Switching Over

I'm going to stop updating this blog and switch over to my new one at Fourpointreport.com. It's going to be more focused on journalism and traveling and classes - limited personal stuff (not like I've done anything that personal for a long time). It's under construction now but it's going to be built up over the next few months as Aram and I design it and I start really adding posts in London and videos and photos and such.

Should be fun! : )

Have a good one!

Rachael

Random Thoughts

• I have so much extra stuff from a Halloween makeup kit I bought that Aram and I only used the fake blood from (for our Sweeney Todd/Mrs. Lovett costumes). Let me know if you want anything of the following: fake blood (there's more of it), liquid latex, assorted sponges, a wheel of white, black, and green makeup, or fake blood capsules (to like put in your mouth and bite). Also have- most of a can of temporary pink hair dye and maybe half of a container of glow in the dark nail polish. On second thought, I'm keeping that last one. : )

• Twitter is addicting.

• I don't even know how I'm going to pack for living in London for four months. I'm trying to limit myself to two suitcases and my computer (it's getting shipped). I'll also probably have a backpack of carry on stuff. How am I going to bring clothes and shoes for January through May in that? I'm thinking- lots of layered basics and fun small accessories that make 'any outfit' new.

• I bought a German book. I plan to start learning it now- there's a really awesome Fulbright scholarship for journalism students that sends them abroad to study and work for a newspaper for ten months in Germany. I would love to do that. One catch? Have to be fluent in German. Yup. Thus I'm trying to learn German.

• I think once I launch Fourpointreport.com (there's nothing there yet)- I'm going to try to translate/write one blog a day in German or Spanish. It would be really good for me to kick my ass into drive on this whole- getting more fluent in Spanish thing (I can actually read it pretty well, I just don't know enough words- I was flipping through Harry Potter y la camara de secretos today and doing okay.) Plus, well, for above reasons, I really want to learn German. Plus it would be fun and a good incentive to learn it all. It would go with the whole 'traveling is awesome' theme.

• I'm tired- but I'm really bad at going to sleep at night because I get so distracted by everything. Like for example, right now I really want to go look up possible vests, scarfs, or suit jackets on etsy for me to wear in London, obsessively check The Guild website to see if episode 1 of season 2 is up yet, and check all my web comics. Instead, I think I'm going to very much try to go study my German book instead and learn the alphabet. Much more productive. Just after checking to see how high my story on LoudounExtra.com today got on the view meter.

Nighty night-

Rachael

Things that piss me off

I will try to make this a list of actually constructive observations rather than just a rant of things I'm mad about. Stay with me if my massive inner neuroses come out during this post.

1. I was looking forward to the end of the election, but oh man, now I am so bored. I feel like I have nothing to work on except homework. I am seriously such a workaholic that I need to work on something media-ish, productive, or social soon or I will go crazy.

So- does anyone want to do a fun documentary with me? Or give me ideas of things to blog about? I think I may start doing a series of small comedic shorts just to give me something to do.

(Okay so that wasn't actually something I was mad about- maybe I should change the title of this post to "things that drive rachael crazy")

2. Jean shopping at Target is hell. Let's put it this way- according to them, I wear a size 6 or 8 in women's, but a size 13 in juniors. WTH? Is the store TRYING to make teenagers anorexic? I know it's supposed to be a different sizing system but holy crap, it's not supposed to be THAT different.
And I'm not even going to get into to how annoying it is for a 5'2" woman, technically only 2 inches below the standard lady height, to have to constantly try on jeans that go a good four to five inches past your heels. I got two new pairs of jeans- time to go to the tailors (or wear boots this week, which isn't a good idea since I have a new ankle tattoo).

3. Time is passing too slow. I want to get to winter break and my 21st birthday and London already. I plan to start up Fourpointreport.com soon (after I have a chance to design and set it up with Aram's help)- I can't wait. I seriously have all sorts of ideas for it- think lots of videos, witty observations, photos, and features throughout the day. It's going to be awesome.

4. I absolutely postively hate having to wait for job application responses. I got one from the Austin American-Statesman (no- we had 200 people apply for 4 positions and guess what! you weren't one of the 4), but I know I won't hear anything from Dallas Morning News for months and probably won't hear anything else from the other places I'm applying to for months. And that's just for summer internships. The impending London spring internship still hasn't been determined and it's driving me crazy not to be able to tell people where I'm going to work.
I'm totally scared that I'm going to end up at like, the hobo express or something, cranking out stories from behind a cardboard box in downtown London. It would make a great story, but a sucky semester.

5. Family drama sucks.

6. Harp drama sucks.

7. Homework sucks.

8. On the upside, I got some more ADD medicine. So I'm a bit steadier now- not thinking about depressing thoughts all day (despite appearances from this post).

9. And earrings from Etsy rock. I'm getting obsessed. I might've splurged a little (like less than $20 little) and bought some really cute earrings in the shape of devil rubber duckies, fireman's hats, and tomato soup cans! I'm going to look so very crazy and it's going to be excellent.

10. Someone told me I looked French when I was at a Sbarro's in New York with Aram. Actually it was more like, "Are you French?" I was flattered, but slightly confused (I don't speak a word of French except for like, bonjour). Natalia's theory? That I dress "artsy."
It occurred to me the other day when I was experimenting with a black vest and belt over various dresses that she might be right. Plus the earring crazy thing probably fits in with that too.
Oh whatever- at least I won't ever look boring. I would make an excellent celebrity.

So I guess this list turned into something positive? The wonders of blogging.


Here's what I plan to do this week to get me out of post-election-depression rut:

Write and film a comedic short
Film myself playing rock harp
Film pieces on campus life and put them up on c2m or youtube
Have an adventure!

Excellent. Go time.

<3-Rachael

I don't know if anyone's interested in this at all-

But here's a link to all the pictures I've taken while working for LoudounExtra.com.

Some of them are ones I'm really proud of (my photography skills have improved soo much!), but because I don't actually own the copyrights to the photos I take for them, I can't really post them here without a big legal headache (I work for them still so I'm trying to avoid that...).

