Ben found out today that I have a blog and, because he doesn't understand why I would do such a thing (or who would read it), he started calling it my "liberal manifesto". (Someday I'll write my "why opposites attract" blog...) Admittedly, it would be difficult not to comment on the Iowa Caucus tonight, with the news websites full of stories with titles like, "Santorum's Anal Sex Problem"... or, at the very least, a juvenile but hilarious look at the word, "caucus".... but, in an effort to prove that I can talk about something other than politicians who have been debating whether states should ban birth control while opposing abortion, yet promising to fix our economic problems while severely limiting public benefits... Yikes, I oughtta digress...
But, seriously, my mind has been on a far less controversial subject today- the weather. Yes, more than an unoriginal yet reliable topic of conversation for those like myself, certain that nothing is more awkward (or terrifying) than silence in an elevator, the weather in Florida is a matter of great interest to an Ohio girl like me.
I will never forget my first Florida Cold Snap. I distinctly remember a Miami newscaster warning listeners of sub-tropical temperatures; reminding his public of the importance of dressing in layers for a high of 65. I recently realized that there's an extreme discrepancy in the way Floridians even talk about weather. In Ohio, when we say, "it's going to be 55 today", not only do we mean that it's finally time to break out our shorts and visit the tanning bed, but we mean that the high of the day is 55. When a Floridian *complains* that it's going to be 55 that day, they are referring to the overnight lows.
That being said, it was legitimately cold here today. When people got a glimpse of the Ugg boots I tucked my suit pants into today, many of them commented ..."but you're from OHIO". Naturally, my response is always, "riiiight, and why do you think I came here?"- but it caused me to think about an age-old myth: does moving South truly "thin your blood"?
I spent some riveting hours in court this morning researching this issue for my readers, as loyal and plentiful as they may be. First of all, blood doesn't really "thin". Your blood either clots easily or it doesn't. If your circulation is bad, certainly different parts of your body can feel cold, since they aren't getting blood all the way down there. This is entirely unrelated to where you reside.
This led me to another brilliant question: why are you always so warm when you're drunk? (aka: where does that liquor coat come from?). Answer (copied and pasted so I don't have to re-type):
One effect of alcohol is to make the skin capillaries dilate. This brings more blood to the skin. Since the heat receptors are close to the surface of the skin, you will feel warmer. However, at the same time, you will lose body heat more quickly. (With enough alcohol, you will be more likely to freeze, but less likely to care whether you do or not.)
So, there you have it. Hopefully you know a little bit more about cold weather and I bet I successfully avoided offending anyone with such a dull topic (except, ironically, Ben, who is still banned from reading my blog).
So, drink up and warm up, wherever you are!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
New Year, New Blog
Well, it's official, it's 2012! I have decided to welcome the new year with a new blog post - something I abandoned pretty early on in 2011. Just one girl among the masses you will see at the gym for the first two weeks of January, I made a lot of vows to myself for the year. This includes a vow to use my brain a little bit more - and I'm going to start by giving my writing muscles a little flex. I tend to want to revert to complete brain shut-down mode when I come home from work - just give me some mindless tv and a bit of facebook perusing, please. This has to stop... or at least, improve a little.
The past year has been a crazy one for me. First of all, I fell in love. And, without sharing too many fluffy details (both to protect your gag reflexes and my love's private nature), I can simply say that although it's certainly not the first time (and those who know me know that quite well), it's definitely the best time. There's some sort of fantastic balance I've never achieved before- undoubtedly a mixture of meeting a specific person and, in large part, timing...
In the midst of settling into a new relationship, I also had a relatively stressful year regarding my health. It was something I didn't discuss too openly nor very widely, but I did have the support of a small yet solid group of friends and family when I needed it. Let me summarize the ordeals by simply stating that there was a surgery, a tumor, more than one biopsy, and far more needles than I care to see ever again. And while I only feel comfortable putting this into cyberspace now that I can say everything turned out fine and I am healthy, I would certainly strongly encourage all the women in my life to maintain their regular health screenings. It can be your resolution.
As it turns out, the steady combination of upheaval and overwhelming delight in my life in 2011, as a result of the events shared here and those that will remain personal, created obviously a strong sense of personal growth and contentment - but also more of a desire for balance. I've always struggled with balance, in a trillion arenas of my life - but I've always been pretty lenient on myself regarding the failures as it always seems to indicate that there are just too many people to love, things to do, games to play, and subjects to learn... that really, the struggle itself seems to reveal itself as a blessing.
Nonetheless, I have resolved to do many things this year. It's come to my attention that there's this whole, righteous anti-resolution movement - but I am nothing if not a slave to tradition. There's something ceremonial about the process, even if some are a bit more successful than others (I think I wrote a blog this time last year about resolving to make my bed every day? Uh... right.). Personally, I like to think of it the way my yoga instructor teaches... more of a process of setting your intentions for the year.
At the end of the day (or, as it goes here, at the end of the year), we all want the same things: better health, better friendships, better organization - and, really, just a whole lot of love and happiness. I guess we all just kind of plan to get there in different ways- person to person, and year to year. And, even if we are "anti-resolution", it is difficult not to think of the beginning of another year as a little bit of a clean slate.
