5 Awesome Things (by Devin White)

(The best things in life are those you can share, right? Well, unless of course it’s mono or debt.  I’m excited to share this blog with some of the most interesting, diverse bloggers I know! That’s right,  I’m kicking off my brand new GUEST WRITING SECTION! I’ve assembled a super team of fellow bloggers who range in writing about everything from fashion and food to video games and philosophy! Get ready to have fun, find new favorite blogs, and maybe even discover something awesome!)

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 When I stepped into my first college classroom back in 2009, there sat Devin White. And then he was in my class following the first…and the next one after that…and also my Bible seminar on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Four years, many honors classes, a trip to Italy, and countless debates later, he remains one of my most intriguing &  loyal friends (despite that one time he threatened to unfriend me when I was fundraising for my Greek club).  Devin reviews films, video games, and  other stuff on his blog D.A. White. Or catch him on  Twitter!  

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point, he refers to a group of people who find satisfaction from sharing things they find and are responsible for why some trends suddenly become incredibly popular. I forget the name of this category of people Gladwell describes, but I have found it true for my own life. I am one of those people who loves to share with people something I think they will love in the hopes that they will share it as well.

So when Kelsy Black asked me to do a guest post, I decided to take this opportunity to shed some light on some amazing things that I think people should know about.

So, without further ado, here are 5 awesome whatevers.

JL8

This was the comic that made me realize that I loved this.

I do not read many webcomics, and of those that I do read, there are not many I would recommend to everyone. JL8 is one such webcomics. Originally entitled Little League, JL8 describes the adventures of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Justice League as they go through kindergarten as little kids.

That premise right there would automatically make me a fan, but what elevates this beyond a simple joke is the incredible characterization of all the different heroes. I have never been this invested in an 8-year old’s romantic life, and JL8 has some truly heartbreaking moments while always coming back to a sunny and hopeful view of life. It is surprisingly good storytelling, and while comic book geeks will get some extra in-jokes, everyone will find something to enjoy in this comic.

Rachel Held Evans – Ask A…

She's also written the book, "A Year of Biblical Womanhood," which is another awesome thing.

It is not often that I think of a blog as influential, but Rachel Held Evans is definitely taking steps in that direction. Amongst a crowd of demonizing extremists and polarizing opinions, Evans manages to find a comfortable middle ground where she is able to talk to people like they are people and not issues. She is able to tackle tough issues while still remaining humble and open to criticism and new ideas.

I specifically want to highlight her “Ask A…” series. I think this series should be required reading for anyone wanting to engage in a debate or discussion over religion. It is a simple premise: ask questions to people of different religious persuasions in order to better understand them and their positions. Having grown up in a Baptist church and having attended a Church of God school, I can tell you firsthand that a ton of misconceptions about people would be solved if they just took the initiative to ask questions without making assumptions. Evans’s posts are a step toward that.

Film Crit HULK

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Film Crit HULK is a blogger who writes for Badass Digest, and he does some of the most insightful, deep, and intellectual film criticism that I have ever seen, on the web or otherwise. And he does it all in Hulk speak.

If you don’t know what I mean by “Hulk speak,” imagine the Hulk was writing an essay. That’s what it is like reading his works.

His essays, in an amusing contrast to his tone, are long and academic, and they do take a fair amount of commitment to get through. But if you do, you will find incredibly fascinating thoughts coming from someone who really does adore movies in a sincere way. And if you choose to comment on his articles, rest assured that he will read your comment, often crafting responses as insightful as the essays he writes. Film Crit HULK is not for everyone, but for the people who can enjoy him, they will find a lot to love.

Lord Huron

Lord-Huron-lonesome-dreams

I do not understand how more people do not know about this band. Lord Huron was started by Ben Schneider as a solo project in 2010, but since then the band has grown to a five members.

The band has a smooth sound that is relaxing without ever being boring. The latest album, Lonesome Dreams, was released last year and has some great tracks on it. The vocals in “Ends of the Earth” create a vibe that sounds like musical fog, and when the energy ramps up it really feels like the music is taking you on an adventure.

However, the tracks off of Mighty EP are also worth checking out, specifically “Mighty” which has high amounts of frisson. The tracks are available on Spotify, so there is really no excuse not to give him a try.

Pacific Rim

This is the trailer.

Are you excited yet? No? Are you one of those people who was excited about Michael Bay’s Transformers because of the love story?

Seriously, though, this movie looks to be one of the most exciting cinematic experiences in recent history. Guillermo del Toro, the director of Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy, is the one responsible for this movie, and that alone should make you excited for this movie. Del Toro seems to be approaching this movie with the same sense of sincerity and awe as he did with fairy tales and the Hellboy character.

And I am tired of the movies that try to complicate plots unnecessarily and have texture instead of heart (mainly Christopher Nolan movies like The Dark Knight Rises and, sadly, Man of Steel). The movie looks simple, yes, but it looks like it is actually excited by the fact that gigantic monsters are fighting gigantic mech suits. Plus, this is an original property, which means it is not a reboot, sequel, or prequel. While I do love a lot of reboots, sequels, and prequels, Pacific Rim looks like something slightly different and incredibly special. It’ll be in theaters this Friday!

So those are my 5 Awesome Things. Check them out, and if you like them, support them in whatever ways you can.

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4 thoughts on “5 Awesome Things (by Devin White)

  1. Malcolm Gladwell calls those people Mavens and yes sir. You are one. Mavens (as best I remember) glean feelings of joy out of the spread of insider knowledge. They strive to not only know the best information, but to share it.

    That said, I don’t always care what you’re mavening (made it up) on about, but you are always well educated.

    Great post by the way. By the law of averages of your recommendations to my follow ups, I may end up following one of these cool things.

  2. Pingback: Recap: Guest Posts O’Plenty | The Accidental Extrovert

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