Whazzup?!?!?!?

I would have totally been in that old commercial from roughly ten years ago. I was watching Scary Movie this past Saturday (oddly the first time I've watched it the whole way through) and that scene is just hilarious.

Anywho (Sheep in the Big City reference if anyone remembers that show) it's my Auntie Karen's birthday so I'll give her a shout out. Happy birthday auntie! I love you lots and hope you had and are still having a wonderful day! =)

By the way, if you like alternative music check out OK Go's new video for their single "White Knuckles." It's absolutely adorable, especially if you love dogs. While I'm not an animal fan, I love love love OK Go and their ridiculously creative music videos. "White Knuckles" is also one of my favorite songs from their latest album.

I can't believe it's the last day of September already. Maybe time does fly....

The Writing Test

I just took the writing test. I am very pleased with what I wrote, though I wish I could have squeezed in a more definitive ending. I am not a fan of science fiction, but the topic was about time travel. I think the best time period to examine would be the beginning of time. Who created the world and how? I think my topic was very interesting. I really love to think and I believe others should spend more time thinking as well. I remember taking a similar test in eighth grade and I think I did much better on this one. I love to write and I have grown as a writer over these past three years. After getting much practice and feedback by using fanfiction as a tool and from teachers, I think I will keep improving. I hope I will continue to write well in the future and maybe one day I'll actually get something published!

St. George and the Dragon

I believe that the female represents the seven deadly sins. This same woman can be equated with Eve. Woman was originally created to assist man, but the female essentially birthed lust and temptation by accepting the apple from the snake. Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, pride and wrath were quick to follow once the first sin came to be. Although woman was supposed to be innocent, when left to her own devices, Eve did as she pleased. Remaining chaste until marriage is especially vital for a female, and is usually apparent when the bride wears white. This woman is wearing shades of red and green, which represent promiscuity and jealousy. Duties females are responsible for also helped usher in sexism. Every negative act basically traces back to Eve because her actions were the first of womankind. The theme is especially rooted in this particular character.

The dragon, who is meant to be an evil fire breather, here appears weak and helpless. He seems to have no defense mechanisms and is at the mercy of the knight while the woman who is controlling him does nothing. She owns him and therefore is responsible for his actions. Instead of taking on the role that it would usually have, the dragon is forced to retreat into a lesser position. The dragon represents the middle ground in this picture because the man and the woman are both apparently good but are in fact evil. The main thing that confuses me is the fact that the dragon is the only character that is weakened in the picture. It seems ironic, but I think the purpose was to illustrate irony and how it isn't always obvious.

The knight is the most direct offender. Due to the fact that he is shown hurting another living thing in plain view, I think that means he has abandoned all of the characteristics he is supposed to be uphold on purpose. I think his motive is lost within the rest of the painting While the woman may have sough revenge or the dragon might want to wear his heart on his sleeve, the knight doesn't seem to have a reason to rebel against mechanics. Perhaps he wants to blend in and kill stereotypes. The painting is quite exciting because it does away with "normal" positions and gives everyone a new role. The line between good and evil is blurred and because of that, the characters can now be themselves.

Moving On Up

I've been receiving emails and information through the mail from colleges. I first received information from Auburn, but I've gotten three packets in the last week or so from RIT, which is more of what I'm looking for. I've also received a letter from Fordham University.

More than 1,200 deaf and hard-of-hearing students share classes and campus facilities with hearing students at RIT.
More than 7,100 full-time students live on campus in residence halls or apartments.
Their school colors are orange/brown (NOT black/gold, which I am SO SO SO tired of....)
There are a plethora of clubs and sports.
Along with gyms, pools, ice arenas, tennis courts, tracks, etc. RIT also has a game room, student lounge, two dining areas, a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, a hairstyling/tanning salon, a 500-seat auditorium and the first ESPN Sports Zone on a college campus.
There is even a Barnes and Noble which is wicked awesome, but hey, this is NEW YORK and everything has to be wicked awesome there. =)
The Gordon Field House is one of the area's largest entertainment venues and can seat up to 8,500 people. RIT students have enjoyed performances by Bob Dylan, Snoop Dogg, Kathy Griffin, Panic at the Disco, Ludacris, Taking Back Sunday, David Spade, Carlos Mencia, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and more.

Unfortunately, they do not have my major so I cannot attend that school. I'm sure it's beautiful though and it would be a joy to be able to simply view it.

I went to Financial Aid night this past Tuesday and took home a lot of brochures and papers. I even took some of my own nights since I'm sure I'll need the extra help wherever I'm going to school. Education ain't cheap and my parents have no trouble reminding me of that!

I was looking at a list of off-beat scholarships the other day, but most of them are extremely exclusive, which is understandable. I really need to go up north so I can go on some tours but the dates of these tours are not in compliance with school. I might have to take some days off or I could try and head up there as soon as Christmas break starts. I miss snow, real snow!