There's a ton of them- I wrote most of the captions except for some of the really early ones. I'm very amused that my bosses used some of my more descriptive ones personifying scarecrows and such.

Some of my favorite pics-

• I really love some of my recent "food porn" pics of apples and peppers and such. Those are great fun.
• Love the pics from Barktoberfest- some of those dogs were just darling.
• Although it was really stressful at the time taking pictures of minors and dealing with all the permission slips, I really am happy with how the photos I took at the free physicals for kids event came out. Kids are so expressive and some of them just came out beautifully.
• The Loudoun County Fair was so much fun to cover- I have lots of pics of barnyard animals and the kiss a pig contest and stuff, but I think I like my photos from the pageant the best- the girls were so dressed up but so used to being on a farm that they were just laughing as they walked across like, wood chips in high heels.
• I got a great shot of a bird for a story about the opening of a free flight aviary- It took like half an hour of constant snapping to get any decent photos of the blasted things but once I got it, it looked awesome- a total hero shot.
  
• OMG The pictures I took of the skateboarder came out so well. Action photos what what?
• I loved the photo gallery I did of a potter at his wheel- I thought I did a decent job of varying the picture angles so it didn't get too boring.

Oh hell, I just loved almost all the pictures I took this summer. I don't know how much that job did for my writing clips (I got some good ones, but mostly in entertainment stuff, not the news I love) but it did WONDERS for my photo portfolio. By the time I started really covering the election I was totally ready to go and take pics at all the events I went to. And some of those came out really amazing. I actually had a Japanese magazine "English Zone" use one of my photos in their publication.

Linkage if anyone's interested- they lead to fun slideshows on Photoshop Express.

The McCain/Palin Rally in Fairfax

The Obama/Biden Rally in Fredericksburg

Oh and pictures from my brother's wedding- woot.

Mason uglified Gunston

What the flip? (edited for parental purposes)

Go to this story on Connect2Mason.com and watch the video. Then come back here and you'll understand this.


Okay if they're GOING to make Gunston into a sideline character for children's parties and stuff- fine. But WHY change him? He was so cute and perfect and fun just the way he was!!!

Ugh. He's so ugly now. Lame.

I'm scared about what the new mascot's going to look like....

-R

Websites I love and read daily (or as often as they update)

Mostly web comics, but there are others.

Questionable Content- really really funny web comic by Jeph Jacques about a group of friends. Think Coffee Shop of Doom, various sexual antics, random indie music references, and little robots running around. Updates Monday-Friday.

xkcd- hilarious and thought-provoking web comic by Randall Munroe. Stick people spitting out thoughts on tech culture, mathematics, physics, romance, pop culture, politics, everything! Updates Monday/Wednesday/Friday

(I will say, I have a personalized xkcd comic on my wall and a signed QC sketch as well- Aram and I nerded out and went to a comic convention this summer.)

Least I Could Do- an often terribly inappropriate but always terribly funny web comic that's been going on for like a couple years now- looking back at some of the storylines from a couple years ago can be really interesting. Updates Monday-Saturday.

A Softer World- Awesome web comic that puts dialogue to really well done pictures. Thought-provoking hilarity often ensues. Past storylines have included a werewolf that writes love poetry, a woman that grew out of a seed planted in the ground, and an extended storyline about people raising their mother from their dead and the resulting craziness from having a zombie mother. Updates Monday/Wednesday/Friday

Pop Candy- Great USA Today blog site from Whitney Matheson- she updates a ridiculous amount during the day. Lots of fun pop culture related items. This totally keeps me going to some of my classes - I know I can read it in it. It's really awesome.

Cake Wrecks- BEST BLOG EVER. Most addicting too. Beware: you will be laughing on the floor. Plus, if you start reading it- you'll probably find yourself going to the beginning and reading every entry ever.

And okay, I don't read this one every day because it hasn't been updated in forever- but Emo Animals is hilarrriousslyyy awesome. A friend of mine- Tierney- made it as a project for class. Check it out. Seriously.

Weee

R

Interesting Links/Stories of the Day

Some election related, some not.

BBC reports the reactions of leaders across the world to Obama's election. The reactions from Sudan and the Taleban (British spelling of Taliban?) are particularly interesting.

A north-east London borough banned smokers from foster-parenting- it'll take effect in January 2010.

California voted 52% to 48% to approve Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in the state. This could have a large effect across the nation as more and more of these cases come forward. I fully expect the issue to go to the Supreme Court at some point.

Today's front pages from across the nation and around the world from Newseum.


In other news, I love my sister.


-Rachael

Voting in Virginia: A Series of Vignettes (AKA Play by Play)

Nine Thirty A.M:

I wake up. I check my e-mail. Overnight I got three e-mails from Provost Stearns.

The first sent out at 0:41 a.m. according to my notoriously unreliable e-mail timer (half the time it's in ET, the other half it's in CT)

To the Mason Community:

I hear some troubling rumors, so here are a couple of facts: 1. The
election is Nov. 4, for all political parties. The notion that one party
votes Nov. 5 is UNTRUE. 2. It is also UNTRUE that any student
jeopardizes financial aid by voting.

Peter N. Stearns
Provost

The Second, sent at 1:16 a.m.-

To the Mason Community:

Please note that election day has been moved to November 5th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Peter N. Stearns
Provost

The third, sent at 8:08 a.m.

Dear Colleagues,

It has come to my attention early this morning that a message was hacked
into the system fraudulently stating that election day has been moved.
I am sure everybody realizes this is a hoax, it is also a serious
offense and we are looking into it. Please be reminded that election
day is today, November 4th.

Peter N. Stearns
Provost


I laugh, take a shower, and consider wearing a blue dress. To avoid looking biased, I go with a black and green ensemble with jeans instead. Time to look for new pants- there's a hole in my jeans a truck could drive through.

I then write a story up for youthvoteblog.com on it. First story of the day is -mine-. (If you don't feel like scrolling all the way to the bottom to see it, I've posted it in the next paragraph.)

