Anything and Everything

Switching Over

2008-12-06T17:41:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-25T01:56:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-17T02:13:00.002-05:00

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-

2008-11-13T15:01:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-12T15:18:00.003-05:00

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)

2008-11-06T19:06:00.007-05:00

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

2008-11-05T12:27:00.003-05:00

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)

2008-11-04T16:30:00.008-05:00

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

2008-11-01T00:46:00.003-04:00

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?

2008-10-29T02:12:00.002-04:00

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

2008-10-28T15:20:00.006-04:00

(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.

2008-10-27T01:11:00.002-04:00

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!

2008-10-24T11:10:00.003-04:00

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

2008-10-23T22:02:00.002-04:00

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

2008-10-14T13:36:00.003-04:00

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

2008-10-07T15:15:00.002-04:00

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!

2008-10-06T17:33:00.001-04:00

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"

2008-09-30T10:42:00.002-04:00

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

2008-09-29T19:05:00.002-04:00

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

2008-09-27T01:46:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-24T10:53:00.007-04:00

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

2008-09-23T18:52:00.004-04:00

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

2008-09-22T16:50:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-14T13:21:00.002-04:00

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?

2008-09-11T10:02:00.004-04:00

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

2008-09-10T16:35:00.006-04:00

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

2008-09-08T01:15:00.004-04:00

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

2008-09-07T17:05:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-04T13:06:00.005-04:00

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

2008-08-29T14:05:00.005-04:00

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

2008-08-28T17:35:00.005-04:00

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).

Anxiety and Reporting

2008-08-25T17:38:00.002-04:00

I love reporting. It's my life. I love talking to people and getting to hear their stories and their viewpoints- I love compiling it all together in an article at the end. I love seeing my work in print- I love getting feedback.

However, even now, going into my 6th year of full-time reporting, I get really bad anxiety sometimes when I try to interview people. It used to be from calling interview subjects on the phone- working at LoudounExtra.com pretty much kicked that out of me, but I still get nervous sometimes.

Currently, I'm having huge "interview block" with a video I'm trying to make for the Youth Vote '08 Blog. I just need to walk up to people and ask them questions about their political views while filming it- it's not like I haven't done it before. But for some reason, today- I can't. I've just been inwardly freaking out- I can't even talk to my friends about it for some reason.

I think maybe it's because I'm a bit unsure on the question I'm supposed to be asking people. So I don't know if it's that or past problems, but I'm just freezing up right now.

It's not fun- this feeling. It's better than it used to be. Like, sophomore year, for some reason, I didn't have any trouble with this- my first news story ever involved me knocking on people's doors and talking to them about their concerns about the noise the marching band was making in the morning. But it grew and grew- Senior year, there were times that I went into hysterical crying fits at the thought of calling someone and interviewing them over the phone.

I don't know where it comes from- I guess I worry that I won't do well, or that I'll mess up- I'll get the wrong answers for my story or they'll think I'm an idiot. It doesn't make sense.

I know I'm not the only one though who deals with this- reporters have to go up and talk to random strangers all the time- much more than the average person. I wonder how many professional journalists now have anxiety over interviewing.

Since this is what I'm planning to do the rest of my life, I'm going to have to figure it out. -sigh-

Mrewh. Going to hang out with Aram before my next class in an effort to make me feel better.

-Rachael

Comments Hurt Sometimes

2008-08-20T16:17:00.002-04:00

Mmmm man. Some things never stop hurting.

I wrote a brief first-person piece of my experiences following an anti-war protest around in D.C. back in the spring for Connect2mason. I really tried to convey the feeling of joy and excitement in the air- to convey the sensations to my readers of what it was actually like to be there.

I didn't include a single political thought or idea in it that was mine- though I said I enjoyed the protest, I didn't include a single comment about whether or not I agreed with the protesters or anyone else out there that day. And that's because I have the ability to separate my personal thoughts from my work- something apparently others can't even conceive.

Yet I had multiple commentors accuse me of horrible liberal bias- including one who said that by observing that the policemen at the protest looked "bored and tired," I was disrespecting them and considered them "piggies." (This is the furthest from the truth possible- I respect policemen so much for what they do for our society. Though they used to scare me -I had an affinity for getting speeding tickets in high school- they have become some of my best sources on stories and the greatest help to myself and my friends in times of trouble. I thought including their reaction in the story showed the effect the protesters were having on the normal inhabitants of the city and the police- not necessarily a positive thing for the protest.)

I cried at the time. I was not allowed to address the comments personally, because it would've been entirely unprofessional, and possibly started an online war my boss (wisely) did not want me to get involved in. I went back to read over the comments again today (I don't know why, apparently I'm masochistic or something)- and it hurt just as much.

I work very hard to keep bias out of my stories. In fact, I don't even cover certain topics that I know I'll be too biased to report on.

I try at this point not even to write about my ideas on politics and political issues online- it's just a bad idea. If I write something that's even slightly related to anything I've ever made a comment on online, there are cries of BIAS. I don't particularly like this, especially since I'm doing as best as I can to keep bias out of my stories- which is why I've gone through my online identity the past few weeks in an effort to remove any political idea or statement I've ever made.

So many people make comments on stories not even thinking about the fact that there's a PERSON behind those words. A person with emotions just like everyone else.

Now, I'm not going to go out there and defend every word I say. It's damaging and a waste of time.

But you know, sometimes I just get scared when a story I write goes up online. You'd think after years of my stories getting published and posted I'd be used to it, but I'm not. Criticism and accusations still hurt and sting every- single- time.

Rachael

So the UWire Youth Vote '08 Blog launched

2008-08-20T12:53:00.005-04:00

www.youthvoteblog.com

I found the link through another blogger online- it's supposed to be cross-posted on cbs.com and washingtonpost.com, but I haven't been able to find it on either site. There's been like, one comment- I bet the views are really low. That sucks. I hope we get more promotion and stuff soon- the exposure is really all the payment we're getting for our work here.

It's a good variety of stories to start- some satire, some columns, a few newsy pieces (like mine). I'm not exactly sure why my story got pushed down like 4 stories, as I would consider a piece on the VP technology announcement fairly important, but oh well, I don't run the blog.

I'm working on some other stuff currently- this week, minors involved in politics. People who live and breathe and work politics, yet can't vote yet. I've found some cool Dems willing to talk to me- 17-year old communications director of the young democrats of Virginia Kenton Ngo, who's been involved since he was 12, and Thomas Senecal, the 15-year old founder of Teens for Clinton. However, I'm still definitely working on finding some minor Republicans. I wish I had better contacts in the Republican world- it feels like I'm so much more linked into the Democratic community then the Republican community just because I know so many more Dems. It worries me though- I really want to make sure I'm looking at all sides of the story and talking to absolutely everyone involved- no bias in my blog entries if I can help it.

I just reread over that- it sounds mildly creepy that I'm looking for minor Republicans. I swear, it's really just for an interesting news story.

Up next week will be a story/video looking at international students and their views on the election. It's no secret that the presidential election will affect people far beyond the United States. I remember the day I was in Germany and Obama's win in New Hampshire was plastered across the front page of all the papers. It's clear, though sad, that the world is watching the U.S. a lot more than we're watching them.

Since I have my gorgeous iMac now, I'm going to start doing videos with vigor here soon. I personally would like to have more like 2 or 3 pieces up a week rather than just the one- I think that's a decent turnout for a politics blogger. Plus I just think there're so many interesting topics to cover- I don't want to limit myself.

I'm on Obama veep watch, ready to bolt in case Governor Tim Kaine is announced as the choice. As the only Youth Vote '08 correspondent in Virginia, I'm probably in the best position to cover it. I'm just going back and forth to whether I should start doing some preliminary work now (e-mailing bloggers I plan to get comments from, etc.) or waiting until the announcement's out. Hm. Kaine's kinda a polarizing figure for many folks- a lot of people who supported him when he was elected don't necessarily like him very much right now. I think it'll be an interesting piece, if I get to write it. I'm hoping I can still write something even if he doesn't get it, along the lines of a "why wasn't he chosen?" piece. I'm not betting on anyone- it would just be much more beneficial for me as a Virginia politics writer if he was chosen.

Next Monday, I start school. Lord, help me. I'm taking 5 classes, all in history or journalism so I can't schlep through any of them (I make a policy of getting high grades in my major/minor classes); doing the politics blog thang; working part-part-time for LoudounExtra.com still (despite my parents' wishes, I really would like to keep a toe in the door of WPNI as long as possible- plus it actually pays); working as a peer minister for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Mason, and playing harp in the orchestra. Ugh. It's going to be insane.

I really wish I could quit the orchestra, but I'm shackled by a music scholarship and people's expectations (plus we're playing Firebird this year, which has two harp parts, so even though there's another harpist coming in, I have to play). I'm a music minor now- haven't been a major since spring break Freshman year- and honestly, I'm considering dropping the minor too. Music just isn't my passion at all, and it's pretty much my last priority. And I don't feel guilty about that- not too much. Why should I expend time on something I can live quite happily without when I'd much rather be pursuing a story to the end of time? What I do feel guilty about is the music scholarship I somehow get because my instrument's taller than me (and rare, okay, whatever) when I don't care, don't practice, and do everything possible to avoid it. There are so many other kids in the department that actually deserve it. Plus I just really don't enjoy orchestra anymore- the director can act completely insane and is a total jerk to me at times- like my every thought should revolve around music. I know for a fact he's said negative things about me in front of the orchestra when I haven't been there. I've actually talked to my parents about it at this point, and I think I'm going to ask the department to drop the scholarship, since there's another harpist here now and I'm planning on going abroad in the spring anyways. It'll decrease that weight off my shoulder anyways.

Whew, I can rant, can't I? I really do like harp, just as a hobby, not as a life- I much prefer my rock harp playing- which I'm completely in charge of- rather than the orchestra music and practices which suck my soul out and leave me miserable.

