Here are some of my favorite movies, available now via Netflix's "Instant Watch" feature.

If you aren't familiar with Netflix.....do some research......its only the biggest revolution in movie rentals.......EVER.

If you aren't familiar with Netflix's "Instant Watch" feature, thats a little more understandable. So, here's the skinny:
Certain plans of Netflix service include the ability to watch movies or television shows, by means of streaming via the internet. You don't get a physical DVD, but there's no waiting.

There are many ways to utilize the service to its fullest potential:
1) Use it on a laptop
2) Hook you computer up to your TV
3) Purchase Netflix's set-top box for streaming straight to your TV (about $100)

Hardware aside, you will also need a pretty solid internet connection. Stop by Netflix's website for a free trial. They have a handy meter that will update once you visit the "instant watch" page, letting you know how good your computer's internet connection is, and what sort of video quality that translates into.

This being said, some people thing that it is too much hassle to utilize this feature. If you take a look at what you need, (hardware and an internet connection) you might be more prepared than you think. Take a look at your computers, there are TONS of computers on the market with VGA, S-VIDEO, and HDMI outputs, try to match one of these up with your TV and all you need is a cable.....NO HASSLE AT ALL!

Another criticism, is that the selection for this feature sucks. Granted, it is VASTLY less than the "by mail" feature, but it is being constantly expanded. I wanted to do a quick write-up recommending some of MY favorites that are currently available. TAKE NOTE: movies do occasionally get taken down, but as of 6/2/09, all of these movies were available. This is by no means a comprehensive "best of", just some inspiration to check Netflix out for yourself and see if you can uncover a few jems. I know I have!

Here we go (by genre & alphabetical order):

TELEVISION
- 30 Rock
- Deadliest Catch
- Mythbusters
- Survivorman
- The Office

MUSIC
- Experience Hendrix
- The Last Dispatch

DOCUMENTARY
- Man on Wire

DRAMA
- Cool Hand Luke
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Seven Years in Tibet
- Sling Blade
- The Green Mile
- The Shawshank Redemption

COMEDY
- Dr. Strangelove
- Pretty Woman
- That thing you do

THRILLER
- A Clockwork Orange
- Falling Down
- Gone Baby Gone
- No Country for Old Men
- Oceans 11

ACTION
- Die Hard
- Enemy of the State
- Goodfellas
- Terminator
- Vanishing Point

FAMILY
- Enchanted
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

I hope this list serves as a starting point for anyone interested in taking advantage of this awesome feature, and I'll add any more as I find them!

About two weeks ago, the CEO of a web-startup named "WeeklyRoast.com", ran a "buy-one-get-one" sale via Twitter, on all of his whole bean coffee blends. Being a coffee lover/nerd, I immediately pounced on this deal, grabbing two different types.

I found Weeklyroast.com to be very appealing, but, having always purchased my whole bean coffee from my local coffee shops/grocery stores, I wasn't sure about this "online" source. I should mention that I am as big of a tech/web nerd as I am a coffee nerd, so my questioning the benefits to moving any sort of business from store to internet, can be likened to buying a reasonably priced Apple product....its just unheard of.

However, given Weeklyroast's stance on freshness and customer service, I decided to give it a try. What convinced me, is this direct quote from their website:

"The coffee from Weekly Roast is as fresh as you can get it - we roast twice a week and your coffee isn't roasted until you place your order! Our current roasting schedule is Sundays and Thursdays. After roasting your coffee, we allow the beans to degas overnight, then we vacuum pack your coffee and send it to you Priority Mail (by the time it reaches you, it's been 2-3 days since roasting - exactly when degassing ends and the peak of the flavor begins). We'll also include the date your coffee was roasted on your bag of coffee. Since coffee can take up to 72 hours to degas and reach it's 'peak', it's at the best possible flavor when it reaches your home or office and is ready for you to enjoy the moment it arrives!" (Source: WeeklyRoast.com)

Of course, one immediately asks oneself, 'how is this better than trusting companies who have been in the business and "know the ropes"'. While I don't have a specific answer to such a narrow-minded question, (my apologies to anyone thinking that) I can assure you that the CEO, Ken, (@weeklyroast), knows his coffee. This is evidenced by his very helpful and informative blog. However, one's next question might be, 'how can such freshly roasted coffee, be shipped to customers so quickly, at any sort of reasonable price?', (I can't poke fun at this question, because I was thinking the same thing).

