todays reading day....

WAS fantastic!!!
i was reading about opinion writng, and all off a sudden i found myself scrolling through harvard's website.
i'm really aspiring to attend harvard's medical school, or their law school, and their website was phenomenal. I learned so much by reading articles from students and staff. it takes so much to get into a school like that, but i'm definitely going to try!!
if you guys are interested, i'lll definitely post the URL.

THE FRIENDLY FEMINIST: a Hooters experience

The flat screen above plays clips from a sports channel, but I can't hear a thing over the Jimmy Buffet cover playing and the indistinct chatter amongst these young men. I catch an old man looking at me and waving, as if we've met before. We haven't. His 20-something daughter nibbles at her food as my eyes glaze over. I'm still soaking in where I am.

There's a sign that spoofs a warning on the high level of peroxide in the the air, and its effect on our brains.

But I'm pretty sure any effect isn't from that.

Maybe it's the way my waitress in spandex shorts sways toward my table. Maybe it's how exclusive I'm supposed to feel when she writes her name and a heart in scripty listick on my napkin. Maybe it's the wink her sultry, heavily made-up eyes give me when she's done taking my order.

Afterall, no one comes for the food.

So what's a feminist blogger doing in a place where women are paid for their boobs and flirty demeanor?

For starters, I was curious to how this Hooters differed from the previous one I went to. Most importantly, I wanted to know how on earth a woman worked knowing her income rested in her assets.

So when it was finally my turn to order, my question boiled inside. I decided this girl deserved a warning.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Sure ... "
She looked around a bit, and I continued.
"I don't want you to get offended, like, I just want to know, seriously -- "
"Just ask."
I could tell she was irritated and trying to maintain her poise. I figured if I tried to warn her any longer, her claws would come out and toward my face.

"How do you feel working here and being objectified?"
She looked around the same impatient way she did before.
"I just ... work. I don't think about it. I just work."
"So do you get guys that like can't look past your boobs?"
"Oh yeah. I get those."

I tell her I'll take some curly fries, and yes, that will be all.

A part of me is glad this chick is getting her money's worth for what she's got and milking men by looking good. A bigger part of me is afraid. Afraid that she can't separate business from personal life. I can only hope she has a good head on her shoulders. It's an EXCELLENT thing to be smart, pretty, and know what you want.

But what if she's just pretty?

Because when you realize you're worth as much as you look, do you pay much attention to anything else?

I don't know.
That question will have to wait until next time.

ReaLiz: Mexico 2 - 1 United States; a bitter sweet victory

As any person can imagine, soccer is a major part of living a Latino lifestyle. So as the days led up to today, a major component in our discussions was about none other than the upcoming game with the Mexico and United States national soccer teams at the grand Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

So as I sat and listened to the never ending discussion about "Wuthering Heights," I could only turn and look at the clock. Hoping that time could possibly go by faster, allowing me to watch just a while of the classic game. As I got home I quickly had a scavenger hunt, going mad because I couldn't find the remote. At last I found it, and I was able to watch 20 minutes of the highly talked about game.

As the camera's gave a rotation of the Stadium, a sea of people in green Mexico soccer jerseys cheered with every move of a Mexican soccer player. Already a goal had been made by American Charlie Davies in 9 minutes at the start of the game. But the American glory lasted only 10 minutes, the Mexican team was quick to respond with an amazing 27-yard shot from 29-year-old Mexican player Israel Macias Castro.

Yet, both teams made it clear that this wasn't the end of the game. Both teams were looking for a victory that would stand for so much more. If the U.S. won, they would end the losing streak that they have against Mexico in the Mexican's turf. The American team is ranked as number two in the world, right behind the Brazilian team, their B-team had a major loss of 5-0 against Mexico last month in the Gold Cup. While the Mexican team needed this to just have hope that they would get to next years World Cup.

The Mexican team used their small stature and amazing speed to their advantage and made another goal at the 81-minute. By none other than Miguel Sabah, who hadn't even touched the ball in this game before his goal.

