The other day me and a couple of friends were helping a shop downtown by lifting and moving a few heavy flower boxes. One of my friends, who isn't the strongest of the group, got a peculiar surge of strength and lifted the box straight up and placed it on the shelf.
We are all shocked that she lifted the box. When she lifted, she let out a funny sound. It kind of sounded like a lion's deep roar. When she lifted it, we all laughed, and I said, "Whoa way to hulk out!."
It makes me laugh even more now that I read Rolling Stone's feature story on the history of Marvel's The Hulk. When I first clicked on this, it was unusual for me. I'm not a huge Marvel fan. I'm more into the Lord of the Rings fandom, but I clicked it on anyway.
I was immediently drawn into the story. I'm a fan of Mark Ruffalo, and he is the most recent guy to play the gentle green giant. The first paragraph talks about Ruffalo inconspicuously sitting on the subway in NYC. I thought it had just enough detail about what he was wearing and where he was. The writer Brian Hiatt compares Ruffalo to his character when he describes his face, clothes and demeanor.
It was a decently long piece that covered a lot of material. Sometimes when I'm reading long feature stories, I get lost. They cover so much background infomation and little details that it can be easy to forget what the point was. I didn't have that problem with this story.
I really liked how Hiatt takes a deeper look at Ruffalo. He even reveals that Ruffalo had a brain tumor that left him completely deaf in one year was he was younger. I love the part toward to the end when Hiatt talks about how after Ruffalo plays a character, he becomes extremely passionate about the character's interests. He tried to become a Marine after playing one, a senior-league wrestler after playing in Foxcatcher and anti-fracking activist after playing a superhero.
Overall, it was a great piece. The writing is what made me interested in something I'm typically not interested in.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
What's SUP?
After I attemped to do some research last week, I came up with nearly nothing. I was feeling pretty defeated due to the lack of articles I could find on women paddlers. Luckily, after securing my first interview for the article, my spirits were raised.
I went back to do more searching and found something I didn't see before. While there were still numerous posts about what boats work best for women, how women should date a paddler and how to paddle for cheap ... I did find something on stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing).
I love to SUP. For two summers I worked at an outdoor gear shop in Old Forge, New York. We were able to take out the tester boats for free on our lunch breaks or after our shifts. Last summer I hung up my trusty kayak and switched to stand-up paddle board. It's a little awkward at first because you need to find your perfect center and balance on a wobbly board, but it's actually a lot of fun. It helped me work on my posture and helped with my sore back.
While searching for women paddlers, I found Sup World Mag, an online SUP magazine. I found a piece that featured Nikki Gregg, a women SUP-er. After reading this, I felt very inspired. Although my focus won't be on SUP-ing, it showed me that this structure is one I can refer to.
She opens up the piece by discussing how women are looking for diversity in their water sports and the goes into the benefits this sport can offer them. Her introduction is brief, but this is exactly what I hope to talk about in a much more detailed setting.
She breaks her story up into subheads. The next talks about her personal story of getting into SUP. I have already found a face for my story, and this has made me even more excited to dive deeper into what led her to the water.
Gregg then talks about why you should SUP, women who are SUP-ing and how you can get started. This will be similar to my structure. I will talk about real-life women who are paddling in the ADKS that serve as realistic role models. I don't think I'll focus too heavily on how to get started, but I think it's important to mention it in my story.
I loved this. It was short, and it wasn't too in-depth, but it definitely gave me the little bit of excitement that I was lacking.
I went back to do more searching and found something I didn't see before. While there were still numerous posts about what boats work best for women, how women should date a paddler and how to paddle for cheap ... I did find something on stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing).
I love to SUP. For two summers I worked at an outdoor gear shop in Old Forge, New York. We were able to take out the tester boats for free on our lunch breaks or after our shifts. Last summer I hung up my trusty kayak and switched to stand-up paddle board. It's a little awkward at first because you need to find your perfect center and balance on a wobbly board, but it's actually a lot of fun. It helped me work on my posture and helped with my sore back.
While searching for women paddlers, I found Sup World Mag, an online SUP magazine. I found a piece that featured Nikki Gregg, a women SUP-er. After reading this, I felt very inspired. Although my focus won't be on SUP-ing, it showed me that this structure is one I can refer to.
She opens up the piece by discussing how women are looking for diversity in their water sports and the goes into the benefits this sport can offer them. Her introduction is brief, but this is exactly what I hope to talk about in a much more detailed setting.
She breaks her story up into subheads. The next talks about her personal story of getting into SUP. I have already found a face for my story, and this has made me even more excited to dive deeper into what led her to the water.
Gregg then talks about why you should SUP, women who are SUP-ing and how you can get started. This will be similar to my structure. I will talk about real-life women who are paddling in the ADKS that serve as realistic role models. I don't think I'll focus too heavily on how to get started, but I think it's important to mention it in my story.
I loved this. It was short, and it wasn't too in-depth, but it definitely gave me the little bit of excitement that I was lacking.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Where are all the women kayakers?
For my long article, I'm writing about women paddlers –– specifically
kayakers. I know this group of women from my hometown who are avid
Adirondack kayakers. They actually wrote a book, Women on Water, that
discussed the best places to kayak in the Adirondack area and what it's like to
be a woman paddler.
I'm interested in doing something on them because I also paddle. Women paddlers are becoming more popular, but the sport definitely doesn't get enough attention. Not many people know how prevalent kayaking/paddling is for women in the Adirondacks. And there's nothing better than dragging your kayak out on a sunny Saturday, dipping your toes in the sand and paddling out on the open water.
I found the lack of information to be especially true when I tried to search articles featuring women kayakers. I tried a variation of Google searches. I tried: women kayakers, women paddlers, women paddling ADK–– and everything in between. I found close to nothing on the topic, which was actually very surprising to me.
I did find one blog article, Death in the River, in Adirondack Life about a woman who wanted to try white water rafting (much different from leisurely kayaking). Tamara "Tammy" Blake and her partner, Rick, headed out to Hudson River Rafting Company’s base, Cunningham’s Ski Barn in North Creek, to try out the white water.
Apparently, it started out and ended badly. Their guide, Rory Fay, was drunk. The couple and guide hit a rock that led to them being flipped out of of the boat. It's described as a chaotic experience with Rory walking on foot to find Tammy and Rick buckling down in the raft, with little to no experience in white water rafting. Tammy floated downstream, flowing with the white currents. The worst case scenario happened: Tammy died. She drowned in the river that day.
Rory's toxicology report read that his blood alcohol level content was .30 –– a number you might see in a hospital emergency room, in patients brought in for acute alcohol poisoning, according to the article. The writer, Joe Connelly, did a great job with the details about the couple's guide. I loved the part when Connelly describes the contents of Rory's bag: a black sweatshirt, gum and two Gatorade bottles full of vodka. The mentioning of the vodka is when you know this article is going to end badly.
The article was very detailed and thorough. Connelly did an excellent job of covering the events of that dreaded day, and it's truly sad what happened to Tammy.
While this is a great cover story about paddling, it's not exactly what I had in mine when I was searching for related stories. Besides this piece, I mainly found stories covering male paddlers and a few pieces about "Why women should date a guy who paddles," –– barf.
Where are the women kayakers? It bums me out that I couldn't find any features on a strong woman who paddles! I find it frustrating because I know these women exist. I know handfuls of them. Working in Old Forge, New York, there are a number of women role models who paddle. I know women who teach Stand up paddling boarding (SUP) yoga, white water raft instructors, paddling competitors and women who just love to be on the water.
