Happy Thanksgiving!

I feel thankful for my amazing friends, my close-knit family, and Panera (let's be honest, it's outstanding).  What are you thankful for this year?  Here's wishing you and yours a happy and not-too-healthy (enjoy that pie!) Thanksgiving.

Enjoy this ode to Turkey Day from SNL:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/update-sandler-thanksgiving-song/1261476

Abuse is Abuse

I was online today and was deeply disturbed by a video that has been circulating the web and landed on the front page of CNN.com and other news sites.  It shows a father and mother beating their disabled daughter with a belt, and later shows the father defending his actions.  He uses a belt to whip her, and he thinks he did nothing wrong.  A cherry on top: he is a judge that resides over family issues.  Watch the news story, at your own discretion, HERE. 

An informal poll, also located on CNN.com, asked readers their opinion on corporal punishment in the home.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but hitting a child and hitting an adult are both examples of hitting.  Hitting an adult is illegal.  Why is it legal to hit a child, and more importantly, why are people OK with it being legal?  Look at the poll results: I think it is ridiculous!

I do not see a difference between corporal punishment and domestic violence, call me crazy.  I believe violence is violence.  If you don't agree, I urge you to look at THIS MEMORIAL and rethink your views of violence-- and corporal punishment is violent-- in the home.

I apologize for coming on so strongly here, but I feel compelled to share this story.  Even those of us not impacted by domestic violence or this type of "discipline" from parents can fight against it by spreading awareness.  I urge you to do so, too.

Glass Half Full

DISCLAIMER:  THIS POST GETS VERY CHEESEY.  PLEASE READ IT ANYWAY.

I bet he's tired becuase he just tried
to change the world...
it's no easy job, but it's still worth doing. 
Bonus: It ups your cute factor.

If I may use a cliche, I like to see the world in a "glass half-full" kind of way.  From a very young age, I have struggled to watch the news because it so strongly disputes my view.  Given, not knowing the news does not change it, but I can do more to help the world when I think optimistically.  I do not need to see the starving children of third world countries to be called to action.  As world citizens, we are born called to action.  I applaud those able to put tragedies in perspective and be able to face the cruel world; I have not mastered this skill yet, and so I still stick to editorials and comics when reading news paper.  Don't get me wrong- I am an informed citizen.  You do not need to seek out news, though.  We are surrounded by it.

This afternoon, when I did chose to seek out news, I looked for what would light a fire under me, not scare me.  Here is what I found, I hope it has the same impact on you.

"Centenarian completes marathon, sets record":  I struggle to do a push up in gym class, and yet am at the prime age of 17 and totally able bodied.  Fauja Singh runs marathons.  With 100 years and 26.2 miles under his belt, this man inspires me to try a little harder in the Fit Female tomorrow.

"Seeing Value in Ignorance, College Expects Its Physicists to Teach Poetry":  A refreshing change of pace.  Says St. Johns President Chris Nelson in the NY Times article, “Every member of the faculty who comes here gets thrown in the deep end. I think the faculty members, if they were cubbyholed into a specialization, they’d think that they know more than they do. That usually is an impediment to learning. Learning is born of ignorance.”

"Malaria May Be Emilminated From a Quarter of Nations in 10 Years":  Malaria will not stop spreading without a conscious effort.  Rather than dwelling on hardship (and it abounds) this article focuses on forward strides and uses positive examples to call readers to action, not scare them into it.  Although eradicating a disease seems daunting, Bill and Melinda Gates feel confident enough to put forth millions of dollars toward achieving that goal.  A babysitter's salary does not allow for such donations, but still, this article encourages fighting worth while fights... even those that seem impossible.

Clearly there's a lot of good stuff out there-- now go out and make more!!

330 words

Is it bad to begin with a rhetorical question?  Maybe making a metaphor will ease the knot in your back that is an introductory paragraph.  A hyperbole will catch the attention of colleges I'm not even applying to!  Personal style: no longer only attainable at Nordstrom Rack.  Never say never to the cliché topic route.

College essays require eloquent language and developed thoughts.  I have spent a very long time on college essays and I am eloquented-out.  Please bear with me as I speak incorrectly (and rant) for the rest of this post...

I like to write, I really do.  But I don't like having to explain every aspect of my being.  "When did you first realize you were growing up?"  There are a lot of moments I realized I was growing up, but my memory fails to inform me of their chronological order.  Am I cheating if I tell the admissions people about the 2nd time?  There goes my future, I guess.

Another favorite: "Why do you want to go here?"  Following the guidelines of trusty College Board, I know not to list the extra-curricular opportunities or how many students are my potential bridesmaids.  Readers: any ideas as to how to go about this without creating a laundry list?  I went with an "explorer on an expedition to find my passion" concept but am not confident with it yet.

I must say, though, the fact I am struggling and cannot decide what to write about proves the validity of these questions.  I'm not condoning making high scholars stress, but these colleges know what they're doing.  College is about thinking in different ways, so you have a large repertoire of ways to think when you enter the big, bad world.  They're just starting early with the admissions process.

