For Lack of a Better Word

To All Cat Owners

2012-02-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

To all the cat people out there.....you have been warned

Day 983 of My Captivity

Madonna, Romans, Cheerleaders, Oh My

2012-02-05T17:58:00.000-08:00

I just witnessed Madonna's halftime show for the Super Bowl. I don't even know if it could classify as a "show". Usually a half time show has a consistent theme or color scheme or something that ties it together. To me, it seemed like Madonna tried to cram a thousand different allusions, themes, and ideas into 10-15 minutes of music as she attempted to do dance moves that no 53 year old should attempt. There were Romans, vikings, cheerleaders, Cee-Lo, acrobats, a marching band, Nicki Minaj, a church choir, and LMAFO, to name a few. The whole things was just ridiculous. From the beginning when Madonna, dressed as some sort of Roman-Viking hybrid, pulled in by a myriad of Roman soldiers, to the end, as the words "World Peace" flashed on the stage, all I could do was tilt my head in confusion. In my opinion, the Super Bowl curse of the half time show carries on.

Party Animals

2012-01-26T23:55:00.000-08:00

Just got hooked onto a new BBC show, "Party Animals". It's about some 20 something year old research assistants working for MP's in UK's Parliament. After studying abroad in London, watching the fictionalization of ever day events in an MP's office is really entertaining. Watching Congress interact and debate in CSPAN is slightly less exciting than watching paint dry. Watching Parliament, however, is rarely boring. The House of Commons is full of well dressed Brits who yell, laugh at, and insult each other at every chance.in order to diminish the credibility of the opposing party. The TV show focuses on the lives of these research assistants and the drama that continues behind the scenes of Parliament. I've only seen one episode but the dry British humour set against the backdrop of the unstable nature of politics makes for an entertaining show.

Midnight in Paris

2012-01-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

I recently just watched Midnight in Paris, at the urging of my friends and family. I really enjoyed the movie overall, not because of the main lead played by Owen Wilson, but because of the other characters, Ernest Hemingway, Zelda Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein etc. Woody Allen tried to recreate all the glamorous parts of Paris in the 1920's and he succeeded, perhaps a little too much. The message of the entire movie ended up being something along the lines of "We belong in our own time" or something but by the end of it Allen had just convinced me that the place to be is Paris in the 1920's. Watching a drunk and belligerent Ernest Hemingway talk about real experiences and war was the best part for me. I have been reading Hemingway for years and I've realized the one thing that I enjoy more than his writing is the character of Hemingway himself.

To End All Wars

2012-01-12T13:23:00.000-08:00

For a history class, we were instructed to read from Adam Hochschild's book To End All Wars. Coming back from a quarter abroad in London, I have been reading and seeing a lot of history centering around Britain's involvement in the World War I. The names such as Churchill and Kitchner pop frequently in typical approaches to World War I history, creating an image of strength and solidarity for Britain during the time of the war. In stark contrast to this, Hochschild presents two opposite images of Britain during the war. One was of the trials of the strong British people, people who kept calm and carried on. The other was of those who opposed the war, who demanded that peace be established. This latter perspective is often ignored by historians, or at the very least is the part that is diminshed in the classroom. Perhaps this is because the side of the anti war activist was not victorious. The fact is that World War I did occur, despite the protests from this group of British men and women. Hochschild's book is intriguing and thought provoking, not only because it sheds light on the hidden stories of the first World War, but explains how these stories are connected to one another.

The first story that Hochschild presents is one of the contrasting stories of John French, a man of the British calvary and Charlotte Despard. French was charming and well-liked among the British upperclass and his career in the military helped with his popularity. Like most upper class young men, he looked forward to the glories of war. Set against the backdrop of the British Empire, warfare was looked upon as a game, a means for displaying courage and tenacity. Hochschild goes on the describe the troubles and downfall of French, through financial problems and marital strains. This initial image of French, a typical British pre-war young upperclass man, isn't particularly interesting. Both in American and foreign accounts and histories of the Great War, this picture of young, dashing, and brave men gladly marching off to war is quite common. It wasn't until the account of Charlotte Despard that Hochschild takes up a unique take on World War I British society.

Charlotte was also of the upper class but rejected, rather than embracing, the glorious image of war. She was appalled by the treatment of the poor in the late Victorian society. She moved to Battersea and opened a community center in order to help the less fortunate. In addition, she was a vocal anti-war activist, often ignoring the rules that society had for upper class women.

It is clear that Despard and French were of polar opposite opinions when it came to the issue of war. However, at the end of this chapter, Hochschild revealed the most amazing aspect of these two stories: French and Despard were brother and sister. This connective piece of information is what really made Hochschild's approach to World War I unique and thought provoking. As he describes the loving relationship that French and Despard maintained, despite their clear differences, it makes the reader consider all of the things that they know about the events and people of World War I. This image of solidarity and unification is somewhat broken after learning of the story of French and Despard. For me, Hochschild made me rethink and ponder everything I knew about British morale during the war. This approach, looking to individuals and their stories, in my opinion is a innovative way to study history, looking at the individuals who were part of a greater event, rather than just the event itself.