I think this is a timeless piece, but important to do something like this. Clearly from my findings, this isn't covered enough. I think women would really be able to relate to these women paddlers. The women in this paddle group are mothers, teachers, professionals and sisters. After reading about what happened to Tammy, who just wanted to learn to white water paddle, I think this is necessary. I'm sure women like Tammy are seeking out articles talking about women who are doing exactly what they wish they could do. Maybe something like this will be able to not only inspire women but also teach them.
I'm interested in doing something on them because I also paddle. Women paddlers are becoming more popular, but the sport definitely doesn't get enough attention. Not many people know how prevalent kayaking/paddling is for women in the Adirondacks. And there's nothing better than dragging your kayak out on a sunny Saturday, dipping your toes in the sand and paddling out on the open water.
I found the lack of information to be especially true when I tried to search articles featuring women kayakers. I tried a variation of Google searches. I tried: women kayakers, women paddlers, women paddling ADK–– and everything in between. I found close to nothing on the topic, which was actually very surprising to me.
I did find one blog article, Death in the River, in Adirondack Life about a woman who wanted to try white water rafting (much different from leisurely kayaking). Tamara "Tammy" Blake and her partner, Rick, headed out to Hudson River Rafting Company’s base, Cunningham’s Ski Barn in North Creek, to try out the white water.
Apparently, it started out and ended badly. Their guide, Rory Fay, was drunk. The couple and guide hit a rock that led to them being flipped out of of the boat. It's described as a chaotic experience with Rory walking on foot to find Tammy and Rick buckling down in the raft, with little to no experience in white water rafting. Tammy floated downstream, flowing with the white currents. The worst case scenario happened: Tammy died. She drowned in the river that day.
Rory's toxicology report read that his blood alcohol level content was .30 –– a number you might see in a hospital emergency room, in patients brought in for acute alcohol poisoning, according to the article. The writer, Joe Connelly, did a great job with the details about the couple's guide. I loved the part when Connelly describes the contents of Rory's bag: a black sweatshirt, gum and two Gatorade bottles full of vodka. The mentioning of the vodka is when you know this article is going to end badly.
The article was very detailed and thorough. Connelly did an excellent job of covering the events of that dreaded day, and it's truly sad what happened to Tammy.
While this is a great cover story about paddling, it's not exactly what I had in mine when I was searching for related stories. Besides this piece, I mainly found stories covering male paddlers and a few pieces about "Why women should date a guy who paddles," –– barf.
Where are the women kayakers? It bums me out that I couldn't find any features on a strong woman who paddles! I find it frustrating because I know these women exist. I know handfuls of them. Working in Old Forge, New York, there are a number of women role models who paddle. I know women who teach Stand up paddling boarding (SUP) yoga, white water raft instructors, paddling competitors and women who just love to be on the water.
I think this is a timeless piece, but important to do something like this. Clearly from my findings, this isn't covered enough. I think women would really be able to relate to these women paddlers. The women in this paddle group are mothers, teachers, professionals and sisters. After reading about what happened to Tammy, who just wanted to learn to white water paddle, I think this is necessary. I'm sure women like Tammy are seeking out articles talking about women who are doing exactly what they wish they could do. Maybe something like this will be able to not only inspire women but also teach them.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Starbucks sips on race
Early this week Rolling Stone wrote an article discussing Starbucks' decision to cancel their initiative program, "Race Together."
Starbucks and USA Today began an initiative to start "push for a much-needed national discussion." It consisted having their baristas write "#RaceTogether" on the customer's cups in hopes to start a conversation about race.
Starbucks' customers and social media users shut that down pretty quickly, though. The scrawling was met with some pretty fierce backlash, which even led the company's VP of Communications Corey duBrowa to delete his Twitter account.
Users began to mock the hashtag... as social medias users do. The hashtag definitely worked in their favor, though. Also, what a boring and barely thought out "campaign name."
The company promises that the campaign was completely innocent and their "intentions are pure." Starbucks' seemed pretty confused and shocked about the negative response. They essentially apologized, but it seemed a little empty.
Personally, I think the campaign was pretty lame and useless, but I don't believe they meant any harm by it. It's a little condescending for the their tagline to be a "push for a much-needed national discussion." I'm pretty sure that for over a year there has been numerous conversations about the sever issue of race discrimination.
Does Starbucks not follow the news? Seriously, come on.
It's a little tacky that a beverage company tried to make profit off of such a serious issue and call it an "initiative." Lame.
Starbucks should really just stick to creating delicious, over-priced drinks.
Oh, and happy birthday to the oh-so-tasty Starbucks frappuccino!
Starbucks and USA Today began an initiative to start "push for a much-needed national discussion." It consisted having their baristas write "#RaceTogether" on the customer's cups in hopes to start a conversation about race.
Starbucks' customers and social media users shut that down pretty quickly, though. The scrawling was met with some pretty fierce backlash, which even led the company's VP of Communications Corey duBrowa to delete his Twitter account.
Users began to mock the hashtag... as social medias users do. The hashtag definitely worked in their favor, though. Also, what a boring and barely thought out "campaign name."
The company promises that the campaign was completely innocent and their "intentions are pure." Starbucks' seemed pretty confused and shocked about the negative response. They essentially apologized, but it seemed a little empty.
Personally, I think the campaign was pretty lame and useless, but I don't believe they meant any harm by it. It's a little condescending for the their tagline to be a "push for a much-needed national discussion." I'm pretty sure that for over a year there has been numerous conversations about the sever issue of race discrimination.
Does Starbucks not follow the news? Seriously, come on.
It's a little tacky that a beverage company tried to make profit off of such a serious issue and call it an "initiative." Lame.
Starbucks should really just stick to creating delicious, over-priced drinks.
Oh, and happy birthday to the oh-so-tasty Starbucks frappuccino!
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Women for president!
In Glamour's January issue, I found a hidden gem beneath an article about Eva Longoria's "mission" and sitting just above a blurb about "Guy of the Month," Orlando Bloom.
The headline immediately caught my eye: Is America Ready for a Female President? Answer? Hell yes. I already knew my answer, but of course I had to read on. The main graphic glaring back at me featured powerful women whom I've admired for years. Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Kristin Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren and my personal favorite, Condoleezza Rice.
I breathed in the faint smell of a Dior perfume ad placed in the front of the magazine as I read the words, "Millions of Americans simply cannot accept the idea of a woman president."
Side Note: I felt guilty taking a second to divert my attention from the article, to flip to the perfume ad and lift the scented tab to smell it. I felt like the sexist people who disagree with this article were watching me, shaking their heads. Is that messed up or what?
Political analyst Jeff Greenfield wrote that very statement in Glamour almost 40 years ago, and now as the 2016 election creeps up, he's ready to readdress it.
It's been nine years since Hillary ran for president. It's been nine years since she was described as a "probable" and "imminent"candidate. It's been said her loss might have a result of bad tactics or strategy. But it can't be ignored that the upset may have been due to the inevitable sexism women face on a daily basis. Despite losing, it was still a step in the right direction. Maybe the world just wasn't ready for a strong, confident, high-heeled woman to be standing in the Oval office.
But according to a Pew poll in May, a full 71 percent of voters said gender would make no difference, and 19 percent said they'd be more likely to vote for a woman. Times are a changin'!