9:52 a.m. (updated 2:26 p.m.) | Fairfax, Va.
GMU provost's e-mail account hacked on Election Day

In the early hours of Election Day, a person hacked into the e-mail system of George Mason University, sending out an e-mail to the student body that claimed Election Day had been moved to Nov. 5.

The message was sent out at 1:16 a.m. from Provost Peter Stearns's e-mail account. It read, "Please note that election day has been moved to November 5th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you."

Stearns addressed the issue in a later e-mail that said, "It has come to my attention early this morning that a message was hacked into the system fraudulently stating that election day has been moved. I am sure everybody realizes this is a hoax, it is also a serious offense and we are looking into it."

A Student Government member volunteering with the Voters Van project, running students to the local voting precinct, said that volunteers already had had to field questions about the e-mail.

"We just got one guy. He was like, 'Wait, I thought voting was tomorrow,'" freshman Nicola Anderson, a native of Scotland, said. "We're just putting it down by saying Election Day is always the first Tuesday in November."

Student Government President Zack Golden thinks there will be consequences for the hacker.

"Whoever did that- when they get caught, they're going to be in major trouble," Golden said.

I then skip my first class (hey it's election day), eat some peanut M&Ms while watching American Dad on Hulu (in total flagrant disregard to my "don't watch TV without writing at least 1000-2000 words on my NaNoWriMo novel). I've determined that since it's election day, normal rules need not apply.

A little before Noon:

I walk over to the Sandy Creek parking deck to ride the Voters Van over to Woodson High School to vote. It's a bit of a dreary day, hovering around 58 degrees. I talk to a few of the volunteer van drivers out there, who couldn't tell me which group they were with but said they were affiliated with Obama's get out the vote group somehow. All their vans are painted with red white and blue stars and symbols. I think to myself- "so sketch"- as I watch two little Scholar freshmen I know get into a van with a twinge of guilt. I pray that they make it to the voting site.


After talking to the people at the official Student Government voters van tent a bit, a male student walks over and asks, "Isn't election day tomorrow?" (in response to the e-mail earlier). From the way he laughs as he walks away, the volunteers and I suspect that he may have been joking around.



An independent filmmaker wearing a bright red "Tribeca Film Festival" jacket talks to a few of the students.

I hop in the first van, driven by Student Government president Zack Golden, with some other students. On the way over, I try to ask a few questions of the girl sitting next to me- a friend from class.



"Do you know who you're voting for" -Me
"Yes" -Naomi
"Gonna tell me who?" -Me
"No" - Naomi
-van of people laughs-


At the voting place, I take pictures of the people outside.




I noticed several people unloading what seem to be a full vanload of Krispy Kreme donuts. After wondering briefly if they're star-shaped and free, I walk into the school. I follow to the signs to the cafeteria and briefly crave the offerings from the vending machine.


I sign in- showing off my voter registration card- and tussle with the volunteers a bit over whether I can take pictures inside or not.



Since I had my ballot, I voted, put my ballot in the cool machine-y thing, and got my I Voted sticker. I noticed one of the little freshman Scholars I had worried about was sitting at a table filling out some stuff. I went -whew- that she got there safely.

I feel patriotic and -sexy-.

After waiting around and talking to the main volunteer lady a little longer, she determined that I could take pictures of empty booths and non-filled out ballots, but I had to ask permission to take photos of any actual voter.

I commenced, and avoided taking pictures of people.




A few nice volunteers handing out ballots told me straight out I could take their pic.



After walking out the door of the cafeteria, I see the other little freshman Scholar and stop to talk. Apparently freshman Scholar one had been in the cafeteria quite a while. When she comes out and talks to us, she's angry- saying she could only provisionally vote because of a mess-up with her voter registration. I interviewed her and later wrote a brief story on it for Youthvoteblog.com

Here it is-

1:26 p.m. | Fairfax, Va.
Some George Mason students who registered on campus forced to vote provisionally

Some students who registered on campus at George Mason University were not allowed to cast a vote today.

Freshman Katie Bredholt, 18, said she registered to vote on campus with a group of Obama supporters in early September. She was only allowed to vote provisionally today.

Bredholt, whose permanent address is in Texas, said after not receiving her voter registration card in the mail, she called the Virginia registrar.

"The registrar said, 'You're in the system- don't worry about it-just bring your ID,'" Bredholt, a freshman, said.

At Woodson High School, the polling site for students registered at Mason, Bredholt waited and filled out forms. She said an official had a list of at least 15 other people that were able only to vote provisionally, and almost everyone on the list was registered at Mason.

"I feel like now my voice might not be counted and Virginia is a swing state," Bredholt said. "My vote should count because I was registered."

Bredholt's vote now will only be counted if an Electoral Board meeting tomorrow determines that she is qualified to vote. Though Bredholt has the option of appearing in person to plead her case, she said she will not be able to attend because of her classes at Mason.

"I feel like if it happened to a lot of Mason students, they'll recount it," Bredholt said. "Everybody has the same story."


I wait next to a dumpster with the two Scholar freshmen and chat with an SG representative. We get on the next Voters Van. The girl next to me is eating melon- I smell it and listen to her mouthy chewing and moist breathing as we drive up and down hills back to campus.


Twelve Fifty p.m.:

Back at campus, I chat with the Voters Van tent people a little and hike up the hill to the Johnson Center. The trees have yellow leaves- they're gorgeous.


While going to grab some food, I notice a little argument next to the College Republicans' kiosk. A few of the members seem to be talking intently to other students- it is unclear if they are Democrats or not. The independent filmmaker from earlier is intently videoing the moment, leaning his top microphone in close to catch every word.


Someone from the Obama kiosk asks me if I've voted. I point to my boob and realize that my sticker is a bit higher. "Yes, I have my sticker."



I have a headache after riding in the non-air-conditioned van. I get a Dr. Pepper and some Indian food, which I promptly abandon back in the Student Media office. On the way over, I see some students in the North Plaza holding signs up telling people to go vote.


I get to the office, and after e-mailing my boss two more stories, I feel like a rockstar.

Here's the (as yet unpublished) motor pool story. (No one seems to like it -tear- I understand though, it is a pretty weak story)

FAIRFAX, Virginia- Two organizations ran motor pools bringing student voters to polls today at George Mason University.