Hmmmm Back to Work.

-Rachael

-EDIT-

This shirt is totally for all my friends with peanut-allergies.

So I bought my Mac

2008-08-18T07:47:00.003-04:00

She's beautiful.

I know it sounds CRAZY to personify a computer- but...she's definitely a lady. The sleek lines- the pretty features- she's a sweet sweet lady.

She's a 24-inch iMac- I got the top of the line one and then had the guy add even more RAM- I now have 4 gb on my computer. I think it'll take me a little while longer to fill up this computer's memory than I did with my last one.

The screen is humongous. Like- I feel like I'm constantly falling into a completely different Apple-ruled world. It's huge and gorgeous and yeah.

I named her Beauty. The free iPod touch that came with the system is Lumiere. I now have mucho awesome music on my Mp3 player- my wonderful boyfriend helped me put it together last night and figured out EXACTLY what one CD would make me most happy to have on there- the PennyLoafer's Quicksand (amazing a-cappella rock group from University of Pennsylvania- Gosh I want to see them in concert).

I can't WAIT to start taking and editing videos on this machine- it's going to be awesome. The graphics are ridiculously awesome. Even South Park looks better on it.

I've also moved into my apartment at Mason now- in Northern Neck. It's a really really big space- well okay, everything's big except the room I'm actually sharing with someone. It's not like, tiny or anything, but it's not as large as I was hoping. I mean, we could fit an elephant in the common room and a couple camels in the kitchen, but my room would maybe take a couple ponies at most. I'm the only one here for now though- early arrival and Kate's in Ohio visiting family- so I'm taking advantage of the huge space to go through all my stuff bit by bit- finding out what I want to keep, what needs to get thrown out, what I want to donate, etc.

I looked around today to see if the UWire Youth Vote 08 blog has launched yet- I can't find it anywhere, so we'll see. My story on Obama's VP announcement via text is supposed to be one of the first on the site. Link will be posted as soon as I can find the dratted thing.

Should probably get ready for work now- wee.

Will my boyfriend dump me if I buy a Mac?

2008-08-12T15:16:00.004-04:00

This is a serious question. I mean, I know Aramaic loves the ground I walk on and all, but his distaste for all things Mac is truly epic sometimes.

I've seen him in action. He and my friend Dane used to get in fights about PC vs. Mac alll the time (of course they fought about everything else as well, but that's a whole 'nother story). I'm pretty sure he thinks Steve Jobs is the devil. (I don't think so, but I found so many hilarious depictions of Jobs and Macs as evil incarnate that I've posted them throughout this blog)

But I'm about to buy a new computer (my daddy's buying it, technically, but I have plans to pay him back for it). My old computer is a ratty old Dell I've had since senior year of high school that works fine until I manage to fill it up too much with photos and files and such. Then it freaks out. It's bad, but it's still pretty functional as is.

The only thing is- as a blogger for UWire Youth Vote '08, I plan on releasing videos at least once or twice a week. I need something I can edit videos on. I can use the computers at Student Media and at Star Labs, but I don't want to have to depend on that- this blog is lasting at least 12 weeks- if I'm making 12-30 videos, I don't want to be tied to someone else's computer.

If I try to put video editing software on my current computer, I'm pretty sure it will resort to the ancient Japanese ritual of hara-kiri.

Thus, I'm getting a new computer. I need one with lots of memory, that I can edit videos on and also for...everything else I currently do with a computer.

Despite always having a PC before, I'm inclining towards a Mac at this point. I've used Macs extensively for journalism throughout the years, and I enjoy using them. They've never given me a problem (except for the crazy network shit, but that's another story). They're simple to use- I'm most familiar with iMovie as an editing software- and for what I'm planning on doing, that's okay. I don't need crazy capabilities- I just need to be able to put clips together into a fun little video.

So after discussing it with my dad, I'm looking at a few different desktop Macs. They're cheaper than the laptops and offer the same capabilities or more- plus I think I'm going to keep my ratty Dell around for traveling purposes.

The decision now is- iMac or Mac Pro? I don't know if I need a Mac Pro right now- but this is definitely the last computer I want to buy for a while. Hopefully it'll get me out of college and into the professional world a few years.

But I'm terribly nervous that Aramaic won't be able to look at me once I've bought a Mac. That would be distressing.

So people should persuade him not to dump me if I buy a Mac. Because I'm buying one (they're pretty!). And I like him. And I feel like those two situations (me buying a Mac, us dating) shouldn't have to be mutually exclusive.

Now check out this uber-cool portrait of Steve Jobs made entirely of Apple products.

I don't know who the hell did this but it's incredibly funny.

<3-R

-UPDATE-

I was informed by Mr. ZS that in no way shape or form is he going to dump me for buying a Mac, but he may make fun of me a bit. He'll be coming with me to buy it.

: ) Weeee!

What I've Learned About WPNI

2008-08-11T12:12:00.002-04:00

People here are obsessed with pandas. OBSESSED. The amount of panda-related e-mails in my wpni e-mail account is truly astounding sometimes.

Apparently no one here has nut allergies, since we have free nut-related products on Mondays and Fridays. We are so not an allergy friendly office- I've told Kiel to stay very very far away.

Addendum to above- journalists eat a lot. There's always food around here from some cook-off or birthday party or farewell cake.

I think all the eating might be because no one here sleeps much.

Everyone I've met here has a sense of humor. Awesome.

And yes. Pandas.

Coldplay is Awesome

2008-08-04T00:03:00.003-04:00

So Aramaic and I went to the Coldplay concert tonight at Verizon Center and it was- freaking awesome. One of the gosh-darn happiest concerts I've ever been to.

Here are some initial thoughts- I'll probably write more later.

First opening band- Juniper Lane- was really good. I love a good rock band with a lady lead singer with an amazing voice. Second opening band- forgot the name- but it was horrible. Like if you combined some 80s style with a bit of reggae and rap and some really weird shit, you'd get it. They actually weren't too awful, but like, everyone was expecting and wanting Coldplay, and this chick with this big band came out and we had no fucking clue who she was. And the music was absolutely nothing like anything Coldplay. It just went on entirely too long- two songs in, I was praying for the band to leave.

Anyways, Coldplay was amazing- terribly good in concert. They really know how to put on a show. There were awesome special effects- floating balls around the stadium that had videos playing across them- laser lights, cool videos in the background, and towards the end, they dumped probably a ton of confetti on the crowd during Lovers in Japan. The concert was humongous- I mean, really the place was sold out- but they managed to make it feel almost intimate at places. Chris Martin and co. did the big pieces in huge special effects craziness on the gargantuan main stage, but also did a number of songs out on the side stages they had running out into the audience. At one point they even ran out into the crowd and performed from a tiny stage they had set up within it. Some songs got expanded and added onto (there was a cool version of god put a smile upon your place with some awesome guitar effects in the back), while others were pared down completely. The acoustic version of the Scientist was really beautiful.

The band's personality really made the concert what it was though. They rocked out in their rockingest way, but also laughed at themselves easily. Martin commented on stage during a final rendition of 'Yellow' which was just him and the guitar, "man, i really fucked that up," in his cute british accent, and when he redid it, he kept making comments to himself (in the mic) like, "yeah, that's how it's supposed to be, much better."

The best, most amazing part though, was after the acoustic take on the Scientist- Martin had played a bit of harmonica during it and commented, "why does every singer in the world think they can play harmonica? it's like, they get famous and then they're like, hm, i think i should take up the harmonica now. i can't play it for shit." and then proceeded to announce that to balance out his own ego, he was giving the show over to the drummer for a bit to do whatever he wanted. and then the drummer took a guitar and sang a cute little ditty (i could barely hear him unfortunately), with martin playing harmonica ironically.

It was just incredibly happy and awesome. : )

I'M GOING TO TEXAS TOMORROW. YAY HOME.

woot. out.

<3-rach

Only I could find a way to get hurt by Jello

2008-08-01T15:57:00.003-04:00

I somehow just managed to slice through the top of one of my fingers with a disposable Jello container. How on earth did I do that?

Ow. It hurts. It's like a large paper cut. Eckjasf.

I'm playing tonight at Twist in Manassas- nervous as hell but excited. Some of it will be old stuff I've done, some of it will be newer. It should be an experience none the less.

I've done a ton of stories lately on LoudounExtra.com- you should go look.

Also, yelp is addicting. In one day, I wrote 9 reviews.

I got picked as a UWire Youth Vote '08 blogger- I'm psycho excited. I'm going to be doing a couple of videos for them every week- lots of word on the street stuff, interviewing people about different issues, etc. It's going to be a ton of work but really awesome- can't wait to start.

I should find a way to bandage up this cut I got from the jello container (still- wtf?) and go practice.

<3-Rach

New Yorker English is Different from Texan English

2008-07-20T22:49:00.005-04:00

Interesting things happen sometimes when my boyfriend, who's from New York, and I (from Texas), talk. It goes so far beyond y'all.

(Just for the fun of it, I've put the definitions of a lot of the things I've talked about in this post at the bottom- words are marked with a *- tell me how many you knew before looking them up!)

For instance, it took me a long time to figure out what he meant when he said pocketbook*. Or what a jump drive* was.

We don't really have to worry about the soda/pop/coke divide- Aram doesn't even drink soda. And some of the other stuff I had already figured out- like what calling fives* means. Plus most of his Yiddish phrases I knew from going to a high school where a ton of people were Jewish, plus a previous boyfriend. So I know the obligatory, Oy vey*, chutzpah*, goy*, traif*, and shiksa*.

But every time I think I have it all figured out, some new word or language divide comes up. We went to a Mexican restaurant last night, where I ordered queso*. He had no idea what I was talking about. Plus I hadn't ever thought about it- Aram has no concept of some Spanish words I've known since I was very young- no clue what a sopaipilla* is.

