Favorite Bands:
Nine Inch Nails, And One, Apocalyptica, The Cure, Combichrist, Dmitri Shostakovich, The Dresden Dolls, Hanzel Und Gretyl, Hoobastank, Imperative Reaction, Incubus, Junkie XL, Mindless Self Indulgence, Nirvana, Snake River Conspiracy, Skinny Puppy, Turmion Kätilöt, Zombie Girl, &ct &ct...
Favorite Films:
The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Donnie Darko, Lost and Delirious, Millions, Everything is Illuminated, Inventing the Abbotts
Favorite Books:
Feeling Sorry for Celia, The Year of the Secret Assignments, The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie, Not As Crazy As I Seem, Einstein's Dreams, The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green, Stupid and Contagious, Running with Scissors, Possible Side Effects, Magical Thinking, Dry, Coffee and Kung Fu, The Sociopath Next Door, Whispers: The Voices of Paranoia, Party of One: The Loners' Manifesto, Lolita
Favorite TV Shows:
Jon and Kate Plus Eight (my guilty pleasure), any documentary really, No Reservations: Anthony Bourdain, Bizarre Foods, Project Runway, America's Best Dance Crew (amazing how the human body can move!), Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs
Favorite Hang Outs:
Tuscan Cafe, my own house, library, under trees
5 Items I Can't Live Without:
Muffles (my laptop), Isaac (my iPOD), paper, pencils, and cold water
I Want to Party With:
...all the Gods and Prophets in all the religions just to have a Holy-palooza!
Sexual Orientation: bi
Religion: Roman Catholic
Occupation:
A Student, (but hopefully an:) Author
Philosophy:
Everything happens for a reason, so just live life and expect the wonderful things to come.
Makes Me Happy:
writing
Gets Me Hot:
...that all depends on my imagination, but generally I love sexual fantasies in the kitchen or the shower.
Vices:
milk, writing/reading erotica
Most Humbling Moment:
every time someone tells me I'm a great writer
Fantasy:
Oh... too many! But, my favorite, is being "taken" on the edge of the kitchen sink by a man (assuming my husband), who's in a suit with a loosened tie, and I moan while being stripped to nothing but my short skirt and checkered apron. Mmm. Dinner's ready, honey.
I've been painting lately and I've also been in a sewing mood, so... yeah. Rather than dwindle on the details, I'll just right to the photos:
Charlie S. 16"x20" Oil
This is Charlie S. He's just a little boy wearing a bear hat, and he popped into my head some two weeks ago. I'm actually very pleased how he turned out. In my head, he is known to be worried for most of the day, but genuinely sweet. His mother dresses him in matching bow ties and suspenders, topped off with button-up shirts. He'd rather just wear plain t-shirts, but he obeys his mother anyways.
And now a close up!
And now the second painting, which I'm still working on:
When it's done, it'll have a little girl trying to pet the octopus (my father says her hand is going to be bitten off by the octopus's beak...). Due to distraction with my writing on the 15th chapter of U S of Angel, I haven't finished and thus only really have the octopus.
Here's a close-up of the octopus. Since I have yet to finish the painting, I haven't named it nor the little girl, but I'll post the finished product when I do.
In the meantime, here are some little things I sewed up in my spare time some long ago. Currently, I'm altering dresses and writing.
I've been painting lately and I've also been in a sewing mood, so... yeah. Rather than dwindle on the details, I'll just right to the photos:
Charlie S. 16"x20" Oil
This is Charlie S. He's just a little boy wearing a bear hat, and he popped into my head some two weeks ago. I'm actually very pleased how he turned out. In my head, he is known to be worried for most of the day, but genuinely sweet. His mother dresses him in matching bow ties and suspenders, topped off with button-up shirts. He'd rather just wear plain t-shirts, but he obeys his mother anyways.
And now a close up!
And now the second painting, which I'm still working on:
When it's done, it'll have a little girl trying to pet the octopus (my father says her hand is going to be bitten off by the octopus's beak...). Due to distraction with my writing on the 15th chapter of U S of Angel, I haven't finished and thus only really have the octopus.
Here's a close-up of the octopus. Since I have yet to finish the painting, I haven't named it nor the little girl, but I'll post the finished product when I do.
