Are You Onboard? November 7, 2009

I just discovered a great new artist, Eric Bibb. His style is a right-on mix of folk, blues, and gospel, without being boring, too roots-y, or too preachy. I came across his website by way of StumbleUpon, which is another newfound joy that may just deserve its own post later. So the first song I heard, which came up instantly on the website, was “New Beale Street Blues.” It was such a great introduction. It reminded me a little of New Orleans (even though I think it’s about Chicago…. or maybe Memphis).

Besides having a great style, his songs and the album I downloaded (and frankly, the only one I have listened to) are very smooth. Not in a lame “smooth jazz” kind of way, but in a way that flows extremely well. He has a beautiful voice and his guitar work compliments it perfectly.

iTunes categorizes Bibb as Blues, which I would say is correct. I was a little worried that he would be pegged as gospel or Christian, and I don’t think his style exemplifies that slant all the time. Even if this isn’t the sort of thing you’d normally check out, I would look him up on eMusic or just at his website.

I have downloaded “Get Onboard” and “Natural Light,” along with only 9 tracks of “A Ship Called Love,” because I ran out of credits at eMusic (and already bought a booster pack today for the first album. sigh), and I highly recommend all of them so far. I will say that “A Ship Called Love” seems to have a little weird drumwork… a sort of monotonous, Stevie-Wonder-esque new age-y-ness. But other than that, I am very much enjoying it all. Plus, all the song titles are great, and in my book that goes a long way.

The News That Matters November 4, 2009

“EMI and Apple Corps have announced they will be releasing a limited edition apple-shaped USB drive containing all 14 of the remastered Beatles albums as well as artwork, documentaries and other extras.

On 7 December, 30,000 of the drives will go on sale for £200 each.”

 

 

http://digg.com/d3196aj

Like She Was a Guitar: A Review of Tom Felton’s EP July 27, 2009

This is a complete, comprehensive review of Tom Felton’s EP, In Good Hands. All 6 tracks of it. It’s not one of the ones by Feltbeats, just the one Tom Felton released on March 10, 2009.

To see where you can obtain a copy of any of Tom’s works, see the post below this one, “Re: Tom Felton: Where to Find…”

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Tom Felton's EP: "In Good Hands"

At Face Value: There is nothing missing from the cover of this album, except perhaps color. But who needs it? You can’t really tell whether it’s water or grass in the background, but it looks very fluid. I think that’s what counts, picturesquely speaking. You get Tom’s guitar, his signature baggy sweatshirt, the sturdy tree, and the dangling leaves in the foreground. And then there’s something metal, like a tool or something, in the tree. Don’t quite know what it is, but it looks very rustic. It’s like you’re catching Tom on a typical day, except that we all know that Tom, on “a typical day” is surrounded by Potter pals.

Track 1 “If You Could Be Anywhere”: I love the way this song starts. It almost sets you up for something different; that first bar of music sort of asks a question, perhaps “where would you be?” What follows is energetic strumming and a not-so-intricate picking style that comes in a bit late at times, cluing fans in to the fact that really, he’s just having fun. At least for now. I’m going to pass over the incorrect grammar of “where would I fly to?” and move right on to… who is that lady in the waiting room? The strangest part of this song is the sort of sighing in the background. At some places it’s pretty clear that it’s a supplemental sort of harmony part, but at others it just sounds… maybe like a mimicry of Tom’s biggest fangirls? and who is that lady in the street? My favorite part of this song comes at the very end, with the harmonica–simply superb.

Track 2 “We Belong”: I’ll be honest: at first I thought it was going to be a cover of the Pat Benetar song. It’s not, of course. That said, there’s not much I can say about this song. It’s a pretty sweet love song. I think the drums are a little much at times, and again, the sighing background vocals are distracting. I like the lyric “we belong in the sands of the sky” the best in this song. Perhaps it’s just because I’m a cynic, but the song gets a little too sappy about halfway through. If I thought it was actually a parody of itself, like Jason Mraz might produce, I might stomach it a bit better. And indeed, the “you are the reason why…” bridge is reminiscent of some of Mraz’s work. “You are the reason why I won’t be sleeping tonight” is amusing… and it just gets a little too sweet after that. Also, he references his own song, which is a technique I’m not too thrilled about. Still, it’s a song that fangirls will like to listen to and pretend he’s singing to them, I’m sure.

