Thursday, May 29, 2008

Because Karma Needs a Vacation Too

So according to karma (or at least my way of looking at the world), since I had such a fun time last night, I was supposed to suffer miserably today as retribution. And reflecting back, judging from what lay ahead of me at the time, it really did seem like I would be screwed for sure. But alas, such misery was actually absent from my day, and the day proceeded forward even better than what can normally be expected. So this leads me to ask, "Where in the world did karma go?"

EXAMPLE ONE: I stayed out late last night and (combined with the usual procrastination) thus didn't study for my A.P. Calc quiz, which just happened to be on the topic I understand least. I did plan to wake up early to finish the review sheet, but of course that never works and I ended up waking up later than I wanted and not studying at all.

WHAT SHOULD'VE HAPPENED: I would have taken the quiz and gotten a not-so-awesome grade on it. (Oh, by the way, they're potentially worth 33.3% of my fourth quarter grade each... hefty, I know.) Although my teacher was going to drop the lowest grade of the four quizzes anyway, I had no idea what I got on the others and therefore would not have taken any chances.

WHAT DID HAPPEN: Even though I was almost done with the quiz anyway, it turns out that I didn't have to take it because I aced the first three. (Turns out I would have gotten at least one wrong on this quiz too.) Score!

EXAMPLE TWO: Naturally, I also failed to study for my A.P. Bio final that was scheduled for today.

WHAT SHOULD'VE HAPPENED: I would have taken the final and potentially and probably failed.

WHAT DID HAPPEN: He skipped school... my teacher, that is. So no final (at least not until tomorrow, and of course that's not going to make any difference).

EXAMPLE THREE: We had NYSSMA Majors after school.

WHAT SHOULD'VE HAPPENED: I/The band would have messed up so badly that it would screw everyone over.

WHAT DID HAPPEN: Well, there was actually one note my teacher told the flutes to cross out and not play due to intonation issues, but I didn't have a pencil at the time so I couldn't do it. It was horrible. I was the only floutist (as we call ourselves) who played the single note with the band and I'm sure it was horribly out of tune. Of course, aside from that, even though we got Bronze (I know what you're thinking, but Bronze is the lowest possible grade), we still played our best and it was fun.

BONUS SITUATION: Plus, my gym class went climbing today on this huge wooden structure. "The Element," as it is called, challenges climbers to move up along its ropes, tires, wooden blocks, and beams. It's pretty sick, and I got to go first... twice. (I know I'm lame.)

Anyway, today I also decided to attend the Thespian Society Inductions and the One-Act Play Festival that follows. So after we got back from NYSSMA Majors, I didn't think it was worth it to go home and so I walked into the main part of town to find some dinner. It was, I suppose, appropriately but extremely warm outside, which would have been nice were I sitting down somewhere in the shade, but instead I was walking in jeans and a black shirt with my [increasingly heavy] bag slung over my shoulder and another [burdensome] bag of clothes and shoes in my hand. It also didn't help that after actually arriving, the Subway store I entered was like a little oven. Then I had to make the trek back to school, although I must say that I was quite proud of myself for actually completing the journey (I know, I'm THAT out-of-shape). I tried to think positively when I got back, saying to myself that I probably burned some calories, but after I ate my sandwich, there were refreshments outside the auditorium and I ate a whole donut. Oh well.

In my humble opinion, the One-Act Festival was sort of boring (and I was getting annoyed with this woman near me who had this uncontrollable, nonstop laugh, especially since I didn't find most of what she was laughing about that funny at all), but at least the last few things I thought were very good. I thought the last monologue was very creative (it was the only one I really enjoyed), and BrownMan's one-act was very entertaining (as promised and expected).

While it was fun though, I'm still very sleep deprived. If karma needs a rest, then I certainly need one too.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Skanky Shoes and Stolen Cake

So our National Art Honor Society Induction was pretty sweet. I mean, who else can brag that Jillian Lewis was their keynote speaker (oh, and she really is the sweetest person, plus she wore a flirty black dress she designed herself). I was also feeling great in an emerald green BCBG Max Azria sheath dress that I got for thirty bucks (score!), although I somehow caused runs to appear in my stockings even before the ceremony started.

Aside from that though, ArtsyFartsyFriend and the Puppeteer made all the time around the ceremony rather interesting. Prior to the ceremony, AFF took some very "creative" pictures of our shoes that unfortunately, simply cannot be justified as art... Then later, we had our own little escapade trying to sneak bouquets into the auditorium without the art teachers knowing.

