Death of Emo

Pete Wentz is a moron. I mean, I love him. Wait, no he's a tool. Either way he let Mark Hoppus (non-tool) shave his head during their concert at Madison Square Garden last night and the results aren't that great. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that Pete looked better with the emo bangs than he does without them. I think he might be the only guy in the world I can say that about.



Anyways, that's the video someone took from the concert. The quality isn't great, but at least you get to hear Patrick Stump sing his little heart out... off key. I swear that man makes up new keys in his head, plays that on the guitar and then matches vocal pitch with the song playing in his ear piece.

Don't get me started on the screaming. We can all do without that, thanks Pete. For the audiences sake, Mark Hoppus jumped in on harmony for all of 2 notes only to walk off stage. Shame. Fall Out Boy has been mainstream for how many years and they're still opening other headlining band's shows? haha

I'm a huge FOB fan. My computer is laughing at me.

Home Life

I can tell you this much I will marry just once and if it doesn't work out I'll give her half of my stuff. It's fine with me, we said eternity.

I'm confused by John Mayer. He sings one thing but means another.

He is the ultimate example of men ages 18 to 30. Which, I admit is rather frustrating considering how he croons lyrics about being in love and living life the way every twenty-something dreams they could if they were allowed. What I find strange is that no matter how JMay behaves himself in public [or private for that matter], women everywhere wish they could be with a man like him.

It baffles me. I mean don't get me wrong, I love everything about JMay just as much as the next girl. What I don't do is wish for one second that I could have him or any guy like him. His words are as empty as my bank account.

Following the part where I dab my face with a tissue because his lyrics make me cry like a little baby girl, I'm almost always left wondering where it comes from. John Mayer is pretty much the best example of how men will always remain an enigma to me, and women for that matter. Reckless with peoples hearts but constantly aching over the one they can't have. Wouldn't it just be easier if everyone was honest?

10.1.05

I'm going to spare you the subsequent rant about the book (again) because I just went there a few days ago, but I will say this - I was rather naive to think I would get through today unscathed.

It has been exactly 4 years to the day since a friend of mine passed away from cancer.

I can still remember where I was when I found out, who told me and exactly what I did in reaction to the news. I remember going home the next weekend for the service. The first time I'd been home from college. George (OF) and I went to see Elizabethtown the afternoon before the service, which ultimately was a failed attempt at trying to keep our spirits high. We picked the wrong movie.

I will never forget sitting with my varsity volleyball team at the service and looking down the aisle to see a friend of mine crying silently to himself. That image is burned in my memory. I can still feel my footsteps dragging down the halls of my high school towards the commons where everyone who was close to Charlie met after the service. I remember seeing my ex-boyfriend standing, chin on his chest, in complete anguish. He was disappointed in himself. His mother had died of cancer just 7 months earlier.

That night was unlike any other experience I have ever had. I saw two of the most important men in my life completely broken down, which is something I do not wish on anyone. Standing amongst our family, friends and peers I wrapped my arms around both of those boys and hoped beyond hope that I would be allowed to never let go.

It has been 4 years today. Since then I have hit rock bottom and come back. In fact I am positive that I could not get lower than I was then even if I tried. Charlie continues to be the sunshine in every day we're blessed with. He continues to spin a weave throughout our lives that without a doubt brings the class of 2005 back together. Even when we're begging for space. I don't know anyone else who experienced the kind of close-knit graduating class that I had. Charlie did that for us.

I would try to be funny today, in fact I had quite a few hilarious moments throughout the day which is a blessing considering the track record this day and month generally has for me and those who knew him. The month of October is like clockwork. Every year since Charlie passed it seems that I am dealing with one or the other - the ex boyfriend or the non boyfriend. Like clockwork this month chews me up and spits me out. This year I refuse to be brought down. Charlie wouldn't like that.

The Book

I have several things. First of all, and don't lie to yourself cause we both know it's true - don't you hate it when those songs come on that make you literally mentally jump from wherever you are to wherever you were when you first got attached to that music? I know I do.

The way music can transform your life is something I used to yearn for. The way that just one song, one guitar lick or lyric can make you revisit emotions and memories now faded with time is a double edged sword to say the least.

This brings me to my next thought. I hate how in order to block someone on Facebook (the book) it automatically takes it upon itself (you know its an entity unto its own) to de-friend that person.

Last fall I blocked someone I wasn't sure I had the willpower to not check up on and to my dismay I realized that in blocking said non-boyfriend [and his friends] that the book had taken it upon itself to de-friend all of them. This made for a rather awkward healing process of re-friending them all.

I mean what does that say about me? "Hey, I was upset because you're a dick but now all is forgiven so will you re-accept my friend request?" If that doesn't get 'em, I don't know what will.

The book and I have a long standing love hate relationship, but this put me over the edge. I now am a rare book user, not anywhere close to the addict I once called myself. Facebook is a strange and wonderful new technology that has been introduced to the world, but with the website comes the knowledge that people who weren't there last night know exactly what you were up to and who with and for how long and what you looked like and omgg SHE DID NOT. Give me a break, if I wanted you to know the inner-workings of my social life [or lack there of] then I would pick up the phone and call, text or email you. But I didn't.

