Haiti

Earlier today, there was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter about 10 miles outside of Port Au Prince, Haiti. It is said to be one of the strongest earthquakes to ever hit the small island nation.

My cousin is over there. He just started a several-month-long mission trip there. Thankfully, he, his friends, and the orphanage they are at is Ok. However, there are still thousands of people who are injured, displaced, missing, or worse, dead.

I know that there is not much that we can do right now; the country is still reeling from the event, and it is probably too soon for foreign aide to be organized. Despite that, I would like to ask a favor of you guys. Please please please pray, meditate, think or just take a moment of silence for these people. It may not seem like much, but it may help.

Thank you.

Happy New Year

Yes, indeed, it's that time again. New Year's Day has come and gone, and now many people are looking at their New Year's Resolutions and trying to figure out how the heck they're going to manage to pull those off. I too have made some resolutions and am now currently doing the same thing.

Resolution #1: Eat healthier.
Now, I don't know about you, but I happen to go to the college with the 4th best food in the state (or is it the nation?). D-Hall is God, and I've been known to eat too much there. However, my school also has a lot of choices in regards to food. Ergo, I have a feeling that with a little self-control, I can complete this resolution. All I've gotta do is stop snacking while writing papers.

Resolution #2: Exercise More.
This will be easy this semester. After all, I'm taking a swimming class. It's the rest of the year I'm worried about. Generally speaking, a full-time lifeguard/asst. manager who works 40+ hours a week doesn't get much personal time. More often than not, I'm up at 07:45 AM (Earlier this year, if I have to fight for the bathroom with my brother), at the pool by 10:00 AM, and leaving the pool anytime between 07:00-10:00 PM, depending on the day. That said, I don't have a lot of free time. I guess I'll have to work something in between shifts. Swimming laps while on duty? Perhaps...

Resolution #3: Stop Procrastinating.
This is a big one for me. I am queen of procrastination. It is a way of life I've perfected over the past several years. Heck, I was procrastinating on school projects when I was in second grade. And now I'm a college student. Who am I kidding? It'll take one huge miracle for me to pull this one off.

So, those are my resolutions. Will I achieve any of them? Who knows. I guess the new year will tell.

I Am From Virginia

You Know You're From Virginia When...

• Speed limits are just suggestions
• You have at least two friends who have no idea what their relatives do...because its "top secret" government work
• Most of your senior class wend to Mason, JMU, Tech, VCU or UVA
  
• You've never told someone you're from Virginia without putting "northern," "central," or "southern" in front of it
• It's not actually tailgating unless your bumper is touching the car in front of you.
• You know yellow light means at least 5 more cars can get through. (Yeah, man...at least. Probably also happens everywhere else.) A red light means 2 more can.
• You actually know what the black boxes at stoplights are for.
• You took a field trip to Williamsburg as a kid
• You or someone in your family has a Smart Tag
• An inch of snow and you miss 3 days of school
• All the potholes just add a little excitement to your driving experience
• Crown Victoria = undercover cop
• Subway is a fast food place. The transportation system is known as Metro, and only Metro.
• If you stay on the same road long enough, it will eventually have three new names.
• You have never been served tea without the waitress asking "sweet or unsweetened?"
• Your favorite past time is telling West Virginia jokes.
• Anyone who can't trace his or her ancestry back to at least four generations in Virginia is an outsider.
• "Going to the beach" means anywhere from Ocean City to Virginia Beach to Myrtle Beach.
• You measure distance in minutes
• You use "fix" as a verb. Example: I'm fixin' to go to the store
• You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm"
• You know there are three type of summer weather: Hot, hazy, and humid (with the occasional thunderstorm thrown in there just for good measure)
  
• You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Virginia.