The game came to it's closing seconds, and all I could help to feel was a mixed sense of happiness and devastation. My father is a devoted Mexican soccer team fan, yet I stand on the other side, always being critical of their mistakes. My dad complains that I have no pride in my heritage, but could this really be the case? While I cheer on the American team, my dad just looks at me with disappointment. These soccer matches may just be a game, but each time I ask myself do I really have no pride in my heritage? Could my lack of liking for a soccer team mean that I see my heritage as a burden, and more something that I can criticize? While my dad rubs in my face that Mexico won, I can only hope that the U.S. will win next time, showing him that America is better.

For a summary of the game go to: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=262901&cc=5901

John Hughes: the original Brat Pack member

"Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?"

"Ferris Bueller's Day Off", starring Matthew Broderick, was just one of the many teen films created by director John Hughes during the 80's. This one, like his others, seemed to focus on the misfits, the weirdos, the social unacceptable. It is because of this that I, as a teen, flocked to his movies, like a kid who just got his braces off flocks to taffy. But why have I brought this up? Hughes passed away last Thursday and my movie channels were playing his movies all weekend long.


It was during this long weekend that I realized that even though his movies were made in the 80's, their message still seemed true to teens nowadays. Take my favorite movie, "Sixteen Candles". This movie is about a girl whose parents forget her sixteenth birthday, then a geek begins to ruin her reputation, and the boy she loves doesn't know she exists...or does he? Hughes not only seems to completely capture the fears, the cheers, the ups, and the downs of the teenage girl, but he also does it in a way that is real. We can all recall at a time when we seemed to feel all alone. Who hasn't had to death with that annoying freshman who just won't leave us alone? Movies about teens nowadays, picture teens as they wish they could be, but Hughes never did that. He showed raw teen angst at its highest and lowest. He never tried to make life into a big fantasy where every end is tied up nicely.





Now guys, don't worry. Not all of Hughes' movies were about girls and their drama. "The Breakfast Club", in all its Brat Pack glory, was about a group of teens from different cliques (a brain, a princess, a jock, a weirdo, and a rebel) stuck together because of Saturday detention, but by the end of their stay, they learned more about themselves and each other, than they did about not getting into trouble. This movie was the reason that sometimes I forget to bring my lanyard, hoping that I will end up in Saturday school. This movie seemed to capture every teen because it had us all. No one us can say that at one point in our high school career, we weren't branded by a label. I, myself, am a brain. But the point of the movie wasn't to show us what we are, it was to show us that we aren't our labels. I am a brain, but I also rebel, sometimes I act weird, I play sports, and sometimes I wanna be a princess. We are everything, and not one thing defines any of us.



So not only should we mourn the loss of a terrific director and fellow brat pack member, but we should also celebrate the fact that he made movies that have stood the test of time. Next time you are at Blockbuster, walk past the romantic comedies and explosive action movies and rent one of his. You may be surprised what you learn about yourself in the process.


---Claire Scheffer

THE FRIENDLY FEMINIST: Haven for sex offenders

If you ever find yourself being a transient sex offender, worry no more.
There is a place for you.

Randy Young is the landlord for Brevard, Florida's "Habitat for sex offenders" -- a place built for people just like him (or you, but I'm hoping you're not a sex offender. If you are, please leave this site, and get some counseling).

Because it is hard to find housing for them nowadays. In Florida, you have to stay 1,000 feet away from churches, day-care centers, libraries, and schools. Where's a sex offender to go?

Even the flea bag motels with dimming vacancy signs, live and kicking roaches won't take them anymore. It's as if people convicted with such crimes aren't welcome...

Which is true. I would hope my neighbor wasn't a sex offender. So it makes sense to just throw them all in one place, right?

Maybe.

So what happens when you throw a bunch of sex offenders in one neighborhood? I don't know. I suppose they'll be better supervised, and people will know where NOT to trick or treat. But they'll probably go on their business, as long as it doesn't conflict with a few rules:

No kids (even for visitation rights)
No smoking
and a shirt is required for leaving the house.

I hope they remember to keep their pants on too.

CARINA 360°: Laura Ling & Euna Lee, Now Free.

Finally after 5 grueling months of waiting, the two Current TV journalists have been pardoned and will be in Los Angeles to meet their families.

Former President Bill Clinton met with leader Kim Jong II. In the meeting, Clinton had "sincere words of apology" for the "hostile acts" committed by the two.

To recap: Back in March, the women were arrested reporting on the border of North Korea. Then in June, they were sentenced to 12 years in prison for crossing illegally to conduct a smear campaign.

