February 10., 2022
Around the World: East Asia
With the ever-present influence of Japanese and Korean media on the rise, East Asian films and TV shows provide a fascinating look at another culture outside of the Western World. With seemingly no red tape blocking access to whatever media these days, there’s practically no excuse not to watch these films. If you want to looking for some East-Asian films to watch, here are some great choices to get started on.In the Mood for Love (2000)
This film follows Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan in ‘60s Hong Kong as they begin their strange love affair after they find out their spouses have also been engaging in an affair. Watching this film, you get sucked into a world of uncertainty, hesitation, temptation, loneliness, and contempt, and somehow, you never want to leave. Every shot is a stunning array of deep colors and moody shadows, which provide gorgeous backgrounds for the stellar leads to deliver performances you will never forget. Available now on HBO Max.Ran (1985)
This adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear follows the samurai warlord Hidetora as he splits his land between his three sons and sees his power diminish, his brothers fight, and his sanity go. The last masterpiece of legendary director Akira Kurosawa, Ran unapologetically displays the artist’s full command of everything in and out of frame. Whether it’s the dramatic gestures of the actors, the breathtaking landscapes and sets, or the bloody battle scenes, this epic film will do nothing but leave you in awe. Available now on Amazon Prime.
Searching for a little diversity in your reading list? In Crazy Brave, author, musician, and poet Joy Harjo talks about her childhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, facing the struggle to maintain her Muscogee Creek culture, growing up in an abusive home, and finally making her way to the life she always knew was for her with the help of her spiritual heritage. You may have heard of her already, because she’s currently serving as the U.S. Poet Laureate, helping to broaden our nation’s appreciation of reading and writing poetry.
Are you looking for your next great read? The UWGB Marinette Pride Center is hosting a book club to read the YA novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe this semester. Aristotle and Dante tells the queer coming-of-age love story between two Mexican American teens in the American southwest during the 1980s. All UWGB students, staff, and faculty can receive a free copy if you email mnt-pridecenter@uwgb.edu before March 1 while supplies last. If you know someone who would like to read with us, and is enrolled in an area high school (Marinette, Menominee, Peshtigo, Coleman, Oconto, or Wausaukee), we are also offering free copies of the book for them if they email the Pride Center! The discussion sessions will be on April 11 with two options available: in-person from 4-5 p.m. and online from 5:30-6:30 p.m. If you already have access to a copy of the book, you can still come to the discussion. Just tell us that in the email to the Pride Center, and we’ll be happy to have you!
Made by the creators of the classic podcast Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn’t Dead tells the story of a woman searching for her wife, whom everyone else thinks is dead. The semitruck-driving narrator, Keisha, travels across the United States in search of Alice but finds herself uncovering things much bigger and more important than finding her missing partner. 
Hosted by married couple Griffin and Rachel McElroy, Wondeful! is a podcast dedicated to things the couple and their listeners love..During the show’s run time, the podcast is jam-packed with Griffin and Rachel sharing the things they are passionate about with unabashed joy. And as a cherry on top, the couple are so obviously in love with each other that you can’t help but smile at their banter. There is no greater feeling than hearing people talk about the things that excite them, even if they are incredibly niche or specific (i.e. steamed buns, pockets, Settlers of Catan, Rachel’s chilli, etc.). New episodes come out every Wednesday for your weekly dose of enthusiasm. Give Wonderful! a listen today. Available on Apple podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you find your podcasts. 