So to College Essay Readers out there: you have made my life complicated but are making me think, and for that I thank you.  Also, please admit me!!! (I will send you a muffin basket.)

If Elle can get into college then gosh darn it, so can I! 

A promise is a promise!

At the beginning of the summer, I promised that I would blog and I did not follow through as I'd hoped I would.  It seems that I should at least post ONCE... so here it is!

Mr. New Oxford English Dictionary should loosen his belt; he just got thicker.  This year's additions to the dictionary reflect the technological age.  Words like "sexting" and "cyberbully" are among the 400 new comers, says THIS CNN ARTICLE.

Not only did words make their way to the prestigious pages of the dictionary, but established words got makeovers.  These words also reflect today's values and concerns:  "woman" and "environment," for example.

Other words, though, have nothing to do with much of anything.  These are some of the random words and phrases that I found entertaining and Scrabble contenders.  (Click HERE for complete list of revisions from June 2011)

• laugh-o-meter, n.
• urb, n.
• brain machine, n.
• Baba Yaga, n.
• Aqr, n.

The list goes on and will be extended this September, as it is four times annually.  Stay posted!

SUMMER



Yay for summer!


I'm sitting in front of my computer and reverting to routines established throughout this year: Gmail, Facebook, Blog, Google image search "Zac Efron."  The order sometimes changed, but for the most part that was my Monday through Thursday afternoons during the school year.  One would think that a recent Junior would want to leave her past far behind her, but blogging calls me back.  To satisfy this urge to write, my promise to myself and to you, my virtual buddies, is that I will continue blogging during the summer.  Stay posted for more!



PS- For reading this, you get a present: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmts3jhp8Gk

Meta Blog Second Semester

Or should I say Mega Blog?  It seems more accurate.  Over 1,000 views and 40 posts later, this is the culmination of a great first year of blogging.  A mega year, if you will.  This semester, I covered a wide range of topics, but they all connected to each other in one way or another.  As I previously mentioned in my first Meta Blog, I write about my life because that is what I know.  I also write about the world the rotates so quickly beneath our feet.  Regardless of the topic, Blogging allows a writer to create their own Author's Style.

I did not discuss as many current events as I had in previous quarters, and I did not talk about me, me, me.  But being the angsty teen I am, SOMETHING has to be about me.  This quarter, my writing style has been reinforced and I am happy with it.

Everything written is also read (diaries excluded) and so when writing one must always keep in mind the reader.  By making my writing clear and empathetic, I feel I did this.  One must also keep their audience engaged.  With the help of a small poll on the side of my blog, I was able to tune into what my audience was looking for.  Integrating pictures and jokes where they were appropriate helped me retain readership.    This empathy for the reader has helped me form the style of writing I enjoy most; that is casual and personal.  Even the most mechanical of events has a human side, and I will continue to strive and improve even more on uncovering it.  I hope you agree.

Please refer to the post I feel has the most unique writing style and that I am most proud of:  Lists.

Lists

Lists: we make them, we break them, we talk about them in AIS.  Today Mr. Bolos asked why we all list the things we do: pack a suitcase, travel the world, learn a new language.  Let's answer why with some possible explanations (In no particular order)...

1. They are bored.  Example: Stuff White People Like.  This list is wonderful; very funny; totally pointless.
2. They are forgetful.  Example: Grocery lists.  "Eggs, milk, bread, and hmmm... what else?  I'll check my grocery list and find out!  Oh, that's right- paper towels!  So glad I didn't forget" (List-Writing Grocery Shopper).
3. They are ambitious, or want to be.  Example: The Bucket List.  For those who want to travel the world and skydive before they "kick the bucket."
4. They seek fulfillment.  Example: Personal lists that are say, under your bed in a red binder.  (Who would do that...pshhh)  This list includes showing kindness, giving hugs, and the like.

We all make them, but why?  I'm a combo of all of the above.  You?

What do you get when you mix Citizen Kane, Brainy Quote, and a teen icon? A blog post!

To Start: I was amazed when I learned that Orson Welles directed, produced, wrote, and starred in Citizen Kane- one of the most critically acclaimed films in American history.  I agree with critics when they praise the film; I very much enjoyed it and the discussions it prompted in class.  Some would call a twenty-something year old a genius for creating a masterpiece the likes few can compete with.  I did some research on this genius, Orson Welles.  I found facts and some fun stuff, too.

Fun Stuff:

I just had to put a picture in (you're welcome).

As a stereotypical teenage girl would react, I was SO happy to find a connection to Zac Efron (My husband, by the way. He'll find out sooner or later).  Me and Orson Welles is "based on Robert Kaplow's young adult novel of the same name, the story blends fictional characters with real ones" (TIME Magazine).  I haven't seen it, but am confident it is a quality movie, maybe not the likes of Citizen Kane, but surely pleasing to the eye.  Okay I'm done with that now, thanks for bearing with me!

