Ranking: Every Christopher Nolan Movie Ranked from Worst to Best

Christopher Nolan has undoubtedly become one of the best directors working today.  His ability to deliver fresh, original stories and make movies feel grounded in reality has been unparalleled thus far.  With his next film, Dunkirk, due out this summer, I thought now would be a good time to explore all of Nolan’s films to date and rank them from worst to best.  As a warning, spoilers may be discussed so tread lightly. via Rankings: Every Christopher Nolan Movie Ranked from Worst to Best 

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The DNA and Aging

By studying a premature aging disorder called Werner syndrome, researchers may have uncovered a key driver of normal human aging: loose, disorganized bundles of DNA. The findings were published in Science this week. People with Werner syndrome (also called adult progeria) suffer age-related diseases early in life — from cataracts and graying hair to osteoporosis, […]

via WHY DO WE AGE? — HUMANITY+

On Descriptive Grammar and Banal Bigotry

blawg

I am forever being told that
prescriptive spelling is a tool of oppression.
And always, the way being defended,
just happens to be fucking American
– Tim

Every few months or so a series of memes and critiques run through the social media mill, and they all sing the same refrain: “telling people how to write or speak correctly is authoritarian and bigoted”. The impulse is correct: We’ve all seen ‘proper grammar’ used to shit on a lower class, or justify a racist position. We all know that language is full of traps to figure out ‘who belongs’. But the simplicity of the “there is no such thing as proper English” critique is going to fuel this weekly writing exercise .

Anyone who’s read three of my sentences knows I’m not picky about grammar. I doubt I could be even if I wanted—I don’t have the skills or training. But I…

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Four Bloggers, Four Landscapes

Landscape photographers are an active group within the broader photoblogging community. Here’s work from four sites we invite you to explore.

Landscape photography can evoke a broad range of emotions: from the soothing visual rhythms of rolling hills to the drama of stormy seas and sheer cliffsides. Below is a small selection of photos that recently stood out to us — and that represent a much larger community of photographers, travelers, and adventurers who capture beautiful shots every single day.

via As Far as the Eye Can See: Four Bloggers, Four Landscapes — Discover

Guardians Of The Galaxy – Volume 2

Spoiler-Free Review

First, let’s start with some general spoiler-free thoughts. I absolutely loved the original Guardians Of The Galaxy movie, so although I was looking forward to the sequel, I was slightly apprehensive because I wasn’t sure how they would develop the characters and plot established while also fitting it into the current Marvel Cinematic Universe. Infinity War is on the horizon and I wasn’t sure how much that would affect this film.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the plot – I follow a few comic book sources so I knew the basic background to the new characters, but I was pleasantly surprised by how the film tied itself together.

The opening credits sequence is my favourite opening sequences of all time.

Don’t forget – there are five (yes, 5) post-credit scenes, so keep watching through the credits in order to watch them all. This means you’ll also get to watch several of the credits change from ‘I Am Groot’ to various phrases as well as revealing names in different sections throughout – this was a nice touch, picking up a pop culture reference and running with it.

Overall, I’m giving the film a 5/5 for its exploration of family, the relationships of existing characters and the seamless introduction of new characters. Similar to Rogue One I have a never-ending obsession for this latest addition to the MCU and I’m honestly not complaining.

 

novellique

This is my review of Guardians Of The Galaxy: Volume 2. I’ve split it into spoiler and spoiler-free sections.

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The Man Who Changed How We Think About American History

History Imagined

For many students, the study of American History begins with Columbus wandering mistakenly into the New World, followed by a dash around eastern North America with French and English explorers, and finally settles firmly into the founding of Jamestown and Anglo-America. They may get a smattering of information on the Spanish and Portuguese explorers, as well. Most people know the story of Ponce de Leon’s fruitless searches in Florida for the Fountain of Youth, which in the best spirit of entrepreneurialism, is now touted as a tourist attraction in St. Augustine.

Students of Texas history get a somewhat more fulsome treatment of Spanish explorers, especially Cabeza de Vaca. It is part of the state curriculum. De Vaca was among the remnants of Pinola de Narvaez’s Florida expedition. Starving and fearing imminent demise, they were making for the Mexican coast on crude, hastily constructed rafts when a hurricane blew them ashore…

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2017 NFL Draft Recap: Round 1

the notepad

So I want to have a quick look at the first round. The main thing for me is looking at how much teams have improved to be competitive for next season. For me there are two absolute standouts:

BrownsGarett, Peppers and Njoku. Not only did they pick up two great guys on Defence but then they also traded up to get the Tight End with possibly the biggest upside. There is a reason Garett was the no.1 pick, he is a beast who will be terrorising opposing QBs. In Peppers they got a great Safety to sure up their Secondary. And in Njoku they have a guy who is really young and unpolished, but who in all likelihood will also be a Pro Bowler in the future. 