Good luck to everyone in accomplishing all you want to accomplish... and, if I do things the way I want to, you'll hear more from me about how that's going in 2012 ;-)
The past year has been a crazy one for me. First of all, I fell in love. And, without sharing too many fluffy details (both to protect your gag reflexes and my love's private nature), I can simply say that although it's certainly not the first time (and those who know me know that quite well), it's definitely the best time. There's some sort of fantastic balance I've never achieved before- undoubtedly a mixture of meeting a specific person and, in large part, timing...
In the midst of settling into a new relationship, I also had a relatively stressful year regarding my health. It was something I didn't discuss too openly nor very widely, but I did have the support of a small yet solid group of friends and family when I needed it. Let me summarize the ordeals by simply stating that there was a surgery, a tumor, more than one biopsy, and far more needles than I care to see ever again. And while I only feel comfortable putting this into cyberspace now that I can say everything turned out fine and I am healthy, I would certainly strongly encourage all the women in my life to maintain their regular health screenings. It can be your resolution.
As it turns out, the steady combination of upheaval and overwhelming delight in my life in 2011, as a result of the events shared here and those that will remain personal, created obviously a strong sense of personal growth and contentment - but also more of a desire for balance. I've always struggled with balance, in a trillion arenas of my life - but I've always been pretty lenient on myself regarding the failures as it always seems to indicate that there are just too many people to love, things to do, games to play, and subjects to learn... that really, the struggle itself seems to reveal itself as a blessing.
Nonetheless, I have resolved to do many things this year. It's come to my attention that there's this whole, righteous anti-resolution movement - but I am nothing if not a slave to tradition. There's something ceremonial about the process, even if some are a bit more successful than others (I think I wrote a blog this time last year about resolving to make my bed every day? Uh... right.). Personally, I like to think of it the way my yoga instructor teaches... more of a process of setting your intentions for the year.
At the end of the day (or, as it goes here, at the end of the year), we all want the same things: better health, better friendships, better organization - and, really, just a whole lot of love and happiness. I guess we all just kind of plan to get there in different ways- person to person, and year to year. And, even if we are "anti-resolution", it is difficult not to think of the beginning of another year as a little bit of a clean slate.
Good luck to everyone in accomplishing all you want to accomplish... and, if I do things the way I want to, you'll hear more from me about how that's going in 2012 ;-)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Famous for all the wrong reasons?
I'm sure most of you have been wondering why I don't blog more. In fact, I'm rather certain that thoughts concerning my blog occupy most of your minds, most of the time.
(*realistically, I know it's actually presumptuous for me to even address a plural audience, as it reflects the assumption that more than one person even reads this - hi mom :) )
Seriously though - irrespective of the size of my audience, I do enjoy my little blog, and don't add to it more frequently because of this whole "simple life" I've sort of intentionally, sort of unintentionally, adopted.
I don't have Internet or cable. I probably will break down soon and get the Internet. It is sort of lame that I have an IPad and a new laptop and don't have the Internet (or any un-password-protected wireless connections to scam from). The reason I'm not "plugged in" is really more out of laziness and general I-object-to-Brighthouse-cable-ness than anything else.
As far as cable goes -- there's a bit more deliberate intention there. I basically am addicted to cable. When I do have cable, my heart palpitates and my palms sweat just thinking about all of the things I need to watch to clear room on the DVR box. I mean, godforbid an episode of Dancing With the Stars is bumped off the box before I make room in my schedule to fast-forward through it.
My weakness is specific to reality tv. More specifically, Bravo programming. Love. It.
And, so, this strangely long and rambling opening finally arrives at my point. One of those rare moments when a news story combines my two loves - criminal news stories and reality tv - in a manner that not only begs for, but requires a blog post (home Internet connection, or no).
Read on:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-woman-dalia-dippolito-reality-tv-defense-murder/story?id=13467249
First of all, we can speed over the obvious: the weird news always happens in Florida. I know.
Sooo... this woman is caught on (undercover police) camera, soliciting what she [allegedly] believes is a hitman to kill her husband. Surprise, it's an undercover cop.
Before giving her the whole, surprisewe'recopsputyourhandsup!, schtufff, these [prone-to-drama] cops then call some more cops (this time in uniform) to tell her that her husband is dead. [cue performance worthy of reality tv, fo. sho.]
**the video of her Oscar-performance reaction can be seen on the page you find at the above link. worth watching.
Ok, so, she's caught red-handed. Until... she comes up with BEST DEFENSE EVER.
She claims that, the whole time police are interviewing her, she is waiting for her husband just to walk in at any moment. Because A- she knows he isnt really dead and B - her husband has orchestrated his own contract killing, not as a strange suicide plot, but rather as some sort of complicated way to get his own reality show???
Let's take a moment to reflect, as this information presents several interesting questions for the viewer.
A) What kind of reality show would this be?
I suppose some sort of Newlyweds drama meets Jersey Shore type drunk violence situation??? Nick and Jessica were cute when they bickered. Mike and Dalia would have been cute when they... plotted one another's murders???
***As apparent as my sarcasm may be, I will be honest: I would watch this
B) I was going to say: what sort of idiotic lengths are we to believe a person would go to in order to be on tv? Then I realized this was a dumb question, in an era where a brilliant pair of parents would send a balloon into the air, while convincing a nation that their child was in said balloon, whilst said child is actually being held hostage in a garage/basement, only to further their reality tv careers... and then I withdraw my question.
