Apple TV

I have always been a DVD kind of girl, I just prefer watching shows on TV. I know this seems old school now, but I like being able to physically browse through my collection. To be honest I also hate being on my laptop at night because the light keeps me from falling asleep quickly. That being said I do enjoy Netflix and I know many people like to keep their bedroom/space clutter free. This is when the Apple TV comes in, an Apple product that is not talked about much these days.

Granted this little device is not something everyone needs, if you have a smart TV or Blu-ray player, they can probably do the same thing, however there are still advantages that I love about the Apple TV. Now if your television or Blu-ray player is a bit old (I got mine right before all the “smart” ones came out) they might not have functions like access to Netflix and YouTube. That being said, that does not prevent them from being high-quality and performing well. If you don’t want to update them or they are secondary ones (like in a den or bedroom), having an Apple TV is a great way to get access to loads of fun apps and it is a lot less expensive.

The other thing that sold me on it is that you can use it to access all the content you have purchased on iTunes so you can stream your movies, music and shows on your TV. It is very quick and convenient and you can also rent movies right from your living room.

Lastly, as usual with Apple, the design is quite sleek and does not take up a lot of space. Also you only need an HDMI cable and the power cable to make it work: meaning you won’t end up with a tangle of cords.

I know Apple TVs are by no means new, but they are a great product that does not get a lot of buzz. If you are interested, you can read more about it here and it is available from the Apple website and Apple stores.

Covert Affairs

Last summer, I slightly dislocated my hip which meant I couldn’t do much for about a month. This led to some intense marathon viewing of different TV shows. At some point though, I ran out of things to watch and was thoroughly bored until I discovered Covert Affairs. While I couldn’t do any physical activity, this show got my heart pumping.

This is a spy show that follows Annie Walker a new CIA operative, as she discovers what it’s like to work in the field. As far as spy shows go, I was really surprised by how realistic it was, the stories were engaging but never too farfetched. There’s a ton of action so it’s never boring and there’s plenty of laughter (especially in the first seasons) because the show’s writers know how to be funny and incorporate it into the world. The cast does a great job at being credible and the chemistry between them all is great. Piper Perabo and Christopher Gorham were real show stealers for me with their incredible performances.

Another thing that I loved is that they shot several episodes abroad, so many of the exotics locations on the show were actually filmed in the real countries. I always appreciate when shows do this as it adds realism to the story and it is beautiful to see on screen. Covert Affairs has fewer episodes per seasons than your average TV show, however it compensates with beautiful locations and stunning visual effects.

If you are looking for new entertainment, I say give Covert Affairs a ago, it’s not girly but it’s not a guys only show either so everyone can enjoy it. The series concluded its final season last year so you can get all five seasons on DVD from Amazon (or any DVD stores), buy it on iTunes or watch up to season four on Netflix. 

Veep: My Favorite Political Comedy

Tonight is going to be great one in the television world. The fifth season of Game of Thrones is premiering and everyone, myself included, is super excited to go back to Westeros. That incredible phenomenon of a show aside, today also marks the return of my favorite on screen politician: Selina Meyer. Veep is coming back for its fourth season and I could not be more excited.

If you are not familiar with the show, the story follows the life of Selina Meyer the Vice President of the United States and her staff as they navigate daily life and the political world. The entire cast is hilarious but Julia Louis-Dreyfus steals the show for me, her performance and charisma cannot be matched. Her character is a character itself on the show, she can be awkward and sometimes self-centred but I find that, balanced the other actors, it all makes for good fun. Tony Hale as the VP’s personal aid also deserves a special mention because he is so endearing as well as funny and his relationship with the Veep is unlike any other.

This is by far one of my favorite TV show and seeing it return for a new season brings me a lot of happiness. It always manages to make me laugh by turning serious situations and settings into something slightly ridiculous. They just take everything so seriously that you cannot help but laugh. I already had a fun-filled marathon of the past 3 seasons so I am all ready for the premiere.

You can catch the season premiere of Veep tonight on HBO and you can easily catch up on past seasons as they are all available on DVD and on iTunes. 

Tips for Focusing When Writing Essays

When you’re a student (especially in university), spring time can mean several things: nicer weather, spring break and one step closer to the summer holiday. It’s generally all nice and well but spring also means that an insane amount of work and essays are about to be due. The workload can be overwhelming at times and staying focus is key to writing quality papers. I know it’s difficult but procrastinating has to stop.  

