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.

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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.