October 22, 2009
The Rocker in me
I am a self proclaimed rocker chick. I love everything rock but as my friends have pointed out to me I love a specific kind of rock.
And so I write this post to admit that I am not just any old rocker chick I am a hard rock type of gal.
My bands are:
Rammstein
Oomph!
Apocalyptica (Finnish men with cellos what's not to love!)
Eisbrecher
Deathstars (select songs)
Nightwish
Hang on I just noticed something...all of these bands are European!!!
I like American bands too, really I do but there is just something about the Euro bands. I guess its because they tend to get into more controversial topics without hesitation while a lot of American bands try to cater to their audiences and censor what they put into their music.
For example Rammstein has songs about cannibalism and sexual abuse. Their songs are usually based on a real story like that of Armin Meiwes "The Rotenburg Cannibal" who inspired the song Mein Teil. Why do I listen to these songs? Simple, they talk about real life without leaving out the horror that can be a part of it.
I have noticed that too many songs today are about a bubblegum pop fantasy world, not as bad as the 90s but still. Today's songs can be divided into the love songs, the booty songs,and the violent songs. By choosing to listen to songs that dare to go above and beyond these categories I believe that I am extending my horizons.
Actually I could just be me enamored with European culture in general. It's very different from American culture. More different than you would think.
And so I write this post to admit that I am not just any old rocker chick I am a hard rock type of gal.
My bands are:
Rammstein
Oomph!
Apocalyptica (Finnish men with cellos what's not to love!)
Eisbrecher
Deathstars (select songs)
Nightwish
Hang on I just noticed something...all of these bands are European!!!
I like American bands too, really I do but there is just something about the Euro bands. I guess its because they tend to get into more controversial topics without hesitation while a lot of American bands try to cater to their audiences and censor what they put into their music.
For example Rammstein has songs about cannibalism and sexual abuse. Their songs are usually based on a real story like that of Armin Meiwes "The Rotenburg Cannibal" who inspired the song Mein Teil. Why do I listen to these songs? Simple, they talk about real life without leaving out the horror that can be a part of it.
I have noticed that too many songs today are about a bubblegum pop fantasy world, not as bad as the 90s but still. Today's songs can be divided into the love songs, the booty songs,and the violent songs. By choosing to listen to songs that dare to go above and beyond these categories I believe that I am extending my horizons.
Actually I could just be me enamored with European culture in general. It's very different from American culture. More different than you would think.
October 21, 2009
I just don't care
As a Government major I would like to know why I have to take math seeing as my chosen field of study doesn't usually involve math and certainly doesn't include the kind of math I am doing. Is this all part of the quest to produce well rounded graduates? Oh please! I think I am already pretty well rounded thanks! No need to round me out any more 'cause if you did I would be a perfect sphere. Say it with me people! No more unnecessary torture!
As you can probably tell I am not a big fan of math. Plenty of people feel the same way. I am not a dunce but being in my current math class constantly makes me feel really really unbelievably dumb. Thank the god(s) above that I only have to deal with it for one semester, so I'll be rid of it in December. I just need a C *fingers crossed* and trust me I am not the kind of girl that loves getting Cs. I pray for a swift deliverance *looks to the heavens*
As you can probably tell I am not a big fan of math. Plenty of people feel the same way. I am not a dunce but being in my current math class constantly makes me feel really really unbelievably dumb. Thank the god(s) above that I only have to deal with it for one semester, so I'll be rid of it in December. I just need a C *fingers crossed* and trust me I am not the kind of girl that loves getting Cs. I pray for a swift deliverance *looks to the heavens*
October 10, 2009
and the award goes to...
Barack Obama? Huh?
President Barack Hussein Obama, leader of the United States of America and the free world, has won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on...what exactly?
We all love and adore him but seriously what has he done to deserve such a distinction? According to the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Thorbjoern Jagland (try saying that three times fast),
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons...For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that 'Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."
(taken from time.com URL-http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1929399,00.html?xid=rss-topstories)
That's all well and good Mr. Jagland (love your name by the way...I mean it) but I feel that our dear President should achieve something first before rewarding him. On the other hand you may be right in thinking that this could be more of a motivating factor for him to continue with his current policies...rather his current intention with his policies.