Ok... so, picking up where we left off:
When I got to this point in the story, I thought... ok. Well, didn't the husband just tell the police that he planned this, therefore making the prosecution of this case kind of needless and, well, stupid?
But, then you get to the part of the story where the husband testifies and says he has noideawhatshestalkingabout and was pretty shocked when he found out his wife had hired someone to kill him.
Major. Fail.
There's other evidence against her, such as text messages and independent witnesses that are supposedly going to support the State's case against her. Likely this means she will testify herself. Likely this means I will watch it.
As a side note, there are some important ironies to point out:
1- During the sting that led to her arrest, the [original] reality show Cops was taping an episode. No matter what happens, she wins in the famousforthewrongreasons department.
2- Dalia has been on reality tv shows before. Most notably, she was on an episode of The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (speaking of major fails), that... wait for it... featured a plot line involving a fake hit man!
You just can't write this stuff.
(*realistically, I know it's actually presumptuous for me to even address a plural audience, as it reflects the assumption that more than one person even reads this - hi mom :) )
Seriously though - irrespective of the size of my audience, I do enjoy my little blog, and don't add to it more frequently because of this whole "simple life" I've sort of intentionally, sort of unintentionally, adopted.
I don't have Internet or cable. I probably will break down soon and get the Internet. It is sort of lame that I have an IPad and a new laptop and don't have the Internet (or any un-password-protected wireless connections to scam from). The reason I'm not "plugged in" is really more out of laziness and general I-object-to-Brighthouse-cable-ness than anything else.
As far as cable goes -- there's a bit more deliberate intention there. I basically am addicted to cable. When I do have cable, my heart palpitates and my palms sweat just thinking about all of the things I need to watch to clear room on the DVR box. I mean, godforbid an episode of Dancing With the Stars is bumped off the box before I make room in my schedule to fast-forward through it.
My weakness is specific to reality tv. More specifically, Bravo programming. Love. It.
And, so, this strangely long and rambling opening finally arrives at my point. One of those rare moments when a news story combines my two loves - criminal news stories and reality tv - in a manner that not only begs for, but requires a blog post (home Internet connection, or no).
Read on:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-woman-dalia-dippolito-reality-tv-defense-murder/story?id=13467249
First of all, we can speed over the obvious: the weird news always happens in Florida. I know.
Sooo... this woman is caught on (undercover police) camera, soliciting what she [allegedly] believes is a hitman to kill her husband. Surprise, it's an undercover cop.
Before giving her the whole, surprisewe'recopsputyourhandsup!, schtufff, these [prone-to-drama] cops then call some more cops (this time in uniform) to tell her that her husband is dead. [cue performance worthy of reality tv, fo. sho.]
**the video of her Oscar-performance reaction can be seen on the page you find at the above link. worth watching.
Ok, so, she's caught red-handed. Until... she comes up with BEST DEFENSE EVER.
She claims that, the whole time police are interviewing her, she is waiting for her husband just to walk in at any moment. Because A- she knows he isnt really dead and B - her husband has orchestrated his own contract killing, not as a strange suicide plot, but rather as some sort of complicated way to get his own reality show???
Let's take a moment to reflect, as this information presents several interesting questions for the viewer.
A) What kind of reality show would this be?
I suppose some sort of Newlyweds drama meets Jersey Shore type drunk violence situation??? Nick and Jessica were cute when they bickered. Mike and Dalia would have been cute when they... plotted one another's murders???
***As apparent as my sarcasm may be, I will be honest: I would watch this
B) I was going to say: what sort of idiotic lengths are we to believe a person would go to in order to be on tv? Then I realized this was a dumb question, in an era where a brilliant pair of parents would send a balloon into the air, while convincing a nation that their child was in said balloon, whilst said child is actually being held hostage in a garage/basement, only to further their reality tv careers... and then I withdraw my question.
Ok... so, picking up where we left off:
When I got to this point in the story, I thought... ok. Well, didn't the husband just tell the police that he planned this, therefore making the prosecution of this case kind of needless and, well, stupid?
But, then you get to the part of the story where the husband testifies and says he has noideawhatshestalkingabout and was pretty shocked when he found out his wife had hired someone to kill him.
Major. Fail.
There's other evidence against her, such as text messages and independent witnesses that are supposedly going to support the State's case against her. Likely this means she will testify herself. Likely this means I will watch it.
As a side note, there are some important ironies to point out:
1- During the sting that led to her arrest, the [original] reality show Cops was taping an episode. No matter what happens, she wins in the famousforthewrongreasons department.
2- Dalia has been on reality tv shows before. Most notably, she was on an episode of The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (speaking of major fails), that... wait for it... featured a plot line involving a fake hit man!
You just can't write this stuff.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Reality Show IQ
Not everyone loves tests quite as much as I do, I know this. I suppose I can understand why not every child got the same rush out of a math problem that I once did. As a recovering television addict, I can also understand both sides of the reality tv hysteria. Although I have somehow managed to survive a few months at this point without cable or a DVR, I can remember a time in recent history where the only thing that could get me out of bed early on a weekday was the knowledge that an episode of Real Housewives was waiting for me on that little machine.