In the meantime, here are some little things I sewed up in my spare time some long ago. Currently, I'm altering dresses and writing.
NOTE: If you recognize your drawing and I don't have your name posted underneath... TELL ME!
Behold, the following drawings about to shown to you all are fanart for my fanfiction for D.N.Angel, titled U S of Angel, which also has a sequel (still working on though.) Yay for shameless plug-ins! Most of the drawings revolve around my character, Gavin Ravencroth, but some are just simply drawings for D.N.Angel that were, for some reason, given to me. Or random drawings drawn for me.
Either way, every piece of art I've been given, I'm posting. I find it very flattering and ultimately awesome and cool that I'm worth drawing for and I thank everyone who ever has for doing so.
These two drawings are from Hyper Chef, and you can check out her deviantArt gallery, where she shows her progression as an artist. She'll probably cringe at these photos, but I think they're nice.
Well, I do remember getting this and do remember there being a link to it on deviantArt, but for the life of me I can't find it or remember who gave it to me. So, whoever you are, please say!
These three photos are from SutekiKage (aka "Jess"). The first is Gavin, which is also an old picture doing no justice to her improvement in art (but still). The second is a picture of a moon that she wanted to show to me... for some odd reason. And the third is her eating a cupcake (a metaphorical representation of myself--not to be taken sexually) as a gift to me for my birthday.
This is was drawn for me by my friend, Melanie (she's been mentioned here befor). She drew her vision of Gavin after he woke up from a coma, and apparently a little Daisuke in the background dreaming this up. You can check out her devArt gallery here.
The three pictures above were drawn by Kitsu, who I believe has a devArt account, but I don't know what it is. The first two, however, were just drawings shown(given?) to me, and I suppose I kept them. It was quite a time ago. The first is Keiji and Takeshi. The second is Satoshi licking Daisuke's neck, with Dark and Krad commenting. And the last is Kitsu's idea of Gavin Ravencroth.
This one is by Krissy Robert, who I don't have a link for either. Darn. Anyways, you may or may not have noticed that her drawing is quite similar to Kitsu's, right? Well, there was a time where I had some of these pictures posted on my ff.net profile, and so Krissy took Kitsu's drawing as an inspiration, creating her own. She added the glasses as an update from the sequel, where he is mentioned to now have glasses.
Now this, ladies and gentlemen, is a picture I drew back in the eight grade when I first started writing U S of Angel. I don't really draw anime that much, but I attempted to draw Gavin. I slightly cringe at this, knowing this isn't my style, but oh well. I do plan on drawing an updated version of Gavin (in my style, of course) and post it up later.
Anyways, that's approximately it. I'm very pleased to find that people are kind enough to give me their art as a pay to my writing. It honors me and I would love to get more, especially when I do actually publish a novel of my own. The fact that people love my writing enough to pay their respects by drawing the images created in their heads by my words is another wonderful reason why I want, and will, become an author.
Sarah (she seems to be apparent in my life, no?) had invited me, along with her friend Nicole, to the Cure concert some, uh, weeks before (can't quite remember when exactly), to which I said "Sure!" Her father, after much nagging and guilt-tripping, paid for my tickets, which I thanked oh-so-much, despite not quite seeing him.
And so, I went. We thought we were seated in section 119, which would have been amazing, but we read the ticket wrong, seating all the way back in section 410. Quite comical really, and made the experience all the more better in my opinion. See, it was my first (still is) concert I have ever gone to. So, to sit so close in the front would have been a dream come true. Sitting in the back, which wasn't bad at all (we could still see), just made it more precious. A humorous memory to look back upon.
My camera, unfortunately, could not do justice however. So, most of my pictures aren't the best, but some do look interesting with the lighting.
Invited Sarah over out of boredom, which is never good. And so, we chatted. Not much for a day except we... made rag-dolls! I generally like to sew, so I pitched up the idea. I didn't feel like using my sewing machine however, so to make the dolls incredibly personal, both Sarah and I sewed them by hands, where I learned to the extent how little Sarah sews, but hers came out good. I don't have a picture of it for this post, but in the next, you'll see.
We made the patterns first. Fairly simple shape for fairly simple dolls.
