The Year In Review

There's only a few hours left in 2013, which is hard to fathom, considering how I never thought I'd make it to this point so many times this year.  During those times, things really did feel that bad, but now that I've had some time to reflect, they weren't that terrible;  I struggled with family, relationship, and school issues like any person, but I got through them to have one of my best years in ages.  Yes, lots of my friends moved away, but I've still been in contact and seen some of them.  I got my best grades in school this past calender year, and I've progressed a lot in terms or my confidence, which is important for the future.  It's always sad to move on from something good, but no need to feel down, since that just means more opportunities in the future. 

It's not New Year's yet, but Happy New Year everyone!  Let's make 2014 as great as 2013 was!

I often ask/wonder what New Year's means, and this sums it up pretty nicely

Frozen

Frozen (PG)

Grade: B+

• Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
• Produced by: Peter Del Vecho
• Screenplay by: Jennifer Lee.  Based on "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen
• Starring: Kristen Bell (Anna), Idina Menzel (Elsa), Jonathan Groff (Kristoff), Josh Gad (Olaf), Santino Fontana (Hans), Alan Tudyk (Duke of Weselton), Ciarán Hinds (Grand Pappie The Troll King), Chris Williams (Oaken), Maurice LaMarche (King of Arendelle)
• Music by: Christophe Beck
• Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Distributed by: Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures
• Released: November 27, 2013
• Running Time: 108 minutes/1 hour and 48 minutes
• Language: English

"Why do you shut me out?  Why do you shut THE WORLD out?  What are you so AFRAID of?"

-Anna

Everyone feels or says what's above at least once in their lives.  If we didn't, then we wouldn't be human.  The same applies to the characters in "Frozen" as well, the newest film from Disney, that is perfect for the Winter season.  I saw this film recently with no expectations and knowing nothing about the plot.  And besides a few things I personally disliked, I think this is one of the strongest Disney films in quite a long time.

Seeing the film in the theater made it a sight to behold and kept me warm, but that changed instantly once the film started.  The film opens with two young sisters named Elsa and Anna (Elsa is older, while Anna is younger).  One day, while playing late at night, tragedy strikes when Elsa accidentally does something to Anna.  It causes great distress for their parents, who seek help to fix the problem.  The solution is not one Elsa approves of, but she has no choice but to accept it for the good of her family.  By accepting it though, her close relationship with her sister changes.  They don't see or talk to each other anymore, and they especially don't play in the snow, which they used to love to do.  Flash forward to a few years in the film, when both sisters are older.  It's a special day in both their lives because Elsa is having her coronation, and the castle gates will be open for the first time in years.  But by doing so, both of their lives are put in danger in ways they don't see coming.

Now, when I said that there were a few things I disliked about this film personally, I mean things that probably didn't bother others, but bothered me.  For instance, the music in the film film was below average to me.  Some critics say that this has been Disney's best musical film since the Disney Renaissance era, and while I agree with that sentiment, that's not saying much, since Disney hasn't tried putting memorable songs in their films for years.  And when they have, they've either been in Pixar films, or songs by other artists, like in "Wreck-It-Ralph", where you know the music wasn't solely made for the film.  "Frozen" has some of the same problems.  I enjoyed a few of the songs, but others were badly placed, and sounded too much like pop music on the radio.  Also, some plot events moved too fast and were never fully explained or referenced again.  This is nothing new for Disney, but it would help to give more depth to the characters, which I feel many Disney films often lack.  Lastly, I feel as though "Frozen" suffered from what some people call the "Full Metal Jacket" effect, where one half of the film is good, but the other half stinks.  The first half of this film wasn't that great to me, but the second half blew me away, which really made it spectacular.

While the negatives of "Frozen" seem like a lot, they do not outweigh the positives I saw from the film.  Like I mentioned earlier, the second half of the film really surprised me because its plot twist, that changed the film in a way that I didn't expect at all.  I thought I could predict what was going to happen since I've done it before in so many other films, but I couldn't predict anything at all this time.  The interaction between characters, the humor, how the film ended; it was fantastic.  The cast also deserves credit.  Only one actress was known, yet they all did a good job, regardless of whether they had a major role or not.  The main reason I think the film appealed to me though, was because of the theme's that I thought it instilled.  The theme's that you should really get to know a person before making a decision with them, or that there's more than one way to show love to somebody.  They're things that we all know or believe, but to see how it was portrayed on screen was fascinating.

The animation of the film was something I marveled at, like I always do when I see how animation is done now.  It's changed so much for me, like it has for everyone who grew up with hand-drawn Disney films.  Whenever I see new HD animation for TV shows, I hate it because I think it takes away from the show and makes it look worse, but for films, such as this one from Disney, I think the new technology works since it does it gradually, and it's more consistent and realistic compared to some films and shows.  I'm surprised my stance on animation has changed, since usually when it comes to films, I'm pretty stubborn, but it's time to accept technology and what it can now accomplish.  Personally, I don't think I'll ever be used to it, but it's amazing to think it can make animation look that realistic, making me wonder what's in store for the future...

In the end, despite a frigid first half to the film, "Frozen" is a great film from Disney.  I don't know if it's better than "Wreck-It-Ralph" was (which had similar animation), but since it's about issues that relate to people, I think it was a bit more memorable and stronger.  Regardless of how I feel though, if you enjoy animated films, you'll like this film.  And if you love Disney like I do, I don't think you'll be disappointed.  Yes, some things are poorly tied together, and some songs sound like Carly Rae Jepsen, but it's great to see Disney go back to their roots, and do a film based off a fairy tale so well (even if it is loosely done).  "Frozen" isn't up their with some of the best from the Disney Renaissance, but it's safe to say it has stood out from the pack of recent Disney films.

Picture Of Your Life

I nearly almost dropped a picture frame in my house today, but luckily, was able to catch it before it broke.  As I caught it, I stared at the image, which was a picture of my mom.  It was striking, not just because it was an image of my mom in the past, but because of the fact, it was a picture.  Pictures are everywhere in the world now, especially with the advancement of social media and technology, but rarely do I see pictures developed and put into picture frames anymore.  Yes, people can post pictures online, but there's something disconcerting to me about posting so much information online.  Pictures are supposed to be personal, not things anyone can see.  And they represent a part of your life, which is why people hold onto them for sentimental reasons.

With Christmas now over until next year, and the fact I didn't get many presents (which is the norm now that I'm older), I think the perfect present I could get from anyone would be a picture frame with my family or friends in it.  It's simple, but it would mean a lot to have them with me (such as at school), even when they're not around.  Also, as crazy as it sounds, sometimes you forget what some of your friends look like, if it's been a long time.  Pictures can obviously never capture the real thing, but it's nice to see them at all, and remember the memories, which is why pictures are so important. 

I'm not a very photogenic or photo-positive person, but perhaps it's time I start being that way...

Holiday Traditions

With Christmas here today, I'm filled with nostalgia.  Even though my family doesn't celebrate it as much as they used to, I still feel happy for it because of what it entails.  The lights, the presents, the sports, but what really stands out to me are the music and films/shows since they encompass what the holidays are really about in their own unique way.  Many people are tired of Christmas songs and specials at/by this time, which I understand, but for someone like myself who doesn't experience the holidays the same way as others, I find them very entertaining and reassuring, since even though life may change, they never do.  So, with that in mind, here are some songs I hope you all enjoy, which have become tradition to me on Christmas.  I'd mention specials, but there are tons of those out there (and they're hard to find clips for).  Happy Holidays!

The first Christmas song I fell in love with.  Just a beautiful ballad to listen to overall

The newest Christmas song I discovered, but amazing because of its message and all the singers involved

But, who can forget the classic...