I am from Virginia. I am a southerner, and I am proud of my heritage. My college loyalty is to Virginia Tech, and now, more recently, JMU (though I swear I bleed Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange). My high schools couldn't have been more different, despite the fact that they were thirty minutes away from each other, but I didn't mind going to either. Belle Isle and Maymont Park are two of my favorite places, but I hate going "north of the river." Despite that, Carytown is one of the best places to shop, and the closest mall to my house is about 45 minutes away. Paying tolls means paying fifty-cents, and without my SmartTag, I'd be hopelessly lost, missing on the first throw. I do believe that speed limits are only suggestions, but I also abide by George Carlin's quote of "anyone going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster is a maniac." I have tailgated, been tailgated and probably will have both occur sometime soon. I applied to four out of the 5 major colleges here in Virginia (UVA, VT, W&M and JMU) and planned on attending one of those four. Both of my parents came from Smalltown, VA, but I still love going back there and visiting family. Speaking of family, mine is very large and close. I have more cousins than I can count on my fingers and toes combined, and the number of second cousins I have is beginning to creep close to that. And yes, people, I have been to a family reunion (and enjoyed most of it too). To me, Ukrops was more than just a grocery store- it was a way of life, and I will miss it dearly when they're gone. Yes, the school system here sucks, as do the SOLs, and some of the teachers, but hey- I got my education. My neighborhood is small, but tight-knit. And a year-and-a-half ago, I was so ready to get out of there... out of the house, out of the county... I was ready to leave. But when I got to college, I realized that I was no longer the big fish in a small pond, but now I was a tiny fish in a huge pond. As time goes on, though, I stop and reminisce about my time spent at home and everything that went on there. One day, I dreamed of getting out of Virginia and moving on to something bigger... something better. And maybe that will happen. All I know is that Virginia is home and I love it. And one day, when I'm older (and wiser), maybe when I'm about to graduate, I'll look back on those memories. I'll remember my hometown, and everything I used to hate about it. And all those things will seem nice. I might hate everything about it now, but I know that one day I'll be saying, "Those were the best days of my life, and I can't wait to go home."

It's Basic Economics

Dear Obama,

Please take a college course in Economics before you decide to give or make anymore fiscal decisions/advice. In fact, don't just take one course. Go ahead and get an entire degree in Economics!

You tell us you're going to bail us out of the current economic rut we're in. And then you turn around and spend over 1.1 trillion (yes, trillion!) dollars on things like your inauguration, bailing corporate companies out and stimulus checks. The thing is, all this money you're getting is tax money. And all the tax money is coming primarily from the middle class people. Guess who makes up a majority of society, Obama? That's right: Middle class workers.

It's basic economics, Obama. If you do not have the money, then you cannot spend it. In personal finance terms, it's called over drafting. And if you're someone like me, an average middle class citizen, it's something that can get you thrown in jail for what's called "check fraud."

You wonder why the banks are floundering and many are going under. Perhaps it is because they don't have enough money. They cannot afford to give out anymore loans, especially to people who aren't going to pay them back. In fact, it's lending like that, like what you're calling for, that's gotten us into this current fiscal mess as it is! Just take a look at history. It's plain as day. Don't try to say the Republicans caused this mess when it's your Democratic policies from the 1980s that did this.

Speaking of history, have you heard of this thing called Keyensian economics? Yeah, that whole idea of if you spend a lot of money, more money than you have, then you'll get your economy back in order? It's only a quick fix. Keyensian economics will never work. It didn't work for Europe. Why do you think it will work for us? Sure, it's worked for the past few decades, but now look where we are. We're a politically and fiscally unstable country full of middle-class workers who are starting to get rather disgruntled.

Open your eyes, Obama. Look around you. Learn some basic economics and history. Once you do that, then you can consider talking to us about what you want us to do with our money. Until then, I highly recommend you keep your mouth shut. Obviously you know nothing about what you're taking about. Like the old adage goes, "it's better to remain silent and appear a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it."

Sincerely,
A Concerned American With Some Common Sense

PS: If you keep going the way you're going and keep attempting to tax the middle class more, you can rest assured that you're going to lose their vote in the 2012 presidential elections. Just thought I'd point that out to you.