The Movie:
George Orson Welles  lost his mother at the age of eight, his father at the age of thirteen.  He created his own empire as an actor, producer, writer, and director (Biography HERE).  Although Citizen Kane is supposedly based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, I see noticable comparisons to Welles' life.  Reading more makes me believe any connection between Welles' own life and Kane's are merely coincidence, as Charlie Foster Kane seems strikingly similar to Mr. Hearst.  They both come from money from mines, they both were expelled from fine universities, and they both ran a newspaper called "The Examiner."  This seems like more than a coincidence.

Quotes:
If you ever get the chance, look up some of Orson Welles' quotes.  I think they can add "comedian" to his list of titles and accomplishments.  He's As said by the Genius:

-Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch.

-If there hadn't been women we'd still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girlfriends.

-I don't say we all ought to misbehave, but we ought to look as if we could.

____________________________________________________

So that's a brighter side of a heavy movie.  A very complicated, emotional, thought provoking movie.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Thanks.

Homework: More than Just Worksheets

Duke University's Harris Cooper says that ten minutes of homework per grade level (first grade, 10 minutes; tenth grade 100 minutes) is effective in solidifying lessons learned during the day and instilling good work habits.  (ARTICLE HERE) Is that true?  I wouldn't know, because this methodology implies I would be in 18th grade, which I am certainly not.

I cannot vouch for this claim, but Dr. Cooper can.  Time Magazine (ARTICLE HERE) analyzes his findings:

Kids who do some homework in middle and high school score somewhat better on standardized tests, but doing more than 60 to 90 min. a night in middle school and more than 2 hr. in high school is associated with, gulp, lower scores.

Test scores refer to standardized test scores, not necessarily the Spanish quiz Tuesday or math test next Thursday.  The ACT asks of our religious background, whether or not we like building bird houses, for example, but not about how much time per night we spend on homework.  Is that fair?  Well, maybe the general background information is enough.

I found that the homework debate encompasses much more than worksheets and assigned readings: it encompasses, too, predisposition to success.  Socio-economics play a part in homework's effectiveness.  The "home" part of "homework" plays an important role in the educational process, says CBS News (ARTICLE HERE):

Homework, as its name implies, is usually done in the home. That is where differences in class, education, and family structure are starkest. As Richard Rothstein details in "Class and Schools," those differences are not slight: Disadvantaged parents are less likely to help their children and, when they do, their help is likely to be less valuable. 

This argument says that parent's helpfulness is reflected by their CLASS SYSTEM (ding ding ding!), but I would like to extend this to the entire family.  I turn to my siblings for homework help far more often than I do my parents.  Will, my brother and NT senior, helps me with math and science since he took the same classes only a year ago.  If my brother were in a gang, or working all the time to help pay bills, then I would not have the advantage of his help.  The validity of this point can be proven if we all think about the environment we work in at home.  Although I cannot say everyone in our class has a safe and supportive environment to work in, it is easy to say that most of us do.

These findings hold true even across the pond.  UK's The Guardian reports (ARTICLE HERE) that the more middle class a school is, the higher their test scores.  Even though this refers to more than just homework, it references the involvement of most middle-class parents in the school system.  Whether at home or at school, a student's work is influenced by their family.

So, I ask you, is homework effective?  I argue that it is often given overzealously and gives an arguably unfair advantage to middle and upper class students.  What do you think?  All opinions are welcome; thanks for reading.

Osama Bin Laden is Dead: Fuel for Prejudice

Yesterday, a shocking announcement instilled joy, patriotism, fear, and confusion into the hearts and minds of Americans.  Barack Obama addressed the nation with the following words (click HERE for full transcript and video):

"The United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam.  I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam.  Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims.  Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own.  So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity."

I would like to draw attention to "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader" and say THANKS to President Obama for spelling this out for those who do not already know it. It seems that most prejudice against Muslim people, and all middle eastern people for that fact, is rooted in misconceptions of terrorism.  The post 9/11 world is no easy place to live for any one who identifies as Muslim or looks middle eastern.  Whenever fear is involved, people turn nasty.  9/11 scared people- it hurt them- and human nature tells us that someone needed to take the blame.  This seems terrible to me.  WHY WHY WHY do people use hate to combat hate?!  A simple math problem (I know, I know, sorry to make you do math) proves that this "method" of resilience is not only ineffective, but counter productive:

Hate + Hate = More Hate

The death of Osama Bin Laden provides fuel for people to act cruelly towards their fellow Americans, and human beings.  Stereotypes, prejudices, ignorance, and cruelty are all too common; we can and we must stop them.  Please take a minute and read these articles (linked) that show the impact of discriminating against "terrorists," "radical jihadists," and adherents of Islam (because "Islam is the Devil").

So, again, I want to thank President Obama for recognizing a very important distinction; hopefully people who stereotype and judge will recognize their failings and correct them.  Only then can we come closer to peace.

Stay Classy!