Over the years I have discovered tricks that help me get in the zone and really focus on those papers. I’m the kind of person that always needs to have some sort of background sound to concentrate, a quiet library doesn’t work for me. So depending on your personality these can prove helpful or they simply might not work for you.

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For me, the writing process has two sections: the research part and the actual writing part. I like to start by doing research because it makes it easier for me to write afterwards and it also helps alleviate the stress of having to find sources that substantiate your paper at the last minute. Spending hours online looking things up can get a bit boring, which is why I like to put a movie or a TV show on that I have already seen while I do this. Since you know what will happen it’s less distracting than having something random on and it makes the whole research process more enjoyable because you’re listening to something you like. Your favorite parts can also make for really nice breaks to have snack and stretch.

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Once you have most of your references comes the most difficult part: coming up with an insightful, cohesive and well written paper. Depending on your topic this can turn out to be quite fun, but usually, for some mysterious reason, essays you write for university are hard to do. The word count seems impossible to reach, the topic is uninspiring or you can’t find anything on it. This is why you need to get in the zone, that wonderful place where brilliant sentences just flow and you can write thousands of words in an hour. For this, television becomes too distracting, I need something repetitive. I like to find a song that’s calming and will almost hypnotize me into focusing. One song I highly recommend for that is Erase by Hyorin and JooYoung (listen to it here), this is the song that got me through my final essays last semester. It allowed me to concentrate without having silence mocking me during my writer’s block.

I hope these tips will help you with any essay writing you might have to do. Most importantly, don’t worry too much and try to plan ahead so you have enough time and less stress on your mind. If you’d like I would love to share with you all other tips for essay writing, but for now good luck!

The West Wing

I have been looking for a new show to watch this summer for quite some time. There is not much on the air right now and I was in need of something smart and witty that I haven’t seen before (I'm experiencing The Newsroom and Veep withdrawals).

This quest led me to The West Wing, which is a political show that follows the lives of the President of the United States and his staff. Visually some might think it looks a bit dated, it started airing in 1999, but the sharp and witty dialogues are very entertaining and the social issues presented are still relevant today. This isn't surprising since the creator of the show is Aaron Sorkin who is also the man behind The Newsroom.

Another great thing about this show is that it is currently on sale in many stores and Amazon for 14$. This is a great deal for 22 40 minutes long episodes and a nice summer treat.

With 7 seasons in total, I think I am set for the rest of summer.

The Newsroom

One thing you’ll probably discover as this blog grows is how passionate I am about television. I just love getting lost in these well-crafted universes as well as how they allow us to connect with the characters and get more involved in the stories because there are so many episodes to enjoy. With this in mind I would like to share with you some of my favorite TV shows in the hope you’ll find something fun and new to watch.

The first one I’ll introduce you to today is one I’ve been watching quite a lot over the last few months: The Newsroom. The title really gives it away, the show revolves around what goes on in a newsroom and follow different protagonists that all work together to create the news (and by news I mean the best version possible). The story is set a few years ago and covers real news events like the BP oil spill and the Fukushima nuclear accident as the story makes its way back to the present. Two seasons have aired (season 1 is available on DVD) and a third season is scheduled to premiere in the fall.

I have to admit that this is my first foray into a HBO show that is not a big production like Game of Thrones and True Blood since Sex and the City and I honestly did not know if I would find it entertaining. Well let me tell you it surpassed all my expectations, it’s witty, fun and you can definitely feel the sense of urgency that comes with creating the best news coverage possible when something happens and information is limited. The fact that The Newsroom is so anchored in reality actually makes me long a news program like it.  The chemistry between Will (Jeff Daniels) and MacKenzie (Emily Mortimer) is undeniable and it really makes the show in my opinion, they are just so fun to watch together because it really does feel like they have known each other for a long time. You can definitely see that there is a lot history there. The rest of the main cast is also great with actors like John Gallagher, Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn and Sam Waterston. The combination of an amazing ensemble cast, a set of which the sheer size is impressive as well as the great camera work actually makes you feel like you are in a real newsroom (there’s not unrealistic embellishments there).

Even though I had my reservations at first, the sharp and funny dialogues have won me over and I cannot wait for season 3! I highly recommend you give this a go as I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

You can find The Newsroom in stores and online on Amazon, iTunes and the HBO website (HBO store and HBO GO).

P.S. It seems to currently be on sale for 25$ at both Best Buy and Future Shop (online and in stores).