Track 3 “When Angels Come”: Like the emphasis on the upbeat at the beginning, and also the slight falsetto throughout the song. Unfortunately, I have the same complaint with this song as the last one. “Makeup was designed for other girls to try and look like you.” Really, Tom? I have to wonder if he’s even talking about his current girlfriend, because really, who is she trying to look like with all that makeup? But I digress… I do like that he actually warns us that he’s not going to leave anything out about what he likes about this girl– “my words no longer cautious.” At first I also liked the idea that he was incorporating angels… but then it’s only to compare them to this girl, and it turns out that his girlfriend wins. And not to go completely Jesus-freak on everyone, but is that really realistic?

Track 4 “Convinced”: Ok, I have to reveal a pet peeve here: beginning a song with “and” or “cuz.” In all of Felton’s work (including his 3 other EPs under Feltbeats) he only does it about 3 or 4 times, but for some reason it made a big impression on me. So, barring that, this is one of my favorite songs on the EP. It’s actually quite hilarious. He has “makes you want to vomit” rhyming with “change the channel, nothing’s on it,” and for some reason those lines make me laugh every time I hear them. However, the line after that, which I believe is “it’s all ri-i-ight,” is exactly the same as “I’m yo-o-ours” from Jason Mraz. Catchy, but already used, Mr. Felton. (I know I’m picky, but “I’m Yours” was a huge hit everywhere, and this EP came out at least a year after “I’m Yours,” so he might have switched it up a bit…) I’m a little biased toward songs about honest girls, and this one is no different. I like the idea that “she’s as honest as can be; that’s why I’m convinced when she says she loves me.” I like the faded out guitar part.

Track 5 “Father of Mine”: [*Ahem*, bear with me here.] I like the opening guitar part. It sets the song up very well, and is extremely different from the other songs on the album. And after that… well, after that comes what I think is supposed to be a very touching song about divorced parents. First of all, I (fortunately) cannot relate to this subject at all. But I must give Tom kudos for singing about such a difficult subject and bearing his heart. Seriously, that takes guts, especially for someone who is known for his role as a “tough-guy.” As a singer, I can’t help noticing that I’m pretty sure he’s flat in a couple of lines, and I almost can’t tolerate the “father of mah-hiiine” whine. I guess in general, it’s just a little too specific. Its tone is a little too sad and it doesn’t make up for it with any biting cynicism or sarcasm or making fun of itself. I won’t lie: it makes me uncomfortable, for more reasons than one: My final issue with this song… it reminds me of Lucius Malfoy. Someone could write a parody of it and insert “Dark Lord” every time Tom said “divorce,” and poor Draco would easily be singing about his father. Please, Tom, put that on YouTube and make this song worthwhile!

Track 6 “If That’s All Right With You”: This EP goes out with a bang. This is my favorite track by Tom Felton, out of all of his EPs, and it gives me happy vibes every time I hear it. I love that it starts out with a kind of docile sound, with just quiet voice and guitar, and then it builds with a bit of drums, the vocal gets louder, and more drums, and he…! I really don’t want to give it away. It’s a bit surprising, considering every other song Tom performs. I love that it’s a bit rowdy, but with this underlying timidity: “I’ll kiss you on the lips… but only if that’s alright with you.” And, ok… if I was the girl Tom was singing to, I’d rather hear this than hear that he would tell all the angels that I was prettier than they are. The other best part about this song is the line “I’d hold you in my arms like you was a guitar.”

And just like that, just like the actual CD itself, the music comes full circle. On the album cover? Yes, Tom holds his girls like they’re guitars and he holds his guitars like they’re girls. And whichever he happens to be holding at the time, she’s in good hands.

If I Could Be Anywhere… July 24, 2009

I brought it to my attention today (since there’s no one else out there to do it) that I haven’t been writing about music enough. Well, that’s because I haven’t been listening to very substantial amounts of new music. New singles from people I’ve never heard before every now and then, but not full albums.