So, what does reality tv have to do with me being a little nerdy? Apparently a lot. The SAT recently used an essay prompt that turned out to be quite controversial...about reality tv!
The 16 year-old in me weeps with excitement.
(As an aside, the SAT has changed quite a bit since most of us took it - it is now scored out of 2400 points, with an added Writing Skills section that includes an essay-writing task).
(As a double aside, I was shocked when I taught my first Kaplan SAT course and was reviewing the kids' practice tests- score after score, 1200, 1450, 1300... I thought they were geniuses. Once you put them on a scale of 2400, they'reactually pretty terrible scores. And that's more like it.)
Anyway, the following prompt appeared on the most recent administration of the SAT:
"Reality television programs, which feature real people engaged in real activities rather than professional actors performing scripted scenes, are increasingly popular.
These shows depict ordinary people competing in everything from singing and dancing to losing weight, or just living their everyday lives. Most people believe that the reality these shows portray is authentic, but they are being misled.
How authentic can these shows be when producers design challenges for the participants and then editors alter filmed scenes?
Do people benefit from forms of entertainment that show so-called reality, or are such forms of entertainment harmful?"
-----------------
Ha! That is awesome... But, apparently, not all of the nerds of America (and their pushy, overprotective parents) are pleased. Check out what one such socially-challenged teen had to say about the test question:
“I ended up talking about Jacob Riis and how any form of media cannot capture reality objectively,” he wrote, invoking the 19th-century social reformer. “I kinda want to cry right now.”
I kind of want to cry just reading this, personally. Jacob whaaa?? Out of virtue of the fact that I personally have no CLUE wtf that kid is talking about , I believe he probably aced the SAT, despite his parents' refusal to allow him to watch MTV - (and, might I add, he probably wanted to "cry right now" because he has no friends).
Meanwhile, the kid who spends a lot of time watching the tube says:
“I talked about American Idol (how it can push people to strive towards better singing skills) and The Biggest Loser (how it influences people to become healthier,)” one commenter, “bandgeek156,” wrote on College Confidential. “Wasn’t that hard from what I thought.”
That sounds like the. worst. answer. ever.
The point is, there's a lot of controversy over this because, well... people like to create controversy where it shouldn't otherwise exist. And, people get really, really, really ridiculously stressed out about this stuff.
The test isn't actually rewarding kids who watch tv over those who do not. One kid talked about Jacob Riis, the Danish social reformer (ok, I googled it), and another about Steven Tyler. It's pretty obvious who's getting into Harvard here. The essay prompt very clearly explains what a "reality show" is for all those living under a rock (the kind of rock under which one could study calculus with a practically religious fervor) and is not at all unfair to those who don't watch tv. In fact, it's quite clear that those who spend more time with Snooki than with their math book will still remain the big failures in the world of the SAT (although, in a very special and ironic twist, they get to walk away at least feeling like they aced the essay, due to their complex analysis of the rocky relationship between Sammie and Ronnie).
Personally, I loved this story... not only because I would have rocked this essay question, but because it just highlights what freaks we've created in an overly-competitive college admissions environment. The real reason some of the kids freaked out is because they spend hours preparing for these tests and anticipating potential questions... and they weren't banking on this one.
One of my favorite comments from the article's Comments section:
I was taking the SAT for the first time Saturday. When I saw the question, I freaked out. I had no clue what to put down. My tutor had told me to use Martin Luther King as an example no matter what the question, and I don’t think he fits too easily into this topic. When I looked at my paper after the test and saw that I had written about Snooki on my SAT test, I felt pretty stupid to be honest.— Sam
______
That is pretty much the best thing I've ever read. What happened to the days of going home from a football game, only to remember you better go to bed early and stop at the convenient store the next day for No. 2 pencils because, oh yeh, the SAT is tomorrow???
Here's another:
As a junior who took the SAT on Saturday, I was infuriated with the prompt. I read the Times daily and I watch the news every night, so I am more than adequately prepared to discuss the disaster in Japan or the leadership issues with Mubarak and Gaddafi. When I saw the prompt, my jaw became slack and my eyes twitched in horror. SAT essays should reference literature and current events, not reality television.— Amanda
___________
Ahh.. delightful.
In closing, I'd like to commend the College Board for not only writing what I think turned out to be kind of an interesting question (which, by the way, I've been thinking about all day), and for laughing in the faces of all the over-privileged children who have actual SAT coaches. Oh, and mostly, for freaking out the lame kids of America, before they get to college and roommates like me have to break them in.
So, what does reality tv have to do with me being a little nerdy? Apparently a lot. The SAT recently used an essay prompt that turned out to be quite controversial...about reality tv!
The 16 year-old in me weeps with excitement.
(As an aside, the SAT has changed quite a bit since most of us took it - it is now scored out of 2400 points, with an added Writing Skills section that includes an essay-writing task).
(As a double aside, I was shocked when I taught my first Kaplan SAT course and was reviewing the kids' practice tests- score after score, 1200, 1450, 1300... I thought they were geniuses. Once you put them on a scale of 2400, they'reactually pretty terrible scores. And that's more like it.)