I was shocked to find that, for a 12oz bag of high-quality, whole-bean coffee, Weeklyroast only charges between $10.47 and $10.81, (this price range is based on the blends they currently have in stock...different blends are different prices, but I have found this to be a good representation of the price point that they try to keep their product at).....AND this INCLUDES priority shipping!


(Coffee subscription services are also available and very appealing...but are a bit out of my "college student" price range, leaving me quite unqualified to review them)

All of these elements peaked my interest in this "web-roaster". From the very beginning, it was a great experience. The CEO himself was kind enough to direct message me on Twitter, to clarify a slight confusion regarding my order. This was worked out within an hour of my placing the order, and the process was underway. Shortly thereafter, I was informed, via e-mail, of exactly when my coffee would be roasted, (ask your local Starbucks to give you a ring before the beans that go into your next espresso shot get roasted, and see what they say).

I have to say that, while I was happy to receive a notification with information regarding the date of my coffee's roasting and its recent shipment, I was disheartened to not have received a correlating tracking number. I realize that this isn't the most important thing in the world, but for someone who is addicted to tracking every step of their package's progress via Blackberry, I felt naked not knowing exactly what town my bags of coffee were passing through. Not everyone is this obsessive about their online shopping, but since tracking numbers have become so seamlessly integrated into purchases with Amazon.com, EBay, and other large retailers, I guess I just expected it.

I shortly found out, however, that I didn't really need the tracking number. My order arrived in two days time, (from central Florida to Chicago)! The coffee was well packed, and very well sealed, (an important factor for coffee geeks who are concerned about freshness and the gas exchange involved in the roasting process - see Ken's blog for more info). One of my favorite little "features" is the fact that the bags of coffee are labeled. These labels not only identify the roaster and type of coffee, but also the "characteristics" of the coffee, like its roast type and what "notes" can be found in its taste/smell.

One more "negative", (relatively speaking) aspect to this process, is that the bags the coffee come in, are not resealable. Obviously, for such a low price, I can't really expect Weeklyroast to throw a free car into the deal, but a guy can hope for all the bells and whistles, right? This is no real issue though, as long as you have an airtight container ready to transfer your beans into, (like these, available at your local Target store).

I have to say, that, upon opening the bags, the beans smelled AMAZING. Odor plays a large part in any complete coffee experience, and I have to say, these are the best smelling beans I have ever purchased. Whether this is an indication of their taste or not....I will deal with at a later point in time.... :-p

Overall, I had a fantastic experience with WeeklyRoast.com. I am refraining from reviewing the actual coffee itself, because I hope to eventually do an in-depth review of both types of coffee that I purchased. Once I brew both of them in a few different ways, (french press vs. drip pot) and try a couple different grind sizes, (course vs. medium) I will feel better prepared to attack the issue of the coffee's taste. I will say, for now, that it is quite good, but I am still messing with the ratio of grinds to water. I will offer a tip here, for anyone who has not made coffee from freshly roasted beans....you will probably need to use less coffee grinds to achieve your usual flavor. These beans are still at the peak of their flavor, (a major plus) and thus have a very high strength, (unlike the beans sitting on your local grocer's shelves for weeks on end). This does mean that you might have to re-adjust your coffee-making routine, but at the same time, your beans will "go" much further! The coffee is certainly very good quality, and is absolutely enjoyable. I highly recommend giving a try, especially for such a low price, (less than 91 cents/oz)! In terms of service and experience, WeeklyRoast undoubtedly gets an A+++++++++ in my book!

I have been enjoying Weeklyroast's coffee for about 2 weeks now, and once I establish a firmer opinion of whether their "El Salvador" and "Sulawesi" blends have become my new favorites, (and am able to find some more free time to blog) I will be sure to do another write-up!

I'm a cynic...and a skeptic.
I'm a realist...and a stoic, (in the loosest sense of the word).