An Obama-affiliated volunteer group started running brightly decorated cars manned by volunteer drivers at 6 a.m. By noon, the group estimated it had brought 90 students to the polls.

“It’s a non-partisan van,” a volunteer driver said. “People have come out after voting with McCain stickers and Obama stickers.”

Mason’s Student Government also ran a motor pool starting at noon. The three Mason motor pool vans had magnets placed on the side telling students what it was. A number of students took advantage of the service, piling in to the back of cars that Student Government members drove.

“It’s a great service, especially for freshmen on campus,” SG President Zack Golden said. At Mason, freshmen with cars have to park in a lot down the road from the main university. A shuttle picks freshmen up and takes them to the lot.

“Empowering the youth to vote will be inspirational and uplifting,” Nicole Kukuruda, SG’s Secretary of University Services said.

One Forty to Three Thirty P.M.:

I chat with people in Student Media, laugh at a video made by some of the reporters, watch CNN a little (George Mason University was mentioned, in a story about voting hoaxes), and transfer the RSS feeds of all fifty states (and D.C.) into javascript for Aram. I try to help, as he's frantically trying to finish up an interactive map for Mason Votes. I listen as some of the reporters in the next cubicle listen to Wizard Rock online.

He feels like he's dying, so I go to get him a bottle of water. The machine steals my dollar. I curse and hit the machine. It sits, taunting me. I go back to Student Media and find out there's a jug of water sitting there. Sheepishly, I pour a cup of water for Aram. I also set up a cute little plate of vegetables and dip. I order him to eat.


Three Thirty p.m.:

Singing to ABBA the entire time, I drive over to the Starbucks in Fairfax to see what the line is like with their "free coffee for voting" deal. It's not too bad. It starts to rain as I walk in. I talk to a few people, make my coffee with half and half and sweet and low, and leave.

I later write this story on the experience (as yet, unpublished anywhere)

In a Starbucks close to George Mason University, the baristas were certainly feeling the patriotic spirit, as they worked to hand out free tall coffees for those who voted in today’s election.

“We’ve served way over a thousand free coffees,” one barista said, as he made a quick joke about “American” style coffee.

Though there was a line of only a few customers at 3:30 p.m., a steady stream of people asked for “the free coffee.” A barista stood idly by the espresso machine, waiting for someone to order a mixed drink.

An elderly lady customer at the Starbucks said, “I don’t feel a bit sorry for them giving out all this free coffee. I’m here every day- they’ve got me hooked. If this was cocain, I’d be lying in the street.”

The employees mentioned that they were worried about running out of cups, but had plenty of coffee left.

Four p.m.:

I park in the twenty minute parking lot next to SUB I, praying to not get a ticket. In the Student Media Office, I type up the Starbucks story. After finding out Connect2Mason won the online Pacemaker, I put down my coffee so I can leap for joy.

Wondering what I should do to fill the time, I change my profile picture on Facebook to the picture of me pointing at my "I voted" sticker. I check my e-mail and find out I didn't get a scholarship for my trip to London I had hoped for. Lame. I start writing this "vignettes" blog on Blogger, as it seems the most appetizing choice to walking somewhere else in the rain to do nothing while waiting for the results to come in. It takes a long time.

Five Oh Three p.m.:

One of the Broadside editors walks into the office singing a version of Santa Baby asking the assistant photography editor to give him a cigarette.

"Teddy baby, can you give me a cigarette, Outside, it's wet..."

He gets nothing. Grumbling, he says he's like Wayne Brady, improving that whole thing on the spot.

Aram comes in briefly from setting up the liveblog deal in the Johnson Center. He complains aloud, "There are third world countries with better Wi-Fi than the JC." I give him my car keys, telling him to take my car to go vote. I didn't get a ticket for parking in twenty minute parking over an hour. Score.

My friend Matt runs to go to work in the coffee shop downstairs. He's been lamenting what will happen if McCain wins- he says he's scared (he's hardcore Democrat). I tell him not to cry if his man doesn't win.


Five Twelve p.m.:

I finish the vignettes now, vowing to add photos and more entries later. I have a class at 7:20 (that will hopefully get out early), but nothing until then.

I am bored and hungry. There is Polynesian sauce sitting next to the keyboard. Maybe it will taste good. The Darth Vaders, skull from Prague, and red candle of Lenin's bust stare down at me from the top of the computer monitor.


Five Twenty Four p.m.:

It feels like something else should be going on. A few of the video people are in the next cubicle watching "How I met your mother." Neil Patrick Harris is the man.

Someone from Obama headquarters in Fairfax just called me to ask if I voted. They've already sent me about 10 text messages in the past few days. And like a gazillion e-mails. This is what I get for signing up for Obama's vice-presidential announcement online? I didn't even get that message!

Ticked. Angry. Spam = evil.

An octopus with a sombrero that I made out of Floam back in April sometime is still sitting in the office. Awesome.

Why I should really probably not use temporary spray-on pink hair dye again

1. It gets all over EVERYTHING. My Mrs. Lovett costume (made out of thrift store buys) has a shirt with a neck stained pink. (I'm aware Mrs. Lovett doesn't have pink hair, but I wanted it! I also have glow in the dark fingernails.)

2. It kinda sticks in my hair. A lot. Even after washing. I tested it earlier with just pink streaks in my hair and they didn't wash out, but stayed purple instead. This time, when I went all over pink, I washed my hair as soon as I was out of costume with two different shampoos- and hopefully it gets out. But I'm not necessarily counting on it.

3. When I'm washing it out of my hair, I totally feel I'm in some trippy remake of Carrie where the pig's blood is hot fluorescent pink. It's just like- sheets of colored liquid pouring over your shoulders and spraying everywhere. Very very weird feeling.

4. I just looked in the mirror and it looks like some of the pink dye dripped down my face without me really noticing- though I tried to get it off- I now have pale pink drip markings below my nose and lip.


Why I probably will use it again anyways

1. It's SO awesome to have pink hair
and
2. I'm far too sensible to actually dye it pink permanently right now. I like having no problem getting jobs because of my appearance. But that sucks- because I would totally dye my hair hot manic panic pink if I were a little more daring.