However, I have been doing some YouTube touring, and call it cheesy… but I found something worth reviewing:

A channel belonging to Tom Felton (who plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, of course). It’s titled “FeltBeats” for his band, or just his production name, or something like that. He only has 4 videos, but he has an EP that is available on Amazon. And get this… he’s actually quite amazing. Not just saying that because he’s the most well-dressed character in the latest “Harry Potter.” He’s actually quite a good singer, as well as an adequate guitar player (not that I know how to judge guitar playing, but); I thought his playing accompanied his voice and lyrics very nicely. His words were heartfelt and charming; from the 4 songs on YouTube, I didn’t think they were particularly clever, but for debut work? It’s something special.

It’s even more fantastic that he’s seriously considering pursuing a career in/an education in music. It’s not hard to tell that he could easily have a following and new life as a musician, and I think he would also have a good presence as a performer and entertainer. He definitely has the acting background for it, and he has shown comfortability with a camera and in front of audiences, on YouTube and in press conferences and the like.

In case you haven’t checked out the link of Felton performing yet, I’ll debrief you:

The videos begin like many amateurs’ do; you see someone’s arm retreating from the webcam button. The first thing I noticed was the sepia coloring, which I think is a unique touch. Then, the scene [probably Felton's bedroom (ooh)] is revealed, and we see he’s lucky enough to actually have some pretty good equipment… microphones, a couple guitars in the background in addition to the one in his hands… He wears his signature polo or striped shirt/sweatshirt and a smile.

Yes, the sound and picture are a little mismatched in a couple of the videos, but one hardly notices because Felton’s confident-yet-bashful grin would tell anyone that he just.doesn’t.care. He knows when he makes mistakes, but he doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s a testament to his character that he puts these videos up, daring fans to disown him for a few chord errors or the times he almost forgets to sing. Of course, his fans would never do such a thing. If anything, they grow more and more in love with Tom with each amused “oops” smile on his lips.

“If you could be anywhere” would definitely be his single, if he ever released one. he has edited the video and overdubbed himself, so he’s strumming in one layer, picking in one layer, and singing melody in a couple layers (I don’t think he harmonizes with himself). Toward the end, he even adds in a harmonica riff, which he plays passionately well. If I had any misgivings, it would be that this song (or the portion in the YouTube video) is extremely short.

As he fingerpicks his way through the feel-good melodies on all these songs, we think, “Draco who?” The nasty Potter arch-rival is nowhere to be seen–there’s not even much angst in the lyrics, just clear-headed optimism.

Actually, the Feltbeats videos are rather difficult to critique. If it seemed like he were putting himself out there for a reason, as if saying “look, I can do more than act in family movies,” then we might be able to tell whether he was doing a good job. When Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) did “Equus,” the play in London, he explicitly told the media something like, “I want people to know that I can act in different genres, and that I have a future as a different kind of actor.” Admittedly, Radcliffe got excellent reviews for “Equus” (maybe partially just because everyone who went saw him naked, so he may have been mainly praised for sheer confidence in himself… which also goes a long way, but I digress…), but he set out to prove something.

Nowhere have I read anything from Tom Felton that implied that he was making music for any reason other than his own pure enjoyment. And no one can be faulted for that.

If I could be anywhere, I would be on the Feltbeats YouTube channel. : )

[@feltbeats and @TomFelton are both excellent follows on Twitter; look them up!]

Yoko Oye. July 22, 2009

I also follow Yoko Ono on Twitter, which was an embarrassingly huge step for me. It has taken me years to recognize the profound love than she and John shared, no matter how much it may have negatively affected John’s other relationships.

Anyway, I love it when people recognize that the first step towards peace is letting people know it’s out there. Peace exists; let us find it within ourselves first, and then learn how to spread it. Yoko, at least from her Tweets, seems like that kind of person, and I can really respect that. Plus, whatever she’s doing for “art” is a step in the right direction, so I want to praise her for actually trying.

Come to think of it, [and please excuse the shameless way I say "we" through all this, as if I were there], I have a few things for which we can at least recognize, if not praise, her.