Plus I randomly had to explain to him what beanie weenies* were. I think a childhood without beanie weenies is sad- thus, I'm going to make him some soon.

The weirdest one happened today out of nowhere. He was talking about how he wanted to get a pie* for dinner and I was so confused about what he meant.

I know it's happened other times too- I can't remember them all right now. But it leads to some amusing moments. I actually really enjoy it. A lot of it's based on where you're coming from too- for example, everyone in Texas, when they heard I was going up to Virginia for college, thought I was going 'north' for school. Some even made jokes about me becoming a Yank. Aram, however, thought he was going way south for school. I guess some of it's just perspective. Sorta like how, metro, subway, and train, mean almost the same things in my mind, mostly because Dallas doesn't really have any of them (okay, we have a DART rail train, doesn't really count). However for Aram, these all have distinct and different purposes.

What other regional traits have you encountered/experienced? I think they're so much fun.

Let me know! : )

-Rach

*Words used in this blog post*

Pocketbook- a woman's purse

Jump Drive- what I would call a flash drive or a USB drive

Calling Fives- the equivalent of "Seat Check" in Texas- a way of saying- I can get up from this chair and it better be empty when I can come back- I've got dibs on it first.

Oy Vey- an exclamation of dismay or exasperation, like, oh my gosh

Chutzpah- audacity, kinda like saying someone has balls.

Goy- non-Jew (goyim is plural)

Traif- non-kosher food, used famously by a character in Robin Hood Men in Tights to refer to a cooked ham

Shiksa- a non-Jewish woman- I've heard it used both in a derogatory manner and a friendly manner, so I think it depends on the context (I've been told that when an old Jewish mother says it, it's generally an insult)

Queso- a cheese sauce to dip tortila chips in that has jalepenos and peppers mixed in. I actually remembered this happening once on a mission trip to Colorado- at a Mexican restaurant a girl asked for queso and got a cup full of sliced cheese instead, since, well, that's what queso literally means.

Sopaipilla-A fried pastry that you can eat with honey- quite good.

Beanie Weenies-A recipe combining baked beans/pork'n'beans with hot dogs and ketchup. Kids love it. So do I. : )

Pie- In this case, Aram wanted a pizza- like, pizza pie. I really thought this was only used in movies with old Italians in them like, Lady and the Tramp.

Campaign Site, XKCD Style

2008-07-18T13:25:00.002-04:00

This website is brilliant. Very very funny cartoon about a guy who's running for state representative in Kansas. Stylistically, very similar to xkcd, which I positively adore. (I also have a very cool cartoon on my door in my apartment that the creator Randall Munroe drew for me at a comic convention Aram and I went to in New York.)

Read it. It's awesome.

rach

Further Pacman love

2008-07-15T11:59:00.003-04:00

I want this hoodie so badly. It's depressing though- hot topic's been sold out of it for like- months. LAME.

Apparently, this is a rug. Hand-woven out of wool I would buy it, but I don't happen to have a spare $2031 lying around. Sadness.

I want this freaking chair.

OMG Pacman Christmas Tree.

I don't know who did this. But I love them.

Eeek! Want! Driven! To! Consumeristic! Frenzy!

WARNING: CAPITALISM IN ACTION

more later, probably

<3rach

Update and Wokka Wokka Wokka

2008-07-15T00:14:00.003-04:00

So the internship at LoudounExtra is going really well- things have changed a lot since I first started. My days are way more structured now, and I do a lot more for the website. I update the linked up in loudoun blog daily, update the you said it feature (which pulls a comment from a reader and puts it on our front page), and do pretty much whatever Meghan wants me to do. I coordinate the weekly entertainment feature that Sydney, the other intern, and I write. We're working on expanding it a little more every week- so it's pretty fun.

I did a pretty awesome package of stories for Fourth of July that involved a lot of google map making- it was great fun. Today the first story in our new Q&A series got posted- it's mine! I interviewed the very cool founder of the Loudoun County Skate Project and got some badass pictures of him skateboarding up on the website (view the evidence below- the picture quality here is crap though, so go look a the story on the site). I'm very proud. : )

So LE is going great. I love it there. I'm trying very hard to stay on through school (it's up to my bosses to see if they like the hours I can give them or not). I'm a little worried about overcommitting myself- I'm taking 5 classes in the fall that I don't really want to drop (the 4 journalism classes decide whether I can go to London in the spring on an intern abroad trip). I've got the August 1 rock harp gig (that I seriously need to practice for), and I just applied for another writing gig which would be blogging on a (at-least) weekly basis for a youth political blog run by UWire, Washingtonpost.com, and CBS.com. Even though it would make my life CRAZY if I got it, I really really want it- I have a ton of videography ideas I want to put into being.

-sigh- It's times like these that I remember something a senior (filled to the brim with activities) told me back when I was a sophomore in high school trying to write stories for the Pony Express. I asked him how he made all his activities fit in his schedule and he just looked at me- dead-serious- and said, you make the time for what's important to you and you make it work. (At least somethign along those lines. I'm pretty sure it was in a slightly less Tim Gunn-ish way) The sentiment, at least, has stuck with me all these years (thanks james aton, wherever you are).

You make the time for what's important to you. I have so many things important to me coming up for this fall. It's important that I take these classes so I can intern in London in the spring- It's important I take the history class because I absolutelypositivelyamdying to be in Mills Kelly's class of awesomeness. It's important that I'm active with Lutheran Campus Ministry so I fulfill my role as a peer minister and serve the youth in the ministry as best as I can. It's important that I stay on at Loudoun Extra so I continue to get money and get amazing experience and connections. It's important that I try for this political blog thing- even though I probably don't have the time- because it's such an amazing opportunity to get my work out there in a really amazing year for journalism that I can't possibly turn it down.

And it's important that I try to see my boyfriend and friends a little too or I'm going to go stark raving mad. It's happened before.

Mehh. part of me can't WAIT for the fall, and part of me wishes it was still a million miles away.

Oh well.

And now an homage to my love for all things pacman.

Wokka Wokka bitches.

G'night

<3-Rach

Somebody Tell Me....

2008-07-13T15:14:00.003-04:00

What the hell has the cow been doing that she's laughing and why is she wearing earrings?

I'm pretty sure she's the spawn of Satan. Can't you see it- with that bright red skin- the sadistic maniacal laughter- the evil look in her eyes? You just know she's enjoying the fact that I can't possibly ignore the call of her amazingly good cheeses. She probably doesn't even give milk- she probably has cow tits filled with liquid acid.

Curse you hell cow!

Hellboy is so much cooler than you that it's not even funny.

-Rach

Assorted Music Such, including harp rock options

2008-07-12T22:45:00.004-04:00

Yeah I decided not actually to comment a ton on illegal immigration, mostly because my own ideas on the topic haven't completely formulated yet and i'm actually willing to admit that fact.

i love the song from duffy on the radio now- mercy. it's brilliant. very old-school throwback- even more than amy winehouse. and people described her voice in a very funny way- saying she sounds like a toddler on a pack a day. i can see the resemblance. i can't embed the music video in here- but you should go check it out anyways. Mercy, by Duffy

i'm going to start playing a bit of harp rock here- i have a gig at the opening of a bar in Manassas that i'm compiling music for now. means i actually really need to go practice- which is actually a lot harder than it sounds when my harp's over in the performing arts building. i never go anywhere near the PAB these days- i work full time in arlington- come on! i tried very hard to get the music department to let me keep the harp in my room for a few weeks and they flatly told me no. despite the fact that i'm the only harpist on campus until late august. and despite the fact that i've used this harp responsibly for two years now. hmph.

i considered kidnapping the harp, but allen (starfish) talked me out of it. probably a good idea.

anyways! here are some of the songs i'm planning on learning and rearranging for rock harp- i'm really trying to get a good mix of old and new, rock and relaxed, etc.

Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell! I'm extremely excited about doing a version of this. Check out Joni- isn't she brilliant?

Another Brick in the Wall, Pink Floyd- I hope I can do this. Might be difficult to pull off. I think it could be awesome. If you haven't seen the video to this (out of the Wall)- you're missing out, it's amazing.

Losing My Religion, R.E.M.- I think the mandolin solo on this could really work well on harp. Plus I just love the song.

Save the Last Dance for Me, michael buble was NOT the first person to do this song, but i can't remember who it is right now- and this is a fun version anyways. i just love this song- it's so classy.

It's Been Awhile, Staind- I know, an interesting choice. I think I can bring out a lot of feeling and femininity in this song that doesn't exist in the original version

I'm actually looking at a ton more stuff then this- I'm not going to give all my secrets away at once- but hopefully that gives you an idea of what sort of stuff I'm looking at doing.

Yep.

Rach

Illegal Immigration

2008-07-10T10:50:00.000-04:00

This story made me think

I'll write more later-

Down with Wiggles, Up with Rock

2008-07-09T15:56:00.003-04:00

Mr. Brian and the Boppets performed an interactive rock concert in Loudoun this last week- actually a couple concerts. Boppets are puppets without muppet copyright infringement, btw.

I was writing up a little brief for a photo gallery about the event when I looked up the website.

And it said-

"Why wiggle... when you can rock!"

Brilliant. Just Brilliant.

-update- seriously, the wiggles are SO FREAKING CREEPY. why would children want to watch 40-year old men dressed in primary colors dancing around?

but then, i guess i didn't get teletubbies either.

or dora the explorer. she's so dumb.

gosh i just feel like kid's programming was so much better when i was younger! sesame street is still enjoyable to watch even now (i know, that's lame, but shush, big bird's my home boy). watching some of the kid's shows today makes me want to pry my eyeballs out.

except the wonder pets show with like the superman guinea pig. that one is awesome.