I didn't document this event, so you'll have to miss out (which isn't much, for we were watching television--specifically Jon and Kate Plus Eight--while sewing), but here's my finished product:
I don't have a name for her, but she seems to be following the 1960's "Mod" look, so I suppose I'll consider that. Later on in the week, on Friday, a friend of a friend, Nicole, made her a little backpack.
Oh, joyous day, the school year is finally over. However, this means I'm to be--well, technically I am--a senior! Gasp. Now I have to actually continue that process to starting my future with college and all that.
Basically, the eight finalists are: (in no particular order)
1) Pratt Institute 2) Hamilton College 3) Emerson College 4) New York University 5) Boston University 6) Alfred University 7) Amherst College 8) Florida State University
...I hope I get accepted to at least half... But damn, I'm broke. I seriously need scholarships and financial aid! Agh! The pressure!
On a relieving note, that day (last day), Sarah and I, with Natasha for a bit, went to the Tuscan Cafe (sorry, no pictures as of yet), which is our favorite cafe. We then walked aaaaall the way to Target, where we browsed around and bought a few things. We bought scarves primarily, but we ended up sitting on the curb.
June 7: SAT DAY!
After a grueling two months of knowing this day had to come, I went to my location and prepared for academic battle. What I thought was to be 3 hr 45 min turned into five freaking hours. Those fiends liedto me! Five hours is a bit much, methinks, for a test. Granted, it wasn't too hard (or at least I thought it wasn't hard... Not sure until I get the scores, right?), but come on!
Eh. Oh well. After a long day, I was just happy to go home...
I may complain about Florida quite a bit, but I still can't deny... it's a beautiful place to live in.
Alright. So I finally am getting around to posting these blog-things. Stuff.
For this blog, the date was actually May 26, three days after my friend's birthday. I suppose I shall begin writing about that.
My friend, Sarah, had never experienced the Gingerbread House phenomenon as is most occurring during Christmastime. This may be due to the fact that she is, indeed, Jewish. However, that didn't excuse her not having even a taste of actual gingerbread.
So, for her birthday, I had promised all the way back in March that I would gather up the materials and ingredients needed for said candied houses and let her have her experience as my birthday gift to her. I invited my friend Melanie as well, and too found out she hadn't had her gingerbread house experience either.
Such travesties in this world when people are deprived of the baking experience, I say. Whether or not one likes the flavor of gingerbread, it is a moment every child must experience at least once...
So, here are the pictures!
This is the front of my house. My house was the closest to actually looking like a house, which isn't saying much as you can see. Apparently Sarah, Mel, and I are not meant to become architects...
This is the left side of my house. See the girl on the right though? That's Sarah. She's eating something, probably a candy. Anyways, my window (the green licorice) is broken... Odd.
This is the back of my house with the Triplet clear gummy bears playing outside. My house is suffering from a worm infestation, hence the various gummy worms. Oh, and the colorful licorice I found in Target. They're flavored Twizzlers. Pretty cool.
This is the right side of my house. Not much else to say.
This is Sarah's...house...thing. Sarah tried to make a house, she honestly did, but failed. Miserably. Out of frustration, she just decided to stack her cookies on top of each other, forming some...oh... I forgot what she called it, but a hotel-type building. There's a rave party on the roof with a rainbow of Twizzlers overlapping it.
See?
Mel was diligently working on her house here... only for it to be: A cult house.
At first it looks sweet.
But even these gummy bears see the truth, as they attempt to escape.
The cult even has a virgin sacrifice!
Now, these are just some photos.
Then Melanie started messing with the gummy bears. Zombie bears.
I mean, really.
Sarah joined in on the fun, except her creation just looks plain creepy, especially with that eerie tilt to the side.
Butts with butts.
And heads with heads.
And even a sad little creature trying to fly. (It's my favorite though.)
I think it’s safe to say that the British just simply know how to make good music, no?
With an up and coming album about to debut on Feb. 12, 2008, the UK indie band, Switches, experiments with many music styles from the classic British Invasion! 60s to the funky alternative 90s, and not to mention the fact that: they’re an indie band that doesn’t sound like they just came out of their garage. They’re good.
Sure, the band needs a little work on writing lyrics. Generally the songs will latch onto a phrase, but in the lyrics that aren’t repeated, there’s a vague sense of a romance gone bad—but this isn’t some depressed group of boys. This is a group of guys who couldn’t care less and are ready for the next chick to come along. Their songs express a sense of that good ol’ British punk attitude with a tad hint of psychedelic wonder.
