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.