"Battle Studies" -A Review

As a fan of John Mayer's, I've followed him throughout his career. I distinctly remember the poppy, almost bubble-gummy feel of Room For Squares. Then he released Heavier Things, which had a more rocky, edgier feel to it. Later, we got Continuum, which showed a new stage of evolution in Mayer's songwriting. Continuum had a very bluesy feel to it... it felt real. Today, Mayer released his fourth studio album entitled Battle Studies, and I'll admit it- this album is very different. It's not what I expected from Mr. Mayer. So, here's my take on it.

1. Heartbreak Warfare: This is probably my favorite track on this album. It's got layered guitars that almost has a U2 feel to it, and lyrics that are incredibly poignant. I really like Mayer's comparison of love to warfare; while I know that the two are in no way similar, the imagery sticks with you. I also love the bluntness with which this song is written (ex: the line "If you want more love why don't you say so?) It's such a perfect tale of love and the trials that come with it.

2. All We Ever Do is Say Goodbye: This is a simple song with almost a minimalist feeling to it. Acoustic guitars over a piano, drums and bass guitar with Mayer's voice floating over it... it's definitely a different style for him. However, it kind of feels like something's missing... it doesn't exactly feel full enough. I'm not quite sure what it is about it, but I feel this track is a little weak.

3. Half of my Heart: When I first heard this song, I thought I was listening to a country song. And then Taylor Swift began singing. I was blown away! Their voices blend very well, but I feel that for a duet, Swift just didn't exactly get her chance to truly shine on what could be a wonderful song. Don't get me wrong- I do like this song. Once again, it's a very different sound for Mayer, and it's not exactly something I was expecting to hear from him. But all in all, it's a pretty good song.

4. Who Says: Yes, it's a song about everyone's favorite subject! No, not sex. Pot. Indeed, Mayer wrote a song about smoking weed, talking about his personal opinions about the drug (and his possible use). Now, I personally don't really like the message of this song, nor do I really like the song in general. It just feels too short. Personally, probably one of the worst tracks on here.

5. Perfectly Lonely: Now, this song sounds a little more like his previous works. It's got a pretty bluesy intro, and fairly typical Mayer lyrics that talk about his love life, or lackthereof in this case. But I like this song, probably because of the familiarity of it. It sounds full, with just enough of everything in it. And I like the message of independence that's being passed along... the idea of being cool with being single, but also accepting the fact that he knows one day he'll find someone. In general, I like this song. It's pretty good.

6. Assassin: This song definitely doesn't sound like anything we've heard from Mayer before, but it's cool. I like it, personally, and think it's a sound he can definitely pull off. I love the groovy bass line that seems to kind of drive this song, as well as that xylophone (I'm assuming that's what it is) that is played. I also like this lyrics of this song. They're very interesting. From what I understand, it's about a one-night-stand, or something like that. It's a tale that's poetically told, though, with an interesting comparison to the lovers being assassins. This song definitely has a cool funky, and though I used this word before, groovy feel to it. It's something that you can just kind of bob your head to... dance to a little bit. This is another one of my favorite songs on this album.

7. Crossroads: I've heard the original version of this song done by Robert Johnson, and I liked that. I've also heard the version Eric Clapton did with Cream, and I loved that. I also saw a live performance with Clapton and Mayer doing this song, and I thought that was absolutely wonderful! But this version? Ehhh... not so much. In fact, I really don't like this version at all. There's just something about it that I don't like. Maybe it's all the harmonies that are layered over a simple melody. Maybe it's the strange sound of the lead guitar. I'm not sure what it is. But I just do not like this song. In fact, this was the song I was looking forward to the most, and it was just a huge let down. Basically, I really just... yeah. Don't like this version of what could be a great song.

8. War of my Life: This song is Ok. It's just kinda got a soft feeling that I'm not exactly used to hearing from Mayer. But I like the lyrics, especially the line "If fear hasn't killed me yet/ then nothing will." It's a good song, with a very mellow feeling to it. I'm still warming up to it, though.