Reading The Great Gatsby has prompted discussion about social class.  I did a little research about America's perceptions of social class and reflected on my own.  Here are my findings:

I came across an interesting report by the New York Times (click HERE to see it).  Ms. Goulart, of the self-proclaimed lower class, said "The rich get more benefits and tax breaks and the poor people don’t," directly relating to self-proclaimed upper class woman, Ms. Freeborn.  She says that rich people get "preferential treatment, where they don’t have to pay for things." 

Is there truly a cycle of rich to richer, poor to poorer?  I don't believe so.  Although certain advantages come from having money, preventative measures between being financially unstable to financially stable can, and have been, overcome.  To give extreme examples, I turn to Forbe's "Rags to Riches Billionaires," which states that "almost two-thirds of the world's 946 billionaires made their fortunes from scratch."  Not relying on a cycle of wealth, government leniency, or inheritance, these people created their own wealth.

So social class is based on money, people can move among classes, and it is based on perspective.  However, the question remains, what is it?  I conclude that it is a mindset; an idea.  If you take another look at the photos of the NY Times interviewees, their facial expressions become proportionately happier with the amount of money they have.  The people in between are "transitions" from one emotion/social class to the next. 



Rich n' Happy.



Poor n' Not.

Money does NOT necessarily match wealth.  Wealth in terms of family, in terms of experience, in terms of friendship, and in terms of insight do not depend on a pay check.  If a financially poor, happy, confident, and intelligent person tried to make friends with a person similar in all aspects aside from salary, would they be able to form a relationship?  I would hope so, and do believe so.  It's called social class after all; we're not talking about socio-economic class.  That's a different ballgame.

I consider myself upper class because of my education environment, physical and emotional safety and security, and because of my strong friendships.  My financial situation may or may not match my mindset of class, and honestly, that doesn't really matter much. 

Any input on how you define "Social Class" is much appreciated.

Winding Down: Junior Theme #(I forget what number this is...)

Hello fellow Junior Themers!  Hope all research and writing is going well!

As we review our final drafts of this lengthy project, it seems appropriate to reflect on the journey on which we have just ventured.  At the beginning of this process, "Junior Theme" seemed like an all-encompassing project of doom.  Thousands of potential articles- a vast population of potential interviews- hours in front of a computer screen lied (laid?) ahead.

Personally, the interviews proved challenging.  All were set up to be email interviews, as hundreds of miles  separated us.  The three experts I approached agreed to do an interview.  The first try, I received a response within hours, sent questions, and received answers before the end of the night.  My next try seemed successful.  I approached, she replied, I questioned, and... nothing.  No response to the questions.  I moved on.  Take three!  I approached, he responded, I questioned, and... nothing.  However, this third try was not totally in vain.  In his initial response, Mr. Scott Robertson offered over a page of insight to my Why question.  Even though I did not hear back regarding my questions, his words proved quite effective in my paper.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank our teachers for their help above and beyond the typical teacher.  Ms. Gressel, Mr. Bolos, Ms. O'Connor, and Ms. Eich, made Junior Theme manageable and even enjoyable.  Thanks you, everyone!

Not All Protests are Created Equal: Take Two

If I may, it seems appropriate to revisit a post from not too long ago, Not All Protests Are Created Equal from March 6th.  Interestingly enough, that very same week, a radio piece addressed the same topic.  (Thanks for the LINK TO THE RADIO PIECE, Mr. Bolos!)  It asks:  What is a protest?  What is a civil war?

On the Media analyzes the use of the term "rebel" and "civil war" to identify anti-Qaddafi forces, while some could argue these men and women are "protesters."  The last bit of the radio show seems to sum up their discussion well:

Several people have told me that the moment they hear the word “rebel” they begin to disconnect. The effect is compounded when combined with the phrase “civil war.” Whether or not people like us on the other side of the world choose to engage or even follow the story is a decision each of us makes every day. We think we make those choices consciously, weighing the expense and time and mental energy with what we stand to gain. But often we decide without deciding. What we choose can hinge on the unrecognized power of a single world.

 We know that Madison, WI is not in the state of unrest it was in March... it lived the life of a "protest."  People had signs, people swayed government policy makers, people put down the signs, people (like myself) wrote blogs about it.  In Libya, the conflict continues.  Is calling anti-Qaddafi forces protesters accurate?  What do we call them?


Just yesterday CNN published "Inside Libya's Rebel Movement," a video that tells about the current status of the goings on in Libya.  This is by no means a protest, folks: military communication devices, guns, international military aid?  No, no, no.  This is a war.


In March, I could make analyze the fact that the situation in Libya and that in Wisconsin were titled similarly when their nature was so vastly different.  Now, with time aggravating the situation in Libya and dispersing the one in Madison, there is not even a title to compare.  These two events are no longer in the same realm of conflict.  


Clearly calling both the situations in Libya and Wisconsin did not change what they became, or else they would have become essentially the same thing.  So I must ask, do words actually have that much power?  Can a combination of symbols on a piece of paper or screen mean anything?  I don't think so; the blood in the dirt describes the situation quite accurately on its own. 

Junior Theme continues...