49ers Not only did they manage to persuade the Bears to trade up for Trubisky, meaning that they still got their guy in Thomas but…

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Why March for Science?

George Lakoff

The enormous role played by science — especially government-sponsored science — in our everyday lives is barely appreciated.

Start with modern medicine. We, the public, paid for it through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and research universities where the medical researchers, surgeons, doctors and nurses were trained, and where tools like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) developed. Modern drugs were also developed through basic research sponsored by NIH. Modern medicine is the dividend of our investment over decades in medical science.

Next, computers. Computer science didn’t just appear. It was developed through grants from National Science Foundation (NSF) and Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARP). The Internet was developed by the Defense Department. It was originally called the Arpanet. Satellites were developed through NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Defense Department, with vast amount of new science: rocket fuels, physics, new materials for rocket shells, advances…

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Rey’s Parentage Will Be Addressed In The Last Jedi

The Midi-Chlorian Center

Since The Force Awakens was released, fans have been wondering who Rey parents are and came up with many, many theories. Answers are finally coming this December. After The Last Jedi panel on Friday, the cast and crew were interviewed and Rian Johnson said Rey’s parentage will absolutely be addressed in the movie. At one point in the video when the journalist asked him if there will be clarification, he said “it depends …” before backtracking. It obviously doesn’t point to the confirmation of any theory but I’m sure it will launch fans into more speculation on some of the theories.

EXCLUSIVE: @StarWars director @rianjohnson says Rey’s parentage will absolutely be addressed in #TheLastJedi. #SWCOpic.twitter.com/wgupPzYDkB

? Good Morning America (@GMA) April 14, 2017

Another interesting interview is this one where Daisy Ridley talks about Rey and Luke and she mentions that when Luke sees her with his family…

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Calvin and Hobbes: Calvin and his imagination.

M.E.A.I.Z

If you haven’t heard of Calvin or Hobbes, turn off the computer, switch off the phone and walk over to the library and pickup at least (if you can limit yourself to one) one of Bill Watterson’s comic collections. Get home, sit on the couch, make sure you don’t have to get up, and start reading.

I guarantee you that you will be captivated by the amazing sequence of (generally) plain black-and-white comic strips. The forever six-year-old’s imagination will definitely surpass yours. You probably will not be able to comprehend the extent of this kid’s imagination. After all, he managed to imagine that a stuffed tiger would jump on him every time he came home from school. Also, he managed to imagine the tiger saying things even we don’t understand the meaning of.

After all, their version of monopoly is never fair. Calvin robs the bank, Hobbes starts asking for…

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HAN SOLO: First Cast Photo Released

Principal photography has begun on Han Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Disney has released a picture (below) of the main cast, alongside the film’s co-directors.

Beginning shooting yesterday at Pinewood Studios in London, and announced on StarWars.com, the film is scheduled for release on May 25, 2018.

The story says that “the movie will explore the duo’s adventures before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, including their early encounters with that other card-playing rogue from a galaxy far, far away, Lando Calrissian.”

Click here to see the picture!

From left to right: Woody Harrelson, Chris Miller (director), Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Joonas Suotamo (as Chewbacca), Phil Lord (director), Donald Glover.

Production on the film – shooting under the working title Red Cup – began last month.

What do you think? Please share and follow!

King Eadwig ‘All-Fair’ and the Coronation Scandal

History... the interesting bits!

King Eadwig

While researching Edward the Martyr and his stepmother, Ælfthryth, I came across a very interesting character. Eadwig (or Edwy) was young Edward’s uncle; the elder brother of Edward’s father, Edgar the Peaceable. Eadwig has one of the worst reputations of the Anglo-Saxon kings, even though he only reigned for 4 years; he was, supposedly, found in a compromising situation when he was meant to be presiding over his coronation feast.

I just had to know more about this king!

Eadwig was born around 940. He had an impressive royal pedigree, being the eldest surviving son of Edmund I (the Elder) and his 1st wife, Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury, who was later known as St Elgiva. Edmund was the son of Edward the Elder and, therefore, the grandson of King Alfred the Great, thus making Eadwig King Alfred’s great-grandson.

Eadwig’s mother Ælfgifu died in 944, and was buried at…

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