• Dealing with all of us Beatles freaks who wanted to do very un-Lennon/Ono-like things to her. People have been against her since the day she stepped into John’s life and came out of the woodwork. A part of me thinks that the world wouldn’t have reacted half as strongly if John had settled down with some gorgeous American blonde bimbo, just because it would have made more sense. After all, those were the “type” he’d fallen for before. But then came this Japanese slice of nothing, and suddenly he was head-over-heels for her. And instead of shaking our heads and sighing and just being happy for him, we were outraged. Not only were there tons of things wrong with her… there was nothing right about her! What did he see in her? blah blah blah. Then, to top it all off, The Beatles just *happened* to break up, and regardless of how much influence Yoko had over that in the studio, there was no mistaking the fact that John was obviously distracted and otherwise engaged. But… well, there is no “but.” The break-up was an absolute tragedy. If there was some good light about it all, though, it would be that John was [apparently] happier than ever. And as long as he was still making great music, we should have been thrilled that he had found love.
• Dealing with John’s passing as well as she did. I cannot imagine her devastation, and frankly I’m impressed that she was able to pull through it (especially since she sort of had to carry the weight of the rest of the world’s mourning as well).
• Pushing the boundaries. Since I haven’t really warmed up to her for very long, I haven’t seen any of the work she’s produced. I’ve heard about some of it, though, like the 8-hour video of a fly crawling up a naked woman’s body. You can’t tell me that had been done before. Yoko pushed the boundaries of art in a way that the Beatles pushed the boundaries of rock. …Ok, maybe not that much, but both are an inspiration.
• Staying in the public eye. I used to hate her for this. Why couldn’t she just disappear back into the woodwork from whence she came, so we wouldn’t have to deal with her always talking about how amazing John was and what her new project is? In fact, I think we all sort of wished she’d shut up altogether–about peace, about art, about the Beatles, about herself… I don’t really know why. Maybe because even though we’d had 10 or 11 years, we hadn’t quite gotten used to her. Maybe we were hoping that John would get bored and call the whole thing off or make it an extended fling. But she ended up his widow, and she wasn’t going to let us ignore that.

“Oye” means “listen” in Spanish (correct me if I’m wrong–I took French), and I think Yoko deserves that from us. She’s pretty much the closest remaining piece of John that we have; maybe we should cherish that. After all that she’s been through, she hasn’t turned bitter and she’s still preaching John’s message of peace. Far from excommunicating Yoko Ono, let’s join her in wanting war to be over.

Illuminating Ruminating July 22, 2009

[This article was originally a continuation of the post below, TwitterBurger.]

I can’t help it; I love looking at every single one of people’s Tweets. You never know what you might miss, I suppose… and some are really quite profound or inspirational. Take this, for example: I follow Deepak Chopra (if you don’t know who he is…look it up), and he has some really amazing quotes. Today he Tweeted: “We have fallen into the place where everything is music. -Rumi“

I would imagine that this has something to do with Rumi’s general teachings (I had to look this up too): He believed that he had been disconnected from his creator and had begun to think himself above it/him/her, but that he had the ultimate goal to reconnect with his primal roots and restore that relationship.

So at first, the quote that Deepak Chopra Tweeted seemed a little… derogatory, shall we say? towards music. If we have “fallen” to that place where everything is music, it doesn’t seem very positive. It makes me think of falling from grace, or “falling” as a sort of failure. So despite my unconditional love for music, my conclusion was that perhaps Rumi saw music as monotony? To say that “We have fallen into the place where everything is monotonous” would make much more sense, since monotony isn’t really something we strive for, and it could definitely be said that our world has become monotonous (despite all the Twittering).

However, even my extremely rudimentary Rumi research through Wikipedia told me that Rumi was anything but skeptical or pessimistic towards music. Apparently, he wholeheartedly believed that music was one of the best ways to get back in touch with his creator or God.

(At this point I must stress that if you know anything about Rumi, please tell me, because I’m completely at a loss and I’m a little distrustful of Wikipedia sometimes.)

Anyway, Wiki says that Rumi thought poetry, music, and dancing were the ways in which people were most spiritual and soulful. The idea of “whirling dervishes” (which I always thought were a kind of garden ornament) originated around Rumi’s time. They were so invested in the sounds that they would move in whatever way the spirit moved them, which often resulted in spinning. Pretty soon, this sort of dancing became a ritual, during which Rumi believed that the soul was damaged and repaired, and when it was repaired, there was a renewed devotion to God.