Soap Opera Tragedy

I've watched lots of TV over the years, but one thing I can't understand is the fascination with soap operas.  They're hard to define, but to me, they're shows with amateur actors and lots of melodrama about things that don't make sense with relationships, secrets, etc.  The first time I was exposed to soap operas was when my sisters constantly used to watch Days of Our Lives and Passions after school.  And while they were interesting because of their plot, that's about the only positive I could say about it besides the fact they usually had good looking casts.  The plot, while interesting, was terrible, the music didn't add anything, and the effects on some of the shows were so unbelievable, that they made me question if I was watching an Ed Wood film.

As time progressed, my feelings about soap operas began to change because of shows like The O.C.  They had similar issues as other soap operas, but at the time, something about it seemed different.  The cast was good looking, but seemed rugged.  And the plot, while unbelievable at times, at least seemed like it could happen to real people, compared to what I used to watch on Days of Our Lives and Passions.  With time, I eventually stopped watching the O.C., but eventually began to miss it as time passed by.  Once I re-watched it again though, I understood why I stopped.  It just wasn't that good anymore.

Now, with my sisters being home, I've been exposed to Degrassi; a show that isn't really a soap opera, but seems like it with how long it's been on the air and the ridiculousness of it.  I haven't seen enough episodes to really critique it (because why would I), but I hate the fact these shows exist!  They might be entertaining to viewers, but they're a waste of time.  What merit do they have?  Do they teach any morals?  I remember coming home from school as a child and being able to find quality TV programming that was either educational or taught lessons I could use in real life.  But now, it's all this soap opera garbage, which is the biggest tragedy out of all of this.   

Confession Of A Friend

Because I'm busy today, there isn't much time for me to say anything, so with that in mind, here's a song by 2AM I've been in love with for some time called "Confession Of A Friend".  It's a beautiful ballad song talking about what happens when friends like each other or become friend-zoned.  It's pretty sad, but very powerful at the same time.  And because of the topic, it's safe to assume everyone has been here before.  Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the song like I have. 

Pho

Today, I had pho (prounounced fa/pha) for the first time in years, which for those of you who don't know, is Vietnamese noodle soup with broth, meat, and veggies.  I wish I could say more about it, but with all the variations of it, I don't want to give inaccurate information.  During a winter day like this, nothing hits the spot like well done soup,  Yes, the ingredients may be rich and salty, which is bad for someone like me who has to watch my health, but sometimes, it's okay to indulge, which I've learned from my attempts at losing weight.

My day as a whole was alright with ups and downs, but eating this soup definitely made me feel better, showing the power food has to make a person feel better when the world makes you feel down.

Delivery Men At Your Service

They say "There's no such thing as a terrible job, just a job done terribly" (or something like that).  Even though I've never worked before, it's a saying I wholeheartedly agree with since getting a job of any kind and doing it well is difficult.  That's why I've never understood why people hate delivery men so much (I know there are delivery women in the world, but since I've never met or seen one, for the context of this post, I'll just talk about men).  Yes, some of them can have bad moods, but think about where things from their position.  They deliver things for a living, have to take orders from higher up, their jobs aren't guaranteed, and they work long hours with sometimes long commutes.  I'm not saying other jobs don't have these things, but delivery men are around in the world all the time, whether they're delivering packages or a pizza. 

This is on my mind because yesterday, my family tried having furniture delivered for the 2nd time, but like the 1st time, one piece got scratched.  It's not the deliverer's fault since they just picked the furniture up from the warehouse and delivered it, but most people would blame them, when I really think they they should back off.  Delivery men aren't perfect, but some of them (like those I met yesterday) are nice guys, just trying to do their jobs.  We wouldn't want to be constantly judged, so I think people should ease off on their treatment of these guys, especially since they're here to help/serve us.

Shoveling Snow

Living on the East coast (or any place that gets snow), it's pretty common to see people shoveling this time of year.  It's a pain to do, but unless you have a snow-blower or plows magically learn to fit on sidewalks, it's the only thing you can do to clear snow.  Usually after every storm, I help out shoveling, but since I couldn't this time, I watched as all the inches of snow accumulated.  That was bad enough on its own, but add the snow to all the ice that was on the ground from the previous week, and you had terrible travel for drivers and commuters like myself. 

When I went to school this morning, I feared the worst, but was pleasantly surprised to see it wasn't that bad outside.  The temperature wasn't that cold and some of the snow was melting already, which gave me high hopes.  But my hopes quickly disintegrated when I saw some of the sidewalks I had to walk through were piled high with snow.  I couldn't believe it!  I wanted to go around the snow somehow, but since I couldn't, I took the plunge and just walked right onto it, with my jeans and shoes getting soaked from the ordeal.  Eventually, I got through all the walkways of snow and reached school, but my walk to school took an extra 15 minutes and I nearly slipped a few times.

Looking back on my morning now that a few hours have passed, I suppose it wasn't that bad.  I got some studying done, returned my rented books, got some candy, and even found an alternative, albeit more dangerous route back to my place, which avoided most of the snow.  But I cannot get over the fact that people did not shovel their walkways.  It's been a little over a day now since it stopped snowing!  Are you telling me that you couldn't find the time to make it a little clearer?  Or put some ice salt down or something?  I understand being a little lazy, but when your laziness has the potential to hurt or inconvenience someone, that's when I think it's wrong.  You live in Massachusetts.  You know the drill with snow.  I swear, they should make a law fining people for not shoveling, unless they have a good reason.  It's ridiculous that it's this tough to get around!

With more snow on the way tomorrow, hopefully it isn't worst, or else I'm going to have another tough day getting around, which I certainly don't want as finals end tomorrow.

Film Reviews Beforehand

Yesterday, I talked to one of my friend's I hadn't talked to in ages.  The first thing we did was catch up, but afterward, we immediately talked about what we should do the next time we saw each other.  We both agreed on eating, but he wanted to see "Anchorman 2" once it came out, while I was hesitant.  I like Will Ferrell films (which might surprise some people), but I was low on money, and not as high on this film from what I saw from the trailers.  Because of that, I told him I wanted to see some of its reviews first, but he said he didn't want to do that and would see it regardless.  I respected his motives, but didn't really understand that blindness to films.

When it comes to films, people are split on whether you should read reviews beforehand.  If you read the reviews before you see a film, the plot could be spoiled or your mind could be made up before you even see the film.  But if you don't read the reviews, you run the risk of wasting your money on a potentially terrible film, or being misled by the title.  I suppose it's up to preference what to do, but I wonder how other film critics/viewers feel since we take films seriously.  Artistically, you don't want to be influenced, but as a viewer, you want to know what you're getting yourself into, especially if you have limited funds and rarely see films in theaters like I do.

Of course, whenever conflicted, you can always do what I do and look at the Rotten Tomatoes score, which comprises the ratings of all critics and audience members.  The nice thing here is that while it tells you how others feel about a film, it doesn't spoil things for you, and gives you a percentage of how many people like or dislike a film.  It may feel wrong to leave the choice of seeing a film up to a number, but it seems even worst leaving it blindly to chance.  I don't know if I'll see "Anchorman 2", but I know what I'll be doing beforehand.

Question: How about you guys?  Do you ever look at other critic's reviews or a site like Rotten Tomatoes, or do you just wing it?

Naps

Waiting for my finals to come is a long and draining process, especially in this snowy weather, which has basically trapped me in my room.  With that being the case, besides watching shows on my laptop, I've been napping almost everyday.  I suppose it's a good thing, but to me, I see it as a negative because there's a myth that you gain weight if you nap/sleep often.  That may just be something I was told when I was obese, but it's something that has stuck with me my whole life.  Naps are good, especially in college, but everyone knows there is a time when you have to wake up and face life.  On weekends like this though, where the weather sucks, I don't think there is anything wrong napping and staying warm. 

Hope things improve outside, but until then, I guess I'll take another nap.  Wake me up when this storm is over.

