Archives for November 2013

Fintel Library will begin our two week, 24-hour study-palooza on Monday, December 2. Do you need a quiet, cozy place to study? Check out our independent study rooms on the third floor, or the second floor (our quiet floor) study carrells. Group project coming up? We have a collaboration room on the main floor that can hold four people and allow three laptops to be plugged in to the HD monitor, helping you share pointers on how to polish that Powerpoint. Be sure to check with the Reference Desk to see if the collaboration room is available (you can reserve it). And there are group study rooms on the ground and third floors- no reservation needed. 

And don’t forget our computer lab on the third floor. 

Fintel Library is also happy to continue our Cafe Fintel tradition during finals week, but that will be another blog post.

We will see you at the Library!

On November 22, 1963, America’s 35th President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was fatally shot as he and his wife traveled by presidential motorcade in Dallas, Texas. JFK’s assassination has been investigated, conspiracy theorized, and written about in countless books. This year marks the 50th anniversary of that fateful day in Dallas, and recently news agencies have been all a buzz with new information, digitized transcripts, and never-before-seen images we can devour on this tragic moment in American history.

For the last few weeks, there have been stories shared with us about that fateful day, and what people were doing when they heard the news. Where were you when you heard about JFK’s assassination? Share your story with us and others as we remember this horrible day in American history.

Fintel Library has a few items on display in the front lobby to pay tribute to our fallen President. Come by and see some photos and take a moment to pay your respect to one of our fallen leaders.

Consider the word “procrastinate” which the Oxford English Dictionary tells us derives from classical Latin, the prefix pro meaning roughly “for” and the possessive verb form of the noun crastin or tomorrow.  Crāstinus, then, translates to “belonging to tomorrow.” So to procrastinate is to be for belonging to tomorrow. In a more modern parlance: procrastinate and tomorrow OWNS you.
Now, get busy.

Not enough time to watch all of the seasons of Downton Abbey? Now you can get your DVDs for 7 days and not just 3.

You deserve a study break. Come by and see what we’ve got on display. The DVDs are located on the ground floor next to CUPs Coffee Shop.

The Henry Fowler Public Affairs Lecture Series will host a special guest at Roanoke College on Wednesday, November 20: Former Senator Joe Lieberman.

Mr. Lieberman will be discussing the timely topic “Can We Stop the Partisan Polarization that is Crippling our Government?”. While the admission is free, a ticket is required in order to attend this event, which will be held at 7:30 pm in the Bast Center.

Mr. Joe Lieberman is best known as Presidential candidate Al Gore’s running mate in the 2000 Presidential election. Lieberman’s long standing political career includes three terms as Majority Leader in the Connecticut Senate, Connecticut’s Attorney General from 1983-1989, and 24 years in the U.S. Senate. Mr. Lieberman retired from the U.S. Senate in January 2013 as an Independent, though he continues to be closely associated with the Democratic Party. Throughout his political career, Mr. Lieberman worked across party lines and has always spoken frankly and from the heart, championing such legislation as the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

Want to learn more about Joe Lieberman? Check out these books at Fintel Library:

The gift of rest : rediscovering the beauty of the Sabbath

Step across this line : collected nonfiction 1992-2002

Representative American speeches 2002-2003

Is it going to be a Friday night move night? Check out the new movies that Fintel Library has to offer:

New on Blu-ray:

The Cabin in the Woods

A rambunctious group of five college friends steal away for a weekend of debauchery in an isolated country cabin, only to be attacked by horrific supernatural creatures in a night of endless terror and bloodshed. As the teens begin to exhibit standard horror movie behavior, a group of technicians in a control room are scrutinizing and sometimes even controlling every move the terrified kids make. Do they have any chance of escape?

AMERICAN PSYCHO

Wall Street yuppie Patrick Bateman is also a serial rapist and killer who targets strangers and acquaintances with equal abandon.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Overcoming considerable technical challenges, iconic director Werner Herzog takes viewers into the interior of Chauvet Cave in southern France where the world’s oldest cave paintings–hundreds in number–were discovered in 1994.  These 32,000-year-old artworks–pristine and astonishingly realistic drawings of horses, cattle, and lions–come alive in the torchlight, as Herzog muses on this extraordinary place, the nature and purpose of Paleolithic art, and its creators. For Herzog, these paintings present perhaps the earliest manifestation of our primal desire to communicate and represent the world around us, which leads him to wider metaphysical contemplations on evolution and our place within it, and ultimately on what it means to be human.

Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane (1941, 119 min.): Chronicling the stormy life of an influential publishing tycoon, the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award winner is rooted in themes of power, corruption, and vanity: the American Dream lost in the mystery of a dying man’s last word, ‘Rosebud’.

Battle over Citizen Kane (1996, 113 min.): Looks at the lives and careers of Orson Welles and William Randolph Hearst, and how Hearst tries to suppress the 1941 film Citizen Kane and destroy Welles.

DJANGO UNCHAINED 

Django, a former slave turned hired gun, heads back to the plantation to free his wife, Broomhilda, from the tyrannical plantation owner Calvin Candie, with the help of a German bounty hunter, Dr. King Shultz.

DRESSED TO KILL 

Fashionable Manhattan therapist Dr. Robert Elliott faces the most terrifying moment of his life when a psychotic killer begins attacking the women in his life–with a straight razor stolen from his office. Desperate to find the murderer before anyone else is hurt, Elliott is soon drawn into a dark and disturbing world of chilling desires. And as the doctor edges closer to the terrible truth, he finds himself lost in a provocative and deadly maze of obsession, deviance, and deceit.

MYSTIC RIVER 

Jimmy. Dave. Sean. Three friends who grew up together in working-class Boston after a terrible tragedy. Years later, brutal events reconnect them. Jimmy’s 19- year-old daughter is coldly murdered and Dave is a suspect. Sean is now a cop who scrambles to solve the crime before a volatile Jimmy takes the law into his own hands.

RED DAWN 

When Communist paratroopers descend on a high school football field in Colorado, a group of the school’s students wages an all-out guerrilla war to save their town and their country. An all-star cast, including Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen and Harry Dean Stanton, delivers powerful performances in this gripping story of courage and patriotism.

New DVDs:

42: THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY 

History was made in 1947, when Jackie Robinson broke the professional baseball race barrier to become the first African American MLB player of the modern era.42 tells the life story of Robinson and his history-making signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers under the guidance of team executive Branch Rickey.

Bully

This is a character-driven documentary following five kids and families over the course of a school year. Offering insight into different facets of America’s bullying crisis, the stories include two families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year-old daughter, who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. Documentary provides an intimate and often shocking glimpse into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals’ offices.

Cloud Atlas

An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution. The story is a time-shifting weave of six interlinking narratives, with diverse settings from the savagery of a Pacific Island in the 1850s to a dystopian Korea of the near future.

DJANGO UNCHAINED 

Django, a former slave turned hired gun, heads back to the plantation to free his wife, Broomhilda, from the tyrannical plantation owner Calvin Candie, with the help of a German bounty hunter, Dr. King Shultz.

End of Watch

Two young officers are marked for death after confiscating a small cache of money and firearms from the members of a notorious cartel, during a routine traffic stop.

The Evil Dead

In the much-anticipated remake of the 1981 cult-hit horror film, five twenty- something friends become holed up in a remote cabin. When they discover a Book of the Dead, they unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival.

FIVE BROKEN CAMERAS 

5 Broken Cameras is a deeply personal, first-hand account of non-violent resistance in Bil’in, a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements. Shot almost entirely by Palestinian farmer Emad Burnat, who bought his first camera in 2005 to record the birth of his youngest son, the footage was later turned into a galvanizing cinematic experience by co-directors Burnat and Davidi.

Flight 

A seasoned airline pilot miraculously crash lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving nearly every soul on board. After the crash, Whip is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault and what really happened on the plane.

HALF THE SKY 

Take an unforgettable journey with six actress / advocates and New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof to meet some of the most courageous individuals of our time, who are doing extraordinary work to empower women and girls everywhere. These are stories of heartbreaking challenge, dramatic transformation and enduring hope.

THE HENRY ROLLINS SHOW. SEASON ONE

Henry Rollins, unflinching and uncensored, discusses art, music, politics, and popular culture with his guests.

The Hobbit

The first chapter in Peter Jackson’s new epic trilogy set in Middle Earth 60 years before J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the rings saga. Follow Bilbo Baggins as he’s swept into a quest to reclaim the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached by the wizard Gandalf, Bilbo joins a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. Along the way they face many dangers; Bilbo meets Gollum and takes possession of the ‘One ring.’ Includes bonus features.