Anyway, the following prompt appeared on the most recent administration of the SAT:
"Reality television programs, which feature real people engaged in real activities rather than professional actors performing scripted scenes, are increasingly popular.
These shows depict ordinary people competing in everything from singing and dancing to losing weight, or just living their everyday lives. Most people believe that the reality these shows portray is authentic, but they are being misled.
How authentic can these shows be when producers design challenges for the participants and then editors alter filmed scenes?
Do people benefit from forms of entertainment that show so-called reality, or are such forms of entertainment harmful?"
-----------------
Ha! That is awesome... But, apparently, not all of the nerds of America (and their pushy, overprotective parents) are pleased. Check out what one such socially-challenged teen had to say about the test question:
“I ended up talking about Jacob Riis and how any form of media cannot capture reality objectively,” he wrote, invoking the 19th-century social reformer. “I kinda want to cry right now.”
I kind of want to cry just reading this, personally. Jacob whaaa?? Out of virtue of the fact that I personally have no CLUE wtf that kid is talking about , I believe he probably aced the SAT, despite his parents' refusal to allow him to watch MTV - (and, might I add, he probably wanted to "cry right now" because he has no friends).
Meanwhile, the kid who spends a lot of time watching the tube says:
“I talked about American Idol (how it can push people to strive towards better singing skills) and The Biggest Loser (how it influences people to become healthier,)” one commenter, “bandgeek156,” wrote on College Confidential. “Wasn’t that hard from what I thought.”
That sounds like the. worst. answer. ever.
The point is, there's a lot of controversy over this because, well... people like to create controversy where it shouldn't otherwise exist. And, people get really, really, really ridiculously stressed out about this stuff.
The test isn't actually rewarding kids who watch tv over those who do not. One kid talked about Jacob Riis, the Danish social reformer (ok, I googled it), and another about Steven Tyler. It's pretty obvious who's getting into Harvard here. The essay prompt very clearly explains what a "reality show" is for all those living under a rock (the kind of rock under which one could study calculus with a practically religious fervor) and is not at all unfair to those who don't watch tv. In fact, it's quite clear that those who spend more time with Snooki than with their math book will still remain the big failures in the world of the SAT (although, in a very special and ironic twist, they get to walk away at least feeling like they aced the essay, due to their complex analysis of the rocky relationship between Sammie and Ronnie).
Personally, I loved this story... not only because I would have rocked this essay question, but because it just highlights what freaks we've created in an overly-competitive college admissions environment. The real reason some of the kids freaked out is because they spend hours preparing for these tests and anticipating potential questions... and they weren't banking on this one.
One of my favorite comments from the article's Comments section:
I was taking the SAT for the first time Saturday. When I saw the question, I freaked out. I had no clue what to put down. My tutor had told me to use Martin Luther King as an example no matter what the question, and I don’t think he fits too easily into this topic. When I looked at my paper after the test and saw that I had written about Snooki on my SAT test, I felt pretty stupid to be honest.— Sam
______
That is pretty much the best thing I've ever read. What happened to the days of going home from a football game, only to remember you better go to bed early and stop at the convenient store the next day for No. 2 pencils because, oh yeh, the SAT is tomorrow???
Here's another:
As a junior who took the SAT on Saturday, I was infuriated with the prompt. I read the Times daily and I watch the news every night, so I am more than adequately prepared to discuss the disaster in Japan or the leadership issues with Mubarak and Gaddafi. When I saw the prompt, my jaw became slack and my eyes twitched in horror. SAT essays should reference literature and current events, not reality television.— Amanda
___________
Ahh.. delightful.
In closing, I'd like to commend the College Board for not only writing what I think turned out to be kind of an interesting question (which, by the way, I've been thinking about all day), and for laughing in the faces of all the over-privileged children who have actual SAT coaches. Oh, and mostly, for freaking out the lame kids of America, before they get to college and roommates like me have to break them in.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Freedom of Impropriety?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/us/08muskegon.html?pagewanted=1&ref=us&src=me&adxnnlx=1299682840-FWU238xhdI2NVWfWQQjKgg
I saw this article today and it really exemplified what I think is an interesting and, often times troubling, legal issue that is developing with the advent of a more technological society.
In this instance, a young 21 year-old musician in a small Michigan town decided to take on a musical project with some major shock value....not a novel idea for musicians, nor for guys in their early 20's...and in this case, not too smart.
He sang age-appropriate songs to a classroom full of first graders. Afterwards, he sang a far more (sexually) inappropriate song, this time to an empty room, and later edits a video to give the appearance that he sang the second song to a room full of innocent kids.
Inappropriate? Yeh, pretty much. But the response was equally inappropriate. The kid has now been arrested on charges of Child Pornography, facing a lifetime labelled as a sexual predator. A condition of his bond? He can't perform music...adding insult to this First Amendment injury.
The Supreme Court has decided that child pornography is not protected by the First Amendment... But this is continuously misapplied. Another example:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28679588/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/
I actually saw this story first on Oprah. Again, it presents what is probably a real issue that needs to be addressed with the young ladies of society (hello, not everyone is Kim Kardashian, and nude photos of you circulating around the playground is not-so-cute)- but, again, is inappropriately addressed by the State.