So, to me, "Christmas spirit" is at best: a cheesy, dubious form of escapism that is, rather than a joyous sense of humanism, a cathartic sublimation of emotions that pushes anger, fear, etc. deeper down into us in hopes of having a "happy holiday season".

Now that that is out of my system...lol...I think it is clear why I have never been one to use the phrase "Christmas spirit".


Don't get me wrong...

~I LOVE looking at a beautiful, freshly-dusted, snowy landscape (Though, having lived in Chicago my whole life, I've grown to HATE it as soon as I set foot out my front door into the slushy muck lol)

~A blinding display of Christmas lights that catches my eye as I drive to work, still makes me smile, spilling off the roof, onto the windows and front of the house, and continuing on to consume the entire lawn, (even a little bit of the neighbor's yard if those nativity cows don't quite fit on your property).

~Christmas cookies and a hot cup of of bold coffee make me warm all over.

and

~I laugh out loud at all the best moments in the three Christmas movies that I HAVE TO watch annually: "Love Actually", "Elf", and "Christmas Vacation".


Yet, when I walked into Target about a month and a half ago...and heard the worst rendition of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" playing...IN NOVEMBER...it irked me.

I recently saw an airing of "Mad TV's" Christmas special from a few years back, where the whole cast was singing "Joy to the World", and, oddly enough, it made me think (a very unusual reaction to "Mad TV"...I know).

This cast, whose skits can often be morally questionable, (albeit quite funny) was singing a song about Jesus. The fact that the line "...the Lord has come" was repeated numerous times, on national TV, to an audience that, (based on those I personally know who watch the program) could care less about the meaning of...got my mental "gears" a-grindin'.

Though it seems so simple and is arguably a matter of "common sense", it really hit me, that so many people sing the words of Christmas carols...feeling warm and fuzzy inside because of the "Christmas spirit"...picturing carolers braving the cold to bring their neighbors a tid bit of "Christmas cheer"...but those people could care less about the real "Spirit" or the truthful, life-changing "cheer". Is that what these songs have become? Mindlessly repeated lyrics? Harmless "religious" tunes that are so warm and fuzzy that "secular" corporations deem them harmless? Why shun religion at all other times, but not during Christmas? I've sat in Starbucks for hours on end and heard the lyrics about Jesus' birth...and NOBODY gets angry about that...yet people get riled up if "under God" is in the pledge of allegiance.

Now I'm getting off track...lol

My point is...that those Christmas carols are no longer what their authors intended them to be. Even Christians singing them in church, seem to fail to understand it.

My newfound home church, Missio Dei, (Mokena, IL), decided to participate in a "revolution" of sorts this holiday season.

Advent Conspiracy....is a movement started by a few pastors, who also saw something wrong with Christmas. Describing itself as: "...an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption", this idea seeks to take the consumerism and all the bullcrap that Christmas has become...out of the picture.

Some statistics presented in Advent Conspiracy's videos, depressingly point out that America, as a whole, spends 450 BILLION DOLLARS on Christmas annually, (which includes gifts, decorations, food, the whole nine yards) but, theoretically, it would only cost 10 BILLION DOLLARS...to solve the "clean water crisis" worldwide. That figure....AMERICA....includes MOST of the world's CHRISTIAN population. What's wrong with that picture....

If that's not enough...if we were to truly evaluate how much attention we pay to Christ's birth during Christmas...I think we would be sorely disappointed.

I am certainly not saying I'm a professional at this, because I know that, as much as I try to pray and focus in on this aspect of the season...I fall short. So, the least I could do was try to refocus with Advent Conspiracy.

However, though this is a FANTASTIC cause...it isn't the fullest picture of "Christmas spirit". I'm not knocking this movement, because it certainly pushes for a realization of Jesus' importance amidst the holiday chaos. I simply believe it is human nature to become distracted.

I believe people, myself included, WILL ALWAYS give less attention to Christ than we should, and we will ALWAYS tend to get lost, (even if we form the most purely motivated movement one could ever undergo), in distractions, (like the images of children forced to live with filthy, bacteria-riddled water, and statistics regarding our obscene spending habits) and GOD KNOWS IT. He knows that this is our sinful tendency...