Watch out world! The Teenagers Are Coming! (And the illegals)

2008-07-08T11:26:00.001-04:00

So look at the comments on this.

Really? Clearly, it's the illegals causing all the trouble. Or the teenagers. I mean, they just go so -wrong- when they turn 13, I don't know what we can do about it.

I think the solution is to lock them in a closet and never let them go anywhere or do anything until they turn 20 and magically all their criminal inclinations disappear.

Yeah, can we have some parents taking some responsibility here?

Jeez.

More on this later, should probably not be blogging at work.

-Rach

My Thoughts on Global Warming

2008-06-10T20:20:00.002-04:00

The whole global warming debate mystifies me a bit. Science isn't something I follow a lot, but it just doesn't make sense to me from a common sense standpoint.

If global warming really is happening, we seriously need to do something about it. Scientists predict that increasing global temperature would cause the oceans to rise, possibly increasing the intensity of extreme weather patterns, changing the agricultural yields, making some species extent and maybe even increasing disease. That's frightening. Natural disasters now can kill thousands of people. What do you think is going to happen if they get ten times worse? Without even mentioning those other possible problems, I think you have a case right there.

And if it really isn't happening and it's just a part of the natural cycle, well, what's wrong with taking measures to reduce our impact on the world anyways?

I mean, you can't say that the human race isn't having an effect on the planet. At this point in history, we're hugely wasteful with our natural resources. It's a proven fact that pollution is BAD- it messes up the quality of the air we breathe, causes acid rain, and really hurts the animal life. We're going through our fossil fuel supply and need to find alternative sources of energy ANYWAYS.

So what's the big deal? People keep freaking out because they don't like the way Al Gore looks and talks, or because scientists disagree on the global warming issue, or because they see it as a silly trend or an overblown issue probably planted by the leftist conspiracy. I'm even more pissed off at the stupid ass pompous religious people who believe since God gave the Earth to us, nothing we can do to it can damage it so we have no responsibility to take care of it. Way to make Christians look bad, idiots.

The point I'm trying to make is- whether you believe global warming is really happening or not, we're at a point in time that changes have to be made to protect our environment anyways- for all of our own sakes. Honestly, what we need to do to protect ourselves from global warming will mean a lot of people will have to change how they live- but it's worth it to avoid what we think could happen.

And if it doesn't happen? Well, we'll be saving the world anyways. I mean, come on, half of the people making such a big deal over the amount of money and time it'll take to change things proposed by 'global warming quacks' were the ones who were changing their lives and stockpiling food and necessities back in 1999 during the Y2K scare. If you're honestly more concerned about what happens to humanity if our computers go crazy than what happens to us if our environment becomes too toxic for us to live in....I feel sad for you.

I think we just need to send a copy of the Lorax to everyone complaining about needing to change their lives for the environment. Maybe that'll sock some sense into their heads.

-Rach

Violet Hill- Alternative Video

2008-06-10T11:20:00.002-04:00

This video fascinates me- Coldplay itself actually made this , it wasn't a youtube thing, they just released it online as another video accompanying their beautiful anti-war song, "Violet Hill."

It's interesting- because it's so funny at parts- but as it moves along it gets really...sobering, with its many reminders of war. I love it, but it makes me so sad...

-Rach

Random Thoughts

2008-06-10T00:05:00.003-04:00

1. Is it really smart to use the word "egress" to mean "exit" on a sign in a dorm hallway directing residents how to leave the building in an emergency? I mean- we're talking average college students here. How many of them are going to know what egress means? It would suck if they were stuck not knowing what to do because the sign assumed they were more intelligent then they really were....

2. On the second floor of our dorm, there's a spot on the side of the stairwell meant to be a "place of refuge" for people in wheelchairs- someplace firefighters know to get them from. Someone drew flames in red around the person on the sign on the wall. How ironic...and frightening. If I was restricted to a wheelchair, I'd really want to live on the first floor of a building- so I wouldn't have to depend on anyone else remembering to get me out to survive. But I mean, Mason doesn't really have a good track record with that, according to this disturbing incident. Her mom wrote a letter to the Washington Post about it recently.

3. Would it really be a smart idea for Obama to choose Hillary as his VP? I wonder.

Long time no post- I'll try to be better about it.

-Rach

The Orange

2008-06-01T22:08:00.001-04:00

By Wendy Cope

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange-
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave-
They got quarters and I had a half.

And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It's new.

The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I'm glad I exist

First Day, WPNI

2008-05-27T11:18:00.003-04:00

So I'm at WPNI now, my first day on the internship job. It's a bit different than I imagined. We're in an office converted from a meeting room, walled by glass- you can look out on the entire floor. Not that there's much to see- pods of people here and there leaned over their computers working.

The entire office is dark- no lights turned on anywhere, just natural light. It's strange. I think I chose the computer in the office by the window specifically to combat that darkness- from here I can look down over the buses and cars and buildings stretching into the distance.

Don't have much to do now- I'm kinda bored. My boss basically wants me to work on profiles that another intern left off on, but I don't know where he stopped. Thus, I'm trying to go through them all and see which one is missing information...I haven't been successful so far.

I'm also surfing around trying to find out more about Loudon County- my current knowledge about it is zilch. I figure if I'm going to be working on a site called Loudonextra, I might as well start figuring stuff out. I hate not knowing things- I want to be coming up with story ideas, not trying to figure out the demographics of the city.

bleagh. I better start trying to get some work done- I wish I knew more what I was doing. (not that it's hard, there's just nothing to do right now.)

<3-R

things you may not know about me

2008-05-04T18:52:00.002-04:00

1. I'm slightly addicted to Bejeweled. It's on my iGoogle and I play it pretty much every day.
2. I adore reading memoirs of almost any type. I'm currently reading through the Diary of Kevin Smith, I just finished Valerie Plame's memoir, and over spring break I read Eat, Pray, Love.
3. I get really really excited about things really quickly. Like, even little things. Gummi Bears for example. Or free pens. If I find a song I love on the radio, I'll go download it and listen to it on repeat ten times in a row so I can try to memorize the lyrics. Stuff like that.
4. I am not a morning person. I used to be okay at getting up when I needed to- but this semester....nuhuh. Not anymore. I get very cranky without sleep and am in love with my pillow.
5. Because of my obsessive reporting on most aspects of Mason over the past year and a half, I know a ridiculous amount of information on the school and the people within it. This leads to me sometimes knowing everything about a person who's important in the news, without them knowing jack about me. This can lead to awkward situations....for example, a dude walked in the office that I knew a ton about because he had been important in past news stories. I recognized him and was like, "Oh hey, you're --- right?" He looked at me really weird. I swear I'm not a stalker, I just keep tabs on most of campus. It's one of those things I should keep a lid on probably....
6. I have a weird fascination with celebrity news. People magazine is my drug.
7. I hate pretzels- I personally think they're only of use for throwing at people. Except the big soft ones. Those are amazing.
8. Musicals make me really really happy.
9. I have this weird thing where I tend to always know who's around me- even if they're far away. Like- I can tell when someone I know walks in the room- from the second they show up. I think it's just an observation thing I've picked up- a combination of being vigilant, seeing well, and being attuned to what I hear. But I usually never surprised by anyone- I always know what's going on around me.
10. When I was little, my brother and I talked about having a guinea pig breeding operation, because we both loved them so much. I still really really want one- every time I'm at a pet store I constantly come up with ways I can keep one hidden at Mason (pets aren't allowed in the dorms). I don't think I'd ever do it though- it'd be too hard to keep from getting caught.

And also, I hate homework and studying and I'm trying to procrastinate from it right now....thus, I should probably stop blogging and try to get back to work. Ugh exams. Can't wait 'til I'm back in Texas!!!

<3-Rach

An Interview with Hanson

2008-05-01T17:39:00.004-04:00

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Hanson today. Here's the dish on it.

As I sat in the main hall of the State Theater, waiting to go up to interview the band, I grew more and more nervous as I set up the tripod and checked the video camera. I hadn't ever interviewed a big celebrity like Hanson before- the closest would probably be the politicians I've spoken to. And for a girl whose first CD ever (in fourth grade) was Hanson's major label debut, "Middle of Nowhere," getting to meet them was like, a dream come true.

To be fair, I haven't listened to Hanson's music in many years. The boy band craze started shortly after that and I got caught up in that. Shortly after, I discovered real music (classic and alternative rock are my faves) and never really looked back on what I listened to before *Nsync and Backstreet Boys. The recent music Hanson has released sounds really good though, from what I've listened to. I feel like I should go back and listen to that more now.

Anyways, I'm waiting in the Theater watching the techies set up the stage, totally freaking out (Was I asking the right questions? Would they ask what I thought of their new cd I hadn't listened to yet? What if they were mean or uptight?). It didn't help matters when the tour manager, Tim, came to bring me to the interview, as I had to climb a dark twisty staircase to get to the top.

Tim walked down the hallway and pushed open a door with a sign saying "Hanson" on it. I followed behind.

I thought of a thousand different things that could happen during the interview, but the scene that presented itself before my eyes was definitely not one of them. Two of the Hanson brothers were standing on chairs in front of a window, wielding BB guns, shooting pellets at a trash bin across the parking lot, as another jumped in front to grinningly tell me, "Absolutely nothing illegal is happening in here." As I set up the equipment, the whole band joked with me, introducing me to the backup musicians that walked through the door, most of whom were promptly led to the window to pull off a few rounds of their own at the much maligned trash bin.

It's fair to say that the ice was broken by then. I tried to get a picture of the brothers at play, but they requested that I not, as the BB guns were designed to look fairly real- one an AK-47 and another a handgun.