LaMarcus Aldridge

Now entering his 8th season in the NBA, LaMarcus Aldridge is finally getting the recognition he deserves

The NBA All-Star game isn't for another few months, but that hasn't stopped the league from releasing the voting leaders in each conference.  In the East, LeBron James leads the Eastern Conference in votes, while Kevin Durant leads the Western Conference.  No surprise considering they're both the best and most popular players in the game arguably/currently.  What's surprising though, is that LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the top players in the NBA this year (and quietly over the past few years) is 8th in voting and 3rd in the power forward race behind Kevin Love and Blake Griffin.  I can understand why that is since they're both accomplished, and talented, but so is L-Marc.  And it's time the league recognize he is one of the best power forwards in the game.

The first time I was exposed to LaMarcus Aldridge was when he played for Texas back in college.  That was such a long time ago, but I remember those as better times since I was in love with college basketball back then.  Since I live in Boston, which isn't a huge college basketball town, it was hard to follow L-Marc, but whenever he was on TV or playing in the tournament, I watched with envy, wishing the Boston Celtics would draft him (or anyone that could make them better).  He ended up being drafted by the Chicago Bulls, which drew criticism because he was taken so high,  and was then traded to the Portland Trailblazers for basically nothing.  It took a few years for L-Marc to develop his game since he was so lean and just had a few moves, but after a few years, his hard work showed.  His jump shot improved, his post moves got better, and he got bigger.  His defense and rebounding were always his weakest attributes, but even they improved by his 5th year.  Now in his 8th year, it's safe to say he is entering his prime, as he has lead the Trailblazers to the best record in the West.  It's premature to think they can stay there all year, but just the fact they've surprised this many people shows how many people doubted them.

With L-Marc's play this year being this spectacular (30-20 stat-lines some nights), I'm annoyed that even though he has more recognition than usual, he's still behind people like Kevin Love and Blake Griffin in all-star votes.  Kevin Love, I will give you, is a better player, but Blake Griffin is not.  Even though he is having his best statistical year (finally), all he does is dunk.  He has not carried his team like L-Marc has.  Yes, L-Marc has Damian Lillard, but Blake has CP3, who last I checked, was the best point guard in the game.  I know that the all-star spots are up to the fans, and they should be allowed to vote for who they want to see, but I wish they would reward someone who works their tail off, plays in a small market, and is a humble/quiet superstar, who leads by example.  L-Marc will probably be a reserve, which is a great honor in itself, but if he started, he would be on prime time, and people would finally start giving the Trailblazers the recognition and respect they deserve.

I know I'm one voice, and I can't make up the thousands of votes that others have in front of him, but let's acknowledge and throw our support to LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the best and most underrated power forwards in the game today, who plays not only fundamental basketball, but most importantly, team basketball.  The Trailblazers may be a long-shot to win the NBA title, but if they do, LaMarcus Aldridge will be one of the reasons why.

My First Resume

Like everyone, whenever I accomplish something, I can't help but feel proud.  There haven't been many instances in my life that I could do that, but I can honestly say, I feel that way now because I just completed my first resume.  I have to admit, it probably isn't perfect, and was only created as a final assignment for class, but I MADE IT!  I'm not sure if you understand that.  I have no experience and don't think I have any important qualities, so making this is a big deal since I didn't think it was possible for me to make one.  I wish I could take credit for making it, but credit has to go to those at Career Services for helping me.  They talked to me, and gave me handouts, which had resume tips and sample resumes I could look at to help format mine.  Since the resume I made is only for a writing job, I'll probably have to make another, but I don't mind now because after looking back on the experience, it was pretty cool and definitely rewarding.  I just wish I had more information to put on mine, but you have to deal with what you have.  Regardless, this is a step in the right direction for my confidence and my future.  Even though I'm late, I hope I can make it.

Friends Forever?

As I get older, one of the things that surprises me is how scared I am of lots of things.  Most people think you're more scared as a child, but that's only because of age and discovering fear for the first time.  Once you get older, I think you get scared about the responsibilities of school, being on your own, and what I've started to notice the past few years, which is that the people who once mattered in my life aren't around that much anymore; it's something that pertains not just to family, but friends as well.

When I was in high school, I had this absurd notion that my closest friends and I would stay friends forever.  Where I got this notion from?  I'm honestly not sure.  I know some of it was from TV because all the shows I watched like Boy Meets World and Saved By The Bell had their friends staying together for life.  Another influence were my parents because they both still keep in contact with friends from their childhood.  And if they could do it, why not me?  My friends and I were close, we were good people, and most of all, we had core values that were unique and made us stick together.  But even we couldn't plan for the future.  There were other schools outside of state, new job opportunities, the chance to start life anew, or people were just busy with their own priorities if they were still here.  It's something that's hard for me to adjust to, but I understand it since we're all getting older now.

Currently, I have what I would define as no social life.  Most of my high school friends are gone or too busy with their own stuff.  And others, I just grew apart from or had falling outs like all people do.  It's sad things ended up that way, especially since at the time, we almost seemed inseparable, but you can't be friends with everyone your whole life, which is why I'm glad for the few friends that are still there for me.  We all may still have our whole lives ahead of us, but there's a reason why we're still friends, and I hope we break the trend and do last forever.

2AM

Just when I thought I was done finding new K-Pop stuff to listen to since 2PM, SHINee, and miss A haven't released anything new I haven't heard yet, 2AM comes out of nowhere into my life.  And I have to say, they're now my second favorite K-Pop group after 2PM.  Why?  Well, for one thing, I love ballads, and since 2AM is a ballad group, they had me won over from the start.  Also, they have great vocals and sing with such heart.  I'm not saying 2PM or SHINee don't have great vocals because they do, but there's no doubt there are members in their groups that have stronger voices than others, while in 2AM, their voices are in unison, which makes sense since again, they are a ballad group.  After listening to them, I can see why some people call them the Korean Boyz II Men.  A stretch perhaps, but I love all their songs, and love their members, Jo Kwon, Seulong, Jinwoon, and Changmin.  I know it sounds like I'm being a JYP Entertainment homer because I like most of their groups, but give their songs a listen, and I think you will be touched like I've been.  It's a shame they don't get more publicity because they don't do as much dancing, or ripping their shirts off, but that's what makes them distinct.  And as I always say, that means more for us true fans.

Enjoy IAMS!

This is 2AM's song "You Wouldn't Answer My Calls".  I'm not sure if it's my favorite song by them, but it's one of their earliest hits, and one that leaves such a vivid image in my mind.  POWERFUL!

Finished With Classes

I just woke up from a 2 hour nap, which is nothing extraordinary, besides the fact I did it knowing I finished classes officially today for the semester!  Best of all, I handed in/took 2 of my finals already, so I only have 1 left I have to take on Tuesday.  It sucks I have to wait so long because now I have to use money on food, and I really want to go back home, but some time to study will do me some good and keep me motivated.  Whenever it gets to this point in a semester, I always look back and reflect since I have a good memory, and remember the first days of all my school years, so I'm just amazed it came and went so fast.  At that time, the semester felt eternal, but now that it's basically over, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hope anyone who has finals or is finishing school ends it strong!

Too Much Make-Up

Words with different meanings always stand out to me, especially when the two meanings are used so differently.  Take the word make-up, for example.  In sports, if someone has good or bad make-up, that has to do with character issues.  But with cosmetics, make-up is what it is.  Something artificial to enhance someone's looks (sorry if I'm inaccurate with this, but just an opinion).