Young girls were charged with sex crimes for sending nude photos of themselves to their male classmates on their cell phones. Dumb? Totally. Sexual predators? Notsomuch.
The ACLU agreed, and actually took on this case, in an attempt to bar the prosecution from even going forward with the case
(http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/03/aclu-sues-da-ov/).
Just seems to me that these are all examples of local governments trying to legislate morality. Certainly these young people (essentially children themselves) are not the boogiemen we are so well-trained to fear, lurking in minivans with sugary lures. What then, is the purpose, other than to teach quite a costly (and unfair) lesson?
I saw this article today and it really exemplified what I think is an interesting and, often times troubling, legal issue that is developing with the advent of a more technological society.
In this instance, a young 21 year-old musician in a small Michigan town decided to take on a musical project with some major shock value....not a novel idea for musicians, nor for guys in their early 20's...and in this case, not too smart.
He sang age-appropriate songs to a classroom full of first graders. Afterwards, he sang a far more (sexually) inappropriate song, this time to an empty room, and later edits a video to give the appearance that he sang the second song to a room full of innocent kids.
Inappropriate? Yeh, pretty much. But the response was equally inappropriate. The kid has now been arrested on charges of Child Pornography, facing a lifetime labelled as a sexual predator. A condition of his bond? He can't perform music...adding insult to this First Amendment injury.
The Supreme Court has decided that child pornography is not protected by the First Amendment... But this is continuously misapplied. Another example:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28679588/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/
I actually saw this story first on Oprah. Again, it presents what is probably a real issue that needs to be addressed with the young ladies of society (hello, not everyone is Kim Kardashian, and nude photos of you circulating around the playground is not-so-cute)- but, again, is inappropriately addressed by the State.
Young girls were charged with sex crimes for sending nude photos of themselves to their male classmates on their cell phones. Dumb? Totally. Sexual predators? Notsomuch.
The ACLU agreed, and actually took on this case, in an attempt to bar the prosecution from even going forward with the case
(http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/03/aclu-sues-da-ov/).
Just seems to me that these are all examples of local governments trying to legislate morality. Certainly these young people (essentially children themselves) are not the boogiemen we are so well-trained to fear, lurking in minivans with sugary lures. What then, is the purpose, other than to teach quite a costly (and unfair) lesson?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Musical Memories
I engage in what I like to call musical roulette. I don't own too many cd's (I never bounced back after all of mine were stolen from my car as part of my "Miami Initiation"), and although I own an Ipod, I havent updated the songs since pre-2007 (no, really). I do things the old-fashioned way. I turn on the radio, and see what comes out.
My musical tastes are as eclectic as they come - different tunes for different moods. But, what I found myself thinking about lately is the way a song can conjure up some pretty detailed memories - you know, put you in a place. It's not at all a novel idea. My friends and I were just discussing the olfactory version of this phenomenon - the way a whiff of Tommy Girl or Clinique Happy can whisk me back to 1997 (and the horrors of junior high) is almost creepy.
But, the more I brainstormed which songs could take me where, the more I realized that I could create an audio album...
Let me explain. I love photos. Scrapbooks are great, in theory, but I'm absolutely the kind of person that has a box full of scrapbooking supplies from 10 years ago and nothing to show for it. Who has that kind of time? But, sometimes a girl just needs a trip down memory lane, you know? To cleanse the soul... or, whatever.
So, I made myself a memory playlist. I have to say, listening to these songs (especially in chronological order), conjured up more feelings of nostalgia than any scrapbook that I thought about making and never did....
What follows is a sampling of my life playlist. Most of us (especially those of a similar age) probably have some overlap... but the memory associations - that's what's different for everyone. Enjoy! (and create your own....)
1. You Say, Lisa Loeb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3ZryyTDaOk
This is one of the first songs I can remember knowing every single word to (a feat, I might add, I was quite proud of). This one brings me back to the early 90's, singing with my friends on the bus (with all the passion of an elementary school kid who has been in love).
2. Rock Steady, The Whispers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPJz3syNbtE
The song came out in 1987, but takes me back to Louisville, KY, 1994-ish. I was very into dancing, but not very talented (some things never change). The recital for the last dance class I ever took as a kid was a jazz routine to this song. Every time I hear it, I can still do the moves.
3. Bennie and the Jets, Elton John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EtCrHBq7Ds
Ok, so, I was notsomuch alive when this song was released, howeverrr - my daddy was. Yes, this song reminds me of a sunny day, a car wash, and driving around with my dad. This was the dad-is-a-superhero era (not that he still isn't, but his old magic tricks dont work so well on me anymore). Dad used to tell us what lyrics were going to come up before they did, so that we could all sing along.
4. Sex and Candy, Macy's Playground
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KT-r2vHeMM
Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg
Interstate Love Song, Stone Temple Pilots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppJLI3YqwaQ
Each of these songs reminds me of the same era in my life... when I first got into music.. and my DiscMan. These songs all take me back to teenage angst and Claire Danes in My So-Called Life. Me, 10-12, headphones in my ears, and talking to no one, in the car with the fam.