Lead singer, Matt Bishop, has an edgy voice that’ll attract listeners to keep listening and the band accompanies with harmonic melodies, which triggers a Rolling Stones vibe, especially in their song “No Hero.” Seriously, the band has a little bit of everything from every genre, yet manages to string them together fairly well.
In their single, “Lay Down the Law,” the beat is just so catchy! I just dare anyone to resist dancing or bobbing their head to the edgy riffs and hypnotizing coos of Bishop and the boys. Warning though: People might get annoyed a little into the song when there’s a sudden lack of verses replaced by the titled repeated over and over—but I fear you not! Honestly, though the lyrics start to die, it—in some twisted way—actually kind of fits the style. It’s almost as if Switches’ music begs for simple lyrics as to not stray away from their complex beats.
American indie lovers would most enjoy Switches’ album, We Are Switches, but they won’t be the only ones. Anyone who loves a sexy Brit singing in their ears or just a generally trendy beat to dance to should anticipate February when the band debuts here in the States.
My principal gave my friends and I full permission to sit on the grass. I wrote her a letter about the whole situation that I discussed in Happy Peace Day! She then forwarded the letter to Mr. Howard, the man in charge of secuirty and procedures, who then gave it to the head of the security group (don't know his name since he never told me), who then went BACK to Mrs. Valdez, my principal, to ask her permission to see if she was fine with my friends and me sitting on the grass.
She is.
Today, the security guard, the one who tried to kick me off in the first place, tried to kick us off the grass again, but I calmly told him Mrs. Valdez was fine with us sitting there. And he said he would asked Mrs. Valdez himself to see.
Later in the afternoon, when I learned that Mrs. Valdez was COMPLETELY okay with it, the head of the security told me right IN FRONT of that bastard.
Suck it, bitch.
I'm sorry, but nobody messes with me.
(And no, normally I don't take these things personally, but he went too far.)
United States, 2007 United States Release Date: September 14 (limited), September 21 (national) Running Length: 131 minutes MPAA Classification: PG-13 for some drug content, nudity, sexuality, violence, and language Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Bono Director: Julie Taymor U.S. Distributor: Revolution Studios
Across the Universe:
See? I told you guys I would review a recent movie. I don't break my promises... much.
With a soundtrack based around the music of the Beatles, movie effects that are so “trippy” that one feels like they’ve gone down a rainbow lane, and the storyline so cliché that it’s almost forgotten while watching, one would wonder what kind of movie they’re seeing. It sounds bad, but in all truth, the movie, Across the Universe, is quite good.
As the classic storyline for the ‘60s goes: A boy named Jude (Jim Sturgess) from Liverpool, England, goes overseas to the United States to reunite with his father—for two whole minutes. After he arrives, he makes his first American friend, Max (Joe Anderson), along with his sister, Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), who becomes a love interest. They go to New York to live the free life, boarding with their landlord, Sadie (Dana Fuchs), and other friends. The tale goes dramatic when Max is drafted into the Vietnam War, to which Lucy retaliates by becoming a political radical, protesting against the war in hopes of bringing her brother back.
Did I mention this film was a musical?
Though the storyline is cliché and could throw anyone over edge, one must look beyond those details for it is the small messages director Julie Taymor sends out to the public. Taymor presents an interesting mix of classic Beatles (among others) from Bono to sing I Am the Walrus to the awe-inspiring and goose-bumping visual associated when Strawberry Fields Forever plays. And no, drugs aren’t needed to watch this film.
The audience gets the chance to relate with the characters throughout the film because they are characters we know; they are personalities that everyone at some point in their life has come to be. Whether someone relates with the bi-curious and depressed Prudence (T.V. Carpio) or they relate more with a sister who wishes her brother’s safety like Lucy, people will find a haven in someone in the film. The film has a friendly vibe, letting people escape with the visual effects and peaceful oceans, which occurs quite often.
Lastly, to secure this refreshing trip down a lane most teenagers never got the chance to visit, the message “All You Need is Love” plays in your ears (literally), triggering a question to today’s events in people’s minds: Why must we have war in the first place?