Make-up has come to my mind separately 4 different times the past few months.  The first time was when I found out one of my friends wore make-up when she went partying; a surprise to me because I think she's beautiful just the way she is (but the club scene is apparently different than anything I'm accustomed to).  The second time I thought about it was in my Psychology and Women class, since it related to the Beauty Myth and women's self esteem, which I found particularly interesting.  And yesterday, I thought about the issue twice.  Once was in class, when one of my friends told the story of how much she used to weigh, which was shocking because I never knew she used to look like that before.  While the other time was when someone who lived in my building walked by and was wearing way too much make-up; it was toxic.

All of these experiences are different, but they have one commonality, which is that we live in a culture that is obsessed with beauty.  I've talked about it before in my other blog post, but this time, I'm focusing on one specific thing.  I understand why make-up is around, and why we all want to look our best, but I think for women and even men who wear it, it is so unnecessary.  You're beautiful for being who you are, and that is something make-up can never do.  All it does is attract the wrong person to you (if you go clubbing), or knock people out, if you wear too much of it.  Since I've never worn makeup before, I can't say firsthand it's really that negative, but anything that has activists angry, isn't natural, or puts a person at risk doesn't sound good to me.  Not to mention, it takes forever for people to put on.  And by the time you're done, you forget why you even bothered putting it on in the first place.

I know women won't change any time, and the cosmetics industry is booming unfortunately from their advertisements and sales, but I hope there comes a day when men and women can look at a mirror and be confident in themselves.  That's good make-up to me.

MLB Free Agency

(L-R) Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Marlon Byrd, Matt Garza, Brian McCann, and Hiroki Kuroda are just some of the free agents who have signed, or are still on the market

The Winter meetings started in Orlando officially today, but besides when the Red Sox signed Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to terrible contracts years ago, they've usually been a letdown to the weeks prior, in which at least one marquee free agent signs somewhere.  Last week was no exception as many stars took their "talents", as LeBron James would say, to new teams.  The biggest free agent Robinson Cano signed a mega 10 year, $240 million dollar contract with the Seattle Mariners, while Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, and Carlos Beltran signed with the New York Yankees for some questionable dollars.  None of this is anything new in baseball, but mega contracts for players during free agency is starting to become a problem, if it hasn't already been for the past decade.

Major League Baseball is not the only sport with contract issues, but they are the one that gives out the most money, has guaranteed contracts, and no salary cap.  It's bad enough that other smaller teams do not have an advantage signing free agents because they do not have enough funds, but it is even worse when players who aren't stars are getting paid as one, like Robinson Cano; he is a good player, and arguably the best 2nd baseman in the game, but his stats don't blow me away, he's never won an MVP, and is not the transcendent superstar Barry Bonds (despite PED allegations) or even Derek Jeter ever were.  Not to mention, he doesn't hustle all the time, which is a problem for any athlete.  For a team like the Mariners, who are starving to win, I see what they're trying to do, but I don't see this ending well since when was the last time a long term contract went well?  Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, etc.?  Those guys are once in a generation players, and as hard as it is to believe, another Robinson Cano will come along someday.  Baseball is not changing any time soon, especially with egotistical superstars who want money, but for the better of teams, I hope it changes.  No one is worth that much money!  And think of everything else that money could be used for.  Other players, advertising, improving the ballpark.

When a player asks, unless it's a good deal, just say no!

Downloading Music

Yesterday, I made an iTunes account for the first time ever (late, I know) because I wanted to download some K-Pop music I've been listening to.  It surprised me how much I wanted the music since usually I just ask my brother to help me or wait, but what surprised me even more was how complicated it was making an iTunes account.  There was so much information I had to put in, as well as other security features, which I was not prepared for.  But all things are like this now for protection, which I appreciate.

With that being the case, that brings me the issue of downloading music.  Everyone knows piracy is such a huge issue because it is easy to do and difficult to enforce.  But I do not think people should do it, whether for music, movies, or anything.  Yes, I know it saves money, and companies have boatloads of it, but think of all the musicians you listen to.  Some of them are struggling and need the sales to earn a living.  And for ones who do make a profit, depending on a contract, they may not even receive much money.  This reasoning is the way K-Pop fans feel because they truly love and want to help the musicians they listen to.  Some may think this is silly, but I don't think it's silly to obey the law and help support the musicians who bring happiness into our lives with the music they create.   

Downloading anything is a yes or no thought process, but know that it's more than that, and we, as individuals, have the choice to make a difference.

PS4 And XBox 1

In all my years of being a fan of video games, I can't recall as much buzz about gaming systems I know as little about as the PS4 and XBox 1.  I know they're the next generation video game systems of the top 2 gaming brands out there (sorry Nintendo), but that's it.  Other than that, everything I know is from commercials, parodies of it (like on South Park), and all the news stories I hear about what people will and have done for them.  It's crazy to think gaming systems cost over $600-700 and controllers over $50 now, when back in the day Sega and Nintendo 64 merchandise costing between $100-200 was too much.  I guess it shows how far technology has advanced in 20 years, or how obsessively crazy everyone has become.

I have yet to physically see or try either system, but they both look nice, while the graphics are ridiculously realistic.  In the past, I think I preferred the Xbox more than Playstation because my friends and I played games together more on that, and to me, it seemed a lot cheaper.  But now, I think I've shifted toward being a fan of Playstation since there's no question I play games on it more, there's less bugs, etc.  Of course, I'm no expert on gaming, but these are just my two cents on the two new gaming systems.  I only know one friend who has a PS4, and he says it is awesome, but there's no one else besides him.  Everyone may prefer new technology, but like a lot of things in life, I like the classic/vintage stuff.  Luckily, my Gameboy Color and Sega Dreamcast still work, so while everyone is playing their new stuff, I'll be stuck in the old.

If only my batteries and memory card still worked...

Half The Effort

At this time of the semester, when there's only one full week left of school, everyone is tired.  We're tired of the syllabi, the homework, the tests.  And we're just tired of going to class in general.  I think it's natural for teachers to assume students feel this way, and being a student myself, others vocally make it known how tired they are of school.  But one thing I cannot stand is when a student gives half the effort in class during this time.  In high school, this was something called "senioritis", when students at the end of the year didn't care about work or school anymore because they were on their way to graduation, but I hate it.  Why?  I hate it because it sends the wrong message to other students, and laziness is just so unbecoming of a person.  Also, you worked so hard the past few years to get to this point, so why stop now when you're so close?  I understand wanting to take a break, but what if something happens, like something messes up with your financial aid, or you slack off so much, you fail a class you need to pass?  I know these are all extremes, but they do happen to people.

In the end, I suppose I'm in the minority how I feel about this since I think anyone would want to celebrate being done with school; I just think there is a better way to do it than giving half the effort.  And if you do that, at least keep it to yourself.  We don't like having things rubbed in our faces.  Some of us are still trying to learn and are giving it our all.

Classic

Today has been a great day so far for a number of reasons.  I got through one class that I wasn't looking forward to, did better on an essay than I thought I would, and am inching another step closer to being done with school for the semester.  I think the reason I've been most happy today though is because of another new K-Pop song I just discovered, called "Classic", which is a very cute video about love, starring a bunch of my favorite artists/idols.  They have three members of 2PM appear in the video, and while that's not everyone like I would have wanted, Wooyoung, Taecyeon, and Chansung are better than no members.  And while I'm new to Miss A, I have to admit, I love Suzy and think she is adorably beautiful (if that makes sense).  Can't get much better than that, so I hope you all enjoy this music video that is more like a film, and prepare to feel good inside. 

Copyright 2012 to JYP Entertainment.  All Rights Reserved

What People Want

My Psychology and Women class did an activity a few weeks ago that was minor, but left a huge impression on me.  It was this activity called 5 for 5, where my teacher asks us 5 questions in 5 minutes which we have to answer as best we can.  Most of the time, the questions were standard, like what did you think of class, or do you have any thoughts/concerns about the class, but one question she asked really stuck out to me.  What are the three most important things to you about relationships?  Now, because we had been learning about Intimate Partner Violence, this was a touchy subject with lots of information new to me.  But it also stood out because of how I feel about love, which is idealistic and optimistic; it didn't always used to be like that though, especially with my struggles and how I've seen others handle it.  This was a minor question, but it was something that required a lot of thought.