5. Sittin' Up in My Room, Brandy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM3AMfsvfzw
This song reminds me of a time before Ray J (or reality tv, or Kim K) and... well... sitting in my room... literally. It was that awkward age, when I didn't really want to be around my family, yet didn't really have other plans, other than the occasional mall date. So, instead, I did a lot of waiting by the radio, waiting for my fave songs to come on to record (on a tape, naturally) - or - on a special day - making requests/dedications on the radio. Yeh, that's right. Brandy was really there for me.
6. Waterfalls, TLC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WEtxJ4-sh4
You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPcyTyilmYY
And, when my social life developed past my bedroom - but close-by to the cul-de-sac park, we would listen to these songs on the boom box and practice cheerleading jumps.... and our Alicia Silverstone impressions.
7. I Ain't Mad at Cha, 2Pac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krxu9_dRUwQ
Then I fell in love, at the age of 13. And this was our song. (Only because we, of course, faught constantly and broke up every other day, and this was more the make-up song.) And I spent a significant amount of my time filling my planners with our weekly anniversaries and decorating my binders with his name. <3
My musical tastes are as eclectic as they come - different tunes for different moods. But, what I found myself thinking about lately is the way a song can conjure up some pretty detailed memories - you know, put you in a place. It's not at all a novel idea. My friends and I were just discussing the olfactory version of this phenomenon - the way a whiff of Tommy Girl or Clinique Happy can whisk me back to 1997 (and the horrors of junior high) is almost creepy.
But, the more I brainstormed which songs could take me where, the more I realized that I could create an audio album...
Let me explain. I love photos. Scrapbooks are great, in theory, but I'm absolutely the kind of person that has a box full of scrapbooking supplies from 10 years ago and nothing to show for it. Who has that kind of time? But, sometimes a girl just needs a trip down memory lane, you know? To cleanse the soul... or, whatever.
So, I made myself a memory playlist. I have to say, listening to these songs (especially in chronological order), conjured up more feelings of nostalgia than any scrapbook that I thought about making and never did....
What follows is a sampling of my life playlist. Most of us (especially those of a similar age) probably have some overlap... but the memory associations - that's what's different for everyone. Enjoy! (and create your own....)
1. You Say, Lisa Loeb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3ZryyTDaOk
This is one of the first songs I can remember knowing every single word to (a feat, I might add, I was quite proud of). This one brings me back to the early 90's, singing with my friends on the bus (with all the passion of an elementary school kid who has been in love).
2. Rock Steady, The Whispers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPJz3syNbtE
The song came out in 1987, but takes me back to Louisville, KY, 1994-ish. I was very into dancing, but not very talented (some things never change). The recital for the last dance class I ever took as a kid was a jazz routine to this song. Every time I hear it, I can still do the moves.
3. Bennie and the Jets, Elton John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EtCrHBq7Ds
Ok, so, I was notsomuch alive when this song was released, howeverrr - my daddy was. Yes, this song reminds me of a sunny day, a car wash, and driving around with my dad. This was the dad-is-a-superhero era (not that he still isn't, but his old magic tricks dont work so well on me anymore). Dad used to tell us what lyrics were going to come up before they did, so that we could all sing along.
4. Sex and Candy, Macy's Playground
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KT-r2vHeMM
Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg
Interstate Love Song, Stone Temple Pilots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppJLI3YqwaQ
Each of these songs reminds me of the same era in my life... when I first got into music.. and my DiscMan. These songs all take me back to teenage angst and Claire Danes in My So-Called Life. Me, 10-12, headphones in my ears, and talking to no one, in the car with the fam.
5. Sittin' Up in My Room, Brandy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM3AMfsvfzw
This song reminds me of a time before Ray J (or reality tv, or Kim K) and... well... sitting in my room... literally. It was that awkward age, when I didn't really want to be around my family, yet didn't really have other plans, other than the occasional mall date. So, instead, I did a lot of waiting by the radio, waiting for my fave songs to come on to record (on a tape, naturally) - or - on a special day - making requests/dedications on the radio. Yeh, that's right. Brandy was really there for me.
6. Waterfalls, TLC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WEtxJ4-sh4
You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPcyTyilmYY
And, when my social life developed past my bedroom - but close-by to the cul-de-sac park, we would listen to these songs on the boom box and practice cheerleading jumps.... and our Alicia Silverstone impressions.
7. I Ain't Mad at Cha, 2Pac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krxu9_dRUwQ
Then I fell in love, at the age of 13. And this was our song. (Only because we, of course, faught constantly and broke up every other day, and this was more the make-up song.) And I spent a significant amount of my time filling my planners with our weekly anniversaries and decorating my binders with his name. <3
8. I Don't Want to Be a Playa No More, Big Pun ft. Joe
And then, the most important thing to me became... needing a pager! If you asked my mom, they were for drug dealers - but, to me, all the cool kids did. Remember how you could have a song intro (which many of my clients STILL do on their phones) -- this was mine, forever. Because, yeh, I was so tired of bein' a playa (when I was 14).
9. In Da Club, 50 Cent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss
This takes me back to Vanderbilt - pregaming in the dorms. Specifically, my 19th birthday - when we hit the streets of Nashville and pretended it was my 21st. Goooood times.
10. Like a Prayer, Madonna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fzeNUqQbQ
I know - it seems a little out of order - but it isn't at all. Spring Break, 2003, Brownsville, TX. I was on a community service-based Alternative Spring Break Trip. One of the best times of my life with some of my favorite people ever. We played this song every morning as an "alarm" - and I can't hear it without thinking of that. Love.