(Sorry for being late, but I finally remembered to e-mail myself the article for the protest.)
“What do we want?” “PEACE!” “When do we want it?” “NOW!”
On Saturday, September 15, protestors from various organizations marched and rallied in Kendel, Miami in front of Congresssman Mario Diaz-Ballart’s office in attempt to end the war funding for Iraq. To no avail on that part, they received plenty of feedback both the good and the bad.
Linda Belgrave, Ray Del-Papa, and Jack Lieverman were the three organizers of the local protest, being from the groups Miami for Peace, South Florida Peace and Justice Network, and Haiti Solidarity.
“We want peace—for various and nefarious reasons,” said Belgrave. “People are angry about this war.”
Among the angry people was Professor Tom Bresoin, who teaches at Florida International University. He protested for many reasons, those similar to the rest of the radical activists, some being disgust at the Bush administration for “killing innocent people,” reinforcing a “dictatorial” movement, and “wasting blood” on money.
"I find it offensive that my tax money is going to murder,” said Bresoin.
Other activists, such as Sonija Swanson, opposes the war and, possibly, the United States government altogether. She is president of the Bolivarian Youth organization, who opposes capitalism, oppression to sex, discrimination, imperialist war, and believe that people have the right to receive healthcare for free.
“[The U.S. was] founded on white supremacy [and] male chauvinism. The U.S. has always had these characteristics. We need to fight this,” said Swanson. “[The] U.S. has no right to have this war … People feel guilty for something they have no control over.”
However, on some level, the people do have control over the war. As it was the main goal for the march and rally, the thirty or so activists protested in front of Mario Diaz-Ballart’s office. Because there is a voting from Congress for appropriations, Ballart has the power to refuse to give any funding from South Florida, being a Congressman for this region of the state. So, as a result, the local protestors demanded no money be sent to the war in order to prevent the war from continuing.
“The mission is over. The mission was to get rid of Saddam Hussein. We got [and executed him], so why are we still [in Iraq],” asked Henry Torres, a United States Navy veteran of twenty years. When asked what was needed to get a more powerful movement against the war, the retired Chief Navigator answered, “What we need is the vote of the veteran against the war.”
As it was apparent, feedback of all sorts came back to the radicals. People honked for peace, some cheered as they drove by, other shouted profanities and displayed vulgar hand gestures, and certain drivers held their thumbs either up or down.
“I didn’t spend 20 years in the service to care about the name someone calls me,” said Torres, who was actually excited that some people were against him, saying that “freedom on speech” is truly executed and the word is “getting out there” if people respond.
Carol Reiter, a supporter of Anti-Iraq War, was not pleased with the negative feedback, especially from those from former soldiers (or active) who said the war was in honor. She believed most of the arguments presented for the war were “built on sand” and unnecessary.
“It doesn’t matter how many men have been killed,” said Reiter. “We don’t have to fight a war to honor [our solders’ deaths]. They are already honored for dying.”
Then there were extreme activists, such as Joe Badran, an Palestinian-decent chairman of the Jewish-Arab Dialogue Association (JADA) and vice-president of the South Florida Chapter. Being there at the rally to show that Ballart needed to change his ways and be “on the right side,” Badran proudly waved two flags (the American flag and the Palestinian flag) on a large pole on the sidewalk.
“Hopefully we’ll find someone to represent the Latino community than those clowns in the office,” said Badran. A driver passed by him and a female protestor, shouting no to peace, to which the female protestor asked why. Badran responded, “What’s wrong [with them]? Let them be on the wrong side.”
Rosalia Cannava, a member of the Bolivarian Youth organization, stood with her fellow friends, Goda Peel and Brendon Beard. They held up signs against the president, showing their disliking for them and their disapproval of war.
“To put it simply, [this war is] all about power and money,” said Cannava, and her friend, Peel, commented after, “I am not for war. I am not against war. I am above war.”
Shortly after, the activists huddled up for some chanting and information on when other protests would take place, some going to the next one that day for the impeachment of George W. Bush. “The connection between Osama [Bin Laden] and [Saddam] Hussein? There is none,” said Belgrave. “That’s what [the Bush administration] said.”
Well, considering today was an interesting day, I suppose I'll post a blog for it.