Oh well.


Happy Halloween!

-Rachael

Does this creep anyone else out?

When you watch the music video to "Four Minutes" (I know I'm not the only one who watches random music videos on youtube!), do you get really weirded out when you realize that Madonna could totally be Justin Timberlake's mom and she's prancing around barely dressed like she's trying to seduce him?

And it's even weirder that she doesn't LOOK 50 at all! I would have guessed her blind at late 30s honestly.

It's so creepy.

R

Possibly the most amazing comic ever

(sorry I had to make it small to fit in the blog)

Omg I love A softer world. <3

-Rach

I MUST go to New Jersey soon.

Why? You ask.

1. I've never really stopped in New Jersey. (Not that I can remember anyways). I've driven through it in a car, in a bus, and on a train, but I've never stopped. This seems like an awful shame.

2. It's Kevin Smith's state. Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash exists in two places- Red Bank, NJ, and LA, California. Jersey is a hella lot closer. (Aram joins me in my enthusiasm for visiting this shop and spending hours if not days there)

3. I just found out that ELIZABETH GILBERT- the author of one of my fave books (and I know it's cliche, because almost everyone has read this book and loved it, but whatever, it's my life and I love it too)- Eat, Pray, Love- has a shop in Frenchtown, New Jersey that she operates with her husband. Awesome!!! I must go, meet, and slobber over amazing successful author.


And so, I am being inexorably pulled towards New Jersey- like a UFO is above me pulling me in!

I don't think this is a bad thing. Aram, as a typical New Yorker, might think otherwise. But whatever. It's happening. Not exactly certain when- with all the- NYC for Thanksgiving, Dallas/NYC/Fairfax for Winter Break, and then the -hey, let's shoot off to London for the semester- shenanigans. But I'll make it happen. Count on it. (I almost said bet on it, but then changed my mind- I had a strange vision of Zac Efron in High School Musical 2 dancing and singing like a young Nick Carter on a golf course....-shiver-)

HSM3 is supposed to be awesome. Apparently there's a Bollywood-ish scene in it. I -must- go see it before I shoot off to London. However, this is one I will NOT be able to talk Aram into going with me (I already took up his movie watching willingness with the Kiera Knightley Pride and Prejudice the other night- which was atrocious btw. Bleagh, they killed Jane Austen.) Anybody want to go indulge their 13-year old inner child with me?

Love-
Rach

Domain Name!

Aram bought me my own domain name for my birthday (okay, there's still three months to go, but still). I'm so excited!

I got FourPointReport.com (don't go look, there's nothing there yet)- a reflection of the foreign correspondence I want to get into, and the very real fact that I tend to travel around a lot. Aram and I are currently trying to work out our winter break plans between Texas, New York, and Virginia (I want to be in Fairfax for my 21st birthday- January 11th at midnight I need people to come celebrate with me so everyone should plan for that starting now. : ) ) And that's all in the same country!

I'm going to London next semester. : ) I'll spend four solid months in a different country- living around a different culture and way of life! Speaking the same language, of course, but everything else besides that will probably be different. I'll be interning -somewhere- in some journalism field- Mason study abroad works with some company over there to find us jobs. Can't wait to see where I end up.

Anyways- while I'm abroad, I plan to keep a blog. I'm thinking the name "Live from London." Probably in December sometime, I'll shut down this blog and officially move over to FourPointReport- I have to wait until Aram has enough time to work with me to design the website to my liking. I hope to basically keep a -real- blog from then forward- with lots of observations about my surroundings, pictures, video, everything. I want it to be a running example of everything I can do- as a way of showing off for jobs, etc. I think it'll be a lot of fun- I'm quite excited.

Plus I'll be in London with Kate! The Fox! How awesome is that? I think we're going to be roommates- our program director said it could be arranged. Brilliant.

(I think I'm subconsciously slipping more "British" slang into my writing style now. How funny.)

Before too long, I'm going to get another tattoo. A compass rose, on my left ankle (as a counterpoint to the crane on my right ankle). It represents my love for travel and journalism- there's an urban legend that the word for News came from North-East-West-South. It's totally false, but I love the idea behind it- the idea that you'd go to the Four Points of the globe just to get a story. So now maybe y'all get the domain name.

And now I'm off to go finish up my application for the Dallas Morning News for next summer. I hatttteeee cover letters (I have like, three jobs to add onto my basic cover letter from last year. LAME...and yet...awesome!)

<3-R

Balance

I'm a snacker.
A junk food eater.
A serious, hard core, competitive-style snacker.

I love my cookies.
I do.
I really do.
I love candy.
I love chips with bean dip.

And I try to keep it all under control
but sometimes it
doesn't
quite
work.

Even the real food I love tends to be
not
so
good
for me.

At least I kicked red meat and poultry out.
(For the most part- I cheat sometimes)

Fish rock.

Except for that whole mercury poison thing.

I would give up my snacking,
but you see-
I'm trying to make a yellow purse out of
candy wrappers
-like those $150 ones you see sometimes-
and
it's positively necessary
for me to eat
tons of Peanut M&Ms
to get the wrappers.

I figure-
it balances out with the
V8 fusion I guzzle
(a full serving of vegetables)
(a full serving of fruit)
and the baby carrots
I take swimming in ranch dressing
with a 10 point Olympic dive
into my mouth/throat/belly.

All part of this
suffering for art
(food?)
after all.

New York, New York

was awesome. Aram and I went there on Friday for a well-deserved vacation from- basically everything. Came back yesterday. Having Columbus Day off rocks.

Polar Bear's Grandma got us tickets to Equus- which was completely brilliant. Daniel Radcliffe as the psychotically disturbed horse-lover, Richard Griffiths as the disillusioned psychiatrist- the acting was so stupendous that honestly, I almost missed naked Harry Potter. It was a really really good show.

Well okay. I didn't miss the nude scene. It's just that there wasn't much to see- weird lighting for most of the scene. Then when I could see...that- it just wasn't impressive. I mean, I know Harry Potter probably gets a lot of play, but I just don't see what all the fuss is about.