A lot has happened in the nine years. There was a record number of women nominated at the Emmys for directing, Yahoo hired Katie Couric as a global anchor and GoDaddy refused to create sexist Superbowl ads. These feats may seem small to some, but to a women attempting to enter the workforce, they mean the world. Those were just a couple of examples of women breaking down the gender barriers, but it proves we have made progress.
Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Proof? Currently, women's earnings are 78.3 percent compared to man. If that's enough to make your blood boil, then I don't know what is. That statistic makes me laugh. I sit in classes and work with both men and women each day, and knowing my male friends will end up making more money than me ... it kills me.
But Greenfield does a beautiful job of showing how women have taken the world by storm –– specifically in the political stomping grounds. He explains how in 2015, for the first time ever, more than 100 women will serve in Congress. Over the past four decades, 22 states have elected female governors. He agrees with me about women being able to overcome inequality hurtles, but not yet crossing the finish line. He just whips out statistics and information that proves we're well on our way to making history.
With a deep, diverse pool of possible women candidates, we have a chance to take the presidency by storm. I believe we're ready. I'm excited that I've reached an age where I like talking politics. I actually enjoy reading about what's going on, who's running, who stands for what, who spoke about what issue and where. I'm thrilled to hopefully be able to say I voted for the first woman president (depending on which candidates run!). I'm confident that sometime, maybe not in 2016, we will be seeing a woman president.
#womanpower
The headline immediately caught my eye: Is America Ready for a Female President? Answer? Hell yes. I already knew my answer, but of course I had to read on. The main graphic glaring back at me featured powerful women whom I've admired for years. Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Kristin Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren and my personal favorite, Condoleezza Rice.
I breathed in the faint smell of a Dior perfume ad placed in the front of the magazine as I read the words, "Millions of Americans simply cannot accept the idea of a woman president."
Side Note: I felt guilty taking a second to divert my attention from the article, to flip to the perfume ad and lift the scented tab to smell it. I felt like the sexist people who disagree with this article were watching me, shaking their heads. Is that messed up or what?
Political analyst Jeff Greenfield wrote that very statement in Glamour almost 40 years ago, and now as the 2016 election creeps up, he's ready to readdress it.
It's been nine years since Hillary ran for president. It's been nine years since she was described as a "probable" and "imminent"candidate. It's been said her loss might have a result of bad tactics or strategy. But it can't be ignored that the upset may have been due to the inevitable sexism women face on a daily basis. Despite losing, it was still a step in the right direction. Maybe the world just wasn't ready for a strong, confident, high-heeled woman to be standing in the Oval office.
But according to a Pew poll in May, a full 71 percent of voters said gender would make no difference, and 19 percent said they'd be more likely to vote for a woman. Times are a changin'!
A lot has happened in the nine years. There was a record number of women nominated at the Emmys for directing, Yahoo hired Katie Couric as a global anchor and GoDaddy refused to create sexist Superbowl ads. These feats may seem small to some, but to a women attempting to enter the workforce, they mean the world. Those were just a couple of examples of women breaking down the gender barriers, but it proves we have made progress.
Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Proof? Currently, women's earnings are 78.3 percent compared to man. If that's enough to make your blood boil, then I don't know what is. That statistic makes me laugh. I sit in classes and work with both men and women each day, and knowing my male friends will end up making more money than me ... it kills me.
But Greenfield does a beautiful job of showing how women have taken the world by storm –– specifically in the political stomping grounds. He explains how in 2015, for the first time ever, more than 100 women will serve in Congress. Over the past four decades, 22 states have elected female governors. He agrees with me about women being able to overcome inequality hurtles, but not yet crossing the finish line. He just whips out statistics and information that proves we're well on our way to making history.
With a deep, diverse pool of possible women candidates, we have a chance to take the presidency by storm. I believe we're ready. I'm excited that I've reached an age where I like talking politics. I actually enjoy reading about what's going on, who's running, who stands for what, who spoke about what issue and where. I'm thrilled to hopefully be able to say I voted for the first woman president (depending on which candidates run!). I'm confident that sometime, maybe not in 2016, we will be seeing a woman president.
#womanpower
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Slender Man's Liaisons
In Rolling Stone's February issue, they rehashed the details and new findings of the chilling case of the Slender Man killers.
In May 2014, almost a year ago, two Wisconsin girls lured their friend into the woods where they brutally stabbed her 19 times with a kitchen knife. Their motive? Slenderman made them do it.
Who is Slender Man? He's a fictional character that someone created in 2009 for a Photoshop contest. It gained extreme popularity among the Internet, where users rallied together and created a creepy Slender Man phenomenon.
I've followed this case since it was plastered all over the news last year, but I hadn't realized it was still ongoing. Apparently, new images have come to light, which could likely affect the trial. Rolling Stone says that graphic images from the girl's notebooks feature an elaborate killing plan, including dolls with red, blood-like smudges and a list of the essentials (including "the will to live" ... how creepy is that).
So, what are these insane images mean for the two underage, Slender Man killers? They might be getting a lighter sentencing. Insane. Last year, a Wisconsin judge said the girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weierm, were "mentally fit to stand trail." But now their attorneys are making a play for the trial to be moved to juvenile court. An obvious smart choice on their part.
Clearly these girls are a some type of unstable, but honestly, isn't everyone a little whacky?
There's a difference between having the capability to do something so incredibly heinous, like stabbing your friend 19 times, and actually stabbing your friend 19 times. Just because you're drawing disturbing images and planning what weapon to use on your friend doesn't mean you're mentally unfit –– it's called premeditated murder.
But hey, I'm no psychiatrist. I'm just a girl who watches a lot of Law and Order and Criminal Minds.
From the first time I read the details of the attempted murder, it sent chills down my spine. Now, reading the gruesome details about how they planned for pepper spray, a map of the woods and their weapon of choice, it's even more disturbing.
As of now, the girls will be charged as adults adults with first-degree intentional attempted homicide. Again, I'm no doctor, lawyer or anyone who would be substantial to the case –– but as someone who is qualified to sit a juror ... I would want to see them charged as the latter.
Who knows, maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe they really are a couple of loose screws rolling around on this Earth, and they belong in a mental facility instead of behind bars. I guess I would be happy as long as their unable to get together and plot crimes.
I just believe in the good ole saying, "Don't commit the crime, if you can't do the time."
In May 2014, almost a year ago, two Wisconsin girls lured their friend into the woods where they brutally stabbed her 19 times with a kitchen knife. Their motive? Slenderman made them do it.
Who is Slender Man? He's a fictional character that someone created in 2009 for a Photoshop contest. It gained extreme popularity among the Internet, where users rallied together and created a creepy Slender Man phenomenon.
I've followed this case since it was plastered all over the news last year, but I hadn't realized it was still ongoing. Apparently, new images have come to light, which could likely affect the trial. Rolling Stone says that graphic images from the girl's notebooks feature an elaborate killing plan, including dolls with red, blood-like smudges and a list of the essentials (including "the will to live" ... how creepy is that).
So, what are these insane images mean for the two underage, Slender Man killers? They might be getting a lighter sentencing. Insane. Last year, a Wisconsin judge said the girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weierm, were "mentally fit to stand trail." But now their attorneys are making a play for the trial to be moved to juvenile court. An obvious smart choice on their part.
Clearly these girls are a some type of unstable, but honestly, isn't everyone a little whacky?