9. Edge of Desire: This is a kind of slow, almost ballad-type of a song. I'm sure how I feel about the vocals on this track; they almost seem a little stressed or strained. But I like this words. The chorus is blunt; the last line in it almost feels like a suckerpunch to me ("There I just said it / I'm scared you'll forget about me") This song seems to speak to anyone who's been in a relationship and has had a major fight or problem with their significant other, and I love that. It's a song that almost anyone can relate to. It's also an incredibly passionate, moving song. Once again, this is a track that I really like.

10. Do You Know Me: This is another one of those quick little songs on this album. I kind of like this, but it just feels so short. I like the guitar that's played on it, though. But... it's just so short, it's feels hard to get a grasp on it.

11. Friends, Lovers, or Nothing: I love the piano in this song. I almost love the questions that are posed in this song. It's kinda funny in a way, because I'm pretty sure that almost anyone could relate to this song as well. I do like the style of this song. Once again, it's a style that's different for Mayer, but he makes it work.

Like I've said before, Battle Studies definitely has a totally different sound than any of his other albums. Personally, I find it to be a little lacking. It doesn't sound full enough... it doesn't sound complete. There's just something about it, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Regardless, I think Where The Light Is and Continuum remain tied for the position of my favorite album. This could be a really good album with a little more work, but for now, it's just not doing it for me. I'm hoping that if I listen to it some more, it'll rub off on me. I don't know. I guess we'll see. For now, though, I give Battle Studies 3 out of 5 stars.

What's So Great About Them?

In this day and age, television is readily available for the watching, whether it's On Demand or on your computer. It seems, though, that TV stations are constantly premiering new shows, as if they're unable to find a show that works. I've been watching a few shows for several years now, and personally think they're pretty good. After all, what would NCIS be without Tony DiNozzo? Or Bones without Booth and Brennan? How would Sgt. Colbert survive without Ray Person? The list of questions goes on and on. So, here's a few of my favorite TV show characters, past and present.

Name: Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo
Show: NCIS
Quote: I'm the wild card. You know, the guy who looks at the reality in front of him and refuses to accept it.
What's So Great About Him? Every TV show needs comedic relief, and indeed, DiNozzo fills this role for NCIS. His constant jabs at Special Agent Tim "Probie" McGee and amusing flirtations with former Mossad Liaison Officer (now Special Agent) Ziva David provide a light air to a normally serious show. However, his role goes farther than that. Tony is the Senior Field Agent. He's the guy to turn to when Gibbs isn't available. He sees things in a different light (perhaps from his time spent as a homicide cop and all of Season 4 which was spent with him doing and under cover op), and slowly, but surely, we're seeing his character evolve from the chauvinistic playboy he was in Season 1 to the now complex, slightly more mature, and sometimes dark field agent that he is today. His constant references to old movies may drive you insane to begin with, but scratch a little deeper than the surface, and you'll see that he always comes through in the end.

Names: Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan and Special Agent Seeley Booth
Show: Bones
Quote: You see two people and you think they belong together, but nothing happens. The thought of losing so much control over personal happiness is unbearable. You love someone, you open yourself up to suffering, and that's the sad truth. Maybe they'll break your heart, maybe you'll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks. That's the burden. Like wings, they have weight, we feel that weight on our backs, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens that allow us to fly.
What's So Great About Them? These two are complete opposites, but they show us how other people can fill in our gaps. Bones is a forensic anthropologist who works in conjunction with the FBI via Booth, and in the beginning, all the two do is bicker. However, as the show has progressed, we're being shown more and more about these two. And, indeed, like many shows, this is one of supposedly unrequited love. The ironic thing is, Booth loves Bones, and vice-versa, they're just too dense, or too afraid, to admit or see it. Perfect in their imperfections, though, at the end of the day, they bring out the best in each other.