Today is International Peace Day. So, as a person who actually knew that holiday was today, I dressed up fairly hippie-ish to play on the stereotype and made a sign that read "Hugs for Peace." I would have a photo for you, but it rained today while I was walking home, so it's nothing but a mere blob of smeared ink... Anyways, throughout the day I got some hugs.
However, not many people were all too enthusiastic. It saddened me somewhat. I've learned to not really care about other people's emotions, which explains why I'm able to do the crazy things I do, but honestly... Why would someone be so against peace? Our world is that corrupt, hmm?
Nonetheless, those who did take it seriously (or who just wanted free hugs) hugged me for peace or, when I walked home, honked their car horns for peace.
I guess today wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the fact that on Peace Day, I had to protest in my school.
No. The protest wasn't planned. It was right on the spot, passionate boycotting against school staff.
I sit, as I've mentioned in a post somewhere waaaaay in the beginning of my blog, with my friends on the grass since no one seems to sit there. For the longest time, we've sat there peacefully, eating our lunches and all and getting a little annoyed whenever the security guards would drive their stupid golf carts over the grass.
So what happened today? Those security guards had the nerve to attempt to kick us off the grass.
Ah, hell no.
At first, I politely (but had to scream since the man was far away) asked why because why should I move from a place I have eaten lunch at for so long just because a man with a whistle thinks he is superior to me?
He refused to tell me.
I asked, he refused. I asked again, he refused. Then I got angry and demanded a reason, and he got angry and demanded me to get off.
So I sat firmly on the grass and said, "No. Give me the reason and maybe I'll get off."
He tried to intimidate me with his other security-guard-friend with their golf cart as if I was supposed to be scared. Hell... If they run me over, guess who's going to get a big, fat sue on their asses?
A Chemistry teacher, forgot his name, came over and tried to lecture me into getting off the grass. He at least gave me some "valid" reasons by saying that the grass dies if people it on it all the time. I suggested the school take care of the grass if they are so concerned. Florida is in a DROUGHT. Do they expect the grass to be all dandy-perky? Then he suggested that if the school permits us to sit there, then they have to permit everyone.
It's not against the rules. And people aren't "dying" to sit on the grass. The security guard even said so himself that we were the only ones who sit on the grass. So, that little reason wasn't going to cut it.
So, before the teacher came, I sent my friends Sarah #1 and #2 to go to the principal's office to see why we had to get off or to bring our principal here to the scene and get an explanation. Apparently the school wants to re-layer the grass.
Now why couldn't the security guards mention that IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I'll tell you why. Those damn security guards think they're better than all of us students. Honestly. "Superiors" don't need to force people to follow them, and leaders don't demand control. That's called communism, people. The last I heard, I'm in a democratic country.
Oh!! But the student has no rights in school!
Bullshit.
I deserve respect from my so-called "superiors" if they expect me to respect them. How dare they think I'm going to be some cowardly submissive to them because they believe age equals power. I may be younger, but don't you dare think you are superior than me and smarter.
In the end, I'm now writing a permit to my principal to get IN WRITING the right to sit on the grass. Those security bastards will have to watch me laugh in their face when they realize they're not superior, that they lost.
I forgot to send my Miami protest article from my computer at my journalism class, so I'll have to post that on Monday or something.
Anyways, in the meantime. My friend, Sarah, who was my photographer when we went to report the protest (well, I did...), sent the photos to me yesterday, so I'll post those now I suppose.
I was proud to report their protest for my school's newspaper. Oh so very proud.
(Here's my diet soda article for my school newspaper!)
On Wednesday, August 30, diet sodas were put inside all the vending machines of Piper High School, bringing a surprise and some feedback from Piper students themselves.
The change was sparked from none other than Shaquille O'Neill, who came out with a reality television show, Shaq’s Big Challenge, on ABC. What started out as a goal to turn eight South Floridian middle school kids into healthier people became a new challenge of turning the entire state of Florida health-conscious. By speaking with the head of the school board, O’Neill had managed to get diet sodas installed in most South Floridian schools to see the feedback from the students. Now, what was the feedback from Piper?
“Yeah, that’s really bad,” said junior, Maksym Marchenko. “I need more calories. I hate [diet soda], and it tastes really gross.”