There's a difference between having the capability to do something so incredibly heinous, like stabbing your friend 19 times, and actually stabbing your friend 19 times. Just because you're drawing disturbing images and planning what weapon to use on your friend doesn't mean you're mentally unfit –– it's called premeditated murder.
But hey, I'm no psychiatrist. I'm just a girl who watches a lot of Law and Order and Criminal Minds.
From the first time I read the details of the attempted murder, it sent chills down my spine. Now, reading the gruesome details about how they planned for pepper spray, a map of the woods and their weapon of choice, it's even more disturbing.
As of now, the girls will be charged as adults adults with first-degree intentional attempted homicide. Again, I'm no doctor, lawyer or anyone who would be substantial to the case –– but as someone who is qualified to sit a juror ... I would want to see them charged as the latter.
Who knows, maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe they really are a couple of loose screws rolling around on this Earth, and they belong in a mental facility instead of behind bars. I guess I would be happy as long as their unable to get together and plot crimes.
I just believe in the good ole saying, "Don't commit the crime, if you can't do the time."
Sunday, March 1, 2015
SNL takes on ISIS
So, Saturday Night Live is back at it. They recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary, and I couldn't be happier with the extra long special episode they put it out. Congratualtions SNL!
They're also back at it with their occasional distasteful humor. This past Saturday night they had 50 Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson on as a special guest. She starred in a video where she's saying goodbye to her dad (Taran Killam). You assume by the camo backpack and her tearful goodbye to her dad that she's joining the military — until she's says "Dad, it's just ISIS," and winks at him.
You could hear the audience laughing in the background, but I was more confused than anything. A jeep with men dressed as ISIS members roll up to pick Johnson up, and they shoot into the air as they drive away.
Honestly, I'm pretty tolerable about SNL and their skits. I don't take anything too personally or question their motives often, but this one had my eyebrow raised.
I know that they're goal is to take things that are taken seriously and warp them into a comedy skit. They don't make light of sitatutions to be hurtful, but I thought this one went a little too far. Men have been brutally beheaded by this group, and it doesn't seem to be ending soon. We haven't met a common ground with them, so the brutality isn't coming to an end.
When I saw the skit, I wondered if any of the ISIS victim's parents were at home watching this episode. It was a chilling feeling. I wonder what American journalist Steven Sotloff's family would think if they saw the skit making light of the terrorist group. The terrorist group that beheaded their loved one.
I'm curious to know what the thought process of this skit was. Who came up with it? It must have gone through a number of people in the progression, but no one thought it was inappropriate? I wonder what the conversation was around this production, the costume choices, the script, the choice of actors ... it's just very bizzare to me that this was something they chose to highlight.
There are so many other things out there to pick on. What about this stupid black/blue, gold/white dress debate? I'm sure there are some celebrities who have said something stupid to the media or a cat who did something on the Internet.
I love SNL. I've always said my dream job would be to work in some capacity with the cast and writers, but this just wasn't a skit I could laugh at.
Check out the spoof below.
They're also back at it with their occasional distasteful humor. This past Saturday night they had 50 Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson on as a special guest. She starred in a video where she's saying goodbye to her dad (Taran Killam). You assume by the camo backpack and her tearful goodbye to her dad that she's joining the military — until she's says "Dad, it's just ISIS," and winks at him.
You could hear the audience laughing in the background, but I was more confused than anything. A jeep with men dressed as ISIS members roll up to pick Johnson up, and they shoot into the air as they drive away.
Honestly, I'm pretty tolerable about SNL and their skits. I don't take anything too personally or question their motives often, but this one had my eyebrow raised.
I know that they're goal is to take things that are taken seriously and warp them into a comedy skit. They don't make light of sitatutions to be hurtful, but I thought this one went a little too far. Men have been brutally beheaded by this group, and it doesn't seem to be ending soon. We haven't met a common ground with them, so the brutality isn't coming to an end.
When I saw the skit, I wondered if any of the ISIS victim's parents were at home watching this episode. It was a chilling feeling. I wonder what American journalist Steven Sotloff's family would think if they saw the skit making light of the terrorist group. The terrorist group that beheaded their loved one.
I'm curious to know what the thought process of this skit was. Who came up with it? It must have gone through a number of people in the progression, but no one thought it was inappropriate? I wonder what the conversation was around this production, the costume choices, the script, the choice of actors ... it's just very bizzare to me that this was something they chose to highlight.
There are so many other things out there to pick on. What about this stupid black/blue, gold/white dress debate? I'm sure there are some celebrities who have said something stupid to the media or a cat who did something on the Internet.
I love SNL. I've always said my dream job would be to work in some capacity with the cast and writers, but this just wasn't a skit I could laugh at.
Check out the spoof below.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Nepotism knows no boundaries
In Rolling Stone's January issue, they printed a short article about Simon Rich, a 30-year-old Harvard alum. The article mainly speaks to his new comedy television show, "Man Seeking Woman" The novelist turned television writer has some pretty deep family connections in the media world. His brother is a Rolling Stone contributor and his father is New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich.
Simon ran the Harvard humor publication, The Lampoon, and then became one of the youngest writers in Saturday Night Live history, and he even collaborates with Portlandia (one of my favorite shows by the way) writers for his show. With all his major accomplishments at such a young age, it makes me wonder if any of those had to do with certain family connections. I've never thought much of nepotism in relation to my career, but this article made me stop and think about it.
For those who don't know what nepotism is, it's favoritism because of family connections. You could say the Kardashians are prime example of this. Almost every member of this tanned, big-bootied family tree has fallen off and hit every nepotism branch on the way down. You could say Kim got her start because of her father's success. He was O.J. Simpson's defense attorney. Her younger sister Kendall has become one of the hottest models on both the runway and print, and her youngest sister Kylie was just in the infamous Kanye West Adidas fashion show at New York Fashion Week. Not too shabby for being only 17 with little to no modeling experience.
Although Rolling Stone only briefly mentions the Rich family tree, they did mention it. To be honest, I don't believe it was completely necessary to the story, if anything it takes away from story. Simon's resume is pretty accomplished, and it's a profile focusing on his new television show. What does it matter that his father is a big time writer and his brother contributes to the very magazine he's being featured in?
I guess it just made realize that nepotism is alive and well, my friends.
Simon ran the Harvard humor publication, The Lampoon, and then became one of the youngest writers in Saturday Night Live history, and he even collaborates with Portlandia (one of my favorite shows by the way) writers for his show. With all his major accomplishments at such a young age, it makes me wonder if any of those had to do with certain family connections. I've never thought much of nepotism in relation to my career, but this article made me stop and think about it.
For those who don't know what nepotism is, it's favoritism because of family connections. You could say the Kardashians are prime example of this. Almost every member of this tanned, big-bootied family tree has fallen off and hit every nepotism branch on the way down. You could say Kim got her start because of her father's success. He was O.J. Simpson's defense attorney. Her younger sister Kendall has become one of the hottest models on both the runway and print, and her youngest sister Kylie was just in the infamous Kanye West Adidas fashion show at New York Fashion Week. Not too shabby for being only 17 with little to no modeling experience.
Although Rolling Stone only briefly mentions the Rich family tree, they did mention it. To be honest, I don't believe it was completely necessary to the story, if anything it takes away from story. Simon's resume is pretty accomplished, and it's a profile focusing on his new television show. What does it matter that his father is a big time writer and his brother contributes to the very magazine he's being featured in?
