If you have not yet discovered the latest Penn State trivia quiz; it is at http://live.psu.edu/story/15244. And, here's a big hint Delaware County Campus is one of the answers!
Dr. Wayne McMullen recommends:
Ang Lee's new film, Brokeback Mountain [he also directed Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon] is a tale of two men who love each other, set in the Wyoming and Texas of the 1960s and 70s, a time and place where two men might risk their lives if their affections were discovered. After an intense summer together on Brokeback Mountain, the two separate to lead their own lives. The film chronicles 2 decades of their separate lives, as they struggle to manage occasional, secret meetings away from the hostile gaze of the society in which they live. Such stories of love and longing can really get under your skin if they're done well, and Ang Lee mostly gets this one right. This film gives you a lot to think about, as it is really more complex than my brief description here would suggest.
What really makes this film succeed are uniformly strong performances by the entire cast; most notable is Heath Ledger, who plays the laconic, inarticulate Ennis. His performance is as remarkable as it is unflattering, and he deserves all the praise he's been getting in the press lately.
This is not the holiday film to see if you're looking for fun and frolic (someone sitting behind me blurted out during the end credit roll, "This is the saddest film I have ever seen!"; another said, "This ought to be called Heartbreak Mountain"), but if you are looking for a thoughtful, meaningful film--and a respite from the Great Ape--this film is well-worth seeking out.
Dr. Wayne McMullen contributes this:
Ang Lee’s new film, Brokeback Mountain [he also directed ‘Sense and Sensibility’ ‘The Ice Storm’ and ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’] is a tale of two men who love each other, set in the Wyoming and Texas of the 1960s and 70s—a time and place where two men might risk their lives if their affections were discovered. After an intense summer together on Brokeback Mountain, the two separate to lead their own lives. The film chronicles 2 decades of their separate lives, as they struggle to manage occasional, secret meetings away from the hostile gaze of the society in which they live. Such stories of love and longing can really get under your skin if they’re done well, and Ang Lee mostly gets this one right. This film gives you a lot to think about, as it is really more complex than my brief description here would suggest.
What really makes this film succeed are uniformly strong performances by the entire cast; most notable is Heath Ledger, who plays the laconic, inarticulate Ennis. His performance is as remarkable as it is unflattering, and he deserves all the praise he’s been getting in the press lately.
This is not the holiday film to see if you’re looking for fun and frolic (someone sitting behind me blurted out during the end credit roll, “This is the saddest film I have ever seen!”; another said, “This ought to be called ‘Heartbreak Mountain’”), but if you are looking for a thoughtful, meaningful film--and a respite from the Great Ape--this film is well-worth seeking out.
Where's the Learning in Service-Learning sounds like a confrontational title, but this volume actually supports service-learning. It reports on several studies which document cognitive as well as affective outcomes of well-planned and executed service learning opportunities in the college curriculum. Faculty and staff developing such opportunities will want to look at the chapter on program characteristics of effective s-l activities, and the research methodologies associated with evaluating those activities. (Vairo Library LC220.5.E95 1999)
The 9/11 Commission Members issued a report card on progress in implementing their recommendations for improving the nation's preparedness. There is only one A (actually A-) and far too many Fs and Ds. For the disturbing details, see the 9/11 Public Discourse Project site authored by the members of the Commission at :
http://www.9-11pdp.org/
Here's another web news article called to our attention by Dr. Cimbala:
http://news.com.com/As+teens+embrace+blogs%2C+schools+sound+an+alarm/2100-1025_3-5952141.html?tag=nefd.lede "As teens embrace blogs, schools sound an alarm."
This article reports how outrageous postings on blogs, bulletin boards, and facebook place teens in dangerous, or at least, embarrasing positions. Such postings are not private but widely available to employers, schools, and those who might exploit them.
Our veteran reader of military news, Dr. Steve Cimbala, calls attention to Joseph Galloway's article, "Owners of the War," available on the website:
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,81692,00.html It discusses the role of the vice-president in decisions regarding the war.
Today, the 25th birthday of the Vairo Library, we have to feature our own website. It has all the crucial links to help you with assignments, and find the treasure trove of information the library makes available to you. For any information about Vairo Library (hours, maps, staff), make it one of your favorites. And, for us, it is Home, Sweet, Home. Visit often!
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/delaware/
Can you imagine a bicycle in the shape of Monet's reclining nude? Someone at MIT has, a student of Neil Gershenfeld. According to Gershenfeld, all of us will be doing that sort of personal design. He describes why his vision will soon be a reality in Fab: the Coming Revolution on Your Desktop - from Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication. To jump start your own imaginations, take a look at Fab, I think I'll work on a bot to clean the inside of the windshield. (Vairo T174.G476 2005)