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.
Friday, February 20, 2015
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!)
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