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Show AggieDiversions Friday, March 9, 2012 Page 5 Pick up something other than a textbook this break When I took over this column at the beginning of the semester, I didn't understand how challenging it would be to read a book every two weeks. You wouldn't think it would be hard. After all, we're all college students who never seem to stop reading. The struggle I've encountered is finding time between classes, work and homework to sit down and immerse myself in something that's not social statistics. Being forced to do this made me realize how few college students probably read what they want. Through most of my childhood and teenage years, I could bunker down for hours with a good novel. Now I'm lucky to get 15-minute snatches of time to read ask how I do it with all my involvements. The secret is simple, really. I cut the time I spend on Facebook or in front of the TV. It's easy to sit on the couch and veg after a long day, but it's harder to pick up that book that's been sitting on your shelf, collecting dust since your mother gave it to you for Christmas last year. Learn to carry a book around everywhere you go. I always have a novel in my backpack in preparation for late professors, in-betweenclass time and my lunch break. You'll get in more pages than you think by reading in your spare time. Take the book J '' itik challenge ' 5 (/ Book Review ALLEE VENSE a few pages. If you do anything this semester, I recommend you sit down and enjoy a good novel. Here are a few things I've realized in my two-book-a-month spree. Just make time Expand your horizons People have looked at me like I was crazy when I told them I was trying to read a book every two weeks. They When I picked up "Atlas Shrugged" over Christmas break, I thought I'd be bored to tears. Based on what other people had told me about the book, it was one extremely long rant on capitalism. Of the many things I am, an economist is not one of them. Much to my surprise, I became absolutely hooked. It's a long one — I'm only half way through — but it's made me think more than any other book I've read, and I've read a lot. After I finish, I'd like to expand my personal horizons even more and read all of the 100 best novels from the Modern Library. It's a hefty goal, I realize, but it will help me to get away from the genre I tend to get stuck to the most — love stories. Pick up a book from a genre you've never read before. If you don't like it, there's no harm done. If you do, well, you've found something that will last your entire life. Read smart In college, students tend to think there are two kinds of books: books they enjoy and books that are educational. There are hundreds of thousands of books that cover both these categories. I'm a strong believer that a true education is not just in the classroom, it's what we learn by our own accord. I may be a little biased in sugg esting this, but books written by journalists are great places to start. They often have compelling narratives, historical backgrounds and well-thought story lines. My favorites include "Savage Inequalities" and "Outcasts United." If you're looking for more, I suggest the Best American Journalism of the 20th Century list compiled by New York University's journalism department. When you're crawling into bed tomorrow, take a few minutes and pick up a novel. Not only is this more useful than tweeting for 15 minutes, but numerous studies have shown people who don't look at a screen before they sleep rest more peacefully. New Year's might be over, but make a resolution to enjoy at least one book this semester. You won't regret it when it comes up in a discussion later. - ailee.evensen@aggiemaii. usu.edu Classic children's book doesn't translate well in movie I am at a loss for words. My roommate has this power over me to make me watch movies I would never see. I usually regret it. "The Lorax" wasn't really a letdown, it was just exactly what I thought it would be: a children's movie. The whole time, my eyes were glowing from the reflection of the most odd and vibrant colors and shapes I have ever seen on the big screen — next to "Avatar." This time Dr. Seuss is to blame. The story is based around the quote, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." I wholeheartedly agree with these famous words, but you don't have to make a movie with dancing and singing bears going gaga for marshmallows in order to get your point across. The Lorax" Grade: C- : Suess' movie Review ANIKE PULLENS Yes, "The Lorax" is a musical and I usually love musicals. Because Zac Efron and Taylor Swift play voices in this children's movie, I hoped I would hear their beautiful voices. However, they hardly had enough lines to fill a page. The movie starts out with a town that is completely artificial. The man in charge has made a way to sell air. The town, Thneedville has a very "Truman Show"-like atmosphere. Everyone is being watched and everything is controlled. Taylor Swift's character, Audrey, has paintings of real trees on the back of her house. She expresses to Zac Efron's character, Ted, she has always wanted a "real tree." Naturally, Ted decides to leave town and find a living tree. Being one of the first to leave Thneedville in a long time, Ted runs into trouble. Mr. O'Hare, the mayor and man in charge, will not tolerate Ted discovering trees because then people could have air for free. Ted's persistence leads him to the Once-ler (Ed Helms), who tells him all about trees and the Lorax, guardian of the land and the trees. The Once-ler trusts Ted with the a seed that can change everything. It is the only one left in existence. It is Ted's duty to convince the town and Mr. O'Hare that trees should come back to Thneedville. After a long, exciting chase, a couple of songs and a kiss on the cheek, "The Lorax" comes to a conclusion. It is hard reviewing and critiquing an animated movie, because I can't comment on the acting or directing like I can any other film.The one thing I can say is that Efron and Swift projected their voices very nicely. I can also say it was a smart move to include some big names to play the roles of Seuss' characters. Alongside Efron, Swift and Helms, Betty White's and Danny DeVito's voices were also heard in the film. I'm assuming the filmmakers did this so people over the age of five would be interested in hearing these big names on screen. THE LORAX, voiced by Danny Devito, demands to know who chopped See LORAX, Page 6 down the Truffula Tree in "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax." MCT photo We've Reinvented the The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business is unveiling an all-new, ONE-YEAR MBA in Fall 2012. Created with input from Harvard Business School professors, business leaders, employers and former students, this new MBA curriculum has been streamlined to provide the knowledge and tools necessary to compete in today's global business environment in an innovative and cost-effective one-year program. Rethi k Fducat°a' the °t A It's the $100,000 Difference cr° JON M. HUNTSMAN For more information, visit www.huntsmanmba.com or come talk to us in BUS 309. Email: mba.huntsman@usu.edu Phone: (435) 797-2360 SCHOOL OF BUSINESS UtahStateUn ive rsity |