This long weekend, I began looking for holes in my research. I found that most of my research focused on the nature of Autism, like its symptoms, personal accounts, and its historical context. Making a topic outline allowed me to recognize my lack of information about treatment, public ignorance, and government aid. 

I came across some information about IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) of1975. It has made high school graduate rates double in the last few decades, to give an example of its success.  I also learned that ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis, which according to Autism Speaks is "a scientific approach to understanding behavior and how it is affected by environment."

I hope to begin writing today or tomorrow... keep checking the blog for progress!  Again, hope all is well with everyone's Junior Theme.

Excited! Junior Theme

G'Day Mates,

Exciting news! I sent an email to a professor in AUSTRALIA this afternoon and he already responded!! So I'm pretty pumped; scratch that- I'm very pumped.

I asked him to answer a few questions because an article he wrote possibley disproves my argument... not because he is the perfect compliment to my thesis statement. I am trying to understand my topic, autism, as fully and completely as possible. Direct quotes from the interview may not integrate easily, but a greater understanding will impact the entire paper.  Hopefully I will recieve his responses soon.

He's all the way in Melbourne, Victoria!!

Do you want fries with that?

First of all, I would like to apologize for my misleading title; this has nothing to do with fries.  However, it does has to do with extras, like fries.  EXTRA:  PLEASE LOOK AT NOT ALL PROTESTS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
And now for the actual post!

Junior Theme is in full swing, and thus I am utterly confused.  I went about my "Why" question as if it were sarcastic, like "Duh, Autism shouldn't be considered a childhood disorder even though it impacts people their whole lives" rather than "I'm going to answer the question 'Why is Autism considered a childhood disorder when it impacts people their whole lives.'''

So I am redirecting my research from where it has been focused the last week.  I spent a lot of time researching Autistic adults rather than the reasoning for the child-focused attention it recieves.  So now, I am researching the history and authorities during different time periods, rather than stats and facts.  So far so good; how is your research going?  Hope it's going well!

What Should I Title This? (Junior Theme Day 1)

Everyone has their "isms."  My sister has a Chloeism of picking her outfit the night before she wears it.  My dog has a Mikeism of barking at very inconvenient times.  Me?  My Glennaism is being indecisive.

This has been an ongoing problem at places like restaurants, clothing stores, and libraries.  "I like the blue one... No, no, no I don't like that one- I'll try the red.  Or maybe the green?"  Some decisions are never decided, they just hang there in my head.  Example:  Hmm, which example should I use?  There are too many to count.

This state of uncertainty may be uncomfortable, but is FAR better than actually making an important decision; buyers remorse, anxiety, and self doubt ensue.  Yet, today for the first time in a long time, that didn't happen.

Today I picked my Junior Theme general topic: Autism.  I am still deciding between "why" questions, but the fact that I actually made a decision in a timely manner is invigorating!  Maybe it is a sign or maybe the sun and moon are aligned in a certain way or something, who knows!  More likely, it is something I am genuinely interested in and know very little about.  So Curiosity overcame the long established Glennaism.  Here's hoping Curiosity comes your way, too.

8.9

Please join me when I send thoughts and prayers to those devastated by the natural disasters in Japan.  A summary of today's events can be found on the links below:

• CNN video...http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/03/11/natpkg.japan.day.of.quake.cnn 
• US Geology Survey...http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0001xgp.php

To aid in relief efforts,
...Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation
...Donate at redcross.org
...Donate at http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/

Thank you.

Not All Protests are Created Equal

Just to our north, in Madison, Wisconsin, public workers are protesting to protect their collective bargaining rights.  Collective bargaining is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a negotiation between an employer and labor union usually on wages, hours and working conditions."  For over two weeks, thousands of people have slept inside the state capital, standing (or laying on) their ground.  The Christian Science Monitor reports that the public servants' actions reflect most American's opinions: they want collective bargaining.  The protests themselves seem to be at a stalemate, as both sides are taking action but neither one stronger than the other.  A big problem: 14 Democratic representatives (whose presence is required to vote on the proposed bill that is being protested) are taking refuge in unknown Illinois motels.  At this point, there is no clear answer.  To hear both sides of this unresolved issue, please watch this video from CNN.

Across the ocean, a different protest wages on:  one against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.  Hundreds have been killed as people rebel against his 40+ year long regime.  An interview with Qaddafi about the conflict is HERE.   Anti government protests across the country have been swift and strong, says the New York Times.  It also reports:

Colonel Qaddafi lashed out with a level of violence unseen in either of the other uprisings, but the rebels fought back and won tribal leaders and an increasing share of the military to their side, seizing the eastern half of the country.

Overall, the situation is not a good one.  People are dead in the streets and families are seeking refuge as their ears ring with the cracks of machine gun fire.  For a detailed explanation of what is going on, please watch this video.  VIEW WITH DISCRETION.

News outlets label both occurrences as "protests," but do they do so accurately?  My opinion: no they do not.  Unless they include the thousands of adjectives that separate these events, news sources do not do either bloody, peaceful, dangerous, hateful, organized, effective, national, fair, or terrifying "protest" justice.  