The treatment Lee and Ling received wasn't as bad as one may have perceived. They supposedly stayed in a guesthouse and were fed properly. But no doubt they are happy to be free and together with their loved ones.

However, in all happy endings their is always a Grinch! Some critics argue that sending someone as high-rank as former President Clinton to help is making North Korea look like the big bad boss in charge. Conservative and former Bush administration U.N. ambassador, John Bolton said, "It comes perilously close to negotiating with terrorists."

But it doesn't matter much now, the point is they're home. A little girl will get her mommy back and a husband will once again have a wife. In a statement made by the two families; "We especially want to thank President Bill Clinton for taking on such an arduous mission and Vice President Al Gore for his tireless efforts to bring Laura and Euna home."

Laura Ling's father, Doug Ling, said upon hearing the news, "One of the best days in my life ... I figured, sooner or later, they'd be back."

-carina360.blogspot.com

Thumbs-Up Michy: All Time Low - Nothing Personal

All Time Low's new sound really is 'Nothing Personal.' Their style has changed, but not drastically, since 'So Wrong, It's Right.' No longer do they have that poppy happy feel, their sound has become more mature and the album contains deeper feelings and emotions. It's as if their hidden talent had been kept away but was finally unleashed and let out. 'Nothing Personal' conveys more of the band's developing style, and isn't always as upbeat and happy as 'Poppin' Champagne' and 'Dear Maria, Count Me In' were from the previous album. I'm not saying the album is more cutting edge and depressing. It still has that pop-rock feel throughout. It was definetly a change for the better, because I personally would get sick of their same sound, just as anyone else would. It's as if they started out with that pop-rock Boys Like Girls style, and developed into a more punk-hard rock Madina Lake sound.

Their hit singles 'Weightless' and 'Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)' have that familiar feel as the last album. Weightless seems like a song that wasn't good enough for So Wrong, It's Right and so it ended up as the single for this album. 'Damned If I Do Ya' however, at first listen I could tell All Time Low was different. The catchy drum beats with Alex Gaskarth's almost perfect voice makes the song addicting throughout.

I absolutely loved 'Break Your Little Heart.' As you can tell by the title, the song isn't very lovey-dovey. Gaskarth sings about heartbreak, instead this time, he's the one breaking them. He mocks how the girl is a drama queen and how he won't fall for any of her remorse. I found the lyrics to be rather humorous, because it made the term "heartbroken" more light and funny. At first, when he sang, "I'm gonna break your little heart/Watch you take the fall/Laughing all the way to the hospital/Cuz there's nothing surgery can do when I break your little heart in two," I thought the song was pretty cruel. Despite the fact that Gaskarth seemed heartless at first, this song was amazing and caught my attention with its' stunning guitar riffs and melodious beat. It simply made me think the message he was sending was 'nothing personal.'

'Lost in Stereo' revealed more of that Madina Lake style. This was another of my favorites. With the chorus repeating the faint echo of the words 'lost in stereo' along with Gaskarth's distinctive voice makes this song infectious. 'Keep the Change, You Filthy Animal' opens up with a familiar beat from their first album 'Put Up Or Shut Up' which was more punk than pop. This was another track that I've come to love.

A track I didn't like so much was 'Too Much.' This song was more mellow and calm than the rest, but it had 'too much' synthesis and seemed over-produced. It didn't seem like All Time Low, and I think I would've preferred it to be plain acoustic than have all of this unneeded synth. Lastly, 'Therapy' is another slow and soothing track, except it was executed way better than 'Too Much.' At first, I didn't like the song, but it really grew on me and now it is my absolute favorite off the album. I simply love the acoustic feel and it reminds me of their acoustic track 'Remembering Sunday' from 'So Wrong, It's Right.' This song really touches my heart, I love Gaskarth's voice in the chorus when he says 'give me therapy/I'm a walking travesty/but I'm smiling at everything.' It gives me chills. The beat reminds me a little of Green Day, but surely isn't a replica of any of their songs.

Overall, their album made a dramatic change, but a change for the better. I enjoyed the CD and it is my favorite from All Time Low. Like almost every band, their sound matured. We can't all be the same forever. But hey, it's 'nothing personal.'