You know you're boring when...

your night consists of impatiently waiting for the new GG episode. Life doesn't get much more pathetic than my pathetic attempts at redeeming a mute weekend by vicariously living through the fabulous lives of television characters.

Last night Lisa (the roommate) and I were disappointed to say the least. After a rain-soaked run to get our pumpkin ice cream fix and an hour of half assed attempted studying, we sat down to watch our favorite show which fell painfully short this week.

I think that's what happens when all your eggs are in the I-wish-my-life-was-apart-of-Gossip-Girl basket.

I think its safe to safe I'm not the only one.

I did get one good thing out of last night. My being let down by a CW television show got me thinking about why I so desperately want to get out of Connecticut and get in to New York.

Despite the fact that I was born and raised in the great state of I <3 NY, the city itself holds an allure that is hard to describe... or not. It's the fact that when you get off the S shuttle at 42nd St there's a guy who I swear is Jimmy Hendrix reincarnated playing his greatest hits. It's that Dan Humphrey look-a-like I saw on the 4 train last Monday. Maybe it's because I can pop into the Apple Store to pick up new headphones one minute, feeling completely overwhelmed by the amount of people there, and the next be strolling around Central Park with a cone full of sugary toasted almonds. It doesn't hurt that if you wander around long enough you're bound to find a Starbucks or other suitable coffee shop.

Don't get me wrong, there are other great places to live. In fact, there are plenty of other places I'd give just about anything to live in, but for now the city and all of its' eccentricities is enough to keep me coming back for more. I'm just afraid that once I get there I'll find out that I still am obsessed with GG and Chuck Bass, wish I was living Serena VDdubs fabulous life and that low and behold, I have to choose between living out my Top Gun dream in southern California or the impossible GG dream I've now attached myself to.

You thought your life was boring?

Apartment Blues

I'm pretty positive that we had elephants move in to the apartment above us. Either that or these people are actively trying to ruin our lives by stomping as loud as humanly possible back and forth through their apartment while slapping their child around and getting the dog excited enough to run back and forth in circles. They are trying to ruin my concentration (or lack of).

This is not the newest discovery in a rather strange turn of events when it comes to who's who of building 680. Just last night I witnessed a rather awkward confrontation between a guy not much older than myself, gripping the leash of his dog while screaming at his girlfriend, who was holding [their?] baby. I am shameless. I think they caught me peering through my blinds at them, which serves me right for thinking they wouldn't notice me through my second story window. But, let's be honest here; what did they think was going to happen while having a very public fight right outside half the buildings' windows? I blame the area around here. Why a 22-year-old would be living with his on-again off-again girlfriend their baby and dog is beyond me, especially if when he's pushed to his limit it illicits shrieks out of him such as "I WILL LEAVE RIGHT NOW WITH THE DOG!" Awk-ward.

Saturday night when all I wanted was some peace and quiet so I could relax with a disc of Gilmore Girls and fall into a melatonin induced haze, the people who just moved in below us decided to host the BET awards. I wouldn't have even considered filing a noise complaint if I didn't already know that these people are not college students and they have small children living in their apartment. My night ultimately consisted of banging the ceiling with my plunger and stomping as hard as possible around my bedroom.

Good Lord, I need to get out of Connecticut.

A Fresh Start

I haven't visited my blog since my official last semester of college ended. After spending the last 36 hours reading other peoples blogs and having found all this new free time on my hands, I decided I could use a creative outlet of my own. Alas, this will (hopefully) be more of a rant page than anything else. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will be one people will find humorous, bet we'll see.

My most recent exploits have been those involving my roommate and I watching indulgent amounts of Gossip Girl, traipsing my rather unstylish ass in and out of The City and finding that free time is the bane of my existence. That's not counting last weekend when one of my oldest friends (OF's?) Niky came to visit and managed to embarrass herself at the local college bar by attempting to jump over the bar stools only to crash into the wall successfully eating plaster and making all the jappy bimbos laugh. And let's forget about when I inappropriately hit on a friend of mine who I wouldn't want ever at the bar because... well, I've been bored.

I went in to the city early Friday morning for my interview and managed to work my way south throughout the day. By the evening we were back in midtown for dinner at this Mexican place Cancun (clever I know) and needless to say the night went on as another (OF) friend of mine Jon had to go home while his girlfriend shrieked at him on the phone leaving me with his two roommates Tom and Ali and Tom's boyfriend Joe whose birthday it was. So I ended up attending a cabaret show at this place called The Gentleman's Club but not before drinking 5 dollar drinks called "Hurricane's" at a place called The Bourbon Street something-or-other which promised to "bring back Katrina" I kid you not. From the cabaret place we rode in the craziest black suv version of the Knight Bus from Harry Potter to get down to West Village and this bar called Marie's Crisis which really is a gay dive bar where gay men of all shapes and sizes drink and crowd around a piano man while belting out show tunes to their hearts content. The night ended a few blocks away at Caliente because Joe was dancing at Marie's Crisis and when he was warned once to stop he asked if he could at least bop to which the bartender replied, "No, we only have a cabaret license." Needless to say we got back to Queens at 3:40am and despite my feeling of abandonment by Jon and frustration from having spent too much money on a friend of a friends' boyfriend who I don't know, it makes for a great story.