Bottom line- I love Obama but I don't think that he should have won this. It's too soon to judge if he is actually deserving of the award but I hope it serves as great motivation.I wish him the best of luck.
President Barack Hussein Obama, leader of the United States of America and the free world, has won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on...what exactly?
We all love and adore him but seriously what has he done to deserve such a distinction? According to the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Thorbjoern Jagland (try saying that three times fast),
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons...For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that 'Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."
(taken from time.com URL-http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1929399,00.html?xid=rss-topstories)
That's all well and good Mr. Jagland (love your name by the way...I mean it) but I feel that our dear President should achieve something first before rewarding him. On the other hand you may be right in thinking that this could be more of a motivating factor for him to continue with his current policies...rather his current intention with his policies.
Bottom line- I love Obama but I don't think that he should have won this. It's too soon to judge if he is actually deserving of the award but I hope it serves as great motivation.I wish him the best of luck.
October 9, 2009
Home Sweet Home
Today a woman almost ran me over, and I was happy.
I wasn't happy about the almost being run over part, I was happy about being home. New York City is not usually very high on the list of Friendliest Places on Earth but for me the craziness that comes with city life is natural and the inevitable rudeness is a glorious taste of reality.
This is my first time home in six weeks and I'll be gone in a few days so I have resolved to enjoy every minute of this escape. When that car came zooming around the corner with no indication of stopping I thought "It's great to be home," because the drivers on campus at my upstate college always yield to pedestrians. Yes it is a college campus and that's what drivers are supposed to do but coming from NYC I am just not used to that kind of behavior.Quite frankly it's alien to me. Trust me when I say that there is nothing else in the world that will wake you up quite like dodging traffic in the morning. In my seven years here in the city I have been nearly run over by cabs, buses and regular cars countless times. Let me make it clear that I am in no way suicidal but as any New Yorker can tell you it is just one of the facts of daily life here. You learn how to look both ways at the same time. You develop a sixth sense (nothing like the Bruce Willis movie though) and you learn to use it constantly.
All the same I love everything about this city: the sights, the feel, the smell...actually no not the smell as that can be rather disgusting...but the other stuff applies. I am not a born New Yorker but this is what I am now. I was destined to live in this city and it would take a lot for me to leave it completely behind. So while I have to go to college hundreds of miles away my mind and heart will remain in NYC.
I wasn't happy about the almost being run over part, I was happy about being home. New York City is not usually very high on the list of Friendliest Places on Earth but for me the craziness that comes with city life is natural and the inevitable rudeness is a glorious taste of reality.
This is my first time home in six weeks and I'll be gone in a few days so I have resolved to enjoy every minute of this escape. When that car came zooming around the corner with no indication of stopping I thought "It's great to be home," because the drivers on campus at my upstate college always yield to pedestrians. Yes it is a college campus and that's what drivers are supposed to do but coming from NYC I am just not used to that kind of behavior.Quite frankly it's alien to me. Trust me when I say that there is nothing else in the world that will wake you up quite like dodging traffic in the morning. In my seven years here in the city I have been nearly run over by cabs, buses and regular cars countless times. Let me make it clear that I am in no way suicidal but as any New Yorker can tell you it is just one of the facts of daily life here. You learn how to look both ways at the same time. You develop a sixth sense (nothing like the Bruce Willis movie though) and you learn to use it constantly.
All the same I love everything about this city: the sights, the feel, the smell...actually no not the smell as that can be rather disgusting...but the other stuff applies. I am not a born New Yorker but this is what I am now. I was destined to live in this city and it would take a lot for me to leave it completely behind. So while I have to go to college hundreds of miles away my mind and heart will remain in NYC.
October 2, 2009
Part 2
My previous post was a tirade against the apparent hypocrisy of my college regarding sustainability. Honestly that post was a result of me being stressed, angry and above all cold. Now at the end of a really long week,TGIF, I can look back and talk about even more things that have been bugging me. So here is yet another letter to my university's president.