Afterwards, we had quite a bit of fun with AFF's and the Puppeteer's artworks and took funny pictures that even the teachers and other adults couldn't help but laugh at as we posed. This turned out to be the theme for the night, as we continued our shenanigans as we left the building, fooling around in the school parking lot, at a Friendly's, and finally in the Friendly's parking lot.

It was nothing dangerous, by all means, no. But it did involve [some damn good] cake, the theft of that cake, the subsequent madness following the theft of that cake, and its not-so-lonely transport to Friendly's with AFF and me. Following that, at the restaurant, a total of 12 scoops of ice cream sprinkled with 6 types of toppings was slowly and painfully devoured by AFF, the Puppeteer, and me (we made a pact to finish the huge thing), and again more madness ensued with the glowing red Friendly's sign as a part of the parking lot backdrop.

But it feels good. Staying out, fooling around, not having a care in the world...

Too bad I have an A.P. Calc quiz tomorrow. And an A.P. Bio final. And NYSSMA Majors. Oh boy...

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Bipolar Weather

So yeah... the weather has been acting quite haphazardly lately. That's nothing new, but it's been a while since I last experienced such drastic changes in conditions within the same day.

7:15 AM: I leave for school. I notice it's cloudy, cool, a bit humid.

9:00 AM: I touch the railing of the stairs and quickly pull my hand back. It's sticky and cold. I look out the window. Still cloudy, increasingly cool, increasingly humid.

Time Between: Everyone is freezing somehow... it's getting VERY humid.

12:00 PM: Sunny and dry...?

2:00 PM: I'm actually sitting on a bench under a small tree at this point. The sun is warm and the wind is refreshing and cool. I NOTE WHAT A NICE DAY IT IS. Inside the school, there's a misty scent that reminds me of September. Nostalgia? Perhaps. Of beginnings? No. Rather, I realize later that the scent was the smell that precedes a...

5:00 PM: THUNDERSTORM. Hooray? Not hooray! Ten seconds in the rain and I'm as wet as a mop. Didn't help that my shoes were Jellies (plastic) so I couldn't really run without slipping out of them. I definitely thought I was going to twist my ankle(s) and/or fall face first into the pavement... or the puddles covering it for that matter. Did I mention how the roads were now rivers? Yeah, not cool.

I'd like to blame global warming, but scientists recently proved that there isn't any real correlation at this point. (I'm too lazy to get the link... sorry!) I think the article said that global warming increases the intensity of natural disasters, but not the actual number of them.

But anyway that's beside my point. All I'm saying is that bipolar weather really sucks.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day

To all Veterans and current Soldiers:

For your bravery,
For your honor,
For your service,
For your sacrifice...

Thank you.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull


For lack of a better word, this was definitely one of the most action-iest movies I've seen in a long time. And even though there were plenty of times Indy and his crew went through things no human being could possibly survive through, I must admit that it was pretty damn entertaining.

Now, I'm reviewing this as a general viewer, as I've never quite seen the original Indiana Jones movies so I don't know how this film compares with those original blockbusters. In fact, there were some references to past films that elicited light laughs from the audience, references I would never have gotten were my movie companion not an Indy fan herself.

As a general viewer, however, I thought the plot was pretty solid and the dialogue and visuals certainly very funny and very entertaining. While the story mixed legends with conspiracy theories (leading into a genre I'm not very fond of), I thought the writers did an excellent job of piecing things together and making the plot rather believable (to the extent conspiracy theories can be believed though of course). As for the dialogue and tone of the characters, their conversations with each other were hilarious. It wasn't anything too witty, but it certainly did have that old classic humor any viewer at any age would love. Also, the visuals sparked plenty of laughs themselves, and even when they didn't, they still proved fantastic eye candy, delicious and succulent and at times even over-the-top... but still in a good way of course.

The characters were lovable as always. Indy (the great Harrison Ford), with his trademark fedora and bullwhip, has still got that charm (not to mention stamina!) even though he's reached senior citizen status. According to my companion, his character is a bit different now that he's older, but good wine acquires better taste as it ages, and his attitude is still very appropriate and very himself. Can't say much about Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), but from what I've read she's still got that spunk and sunny smile that I can attest to seeing. The talented Shia LaBeouf makes another great appearance in film, this time as the hilarious but rather talented Mutt Williams, a boy who seeks out Indy on behalf of his mother. (Oh, and the rumors? Yeah, no surprise there.) The shape-shifting Cate Blanchett also plays Irina Spalko, the crazy Colonel-Doctor and main antagonist of this Indy movie who is relatively badass in her own right.