They shot off a few other rounds, but Taylor, who'd been standing off to the side chatting with me most of the time, got Zac and Isaac to sit down on the couch with him for the interview. The interview itself was great fun, very relaxed. The brothers were incredibly down to earth and very talkative. It was easy to tell that they'd been doing this whole interview thing for quite a while. Every answer one brother gave me, another one would want to chime in right afterwards, leading to a great depth of discussion. The entire conversation really showed me how passionate the band is about what they do. We talked on a variety of different topics relating to their music, their independent music label 3CG, their families, and the charity work they've been doing on the tour to promote concerns about the AIDS epidemic in Africa. I think they would have been totally willing to talk for an hour with me, but after 15 minutes, Tim came in to tell me to wrap it up. As I packed up and left, the brothers began testing out their megaphones in earnest, setting off the siren buttons repeatedly. It was time to take the Walk.

Before each of their shows on The Walk tour, Hanson has been taking a mile long walk with their fans barefoot, to raise awareness of the problems in Africa and to encourage concertgoers to purchase a pair of shoes from Toms Shoes, an organization which donates a pair of shoes to children in Africa for every pair of shoes purchased. I didn't get a count of how many people were there for the walk, but it seemed like a good hundred or so. Some people took of their shoes, some didn't, but everyone crowded around the Hanson brothers, eager to talk to them. The group stopped at a playground at one point, where Taylor addressed the crowd from the top of a slide via megaphone. After ten minutes or so, the walk continued, winding through streets and around parking lots, the brothers and the police shepherding the fans through stoplights and trying to keep them on the sidewalks. I raced around with my camera trying to get every possible angle, gaining a bit of a sunburn in the process.

All in all, it was a wonderful day and a great time. The video from the interview and the walk should be up at Connect2mason soon.

: )

Rach

Herschel Yaakov

2008-04-30T14:23:00.002-04:00

It is nice to be loved.

He calls me pretty girl- not from any attempt to charm.
I thought so at first- but after nearly a year, he still calls me it all the time-
during fights, when we're whispering in movies, when he's holding me close-
it's something sweet and wonderful
and I like it, quite a lot.

He smiles whenever he sees me-
like a little boy at his first birthday party
delightedly clapping his hands when he spies
the artfully iced cake.

And when he stands behind me as I look in the mirror,
criticizing my flaws and curves and posing to see
if I might look okay, today-
he tells me I am more than a Monet-
the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.

And as we sit together, eating Chinese,
watching Simpsons in his room-
it's lovely just to have his arm around me
and to be able to rest my head on his shoulder-
we have been through so much,
so much together-

-I remember when I was crying for hours and couldn't stop,
and fear was solid in my veins
he picked me up and took me away
and fed me chocolate and TV until I could sleep and
dream and rest-

-And when he feels like everything he does has been
useless, or unappreciated- when he thinks these months
have been a waste- I kiss him and I tell him that
I am proud of him- and that he is good and strong and brave-
I run my fingers through his hair-

and now it's like I can see the world through
a stained glass window-
everything colorful and bright and soft.

Not everyone understands
but it's okay-
Because when I put my head against his chest
and count double time with his heartbeat
I know that the days are ours to hold
and the hours are ours to conquer.

We can do anything- anything.

My Superman and I.

Random Quote Love

2008-04-24T01:51:00.003-04:00

While standing in Giant.

Me-"You're my person!"
Aram-"You're my everything."

Me-(dissolves into happiness and awwws.)

: ) happy times

btw I absolutely LOVE this series of comments on Connect Mason.

The first one infuriated me because I KNEW there were so many things wrong with it- like Nick was never EIC, his grad date was wrong, no one in Connect Mason or Broadside is in SDS, etc. etc.

But I couldn't comment on it because well, I was one of the people accused of writing too many stories about SDS last semester.

So I LOVED it when Nick responded and basically called this guy out for being an idiot. The best part was, "Do you smoke crack and bang your head against concrete?"

Amazing.

People ask me sometimes why stories get written about SDS so much- do I or the other reporters have friends in it? Are we super secret members or sympathizers to their cause?

Here's the secret- SDS does stuff worth reporting about. They're controversial, amusing, and they absolutely love talking to us. SDS kids talk in quotes suitable for print- everything they say is guaranteed to have some effect or piss someone off. Why wouldn't we write about them? They pull the most interesting stunts on and off this campus.

Plus they have a sense of humor about their reps on campus. There's a group on facebook called, "I shower regularly and I'm in SDS." Go look. It's funny.

And that's all I'm saying tonight.

: )

Rach

Wisdom of Desperate Housewives

2008-04-21T00:20:00.002-04:00

I watched a surprisingly profound Desperate Housewives today on my laptop- it originally aired last week.

One of the main plots running through it was that of Lynette, a woman who had never gone to church before, making an attempt to go to the church of one of her friends, Bree, a staunch Presbyterian.

During her visit, Lynette raised her hand to ask the preacher a question after his sermon. I could see the cringes throughout the congregation- Bree felt utterly humiliated. Everyone squirmed as Lynette asked the preacher questions about God's love and why bad things in the world happen.

I smiled a bit at the scene- I can imagine it happening at my own church at home. It would be so awkward for everyone. Bree summed up the view of what everyone thinks but doesn't really say when she talked to Lynette about the incident later.

"Well, last Sunday when you kept raising your hand- we don’t really do that. The church isn’t a place for questions, it’s a place for answers," Bree said.

“Yeah, but how do you get the answers if you don’t ask the questions," Lynette innocently asked.
"Well, typically we just sit there and let the preacher preach and eventually our questions are answered and no one is humiliated," Bree answered.

It's funny- hearing the words coming out of her mouth- I knew instantly that they were wrong. Yet at the same time- I understood where she was coming from. People in most churches today aren't active participants in the service. You listen to what you're told- and if you have a problem with it, you maybe grumble about it later with a friend or argue with your family about it over supper (my family's done this before), but you certainly don't stand up and ask the pastor. It's just not the way it's done.

But it made me think. What has happened to the curiosity of religion? What has happened to its openness and acceptance? Everyone is so caught up in propriety and rightness and tradition that they lose sight of what the real picture is. I've sat in church services without knowing what's going on before- the ones where all the attendees have the prayers and hymns memorized and there's no guidance for an outsider. It's a very isolating experience- very embarrassing. How refreshing it would be for someone to take me through and let me know what's going on at different points of the service, or for me to be able to simply raise my hand and ask for help.

Eventually, of course, Bree realized the error of her ways, and ended up saying something fairly insightful for a show known for its tawdry behavior and sexual scandals.

"Faith shouldn’t be blind- you don’t threaten it by asking questions- you make it stronger. I lost sight of that."

This is exactly what I think about religion- I believe if you go your entire life believing everything you hear without asking about it, there's an entire part missing. Of course you have to make a leap of faith at times, but it shouldn't all be like that. A little curiosity and intellectualism can pay off big and help you grow both religiously and as a person- in every part of your life.

Another profound moment in the show consisted of Gabriella's discovery that her husband Carlos hid the real extent of his injuries to her until after they were married, for fear that she would leave him once discovering he was permanently blind. She was initially very petty towards him- pushing chairs in front of him and leaving oven doors open in his way, but calmed down once she heard of his reason for not telling her initially.

I love the way she responds to him- it's so very Gabby. He's standing there scared to death, telling her that as a poor, blind man, he has nothing to offer her, and she responds brilliantly.

"To avoid future confusion, I love you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She later added, "Like I said, for better or for worse."

It was such a step for her normally selfish, petty character- the one obsessed with looks, riches, and fashion. She finally realized that there was something that mattered more.

Really, it was such a sweet moment. Makes me realize there is love like that out there- love that sees beyond all flaws and problems and obstacles to the person that you adore and would do anything to stay with.

It's a good thought. : )

So I know, it's kinda a random post- I'm not talking about news events (I've been following the FLDS story like crazy), or happenings in my own life (I got an internship at wpni this summer!) or my feelings (god I can't wait for school to end, I'm going utterly crazy right now)- just a silly little TV show that I'm somehow obsessed with.

But then, it's nice having a blog I can talk about uhm, anything and everything, on. No restrictions means I write in it at least on a semi-regular basis. Lol.

Anyways, I should probably go sleep now.

Over and out.

-Rach

No Endorsement for President from Me- And Why

2008-04-13T01:28:00.004-04:00

I've had a lot of fun this last week (no joke) writing and putting together videos around the Student Body Presidential elections. I live for this kind-of coverage- I mean, it's a race with 6 candidate pairs in it, all with different backgrounds, views, and ideas of how to be a good advocate for students. Sure, they all talk about the basic things- parking, dining, transportation, etc.- but they each have a separate viewpoint that sets them apart from the others.

It's been really interesting especially since Thursday's debate- which I went to for two reasons- to find more stories to write about and to try to get a better idea of who I would vote for.

I succeeded in one aim definitely. I've had a ball writing stories investigating the different allegations that were made that night. It was such a cat fight, and I'm sure some people were terribly distressed by it- but I loved it. It was so good journalistically- one of the more interesting debates I've seen ever- I guess because it's so close to home and I understood the underlying drama behind all of it (and anything I didn't understand I had someone running over talking to me about it in the next second). It was great fun. And getting to be the person looking behind the drama and saying, "Ok, this was said- is it true? What's the context?" and finding out the real story behind it- way cool.

I love doing such coverage on one topic. It lets you look in at it so much. Mm! Plus being the person spearheading all the coverage- I have pretty much full control of what I do, when I do it, and what's written about next. It's a joy!

I know. I'm a nerd. I talk about covering stories and issues the same way a wine connoisseur talks about Pinot Noir or a movie buff talks about a new foreign film they found. It's just the way I am. I'm completely passionate about what I do- this is completely, utterly, what I want to be doing for the rest of my life, come what may. It's cool to think that I'll probably still get this involved in a story when I'm 45 and talking about my job around the dinner table- probably boring whatever kids I have to pieces.