I came to two conclusions this weekend. One, you'll never find a man if the only bars you go to are gay bars. You might find a best gay, but you definitely won't find a sugar daddy. Two, I'd rather live in New York than most anywhere else, because at least there I can pretend to live out my Gossip Girl dream.

Too Many Veterans, Not Enough Volunteers.

The halls of the West Haven Veterans Hospital in Connecticut are empty with the exception of the occasional orderly wandering in and out of rooms. There is a distinct smell of excretion and garbage and the lighting is dingy, as if the fluorescents haven’t been dusted since the buildings initial construction. Even having prepared myself knowing that Veterans Hospitals are notoriously under-staffed and lacking in funds, this is not what I was expecting.

The Citizen Leaders program at Quinnipiac University ran a program this semester called “Hope for Heroes”. The group, which is devised of juniors and seniors on campus who are in their last year of the leadership program, ran a drive to collect items that they then delivered to the West Haven VA - they are among few young people the ward on the third floor in building two ever get to interact with.
“You would have a devoted audience if you came back again, I’ll vouch for that,” said one of the World War II veterans.

According to Mary Lou Lauricella who is an Art Therapy Director at the West Haven VA, the third floor doesn’t see many young people volunteering at all. We were encouraged to come back if we had the time and the older veterans, even those from World War II, clapped when Lauricella announced our arrival.

“You might not think they care that you’re here, but you have no idea how much this means to them,” Lauricella said.



One other volunteer, a woman in her early ‘90s, told me that she was thrilled to see young people doing something good for the community. “I read the paper and they always talk about all the bad things your generation is doing, it’s nice to see that there are good people out there. I wish they would write about that,” she said.
Marty Naugher, a Voluntary Service Specialist at the VA Central Office in Washington DC, said that out of 80,000 people who volunteered for the VA in 2008, 20,346 of them were youth/student volunteers. But even with an increase in veterans between the age 20 and 25-years-old, young people are not turning out in increased numbers to help those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to Mary Beth Hynoski, who is a Voluntary Service Program Manager for the New Jersey Veterans Affairs Health Care System, there has been no increase in youth volunteers, mainly between the ages of 18 and 25 even since the war in Iraq began in March of 2005.

Volunteer Chart -

RS Volunteers Aged 0 to 10 years 0
RS Volunteers Aged 11 to 20 years 78
RS Volunteers Aged 21 to 30 years 13
RS Volunteers Aged 31 to 40 years 10
RS Volunteers Aged 41 to 50 years 21
RS Volunteers Aged 51 to 60 years 50
RS Volunteers Aged 61 to 70 years 75
RS Volunteers Aged 71 to 80 years 86
RS Volunteers Aged 81 to 90 years 80
RS Volunteers Aged over 90 years 6


“Our numbers haven’t increase, however we have received increased calls from prospective volunteers that express an interest in volunteering with the Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans,” said Hynoski in an email.
Karen Blanchette who is a nursing major at Quinnipiac and in her third year applied to the VA as part of her summer clinical but was quickly discouraged.

“I really honestly applied to work at the VA for selfish reasons,” said Blanchette. She claims that while the patients at the VA offer a more rewarding experience the chaos of working for a government run hospital turned her off to the internship possibility.

My own experience trying to get in touch with Mary Lou Lauricella even for a visit was complicated enough to help me see where Blanchette stands in her qualms about working for a VA hospital. Weeks of phone tag or no returned calls at all prove just how poor communication is in many of these hospitals. That same lack of communication is ultimately what made Blanchette reconsider working her summer clinical at the VA and instead took a position at Saint Raphael’s in New Haven.
The problem definitely lies in part to a serious lack of communication on part of the VA system, but with most hospitals being understaffed its understandable. Hynoski claims the VA does nothing different to target different age groups of volunteers which seems like it could be part of the problem.

“Regardless of age our volunteer program seeks volunteers that can commit to a minimum of 50 hours of service to ensure we are meeting the needs of the medical center,” said Hynoski.

There is a serious lack of youth involvement at VA Hospitals, which is shocking considering how many high schools now require some form of community service in order to graduate. With colleges now looking for more well rounded students, the local VA would be the perfect place to pick up volunteer hours and help out returning soldiers who are suffering for a war that has been less than popular in it’s four year stint.



For now it seems the local VA Hospitals will take any help they can get, even if it is from people who are older than most of their residing patients. At the end of our visit Lauricella handed me her card with an email address, told me any visit would be nice from young people like us and thanked us one last time. The quiet hallway as we walked out was a reminder of just how alone a lot of our nations veterans are.

(Top two photographs courtesy of Nicolette Yevich. Bottom photograph from www.whereistheoutrage.net)

If you're interested in volunteering visit the government website. http://www.connecticut.va.gov/giving/index.asp










Mother & Daughter Work With the VA

Marissa Hynoski has taken on the tradition passed down to her from her mother Mary Beth. Marissa, a junior Physical Therapy major at Quinnipiac University, has spent the last six years volunteering at the same VA hospital her mother has been working for as a Voluntary Service Program Manager.

“I think that once Marissa started volunteering she enjoyed it and found her volunteer assignments rewarding,” said Mary Beth.

Marissa claims that the start of her volunteer days with the VA were not smooth sailing, but that while she may not have wanted to work there initially the experience has changed her outlook on military service and those who commit their time to it.