Anyway, to sum it up, it was a marvelous movie with fantastic special effects but the same old characters. The plot was solid and the humor abundant in this latest installment, sure to please nearly any moviegoer who is looking for a little adventure in their lives (or two hours of it at least). While my Indy-fan friends did enjoy it, I can't personally claim that fans of the originals will love it. But again, as a general viewer, it was a very satisfying movie that pleased both the eyes and the mind.

Oh, the barely-veiled, little moral-of-the-story line at the end was super-corny though. Other than that, it was pretty kickass.

Rating: 5/5

Picture copyright (c) Paramount Pictures (I think) and etc.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Ambition

"Nah, I'm only gonna go to Suffolk fo' two years. Then I'm gonna transfer to Queens College 'cause their child psych program is crazy. Then I'm gonna go to grad school to get my Ph.D. in child psychology. Damn, that's a lot of schooling. Ten years of schooling! But ya know what? It'll be worth it in the end. You'll be reading my books one day!"

...Said the girl who ten years ago was possibly my closest friend.

Not to me though. No, she wasn't speaking to me. I was just listening. We don't talk anymore. We haven't since then. Nothing happened. We just never ran into each other. Elementary school passed. Intermediate school passed. And then in middle school, when we started differentiating, I was ushered forward with the select as she remained behind in a place I didn't know or cared for. Now high school. Almost ending. Still nothing. It was books and sports and music and arts for me. Maybe some drugs and drinking for her, but of course I couldn't prove that. That was just an assumption based on appearance and stereotype. Not that I think I'm wrong though.

Still, I smiled, and it was a nice, genuine smile. It was nice hearing "someone like her" say that. It was a nice thought thinking that I was wrong and "these people" actually had hopes to follow, dreams to pursue, that they weren't just going to become drug addicts and booze hounds and pop out babies every couple years. It was nice hearing that someone, anyone, had that fire burning within them, that flame named ambition.

But perhaps the real reason why I smiled was because there's nothing. When I peer inside myself, it's empty. And I can't comprehend it. I'm not filthy rich like some of my peers, but I admit that I've lived a rather privileged existence. While I've been raised to be frugal, I've never had to struggle to pay for something. While I've been honed to be a good student, I've never really studied as hard as some of my classmates do. Most important, I more than not feel happy, healthy, and loved. In other words, I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world, for it seems that I've had few barriers in my life from keeping me from doing what I want to do. But the problem is... what do I want to do?

Perhaps it is human nature to want that which appears impossible to achieve. Growing up in large but poor families, both my parents worked hard to achieve what they have achieved today, a rather wondrous existence I undeservedly had the fortune to take part in. And I wonder, had I grown up with monetary problems, with lesser learning capabilities, with less potential, with less opportunity, whether I too would have that flame burn within me, that desire to achieve and leap from the lowly rung of the social ladder I was born on. But alas, I was lucky enough to be born on a higher rung, not the highest but still closer to the top, although I can't seem to motivate myself to move upward despite everything. Knowing that everything is possible... perhaps takes the appeal out of aiming for that now listless sky.

And sometimes I wonder if it's better to be born without certain things. Because even if I could have everything, without ambition, it means nothing in the end.

Dreams are worthless without the drive.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Death by Chocolate

So I bought some Sprinkles brand chocolate peppermint cupcake mix from Williams-Sonoma ages ago, and my brother has been dying since April to make them. Now that my AP exams are over and I really had nothing better to do (that I could remember anyway), yesterday I gave in and delved into the process.

Well, let's just say it turned out a little more complicated than we thought.

I hate it when recipes assume I have a model kitchen from Ikea or something, outfitted with an infinite number of stainless steel, task-specific appliances. Admittedly, it only called for an electric mixer, but still, from a family that's not big on baking, it's not a necessary possession.

But anyway, the point is, we had to beat the butter until it was light and fluffy, which, as we discovered, is near impossible without an electric mixer. So my brother and I, being the inventive people we are, decided to improvise by hooking up a wooden spoon to a power drill.

Well it worked, just so you know. It splattered a bit but only a little and nothing crazy. In fact, it ended up being a really good idea... rather crazy, but quite effective.