The idea of the living versus the dead is a common cliché that games use, except in the case of Dying Light, which puts a whole new spin on this game trope. Dying Light was released in 2015, and it took the gaming world by storm. It is a game where fighting was not your only choice. You not only navigate the world horizontally but vertically as well with the game’s revolutionizing parkour system that allows you to be quick on your feet while fighting the undead. The overall story is great. I won’t spoil anything major; you are Kyle Crane, a GRE agent tasked with finding a file containing information about what was happening in the city of Harran. The voice acting is well done, and the number of ways to deal with enemies is endless, whether you like to use bladed weapons, blunt weapons guns, or even a bow. However, in this game you, aren’t an invincible individual, and you have things that you should avoid at all costs; as the game’s reoccurring message goes, “Good Night, Good Luck.” As that saying hints, the night is when the nightmares are out, and the whole game shifts from just fighting the undead to trying to get to safety before you get hunted down by the “nightmares,” which are zombies at night that are faster, stronger, and deadlier than their daytime counterparts. It is a vast experience, and it offers an abundance of stuff to do in the open world. If you enjoyed it, then feel free to look into the sequel that came out recently. Available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and for PC on Steam. 
Emily in Paris: Where to begin with Emily in Paris? Emily, our heroine—if we can call her this—parades around the Parisian streets in wild outfits with her smartphone always ready to fire the next tweet. She is a marketing executive and American to the core.
Bridgerton: Phoebe Bridgerton has it all: wealth, beauty, bespoke gowns, and a ridiculously good-looking set of seven brothers and sisters. When she makes her debut at court, Queen Charlotte steps forward and proclaims her the “diamond of the season.” Of course, it’s all downhill from there. Her overbearing brother Anthony chases away all of her suitors except creepy, handsy Nigel Berbrooke. A gossip pamphlet written by the infamous, anonymous “Lady Whistledown” declares that Phoebe has more in common with a lump of coal than a sparkling jewel. And to top it all off, the arrogant Lord Simon Hastings thinks she’s chasing after him like all of the other eligible women of the ton, just because she bumped into him. What’s a Regency-era girl to do? Punch Nigel in the face, deliver the mother of all set-downs to Lord Hastings, and refuse to settle for anything but true love, that’s what. Created by Gray’s Anatomy producer and head writer Shonda Rhimes, Bridgerton actually improves on the Julia Quinn novels upon which it’s based. (I can count on my thumbs the number of times I’ve said that about a film or series….) Rhimes and showrunner Chris Van Dusen add groundbreaking diversity to the cast and take Quinn’s family matriarchs from shrewish cliches to strong, whipsmart women you can root for. Be forewarned that there are some spicier scenes—the show definitely earns its “Mature” rating. But the storytelling is fast-paced and fun, the romance packs an emotional punch with every episode, and the costumes are worth watching all on their own (despite their anachronistic zippers). If you haven’t watched this trash-tastic Regency romp yet, what are you waiting for? There’s still time to catch up before Season 2 launches March 25th. Available on Netflix. 
A negative outlook on life can have lasting effects. According to an article put out by Marque Medical titled “The Damaging Effects of Negativity,” people who spend months or even years thinking negatively can experience numerous mental and physical effects, including hostility, anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, headaches, fatigue, problems sleeping, and eating disorders. Living with positivity can lead to better self-confidence, good habits, and a healthier body. But how can someone go from a negative outlook to a positive one?
Swearing comes to some of us as a reaction to something surprising and to others like a first language. Normal for some, it might also point to underlying personal troubles that may need addressing in order to lead a fulfilling and happy life. Recognizing why you swear can help you determine if it’s a harmless occurrence or if you’re struggling mentally and emotionally to cope with negative situations happening in your life. Left unchecked, these issues can lead to a highly negative outlook on life and all the damaging effects that come with it. It’s important that you know when you need to take a break and address these feelings directly, rather than attempting to cope alone.
We all know that feeling of grogginess, exhaustion, and overall disgust when you wake up in the morning, wanting to immediately fall back asleep. One common method of removing this disgusting feeling is drinking coffee, but that energizing effect gradually weakens the more often you have it. There’s also the fact that you can become addicted to coffee, so trying to quit after a long period of time will likely make you feel worse. If you’d prefer not to become dependent on coffee but still have something to help you wake up, here are some suggestions: