifer Lawrence from Hunger Games fame and previously nominated for Winter's Bone, can pull out a win for Best Actress. She would become one of the youngest award winners in that category in years.

Now some of my picks have more risk in nature. Even though many predict that Robert De Niro winning for Best Supporting Actor in Silver Linings Playbook, I still have Tommy Lee Jones winning due to his Screen Actors Guild Award win this year. We will see if my pick holds up tonight. Wreck-It Ralph and Brave currently reside in a tough race, but I think that Wreck-It Ralph will win out.

In the music categories, Adele's "Skyfall" is a smash hit and should win the Oscar for Best Original Song.

For original score, I selected the classic soundtrack of Anna Karenina, which has a number of elements from the Romantic period. Here's a sample:

Now that you have a run down of my picks this year, I look forward to see you at the Oscars and the Theatre. Happy (Oscar pick) hunting!

Here are my official hot-off-the-press picks:

Best Picture: Argo

Actor in a Leading Role: Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln

Actress in a Leading Role: Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook

Actor in a Supporting Role: Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln

Actress in a Supporting Role: Anne Hathaway in Les Misérables

Animated Feature Film: Wreck-It Ralph

Cinematography: Skyfall

Costume Design: Anna Karenina

Directing: Steven Spielberg for Lincoln

Documentary Feature: Searching for Sugar Man

Documentary Short: "Inocente"

Film Editing: Argo

Foreign Language Film: Amour

Makeup and Hairstyling: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Music - Original Score: Anna Karenina

Music - Original Song: "Skyfall" from Skyfall by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth

Production Design: Life of Pi

Short Film - Animated: "Paperman"

Short Film - Live Action: "Curfew"

Sound Editing: Life of Pi

Sound Mixing: Les Misérables

Visual Effects: Life of Pi

Writing - Adapted Screenplay: Argo

Writing - Original Screenplay: Amour

Multiple Award Winners:

Argo (3)

Life of Pi (3)

Lincoln (3)

Amour (2)

Anna Karenina (2)

Les Misérables (2)

Skyfall (2)

Comments: Sri and Abu and New Ideas in Nuclear Energy

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:09:28 -0500

After perusing Sri's and Abu's blogs, I had gain some interesting insights. First in Abu's post, Abu makes the point that we should look forward instead of backward. I like his use of John Cage's quote, "I can't understand why people are frightened of new Ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones." I agree with this assessment. When finding solutions, we must question the old traditions, test the establishment. If we remain complacent with what we have, we will never better society as a whole.

And this concept seems to have a timely place for Abu as the Delta class begins to form their policy papers. For our Beta class, the current seniors, this project gave us the opportunity to work with a number of different stakeholders at Penn State and the State College community at large. As a sophomore at the time, I found the opportunity to present our findings to Mayor Elizabeth Goreham of State College and Associate Athletic Director Greg Myford of Penn State rather unique and exciting.

Similar to finding new ideas in policy for PLA, Sri discusses in his post about the future of energy. He provides a rather compelling argument for nuclear energy. Even though some incidents have occurred in the past with nuclear energy. Sri suggests that most of these incidents have resulted from human error versus the technology. When looking at the negative effects of energy sources, I would have to conclude that the hundreds of years of coal burning have resulted in greater harm to our planet Earth than the handful of incidents from nuclear power. Therefore, I agree with Sri that society should reopen its eyes to the possibilities of nuclear power. Now until a time when we find a sustainable clean energy that can power the planet efficiently and effectively, we should consider bringing back nuclear.

It Really Does Get Better in Happy Valley

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:35:09 -0500

Towards the end of this week, I had the chance to reflect on a lot of things in my life. The road to life does not come easily for everyone. And that road can remain bumpy for what feels like eons. However, eventually through hard work, perseverance, and the compassion of others, we find our way. The It Gets Better Tour really put this message into perspective.

Thanks to Penn State, I had the opportunity to see the "It Gets Better" show on Thursday night featuring members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, including Jason Currie, Tyler Houston, Tod Macofsky, Mario Mosley, Sacha Sacket, Drew Tablak, and accompanist Billy Thompson. The show focuses on Tyler's character C.J., who struggles with his identity in a conservative community. Through the help of other characters who had dealt with similar circumstances, C.J. begins to see the life of happiness that could become his. These supporting characters represent men who have realized that life really does get better, as they also portray through their "It Gets Better Project" videos. The actors accomplish this mission through a variety of methods.

Some examples include covers of popular songs, such as the inspirational Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger." Even though the tour did not produce this rendition, this flash mob still seems to represent the same resilient spirit:

Other actors, such as Sacha Sacket, melted my heart away with original songs. Sacha wrote this particular piece in reaction to the tragic suicide of Jamey who created a "It Gets Better" video prior. As Sacha said during the performance, he wishes that he had the opportunity to meet Jamey to show him what he had to look forward to in the years to come. Here you can find his sweet yet sorrowful performance:

In addition, the actors, outside the traditional "stage space" of their characters, share their personal stories. I felt most touched by Drew's story, where he had to fight against his deep feelings to convince himself that God wanted him to will the gay out so that he could spread God's gift of song. Luckily, as he so eloquently said, today he can give the gift of his voice while still remaining true to himself to audiences everywhere on the "It Gets Better" tour.

For me, I have prided myself on living the life of a strong independent individual. From a young age, I have pursued my own goals, such as asking my sixth grade teacher on my own for enrollment in my school's gifted education, choosing to study abroad in Spain, or taking on ballroom dance in college. With a rather conservative family, talking about my personal life has had always created difficulties. As a result for years, I felt that I had to have two separate identities: the fun, outgoing, independent me at school and the more controlled, reserved me that had to refrain from talking about personal details at home. Since I commonly felt trapped while at home, I found myself always away from home, whether in State College or Sevilla. Luckily to a big surprise to me, over this past Holiday break among the Christmas trees and spectacle of lights at Longwood Gardens, Dad told me that it is okay for me to be gay. This moment represented a huge leap forward in my life at home. Even though I know that Dad doesn't completely understand yet, I still feel good knowing that when the time comes, I can bring that special man in my life home. Now with the support of family and friends, with some have known for several years now, I cannot wait to start the next step of my life in New York upon graduation in May. Together, it will get better for all of us.

Beyoncé Bowl or Bust

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:17:24 -0500

For one friend, she calls this coming Sunday one of the proudest days on the calendar as an American: Super Bowl Sunday. This Sunday millions of Americans will come together to watch (arguably) America's Pastime: football. In theory, the main focus should reside in the dueling battle between the two top teams in the land that year. However for many, including myself, we find many other factors that draw us into the spectacle known as the Super Bowl. For me, I find two such things: the commercials and the Halftime Show.

For years, the commercials have represented the highlight of the Super Bowl. If one thinks about it, the two teams represent two relatively small home markets, in comparison to the whole of the United States watching the game. Therefore, the organizers of the Super Bowl have to find more interest for fans to enjoy throughout the broadcast. The commercials have gotten more and more entertaining over the years. Considering the critical mass of >100 million viewers of the Super Bowl, many companies have found the importance of making high quality commercials for spectators. Otherwise, these viewers will flip channels during the commercials. This year alone each 30 second TV spot costs a company an average of $4 million. I enjoy the commercials for their humor and their quick story line. However, sometimes commercials push the envelope and no longer seem funny, as they portray a too extreme angle.

Here you will find the best of the best:

As of last few years, I haven't found that much interest in the Halftime Show. After Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" in Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004), the Super Bowl organizers chose to bring back older, more conservative artists that wouldn't have as much sex appeal, removing the temptation for the performer to commit racy acts on camera. Even though this move made sense, I found that the last few performers remained out of touch with younger generations.