Protests in the streets of Libya.

Protests at the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.

And the Oscar Goes to...

Last night, I spent 3 hours glued to the television watching stars shine almost as brightly as their rented jewelry during the ever anticipated Oscars.  My friends and I were abuzz with outfit critiques and our own votes for who should have won and who did win... most of the time our choices were based on those we had actually heard of.  Winter's Bone, for example: not on my list.

That got me thinking, what does the Academy base their votes on?  Obviously to be part of this prestigious movie watchers' club one must go to many more movies than my teenage budget allows.  However, if I managed to see The Fighter, The Black Swan, True Grit, The Social Network, The King's Speech, 127 Hours, and Toy Story 3 (movies that seemed to run the show [it's a movie pun!!], total list of nominees HERE) I would be a very educated home-audience member. 

What set these movies apart from the other thousands produced every year?  Well, audiences receive them well... very well.  As of early February, The King's Speech made $93.9 million dollars, behind The Social Network's $96.6 million, even still behind The Black Swan which made $99.4 million (Report from LA Times).  I know that the Academy does not vote for the highest grossing film, or else there would be a different list of winners than was announced last night. 

What then, constitutes a winner? 

One must first apply to be considered for an Oscar, and meet THESE qualifications, for example must have played in Los Angeles and must meet certain filming requirements.   This year, the Academy accepted submissions from THIS list.  Those who apply are judged by an Academy of 600 members in the film industry.   Ethics and fairness are also emphasized:

"The Awards competition is a process that requires the voting members of the Academy to make their choices based solely on the artistic and technical merits of the eligible films and achievements"

So it seems that when I suspect movies win awards for having a decorated director or lead actor, I was assuming too much.  The Oscars are legitimate: they measure artistic merit, not financial.  That makes me feel a little better about supporting Hollywood; this part at least.  Don't get me started on spray tans...

Some pictures from last night's event:

    
    
                                            

TV Tokenism

In class today, Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Bolos recapped their experience on the recent CASE conference.  They told us a little bit about TV Tokenism, which is, according to the always reliable dictionary.com, doing the absolute minimum.  In regards to television, this means the minimal amount of diversity in casts of characters. 

Mr. Bolos told us to think about the nature of Network Dramas.  I am a reality TV junky, so I do not know much about the hour long programs on public networks.  After a little digging, I found some popular shows as depicted by the NY Times.   The first show on their list and my point of focus: Law and Order. 

A brief synopses, for you and I both...
It has been running on NBC for 20 seasons and has different "versions," including Special Victims Unit (SVU).  The first half-hour of the show is dedicated to Law and takes place at crime scenes, and the second half focuses on the Order in a court room.  For a more complete description and for credits, please click HERE.

The main character, as TV Tokenism ensures, is a white male.  His colleagues are mainly white as well, with the exception of two Black cast members.  Click HERE for bios, and please note that Sam Waterston's biography appears upon opening the "Bios" tab; I did not click it.  It is a sad truth that even in this dynamic and arguably progressive society, the main character of one of the longest running Network Dramas is a white male.  Previous protagonists include others that fit the same bill: pale skin, grey hair, male, and over 50.

To say that Law and Order represents all Network Dramas in this sense would be over-simplifying, but to say it is unique would do the same.  Next time you are watching House or 24, for example, take note of the nature of the characters, and of which characters are not present.

Spread the Love, Stop the Hate

The Civil War ended in 1865.  In 2011, 146 years later, it still impacts us.  CNN reported HERE on the "Sons of Confederate Veterans" who want to honor a KKK leader from the Civil War through a licence plate.  The NAACP (of Mississippi) has asked the Governor to deny this proposal, as it is clearly offensive.
Among the many questions this brought to my mind, one was strongest: Why?  Why would anyone want to honor a terrorist?  I can only imagine: hate.  Hate has long existed in the world, and will unfortunately continue to exist.  Currently in the US, there are about 5,000 Klansmen.  (Stats about the KKK).  I am still struggling to understand... how can there even be one?!?! 

Their hate makes me angry and disappointed, so I'll protest it.  Instead of dwelling on their hate, and especially because it is Valentine's Day, I'm going to spread the love.  Some lovely things that have changed since 1865...

*Women accounted for 51 percent of all workers in the high-paying management, professional, and related occupations in 2009(click HERE for more stats)
*We have a Black President, Barack Obama
*Public High School graduation rates are expected to increase (click HERE for more stats)
*Life saving medical advancements continue to be made all the time (click HERE for timeline)

So, to you SCV out there, I hope you realize your failings soon, as they are most certainly failings.  To everyone else, even if you cannot change other people's views, change yours.  Not just between white and black, but between among all races, religions, sexualities, mental, and physical abilities: there is still work to be done.  We can do it; educate yourself and change what you don't like.  Hope this blog post helps a bit.