THE HOLLOW CROWN. THE COMPLETE SERIES : RICHARD II, HENRY IV PART 1, HENRY IV PART 2, HENRY V 

The Hollow crown: New adaptations of Shakespeare’s tetralogy of history plays comprising the ‘Henriad’ for the BBC’s 2012 Cultural Olympiad: King Richard; II King Henry IV, Part 1; King Henry IV, Part 2 and King Henry V. The plays chronicle a continuous period in British history from the end of the 14th century to the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Together, the plays comprise a story with recurring themes of power struggles, redemption, family conflict and betrayal — IMDB. Pt 1. Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston) defies his father, King Henry IV (Jeremy Irons) by spending his time at Mistress Quickly’s (Julie Walters) tavern in the company of the dissolute Falstaff (Simon Russell Beale) and his companions. The King is threatened by a rebellion led by Hal’s rival, Hotspur (Joe Armstrong),his father Northumberland (Alun Armstrong), and his uncle Worcester (David Hayman). During the Battle of Shrewsbury Hal faces Hotspur in mortal combat. Pt 2. Northumberland (Alun Armstrong) is told of the death of his son Hotspur in service of the King (Jeremy Irons). The Lord Chief Justice (Geoffrey Palmer) attempts to separate Falstaff (Simon Russell Beale) from the Prince Hal (Tom Hoddleston). The rebels continue to plot against the crown but their forces are outwitted. This brings comfort to the dying King, who is finally reconciled with his son. Falstaff rushes to Hal’s coronation with the expectation of high office. “The newly crowned King of England, Henry V, (Tom Hiddleston) is persuaded by his courtiers including Exeter (Anton Lesser) and York (Paterson Joseph), that he also has a rightful claim to lands in France. The chorus (John Hurt) tells of England’s preparations for war and Henry’s army sails for France. After Exeter’s diplomacy is rebuffed by the French King (Lambert Wilson) Henry lays siege to and captures the town of Harfleur. The French now take Henry’s claims seriously and challenge the English army to battle at Agincourt”–Container. After halting a duel between warring nobles Bolingbroke and Mowbray, Richard II banishes both men from his kingdom. Following the death of Bolingbroke’s father, John of Gaunt, Richard seizes his money and land to pay for wars against rebels in Ireland. Bolingbroke returns to claim his birthright and more.

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE 

The story of the brave young men and women who successfully reversed the tide of an epidemic, demanded the attention of a fearful nation, and stopped AIDS from becoming a death sentence. This improbable group of activists bucked oppression and infiltrated government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry, helping to identify promising new medication and treatments and move them through trials and into drugstores in record time.

The Impossible

Based on a true story of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage, and simple kindness that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their lives.

Iron Man 3

“When Tony Stark/Iron Man finds his entire world reduced to rubble, he must use all his ingenuity to survive, destroy his enemy, and somehow protect those he loves. But a soul-searching question haunts him: Does the man make the suit—or does the suit make the man?”–Container.

Killing Them Softly

Jackie Cogan is an enforcer for the mob. When a high-stakes, mob-protected card game is heisted by some small-time crooks, Cogan is called in to track them down and restore order to the local criminal economy.

LIFE OF PI 

A young Pi Patel, overcoming a cataclysmic shipwreck, finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with the only survivor, a ferocious Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Lincoln

A revealing drama that focuses on the 16th president’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country, and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

LOOPER

In the year 2074, the mob sends problem people back in time to 2034, where a hired gun waits to eliminate them. Joe is one such hired gun, good at what he does. But problems arise when the mob tries to ‘close the loop,’ and Joe comes face-to-face with his future self during a hit. When Joe’s future self escapes after he hesitates to finish the assignment, Joe must chase himself down and finish the job.

Mama

A supernatural thriller that tells the haunting tale of two little girls who disappeared into the woods the day that their parents were killed. When they are rescued years later and begin a new life, they find that someone or something still wants to come tuck them in at night.

The Master

In post-World War II America, a naval veteran arrives home unsettled and uncertain of his future, until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader.

