Favorite Movies of 2015 (so far) and complete rant and history lesson on Alan Turing

So the Oscars were yesterday. The Oscars are one of my award shows of the year. I believe that film is a powerful thing. It connects people of different races, backgrounds and ethnicities. I was very excited because a few of the best films I have seen in my lifetime came out this year. This includes but is not limited to The Imitation Game, Big Hero 6, and The Theory of Everything. Subjects are brought up in films that do not dare to appear anywhere else. Subjects such as slavery. This appears in the film Selma that debuted this year as well as 12 Years a Slave which debuted last year.

For the non movie goer I have provided summaries to my favorite movies of the year.

Big Hero 6:

The special bond that develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.

This movie won Best Animated Film and it couldn't have deserved it more. It is funny and witty and all around adorable. 

The Imitation Game:

The story follows the real life cryptologist Alan Turing as he works to crack the Enigma, a German code that disguises all their plans and movements before they are done. Alan Turing's story is one of the most well kept secrets both of World War II and the British government. 

This story resonated with me so much probably because of the mystery and tragedy of the story. This man did amazing things to end one of the biggest wars in world history, yet his story was kept secret for 50 years. Alan Turing deserves to be remembered after being forgotten for so many years. He not only quite possibly helped to end the war 2-4 years before it would've ended but he also invented a device  called Turing Machines. These machines, using Alan's blueprints were later built and coined as computers.

*SPOILERS*

Alan Turing was prosecuted in 1952 for suspected homosexual acts. He was given the choice of either two years in prison or a hormone dificency drug. He chose the drug and after two years in 1954 Turing killed himself. He was 41 years old.  The drug effected his brain in such a way that he could no longer function normally. In 2013 Alan Turing was given a royal pardon by Queen Elizabeth II on the behalf of the British government.

*END OF SPOILERS*

I MEAN SERIOUSLY YOU ALL NEED TO SEE THE MOVIE. THE SCORE IS AMAZING AND VERY WELL COMPOSED.

The Imitation Game's writers won Best Adapted Screenplay.

Alan Turing as an adult.

Alan Turing as a young boy attending private school

Alan as a toddler.

Alan Turing had a childhood friend. Christopher Morcom attended the same school as Turing. Morcom befriended the strange young man and over time Alan developed a romantic feeling towards the older boy. Christopher died of bovine tuberculosis in 1930, only a mere three years after meeting Turing. Chrstophers death left Alan devestated.

Christopher C. Morcom


Theory of Everything: 
The Theory of Everything is based off of one of Jane's (Stephan Hawking's former wife) account of her life with Stephan. Most of the movie deals with their struggles regarding Stephan's illness. It is a secret look inside of this amazing scientist/physicists life. Stephan is played by the beloved Eddie Redmayne.

Eddie Redmayne won an award for his performance as Stephan Hawking.

Cute shit my brother says #1

So I decided yesterday while spending time at the pool watching Sammy swim, I now have a spot to document all the adorable things my brother says.

Situation 1: A few days ago, I came home and was talking to my mom about an upcoming wedding they were going to.  Recently I've been getting into wedding planning and I started looking at different styles of weddings.
I said "Yeah, so I saw these amazing wedding photos online that these ladies had, it was so pretty, I'll send them to you."
Sammy was sitting at the table doing his homework and he looked up and said "Girls got married?"
"Yeah Sammy, these two really pretty ladies got married, that happens a lot. Some people have two mommies or two daddies, not everyone has a daddy and a mommy."
"Like Larry's daddies? When Larry's mommy died he got two daddies."
Sammy has a friend named Larry who lives and town and has two dads.
"Yeah, like Larry's daddies."
"Oh okay"
That was it. He was so curious and cute and open and excepting of it.

Situation 2: Flash forward to yesterday at the pool, Sammy was taking of his shirt to go into the pool. He took it off and started spraying himself with sunscreen.
I looked at him and said "Sammy you've got man boobs."
Now Sammy is not skinny but not fat either. He just is. I was kidding with him as every older sibling does.
He stopped looked down his chest, smiled, looked at me and declared, "Yeah! It's cause I'm a man now!"
In that moment he was so proud and happy to be a man and it was hilarious and also amazing to see the confidence of a kid. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I do.
-Charlotte

This should've posted yesterday but...technology

There comes a time at the end of every summer that everyone and my mother dreads, back to school. Its not because she loves having me around that's for sure, its probably because she can't sleep until 9:00 every morning, not worry about homework, and not rush everywhere. Now as I write this while drinking coffee at my kitchen table I am sitting across from my 12 yr old little brother Sammy who tomorrow has his first day of 6th grade at a new school. I decide to interview him on the subject of his new school and this is how it went:

Me: Can I interview you? 

Sammy: Why?

Me: I'm writing a blog and I want to know about your new school 

Sammy: Ok 

Me: You saw your your classroom on Friday, what did you like about your classroom? 

Sammy: It has a reading closet. 

Me: Do you think your classroom is better than all all the other classrooms?

Sammy: Yes. 

Me: Is it because of the reading closet?

Sammy: Yes. 

Me: Can you tell me what part of the day your most excited about? 

Sammy: Recess 

You heard it here folks, Sammy's classroom is better than all of yours, because you can read in the closet. I wonder if the teachers ever get sick of a kid and lock them in the reading closet? 

Meanwhile, while Sammy is enjoying his closet I will be at my first day of junior year. I've been at this school for almost a full two years, but for some reason I'm nervous. Junior year has a reputation for being the hardest year out of all four. I am super excited as well though because my school is one of my favorite places on Earth. It is one of the most inclusive and helpful places. I can be completely quirky, awkward and weird and nobody cares. It's really great, to have such a safe place to go.

I am here. yes. I am not dead. Also Esther Earl

Hey guys. I have been gone for over two years but HEEEEEEEEEY!!!! I decided to start blogging because I really wanted to have a spot to talk about things and generally have my own creative space.

Lately, I have been super inspired by a girl my age named Esther Grace Earl. If you are part of the nerdfighter community or the Harry Potter verse than you probably know who she is already. If not then where have you been?!?! No, Just kidding. Esther worked really hard with her favorite author John Green (who is not my best friend yet, dammit) to decrease world suck. Unfortunately, she had thyroid cancer which is very rare in kids, and died a few weeks after turning sixteen. Even though she spent a bunch of her last few years of life in a bed due to fatigue she was very influential in the online community. So yeah. Go check out her Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/user/cookie4monster4
Also here is her mom's channel which features some really great footage of Esther and her friends.
https://www.youtube.com/user/wayneandloriearl

Esther also contributed the idea of what would happen to Harry Potter if he had baguettes instead of wands. Best idea ever. Somebody needs to make this a real thing.
Have a great day!
Charlotte

Welcome to my World!

Hi, my name is Charlotte. Many of you may know me as Charkey.  I am an a okay writer, (I hope to be one someday) and I love music.  But most of all, I love reading. I usually read YA but will except a few adult books.  Here you can find book reviews, IMM, and book hauls. Basically anything related to books. I may even throw in a restaurant or movie review depending on how I like them. If you want me to review anything or have any questions you can find me at Charkey@mac.com.
Happy Reading!
Charkey