Anyways. People have continually asked me if I've decided who I'm going to vote for, who that person is, and if I'm going to endorse someone for the position.

The answer is no to all counts.

The debate certainly helped me expand my ideas on who might and might not be best for the presidency. The interviews and research I've done since then have helped even more in some ways, by clearing up questions that I myself had about the veracity of certain statements. Yet I still have not decided who I am voting for.

When I do decide, I'm probably not going to tell anyone what that decision is. Since I've been the main reporter covering all these candidates, it'd be a good idea for me to stay as neutral as possible on the issue, so that I still get interviews in the future without any awkward, "uh, so I heard you didn't vote for me," moments. In addition, I think it's just plain unprofessional to show bias in a race you're covering. I'm a little annoyed at myself for showing the preferences I have in the national presidential election already- my passion for getting my opinion on the best candidate out there overshot my reporter sense- it would have been much better for me to keep quiet on the issue and keep a more neutral appearance. But there's nothing I can do about that now.

Here's what I will say though- here are the traits I'm looking for when I vote on a Student Body President or Vice President.

I'm looking for someone who takes the job seriously- who is honest to everyone, but most particularly themselves. I'd like to have someone with experience and an understanding of how the system works, but who still thinks creatively and outside the box, and listens to the input of others. I think a President really needs to be able to get along with the majority of students and administration, in and out of student government, to be able to accomplish anything. Ethics and morality are at the top of the must list as well- if you don't have that, you don't have anything.

Those are my views I can reveal- to say much more would lead me to reveal which ways I'm leaning. I haven't decided who to vote for yet but I can say that I've narrowed it down to about half the candidates.

Anyways, those are just the ideas I'm getting out.

Read Connect2Mason.com!

And have a good one,

Rach

Random Observations

2008-04-06T23:42:00.002-04:00

I keep seeing these commercials for phone numbers to call to either meet "sexy singles," "make new friends," or "find new connections to men" (that was the gay/metrosexual hotline, can't tell which). I wonder- who actually calls these? How awkward of a conversation is that? Who's actually on the end of the line saying the sexyyyy time sweet nothings to these people? All I can think about is that fabulous scene in Blues Brothers 2000 at "Ed's Love Exchange" when it's like, all old ladies picking up the phones and talking dirty to people.

I'm addicted to ridiculous reality shows. I can't help it. I absolutely adored Here Come the Newlyweds- It was very cute and fun- delved into a lot of interesting relationship issues. And as always, I love Dancing with the Stars. So cheesy but so much fun! I mean, watching celebrities make fools of themselves on the dance floor? Truly excellent.

In other news, I dyed my hair black on impulse. And I'm thinking about getting a ms. pac-man themed tattoo.

On that note, back to watching Dancing with the Stars on my laptop.

: )

Rach

Internship Blues and Harp Girl

2008-04-04T01:27:00.004-04:00

I want and need a freaking internship this summer and it's making me very upset that I haven't found one yet.

My resume looks really good for newspaper stuff- I have awesome clips- an awesome cover letter- what's going on? I don't know if it's because I'm too young or if because I tend to submit applications on the day they're due or what...but this is getting frustrating.

I have an interview tomorrow. ThankGodfinally. It's the first one I've gotten so far, I'm embarrassed to say. It's via phone- I don't really know the etiquette for that. I hope I do well.

If I don't get an internship the fall back plan is to take classes this summer and work at the restaurant to make lots of money. That wouldn't be bad, it's just not quite what I was hoping to do this summer (Aka build my resume).

I'm already looking for internships abroad for next spring. I really want to just spend a couple months in a foreign country working in the profession I love- I think it'd be fun, enlightening, and a great thing for resumes. I've contacted the LA Times about possibilities in their bureaus- they basically gave me a list of all their bureau chiefs and were like- "here, go talk to them- it's up to them if they take an intern or not." So I'm going down the list now- London's a no go because of issues in the bureau, I just contacted Rome, and I'm hoping to also talk to Buenos Aires, Bogota, Johannesburg, Tokyo, New Delhi, and maybe a few others. I'd love to be either in Europe somewhere (so I can travel and see everything around the country I'm staying in) or in South America, where I could polish my Spanish (a skill I really want to work on more). That would be so cool. I have an awesome former professor looking into an opportunity in the Netherlands for me...

I just really want this to work out- I want to start getting experience abroad so I can make this whole foreign correspondent dream a reality.

We'll see what happens.

In other news, I played harp and sang in the Vox Pop talent show today- I was nervous as hell but it went really well. (hey that rhymed!) The crowd really liked it- they kinda made me come back to do an encore. I was hideously embarrassed because I only had the one song prepared- I just played it over again. (I'm never going to make THAT mistake again. My teacher always told me to bring extra music just in case- now I know why!) I picked up a new nickname in the process I think, apparently people couldn't remember my name so on the voting ballots they just wrote some variation of "Harp Girl."

I think I'm okay with that. It was a great feeling- being up there performing. I love singing and I love music- especially rock and folky type stuff. I did it a lot in junior high, a bit in high school, and really haven't done anything with it in college until now. I've been wanting to get back into though- I get such a rush from being in front of people. Plus, who am I kidding? I'm the kid who not only rocks out in the car to music, but also harmonizes, plans duets, and choreographs stage movements, equipment, and costumes in my head. It's kinda sick honestly. I've just been held back until now because of my um, limited piano talents and nonexistent guitar skills (I did figure out how to play the guitar hook from Crazy Train though!)

But this whole experience has made me realize- maybe I can use my harp experience for more than just playing songs with the Orchestra and the occasional luncheon. Maybe I can harness that and use it to pretty much...rock out. The thought definitely appeals.

I love writing lyrics and melodies- anyone want to help me write harmonies and such and pull together some songs? (background music is my weak point) This could be very fun- and I've heard Vox Pop might be doing another show soon. : )

I also find it amusing that the new nickname, Harp Girl, has the same initials and set-up I gave myself when I started this blog- Hyperbole Girl. Hm.

Anyways. I should probably finish studying for my Spanish exam now.

Peace, kids.

Rach

A True Journalist

2008-04-03T01:41:00.004-04:00

My opinion, no one else's, on what makes a true, good journalist. This is very idealistic but bear with me on it.

A journalist should seek truth above all things. It is not for them to decide which side is right or wrong or which argument has more weight- it is for them to present the facts in a clear, straightforward manner in order to help the reader understand the issue or event at hand, enabling them to reach their own conclusions on the topic.

A journalist should, ideally, be above the pettiness, jealousy, and rivalry of so many companies today. Even if a journalist is not above it, she should strive in all things to do what is ultimately right by her moral code and what is right for her readers.

A journalist should not turn her colleagues against each other, but encourage them to work together. She should rely on facts and evidence instead of emotion and opinion to make decisions with how she will work, who she will associate with, and what she will write about.

A journalist should and can make friends wherever possible- but does not let that friendship get in the way of seeing the truth about the people or situations involved. A conflict of interest can occur in an interview or story subject but also within your own friends and family- if there ever comes a time where you start overlooking the bad things, the wrong things, the screwed up things that are hurting people or entities, and don't speak up against that wrong because of a relationship, you're not acting in a way befitting the profession.

Once you start kidding yourself, your readers or your colleagues, once you start distorting facts in your stories or in your own mind to fit your preconceived notion about how the world should work because of your emotion, immaturity, or inexperience, the moment you turn a blind eye to an injustice, a wrong, corruption, or moral and physical decay because you simply don't want to see it, that is the moment you stop being a true journalist and become utterly despicable to yourself and the world.

If you want to be a journalist, be true to yourself and your passion. If you don't think you can do that and see through all the shit and lies that sometimes end up in this business, get out and find a new career.

Done.

Rachael

Freedom from Criticism doesn't (and shouldn't) Exist

2008-03-24T22:03:00.005-04:00

A recent story out in the news today details the case of Fitna, a controversial movie made by Geert Wilders that hasn't even been released yet, and American company Network Solutions' decision to suspend his website. Network Solutions is also known for its hosting of terrorist group Hizbollah's website.

I have a great many problems with this decision.

For starters, I think any "preemptive strike" of a website hosting company against a site it host is pretty ridiculous, especially based off of the complaints of another group. If the company honestly has a big problem with what's being hosted, that material should be reviewed extensively before it is banned.

Even as an advocate of free speech, I understand why a company would not want to have certain sites associated with its name. However, that same standard should be applied evenly across the board. And you really really can't say you're against all words that might be misconstrued as "hate speech" if you register freakin hizbollah.org, I mean, this group spreads anti-Semitic crap all the time, including the ridiculous rumor that Jews are deliberately spreading AIDS. They also spoke against the 90's movie "Independence Day," which showed a Jewish character joining with others to save the world from an alien invasion, calling it, "''propaganda for the so-called genius of the Jews and their alleged concern for humanity." I'm not even going to dignify that idiocy with a response.

Secondly, I'm not exactly certain why so many people have a problem with this film. Fitna, which means "discord" in Arabic, supposedly is about 15 minutes long. This is how it is described in another article.

"Geert Wilders' film, which supposedly will be shown on a split screen, with verses and suras from the Koran on one side and examples of Sharia law being carried out on the other, including a beheading and a stoning"

Look at that. It says straight out itself, examples of Sharia law being carried out.

In addition, Wikipedia (not reliable, I know, but sometimes an accurate gauge for what people are thinking) says, "Wilders has said the 15-minute film will show how verses from the Quran are being used today to incite modern Muslims to behave violently and anti-democratically based on those verses."

What is so offensive about this? If it's in the law you follow, what can you see wrong in watching it being carried out? It seems so hypocritical to me for a group following such laws to object to the filming of such laws being carried out.