The pastor at my church gave a sermon tonight on how important it is to see Jesus this season. Of course, all of the "Sunday-school" reasons were mentioned...the cross...salvation...God...etc. The twist was, his emphasizing that Christmas is the time of year when we should focus on Jesus' REALITY: His coming down to us in the form of a fetus...covered in placenta and amniotic fluid....reflecting on a Jesus who went through puberty and had to obey his parents...remembering Jesus as a REAL, LIVE representation of God.

In this sense, Jesus' coming, even when taking the focus off of salvation and His ministry, (though they are ALWAYS an essential, inseparable part of the picture) is the TRUE model of "Christmas spirit".

Not gifts...
Not singing...
Not fireplaces...
Not even family tradition...but HUMILITY.

For the creator of all things...to become creation, (I give credit for that phrasing to my pastor, Paul Vroom) was absolutely ludicrous...
BUT
He cared more about us than Himself.

THAT example...is the reason that the authors of those Christmas carols were inspired to compose the melodies that ring through Target and Starbucks this, and every, holiday season...
THAT example...is the reason that people talk about "Christmas spirit" and "Christmas cheer".

Now, people will say: "that's exactly what you are shunning...people's efforts to give gifts and spread joy by caroling and sitting around the fire with their family. These ARE efforts to recreate humility...THATS the "Christmas spirit" you hate!"

I have considered that...and my point is...WITHOUT JESUS' EXAMPLE...its ALL off-track. How much is it off-track? 450 BILLION DOLLARS worth...

So...this holiday season...as a Christian community...and even stepping outside of that...as a human race...I'm simply asking that people CONSIDER the fact that perhaps the typical religious efforts to mention Jesus' birth in a prayer...or the more public notion of spreading cheer through the form of gifts, etc...might not be enough.

What is it all for? Why should we be kind to each other? Why should we be joyous and cheerful? What good is "Christmas spirit"?

To make us feel good? To placate us? To push those emotions of anger and fear down inside us and pretend that all is well? That doesn't sound like it has much lasting value...

To me...the only answer...is Jesus. God knew what we needed a way to connect these desires for joy, cheer, and meaning...so He gave us an example.

Why have we struggled so much to accept it?
I mean, we even screwed up an entire season that was supposed to be devoted to that example...

Just some thoughts....

I don't want to be a downer...just hoping to spark some realization. Like I said...there are many aspects to the holidays that make me happy...but only one that I LOVE. I hope that this rambling makes you think somewhat differently about that one thing...and I hope that this holiday season...you feel that LOVE and seek that one thing as well.

Enjoy that beautiful snow...those Christmas lights...the cookies and the coffee...the movies...etc. but please join me in making the best effort we possibly can to keep that one thing in mind....

Happy Christmas! (I hate the word 'merry'....lol)

P.S.
Though I know none of you...thanks to all the Flickr users I hyper-linked. I could sit for hours searching the wonderful art/photographs people post on that website...these are some of my recent favorites...and I like to give their authors credit!

As an undergraduate student, just beginning to learn the ropes of psychology, I am currently working through the process of integrating myself into this lifestyle. I believe it is, in fact, a lifestyle, because I am learning that it is so much more than a career; it is a mindset, a worldview, an emotional foundation, and even a way of viewing/practicing one's religion. As I learn more and more, and as I seek God's calling in regards to psychologically-focused graduate school, as well as future licensure and practice, I figured it would be beneficial to try to define psychology based, not on books or theories, but my own thoughts and emotions. Here is what I came up with. I am sure this will be a first of many, many more drafts...

Psychology has been a passion of mine for a number of years. I take pride in studying it because I believe it is a process worthy of my straining over, struggling through, and coping with. I believe that psychology is something that is so much bigger than me; something that with every attempt I make to grasp its related concepts/manifestations in every day life, makes me part of a community. This community is to me, a humble, venerable group of individuals that is not only trying to understand a “branch of academia”, but is also constantly discovering and re-defining themselves. The beauty of it, however, is not found solely in this way of looking at the “process”, but in the fact that in understanding the study, we, (and I feel honored, almost unworthy of considering myself part of such an amazing community) not only begin to better understand ourselves, but also can use this understanding to help others do the same!

Figured I'd try out this whole blogging thing....let's see how it goes!