I thought long and hard about the question for a few seconds, with countless words going through my head: honesty, love, communication, friendship, effort, trust, equality, happiness, etc. among others.  If it were possible, I would have listed all of them, but I could only pick three, which was not an easy thing to do.  I knew things like honesty and love had to be there, but things like communication and happiness intertwined.  It was not easy to do, but in the end, I picked love, honesty, and effort as the most important things in a relationship in that order.  Putting love first could be seen as negative to some, but I meant love in the sense that it was important for someone to actually have feelings and care about you as a person, which mixes in with many things.  Honesty speaks for itself, and things like communication and trust went with effort.  I handed in my answers feeling okay, but then instantly wondered if I had made a mistake.  Then again, how can you make a mistake on how you feel?

A few weeks later, the results were read for what both men and women thought was necessary for a relationship.  I forget the women's first choice, but honesty and sense of humor made their top 3, which I thought was brilliant and amazing, since sense of humor is something I think about all the time that seems obvious, yet it didn't even cross my mind once.  For the men, they picked love, honesty, and communication, which startled everyone in the class.  Now, the results may not seem shocking since obviously a lot of people thought the same things were necessary, but because of what we've been learning in our class, it would seem as though most people desire something sexual or artificial in a relationship, but we proved that relationships were changing with the times, and that some men and women wanted the same things now compared to before.

I've thought about everything in depth since then, and still wonder what the most important things are to a relationship, but I honestly think there isn't one answer.  It's a variety of answers, like the ones I listed before since many people want different things.  But while we all want a number different things, one thing I think we can all agree on is that we all want to be happy and help make the people we love and care about happy as well. 

What do you think though?  Are there things you value in more in a relationship than others?  And do you seem similarities between what men and women want, or do you think they are different?

The Day After...

As Thanksgiving and Black Friday have come and gone, I can't help but have mixed emotions on them.  Yes, they were both memorable events and part of the holiday spirit, but the anticipation for I had before they started came and left before it ever felt like they started.  In the large spectrum of food, celebration, and time spent saving money on deals, that may not seem like a big deal since those are the things that count.  But I think it matters since people put so much money into getting ready for Thanksgiving by making food, or saving up for that one key purchase, but then like that, it's over.  The food you spent hours on is gone in less than an hour, and that thing you wanted to purchase is something you often use sparingly, or don't think enough about to appreciate.  I may be thinking too much about this subject, but I can't help it.  Thanksgiving is over.  And now that it has come and gone, I can't help but feel sad about the reality now everyone will be back at school or at work, instead of doing things that make them happy.  Yet, I suppose that's how life is...

Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving again!  That wonderful time of the year when autumn is in the air, the pigskin is being thrown around, and there's a delicious aroma of food.  I usually have a hard time picking my favorite days of the year because there are so many that I like and dislike, but there's no doubt Thanksgiving is one of my favorites for the reasons I just said previously.  Even in school, the day before Thanksgiving was always the best because we had pep rally's that were always a lot of fun, and since it was a half day, I could always hang out with my friends afterward.  In my mind, hanging out with my friend's on holidays is always a highlight because you get to experience it differently with people you care about, but doing it the day before isn't that bad either.  I miss those times, but I still have those fond memories of simpler times.

Since it's Thanksgiving, there are a limited amount of things on TV today.  There's the parade, football, and even wrestling (depending on if you like TNA).  But if you want an alternative to those things, you can do what I always do and watch Thanksgiving specials of your favorite shows and films.  Here are some suggestions I have...

The Recess episode "The Great Can Drive"

 A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Not to mention other Thanksgiving episodes of shows, like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, King of the Hill, The Simpsons, etc.  There are so many things you can watch and do on this day, but regardless, have a good holiday and eat well!

Grade Alienation

A few days ago, a friend and I were having an interesting conversation at school about grades.  I had just got through ranting for the millionth time about how angry I was failing my online Spanish quiz because so many things about it were unjust.  The directions weren't clear, the questions had multiple answers, and the stipulations were ridiculous (30 questions in 50 minutes).  My friend understood what I was going through, which I found helpful, but he made me look at things from a much different perspective by relating everything to Karl Marx. 

I know what you're thinking.  Karl Marx, what the hell?!  I had the same thoughts as well because the only thing I knew about Karl Marx was that he wrote "The Communist Manifesto", and opposed any system that alienated or tried to govern people unjustly (at least I think that's what he said to some degree, but someone can correct me on that).  That had to do with government and sounded like it had nothing to do with school, but then my friend related it to how school grading systems go against what Marx believed because they alienate people and stress them to the point where they do not help them.  Also, people may get good grades in class, but they do not retain the information; they just learn it to pass and that's that.  It's sad, but it is true to some degree.

Now, I'm not saying college is this overbearing institutional system.  It's institutional and has its faults (which I've gone over before), but I think for the most part, they want to help the people that go there.  I just wish there was a better way to grade and test people on what they know because the old system, while effective, is outdated and certainly has flaws.  I wonder if there are any better solutions on the horizon, or will school be like this for years to come in the future?  I guess we won't know for awhile.  And while this may not make sense for many of you, including myself, it was nice to feel a little enlightened after failing a quiz, even if it was because of Karl Marx.

Out-of-Print Merchandise

The Slifer The Sky Dragon Shonen Jump Card that I want

With the recession and the ability for consumers to purchase merchandise online at a premium, this is a great time to buy things, especially with Black Friday less than a week away.  I usually never buy anything on that day, but I do buy lots of things off Amazon: films, cards, etc., but one thing I cannot stand is when merchandise is out-of print.  When that happens, it causes one thing that would usually only be a few dollars to skyrocket in price like it's a collector's item, when most of the time it isn't.  For example, there are really old films that cost a lot, but that is understandable because it's historical and may be one of a kind.  And even then, it's still reasonable.  But when a Disney film is selling for $60, or a card like that Egyptian God card from Shonen Jump costs close to $100, that's when you know things are crazy.  Worst of all, there are people who go crazy buying all these things.  I understand why a person would because as a collector myself, it's something I can relate to, but there are times when you have to know when to say no and walk away.  It's tough to do, especially with something so tempting, but if you don't, you'll be paying lots of money for something you may never enjoy.  I wish it wasn't like this because people buy things online to save money, not pay more.  You expect these kind of crazy kind of transactions from businesses, but not from regular people like you and me. 

This Freezing Weather...

Living in Massachusetts as long as I have, there are a few things you can be sure of this time of year.  The Celtics and Patriots will be playing, parking will suck, and it will be freezing cold outside.  I'm used to the weather, but in some ways I'm not, since ever since I lost all my weight, I've been able to feel the frigid air more than before.  And it has not been pretty.  I've had trouble breathing because the air is that strong, I've been shivering, and my hands have become so hard and chap that they bleed occasionally.  It hasn't gotten that bad yet, but it's close to getting there.  I'm using lotion and trying my best to be bundled up, but it just does not seem to be doing the job adequately.  I suppose I can't complain though; it's not like we've had any blizzards compared to last year.  The temperature has just been low because of the wind chill, which I hate almost as much, but know very little about.  Until things improve, all I can do is stay warm as much as possible and try and feel good about this weather.  That may be awhile, but thank god for furnaces!  Now if only mine would work when I wanted it to...