Now of course, since the film still hasn't been released, it could feature something much, much more agregious and insulting. However, this leads me to my final and most important point.

Why the hell is it considered so wrong for anyone to criticize Islam? I'm Christian- people crap on my religion all day. There are Jesus action figures, naked chocolate Jesus statues, cartoons of the savior blowing a capitalist pig, and ridiculous representations on South Park, Family Guy, and everywhere else (those are not getting links because I personally don't wish to promote that type of imagery). Do these piss me off and offend me? Yes. Does it hurt me when people say that my religion promotes hate, injustice, inequality, and selfishness? Yes.

But because I live in a society where people are allowed to voice their opinions in both speech, print, and every other media, I have to understand that these things will be said. And I honestly believe that these criticisms of every religion helps it and its followers to grow. When people tell me Christianity is hateful and promotes inequality, it pushes me to really look at what I believe in and find out why people think such things.

You can't go around living in a free society claiming all its rights for yourself without realizing how other people's rights affect you as well. It's part of the deal. You have the right to criticize other people, ideas, films, religions, everything- so does everyone else. You deal with it. You don't demand special treatment for yourself.

And we need to stop pandering to people who demands rights that don't exist. Get over yourselves. Seriously.

This is probably going to get me in trouble, but oh well, it's what I really think.

Y'all have a good one,

HG

The P Word

2008-03-23T23:05:00.002-04:00

I'm pretty sure someone just called me a plagiarist in a comment on Connect Mason and I'm not exactly certain why, I think there might have been a case of mistaken identity or something. However, I do know that it makes me furious.

Let's just make this quite clear. I have many faults. I am very human. I have done some tremendously stupid things in my 5+ years of reporting.

But I have never plagiarized. I have never taken the work of another human being and called it my own and I never would. This is something I feel incredibly strongly about. I feel that if I as a writer am unable to do my own research and do my own work to properly cite that research, I should be in a different career. I despise that sort of behavior.

And as another observation, I've never been accused of plagiarism. Never. It has never even been brought up before in all my years of reporting and all my years as a student.

Thus, this random comment out of thin air on a package I worked on calling me a plagiarist....pisses me off. I don't get it and I don't understand where the hell that's coming from. But I do know that people love insulting others behind the anonymity of the Internet. It's not like I haven't been on the receiving end of some idiot's insulting comments before. As a writer who's been in the public eye before, I understand it's going to happen- I grit my teeth and bear it. But it sucks.

Anyways, I have better things to do now. I'll write more later.

-HG

Guns in America, part I

2008-03-18T17:58:00.000-04:00

The historic Supreme Court Case DC v. Heller started today with arguments from both the District and the Plaintiff. In case you've been living under a rock lately, this is the DC handgun case, challenging the District's gun laws that ban handguns and prevent residents from keeping rifles or shotguns assembled ad loaded at home.

This case will pretty much determine what the Second Amendment actually protects-a state's collective right to form a militia, or an individual right to bear arms. The last time the Supreme Court heard a case on the topic was back in 1939, in U.S. v. Miller. It involved a criminal prosecution under the National Firearms Act of 1934, requiring certain forms of firearms to be registered and a $200 tax to be paid upon it at the time of registration. Jack Miller, the plaintiff, was arrested for transporting a sawed-off shotgun across state lines. When the US District Court in Arkansas heard the case, the judge agreed with the defense that the NFA violated the individual's right to bear arms granted under the Second Amendment, also calling it an attempt by the government to usurp the policing power of the states. It then went to the Supreme Court, where the court decided that the NFA did not violate the Second Amendment, saying, "In the absence of any evidence tending to show that possession or use of a 'shotgun having a barrel of less than eighteen inches in length' at this time has some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia, we cannot say that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear such an instrument."

The ruling has been interpreted various ways by both gun control and gun rights advocates. Everyone's pretty much agreed for a while though, that US v. Miller didn't clarify anything at all.

The big question is- what was the intent of the Second Amendment? Was it to protect the collective right to form a militia or an individual right to own and carry guns?

So far, it looks like the justices are leaning all kinds of ways on the issue.

"I don't see how there's any, any, any contradiction between reading the second clause as a -- as a personal guarantee and reading the first one as assuring the existence of a militia...," Justice Antonin Scalia said. "But why isn't it perfectly plausible, indeed reasonable, to assume that since the framers knew that the way militias were destroyed by tyrants in the past was not by passing a law against militias, but by taking away the people's weapons -- that was the way militias were destroyed."

Justice Stephen Breyer seemed to be looking for answers on the practicality of the DC law. After quoting some of the statistics on gun-related crime (80,000-100,000 people every year in the US are either killed or wounded in gun-related homicides/crimes/accidents/suicides, guessing the stats in the District as being approximately 200-300 dead and 1,500-2000 wounded annually), he asked, "Now, in light of that, why isn't a ban on handguns, while allowing the use of rifles and muskets, a reasonable or a proportionate response on behalf of the District of Columbia?"

Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty has given his opinion on the law pretty plainly- he wants it to stay in place. "This is a public safety case," Fenty has said. " Handguns represent a disproportionate number of crimes in the District of Columbia: everything from homicides to robbery to rape." He predicted that the repeal of the handgun ban would lead to more crime and violence, saying "The fact that we have had a handgun ban has significantly curtailed the number of violent crimes in the city."

Should be interesting to see what happens here- it doesn't look like the justices are leaning either way yet.

Here's the transcript of the arguments today.

I'll post my personal thoughts on all this soon.

-HG

Random Facts About Me

2008-03-18T00:58:00.000-04:00

1. I love food. Like- really really love it. I enjoy trying new things and savor the old. Thus this entire list will be about my food quirks and loves.

2. I am a snack maniac- there are certain snacks I'll never keep in my apartment because I know they'll disappear in a day. These include white cheddar cheezits, any of the ritz bitz sandwiches, dried cherries, and wheat thins.

3. I never eat the pretzels in a bag of Chex Mix...unless I'm really really hungry.

4. I have a huge sweet tooth. If I let it get out of control, I would happily eat ice cream all day, with a side of cookie dough and my mom's cheesecake.

5. I have random intense cravings for corn dogs which really can't be explained. I think it might be the Texan in me calling out for the state fair.

6. I thoroughly believe my dad's brisket is the best in the world, no matter what my friend Aram says. He maintains that brisket was invented by Jews in New York City and the best brisket can be found at a Deli up there. We'll see- we're going up there this next weekend and I'll make sure to figure that out.

7. I. Love. Seafood. Shrimp especially. Mmmmm. I'm also a big fan of fish and lemon. Lemon makes everything better!

8. When I was in Europe in January, I really really enjoyed the food there. The lamb kebabs in Austria, especially, were amazing. The way they roast them on the spit is really just, quite incomparable.

9. I really enjoy a well cooked steak or burger. I don't think I could ever be a vegetarian- there's just a juicy wonderfulness about meat that just hits my taste buds in the right spot.

10. However, I've considered being a vegetarian before and have tried it on a few occasions- most memorably giving it up for Lent in like, 6th grade. I'd like to be able to give it up honestly- I'd like to be disciplined enough to help save the environment and the animals. Plus I've heard you lose a LOT of weight once you give up meat. But I just don't think I can do it- especially not right now. I think I'll try it in the summer and see what happens.

And yes, of course I'll write about it.

: )

HG

Dancing on the Ashes

2008-03-17T19:39:00.001-04:00

As Wonkette mentioned, this week marks the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War. What an unglorious birthday.

I must say though, some of the anti-war protests that are happening are really quite ingenious.

I'm most fascinated by this event hosted by DC Students for a Democratic Society called "Funk The War 3" (which has apparently been held twice before). Not too much is said about it, but what is there, makes it sound like this protest will be an all-out free-loving dancing disco protest of awesome measure.

This is what their website says.

"We're going down to the K Street offices of the rich and powerful that started this mess and keep us in it, we're going to shut them down, and we're going to dance on the ashes. March 19 is the fifth anniversary of the War on Iraq and this is the party we're throwing for it."

Another part of this brilliant website says, "The Militant Mobile Anti-War Disco Returns to Drop More Beats, Not Bombs!"

Excellent. Thoroughly excellent. I definitely plan to attend and cover it for Connect Mason.

I love offbeat protests like this. I mean, there were the protesters in No War, No Warming dressed up as polar bears dancing to hip-hop music. There were also fleets of RAGING AT THE MOUTH kids on bikes blocking traffic. A lot of them ended up getting arrested.

Damn Polar Bears. Always disturbing the peace with their crazy requests for a home to boogie down in.

My favorite video from there is actually the last one on the page- where the polar bears get arrested, the camera man pushed back, and everyone starts yelling, "FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!" It just makes me swell up with pride for my awesome career.

You know, part of me knows that these protests don't really work because they just kinda piss everyone off, but I just love them so much and want them to work so badly that I don't really care. Plus they make FANTASTIC news coverage. As long as you don't overdo it, anyways.

I wrote up a piece on Connect Mason today blogger-style (lots of fun links) on the new Indian food place that just opened up on campus. It's pretty exciting I gotta say.

Anyways, over and out-

HG

I <3 (Governor) Huckabee

2008-03-16T20:14:00.001-04:00

Well not really. I disagree with him on many many things. But I really wanted to play on the title of that one movie I never saw...

But you gotta say, the guy has an awesome sense of humor about himself.

I mean his appearance with Elmo and Rosita from Sesame Street is fabulous.

Then there's his hilarious appearance on the Colbert Report where they played Air Hockey with a Texas shaped Puck. I can't find the video right now, but I'm sure it's out there.

His recognition of Mad Money as creating him.

His self-deprecating appearance on SNL.

An amazing commercial with Chuck Norris.

And I'm sure there are many others. I gotta go find them all now. Wee.