“While I see what they do is valuable, it severely disheartens me to see that many give their life, limbs, health and family to be forgotten about,” Marissa said.

Marissa says that one of her goals in life is to work with wounded veterans by fitting and training them for prostheses so that they have a chance to regain a normal life.

Mary Beth started out working for the VA New Jersey Health Care System in 1982 as a Recreational Therapist and has since spent the last 15 years as a Voluntary Service Program Manager. The job involves the recruitment and training of volunteers as well as coordinating activities for the medical center.

non-graduate

Apparently today was the last day [of two] to pick up your cap and gown for graduation. My roommate told me to go and check to see if, considering I still am class of 2009, my name would be on the list and therefore I should pick up my cap and gown. I got half way to school before I realized I should just call the registrar’s office. After talking to a dim-witted girl who didn’t understand that despite not needing a cap and gown because I will not be walking at class of 2009 or class 0f 2010’s graduation, I now have this information. Even though I am still class of 2009, the graduation that takes place for those who finish school in December actually happens in January of 2010 which technically makes me a winter 2010 graduate (bleh) and therefore I don’t pick up my cap and gown until next spring (I guess?). Because the idiot girl I spoke with didn’t understand that I just want it to have it she told me that if I’m choosing not to walk at all next spring then I don’t need to pick one up but after repeating myself for what seemed like the 10th time she told me that I will have to wait almost a year to acquire a Quinnipiac University cap and gown…

and with that I am annoyed on this dismally rainy day. I also just received a pleading email from the Dean of the School of Communications asking me [again] to fill out the senior survey [again] so as to better inform this hell hole of a school about my college experience. Hopefully I’ll be the incredibly lucky non-graduate that receives the 250 dollar prize for actually replying to their survey.

This is #1 on the list of things I shouldn't be doing with my time.

On the list of things I should be doing with my time, this would not be one of them. But as four years are coming to a close, I thought that at least somewhere, if not at some point facebook, I should post these pictures that at one point I was so attached to I had to scan them in (because we didn't all have digital cameras then) so as to be able to have copies in case I lost the prints. Enjoy, its a little slice of my past I don't necessarily feel like I ever lived.


Let the night before senior ball commence.


It seems Kate and I were constantly being dragged to car shows out on the lake that spring.


Jon, Jessie and Jason at our senior lock in.


Pat, Jamie and Matt at Film Fest.


Stevie playing with a lightsaber while waiting in line for the midnight showing of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith


Charlie playing pool at our friend Matt's 18th birthday party.


Jamie and Matt.


Stephanie and Emily at the midnight showing of Star Wars.


Sam and myself waiting in the very same line.


Sam wearing the C3PO helmet someone brought along with them.


The quintessential Penfield class of 2005 photograph.

unsexy

oh. my. gosh. this is the funniest thing i've seen in quite some time. ladies and gents, i give you the 100 unsexiest men of 2009.

the sparklies

"it's unintentionally ridiculous and takes itself way too seriously, as if it didn't realize that it's actually a film about glitter." (do yourself a favor)

I'm beginning to get weirded out by how strange people are when it comes to their obsessions - granted I'm absolutely not ashamed to admit that I too wanted to know where to get a pair of cable knit long mittens like the ones from Twilight, but sparkle makeup, really? Hot Topic, and any self respecting male for that matter, ought to call it quits before they dig themselves a grave to lay their coffin in (corny pun totally intended).

twilight dvd release

Okay I can't help it so I have to just say this. What in the name of Scorsese Coppola and Spielberg was Summitt Entertainment and Stephanie Meyer thinking when they let the nut job of a director Catherine Hardwicke try to adapt this novel onto the big screen?! Having read and reread all four of the books from the Twilight series in the last year I'm having a hard time understanding why any studio would allow a film with such franchise potential to be rushed into the way they obviously did with this one. Don't get me wrong the characterization was fantastic - everyone looked the part (with the exception of the token minority characters taking the place of Bella's cafeteria crowd) but they clearly weren't given the time or [appropriate, talented, right] direction in order to flesh out their characters in front of the camera. Ugh, I'm disappointed and ultimately bought the dvd more for the laugh than anything else. I suppose not every franchise can be Harry Potter - and even those have taken on an entity of their own.

10 Steps to Packing the Right Way

It might be a little after the fact, but in light of spring break I realized something I came to terms with a long time ago - I always over pack. It doesn't matter whether I'm going home for three days or across the world for a month, I am pretty much guaranteed to pack everything short of the toilet in my bathroom (and if I could I probably would). So with that in mind I give you - how to pack efficiently in 10 steps.

Step 1 - Do your laundry before you pack, and definitely don't leave it until you come home. You are sure to only encounter disaster if you wait to do everything together post trip.


Step 2 - I found this online and it really helped (although I'm a compulsive list maker so perhaps that's why). If you go to The Universal Packing List it will help you sort through what you need and don't need based on the kind of trip you're taking. Make a list!

Step 3 - Make sure to pick a bag (suitcase or duffel) that isn't too big. According to the Ultimate Guide to Packing Light, if you pick the bigger bag then you're going to fill all the space. If you're really feeling distraught about which bag to bring you can go here - this website helps explain what makes for good luggage versus a disaster in the airport.