The mess itself, however, became evident at the end when we found ourselves with a sink filled with bowls, pans, spoons, measuring cups, and cupcake tins/holders. The process also took four hours, at the end of which I had a head-splitting headache.

While they turned out well, my brother wonders in the end whether they were worth it.

All I know is that I just made artery-clogging, heart-stopping chocolate balls of doom. With nearly 3 sticks of butter, 2.5 cups of sugar, and other things (in addition to whatever is already in the included mixes), the chocolate peppermint cupcakes with [Godiva, by the way] chocolate frosting and crushed peppermint on top is definitely something to be eaten sparingly (lest I turn morbidly obese within a small period of time).

In other news, my AP Bio class (along with the Anatomy and Physiology class) visited the Bodies Exhibit today. It was exciting, depressing, revolting and intriguing at the same time, and had I been permitted to take pictures I would share them with you (but after seeing the exhibit, I can understand their desires to respect the dead). Anyway, it's pretty fascinating so it's a nice way to spend a day (unless the thought of the dead freaks you out of course). I also ate at the Brewery on the corner, which had pretty good food and was reasonably priced in case you're interested.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Political Wooing

McCain Sees Troops Coming Home by 2013

And I see a big fat lie.

Can the Republicans be anymore obvious? First they suddenly believe in global warming and now McCain wants to get out of Iraq? What happened to the "I'll chase Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell" McCain, or the "We'll stay in Iraq for another hundred years" McCain? I'd like to think the GOP is no longer disillusioned and close-minded under the guise of conservatism, but alas, all we've got here is politics at its best (and of course, by "best" I mean worst).

So what's he saying anyway?

“By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom,’’ Mr. McCain said at the Columbus Convention Center.

Okay, not bad...

“The Iraq War has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension. Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced.’’

And he will guarantee our success, how?

The United States, Mr. McCain added, “maintains a military presence there, but a much smaller one, and it does not play a direct combat role.’’

Wait a minute! I'm sorry, but that still counts as "staying in Iraq" in my book. And tell me how "military presence" does not equate to "direct combat role."

In Afghanistan, he said, an increase in actionable intelligence will have led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and “there is no longer any place in the world al Qaeda can consider a safe haven.’’ He added: “There still has not been a major terrorist attack in the United States since September 11, 2001.’’

Oh I get it now. So before we pull out, he's going to use his authority to up the ante in Afghanistan. Things get worse before they get better? Uh-uh, I don't think that's how it's going to work. And what if bin Laden is already dead and disintegrated? They never did find the Fountain of Youth, though they sure shed a lot of blood in the process.

Oh, and the terrorist attack comment? Yeah, about that, it's only been 7 years. Maybe I'm too young to recall, but we never encountered something of that caliber in the 7 years before 2001. In fact, the last time there was a domestic attack like that was probably Pearl Harbor, no?

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

West Virginia

So this wasn't really anything exciting but...

Clinton Beats Obama Handily in W. Virginia

Admittedly, this win didn't do much for the delegate count, but it has suggested that racial undertones do indeed exist (I know, but I suppose now we have "proof"). Once again, SNL hits it dead on.

But whatever. A win for Hillary is a win for Hillary. Hooray!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Mother's Day

So I've been surprisingly selfish the entire day. Even though I'd like to blame my AP exams for everything, in reality I think I just suck. Sure, the AP Bio exam is tomorrow, but honestly, I haven't really been studying anyway as I've procrastinated to the point of no hope.

We couldn't visit my aunts and uncles because I have an AP exam tomorrow.

I didn't order my mother's gift right away so it sold out and I had nothing to give her.

I was going to play piano for her, but alas, I was "too busy studying" and didn't.

She ended up cooking and cleaning anyway.

She even cooked things I like to eat.

And even though she cooked and my father and brother didn't make reservations anywhere anyway, we couldn't go out anywhere because I was again "too busy studying."

And you know what? I'm still screwed for this exam tomorrow.

Ugh... does this make me a bad person?

Thursday, May 8, 2008

I Hate Waitlists (Do You Too?)

Top Colleges Dig Deeper in Wait Lists for Students

See! This is why I think it's stupid that some kids get into every school and other kids get rejected by every school. Because the kid who got into every school he/she applied to might have applied to 20 schools, and so once that person chooses his/her school, it frees up 19 whole spaces! While most kids probably apply to maybe 10-15 schools, that's still a lot of room.

I know that a rejected person would have been low on the waiting list anyway, but still. It would have saved us all from that mass wave of depression that day.