And Kate Mulgrew, the captain from Star Trek: Voyager was in it too. It was awesome.

As a surprise for Aram, I got him tickets to an off-Broadway production of The Tempest with Mandy Patinkin as Prospero! He was totally not curious at all, but once he found out what his surprise was (we literally walked up to the theater and he saw the play's poster)- he was so excited. The play was amaazzing.

Sunday- we went out to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Pretty incredible. Then we had dinner with his grandparents and his sister at this cute little Japanese place- Ilana and I split some orders of sushi that were really great. (Yes, I'm still eating fish for now)

On Monday, Aram and I got to meet my bosses at UWire- had some ice cream with them - it was fun.

I feel like I should totally go into more detail on this but I'm tired and I have a bit more work to do today.

-Rach

Man I was worried there for a while

I was in such a writing rut last week. I had two stories to write for UWire Youth Vote '08 that I just couldn't get done and it was ridiculous- I was like hysterical because it can be so frustrating when you get stuck on something that shouldn't be a problem for you.

So then I went on a retreat all weekend and took a long break from work.

And today, I just managed to finish up both stories and send them off in less than two hours! Yay!

So moral of the story is- when you're stuck in a writing rut, you're probably just stressed. Breaks are good!

: )

Rachael

100!

I'm so ridiculously proud. My notoriously hard-grading NewsWriting and Reporting Teacher just gave me a 100 on my feature story. Said it was the first perfect score on an article this semester.

Woohoo! : D

R

In class "Notes"

Note to self: Avoid laughing out loud when people ask stupid questions in class. They get angry.

(“Does freelance journalism pay a lot of money?”)

I couldn't hold it back.

Really- if you're looking for a lot of money, journalism is really not the field to go into.

But I did feel a little bad afterwards. That girl probably thinks I'm a real bitch now.

As Dr. Cox in Scrubs said- "Worth it."

<3-r>

Now that I'm Vegetarian, I should really learn to cook

I'm sure my mother is rolling her eyes heavenward at that title, wondering where she went wrong with her youngest child. I know- she did the same thing not too long ago when I had to ask her to sew a hem in a dress I was wearing for my brother's reception.

The thing is- I really can cook and sew (In fact I've actually been sewing a lot recently- personalizing my purse). But in both cases- I just need a lot more practice. I am actually not a bad cook when I actually do it- I just still, as of yet, haven't figured out how to get started. (plus I don't have that much time....)

It's even harder now that I've been keeping to a vegetarian diet (except for a few cheating times involving fish- yummy fish). The easy recipes I could make in the past (we're talking about at my parents' house, where they actually stock food beyond microwave meals)- involved mostly meat- like easy chicken parmesan or tuna noodles or beanie weenies.

The food I have in my apartment right now that I can eat? (discounting the yummy things my amazing roommates Kate and Lara have, because I actually avoid eating their food unless it's offered)

Noodles.
Makings for Fluffernutters (I checked the marshmallow fluff- it's vegetarian safe- uses xanthan gum instead of gelatin, which by the way, is made by a completely awesome lab method involving the fermentation of glucose or sucrose)
Various saucy things for toppings- like ketchup, jelly...
Stockpiled vegetarian microwave meals from the convenience store. (I've grown to really love the vegetarian meatloaf)


Clearly, my cooking and eating habits are pathetic. I'd like to change- but I don't even know how. I looked through Kate's vegetarian cookbook- it involved so many ingredients and time that I was like um...no.

I'll find something soon. But 'til then, I'm eating my "meat"loaf. mmmmmmmm yummy.

-Rach

Palin Baby Name Generator

It's a Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator. Pretty fun. : )

My name would be Puck Mule Palin. Haha.



<3-Rach/puck mule

Wow this Book is Old

A book I'm reading for my fabulous history class (studying hoaxes throughout time) has an entire chapter on a hoax from 1835 in which the New York Sun convinced tons of people that there were winged men and women living on the moon in a paradise of trees and water and beauty. Unicorns and a variety of other animals were also mentioned.

And at the very end of the chapter, it says,

"In a few years astronauts and cosmonauts will head moonward for the first manned landings on our gleaming companion in space--and the odds are very much against their finding the unicorns and bat men that dazzled our believing great-great-great-grandfathers in the summer of 1835."


Wow. The moon landing getting talked about as a future event. This book is OLD. (1965)

Good fun. : )



And I made myself a wordle for this blog (I don't know why it came out so small- I made it bigger so you can read it but now it's blurry, hmph). I don't think it worked very well, because all of these words to me, look like things I've said in the past 10 or so posts, but certainly don't represent all of the posts on this blog.



But I do really say actually a lot, and maybe I have discussed virginity a lot, so cool. And okay, I do say awesome a lot- it's not for nothing that my website's called hyperbole girl. It's for amusement purposes only, of course.


Woohoo!

<3-Rach

For the Win

So I'm so busy sometimes with stuff this semester that I forget how busy I really am and freak out, doing nothing except watching old episodes of ABC shows (Grey's <3) style="font-weight: bold;">moved out. So for the time being, I have a double room to myself. Even though I know it probably won't last (there's like a waiting list for rooms or something), this is extremely awesome to me. I can actually WORK in my room instead of having to retreat elsewhere. FOR THE WIN.

3. My boyfriend is awesome. My family is awesome. My brother is Married now and I have a new sister. Other assorted greatness continues on this list.

4. I'm actually kinda keeping it together, despite all the craziness. I've only skipped two classes this semester (except for unavoidable things I worked out with the teachers like attending political rallies, flying off to another state etc....)- I'm keeping up with all my work pretty well- my grades are good- my room is clean and my laundry is getting done at the proper time. And I got some really hot pants in Houston with my mom that actually fit me really well- they're getting tailored now for the low low price of $36.

5. And most importantly- I'm happy. How much does that rock?


And.....Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty starts up again this week. Of course I'll be in class when it actually happens, but it's the principle of the thing. I'll get to watch my shows in the next week. Yay.

andiwillkillanyonewhotriestotellmeanyplotpointbeforeiwatchtheshows. Seriously. : )

And now off to Journalism Law- a class I actually very much enjoy, despite my mom's fears that I'll turn into a bloodsucking lawyer.