However fortunately, CBS' move to use Beyoncé for the Halftime Show demonstrates the shift back to youth. By doing so, CBS will have the ability to tap into a wider market for viewership and advertising revenue. I have to say that everyone, including all the single ladies, will wait with anticipation about what Beyoncé will do as Sasha Fierce on stage. Some rumors about possible featured guests include Destiny's Child and Jay Z. We must all wait until Sunday to see the final verdict. In any case, regardless of the team that you do or do not support, we have a lot to look forward to on Sunday.

Macklemore's Take on Fiscal Responsibility at the "Thrift Shop"

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:21:43 -0500

With much outcry among the general public over the high unemployment, the near dive over the Fiscal Cliff, and the collapsing crisis in the Euro zone, pop culture even makes commentary on the dire situation. Recently a rather popular and catchy song, "Thrift Shop" by rapper Macklemore and DJ Ryan Lewis, looks at how to save money in a tough economy.

*PARDON THE PROFANITIES.*

As you can see from his song, even in the tough economy, Macklemore makes moves to save some cash, considering he only has "twenty dollars in [his pocket], while still looking rather awesome. In the song, Macklemore realizes that you don't need to spend a lot of money for fashion. Instead, we must practice fiscal responsibility by choosing more frugal establishments, such as Goodwill or Plato's Closet. He also goes around to relatives, such as his Aunt or Uncle, asking for hand-me-downs to get "Grandpa's style."

The lyric "popping tags" also has created significant debate. Some critics claim that the term refers to switching the tags off of more expensive clothing for cheaper clothing to pay a lower price. Others say that the term refers to popping the tags off of clothing before shoplifting the merchandise. However at a thrift shop, the clothing isn't expensive enough to create interest in shoplifting. Therefore, I prescribe to the theory "popping tags" refers to the whole seller repricing the merchandise from the original retail store to the much cheaper thrift shop. In any case, I do NOT condone shoplifting or any other form of theft.

Regardless of interpretation in today's society when money seems more scarce, we must find innovative ways to get by, including not wasting money on $50 designer-label tee shirts. I have never accepted the philosophy that labels are important. Instead, you must do you. As such, find a style that looks good and fits your personality. People will respect you even more if you express your individualism. When you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, leave no stone upturned, whether at your local yard sale or the thrift shop.

Comments: Sri and Abu and Leadership Across the Globe

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:14:43 -0500

This past week, I reviewed Sri's and Abu's latest blog posts for the Presidential Leadership Academy. The two posts touch on different things, but both look, at some level, at leadership and how one must interact with different constituents across the globe.

The first, by Sri, examines the recent crisis in India regarding the gang rape case in Delhi. Many locals protested the matter publicly in outcry over the poor mismanagement of the situation. Leadership within the Indian government made many poor decisions during this time, including lackadaisical police work. To further exacerbate problems, the government passed legislation allowing for a maximum of five people meeting in public, to prevent any protesting of any sort. In addition, the government hushed up the local newspapers to prevent the spread of "bad news." As a result of these aforementioned reasons, Sri rightfully determines that a true democracy needs many freedoms that the Indian government had seemed to be lacking, including of the press and assembly, for society to function.

On a much more local level, Abu, in contrast, examines the leadership under Jim Thomas when he worked as Dean of the Smeal College of Business at Penn State. In this post, Abu discusses some familiar leadership characteristics, including strong communication and an understanding of different cultures. If the policymakers took this last point to heart in India, the people would be suffering less, as those in power would have a better understanding of the local culture. Hence, if a strong leader apply these skills with all constituents, then he or she will have success in pushing forward a vision all over the globe.

The New Natural Live Action of a Classic: Les Misérables (Passion Blog)

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:06:36 -0500

Over Winter Holiday, my Mom and I ventured off to the theatre to see Les Misérables. Last week the film received eight Oscar nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. As such, the film has received a lot of high praise from film critics everywhere, along with tough scrutiny from purist Les Mis enthusiasts. As an avid movie watcher, I fell into the former's camp.