Casinos

Gambling is something that seems foreign to me, but in some ways, I feel like I've been exposed to it my whole life.  Now, I've never been in a casino before (the closest I've been was in Sonic games), but my family plays the lottery a lot.  We've never won the "big one" as my dad calls it, but we've come close on a number of occasions, which has brought some profit, which is nice.  But I wonder as I get older if I'll be like the millions in the world who love gambling?  The odds of winning the lottery seem impossible, and I don't seem like a casino/Vegas person (especially since I can't play games and have no game face).  Even something as simple as betting doesn't seem like my forte, so if that's out, maybe I won't do anything.  I'll never say never though, especially with the temptation of scratch tickets, and the fact that everyone would want to win the lottery if they could.

On that note, it brings me to local news in the state of Massachusetts.  Just this past week, plans to build a new casino in the town of Milford were voted down.  Not a shock, considering this isn't the first time a casino has been voted down, and yet, I am always surprised by the results.  Everyone always talks about wanting a casino, or finding a quick way to get rich, yet whenever a casino is talked about being built close, everyone changes their mind.  It's funny and ironic.  I wonder why that is?  Could it have to do with what it would cost taxpayers, what it would do to the surrounding area, or religious purposes?  I'm sure it's a combination of all of the above.  Yet, at the end of day, I can't help thinking a casino would help, even though gambling is a terrible thing.  People would have a place to be, they'd have the potential to make money, people would be hired for jobs, and a casino would bring lots of business and tourists, which would boost the economy.  But I know this is a issue that is much deeper than money.  Just thought I'd give my two cents.

My Color

Another day, another song by 2PM stuck in my head.  I enjoy their ballads mostly, such as "Forever", "At Times", "I Will Give You My Life", and "Just Like The Movies" cause as I've said before many times, anyone can do a dance/R&B song, but few artists can perform ballads.  Despite my preference, I also like their harder, edgier stuff like "Without U".  I've heard all their music, but I recently heard a song of theirs I hadn't heard before.  It's called "My Color", and was supposedly just a onetime promotional song/video for Corby cell phones.  The video is colorful and kind of weird since one person dressed up as a joker, but with the boys singing, it's always a good time.  Hope you all enjoy!

HOTTEST <3

The Lion King

The Lion King (G)

Grade: A-

• Directed by: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
• Produced by: Don Hahn
• Screenplay by: Irene Mecchi, Johnathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton.  Based on "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
• Starring: Matthew Broderick (Adult Simba), James Earl Jones (Mufasa), Jeremy Irons (Scar), Johnathan Taylor Thomas (Young Simba), Moira Kelly (Nala), Nathan Lane (Timon), Ernie Sabella (Pumba), Robert Guillaume (Rafiki), Rowan Atkinson (Zazu), Madge Sinclair (Sarabi), Whoopi Goldberg (Sehnzi), Cheech Marin (Banzai), Jim Cummings (Ed)
• Music by: Hans Zimmer
• Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Feature Animation
• Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
• Released: June 15, 1994
• Running Time: 88 minutes/1 hour and 28 minutes
• Language: English

"You must take your place in the circle of life."

-Mufasa

Father's give advice to their children all the time, but when Mufasa speaks, that's when you stop and listen because he isn't just some regular lion; he's the king of the jungle, brother of Scar, and father of Simba in "The Lion King".  "The Lion King" is arguably one of the most acclaimed and well-known Disney films of all-time, up there with Snow White, Dumbo, Beauty and the Beast, etc.  But for the Disney Renaissance era, there's no doubt it's the top film on most people's list.  I used to feel the same way about it as a child, watching it endlessly and crying and laughing at the same parts, but as I got older, my taste shifted.  And while I appreciated "The Lion King", I wanted to make my own decisions on what I liked.  Not just like it because the majority did, which they did when it came to "The Lion King".  Because of that, I hadn't watched it in years and watched other Disney films in the meantime, but recently, after at least 6 years, I've watched it again and enjoyed it so much, it's like nothing ever changed.

Because "The Lion King" is based off of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet", the plot should be very well known.  Hell, even if you've never read the play, I've never met one person on Earth who has never seen the film.  But I'll still sum it up.  The film starts off with a majestic shot of Pride Rock where Mufasa and his wife Sarabi have given birth to their first son Simba.  As he grows into his youth, he is adventurous and energetic.  Typical for anyone his age, but his uncle Scar on the other hand is miserable.  His life is boring and he despises Mufasa, dreaming of taking his throne for himself.  These are all impractical thoughts by Scar, until one day he plots the ultimate plan with the hyenas, staging a wildebeest stampede to try and kill Mufasa and Simba at once.  He is only half successful though, and Simba runs away to a new life, eventually meeting some new friends along the way.  He's happy where he is, but realizes he must go back and take his place in the circle of life as king like Mufasa said.

"The Lion King" has many highlights as a film overall.  The animation is the first thing I notice because of the drawing of the animals and the environment (which I think is always difficult to achieve).  Plus, researching a little about the film, the animators animated the characters to match their voice actors, which I thought was pretty cool as well.  Credit has to go to the voice cast though.  Animated films always want to get a good cast for publicity, but this film cast roles that fit their character perfectly.  James Earl Jones had the commanding, magnificent, thunderous voice as Mufasa, Matthew Broderick had the innocence he had in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" as Adult Simba, and Johnathan Taylor Thomas had the same youth he had from TV as Young Simba.  Everything worked as a whole.  While, I love James Earl Jones though, I loved Jeremy Irons voice as Scar.  His accent was so diabolical which made his character so cunning, memorable, and twisted.

This film's popularity makes it seem as though it has no flaw's, but it does.  The songs everyone loves such as "Hakuna Matata", "Circle of Life" and others are very entertaining, but they don't touch me the way some other Disney songs do such as "Part of Your World".  No fault of it's own, but that's just my personal taste.  I like funny and whimsical songs, but the memorable, touching songs are ones I enjoy, which I don't think this film has much of.  Also, the characters change, but their action's don't seem too believable because of the pace of the film.  It's too fast, which I expect from a Disney film, but I wish it was longer (like I wish most Disney films were), so we could see more depth to the characters and plot, such as what really happened to Simba when he was with Timon and Pumba.  And lastly, I know the film shouldn't be taken seriously too seriously at times because it's Disney, but I have a hard time believing that all the animals live in harmony when they all eat each other.

But while that may seem unrealistic, one thing that's real is the emotion Simba feels.  He feels sadness when tragedy strikes with his father, anger towards Scar, and friendship with Timon and Pumba who teach him a life with no worries is a wonderful thing.  To me, he might not change that much in the film, and pales in comparison to his dad as a king, but he's so relating as a character, which makes us understand what he's feeling.  Depending on taste, "The Lion King" may or may not be your favorite Disney film, but there's no doubt it changed Disney forever critically and financially the way "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid" did before it.  And as time has gone on, it has become a timed classic, quoted and beloved by all.  Even though it isn't my favorite film, there's no doubt it's the king of the Disney Renaissance era.  Long Live the King!   

The Burden Of Beauty

In my Psychology and Women course at school, we just got through the chapters discussing disordered eating, which is a scary thing for those of you who don't know much about it.  We learned about all the different types of disorders that are out there, the facts or myths about the beauty myth (depending on how you see things), and the enormous amount of pressure and insecurity women must go through daily because they are always judged by their appearance.  It's a terrible thing, but unfortunately the way things are.

As I was reading, like most times in my other classes, I was hit with a revelation.  Even though I was a man, I could relate to a lot of issues these women go through.  I've dealt with pressure and insecurities about myself because I used to be morbidly obese, and I sort of went through an eating disorder myself because I used to binge or not eat enough.  It was never to the point of being anorexic, but there were some parallels.  One difference between us obviously though besides biologically, was that I was that I knew I was the way I was because my doctor proscribed it for me.  I was obese because I was a certain weight above normal and it was affecting my health, which is why I started to change the way I am.  And I think it's worked as I've lost close to 60 pounds, and keep trying to achieve my overall goal of healthy weight and blood pressure.