Step 4 - WHY ARE YOU PACKING A FULL TUBE OF TOOTHPASTE?! Carrying full size toiletries is a bad idea. Whether they're in your carry on or in your luggage stowed away there's no reason to bring a family size bottle of shampoo. My bet is you won't shower as much as you would at home anyways, so you're not going to go through 26 oz of conditioner and you definitely don't brush your teeth more than twice a day while on vacation so go out to the store and buy yourself some handy airline approved small sized toiletries. This makes life a hell of a lot easier for everyone.

Step 5 - If you don't like the idea of rolling at least your casual clothes to provide more space, at least fold them. Not only will folding your clothes prevent wrinkles but it will also give you more space to pack those over-sized speakers you thought your friends would want in the hotel room while you pregame. Whatever you do, do not make the mistake of just shoving things in your bag. If you're going on a fancier trip - say to a wedding etc you might want to check out Martha Stewart's
helpful packing tips on her website. She has crazy ideas like using tissue paper to keep your dry clean items free of wrinkles and neatly folded in your bag.

Step 6 - This is my own thing but if you're planning to bring a camera (digital or film), an ipod, cellphone or anything of the sort, I suggest you bring those things with you in a carry on bag. There are always warnings about the x-ray scanners ruining certain kinds of film and unless you have a lock on your luggage I always feel more comfortable with my valuable electronics on my person. At least this way if something gets ruined, its my own fault.
This is my backpack - I don't even entertain the idea of bringing a purse as a carry on because this is always better. Go get yourself one, you'll thank me later.


This is a three minute video on how to pack a backpack as a carry on the best way. You won't need the equipment he's taking but the idea is the same.

Step 7 - I've separated this because it's equally as important as your expensive electronics if not more... make sure you have all the correct documentation for your trip. Whether you need your passport and license or just two forms of ID, be responsible and pack this stuff in your carry on. Don't make the mistake of packing too much cash or not having your flight confirmation number - all of this can be solved by keeping a folder in your pack with your flight information, your passport and other forms of ID. If you're going out of the country it's also a safe bet to make a copy of your credit card you'll be bringing as well as your social security card (don't bring the real one), just in case there's a problem.

Step 8 - I didn't put this at the top because ultimately I like to have my own stuff, but I found that a lot of people said the same thing. Don't buy something if you can borrow it. Oh you need a dress? Great, raid your roommates closet if she'll let you. Don't have the right kind of luggage? Ask a family member if they might lend you theirs. As a college student we might not all be in the same economic demographic but it's still important to be financially responsible - if you don't need to spend money on something, then don't. Look at it this way, if you don't spend it now that's more money you have to use while you're away.

Step 9 - Double check everything before you leave. I always feel like I'm forgetting something so it's a safe bet that you did too considering I'm the list maker. Check check and recheck before you leave to ensure you don't leave your underwear sitting in the clean laundry pile.

Step 10 - It's a little intense but they have the right idea, before you leave these are some things you should think about checking.

I know I wish I'd had this all written down before I left for Florida so I hope this was helpful. Good luck with your next trip!

oh calvin

So I couldn't find the newly edited version of this Calvin Klein commercial that's now airing at least on MTv (if not other channels) but the point is that really the only thing different is the lack of visible nipple (yes I said it). Take a look, I'm genuinely shocked that this is allowed to air on television but the PETA ad was banned. Go figure.

http://www.wwd.com/video/?vid=9357449001

star wars!

In the spirit of telling the class that my favorite movie is Star Wars I thought I would share with everyone my two favorite videos on youtube about the greatest movie saga ever made.



This video had my friends and I laughing for a pretty solid year before we ever let it go, and it STILL comes up in conversation.



This video is just too damn cute to keep to myself. Star Wars is awesome for people of all ages.

i <3 vintage commercials

I miss this commercial, I miss the 70s and 80s. I wish Vh1 offered i <3 the 70s/80s on dvd.

i <3 college

Is this guy serious?! The LAST thing I want my younger family members (or any family members for that matter) thinking is that I just dropped 40 grand a year to get blackout drunk and let some punkass white wannabe rapper screw around with me weekend after weekend. NOTHING about the music video or the lyrics involve anything that needs to be shared with the impressionable audience that's still soaking up Mtv videos like lapdogs. This guy [Asher Roth] is acting as if it's not widely known (by those who've already been through this period in their lives) how many people screw around during college and ultimately waste their four years spending more time trying to remember the night before than actually learning anything about education or how to be an active healthy member of society.
What really gets me is that sure, there are plenty of assholes who spend four nights a week blowing away their money on booze and drugs, but those kids don't make up the entire population of college students, and believe it or not that isn't what college is about. Don't get me wrong, I love to go out as much as the next person, but priorities begin to fall in line when you grow up and realize you're not in high school anymore. And the real icing on the cake is how vile this guy is in reference to girls - I'm not sure about anyone else but what I am sure about is that it was never cool to be that drunk naked idiot girl who let herself get so out of control that she didn't realize everyone was staring at her naked body sprawled out on the couch. That is absolutely not the message we should be sending to young women; sure! it's okay to get blackout drunk and take your clothes off, all the girls are doing it!!
Clearly there are a lot of issues with a society that accepts this kind of behavior and rewards the people who continue to exist in this world with record deals and top corporate jobs. I'm repulsed and the worst part is that this gives everyone who likes to party a bad rap, cause I am absolutely positive that we don't all act this way.

photography q & a

I talked to Adam Briere and James Turnley about their love of photography and why they do it.