With interviewing several students in Piper, not many replied with positive notes toward the change. Some were even surprised that there was even a change and others were confused on why the change was made.
When told that the change was made in order for students to obtain a healthier lifestyle and possibly become more bodily fit, Christina Van-Putten, a junior, said, “What about the people who want to be fat? What about them? What about the people who don’t really care?”
Yet, as there was some negative feedback, there was also the good.
“I think it’s cool,” said Rossi Motilal, a junior. “They’re good for your health, or a getter choice than average soda.”
That’s where Motilal is wrong.
Studies by Dr. Vasan Ramachandran of Boston University School of Medicine on soda both diet and regular have proven that diet sodas make no difference whatsoever when it comes to weight. Because diet sodas have a sweet taste, they cause the brain to expect carbohydrate nutrition. However, since there are no carbohydrates (or pretty much anything worthwhile) in diet sodas, the brain send messages to the person to eat sweet foods, which contain the carbohydrates needed. This way, diet sodas attract calories in the end even if not from the product itself.
“Sodas—even diet ones—may be linked with increased risk factors for heart disease and diabetes,” as said in an article printed in MSNBC.
Generally, it comes down to the fact that if a person has to rely on diet sodas to obtain a healthier lifestyle, then they really don’t have good eating habits in the first place. So, how shall a person obtain good eating habits?
“It’s the parents’ responsibility to teach the kids good health from bad health,” said junior Sarah Martinez, who agreed that diet soda “isn’t going to make you healthy” and that people should have choices on what they wish to drink. There were other students, such as sophomore Anita LaRocca, who suggested an entirely new choice altogether and said, “Carbonated water is better.”
LaRocca even then went on as to mock the whole ordeal, “Piper made me fat! I’m suing Piper!” But then got serious and corrected the fallacy, “No. You make yourself fat.”
Yet, for those who do wish to change their fattening ways, there is hope in Piper’s cafeteria. In an interview with Piper High’s cafeteria staff manager, Judy Garafalo, it was discovered that Piper had switched gears to healthier food long before O’Neill ever thought of the idea. Healthy snacks are located in vending machines near the entrances to the lunch lines and the food menus are constantly decreasing fat to meet the “requirements,” meaning none of the food that Piper students are eating is fried, only baked.
As it was a question, Garafalo stated that there might be new changes in the menu, such as soy burgers, but it is undetermined as of yet and is the “developing stages” since Piper is “looking into it.” Garafalo said that they, the cafeteria staff, test out different types of food to see how the students react. If the food is responded with positive feedback, it will stay on the menu. If not, it’s dealt with.
Currently, Principal Enid Valdez is speaking with Pepsi to discuss the reasoning of why diet sodas were installed in Piper, since Valdez was surprised by the new change. Valdez, as of now, is trying to fix the situation or at least find a way to give Piper students a choice.
“There’s no reason [to have diet sodas],” said student Kelly Rodriguez. Her friend, Jennifer Diaz, added to that comment and said, “I think people are old enough to have regular drinks.”
When told about the diet soda situation, Garafalo said, “Some things [the] kids don’t want.”
I've been in school for... a good three weeks. Currently, I'm taking Journalism IV (editor again!), AP US History, AP Chemistry, and AP English.
Good grief.
So, that's the biggest update. The other update is that now I'm starting to write a manuscript to publish sometime in the future (hopefully soon) since I really do want to become an author at some point. Let's just hope I succeed.
The picture to the left? Just a little note of my emotions on school.
Okay. So, I was at the grocery store the other day when I went to go buy some milk and noticed that what used to be my 3-dollar gallon was now... SIX BUCKS?!
"Holy shit!" I thought.
Now, I went for the "cheap" 4-dollar Store-Brand gallon, but it irked me. Why was my milk so pricy? So, I looked it up when I got time (now) and... gasp!
What is wrong with our society? Is it some sick, twisted game being played up there in the federal government where the goal is to see how much of necessary items to survive in this world we can live without? I may be a bit too old for milk in some people's opinions, but I still have the right to want my milk.