That brings me to women.  As I said, it's terrible they are constantly judged and stigmatized by society, but they have the ability to overcome it because they have the ability to overcome anything.  I mean look at their feminist movements having the right to equal education and voting.  If you learn or research about it like I have, it's really inspiring stuff.  What I have a problem with, is when society affects a woman so much, that they think they need to lose weight or be more beautiful because it's necessary to succeed in life, when that isn't the case at all.  I think that's what society wants because they want people to use their money and buy their products.  But most women are beautiful just the way they are.  They don't need to lose weight or anything; they just need to feel confident and act like themselves.  I know it's difficult because society is so critical, but eventually gets through it.

The important thing you all should know is that only a small percentage of people will ever look like models (based off genetics), and that people in advertisements and magazines have their photos airbrushed most of the time, so that's not a realistic way of how to look.  I mean, how could a person look so perfect when there's no such thing as a perfect person?  So the point is, always be yourself.  Don't ask yourself if something makes your butt look big, or if you're fat?  Chances are you're fine the way you are.  And if you ever want to be sure, ask your doctor because a professional opinion helps the most when society clouds our minds with mixed messages.

Now to be honest, this topic only came to me because of class and because I have friends who constantly say they're not beautiful when they are.  I wish people could see themselves the way I see them though since then they'd see how wonderful they really are because of everything else.

Laundry Issues

At my house recently, we've had things get messed up such as our couch covers and snow-blower, but nothing can be more annoying than a washing machine getting messed up, which has happened a lot to our new washing machine.  A washing machine may not seem as bad as your furnace or refrigerator breaking, but when you constantly need clean clothes (which I'm hoping most of us do), it's a big deal.  Our new washing machine may be more technologically advanced than our previous washing machine we had, but it's broken down a lot for a variety of reasons, such as washing clothes with too much detergent, or washing clothes individually because of instructions.   

That leads me to the big issue I have though, which isn't so much with washing machines since all things eventually break down; I just can't stand how some clothes need to be washed separately because of having like colors, or because they use warm water instead of cold.  It's so stupid.  It causes a chain effect of someone having to do more loads of laundry, which leads to raising the bill going up, and eventually the washing machine breaking.  All of this because of laundry?  It seems so harmless, but it explains why people hate doing it (besides that fact it takes so long).  And don't even get me started on how some clothes shrink and others don't.  That's a story for another day, but one thing for sure is, doing laundry as a whole sucks.

My Love Of Greeting Cards

There's a running joke from TV shows that Hallmark has a greeting card for every occasion, which isn't true, but it seems like it is with the mass amount of cards they have.  I used to love going into Hallmark back in the day because it was a chance to see other writer's or artist's work firsthand.  But after a few years, I started to realize something; the cards I used to love were starting to get boring because they had been around for so long.  And for some reason, as good as some of them were, they just never captured the full message I wanted to give to a person.  So since then, every time the occasion calls for it, such as a birthday or holiday, I make my own cards or buy blank cards and write my own message to people.

Now, making your own card or writing a full message may seem like too much work, but it's worth it.  For one thing, you get to be really creative with the full design of it, which can make your card stand out.  And what can be better than writing a heartfelt, personal message to a loved one?  I don't think many things are, especially if you put so much effort into it, which I think I've done.  I can remember countless hours and days I would stay up late perfecting a message, coloring, and gluing pictures; it was a pain since it was so easy to make a mistake, but to know you can brighten someone's day with something you created is so gratifying.  I think it's one of the reasons I wanted to be a writer (even though I'm not really good at it in my opinion).  To be honest though, if I had a dream job I knew I would be financially secure in, it would be making greeting cards.  But I guess it would be difficult because I'm better at making personal cards for people I know, and I heard it's very difficult to do.  Luckily, I know the business isn't like that stupid "(500) Days of Summer" film.

I know I probably haven't changed people's minds on cards, or people still want to buy presents for people for special occasions, which is just fine, but all I'm saying is reconsider greeting cards.  It makes everything more complete, and it shows a person how you really feel about them, which can sometimes get lost in the world.  It's understandable to be worried about the cover of your card, or what you write, but don't worry.  It's the thought that counts, and what could be more thoughtful than a greeting card?

Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day was yesterday, but from the way things were around Boston, you'd never know it because many schools were in session and many people were working.  I understand that not all schools and workplaces have the same regulations when it comes to holiday's, but it seems so unfair that's the way things are.  Now, I'll be honest, in the past, I've overlooked Veteran's Day because I didn't really know what it was all about, and it was an excuse not to have school, but as I've gotten older, I've learned to appreciate it's a time to celebrate and remember those who have served and protected our country.  What could be more nobler or patriotic than that?  I don't think many things are, yet people cannot enjoy it because of a few rules.  As I said before, I understand why some colleges and workplaces are like that, but it seems ridiculous we celebrate some irrelevant holidays so seriously, yet ignore ones that are important.  I suppose it's something to think about, but that will have to wait until the next Veteran's Day.

For those who have served and protected our country though, Thank You!

Selene 6.23

It seems as though for every K-Pop group I listen to, there's always a song that moves me to the point of emotions, from happiness to tears.  Jay Park has "Joah", while 2PM has too many songs that I can count.  SHINee is the newest group I've gotten into recently, but while I've just discovered them, they're nothing new.  They're just arguably the top Korean group in the business.  They have strong vocals, an eclectic and visual style of fashion, and some of the best choreography I've seen.  Not to mention, their music is very good as well.  Since I only started started listening to them about two weeks ago, I've only heard their well-known stuff, such as "Sherlock", "Dream Girl", and "Lucifer", but I'm expanding my range of their music.  One song of theirs I absolutely love though is "Selene 6.23", which translates to The Distance Between Us.  It's a orchestral ballad by the group about unrequited love, which is not their usual forte (Whose forte is ballad?), but it sounds absolutely amazing nonetheless!  Give it a listen, and I think you guys won't be disappointed. 

SHINee and other K-Pop groups may have a reputation to Americans as being loud or only dance music because of some people like Psy, but they can do ballads as well.  I just wish sometimes their music label's promoted it as much, but the plus side is, we get to discover the magic for ourselves.  Enjoy!

Bullying and Hazing

In my Psychology and Women class a few days ago, I handed in my project I had to do for the semester, which was a portfolio based on a topic that related to women.  It was very hard to pick a topic at the start of the semester since there were so many things that interested me.  But in the end, I decided to go with hazing in Greek life because I had always been interested in the topic, and being someone who was bullied themselves, there were some similarities.  Of course, after doing research, it's safe to say there more similarities than I expected, which was interesting, but also very unfortunate at the same time.

Time to get to the elephant in the room or the sports world though, which is the Richie Incognito story, where he bullied and hazed one of his teammates to the point that he had to leave the team because of an emotional breakdown.  I won't get too much into how I feel about it because I feel the same way everyone publicly feels, which is outraged something like this even happened.  When you're in a group of any kind, whether a fraternity, sports team, etc., you're supposed to stick together, which is why it's a shame this happened.  People let it happen.  And worst of all, the players are using the "Blame the Victim" theory, which is completely ridiculous.  Any person would realize that something wrong is going on, but of course, football players don't know better because of some code of being macho.  I usually try to defend men when the situation calls for it, but when I see dumb stuff like that going on, I don't think there's anyway they can be helped. 

Hopefully in the end, the victim can be though.  And someday, I hope bullying and hazing can be reduced/solved.

Classes Selected

Last spring semester I wrote a blog post talking about picking classes, but I didn't really go in depth about it at that time because I hadn't picked my classes for the next semester yet, and honestly, no one wants to hear about picking classes.  This time though, I couldn't resist talking about my potential last time picking classes (depending on how next semester goes). 