2012-01-11T23:15:00.000-08:00

Upon taking a non-fiction writing class, I was instructed to create a blog. As I already have neglected both of my existing blogs, I will try to continue with this one, hopefully giving it the attention that I had initially began with. The problem before was deciding what I would write about and when I would write. I tried waiting around for inspiration but that happen once in a blue moon. I am going to try reviewing and critiquing the things that I am constantly surrounded with: TV, books, movies, news etc. Hopefully this approach will lead to more frequent samples of writing which is an important step on the road to improvement.

Remember those high school science videos?

2011-08-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

Note To Self

2011-08-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Do not update blog at 1AM after watching Almost Famous for the 1st time. For result, see below

General Musings/Ramblings (Apologies on excessive self quotations and lack of structure)

2011-07-24T00:43:00.000-07:00

As it is summer, I run into people that I know. Let me rephrase. As it is summer, I run into people who know me. Wait. Let me be more specific. As it is summer, I run into people who know of me. They know that I am my mother's daughter and that I left town for school. And this knowledge, without fail, always leads to the same question(s): 1. How do you like (insert school name because I would rather you all use your imaginations) 2. What are you studying?. It's question 2 that is the problem. I study English. Yep, not business or biology or economics or anything that has "real world application". English. Yes, thanks I am aware that I speak it already. They ask, "What do you do to plan on doing with that?". I still don't have a good answer to this question. I always say something like "I am interested in teaching" when I really want to answer with something much more sarcastic and witty like "I think my English major will come in handy when I take up prostitution ( I have noticed that their is a ever growing difference between Mental Sophie and Real Sophie).
   But these conversations always get me thinking, "What do I want?". I am halfway through my college career and I still have no idea. With real life growing closer and closer, I know that I can't keep shoving these unpleasant thoughts of real life aside. But when I do take the time to think (or write about it), the things I want, the things that I am certain about are vague concepts. Maybe this won't get me far, but for know it is good enough.
   First off, I want to be or do something I feel for. Something I love, have a passion for. It doesn't help much that I don't know what that is yet, and maybe I will never find it, but I am going to keep looking. It might not be something that is a job, but I want to make it a part of my life. Even if it is just a small part. I know that I am a hopeless romantic and that 90 percent of people don't get dream jobs, but I'm not asking for that. At the very least, just a fraction of my life will belong to something. (Potential ideas as far as Sunday July 24th 12: 30 AM, roller derby, Broadway music, being a superhero, or developing a substance like Nutella but that actually has nutritional value).
   Another thing that I know I want in my life is connections. I think we all want to belong to something and have the secure ties. This security is important to us because of the ever changing nature of the world. We count on our relationships. These can be found in friends, family, co-workers, sports teams, girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, husbands, groupies...whatever you want. I already have some connections that of which I take comfort in. All of the interesting things about me can be found within my family and friends. These connections and relationships are things that I treasure and I have a feeling that I want more of them. I don't know. Should I be satisfied with what I have?
   Ok so I just read this over and it sounds like a journal entry. And weird and strange journal entry. So you lucky readers (yes all three of you) get to read my diary. It's ok, I forgive this intrusion of privacy that I forced upon you. If you got to the end of this, I am proud. Your attention span is longer than mine. There is no rhyme or reason to any of this but I had to write it down because if I didn't I knew I would lose it. I only get deep moments like this once in a blue moon so in order to get to know myself a bit better, I decided to write it down. And I don't know why I felt the need to publish it on my blog but I feel a little liberated. It is late and I am going to go now before I reveal anything two crazy. (I had five cookies today). Maybe I am a little loopy but I know that those of you who made it to the end of this already knew that.

2011-05-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

"Wish I could run from this ship going under....What do you do when your good isn't good enough"

-Get It Right

The Wisteria

2011-05-04T00:58:00.000-07:00

   I was sitting in American Lit today and our teacher is talking about Robert Frost and the nature imagery he uses in his poems. As if he knew my attention was drifting, he suddenly stood and asked the class,
   "How many of you know where the wisteria is on campus?"
A few raised their hands, myself included. To be perfectly honest, I only knew where it was because I have to walk under it on my way to class and it has hit me in the face on more than one occasion. The Wisteria and I weren't on good terms at the moment. Before I could continue pondering how my next confrontation with the plant would turn out, my professor continued:
   "That few? This is sad. That wisteria is famous. It is only in bloom for a few weeks during the spring. Tour buses drop people off just to look at the wisteria for a few minutes and only four of you actually know where it is. Start looking around. I want to you start observing and paying attention. Then maybe you can have a better understanding of what we study here"
   Shamed by my professor, after my classes were done, I went to look at the wisteria, this time carefully ducking my head, triumphing over the Wisteria branches. I sat against the tree, looking at the Wisteria, waiting for something extraordinarily deep and meaningful to happen. I was beginning to wonder how long Frost had to look at that fork in the road to write "Road Not Taken", when a group of tourists came shuffling by. Slowly passing me by, they all looked and pointed at me, as if I were some sort of rare animal. As they approached the Wisteria, I leaned forward eagerly to see how the tourists would react. Maybe they would smell deeply the purple blossoms or maybe they would admire it from a distance, commenting on the graceful way that it wraps around the trellis that supports it. No, none of these things happened. Something much better occurred, something that I will never forget.
   The tour group, so intently studying the college student who was studying them, ran straight into the Wisteria.