My Future Career (Hopefully)

Last year, I went to an audition in Savannah. I did so great and I was totally rocking my look. When I went for the followup, the director even said she was going to put a star next to my name because they really liked me. Sadly, the cost to get into the program was too much. :( My parents also said that you can't trust everyone who claims they can help you get into the entertainment business. I was extremely disappointed because I've wanted to take acting classes since I was twelve. The program was in June and I hope it went well. I wish I could have been there though.

I wish I could still do Drama at school but my parents are way too busy with work. I also wish I still lived in Hinesville or at least on post so I could be more connected with people. But... I need to focus on my grades and decide which colleges I want to apply to. On the other hand, I've been thinking about what it takes to be an actress. I'm sure I could do it since I did great in the only two drama classes available at school (=P) but I still need to have a backup plan. I think I would make a decent writer or maybe even a psychologist since I enjoy listening to people talk more than I actually like talking myself. We'll see.

For now, I am going to continue doing research. I know production companies have been shooting a lot of movies nearby recently, but I'm not sure my schedule could bend enough so I could possibly be an extra. Maybe I could audition at HALO or wait until summer to try and find something to do. I could just wait until I can go to New York after I graduate. I know I'll definitely be acting nonstop in college so maybe there will be some opportunities wherever I go.

Blog Assignment 2

With brown hair, eyes, and skin
Ariana has always strived to win.
She began reading before she turned four,
her life has always been filled with books galore.
Having been born in New York fills her with pride,
nothing gives her a thrill more than a roller coaster ride.
Her favorite character in the world is Happy Bunny,
nothing else could be more cute or funny.
The color purple is her favorite, fit for a queen,
although she can have fun on occasion, she is quite mature for a teen.
Harvard has always been her dream school,
while many are fake, she has no concerns about being "cool."
She loves French fries and values independence,
her Jamaican roots have helped her learn about common sense.
She is sure she is destined for riches and fame,
one day everyone will know her name.
The best way she expresses herself is on stage,
she will present new ideas and make them all the rage.
Although reading is her favorite hobby she also loves to write,
equality is extremely important to her, she believes things should not be viewed in black and white.
She loves alternative music and wouldn't have it any other way,
she could take pictures of anything and everything all day.
Her family is most important,
she believes from heaven they were sent.
She hopes to travel and see great sights,
she likes rainy days and staying up late most nights.
She knows her life is headed in an exciting direction,
she can't wait to vote in the next election.

$$$$

Apparently, the U.S. currency is in dire need of a makeover. This is really surprising to me, since I'm pretty sure money has looked the same for eons. Oh well, I love money so it would be nice if it could match my outfit or something equally outrageous I guess. After scrolling through the options, I think most of them are okay. I like the fact that there could be a color for each dollar. However, I'm not sure making real money the same kinds of colors as monopoly money is the best idea in the world.

People are voting on the best designs, and apparently a vertical design is currently in the lead. I'm not sure I like the idea of vertical money. I don't think everything needs to be changed. Many people voted for vertical money because it is usually a task to try and count it while it's horizontal. The way people hold their wallets/purses was taken into account along with how notes from an ATM machine are ejected. I think it's a decent idea with great motives, but it would take time for people to catch on.

Seeing Sacagawea on a potential $50 bill really grabbed my attention. I've never really thought about it before, but I don't think females are on any type of money. I know she is pictured on the rare $1 coin, but that's about it. It would be nice, but the possibility of the current president's mug already adorning my bills sort of irks me. I have respect for him, but he's made more of a cultural impact than an political impact in my personal opinion.

With all of these new ideas being easily communicated through computers, I am getting more and more excited for 2012 so I can vote and be an active part of the world's everchanging appearance!

New Tunes Tuesday

Today Linkin Park released their fourth studio album, which I am about to start listening to. I can't get enough of the lead single, "The Catalyst." The video has some amazing visuals as well.

It's a great day for alternative music in general as Brandon Flowers (lead singer of The Killers) and Weezer also released albums today.

Since I know iTunes is the most popular place to download music, movie, TV show episodes, etc. I also wanted to recommend amazon.com for extra deals. They also have at least 100 albums per month for only $5. Daily deals can be as low as $3.99.

Music and More

The VMAs turned out to be sort of mediocre. Not entirely surprising since most of the music that litters the radio these days is pure trash. I'm so sad Drake lost to Eminem TWICE (even though I actually like Eminem) why couldn't he stay for a two hour awards show? Like really? Really really really? Ah well, there's always next year. I knew Justin Bieber was going to win for Best New Artist, but he isn't best new anything. The kid has zero singing talent. Just like Taylor Swift. In my opinion, she can't sing AT ALL. I think people felt sorry for her last year because she seems like such a nice person. I don't think she'll ever be nearly as talented as Kanye West is (no matter how much she may be the bigger person). His song at the end was quite... interesting to say the least. I just had to get that out there because I feel like everyone took her side and I certainly did not. She should just stick to writing songs.