The Wheels on the Bus Spin Round, and Round, and Round

In 1883, the Civil Rights Act  of 1875, which segregated trains, hotels, and other public spaces, was ruled unconstitutional (a national law).  Almost 100 years later, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white passenger on December 1, 1955.  Local ordinances in Montgomery allowed the bus driver to assign seats and thus not comply with Constitutional law.  Thus, she was arrested and ignited the over year long Montgomery Bus Boycott.

As discussed in class, local law often acts as a loophole to federal law.  Rosa Parks, according to federal law, committed no crime (as the court later ruled).  However, the people of Montgomery needed to protest public buses to earn a right that was actually already theirs.  Odd?  Well, yeah!  Racism is odd!

Foner tells of such protests far before the 1950s: "Hundreds took part in sit-ins that integrated horse drawn public streetcars in cities across the South" (544).  Even though hundreds of people in the 1800s protested, 100 years later thousands of African Americans carpooled, walked, or biked to work in order to not ride busses.  The struggle was long and hard, and yet, the 14th amendment protected them all along.  It states: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States."  Obviously, this amendment was not properly upheld from the time of its publication and people suffered for it.  History proves that laws do not always protect people when hatred abounds.


Thanks, Rosa, for fighting for what was yours.  I'm sorry the fight was necessary.  

Rosa Parks in 1955 after refusing to give up her seat on a public bus.  She was not the first in her fight for recognition of  her Constitutional right of equality as a citizen.

Black History Month: 365 Days Long

On the AIS class website, a quote is displayed..."I liken having a Black History Month in February and concentrating study on that to milk that's just about to spoil. You can still drink it, but it just doesn't taste right." -Philip Roth, The Human Stain

I did a little more digging on the topic, and found what seemed to be a similar idea presented by the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People):  "We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice."- Dr. Carter G. Woodson on the founding Negro History Week, 1926

Mr. Roth and Dr. Woodson make the same claim: celebrating during a certain time actually creates more separation. It "just doesn't taste right" to separate American accomplishments into racial categories.  What do you think?  Is it better to not have a Black History Month and not look at accomplishments in black and white, or celebrate African Americans specifically for an entire month?

Good guys and bad guys... an editor's perspective on Egypt

Editing can make all the difference, as shown in the pictures above.  The "peaceful" protestors are seen here, confronted by the faceless antiriot police.   I do not know much about this, but at first glance, it seems that the police are like robots.  They have no faces and come in rows, like machine work.  The people, women and men alike, are colorfully clad and unarmed.  To the eye untrained by AIS, this picture is a fully true depiction.  It's a clear picture, right?

Well, it's more complicated than that.  I looked closely at the "good guys" and zoomed in.  The seemingly all good civilian force is more diverse than that.  Please refer to the pictures above.  The left, a woman in pink, is asking for peace.  On the right, a woman in the same "good" crowd, stands close fisted and seemingly yelling.

Even though I do not know the full story of what is going on in Egypt, I know it is complicated.  Not everyone on the "peaceful" side is all that peaceful, and I cannot believe that the police are ruthless.  My thoughts are with ALL those impacted by the goings on in Egypt.  TIME reports via photoessay at http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2044357,00.html.  Let me know if you find any more subtle details from these photos.

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior

An inspirational man is honored today.  More than a day off of school, today is a day for reflection.  A Metablog post on a grand scale, to put it simply, occurs every year on the third Monday of January.  Here we see the dream he dreamt in 1963 in front of 250,000 people in Washington, D.C.

For more information on this inspirational human being, please refer to his biography from the Nobel Peace Prize, of which he won in 1964.  Here is the article.  One passage that struck me:

In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles

Even if you are busy, please make time today, or any day you have the chance, to pay homage to the man with a dream.  If you would like to learn more, I found these links very informational:

-While in jail in 1963 for violating an Alabama law, he wrote this letter: Letter From a Birmingham Jail
-PBS' page on MLK, includes a feature film, interviews, maps, and more: Citizen King
-Founded by his wife, Correta Scott King, a "living memorial": The King Center

Metablog

This is my third try on this Meta blog.  Writer's Block has abounded.  Then I realized- I don't even know what "meta" means.  So I referred to the handy-dandy Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and found that "meta-" means "occurring later than or in succession to" or "transformation."  Well, that's a start.


Personally, I measure transformation by comparing the first and last of a series.  My first post this quarter, "A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words",  discussed a photo we analyzed during class.  It dealt with perspective and the inevitable editing all art undergoes.  My most recent post, "Six Dead, One Moment", talked about the shootings in Tuscon, Arizona.  Both posts displayed pictures, but were different in their presentation.  The latter acted as a news report more than analysis, while the first was almost completely analysis.  I cannot say that I have gone from all analysis to all explanatory: that would not be true.  I can say, though, that my posts are more varied.  As stated in my first quarter reflection:

The topics of my posts share a common theme: me.  It may seem conceded, but what better can an author comment on more truthfully than themselves? 

I usually only talked about topics that impacted me personally.  With lightening fast news reports, social media networks, and constant communication amongst people coast to coast, few events do not impact us personally.  During the first quarter, I emphasized this personalized world.  This quarter, yes the events impacted me, but I focused more on overall impact.  To offer an example, I refer to my "Facebook 'Friends?'" post:

The New York Times reported on cyber-bullying.   (HERE is the article)  It tells the stories of teens both as targets and bullies.  