United States, 1971 United States Release Date: April 15, 1971 Running Length: 124 minutes MPAA Classification: R (Contains strong sexual contact and graphic violence)
Cast: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Paula Romo, Jacqueline Luis, Robert John, Mara Lorenzio Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky U.S. Distributor: Producciones Panicas
El Topo:
Tagline:See the naked young Franciscans whipped with cactus. See the bandit leader disemboweled. See the priest ride into the sunset with a midget and her newborn baby. What it all means isn't exactly clear, but you won't forget it. –Amazon.com
I know, I know. Another 70’s flick? I promise I’ll review some updated (or at least from the last ten years) movie some time in the future…
Now, first off, let’s give a warning: The movie is in Spanish. However, because Alejandro Jodorowsky is so very kind, you can use subtitles in English (or French).
“Terrible things and beautiful things go together,” as said in the DVD’s commentary by Jodorowsky, which perfectly describes this film. To those who can’t see things clearly or out-of-the-box so to say, they may not like this film at all and question why they wasted their life on an hour and half film. To those who can however, will understand all the meanings of this film.
Having someone there beside you when you fall, beauty is in everyone, and to receive pleasure one must receive pain. Yet, most importantly, the biggest moral resides in the main character’s name, El Topo, which means “The Mole” in Spanish. Like a mole, who digs and digs to finally reach the surface only to blind itself from the sunlight, El Topo struggles through all these burdens only to reach his downfall in the end.
The movie isn’t exactly the most exciting film in history, but it is interesting with all its bizarre qualities and sexual tension. But be warned, there are parts that may disgust you, such as deformed people and dead sheep. Besides that... It starts off with El Topo and his son in a desert, where El Topo then takes the child saying, “You are seven years old. You are now a man.” …Wow.
This begins the first part of the movie—yes; there are actually two parts in this movie. The first part mainly focuses on El Topo’s path to enlightenment, where he meets Mara, a jaded woman who basically commits all the Seven Deadly Sins in the first part. Have fun trying to find them all. She was a hostage of “The Colonel,” who isn’t important really, but exists. Among her captivity, the Colonel had little minions that apparently were lonely enough to molest the monks they kept hostage.
And I’m sorry to say this, but… those monks were kind of hot…
Anyways, El Topo rescues Mara, trades her with her son, which is absurd! I mean, what happened to the “bros before hoes,” man? The guy ditches his son with monks for some chick who ends up going lesbian on him anyways! Yeah, Mara goes for the other team once she meets the “woman in black,” who has a very erotic euphemism scene with a fruit that looks a little too much like a vagina when she—ahem—“eats” it. How did they meet? Well…
After getting rescued, Mara suggests that El Topo go on the quest to defeat the four Masters, men who were excellent with their guns. He does, of course, because as you can tell by now, this is a western—a Spanish western. And if you’re concerned about the gory graphics, don’t be. It’s the seventies, people. The blood looks like red paint.
Yet, after El Topo defeats them all, Mara and the woman turn on him, shooting him until he supposedly “dies.”
That’s where the midgets come in!
Part Two!
El Topo was rescued by deformed people just before he died. They live in a cave due to all the rejections they’ve received from the town’s citizens, so El Topo takes it upon himself to stop the madness and save them. He meets his son again in the process (gasp!) and even gets the dwarf lady who accompanies him pregnant.
I mean, seriously, can a movie not get any better with all the bizarreness?
The movie is an interesting film to watch alone with a popcorn bowl at your hands at midnight, like how it was meant to be when it first came out. It’s a bit trippy in some parts, so sometimes you’ll feel like you went through an acid test, but no worries. It’s thoughtful, it’s peculiar, it’s interesting, but most importantly: It’s a good movie.
1. She is obsessed with the food channel. Absolutely obsessed. 2. She doesn't cook. 3. She likes to count beans, put them in a bowl, put them in the refrigerator, and forget their existence right after. 4. She prays quite often, which is not so surprising since she's very faithful to our, my family, religion. (Catholic) 5. When she sleeps, she snores, but she sounds like a fan. And that's really cruel in Florida in the middle of summer. I really wish she was a fan. 6. I can talk to her in Spanish much easier than I can talk to my mother in Spanish. Odd. 7. She knows what techno music is and likes it way better than raeggaeton. (Awesome!) 8. She's STILL watching the food channel as I'm typing this. 9. She likes to wear vests, llama-wool vests. (Peruvian pride) Yes... in Florida. 10. She drives my mother crazy and I love it.
Guess what.