Dear President S,
I know that you probably don't want to see yet another letter from me at this point but I feel that it is importnant to address some other important issues. If you could please take the time out of your busy schedule to listen to the words of one of your students it would mean a lot. Now assuming that you have not yet crumpled this into a ball, or since we are online, sent this to the trash folder let us proceed. First on my agenda is the issue of prelims. Can we please change the name? I know you are trying to sound like a studious institution and all, and I respect that really I do but let's call these 'prelims' what they truly are, Soulless Humanless Inhumane Testing. This is only a suggestion of course. You do have the authority to call it whatever you wish just be aware that the student body recognizes the preceeding suggestion as the accurate title. Second topic is the swim requirement...
**I am deviating from the letter to explain the 'swim requirement.' My university requires its students to pass a swim test in order to graduate. I understand the importance of knowing how to swim but there are some factors that I think the administration has not taken the time to fully comprehend.
...I believe that to make it necessary to pass a swim test to get a diploma really unfair to some. First of all as a black woman with relaxed, or permed, hair do you understand the toll chlorine takes on my hair? No you don't do you? I'll admit that I am not a confident swimmer but that should be none of your business. If I want to know how to swim I'll take classes on my own time thanks. And staying on the subject of hair, having to have my hair professionally washed to make sure that no chlorine sticks around is really expensive here.
Moving on from my hair issues to more serious matters (though I consider my hair a very serious matter). Please understand that there are some people who have genuine water phobias. Some people just cannot handle being in or near a pool or deep water. Why do we need to penalize them for that? They can't help it. Unless you are paying for the professional help that they need to overcome their fears then please do not subject them to it. A better option would be to strongly recommend learning how to swim and give credits to those who participate in the swim classes (like you do now). I strongly believe that this should not be a requirement. In my opinion it is a personal matter that should not be regulated by an institution such as this.
Moving on from my criticisms of your administration I must say a big thank you for finally turning on the heat in my dorm. I can no longer complain about it being to cold in here and I have stopped wearing sweaters and bathrobes to bed. While I am quite certain that you did not read my previous letter (here's to hoping anyway) I am still going to claim full credit for this development. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Allie.
PS thanks for making progress on the alfredo sauce issue. Now there is a hint of garlic but still not nearly enough. Still progress is progress.
Dear President S,
I know that you probably don't want to see yet another letter from me at this point but I feel that it is importnant to address some other important issues. If you could please take the time out of your busy schedule to listen to the words of one of your students it would mean a lot. Now assuming that you have not yet crumpled this into a ball, or since we are online, sent this to the trash folder let us proceed. First on my agenda is the issue of prelims. Can we please change the name? I know you are trying to sound like a studious institution and all, and I respect that really I do but let's call these 'prelims' what they truly are, Soulless Humanless Inhumane Testing. This is only a suggestion of course. You do have the authority to call it whatever you wish just be aware that the student body recognizes the preceeding suggestion as the accurate title. Second topic is the swim requirement...
**I am deviating from the letter to explain the 'swim requirement.' My university requires its students to pass a swim test in order to graduate. I understand the importance of knowing how to swim but there are some factors that I think the administration has not taken the time to fully comprehend.
...I believe that to make it necessary to pass a swim test to get a diploma really unfair to some. First of all as a black woman with relaxed, or permed, hair do you understand the toll chlorine takes on my hair? No you don't do you? I'll admit that I am not a confident swimmer but that should be none of your business. If I want to know how to swim I'll take classes on my own time thanks. And staying on the subject of hair, having to have my hair professionally washed to make sure that no chlorine sticks around is really expensive here.
Moving on from my hair issues to more serious matters (though I consider my hair a very serious matter). Please understand that there are some people who have genuine water phobias. Some people just cannot handle being in or near a pool or deep water. Why do we need to penalize them for that? They can't help it. Unless you are paying for the professional help that they need to overcome their fears then please do not subject them to it. A better option would be to strongly recommend learning how to swim and give credits to those who participate in the swim classes (like you do now). I strongly believe that this should not be a requirement. In my opinion it is a personal matter that should not be regulated by an institution such as this.
Moving on from my criticisms of your administration I must say a big thank you for finally turning on the heat in my dorm. I can no longer complain about it being to cold in here and I have stopped wearing sweaters and bathrobes to bed. While I am quite certain that you did not read my previous letter (here's to hoping anyway) I am still going to claim full credit for this development. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Allie.
PS thanks for making progress on the alfredo sauce issue. Now there is a hint of garlic but still not nearly enough. Still progress is progress.
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