The beauty of summertime...

Most of the time during the school year I am juggling about five different things at the same time. Between teaching classes, advising, helping students with resume tapes, and driving an hour and a half each way I don't have a lot of time for leisure activity.

In the summer though, that all changes. This summer I'm trying to get into a few books, watch some old movies, go out to dinner on open patios and grill to my heart's content.

Right now I'm reading "Roots" by Alex Haley. It's a phenomeonal read, and frankly I'm a bit embarassed I never read it before. I also typically like to read two books during the summer, and I've delved into Bob Woodward's massive look into the Bush presidency. It's a good read, but frankly I think it's a bit bulky. That's probably the TV side of me talking.

I just finished a book called "While Europe Slept..." It's a fantastic read about the dangers of radical Islam in Europe today, and how the multiculturalism that has helped shape European attitudes in the past half century may actually lead to its undoing. It's very well done, and frankly convinced me to pursue the subject a bit more vigilantly.

I've also had a chance to watch "On the Waterfront" again, along with "Raging Bull". It may be sacrilege, but I just can't get into "Raging Bull" and I've tried it twice now.

My main hobby this summer (as it is every summer) is grilling. I absolutely love throwing anything and everything on the grill and seeing how it turns out. So there's a look into my life this summer.

Next summer will be much more hectic. I'm planning on doing the principal shooting on a documentary and teaching a class in London.

For my interns this summer, a tip: Push your site supervisors to the limit with your requests to help out and do different things. Don't be pushed into a routine -- it's up to YOU to do the pushing. Remember, it's your internship and it's up to you to make the most of it. Most supervisors won't take the time to engage you unless you take the time to engage them.

As a former intern supervisor, I basically would give my interns menial tasks until they proved they could do those tasks -- and started asking for more. I wouldn't give them any more to do unless they asked.

Here's some work humor for you to end the day. Enjoy!

PS - I'm going to start posting more frequently now that we are closing in on August. If you have a TV topic you'd like me to delve into (especially in regards to resume tapes, etc... let me know. I'd do my best to get to it.