I registered for classes officially today after mulling what classes to choose for days.  This usually isn't common for me, but since I only needed a few classes to fill out my major and minor requirement, I had to be careful what I was taking.  I had the normal classes I would take such as Creative Writing, but then I had classes I just needed to take to get to the credit limit, which seemed dumb.  I understand it's a rule, but me taking a General Education or lower level course for no reason is such a waste of time.  It does nothing really for my benefit besides taking up valuable time I know I'll need next semester.  At the same time though, anything that helps me graduate is good, but I wish it didn't have to be like this, all bunched together.  I suppose I can't complain though.  There are others like me who have it worst than I do, who need to take more classes than me, or couldn't get into the classes they wanted.  Luckily I did, but I hope the decisions I made pay off.  This semester of school isn't over yet, but it's safe to say I'm already a little anxious, but with my goal this close, I'm ready! 

Daylight Savings Time

As autumn progresses on, a few things are certain.  It's going to get colder, the leaves are going to change colors, it's football season, and holidays will come and pass.  But one thing that has already happened that I don't quite understand is Daylight Savings Time, which happened for everyone yesterday.  The concept has existed for years, but even after all this time, I still don't get it.  Don't get me wrong, I know that we rewind the clocks back in hour in November and push them back ahead in April, but the concept seems so dumb to me.  Supposedly, we're saving an hour on daylight, but all we're doing is rewinding the clocks back.  It's not like we added another hour onto the day or something.  Also, why do we have to wait till 2am to rewind clocks back, when 1am makes more sense because then the day would actually be beginning?  Nothing really makes sense, but maybe I'm just bitter that it gets darker earlier and I have a lot to do this week.  Hopefully, I'm just able to wake up on time.

Music Video Reactions

When it comes to Youtube, there are lots of things on there that were popular, that then died down really fast.  I still don't get the Harlem Shake, and I'll never understand how people like Rebecca Black and others can become celebrities overnight, but that's the way of technology now.  One thing I originally couldn't stand was music video reactions on Youtube because I found watching people's opinion on a group I liked boring.  I always like hearing from fans who feel the same way I do about an artist, but if no one is willing to be critical, then what's the point of saying anything?

That all changed recently in the past few months though, as I started getting into K-Pop.  For those of you who follow or read my blog, you can tell I love the group 2PM.  I have so many of their songs thanks to my brother and because of that, I listen to them religiously.  There are obviously some songs better than others, but as a whole, they're amazing!  I always used to listen solely to their music, but now I've started watching their music videos too, which have been entertaining on so many different levels.  Some songs, such as "10 Out of 10" are hilarious, while some such as "Without U" are just powerful.  Because I've seen so many of their videos now, I've started watching music video reactions daily.  And it's just not with 2PM now.  I watch 2PM, SHINee, etc. admiring the artistry, the skill, and enjoying the mutual love the people I watch have with the group. 

The more music video reactions I watch, the more I wonder why I feel this way about K-Pop and not American music, but I think it's because the fact it is in another language already puts us in a stage to judge it.  Also, since it's likely most of us have not heard of it, or differences with things such as time difference, when we see something for the first time, it really is surprising.  I'm still getting into K-Pop, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one who loves watching people talk about them.  I used to be a skeptic, but now I say, just keep showing your love K-Pop fans! 

Washing Fruit

Eating fruit is one of the healthiest things in the world, but one thing I cannot stand is why your have to wash it every time before you eat it.  I understand we have to do it for our safety, but to me, something that is so pure should not have to be cleaned all the time.  Then again, I'm a germophobe, so I wonder why I'm questioning anything when it comes to cleanliness.  It's just frustrating!  I know fruit is pure, but with such a need for cleanliness, sometimes I wonder what's going on with our fruit?  Then again, maybe like with hot dogs, it's better to not know and just enjoy.

Halloween

Forgive my bluntness, but Halloween sucks!...

I bet some of you are probably wondering why I think this since Halloween is a holiday of dressing up, candy, and fun overall, but to me, it is anything but that.  Halloween does evoke some of those things, but it's a drag because of my past experiences with it, and the fact I don't think of it as a real holiday.  To explain the latter, any holiday that you have to go to school for isn't a real holiday in my book (the child in me talking).  Also, it's lost meaning because children don't trick or treat as much for safety issues, which I understand, and the fact the media has changed Halloween's image.  It used to be about scariness, but now it has shifted to sexiness and parties.  Maybe it's college influencing some of my way of thinking, but if you look at ads, you'll see what I mean.

As for my own experiences, besides going trick-or-treating once with my friends and at the mall, which was alright, I didn't have many Halloween experiences growing up (sad I know).  Maybe it's an Asian thing, but at my house, normally we closed all the shades, and then turned off the lights to give off the impression we weren't home for the night.  It's not like we didn't want to give out candy, but we just didn't feel like it.  Other times, my parents would take my siblings and I out to eat and then we would just get a huge individual bag of candy from CVS.  I don't know what candy I would choose now, but back then, Starburst Hard Candy was my sweet of choice.  A shame they don't make it anymore.  It doesn't sound fun since you're with your parents, but those experiences were memorable.  And looking back, it was better eating real food than candy all night.

With that in mind, let me tell you what you should all do for Halloween.  You should do what I'm going to do and just watch all the Halloween specials of my favorite TV shows from The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes, The Weekenders, Arthur, Recess, all the way to classic things such as "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".  If you aren't a fan of watching TV, then you may find this boring, but these things never change, which you can't say about Halloween.  Regardless of what you do, whether you go trick-or-treating, party, or stay in, be safe, and don't forget to set your clocks this weekend.  I'm trying to remember to.

Happy Halloween!

 

One of my favorite Halloween traditions.  Who can forget Charlie Brown getting nothing but rocks?

Resume's

Resume's are something that confuse me.  Maybe it's because I've never worked before, or maybe it's because they have so many rules to them, but regardless, something about it irks me.  Yesterday, I went to the Career Services Office at my school and met with a career counselor to talk about my future.  Besides writing, I didn't know what else I wanted to do with my life, so we tried working on different resume's to see how it would look for someone like me with no experience.  To me, the process seemed impossible based on what I had heard, and the people I knew with amazing resume's, but the person I met with was amazing, and really helped me.  Thanks Dana!  Even though I don't know when I'll start my resume, or if I'll be by again any time soon, it's nice to know my situation isn't hopeless.

The thing that irks me though is that resume's decide so much of a person's future.  I understand why companies base so much off of it since it lists accomplishments, and tells a lot about a person in a limited amount of space, but it seems so contradictory for companies to do.  They want to hire someone who represents the company well, but how can a piece of paper tell anything about me?  If social media isn't accurate, it seems ridiculous to me that a piece of paper is worth so much, but I guess that's why I've never worked.  I know eventually I'll have to someday, but it seems to wrong to me that's the way things are.  

Do you guys have any resume tips for a novice like myself?

Public Speaking

I consider myself a good writer casually or in school, but when it comes to public speaking, I loathe the thought of it.  It's not that actually talking is difficult for me, it's what comes out when I eventually do open my mouth.  Thankfully it's words, but unfortunately, they're either out of place or terribly stuttered, which leads to a variety of embarrassing things.  Something I am all too familiar with.  As a child through high school, public speaking in things like presentations worried me.  I could do them if I memorized what I had to say, but I didn't, I was monotone.  Then I incorporated hand motions, which were helpful and took pressure off me, but they were distracting.  Now, after a years of struggles, I think I have it down.  There are times when I still struggle, but when it comes to things like presentations, I can do it well if I know the material and just relax, such as by chewing gum beforehand or drinking water.  A joke now and then isn't a bad idea either.  I still have my worries like other people, but I realize in a few minutes, it'll all be over.

Out of curiosity, what's the toughest thing for you when it comes to public speaking?  And how do you cope with it?