<3-Rach



And new facebook still sucks. But I'm dealing.

updating-ishness

New Facebook won and ate Old Facebook.

Lame.

In other news, my brother got married and the wedding was beautiful. Photos will be going up soon.

Busy busy busy with school and stories for my various jobs. It's crazy.


-Rach

Mwahahaha: Avoiding New Facebook

I feel so proud of myself- simply by never ever ever accepting the "New Facebook will soon be the only Facebook" remark at the top of my facebook home page- it seems I have been able to put off switching over to the horrendous new layout- at least for now.

I would post the news on facebook, but I'm scared the developers will see it and fix the bug- landing me in their ugly ugly ugly remake.

<3-rach

Should Sex be a Legal Commodity in our Society?

I came across this story online the other day

Student auctions virginity, sparks online debate

"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A 22-year-old woman in the United States is publicly auctioning her virginity to pay for her college education, sparking a heated online debate about sex and morality.
....

"I don't think auctioning my virginity will solve all my problems," she told celebrity television show The Insider on Wednesday. "But it will create some financial stability. I'm ready for the controversy, I know it will come along. I'm ready to do this."

"We live in a capitalist society. Why shouldn't I be allowed to capitalize on my virginity?" she added."

What do y'all think?

McCain/Palin Rally, Amazing New Camera

So I went to the McCain/Palin Rally in Fairfax today early- had an awesome time- got amazing pictures with new camera (more on that in a bit)- played a little acrobatic reporter to get out of the crazy crowd (differing reports estimate the crowd at between 23,000-27,000)- meaning I jumped over three fences and got down from the press stand by climbing down through the bleachers....in a skirt and heels (lesson number 1- never wear a skirt to an outdoor rally), it was insane- and wrote a 1,300 word story for UWire Youth Vote '08 and turned it in.

BAM.

It was a crazy insane morning but probably one of the funnest times I've had at a political event. And I'm really happy with my story- it's not a 'typical' news story, but I think it came out really well.

I am so elated over my new camera! After I turned in my camera to WPNI, I was left with nothing- since my other camera imploded like, back in May sometime (It's cool though, it was getting old and becoming less useful). So yesterday I tooled out to Circuit City and tested cameras- meaning I was the weird girl in the store zooming in as close as I could on distant things and seeing how the photo came out when I took the pic. This camera cost $200 and is AMAZING. It's not an slr, it's not huge- it's very little actually- but I took really really good close-up photos from 100 yards away at the rally.

I can't post any up yet because of a first publication agreement with the blog- but once it's up, I'll put a few up to demonstrate the AWESOMENESS of this camera. Really. It's amazing.


What a cool week! Covering Biden, then McCain/Palin, and Friday Bob Barr (I know, less important, but still kinda cool).

Weeeeeee

Rach

-EDIT-

My story is up online! Go see!

Now- Photos from the Rally!!!!

(I only had two posted up in the story and they're both tiny- these are more fun)

And keep in mind- I took these from probably 100 yards away, with a small non-SLR camera I bought yesterday. This camera is BRILLIANT.

When McCain first stepped up to the podium- the thumbs up signs! It was really bright outside so I thought it was pretty perfect that Cindy McCain insisted on wearing sunglasses.

The only person who didn't speak out of these four was Todd Palin- and Sarah Palin and John McCain talked about him enough to make up for it. : )

One of my favorites. They look like they're in a sea of signs.

I love Palin's expression in this one. I'm not certain what McCain's doing.

Former Senator Fred Thompson! AKA District Attorney Arthur Branch off of Law and Order. Love.


I took TONS of other pictures but I'm really really tired and sore all over so I'm just going to put one more up before I go to sleep- maybe more crowd pictures tomorrow.


This is my absolute favorite amazing picture of the day- I call it the hero shot. The guy in front just started yelling- "Wave your signs for the helicopter" and everyone started throwing them around- the symmetry of this just came out so wonderfully. He looks like he's leading a revolution- a Republican revolution. Ahhhh I love it so much.

So yeah. In short- the new camera is a complete success. Brilliant.

Time to massage my poor aching feet (don't wear heels to an outdoor rally- lesson number 2) and go to sleep.


Rach

Ten Happy Thoughts that Make Me Fly

If you didn't get the Peter Pan reference, go and rent a Disney movie- you clearly missed out on some important facts of childhood.

1. Aram loves me! He loves me like crazy!

2. ABBA songs of all shapes and sizes. And musicals of all shapes and sizes.

3. Fun hats! I bought a really cool fedora the other day that I got many compliments on. And now I want a moose hat to represent my love for Sarah Palin's awesome moose hunting-ness.

4. Internet cartoons weeee I <3 questionable content, xkcd, dr. mcninja, penny arcade, control alt delete, and least i could do. : ) (And the fact that I have signed personalized drawings from qc and xkcd creators is ten times cooler)

5. Joan Hess's Claire Malloy and Maggody mystery books. Mmmm they're yummy.

6. My gorgeous beautiful amazing Mac.

7. Sugary candies which kill my teeth but hug my soul. Including but not limited to- gummy bears, fun dip, ring pops, m&ms and the really fake gummy hamburgers that I should probably not any more because gelatin isn't vegetarian.

8. The thought of traveling abroad next semester to England and interning somewhere awesome in the journalism field. EEE I want to see the world. : )

9. My life as a journalist - the joy and thrill I get when crafting an article or seeing my name in print/online is incomparable to anything else in the world!

10. My amazing family and my awesome friends and the wonders of technology (cell phones and Internet) that keep us together!


: )

<3-Rach

Palin makes my life more exciting

Now I'm not saying here which way I lean politically or who I'm voting for (I used to put that kind of stuff up online but I went around and deleted it all when I started politically blogging)- I mean, if you know me in person you can probably figure it out, but god, I certainly hope no one can tell from my writing. I do everything I can to avoid that.