Names: Sergeant Brad "Iceman" Colbert and Corporal Josh Ray Person
Show: Generation Kill
Quote: Oh, no. Now not only do we have to worry about all the Charms you've eaten, but now Brad's just pissed off God.
What's So Great About Them? Once again, we're greeted with a tail of two opposites thrown in the middle of the same situation. This time, though, it's in the middle of Iraq, during the 2003 invasion. See, Generation Kill was originally a three-part set of articles that was turned int a book published by Evan Wright, a Rolling Stones reporter embedded with this platoon of Marines. HBO turned it into a miniseries, and a pretty good one at that. It focuses on the Humvee that Wright rode in, and these two happened to be in it. Brad Colbert is cool, level-headed and collected, even in the heaviest of battles, thus attributing him his nickname. Josh Ray Person, however, is loud, occasionally obnoxious and rather foul at times. He's self-described as trailer-trash, and more often than not, he gets on the nerves of his fellow Marines instead of helping them. Despite their differences, these two are two of the best people you could ask to have on your platoon. Person is described as being the best RTO in their company, and Brad is looked upon as a heroic figure. These two figures are both self-sacrificing and funny at the same time, as seen when the convoy get's stuck in an ambush one night. Instead of panicking (as I would've done), Colbert begins engaging the enemy while Person gets out of his Humvee and starts yelling at the drivers to "Please! Back the f*** up!" In general, these two men are a wonderful example of a partnership you wouldn't think would work out.

Name: Gabriel Gray/Sylar
Show: Heroes
Quote: Help find a way. Give me salvation. Give me that damn list so I can sink my teeth in! I'm a natural progression of the species. Evolution is a part of nature, and nature kills. Simple, right?
What's So Great About Him? Ahhh... yes. Now we get to the serial killer on my list. Sylar is just... well, he's Sylar. Part tortured soul, part homicidal maniac, all completely amazing. His view of the world is just so incredibly different from anyone else's, it's hard to think that someone like you or I came up with his character. Whether he's telekinetically slicing heads open (and possibly satisfying that cannibalistic urge) or torturing our favorite heroes, he's guaranteed to deliver. After all, he's that villain you love to hate and hate to love.

So, that's my list so far. Perhaps I'll update it and include a few more characters. I'm sure there are plenty out there that deserve recognition. We'll see. In short, I seriously urge you to go and check these shows out. They may very well be worth your time. :)

Ball In Hand

Recently, my friends and I have taken to playing pool every Monday and Thursday night at TDU. It's an interesting game to play (and for those of us like me who never did well in Geometry and/or Trigonometry, it's a challenge). We're not very competitive; and truth be told, none of us are really that good (well... Lauren's a beast, as are Spencer and Logan... maybe it's me who just sucks at this game). It's just a nice way to blow off some stress and have fun.

It's interesting, though, if you look at the game of pool in detail... do more than scratch the surface. See, each time you hit the cue ball, generally speaking, you hit another ball, which could hit a couple of more balls. The entire game is cause and effect. If X occurs, then Y will happen.

Now, what's interesting is if you apply it to real life. See, I think we fail to realize that our actions are that cue ball. We are the billiards player, lining up the shot. There are several different factors affecting our decision as to which ball we hit with the cue ball, such as location of the cue ball, location of the ball we want to hit, and what game we're playing. In the end, though, we hit the cue ball, making our decision, and ultimately changing the fate of someone else.

Sound confusing?

Yeah, I thought so too until I thought about it some more.

See, I think we fail to realize that our decisions affect more than one person. How we live our lives and make our decisions affect people on the outside, too... people like friends and family, or even strangers that we may not know. Just like that billiards player lines up the shot and hits the cue ball, thus affecting the other balls on the table and players, our decisions help progress our lives but also have repercussions outside of ourselves.

When my friends and I play, we have a rule called "ball in hand." Basically, when the person shooting fails to hit a ball, scratches, or hits the wrong ball, the person after them gets to take the cue ball and set it anywhere on the table. I challenge you to be that player who's followed the person who's scratched. How will your actions affect those around you? What consequences, positive or negative, will they have?

The ball's in your hand.

Make your shot.