I guess it just made realize that nepotism is alive and well, my friends.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
"The Throwaways"
"The Throwaways" was an incredible article. It would be tough to not enjoy a piece that covered a tragic, interesting topic with such ease. At first the length of the article deterred me from setting time aside to read it in its entirety, but after the first paragraph I became so immersed in Sarah Stillman's words that I finished it in no time.
With recent events focused on law enforcement and people questioning said law enforcement, reading this article could have not come at a better time for me. I find myself going back and forth on a lot of issues, especially issues concerning police officers and the criminal-justice system. I find it incredibly hard to accept that a system set in place to protect us from certain evils can end up to be corrupt and essentially a system with such critical flaws. I always try to find an excuse or silver lining in cases when the system fails or makes horrible and even deadly mistakes, but this article has helped to make me question my willingness to even attempt to defend our system that is really suffering at the moment.
This article was written in a tone that was sympathetic to the victims and their families. I actually found that to be extremely refreshing. Stillman was not laying blame or pointing pitchforks, but was relaying the facts of an issue that has been so terribly overlooked. She was informative, but also narrative. Her voice in this article differs from something you would read in a newspaper by the obvious narrative tone but also the fact that you can clearly see her point of view on the issue. While she does let you know how she feels by the tone in the story, she does not shove her beliefs down your throat. She makes a point, but also stays informative.
Stillman makes a point by using Police Chief Jones quote twice in the story. “I’m calling her a criminal,” Jones told him. She later repeats this quote when Hoffman's father tells her he watches this clip from time to time.
I think she does an incredible job of finding people who have been affected by making a deal to become a confidential informant. She finds families with heart-wrenching stories of their children being ripped away from them due to the increasing lack of responsibility these police officers are taking. She introduces you to these family members and allows you to get know the criminal informants that lost their lives because of it. When she brings Shelly and Mitchell McLean into the article, she allows you to see their son Jeremy through their eyes. She explains the first time she met them and how they brought some of his belongings, like his Hot Wheels and baby teeth.
Stillman's article also differs from something in a newspaper or Buzzfeed because her attention to detail is strong. She was able to explain the death of these victims, their appearances, their families, how they grew up and how they lived in fear. She gave me chills in a way that newspapers and sites like Buzzfeed just aren't able to do.
I thought it was an excellent, entertaining and informative article. I'll definitely be reading more into this issue and more of Sarah Stillman's work.
Below is the link to Sarah Stillman's "The Throwaways"
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/09/03/the-throwaways
With recent events focused on law enforcement and people questioning said law enforcement, reading this article could have not come at a better time for me. I find myself going back and forth on a lot of issues, especially issues concerning police officers and the criminal-justice system. I find it incredibly hard to accept that a system set in place to protect us from certain evils can end up to be corrupt and essentially a system with such critical flaws. I always try to find an excuse or silver lining in cases when the system fails or makes horrible and even deadly mistakes, but this article has helped to make me question my willingness to even attempt to defend our system that is really suffering at the moment.
This article was written in a tone that was sympathetic to the victims and their families. I actually found that to be extremely refreshing. Stillman was not laying blame or pointing pitchforks, but was relaying the facts of an issue that has been so terribly overlooked. She was informative, but also narrative. Her voice in this article differs from something you would read in a newspaper by the obvious narrative tone but also the fact that you can clearly see her point of view on the issue. While she does let you know how she feels by the tone in the story, she does not shove her beliefs down your throat. She makes a point, but also stays informative.
Stillman makes a point by using Police Chief Jones quote twice in the story. “I’m calling her a criminal,” Jones told him. She later repeats this quote when Hoffman's father tells her he watches this clip from time to time.
I think she does an incredible job of finding people who have been affected by making a deal to become a confidential informant. She finds families with heart-wrenching stories of their children being ripped away from them due to the increasing lack of responsibility these police officers are taking. She introduces you to these family members and allows you to get know the criminal informants that lost their lives because of it. When she brings Shelly and Mitchell McLean into the article, she allows you to see their son Jeremy through their eyes. She explains the first time she met them and how they brought some of his belongings, like his Hot Wheels and baby teeth.
Stillman's article also differs from something in a newspaper or Buzzfeed because her attention to detail is strong. She was able to explain the death of these victims, their appearances, their families, how they grew up and how they lived in fear. She gave me chills in a way that newspapers and sites like Buzzfeed just aren't able to do.
I thought it was an excellent, entertaining and informative article. I'll definitely be reading more into this issue and more of Sarah Stillman's work.
Below is the link to Sarah Stillman's "The Throwaways"
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/09/03/the-throwaways
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Slippery roads
It's about that time of year that the holidays are coming and we're all headed home from Thanksgiving/Christmas break. I love this time of year, not because of Christmas or anything like that, but because I love spending time with my family. I like the snow, the red and green and gold decorations and the smells of cinnamon candles.
I DON'T LIKE driving in the snow, though. I actually hate it. I've lived in a little rural town out in the sticks my whole life. I've had to drive on back roads in snowstorms and survived, but I've never gotten over the fear or driving on a slippery road in the dark. I have snow tires and a good winter car, yeah yeah but still, I never feel completely safe when I'm on the road with snow.
Just the other day, my friend's dad rolled their Subaru (a GREAT winter car) when he was coming down the hill by their house. He was taking their cat to the vet, and lost control on the slippery roads. Luckily both he and Skittles are okay, but terrifying nonetheless.
So, when you're all driving home or wherever you're headed over break, PLEASE be careful. Drive slow. Take the extra 30 minutes to get where you're going if that means you'll get their alive.
I DON'T LIKE driving in the snow, though. I actually hate it. I've lived in a little rural town out in the sticks my whole life. I've had to drive on back roads in snowstorms and survived, but I've never gotten over the fear or driving on a slippery road in the dark. I have snow tires and a good winter car, yeah yeah but still, I never feel completely safe when I'm on the road with snow.
Just the other day, my friend's dad rolled their Subaru (a GREAT winter car) when he was coming down the hill by their house. He was taking their cat to the vet, and lost control on the slippery roads. Luckily both he and Skittles are okay, but terrifying nonetheless.
So, when you're all driving home or wherever you're headed over break, PLEASE be careful. Drive slow. Take the extra 30 minutes to get where you're going if that means you'll get their alive.
Black Friday blues
BLACK FRIDAY.
Or should I should I say Black Thursday? Unless you're living under a rock, you probably know about the infamous "holiday" that is Black Friday. This is the day where all the shoppers looking for a bargain head out to the stores and compete for marked down items.
Personally, I've never been interested in this shopping day. I love to shop, but I can't deal with the massive crowds. More than that though, I really dislike how people become basically brainwashed by big business in the weeks, sometimes even longer, leading up to this day.
Now, these businesses have decided to get a jump on the day and begin their sales on Thursday evenings. This irritates me because Thursday is Thanksgiving. People travel from all the over to be with their families and eat together, but now these stores have offered these "massive deals" on the day of Thanksgiving. These deals tempt those who are looking to save some money for Christmas or birthday presents. Not to mention the obvious issues that revolve around this day like forcing retail workers to work on Thanksgiving and the mad rush of sometimes angry people which can lead to injuries or death.
Basically, Black Friday sucks.