For those who don't know the basic story, Les Mis is an epic story crossing several decades, focusing on the post Napoleonic Era when a French king, Louis XVIII, has taken the throne in Paris. Following the French Revolution, many of the commoners feel disillusioned that democracy no longer exists in this new monarchy.

In that historical context, the film portrays several characters trying to reestablish new names for themselves. One story involves Jean Valijean, who after the French government releases him from prison, struggles to survive as a former convict. As a result, Jean Valijean, as portrayed by Hugh Jackman, decides to forgo his past to establish himself. Similarly, Fantine, must hide the fact that she has a child with a man who left her. In this era, such a woman cannot hold a "legitimate" job. Unfortunately, her coworkers discover her deep secret, leading to string of heart-wrenching decisions. Anne Hathaway's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" represents a powerful performance that should win her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress next month.

As you can see from this powerful performance, Tom Hooper, a director most famous for his Oscar in "The King's Speech," chose to give the voices a more natural sound, instead of needlessly auto-tuning the actors. To accomplish this goal, the actors were given ear pieces with simply the melody and chords on the piano during the live action. After the singing was completed during the live action, the composer built an entire orchestra score around the actors. Some reviewers gave harsh criticism for this move. I personally liked the choice of having that live action sound. Also, this method allowed the actors to interpret the character's emotions in the moment, as you can see from Anne Hathaway in "I Dreamed a Dream."

Eventually many of the characters' stories intertwine, as a group of young Revolutionaries seek to coup the monarchical establishment. Prior to the big day, many of the principle actors reflect on the day to come in one of the most exciting musical numbers, "One Day More."

Even with complaints about certain voices, I still enjoy this rendition. Unfortunately, Russell Crowe has been the victim of much of this criticism. I still praise Russell for stepping outside his comfort zone to perform such a principle singing role. Plus, I feel that his character, Police Inspector Javert, wouldn't be a natural singer either.

Definitely check out this musical number:

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/blog/2012/12/les_miserables_1.html

After seeing this video, I don't know how anyone could remain unconvinced to see this delight of a film. Hope to see you at the theatre soon!

Ergo, Watch "Argo" (Passion Blog)

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:15:12 -0500

Over Thanksgiving, I saw several films at the theatre, including the new James Bond film "Skyfall" and Ben Affleck's docudrama "Argo." Of the two, I must say that I found great surprise in how much I enjoyed "Argo." (I knew going into "Skyfall" that I couldn't go wrong with 007, Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, and Adele.)

"Argo" portrays the real life events of the Iranian US Embassy crisis under the Carter Administration from an unfamiliar angle. At the onset of the attack on the embassy, six US diplomats escape the compound and fled to the Canadian Embassy. The six souls sought refuge at the Canadian ambassador's residence for three months. Eventually, the Canadian government informed the US State Department that due to national security concerns, the American Embassy workers could no longer stay on the Canadian property.

As a result, the CIA sends Ben Affleck's character, Tony Mendez, onto the scene. Without giving too many spoilers, Ben Affleck determines that to get the hostages out, the Americans should pretend to represent a Canadian film crew selecting scene locations for a Middle Eastern science fiction film. Chris Terrio wrote a rather witty screenplay with quick repartee between Ben Affleck and the other actors, giving the film many funny moments. Besides the comedy, the film also delights with suspense based on the real life events. With all this suspense, you get to see all the tough decisions made by leaders both at home within the State Department and the White House along with those made by Ben Affleck on the ground in Iran.

With a nice balance of comedy, drama, and suspense, I would highly recommend this film. Since seeing "Argo," the critics seem to agree. The film has already garnered the AFI (American Film Institute) Award for Movie of the Year and five Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director (Ben Affleck), Best Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin), Best Screenplay (Chris Terrio), and Best Original Score (Alexandre Desplat). I hope to see you at the movies soon!

Here you will find a trailer to witty yet suspenseful real-life thriller, "Argo:"