(James Turnley)

1. How did you get into photography?

AB - I'm Adam Briere. No, James started me on it.

JT - Freshman year in my anthropology class a photographer named James Rexroad came in and showed some documentary pictures... they blew my mind because I'd never seen pictures like his. I started taking pictures after that.

2. What about photography do you like so much?

AB - You know that line "imperfection is beauty"that all those chicks write about? Well that's what I really like about photography. I like how it makes you look at your environment differently. Things that you think might not normally be interesting, can be when photographed.

JT - Well first looking at pictures, my own and others is just interesting to me. I enjoy it like someone else would enjoy listening to music or watching a movie. You start picking up tastes and styles that you like looking at most, like genres of music. Second, it's just a distraction to everything else... looking and taking pictures just makes you forget about everything. You just become lost in the idea of getting better and making better pictures. I like that with this you constantly impove, you like your most recent pictures much better than the pictures you took a year ago and you know that you will make better pictures tomorrow than you did today.




(Adam Briere)

3. What keeps you photographing?

AB - The one good shot that I get out of 100.

JT - I guess partially out of sheer repetition. You start taking pictures a lot and it's hard to stop. You get your head thinking about what makes a good picture, and then you can't stop that. You start seeing pictures all the time.

4. What's your favorite technique to use?

AB - I love to use my hotshoe flash, which is the flash tha tyou put on top of your camera. It's more powerful and more intense than built in flashes, plus they are hard to use which makes them more fun.

JT - I guess one of my main things is I don't like zoom lenses. I like more wide angle, or regular "prime" lenses. I just like not having to think about zooming and instead use my feet.

5. What's your preferred medium to photograph?

AB - I'm all over the place, anything that catches my eye. Wildlife, an interesting sky, a good stare. Anything except for still lifes.

JT - It changes, which I think is good because it's good to try out different things. For the most part whatever catches my eye, which can have a lot to do with what photographers are influencing me. Recently I've like shooting color, and trying to find good color in life scenes... with our without people, and that comes from looking at a lot of color photographers, especially William Eggleston. I like quieter photographs a lot, ones that are more subtle in the ways they are interesting.

6. If you could photograph one place, where would it be?

AB - Kenya or Alaska. I really want to get into shooting wildlife.

JT - The midwest, like the great plains. I have visions of just miles of corn fields, with stormy skies.

7. If you could photograph one person, who would it be?

AB - I would photograph anyone with great eyes.

JT - My future wife someday, which is cheesy. Or my uncle back in the 60s.

(James Turnley)
8. How do you feel about editing your work?

AB - I'm a naturalist so anything beyond brightness/contrast, I try not to dabble in.

JT - I think editing is fine with photoshop and I use it a lot as long as you are not afraid to say what you've done to the photo.

9. Film or Digital?

AB - I like the way film looks better than digital, but I like the ease of digital better than film.

JT - I like the look of film a lot better right now, but I sometimes use digital. I also like film because it makes me shoot slower and I like the feeling of getting a roll developed and not knowing exactly what is on it.

10. What's your photography philosophy?

AB - Charles Harbutt once said, "If you want to judge a good photograph, ask yourself: Is life like that? The answer must be yes and no, but mostly yes." I think about that whenever I photograph.

JT - I like this quote, "I know who I am. I don't do what I do in order to make somebody like me, or to prove something to someone, or to be the best. I do it for myself, for my own satisfaction. I want to find my limits, to see how far I can go. The maximum, that's what's always interested me - the maximum from me and the maximum from others." - Josef Koudelka. Just keep doing it while you have the passion for it.



(Adam Briere)

the academy finally got one right.

Thank you sweet MOSES for this incredible win last night. I didn't even watch the Academy Awards because my friends were too busy playing halo but I waited patiently to find out whether or not the Academy was going to keep their act together long enough to at least award Heath Ledger's family for his incredible performance in this past summers' The Dark Knight, which in spite of some of its' major pitfalls was still arguably one of the best films that came out during the summer of 2008. Usually the Academy ends up giving the award to someone whose performance was not as good and there for they feel justified that the other contenders will be back again year after year to prove just how talented they really are. I fail to see the logic in this but that's for another post. I'm just happy that after severely deteriorating during the filming of this role at least Ledger's family was able to see his hard work pay off.

seriously?!

Okay, this might be old news but is Joaquin Phoenix serious?! It took me about five days to actually watch his latest appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman but I'm so confused. What happened to the actor Hollywood praised and the public couldn't ignore? Who's letting this nut throw away his talent? For the sake of playing devil's advocate, let's just respect the fact that he watched his younger brother River die of a drug overdose outside the Viper Room in Los Angeles in 1993 so I suppose it's been a long time coming. Regardless of the reason, I ask please just give this clip a shot and you too will agree he's definitely on something.

that damn sunscreen song

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

My friend and I were talking about old cds that we used to have earlier and I brought up the Now That's What I Call Music cds. Epic, EPIC compilations often of one hit wonders from the late 90's and early (whoa) turn of the century pop icons. Then sunscreen song came up. I thought about how much I have always loved the advice from that song but never knew where the song originated from.