Les Miserables

Jean Valjean is paroled after serving 19 years in prison for stealing some bread.  He tries to steal silverware from a missionary, but is set straight by a bishop. Nine years later, Valjean is now a wealthy industrialist and mayor. He eventually befriends Fantine, a single mother turned prostitute, and risks all when he helps her after she’s nearly arrested by police officer Javert. Javert was a guard at the prison Valjean was in and is suspicious that the mayor and Valjean are the same person.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 

Joss Whedon’s sexy and contemporary spin on Shakespeare’s classic comedy about the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick offers a sensual, tragic and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love.

Mud

Two boys, Ellis and his best friend Neckbone, find a mysterious man named Mud hiding out on a deserted island in the Mississippi. Mud tells the boys fantastic stories about his life, including how he killed a man in Texas and that vengeful bounty hunters are coming to get him. He says he is planning to meet and escape with the love of his life, Juniper. The boys agree to help him, but it isn’t long until their small town is besieged by bounty hunters out for blood.

OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN 

When the President (Aaron Eckhart) is kidnapped by a terrorist who seizes control of the White House (Secret Service Code: Olympus), disgraced former presidential guard Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) finds himself trapped within the building. As the national security team rushes to respond, they must rely on Banning’s insider knowledge to save the president and prevent an even greater catastrophe.

OZ: The great and powerful

A small-time magician is whisked away to an enchanted land and is forced into a power struggle between three witches.

PACIFIC RIM 

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes–a washed up former pilot and an untested trainee, who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower

A high school freshman, always watching from the sidelines, is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.

PROMISED LAND 

Corporate salesman Steve Butler has been dispatched to the rural town of McKinley with his sales partner to offer much-needed relief to the economically hard-hit residents in exchange for drilling rights to their properties. As they grapple with a surprising array of both open hearts and closed doors, the outsiders soon discover the strength of an American small town at a crossroads.

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

In the early 1970s, Sixto Rodriguez was a Detroit folksinger who had a short- lived recording career. Unknown to him, his musical story continued in South Africa where he became a pop music icon. Long rumored there to be dead, two fans, record store owner Stephen Segerman and journalist Craig Bartholomew-Strydom, decided to seek out the truth of his fate.

THE SESSIONS

Paralyzed and confined to an iron lung since childhood, poet-journalist Mark O’Brien has overcome adversity time and time again. But now, at age 38, he faces his toughest challenge yet: losing his virginity. With the help of a beautiful therapist, a sympathetic priest, and his own unbridled sense of optimism and humor, Mark embarks on an extraordinary personal journey to discover the wondrous pleasures that make life worth living

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS 

Marty is a struggling screenwriter who wants nothing more than to finish his script. Instead, he becomes entangled with the Los Angeles gangster underworld when his odd, but well-meaning friends kidnap a volatile gangster’s shih tzu. The ordeal gives Marty all the inspiration he needs; now, he must live long enough to finish his story.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK 

The story of a man who has lost everything, his house, his job, his wife, and how he creates his own silver linings from the bonds he forms with his family and friends.

SINISTER

Ten years ago, true crime writer Ellison Oswald made his reputation with a best- selling account of a notorious murder. Now, desperate to replicate the success of his first book, he moves his family into a home where the previous occupants were brutally executed and a child disappeared, hoping to find inspiration in the crime scene. In the home, Ellison discovers a cache of terrifying home movies, unwittingly opening the door into a nightmarish mystery. Includes special features.

SKYFALL

Bond’s loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS 

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find that an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving the world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.

THIS IS 40 

“After years of marriage, Pete and Debbie are approaching a milestone meltdown. As they try to balance romance, careers, parents and children in their own hilarious ways, they must also figure out how to enjoy the rest of their lives. .. This Is 40 is a candid and heartwarming comedy about the challenges and rewards of marriage and parenthood in the modern age.”–Container.

THIS IS THE END 

Six friends are trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events that devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Eventually, they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.

WARM BODIES

After a zombie epidemic, R (a zombie) rescues Julie (a human survivor) from a zombie attack. The two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human, setting off a chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world.

WORLD WAR Z

Former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane travels the globe in an effort to eliminate the zombie pandemic that is endangering the existence of humanity.

WRECK-IT RALPH 

For decades, Ralph has played the bad guy in his popular video game. In a bold move, he embarks on an action-packed adventure and sets out to prove to everyone that he is a true hero with a big heart. As he explores exciting new worlds, he teams up with some unlikely new friends including feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz. Then, when an evil army threatens their world, Ralph realizes he holds the fate of the entire arcade in his massive hands.