So if anyone is still hanging on that last shred of hope, waiting for that letter to come, then you have my best wishes. While I'm still on a waiting list at Barnard, BU's given me more than I hoped for. So I'm sticking with it.

But then why does the thought of that letter make my heart waver? Why does reading that article, reading about Penn, still evoke desire in my soul?

I hope this is normal.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

It's Not Over

Pundits Declare the Race Over

You know what? I don't like how these people are so willing to put down someone who has proven herself to others as a person willing to fight for what she believes in, a person so adamant and strong-willed that even when faced with adversity refuses to back down. Since when did condescending and biased elitist-wannabes decide things for others? Forget the superdelegates; it's these cocky, self-absorbed mediamen who are trying to influence everything by inserting their own opinions into every little matter.

She IS a leader, and what kind of leader backs down? Or do they prefer someone who can only ride the waves of popularity, and then what happens when that wave dies down? What happens to us next when our president prematurely becomes a lame duck?

What's their excuse? She's tearing apart the Democratic Party? Please. As I've said before, it takes two to tango, and if Democrats and citizens of this country are going to let McCain win over Hillary or Obama then they all deserve to be damned. If the Republicans win and we stay in Iraq for another 100 years then that's the voter's fault, not Hillary's. Plus, the delegate difference isn't a McCain-Huckabee matter. Who's to say how clear it is that Obama has trounced Hillary? He hasn't knocked her out, so don't count her out.

Or do you think she's being selfish? Perhaps. I don't know. But if you were so close to fulfilling your dreams, to bringing hope to so many people who came from all walks of life and believed in you, could you really back down? Could you really stand on the tip of your toes, reach for that apple on a branch of a tree, touch it with your fingertips, and then decide to let it go? What if you promised it to a little boy who never had a chance of reaching it? Could you tell him no, that you couldn't get it, not because the bird swooped down and got it first but because you gave up?

If anything, I believe Hillary has proven herself worthy of a fight to the end. Even if she doesn't win, no one has the right to denounce her efforts. So leave her be, please, and stop moaning about it because even Hillary can take the news like a man.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Seeing the Future

So I was reviewing for my A.P. Gov exam when I came across these little snippets of information while reading about the executive branch. The following is paraphrased/quoted from Kaplan and just so you know, was published in January 2008... before the primaries started to determine our potential presidential nominees.

INFORMAL QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PRESIDENCY (A CHART) (ABBREVIATED):

Male: The vice presidential candidacy of Geraldine Ferraro has been the highest major party female nomination. (Okay, I suppose Hillary hasn't cinched it yet.)

Middle-Aged: No one in his late 30s or 70s has been nominated for his first run. (Ha, not anymore. McCain? Unless we're expecting an upset by Huckabee...)

Wealthy: Presidential candidates have been expected to come from financially successful families. (Really? Because I thought everyone was surprised by the fact that the Clintons are splendidly rich... here's also some good ol' SNL satire to go along with that.)

Is in Good Health: Much scrutiny is given to possible health issues or "flaws." (Like how they badgered McCain for his health records as much as they did to the Clintons' for their tax returns?)

Then I've paraphrased the paragraph that follows the chart...

"Polls show that party identification is the primary factor in getting elected and staying popular... The economy is important as well... Also important is whether we are involved in a war or crisis... Personal behaviors matter, as well... The activities of associates, too, can affect a president's popularity."

Aside from the fact that our nominees haven't been elected yet... People don't want to vote for McCain because he's a Republican like Bush, we just so happen to be succumbing to a recession, we just so happen to be involved in a war, Hillary is "likeable enough" according to Obama, and Obama's former pastor is giving him quite the amount of trouble...

NO WONDER IT'S SUCH A BIG DEAL THIS YEAR! Everything makes sense now. Way to be dead on. Thanks, Kaplan.

Now since you're so good at predicting the future, how about you predict I get a 5 on this exam.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Reinventing America's Favorite Cookie

Wow, something not from the NYTimes (but from the WSJ instead)...

Kraft Reformulates Oreo, Scores in China

Anyway, I thought it was interesting. If you don't feel like reading, the video they provide more or less sums up the article. It's pretty cool though... plus I find it funny how wafers and more subtle sweets really are more suited to Chinese tastes. Hey, I'm not going to lie; I do want to try those Oreo Wafers (plus the KFC Dragon Twister they mention in the article sounds pretty tasty to me too).

And back to work I go... 3 days till doomsday.