The actual speech was written by Mary Schmich, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune in 1997. It was later turned into a song that was credited to Baz Luhrman (which I still really don't understand). Enjoy it, I know I have and continue to look back on the wonderful advice now and then.

drunk driving on the weekends

Plenty of students go out on the weekends, plenty of students think their weekend starts every Thursday night and plenty of students are driving to their desired destinations.

Whether it be a party or a local bar, too many Quinnipiac students are choosing to drive to and from off campus events because they're often left with little choice otherwise.

According to Sgt. Riehl of the Hamden Police Department the amount of arrests due to drunk driving has decreased among Quinnipiac students since the administration hired the local police to work both on and off campus monitoring students.

"Deaths five years ago used to average 3.4 students a year," said Sgt. Riehl.

Riehl believes the school does as much as they can to prevent student deaths caused by drunk driving, but just because students aren't dying each year doesn't mean they aren't getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink.

The problem starts with seniors being unable to park on campus or have the same access to the shuttle system as underage students living on campus do, although the Assitant Chief for Parking and Transportation, Ronald Colavolpe disagrees.

"We are trying to curb students from leaving cars on campus all weekend because of all the activities that are occurring during the weekend," said Colavolpe.

Let's be honest here - what's more important, giving students the opportunity to use the shuttle system and leave their cars on campus instead of driving drunk or making sure visitors have room to park for the cheerleading competition this coming weekend? Doesn't sound like a tough choice, but apparently it is for Quinnipiac administration.

It seems like if students want to go Aunt Chiladas or Toad's they shouldn't have to hope that someone in the group doesn't drink as much so that they'll be "okay" to drive home. Students shouldn't have to worry about their cars getting towed from North Lot during the weekend because they decided to be responsible and take a cab back to their apartment that they had to live in because Quinnipiac decided it was in their best interest to force the senior class off campus.

A cab ride one way from Hamden to New Haven can cost upwards of 30 dollars. Considering how much Quinnipiac students are paying to go to school here shouldn't they at least be offered some safe way to get to and from their weekend destinations? Guess not. Here's hoping it doesn't take another death for Quinnipiac to get their act together, but until they're liable they won't be held accountable.

smallest campus ever

I went home this past weekend to pick up my car from the shop and visit with my parents since I won't be back until after finals are over. I came back to school with my 16 year old cousin Andrea who is beginning her college search. She's not unlike me; from a small town and looking to get away from all that she knows. So while keeping in mind that the six hour drive is not one I look forward to every few months, Andrea too is looking to go to school in the New England area. After she spends the next few days with me she's off to Boston to check out Northeastern and Boston University, both of which are schools I applied to and was accepted at.
The tricky part is figuring out what to do with Andrea in the meantime. She's happy to watch me do my homework and tag along to class, but for how long? And lets be honest, our campus really is not that big. Some people might be feeling nostalgic about late nights spent on the quad, or the blustery walk from Mountainview to class, but not me. We walked around campus today - across the quad, into and around the student center and bookstore, walked down dorm road and back up to the library and then to North Lot, all of which took us no more than 45 minutes (including the people we stopped to talk to).
Now really, what am I supposed to be showing off to my cousin?? Here she is looking to see the close knit community feel and instead even she picks up on the northface and uggs stereotype, without one peep out of me. As we walked across the quad and into the student center she wondered allowed about why there weren't many people hanging out and then asked about spirit week. "Is it like high school?" No it's not, barely anyone pays attention. School spirit is pathetic here and even though our hockey team is definitely something to brag about, the turn out is often less than desireable. Needless to say we left campus and I felt a little embarassed. Did I not give a good tour, is it me? or is the Quinnipiac community really as apathetic about everything as I thought? Without expanding how are we supposed to continue to build a community lifestyle that revolves around more than one night of QUAD activities in a weekend? I'm sad because showing potential newbies your school should be exciting and instead I'm happier to show my cousin my apartment than I am to walk around the same campus for a third time tonight.

sunshine

She's just waiting for the summertime when the weather's fine.

I know what you're thinking, why does this girl constantly quote lyrics to songs I don't care about? I guess my post today is taking a turn in a direction I didn't quite expect, but with my eclectic and somewhat erratic taste in music I can't help but think there's something missing for people who aren't really music listeners. Stay with me.

My thought process started when I woke up this morning and walked out on our balcony. Initially I was peeved cause my roommate is sick and I think she's giving me whatever plague she picked up (I promised her if she get's me sick I'll lick her face once she's healthy again). Anyways, I walked outside and the sun was shining, the air was warm, and I thought thank you sweet Lord for giving us a day of reprieve. Mind you, Connecticut's concrete skies barely rival those of upstate New York, but still I can't help but find fault with any geographical region where cold weather and clouds are more predominant than sunshine and blue skies.

Often when the weather's getting me down I'll turn on Jack Johnson and pretend I'm someplace warm (go ahead and pick your favorite spot) like southern California. I enjoy the music and for just a moment I feel like maybe this isn't so bad, maybe I can make it through the semester, make it through what's left of my college experience. Just maybe, if I listen to the right tunes and hang with the right people I'll make the best of what I have left and won't feel so resentful about this dammed winter weather.