Or should I should I say Black Thursday? Unless you're living under a rock, you probably know about the infamous "holiday" that is Black Friday. This is the day where all the shoppers looking for a bargain head out to the stores and compete for marked down items.
Personally, I've never been interested in this shopping day. I love to shop, but I can't deal with the massive crowds. More than that though, I really dislike how people become basically brainwashed by big business in the weeks, sometimes even longer, leading up to this day.
Now, these businesses have decided to get a jump on the day and begin their sales on Thursday evenings. This irritates me because Thursday is Thanksgiving. People travel from all the over to be with their families and eat together, but now these stores have offered these "massive deals" on the day of Thanksgiving. These deals tempt those who are looking to save some money for Christmas or birthday presents. Not to mention the obvious issues that revolve around this day like forcing retail workers to work on Thanksgiving and the mad rush of sometimes angry people which can lead to injuries or death.
Basically, Black Friday sucks.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Test anxiety
As Thanksgiving is coming around the corner, finals week is right behind it. As a senior in college, I know finals week too well. I've battled and survived six semesters and six finals weeks. I know what's coming. I know that I will be stressing out, reciting definitions and terms in the shower, walking and studying index cards at the same time and wishing I began studying weeks in advance.
That routine has yet to change for me. Another thing that hasn't changed for me, is my loathing of cumulative tests. I know it's always voiced, but I truly feel that cummulative tests do not effectively measure my knowledge on a subject. I don't see the point in learning all semester and then being handed a 50 question multiple choice test.
Like many others, I have test anxiety. Even if I studied day and night for a week, I don't think I would be able to successfully answer every question right on a test. I get nervous, my palms sweat and I can feel my heartbeat racing when I sit down and flip through a six page test.
I love being handed a test that offers short answer or an essay portion. For me, being able to explain myself and explain what I'm thinking is much more effective for me. I can convey what I've learning easier than trying to deduce the answer from four given answers.
I know that multiple choice works for some students, but I also know I'm not alone in the essay department. I think that professors should offer a choice or offer both options. I'm not sure if that's even possible, but I would love to be able to walk into a test and feel confident that I can explain my train of thought rather than be drilled with questions and given four possible answers that often seem like a trick. #college
That routine has yet to change for me. Another thing that hasn't changed for me, is my loathing of cumulative tests. I know it's always voiced, but I truly feel that cummulative tests do not effectively measure my knowledge on a subject. I don't see the point in learning all semester and then being handed a 50 question multiple choice test.
Like many others, I have test anxiety. Even if I studied day and night for a week, I don't think I would be able to successfully answer every question right on a test. I get nervous, my palms sweat and I can feel my heartbeat racing when I sit down and flip through a six page test.
I love being handed a test that offers short answer or an essay portion. For me, being able to explain myself and explain what I'm thinking is much more effective for me. I can convey what I've learning easier than trying to deduce the answer from four given answers.
I know that multiple choice works for some students, but I also know I'm not alone in the essay department. I think that professors should offer a choice or offer both options. I'm not sure if that's even possible, but I would love to be able to walk into a test and feel confident that I can explain my train of thought rather than be drilled with questions and given four possible answers that often seem like a trick. #college
Kim attempts to break the Internet
I'm sure you all have seen Kim Kardashian's attempt at "breaking the Internet." Last week, celebrity Kim Kardashian posed for Paper magazine in her birthday suit in a revealing photo-shoot in which she was trying to shut down the Internet with people frantically searching.
Now, Kim's latest attention-grabbing move didn't come without negative criticism. It's hard for the Karadashian sister to do anything without getting comments from people who are less than approving of her lifestyle and fame.
One criticism I'm focusing on is one that isn't being talked about much. This isn't criticism for Kim, it's criticism for the fans.
Just a few months ago 'Charmed' star, Alyssa Milano posted a photo to Instagram of her breastfeeding her newborn baby. She was wearing a t-shirt –– not even showing her nipple. There was outrage amongst the Instagram community, and the photo was removed.
OK. What? How is something that is supposed to be a natural interaction between mother and baby considered "inappropriate," but Kim can bear her bare ass, and pose full frontal, naked? It's actually ridiculous that people are so uncomfortable by a woman's natural human body, but have no problem with admiring an oiled up naked posed body.
This isn't targeted toward Kim or the photographers. I disagree with the photographer's choice, based off of other cultural reasons. I'm just saying that I find it repulsive that people continue to shame women for BREASTFEEDING. I mean, come on.
Now, Kim's latest attention-grabbing move didn't come without negative criticism. It's hard for the Karadashian sister to do anything without getting comments from people who are less than approving of her lifestyle and fame.
One criticism I'm focusing on is one that isn't being talked about much. This isn't criticism for Kim, it's criticism for the fans.
Just a few months ago 'Charmed' star, Alyssa Milano posted a photo to Instagram of her breastfeeding her newborn baby. She was wearing a t-shirt –– not even showing her nipple. There was outrage amongst the Instagram community, and the photo was removed.
OK. What? How is something that is supposed to be a natural interaction between mother and baby considered "inappropriate," but Kim can bear her bare ass, and pose full frontal, naked? It's actually ridiculous that people are so uncomfortable by a woman's natural human body, but have no problem with admiring an oiled up naked posed body.
This isn't targeted toward Kim or the photographers. I disagree with the photographer's choice, based off of other cultural reasons. I'm just saying that I find it repulsive that people continue to shame women for BREASTFEEDING. I mean, come on.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Swift (Again)
Apparently I'm on the Taylor Swift support wagon. But this a follow-up to my post from last week, "Shake it Off -- Swift Style." In my last post I expressed my distaste of the people who despise and shame Swift for being herself... a cheery, young singer who seemingly has a heart of gold.
Just the other day pictures of Taylor Swift with a fan went viral. Swift was out running in a park in Nashville. When she was running, she ran into a fan who was getting her photo taken. Swift surprised her by crashing her photo shoot. They took goofy pictures, both smiling ear-to-ear.
The little girl took to Twitter to express her happiness and how "sweet" it was of Swift to "maker her dreams come true."
BR>
It just enforces what I said last week. People are kind. Don't hate/shame them for being kind, just because it may come across "fake" to you. Instead, why don't we hate the people who kidnap women off the streets, like the man who took a women two weeks ago in Philadelphia. (She was found and is now safe at home, btw!)
Just the other day pictures of Taylor Swift with a fan went viral. Swift was out running in a park in Nashville. When she was running, she ran into a fan who was getting her photo taken. Swift surprised her by crashing her photo shoot. They took goofy pictures, both smiling ear-to-ear.
The little girl took to Twitter to express her happiness and how "sweet" it was of Swift to "maker her dreams come true."
BR>
It just enforces what I said last week. People are kind. Don't hate/shame them for being kind, just because it may come across "fake" to you. Instead, why don't we hate the people who kidnap women off the streets, like the man who took a women two weeks ago in Philadelphia. (She was found and is now safe at home, btw!)
"The Perfect Body"
Victoria's Secret recently launched it's new advertisement with the tagline "the perfect body," but it soon came with criticism. The advertisement was for Victoria's Secrets new "body" bra." The tagline over the photo of perfectly tall, shiny, thin women, read "The Perfect Body."
With the positive body image movement if full swing right now, the lingerie store should have expected to receive some major backlash from shoppers and supporters of the movement. The backlash came in different forms. A petition from Change.org started a petition with over 27,000 signatures requesting that Victoria's Secret apologize and change the campaign.