I'm glad Lady Gaga won so many awards though. She isn't that great of an artist, but I like the way she expresses herself and she has a great voice. I'm sad 30 Seconds to Mars beat Paramore for best rock video because I don't like them as much anymore. Although, based on lyrical craft and musicianship, either MGMT, Florence + the Machine or Muse should have won.

Last but of course not least, Chelsea is da bomb! I love love love her show and her comedic style. She can do no wrong in my book. She's just awesome. I love how she brought Chuy (her assistant) out and gave him like, two seconds of air time. She's totally cool. I can't believe it's been sixteen years since a female has hosted the VMAs. That is way too long. Glad Chelsea was the one who got to break the mold. I wasn't going to be able to take any more of Russell Brand especially with his slighly annoying fiancee there.

Overall, I give the ceremony a 3.5/5.

Delta Gems

Today I did my interview for the Delta Gems, an all female society open to students with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. I think the interview went well. I thought the questions were very diverse, and it's an interesting way to start to get to know someone who you might be working with in the future. I think I explained myself well and I felt comfortable around the young ladies. The one thing I hated was my use of the word 'um' a few times, but I think I made up for that by using professional words. I hope I am chosen to be a member of the society. If not, this was a nice test drive for college interviews that will be coming up. Being selected would be a nice blessing. Church this morning also touched me in a profound way. I am starting to realize the kind of young lady of faith I hope to be when I head off to college.

Here are the Top 10 Interview DONTS:

1. Be Late
2. Underdress
3. Talk Too Little
4. Make a Prepared Speech
5. Chew Gum
6. Bring Your Parents
7. Show Disinterest
8. Fail to Research the College
9. Lie
10. Be Rude

I have received several letters from various colleges this week. It really got me to thinking about all the testing coming up and the scores I need to get in order to be accepted into the college of my choice. Although I really want to go to Harvard, they are the most selective of the Elite 8. Either way, I would like to go to school up north since I was born in NY but never really got a chance to live there. I am also very passionate about acting and would like to see if there is a future for me in the entertainment industry. Living in my home state would help me realize my full potential in that area. If I don't get to become a professional actress, I would like to work with computers.

This week is TV week for me. I'm so excited!!!! Check these shows out if you have the time:

2010 VMAs, TODAY, MTV
Gossip Girl, 9/13 - The CW
1000 Ways to Die, 9/14 - SPIKE TV
Survivor, 9/15 - CBS
A Different Spin, 9/16 - FUSE

Also, Dancing with the Stars, The Amazing Race and Community start next week. =)

Blog Assignment 1

Beowulf and Grendel are two very similar characters with sharply contrasting motives in my opinion. Although Beowulf is supposed to be this hero, an image of perfection is often associated with such noble men. Perfection does not exist, and I really loathe when protagonists are portrayed as such. However, I think if we had read Grendel first and Beowulf after, maybe certain opinions would be different. On the other hand, the story would not have made sense if the books were not read and discussed in the order they originally were.

Beowulf is the man that sort of magically swept in and saved the day in his own book. No questions were asked, and when conflict arose, he was there to contest it. All by himself, he takes care of everything. That's the element of loneliness that was particularly stressed, but I still think his character is a dream. Perhaps since he does not really exist, anything goes, but I would like to know that my heroes are flawed. No matter what, at the end of the day, we all make mistakes and Beowulf didn't really make any.

Grendel, on the other hand, is human without having many human characteristics. The person that Grendel really is, his "softer" side if you will, is revealed in the story focusing on him. It's sort of like when one needs to know both sides of a story in order to come to a conclusion. It was easy to hate Grendel when Beowulf is the hero, but when Grendel is in the spotlight, one has to think twice about who... or what Grendel really is. The fact that he is so intelligent makes him an idiot savant of some sorts to me. No one seems to understand him, yet he's making more sense than all of the other characters combined. I also usually do not like main characters in books, and plus it's also fun to root for the "villain." I think Grendel was similar to Beowulf because they were both lonely, yet extremely brave. Even though Grendel did not share other qualities with Beowulf, I think he did well being compared to such a highly esteemed leader.

Memento Mori

Since we are now moving on to the medieval unit, I was so excited when "memento mori" was mentioned. It's a Flyleaf album that came out almost a year ago! I already knew what the phrase meant, but I wanted to know more about it and its origins. I'm glad I know where it came from now. It explains a lot about the album.

When I was in Talented and Gifted (TAG) in Germany, we spent several months studying medieval times. We learned about the clothing styles (headdresses and petticoats), torture devices, and some of the food. We even got to take a field trip to see some of the castles. We also explored some of the castles in the surrounding areas in Art Club. Some of the vocabulary and subjects may sound familiar, but I'm glad I'll get to take an in depth look at some of this interesting information.

New Song

There's this band called Madina Lake. They're not very popular, but I love them and I want them to get more exposure. They released a new single called "They're Coming For Me" just yesterday. Only check it out if you like rock music so you're not mad if you don't like it. If that makes sense.

Toodles! =)