Rather than referring to a tough childhood memory of my own, I referred to a national epidemic: cyber-bullying.  I did discuss my own in other posts this quarter, but far less often than first quarter.  I accredit this change, thinking of the larger world rather than my own, to the topics we have discussed in class.  Reading The Crucible, The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in addition to seeking more worldly experiences on my time, has expanded my outlook.

Perhaps the most clear example of my expanded view is my most recent post: "Six Dead, One Moment".  Through independent research, I presented factual information.  I then analyzed the situation, changing the article from a solemn one to an inspirational (I hope!) one.  The complexity of the post, which was relevant to all audiences, is my strongest post this quarter.  PLEASE REFER TO THIS POST FOR GRADING, IT IS LINKED ABOVE TWICE.

Third quarter, I hope to regain the personal connection to posts while still maintaining a worldly view.  Please leave comments with your suggestions as to how to achieve this goal.  Any blog is a team effort: author and readers.  Thanks for your continued viewership!  It is much appreciated!

Help me prevent this from happening! :)

Six dead, One moment

This morning, our principle came over the loudspeaker to call for a moment of silence in honor of those lives lost and otherwise impacted by the Arizona shootings of the past weekend.  Unfortunately, this is not the first time Dr. Doher has said a few words and brought us 4,000 students together in silence.  During regular morning announcements, it is the rare classroom in which every student listens-- but judging from my advisory and those of my friends', today was different.

The situation in Arizona certainly qualifies as tragedy.  A disturbed man, a Mr. Jared Lee Loughner, killed six people and injured many others.  Among the dead was a nine year old girl, a Miss Christina Taylor Green.  It is hard to imagine such hardship; and I cannot.  I am lucky to not know personally a victim of any sort of murder, in fact I have not faced any loss so far in my life.  Even though I can't fathom their pain, my thoughts go out to both the families of the victims and that of the killer (as they, too, are suffering).

Christina Taylor Green

It saddens me to think that all I have done to console those experiencing such great pain is forgo a minute of my morning.  Am I turning my back on a neighbor?  We do, after all, live in one country, on one planet.  On the other hand, I am hundreds of miles away from Arizona.  Personally, I feel that one minute, though it is respectful, is not sufficient.  All loss cannot be recognized individually, because then we would have no time to enjoy life!  But this, a massacre, deserves it's just dues.  Therefore, I keep the victims in my prayers not just this morning, but now as I write this and for the days to come.  I won't feel sad, rather thankful for the life I have.

There is no light without dark, no day without night- and this situation is certainly a dark one.  That means that the contrasting light will seem that much brighter: enjoy the light of life, and remember that the sun rises every morning.

For more pictures regarding the shooting (not gory), please refer to this NY Times report.  Thanks.

Livin in da 'hood- Childhood, that is... (sorry, I had to!)

Today we discussed the myths of childhood.  I am guilty of putting childhood on a pedestal- where I think of only the fond memories in my backyard with water guns, BBQ's, late nights culminating at 12 am instead of the now common 3 or 4 am, and the pink tutus that seemed a part of me.  Rarely do I think of the bruises resulting from falls from the monkey bars, the less than perfect girl scout meetings, and the monsters under my bed.

This may seem like a downer of a post, but there is a lot that kids deal with that is overlooked in hindsight.  Kidshealth.org listed some of the problems kids face HERE.  Something I know impacted me personally was the burden of worry.  (Kidshealth.org on this topic HERE)  By no means did my home conditions provoke worry, quite the contrary- I come from a very loving and supportive family.  By nature, whether I am 5 or 65, I am a worry wart.  A memory of mine...

I am in sixth grade,  standing in line at the airport to put my shoes on the conveyer belt for scanning.  My mom and school group got ahead of me in line.  Never before had I been to an airport- let alone the second busiest in the world, O'Hare.  The lie seemed to stretch three miles between my mom and me.  My face turned red and the tears weighed on my bottom eyelids.

O'Hare is scary when you're only 4 1/2 feet tall! 

On the Mediterranean in 2006- after successfully navigating customs.

Obviously, I am still here- so my mom and I were reunited!  That does not undo the fear I felt at that time.  The fact that this memory is strong in my memory shows that I have been blessed.  Huck Finn- he's not so lucky.  His father, as depicted on page 18, wants nothing but to keep Huck in his supposed place: "if I catch you around that school I'll tan you good."  Huck had it rough- a fifth grade (about) education, a drunken and abusive father, and a below 

poverty level lifestyle.  My experience was still scary.

If you had the boogie man living under your bed, or got stung by a bee, that still stinks.  Huck may have had it worst, but that doesn't mean one situation should be belittled.  Life encompasses childhood, adulthood, tears, and laughs.  Best of luck to Huck in the rest of the book!  His childhood is NOT all fun and games.

Only seemingly carefree.