However, I do happen to think that Sarah Palin makes this campaign season so much more exciting to be in- she's new, fun, brings in a whole bunch of controversy that hasn't been gone over a million times already, and adds some teeth to a GOP race that had until this time, been pretty normal. I think she's brought some color to the race- her pairing with McCain is going to give Obama/Biden a run for its money.

I'll probably have more analysis later, but that's the short version for now.

: )

-R

So Biden's talking at Mason today

On the Prince William Campus. I'm chilling in Verizon Auditorium waiting for him to come out. It's supposed to be set up as a discussion where a bunch of citizens can talk to him. I'm writing up a piece for UWire Youth Vote '08 on it- which is awesome, since I've barely been able to break through the CONVENTION MADNESS coverage of the last two weeks.

This area's small- it seats only 300- and it doesn't even look half full. I think the reporters crammed back here in the tiny press space make up a quarter of the audience at least.

Can't tell if the crowd's friendly or not. Many seem to have Obama shirts, but many more seem to be dressed in nondescript clothing that doesn't seem to cry democrat or republican. I know some of the republican blogs posted something about this event to try to get some people to come out to question Biden on issues the GOP and the Dems disagree on.

I sincerely hope Biden's not the only person to come speak at Mason- omg I would kill a moose to be able to see Sarah Palin speak. McCain too, but Palin- holy crap.

And Obama would be nice, but hey, I've already seen him speak live twice, how much more can a girl take?
This should be fun. More people are coming in. Looks like this party's getting ready to roll (I say in jest, as most of the people in the audience look over 40).

-Rach



-EDIT-

I sent out an e-mail to all my teachers today explaining why I'd be missing their classes (Biden's talking- have to sit around and wait for him to talk for multiple hours)- and this was really funny. Both of my journalism teachers were like "Wow that'll make a great news story! You should turn it in for class!"

And I'm like.......no shit Sherlock! This is for my job though, so I won't be able to turn it in for stories for class- lame.. The rule apparently says you're 'plagiarizing'....from yourself. when you do that. huh.

Biden's still talking now (he's been going for a long while)- something about electric cars and green jobs.

So Wow

My video for Youth Vote 08 is linked off of the front page of CBSnews.com's politics page!! OMG!

It's been up there since about midnight- and it's still up! Even with all the Palin-mania!! It's moved around a little bit, but it's up there! AWESOME.


So apparently they did like my pseudo-pretentious voiceover (it was necessary for the piece, I swear).


What an awesome day!

(Plus this weekend's a great one-two punch for the political world with Obama's freaking crazy awesome speech last night and McCain's ten times more amazing announcement of Palin as his VP today. OMG greatness)

And I get to meet my cousin Galena's baby Gabriella today! I'm so excited!! : )


Yay!

<3-Rachael

Many many thoughts

1. Not getting as much exposure on Youth Vote as I thought I would. I've turned in a story and a video that haven't gotten put up yet. I know it's editorial discretion and they have to make everything work- but it's really frustrating to work on something a long time and then not have it put up. Plus the kids covering youth vote in Denver keep getting put on like CBS and the Early Show and getting huge amounts of exposure- while I'm back here. Not even seeing my name show up for two weeks + at a time. Lame. I have a couple other stories in mind that'll be awesome though. Plus if nothing else, the video I made really made me push my way through iMovie- and now I know it well enough that I don't think the other videos I make will take nearly as long. So it's still a learning experience, even if I'm not necessarily getting my stuff up like I'd like it to be right now.

2. I'm helping live-blog the convention tonight from the JC Convention Watch Party! I'm way excited- planning on sending in pictures and stuff from the fun for the blog.

3. I've been wondering about something- every story I've been writing for this, I've been trying to seek out a variety of opinion for. A mix of liberal, conservative, and undecided. But the truth is- even just going around randomly asking people- I usually find 5 liberals to 1 conservative. (at least so far anyways)
Is it more ethical for me to portray the quote/political leanings percentages exactly as they are when I talk to people, or is it more ethical for me to even it out so there're the same amounts of opinions in there? What is the best way of showing opinions and expressing the political climate at Mason?
I haven't come to a decision yet. It's something I worry about- I know all us young'un reporters are seen as leaning liberal anyways- so I don't want to give people that idea when I'm just trying to show what I'm seeing and hearing out there from students.

4. A horrible textbook I have to read through for my Writing Across the Media class gave awesome tips on grammar and spelling today. But it gave me a really fun new fact to tell people.
It's from a little section on past efforts to reform spelling in the English language.

"One of the leaders of spelling reform was Robert McCormick, who in the 1930s ordered his newspaper, the Chicago Tribune to use shortened forms of words such as tho, iland, frate, thru, and jaz...In 1975, twenty years after McCormick died, the Tribune reverted to using generally accepted spellings. McCormick was not the only person to try. President Theodore Roosevelt and writer Mark Twain were also advocates of simplified spelling rules."

AWESOME.

5. I've gone vegetarian. At least for now. I read Skinny Bitch- an incredibly cool diet book about what foods are actually made of and the processes that make them- and now every time I think about eating meat, I think about how it was killed and formed and all the nasty things that might be in it. So I haven't eaten any meat since Sunday. (I actually really love fish, turkey, and beef, so this is a pretty big deal to me) I'm not certain if it's going to be permanent -I think so- but at the very least, I'm not going to make myself feel guilty if I eat meat occasionally. I'm Texan- the thought of giving up my daddy's brisket or my madre's homemade chili makes me very sad.

We'll see what happens.

<3-

Rachael


They put up my VIDEO!!!! : D

btw voiceovers are way harder than they sound. i kept rerecording it to try to sound more interesting and less pretentious. my goal was- npr sounding without the snobbiness and anti-semitism.

YAY I GET ATTENTION. : )



-EDIT-

Am I a horrible person if my favorite character on South Park is the devil? I just think he's so funny- his cute little need to have a loving relationship- his very 90's examination of his life and values- his cutely decorated house and his awesome 'my super-sweet sixteen' halloween party. Ever episode he's in just makes me really happy.



Yay Satan (in South park, not in real life).