A Change.org petition requesting that Victoria's Secret apologize and change the campaign had over 27,000 signatures at the time of writing. The underwear brand, Dear Kate, released their own campaign similar to Victoria's Secrets. Instead of all "perfect models" the ad featured diverse women of all colors and sizes.
The shop silently changed the advertisement online to "A Body for Every Body." There was no statement of public outreach. I find it refreshing that a major company actually listened to the outcry of it's customers. It's not often that a company releases an advertisement and then changes it when they see the customers are unhappy. It's been said a million times... but I'll say it again. There is no "perfect body" Every body is beautiful, every person is beautiful. If influential companies are encouraging this idea that one body is better than the other, then we'll never make the progress we need in order for all women to be comfortable in their own skin.
With the positive body image movement if full swing right now, the lingerie store should have expected to receive some major backlash from shoppers and supporters of the movement. The backlash came in different forms. A petition from Change.org started a petition with over 27,000 signatures requesting that Victoria's Secret apologize and change the campaign.
A Change.org petition requesting that Victoria's Secret apologize and change the campaign had over 27,000 signatures at the time of writing. The underwear brand, Dear Kate, released their own campaign similar to Victoria's Secrets. Instead of all "perfect models" the ad featured diverse women of all colors and sizes.
The shop silently changed the advertisement online to "A Body for Every Body." There was no statement of public outreach. I find it refreshing that a major company actually listened to the outcry of it's customers. It's not often that a company releases an advertisement and then changes it when they see the customers are unhappy. It's been said a million times... but I'll say it again. There is no "perfect body" Every body is beautiful, every person is beautiful. If influential companies are encouraging this idea that one body is better than the other, then we'll never make the progress we need in order for all women to be comfortable in their own skin.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Shake it off — Swift style
"I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. I shake it off, I shake it off," These are the lyrics stuck in everyone's head the past month or so... it's Taylor Swift's mega hit "Shake it Off." Of course, Taylor's hit isn't warmly welcomed into many people's musical minds. Her hit, like most of her others, is greeted with people groaning and grunting about "how it annoying she is."
OK, it's fine to not like Taylor Swift — you can not like whomever you want. But, what bugs me is that people write her off as this blonde bimbo who dances and sings annoying songs about her ex-boyfriends. People constantly criticize her for dating a bunch of guys and then writing songs about them. What's wrong with that? She's channeling her emotions and energy into music, which happens to be her CAREER, and she makes money from that. How is that different from writers writing poems about their epic love tales and break ups?
Taylor's music can be a little too poppy for me sometimes, but it's great cruising with your windows down kind of music or dancing in the kitchen while you clean kind of music. I feel as if people forget she's a person, too. She's a young woman who dates, likes cats, loves baking and stays out of trouble — unlike many other Hollywood stars.
Love or hate Taylor Swift... it doesn't really matter, but stop criticizing the shit out of her just because she writes bubbly songs, bitching about her ex-boyfriends. I know for a fact that some of those people who are complaining that she's annoying because "that's all she does" are the ones who won't shut up about the guy or girl who they just broke up with.
Shake it off, ya'll.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM
OK, it's fine to not like Taylor Swift — you can not like whomever you want. But, what bugs me is that people write her off as this blonde bimbo who dances and sings annoying songs about her ex-boyfriends. People constantly criticize her for dating a bunch of guys and then writing songs about them. What's wrong with that? She's channeling her emotions and energy into music, which happens to be her CAREER, and she makes money from that. How is that different from writers writing poems about their epic love tales and break ups?
Taylor's music can be a little too poppy for me sometimes, but it's great cruising with your windows down kind of music or dancing in the kitchen while you clean kind of music. I feel as if people forget she's a person, too. She's a young woman who dates, likes cats, loves baking and stays out of trouble — unlike many other Hollywood stars.
Love or hate Taylor Swift... it doesn't really matter, but stop criticizing the shit out of her just because she writes bubbly songs, bitching about her ex-boyfriends. I know for a fact that some of those people who are complaining that she's annoying because "that's all she does" are the ones who won't shut up about the guy or girl who they just broke up with.
Shake it off, ya'll.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM
Philly stole my wallet
So, this past week I attended the ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in Philadelphia. I went as a member of our student-run newspaper, Cardinal Points. I was super excited to attend this year because I had an awesome time at the last convention in New Orleans. I love going to the sessions with my notepad and scribbling down all of the tips the presenters (who are successful and usually pretty cool) have to say.
I packed all of my stuff and headed to the historical city in van with 7 other Cardinal Points members and our adviser. I was ready to learn, have a few drinks (I'm 21!) and hang out with my friends. I've never been to Philly, so I was psyched to see what the city had to offer.
Now, I'm from a small town. When I say small, I mean TINY. I graduated with about 30 people. It's insanely small. But I love it there. It's quiet, surrounded by beautiful views, farms, trees and family. I love going home because I always feel safe there. I've been to large cities both in the United States and abroad. I like to think that I've moved past the basic "touristy" person who makes dumb mistakes. That is... until I went to Philly and proved myself wrong.
On our third night in the city, I found myself at an Indian restaurant with a couple other Cardinal Points members. We were the only ones in the restaurant around dinner time... a little weird, but nothing to be too concerned about. It was a bit of a "hole-in-the-wall" kind of place. We sat down, and immediately the waiter gave off creeper vibes.
We contemplated leaving, but we were so hungry that we deicded to stay. Big mistake.
The waiter grew increasingly more creepy and annoying. He kept telling stories about his girlfriend back in India, showing us pictures on his phone, asking us irrelevant questions and just lingering around the table. As we began to eat our food, we noticed a strange man sitting behind us for just a few minutes. He got up, spoke to the man in a whisper and left.
We barely noticed it.
When it was time to pay, I saw that my wallet was missing. Shit.
I didn't think about it atthe time, but everything about that experience at the restaurant led me to believe I had been scammed and robbed by these guys. I checked my bank statements, and I saw I had over $400 in charges. UGH.
I cancelled my cards and called the police. They were less than helpful.
I lost two credit cards, my student ID, my license, $25 and a number of gift cards.
I could go on forever about how upset and pissed off I was that I didn't listen to my gut when I thought I should leave, but that will get me nowhere. Lesson learned: ALWAYS listen to what you're gut is saying!
I packed all of my stuff and headed to the historical city in van with 7 other Cardinal Points members and our adviser. I was ready to learn, have a few drinks (I'm 21!) and hang out with my friends. I've never been to Philly, so I was psyched to see what the city had to offer.
Now, I'm from a small town. When I say small, I mean TINY. I graduated with about 30 people. It's insanely small. But I love it there. It's quiet, surrounded by beautiful views, farms, trees and family. I love going home because I always feel safe there. I've been to large cities both in the United States and abroad. I like to think that I've moved past the basic "touristy" person who makes dumb mistakes. That is... until I went to Philly and proved myself wrong.
On our third night in the city, I found myself at an Indian restaurant with a couple other Cardinal Points members. We were the only ones in the restaurant around dinner time... a little weird, but nothing to be too concerned about. It was a bit of a "hole-in-the-wall" kind of place. We sat down, and immediately the waiter gave off creeper vibes.
We contemplated leaving, but we were so hungry that we deicded to stay. Big mistake.