Music is life changing, or it can be if you let it. Not just the lyrics, not just the notes, but the feeling a singers' voice gives you or the memories you connect with a particular song or band. Music is a language we all speak no matter what our native tongue is, and there are so many ways to find new (to you) music. For example, as I posted on Monday, Blink 182 is back together and since I only had three of their albums I borrowed three more from a friend of mine. There are so many ways to get into new bands and artists, itunes alone has more to offer than the average consumer knows about. So for today I've compiled a list of sites that offer lyrics searches or new music acts. Check it out and maybe some band will remind you of summertime too.

• Also check out itunes Genius bar
• itunes essentials
• ask a friend!!!
  

blink is back

It's a bit embarrassing to admit this but the announcement last night at the 2009 Grammy Awards that Blink 182 will be back in action made turning the tv on worthwhile.

The trio is easily the kind of obnoxious musical talent the entertainment world has been missing since they parted ways in December of 2004. But now they're back and I'm positive that whatever the band has in store for its' audience, it'll be loud ridiculous and certain to make everyone laugh.

It's not enough that Blink actually has some talent backing up their musical stylings, but what's better is simply being able to listen to Tom DeLonge (the lead singer, far right) scream out his "bremo" style lyrics. In case you haven't been educated about what it is that bremo actually means, let me enlighten you. Bremo is what I like to refer to as a cross between what some California skater dude wishes was his British accent crossed with that emo miserable whiny voice that sings along to Fall Out Boy songs. It's often characterized by the over pronunciation of vowels in each word (for a perfect example listen to "All the Small Things" or Angels & Airwaves "The Adventure"). Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan, but this genre of singing makes everyone's ears bleed and is sure to make you laugh. I guess the attraction is in the humor, and DeLonge is certain to deliver as he is one of the early artists that helped coin this kind of style.

Blink 182's new album is rumored to drop this summer which means it's entirely possible that they hit up the summer music festival scene. So let's cross our fingers that they make it to the likes of Bonnaroo and round off what's shaping up to be an incredible line up.

better

I'm not feeling especially anything today, but grateful that for once in the last month I don't have to work on a Saturday night. I spent most of my day today at a Relay for Life event geared towards helping event/committee chairs form ideas for their own university events. Needless to say, being named the rookie of the year event for the 2008 year, we spent more time sharing our ideas that acquiring new ones (a disappointment). A huge topic of conversation today centered around telling our own story, why we relay. I have a hard time speaking in public about this, in fact the same song always plays through my head whenever I even begin to think of Relay for Life, much less share why I am so involved in the event. However, I figured since it is gauranteed to be the biggest event on campus this semester (including Ludacris) that I would share [here] why it is that I have become so involved with Relay for Life.

Among other things, a friend of mine passed away during my first semester of my freshman year of college. His name was Charlie and his story is great, having touched so many people's lives. I think I can remember a great deal of high school based on how determined I was to hold on to every single memory after he died, knowing I would never have that time back again. Charlie was the light in the room, the most friendly person in the crowd, quirky talented and incredibly intelligent. Charlie was the voice of the fans at all of my varsity volleyball games throughout high school, the lead singer of his band Fivestar Riot and eventually engaged to a friend of mine. I can recall countless shows the band played in and out of school, I still remember all the lyrics to their songs, but most importantly I remember the day we found out he was diagnosed with cancer. I remember the day he mustered up the strength to walk across the stage at graduation, and I remember his funeral. My graduating class was unlike others, we all were looking to get away from our small town, but when the news of Charlie's death spread everyone returned home. I had no idea just how many people's lives Charlie touched. I have never cried so hard having to look at the reality of how devestated his best friends and fiance were. Every single image of his service are eternally imprinted in my brain, a constant reminder of what cancer has the ability to do to the people I love. I relay not only to remember Charlie and his love for life, but to support the people who stood by him, people who are still some of my closest friends. I relay so that others won't have to feel the pain we felt when we lost Charlie.

I'm really hoping that dispite the last weekend in April's reputation, people will consider coming to Relay for Life. It is an incredible event and easily the best experience I have had in my four years at Quinnipiac. You can get drunk or study every other night you want as a college student, but no bar or test is as important as supporting friends and loved ones.

what do i know?

I wonder if anyone else thinks its strange that we spend the four years we're in college never in one place for more than a few months at a time and then are expected to get our lives together once we graduate. If I had a dollar for the amount of times I've been asked what I'm going to do once I graduate since the start of this year I'd be able to pay my rent for at least one month. The funny thing about this is that for me I haven't even spent my four years at one university, much less in one place.
The college experience is not what it used to be; we come and go, not just between home and school, but state to state, study abroad, summer vacations, jobs, internships etc. and at the end they hand you a degree and say good luck! Proud parents hope their children won't move away, but the fact of the matter is that we're hard wired to do just that. The number of friends I have who say they want to move home after graduation has rapidly decreased since we started at our respective universities.
So is it the lifestyle or the opportunity? Do the four years at college actually help students figure out who they are and what they want to do with their lives, or does it promote restlessness and flighty youth. I say the latter, but then again what do I know? I've been to five new countries in the last two years without studying abroad, gone to the west coast, and come to the conclusion that as much as I love home, I'm ready for something new again.