Hello and good day to you all! Here's some things I've been geeking out about this week (or just in general lately).

• NPR - WNYC

So I've been listening to NPR (namely my local affiliate, WNYC) in the car a lot recently rather than having the same four songs plus way too many annoying commercials on my old Top 40 station. I felt like I just wanted to give it a shoutout (and National Public Radio in general) for being a wonderful change of pace in my day. It helps me relax, have interesting topics of conversation to bring up, and keeps me informed about the world. I think this is officially me getting old but it's okay, I don't mind.

• Positive Psychology

The elective class I'm taking during this final semester of my graduate program is on advanced counseling techniques, namely a positive psychology approach. People that know me would say this class is just preaching to the choir in terms of my day-to-day outlook, but what is has been able to offer is a more formal perspective on counseling through a positive lens. Most times, when helping people we try to think about what's wrong with them and try to fix it. After a few weeks of this course, I would much rather try to help someone see all the good in their lives and already within themselves so that they can lead more happy, productive lives. A plug here has been the Science of Happiness videos from the Soul Pancake YouTube channel we've been watching for class. Good vibes all around!

• Revisiting Iron Man 3

So as I was working on this post, having difficulty thinking of the last of the trifecta to write on, I put on Iron Man 3 since I recently got it on Blu-Ray. I saw it in theaters when it came out, and was lukewarm on it since it was such a bold move for the franchise. Revisiting it today, after Thor 2 coming out and with Captain America 2 on the horizon, I found myself enjoying the movie more having realized the vision of the movie as a whole rather than focusing perceived issues with the Mandarin. Admittedly, I'm also much more comfortable with the cooky version of the "Mandarin" in this film knowing that there is going to be some ret-con action with the character in the upcoming One-Shot on the Thor 2 Blu-Ray. Nevertheless, remember the message of this film; the machine doesn't make the man, the man makes the machine.

Have a good weekend everybody!