Once I got going, I kept thinking of more and more... but I'll leave you with the top ten - in honor of TRL, another fave memory ;-) Thanks for coming on this magical, musical journey!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Your Inner Vixen
So, most of you are aware by now that I've declared 27 the year of the red lip. But, what you may not know, is that this is not just a major fashion decision/silly Facebook fodder. This is a lifestyle choice.
Let me explain: I have always admired red lipstick - on models, on actresses, and on my occasional fashion-forward friend. Ok, so, what's the problem? Every time I try it on, I think, "oh no... this isn't for me... I can't pull this off." I mean, forget "finding the right shade"... I needed a new face to do this. Perhaps Scarlett Johansson or Angelina Jolie could spare their lovely ones???
Also, let's be honest... red lips will really get you noticed. But, I never thought it was really in the *fun* kind of way, but rather in the, "Oh my gosh, look at that harlot, whodoesshethinksheis" kinda way.... and I just wasn't willing to be the butt of a stranger's joke for a little cosmetic satisfaction.
So... why now? Well, I didn't get a new face, in case you were wondering. But, I have decided to embrace it. To just... be satisfied. I'm still going to stick to the New Years mantras - eat healthier (um, tofu buffalo wings, yum!), work out (zumba and yoga, the new - for me - wave of fitness) - but, while I'm working towards my best, I'll be... satisfied. And, if, I don't know, my birthday takes a whole week (or month) to celebrate... I'll indulge when I want and skip the gym when I want.
And, as for being noticed (and maybe not even in a nice way)... well... I'm going to be fearless at 27 (or, apparently, at least highly optimistic). If you know me, you know I don't always shy away from attention... but, as much as I may love an audience (or a jury), please don't ask me to: order a pizza, send my food back when it's wrong, ask for a better deal, call customer service, talk to my boss... all of these things (and many more) have been known to reduce me to tears (or at the very least, anxiety). And, well... that's just silly.
This year, I will pick up the phone... and I will order pizza. Gone are the days of ordering exclusively from the places that allow me to do it online and avoid all person-to-person contact...
So, silly... maybe. But, with a purpose. And, I have to tell you the truth... I've tried out the look for two days in a row now... and the attention I've received... well, it hasn't been all bad.
Tips for red lips follow, in case you'd like to embrace your inner sex kitten this year ;-) (And, if you're a guy who is, for some reason, still reading this, make sure you give props to the ladies you see, rocking the look... trust me, it takes confidence).
Red lips Do's and Dont's:
http://beauty.about.com/od/howtos/a/redlips.htm
Suggestions to buy:
http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Makeup-Skin-Care/Red-Alert
The one I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Givenchy-Rouge-Interdit-Satin-Lipstick/dp/B001HV0PEM
Let me explain: I have always admired red lipstick - on models, on actresses, and on my occasional fashion-forward friend. Ok, so, what's the problem? Every time I try it on, I think, "oh no... this isn't for me... I can't pull this off." I mean, forget "finding the right shade"... I needed a new face to do this. Perhaps Scarlett Johansson or Angelina Jolie could spare their lovely ones???
Also, let's be honest... red lips will really get you noticed. But, I never thought it was really in the *fun* kind of way, but rather in the, "Oh my gosh, look at that harlot, whodoesshethinksheis" kinda way.... and I just wasn't willing to be the butt of a stranger's joke for a little cosmetic satisfaction.
So... why now? Well, I didn't get a new face, in case you were wondering. But, I have decided to embrace it. To just... be satisfied. I'm still going to stick to the New Years mantras - eat healthier (um, tofu buffalo wings, yum!), work out (zumba and yoga, the new - for me - wave of fitness) - but, while I'm working towards my best, I'll be... satisfied. And, if, I don't know, my birthday takes a whole week (or month) to celebrate... I'll indulge when I want and skip the gym when I want.
And, as for being noticed (and maybe not even in a nice way)... well... I'm going to be fearless at 27 (or, apparently, at least highly optimistic). If you know me, you know I don't always shy away from attention... but, as much as I may love an audience (or a jury), please don't ask me to: order a pizza, send my food back when it's wrong, ask for a better deal, call customer service, talk to my boss... all of these things (and many more) have been known to reduce me to tears (or at the very least, anxiety). And, well... that's just silly.
This year, I will pick up the phone... and I will order pizza. Gone are the days of ordering exclusively from the places that allow me to do it online and avoid all person-to-person contact...
So, silly... maybe. But, with a purpose. And, I have to tell you the truth... I've tried out the look for two days in a row now... and the attention I've received... well, it hasn't been all bad.
Tips for red lips follow, in case you'd like to embrace your inner sex kitten this year ;-) (And, if you're a guy who is, for some reason, still reading this, make sure you give props to the ladies you see, rocking the look... trust me, it takes confidence).
Red lips Do's and Dont's:
http://beauty.about.com/od/howtos/a/redlips.htm
Suggestions to buy:
http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Makeup-Skin-Care/Red-Alert
The one I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/Givenchy-Rouge-Interdit-Satin-Lipstick/dp/B001HV0PEM
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