Love: By Roy Croft

2011-04-18T22:11:00.001-07:00

Love

I love you
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.

I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.

I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;

I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple.

Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.

I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good.
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.

You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.

You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.

by Roy Croft

Miss Havisham: A Sad Drunk

2011-03-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

You Stupid Bitch

2011-02-08T22:34:00.000-08:00

Changing Language and Twilight

2011-02-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

I was reading for my English literature class and came across this quote from Samuel Johnson who wrote the first English Dictionary. He is talking about how and why language changes over time and for whatever reason it reminded me of the Twilight series and Stephanie Meyer's newfound popularity.

"Pronunciation will be varied by levity or ignorance, and the pen must at length comply with the tongue; illiterate writers will at one time or other, by public infatuation, rise into renown, who not knowing the original import of words, will use them with colloquial licentiousness, confound distinction and forget propriety"

I don't know why but when I read this, I immediately was reminded of the Twilight series....

P.S: If I disappear, you will know it was the Twilhard fans

Are You Mark Twain? No? Then Leave Huck Alone

2011-01-22T20:41:00.000-08:00

   Feeling dread about doing homework for my political science class, today I was procrastinating by looking through Google News (shamefully, I was only looking at the Entertainment section). I came across an article about a scholar who is planning to republish Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, by replacing the "N" word with the word "slave".
When I first heard this news, I was upset. Mark Twain's novel is a cultural and historical piece that reflects values and views of the time. Replacing one offensive word with its historical counterpart would not change the fact that the novel stereotypes African Americans in a negative way. The character of Jim is testament to that fact. I saw this republication of the book as another attempt for literature to be "politically correct", a term I have come to loathe because I feel that in our quest to become "politically correct", we compromise and water down our opinions through the fear of offending somebody. While I believe that we all are equal, I acknowledge that we don't all agree and some of my beliefs are likely to offend somebody. (opinions tend to do that)
   Upon doing more research, I found the reasons behind this scholar's project to republish. Allan Gribben, the scholar, argues that too many people do not read this classic because of their aversion to the racial stereotypes and slurs that occur in the book. Gribben argues that he is not trying to "render Huck colorblind", but rather express that view in a way that a twenty first century audience would better understand. First of all, if people avoid this book because they are offended by the racial issues presented, they aren't going to feel any better just because one offensive word is replaced with a slightly less offensive word. Second of all, if those same people do not understand the historical context of the word, then it is likely that they are not going to understand the historical context and meaning of the entire novel.
   In short, I believe that this novel should be left alone. The reason for this novel's renown partly comes from its historical meaning and context. If people are offended by it, I suggest don't read it. It can be done. In the mean time, scholars, please stop trying to make things more politically correct. People argue and disagree. Deal with it

Human Dictionary

2010-12-07T16:37:00.000-08:00

This is a shout out to my friend who has this crazy idea that I am a substitute for a dictionary. We will be sitting together doing homework and she will ask "Hey, English major, what's a better way to say {insert phrase}?" She makes me feel very smart because no matter what I say, she gets really excited. It's a win win situation.

National Geographic Picture

2010-12-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

I was introduced to this Stumble Upon website that I have formed a love/hate relationship with. It is a cool website (in moderation) that shows me videos/articles/photos that it thinks I would be interested in according to a massive survey that filled out at the start. While this website has the power to be an enormous time waster, I have read and seen some interesting stuff. I found a lot of these nature photos there and though I would share them. Here is one of my favorites:

The caption reads that it is a picture of the Bering Sea. Will have to add that on my growing list of places I want to go

Here We Go.....

2010-12-07T00:57:00.000-08:00

This first post is just as much for me and for everyone (if anyone) who is reading this. When I write, I discover my true intention and point at the end rather at the beginning where it should be. So, if you are not interested in my motivations for starting this blog, stop reading. No hard feelings, I promise.
This is my first attempt at keeping a blog. I have made different blogs but never with the intention of writing in them. I want to write more....I keep saying that I love to write and that's what I want to do with my life but every time I write something, I decide it's crap. Solution? Write more, get my ideas and thoughts out there, and maybe (fingers crossed) something amazing will happen....or at least something above average....

So what to write about? I have discovered you can't write well unless you want to. So I am not going to falsely resolve myself to write in this once a week. When something makes me happy, sad, angry, amused, etc, I will write it down...For all I know this could be a total bust: this may be my first and only entry...but I would like to think that I have things to say and I hope there are people out there who are willing to listen.