The waiter grew increasingly more creepy and annoying. He kept telling stories about his girlfriend back in India, showing us pictures on his phone, asking us irrelevant questions and just lingering around the table. As we began to eat our food, we noticed a strange man sitting behind us for just a few minutes. He got up, spoke to the man in a whisper and left.
We barely noticed it.
When it was time to pay, I saw that my wallet was missing. Shit.
I didn't think about it atthe time, but everything about that experience at the restaurant led me to believe I had been scammed and robbed by these guys. I checked my bank statements, and I saw I had over $400 in charges. UGH.
I cancelled my cards and called the police. They were less than helpful.
I lost two credit cards, my student ID, my license, $25 and a number of gift cards.
I could go on forever about how upset and pissed off I was that I didn't listen to my gut when I thought I should leave, but that will get me nowhere. Lesson learned: ALWAYS listen to what you're gut is saying!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Little girls swear for feminism
I'm assuming everyone has seen the viral video going around from the Upworthy organization that features little girls cursing like sailors to prove a point. My question? What is the point they're trying to make? I can't remember because I was distracted by the fluffy pink dresses, crowns and curse words flying out of their mouths every other word.
I am not against swearing. I curse all the time. It's a bad habit that I'm trying to real in a bit, but I feel it's part of my expression. What I don't think is OK is when little girls are fed scripts that say, "Here say this, say that" and in between the message there are hundred curse words. Do they even know what they're saying a why? Probably not.
The messages they're trying to get across are something along the lines of women's rights and women's equality –– again I'm not still 100 percent sure because of the confusion I felt when I saw this sad attempt at an informational video.
I'm involved with women's rights club and I am self-proclaimed feminist. I love the fact that they're trying to educate the public about issues women are facing, such as pay inequality. I also like the fact they're encouraging young girls to express themselves and let themselves be heard, in whatever way they choose. But the way they executed this video was so terrible. It really served little purpose, expect causing controversy. Maybe that's all they want, who knows.
I do know that when I'm showing motivational, educational videos that feature woman power and women's rights to my four-year-old niece, I won't be showing this piece of shit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ny11qBaQp0
I am not against swearing. I curse all the time. It's a bad habit that I'm trying to real in a bit, but I feel it's part of my expression. What I don't think is OK is when little girls are fed scripts that say, "Here say this, say that" and in between the message there are hundred curse words. Do they even know what they're saying a why? Probably not.
The messages they're trying to get across are something along the lines of women's rights and women's equality –– again I'm not still 100 percent sure because of the confusion I felt when I saw this sad attempt at an informational video.
I'm involved with women's rights club and I am self-proclaimed feminist. I love the fact that they're trying to educate the public about issues women are facing, such as pay inequality. I also like the fact they're encouraging young girls to express themselves and let themselves be heard, in whatever way they choose. But the way they executed this video was so terrible. It really served little purpose, expect causing controversy. Maybe that's all they want, who knows.
I do know that when I'm showing motivational, educational videos that feature woman power and women's rights to my four-year-old niece, I won't be showing this piece of shit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ny11qBaQp0
High school shooting in Washington
Just when we thought the increase in mass shootings was behind us... Yesterday, there was a shooting at a Washington high school that killed two people, including the shooter, and injured four students.
The gunman who shot up his high school cafeteria was teenager and freshman, Jaylen Fryberg. Right now, it is still unclear what Fryberg's motives exactly were but his social media pages suggest that he was struggling with relationships problems and dealing with troubles at school.
Fryberg seemed to be a popular student among his peers. He was crowned homecoming prince, a football player, an avid hunter and a member of the Tulalip Tribe (His grandfather is the director of fish and wildlife for the tribe).
News sites say that if you were to look into Fryberg's social media pages, you would see that he clearly a very troubled young kid. His posts go on and on about his relationship issue with his girlfriend and even mentions something aggressive about his brother, both of whom were victims of his shooting spree.
With the heavy social media usage, people are often posting online hints and clues about their unhappiness and depression. It makes me wonder that if people are using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as platforms to advertise what is going on emotionally with them, maybe we should open our eyes and try to do something about it.
I think we are too use to social media that we are becoming numb to what people are posting. Nothing seems to really pop out and rarely do we think, "Maybe they need help." If we were to be a little more cautious when browsing our friends pages, we might pick up something that may end up a serious issue.
The gunman who shot up his high school cafeteria was teenager and freshman, Jaylen Fryberg. Right now, it is still unclear what Fryberg's motives exactly were but his social media pages suggest that he was struggling with relationships problems and dealing with troubles at school.
Fryberg seemed to be a popular student among his peers. He was crowned homecoming prince, a football player, an avid hunter and a member of the Tulalip Tribe (His grandfather is the director of fish and wildlife for the tribe).
News sites say that if you were to look into Fryberg's social media pages, you would see that he clearly a very troubled young kid. His posts go on and on about his relationship issue with his girlfriend and even mentions something aggressive about his brother, both of whom were victims of his shooting spree.
With the heavy social media usage, people are often posting online hints and clues about their unhappiness and depression. It makes me wonder that if people are using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as platforms to advertise what is going on emotionally with them, maybe we should open our eyes and try to do something about it.
I think we are too use to social media that we are becoming numb to what people are posting. Nothing seems to really pop out and rarely do we think, "Maybe they need help." If we were to be a little more cautious when browsing our friends pages, we might pick up something that may end up a serious issue.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
SNL pokes fun at advertisments
I love Saturday Night Live. They constantly crack me up and leave me wanting more hilarious sketches. I love that they have no mercy when it comes to calling out celebs and companies in a humorous way. Humor makes the world go round!
When SNL alum, Bill Hader returned to the show for a Saturday night, he participated in an SNL short that poked fun at the Western charities that try to collect donations for different African issues. He came up with a funny character, as usual, who would serve as the host of the donating campaign like the celebrity figureheads
His character goes on and on, speaking to the audience about how if you give just 39 cents, you can save a life. A man in the skit whispers to him, " Ask for more money. Why are you starting so low?"
Hader and the comedy group continue to address the controversial issue of these ads. A Huffington Post article said that the feedback SNL is receiving said "valid political points," that included questioning the efficacy of long-term aid in general, which critics say creates a culture of dependence and fails to address the underlying issues which create poverty in the first place."
I agree. There is a reason that poverty and illness exists in the countries of Africa and instead of guilting people into donate a small amount each month, they should be informing them on WHY it's happening and raising money to help fix that. I think they underestimate the intelligence of viewers. Those at home may want to help if they knew exactly what was going on and were given a place to start in order to help fix it.
When SNL alum, Bill Hader returned to the show for a Saturday night, he participated in an SNL short that poked fun at the Western charities that try to collect donations for different African issues. He came up with a funny character, as usual, who would serve as the host of the donating campaign like the celebrity figureheads
His character goes on and on, speaking to the audience about how if you give just 39 cents, you can save a life. A man in the skit whispers to him, " Ask for more money. Why are you starting so low?"
Hader and the comedy group continue to address the controversial issue of these ads. A Huffington Post article said that the feedback SNL is receiving said "valid political points," that included questioning the efficacy of long-term aid in general, which critics say creates a culture of dependence and fails to address the underlying issues which create poverty in the first place."
I agree. There is a reason that poverty and illness exists in the countries of Africa and instead of guilting people into donate a small amount each month, they should be informing them on WHY it's happening and raising money to help fix that. I think they underestimate the intelligence of viewers. Those at home may want to help if they knew exactly what was going on and were given a place to start in order to help fix it.
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