-HG

Dalai Lama won't stop protests in Tibet

2008-03-16T19:24:00.000-04:00

In a not so happy turn of events, the Dalai Lama said in a news conference today that he would not order the protesters in Tibet to stop. The situation in Tibet is growing interesting, particularly due to disparate reports about the death toll coming from the Chinese official reports and elsewhere.

According to this article from Chinadaily.com, 10 civilians were killed in the violence last Friday. I thought for a second that this article was just old, but it clearly says it's from March 17. Numerous articles and news sources are saying that at least 80 people have been killed in the protests, with a Korean site claiming "scores of fatalities."

Also according to the article, the Mayor of Lhasa, where the majority of violence has occurred, said that calm had returned to the city, with the unrest provoked only by a handful of monks and lawless persons.

I think I'm going to have say- bullshit. The protests have clearly not calmed down- they've spread into different Tibetan regions of China. Another article I found quotes a policeman as saying that approximately 200 protestors hurled petrol bombs and burnt down a police station in Aba county in the Sichuan province today.

Calm, my ass. Way to be completely propaganda-ish and false about the reporting. China just doesn't want to look bad in front of the international community before the upcoming Beijing Olympics. I think they're failing...

I'll be watching this more- it's not a topic I know a lot about right now, but I hope to get more informed on it in the next couple days.

-HG

Tattoos, Tattoos, Tattoos

2008-03-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

You know, I've been thinking about getting another tattoo for a while (I have a small one on my ankle that's very pretty) Not exactly flames or stickmen roasting s'mores or anything, but something colorful that'll remind me of some of the shit I've managed to survive in my life. Well, okay, not to remind me of the shit, but to remind me of how I survived. That's the really important thing.

I've thought about getting a phoenix. Maybe not a crazy vengeful looking one, but just one that looks like it's kinda, risen from the ashes, you know. Despite my crazy linkage on that sentence, I haven't managed to find one I like- I want a phoenix that's modern looking, sleek, beautiful, feminine without being entirely girly, and something very different from the feathery twirly Russian/Chinese phoenix tattoos. I haven't found anything like what I'm looking for yet. Also, I'm afraid it'll be kinda cliche.

So I need something representing rebirth and renewal without necessarily being a phoenix. I read that a flaming butterfly is a Greek symbol of renewal. I don't know why. Poor butterfly, getting its little wings burned off (I can't believe I found a picture of that, that's just sick and twisted.) However, a butterfly is a natural symbol of renewal- I started a novel when I was younger that was going to be divided into sections based on the life cycles of a butterfly- it involved a mysterious town where all these people with mutant gifts lived called "Chrysalis." I don't think I want a picture of a chrysalis or a pupa on my body though (and yes, I'm aware they're the same thing), it would be too easily mistaken for a shell or a booger. Or maybe even that nasty ear wax my mom helped me pry out of my ear my first year of college that was keeping me from hearing. I learned my lesson after that- no earbuds for me! (Actually, be careful with your ears! Any long term exposure to loud music via headphones can seriously damage them!)

I'm not too worried about waiting on figuring this out- It took me a bit of thinking to figure out what I wanted for my first tattoo but once I decided what I wanted, -bam- I went out and got it like, two days later. And I haven't regretted it at all- I love my tattoo.

One of the craziest tattoos I've ever seen is this (warning, this tattoo is in a somewhat explicit area, but it's fascinating, not disgusting, in my opinion. but then, I'm not a guy, so I don't feel physical pain when I look at this) To find out more about how this tattoo was done, go look at John Bevan's website.

It's also interesting reading about the World's Most Tattooed Man, Lucky Diamond Rich. He's onto multiple layers of tattoos all over his body now. I'd love to meet the guy- he must have some serious chutzpah. After one tiny tattoo on my ankle, in a session of less than 15 minutes, I was freaking out from the pain over my ankle bone. This guy has gone through over 1,000 hours! of tattooing. I can't even imagine it.

While I'm over at the Guinness Book of World Records website, I might as well look at the Most Pierced Guy as well. Now, I have a couple piercings in my ears that I'm quite proud of. My pain tolerance for that type of body modification is actually pretty good at this point. But I cannot even comprehend what it's like to have all these piercings in my body.

I guess I just really don't have it in me to be a world record breaker. Lame. That would be a good path to getting famous, right?

On the other hand, because of my careful nature towards my body modifications, I don't have to worry too much about looking like one of these poor souls. Ear Piercings gone horrendously horrendously Bad!

And then an infected tattoo! Bahhh! And another one! Bahhh!

If you were just horrendously grossed out by that, get over it. My mom's a doctor and always had a lovely magazine examining skin infections show up on my doorstep when I was little. It was truly dangerous getting the mail when I was younger, all of us were utterly disgusted by some of the cover pictures that showed up. Eech.

Anyways, I suppose I should probably work on some of my homework for tomorrow. Gross.

Catch y'all later-

HG

First Thoughts of the Blog

2008-03-16T03:04:00.000-04:00

Things that fascinate me right now:

The new Post Secret en Espanol website! I love Post Secret- check it out every week as a matter of fact. And now that it's in Spanish, it helps me learn a bit more every time I look at it. I went through and read these words to myself a few times while looking at the English versions for reference. It brings questions to my mind though- why is the Spanish translation of text message," "SMS"? What does that mean? Also, the Spanish of that particular post card, saying "My wife left me via text message," says, ""Mi esposa me dejó...Por SMS." Now, in my elementary knowledge of Spanish, I've always learned por, to mean, "for." This amuses me greatly now to read in my head, "My wife left me for text messaging." Haha! Poor loser. (Even though I know this is incredibly wrong for me to limit my Spanish knowledge like this, I can't help but laugh.)

The fact that after coming back from my Spring Break vacation at the beach, now all my friends have stolen my pictures to use as their profile pics on Facebook. Pwned! : ) The beach itself really was wonderful btw. So relaxing...

While I was there, I finally got around to reading Eat Pray Love, a fantastic book by Elizabeth Gilbert. So many parts of it spoke to my own struggles with love, religion, stress, and the need I have to balance it all in my own life. It also heightened my own longing for more adventurous traveling in my life- I've only been abroad once in a study trip for school. I went through several countries in Europe over 15 days- I think it changed my life. Now all I want to do is find a way to go abroad for a semester next spring and intern somewhere in Europe, or Australia, or India, or South America! Anyways, it's a really fabulous book, I suggest it to everyone.

I came across this wonderful cartoon on XKCD the other day that I thoroughly enjoyed, yet didn't quite understand. Using my insightful analysis of the tooltip reading, "RIP Gary," combined with an expert use of Wikipedia, I discovered that Dungeons and Dragons creator Gary Gygax died on March 4. Since then, I've discovered another comic tribute to Gygax's passing at Penny Arcade. Wired.com held a redesign the logo contest in Dungeons and Dragons style contest in his honor. The Colbert Report even came out and honored Gygax. I'm sure I could find tributes throughout cyberspace in his honor if I looked longer (as a friend of mine mentioned, pretty much almost every website owner in existence has played D&D at some point, particularly in the comic/nerdy type world I love so much). I think it's so sweet and fascinating to find so many tributes to this man.

It's time to reveal another obsession of mine- I follow the lives of celebrities with an almost ridiculous interest. I don't read Perez Hilton every day, but when I do, I certainly enjoy it. I buy People every chance I get. I secretly want to be as famous as these celebrities. I have my entrance at the Oscars created in my mind- I'd enter in a fabulous gown that's absolutely breathtaking with a beautifully classic hairstyle- none of this crazy Bob Mackie outfit or swan gown business, as lovely as it can be to laugh about.
Anyways, to get back to my point- I just wanted to know- did anyone else think the "Britney Spears" figure in the new animated superhero music video, looked absolutely nothing like her? And I wasn't very convinced by the sincerity of the piece- I was more convinced by the completely lame (but very laughable) superheros in that awesome tv series a while back than her. Stan Lee was in that show- it was fabulous. Mmmm Stan Lee...

More later- it's very late/early now and I should probably grab some zzz's before the next day. I have an essay and a project due Monday that I completely haven't started- I must make sure that I make that happen!

Catch y'all later-

HG

Introduction

2008-03-16T02:42:00.001-04:00

So I've decided to start a blog again, and I feel I must be up front with it from the start.

I am a college girl, age 20, who is absolutely fascinated with life. I love writing, adventuring, traveling, reading, being able to make people laugh, and finding out about things first. I am insanely curious and easily excitable, in an emotional, happy way. These traits all add up to working out quite well for my chosen passion and career- journalism. I love writing about people, politics, current events, travel- everything. I also write poetry which is usually either very exuberant or slightly dramatic- I tend not to be two ways about things.

You can probably guess then, why I've decided to name my blog Hyperbole Girl. I will also be going by this name for the time being. It's a nickname my cousin gave me at one point after he'd heard me proclaim something, "Amazing!" possibly one too many times. For the uninformed, a hyperbole is "a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect." It's from the Greek, huperbole- excess, from the base verb, huperballein- to exceed. I'm not entirely certain, but I'd imagine this is the same word which hyper, meaning emotionally stimulated or overexcited, derives from. This is a word commonly used to describe people with Attention Deficit Disorder. I must also be upfront in saying, yes, I do have ADD. I discovered it a few years ago when I began having a depressed nervous breakdown from the pressure of not being able to handle all the stress in my life anymore. It's something I deal with- it's part of who I am. So yes, I am occasionally inclined to ramble, joke, laugh, and be very hyperactive, particularly in the evening after my medicine has worn off and I have nothing much to concentrate on for work. I've had friends told me before that my stream of consciousness must be absolutely fascinating to read.

I'm going to use this blog to write about anything and everything I'm interested in at the moment of writing. It might be news one day, a favorite webcomic another day- whatever strikes my fancy.

Hope y'all enjoy it. : )

-HG