From Wiki: “In this journey, the seeker symbolically turns towards the truth, grows through love, abandons the ego, finds the truth, and arrives at the Perfect. The seeker then returns from this spiritual journey, with greater maturity, to love and to be of service to the whole of creation without discrimination with regard to beliefs, races, classes, and nations.”

Honestly, this sounds amazing. I was never one for believing that the soul could have just one point of revelation; rather, it is always evolving and maturing. But for the alternative, it’s an amazing idea. And of course, whether you believe the soul goes through one very powerful transformation or many, I do concur with the idea that music plays a huge part of it.

“Falling into music” is a little bittersweet, and actually I think I was partially right in my analysis of it. We’ve fallen into a place where everything is monotonous, but we can choose to see it as music, because that is all we have. And because music is so powerful, we can choose to make something of it and use it to our advantage, not just in the world but for ourselves, spiritually. And once we change ourselves, we are well on our way to changing the world anyway.

Declaration of Faith December 10, 2008

This is an essay I wrote for my senior high school lit class. The prompt was to write our “creed.”

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Man’s mindscape in the dawn of time: questioning everything from his five fingers to why his fish died. From how to balance on his two feet to why plants grow, or even why he’s alive. Questions flood man’s mind–some questions have answers, but some will still remain mysteries thousands of years later. Grappling with potential answers becomes man’s main priority. Answers form the basis for his faiths, because he has the need to believe something.

It’s inevitable that at some point, man will discover new things that nix his original theories. Man will have to reform his beliefs according to these new ideas, because some instinct tells him that it is reasonable for his faith to be at least somewhat based on fact. 

Faith is a very personal topic, unique to every human being. But even so, we use external conflicts and situations to strengthen our beliefs. Our spirituality is shaped by the events and people around us all the time, and therefore it would stand to reason that it is constantly changing. Part of change is the process of doubt. True faith can never exist without doubt.

When someone is able to justify and defend his or her beliefs, it conveys the impression that those beliefs are powerful and well though-out. It also usually heightens the sensation of wanting to agree or disagree, which fuels argumentation and so continues a cycle of conflicts that strengthen one’s faith, as well as one’s doubts.

A period of doubt and questioning will lead to an even stronger feeling of faith. Once a person answers his or her own questions, wouldn’t they feel stronger, like their ideas were more powerful? But each phase of doubt is harder to overcome, because with the maturity of answering questions and even more (and more important) questions and responsibility to answer them. This, I believe, is the natural process of gaining one’s own unique faith. Every person has to go through it personally.

Faith has no reason or strength without a background of doubt. People need the balance of doubt to reason their way to faith. Doubt gives man the least sense of security of any other aspects of faith, so of course men would want to avoid it. But actually, doubt and questioning give and unmatchable power to a man’s faith. Men always have the choise to accept doubt, but most will ignore it, thinking that it weakens them or gives less meaning to their faith. In fact, it’s the opposite. Doubt offers more depth to a man’s understanding or journey to understanding religion or the possibility of a higher being.

It is part of human nature to doubt, argue, and solidify one’s own beliefs by any means possible, with the help of other people and situations. Having faith is part of human nature as well, but I believe that people don’t want to go through the process of questioning to achieve true faith. They feel that questioning would weaken them, or they’re afraid of the answers they may arrive at, or they’re afraid of not finding answers.

Also, I think that Christians play a big part in making questioning taboo. Many Christians believe that when people question their own spirituality or ideals in faith, it’s really the devil trying to tear apart their religious beliefs. This is wrong mostly because questioning is not evil in any way. But even if this is so — if the devil exists and is trying to break people’s faiths — it only makes it more meaningful when people overcome doubt. People might feel like they’ve defeated an inner demon. Regardless, regaining answers and beliefs should lead to an even more powerful level of spirituality.

Questioning never ends, so perhaps the time of strongest faith that humans ever have is at death. Even though there are very few people who claim to understand death, many have ideas about what happens when we die or about the possibility of an afterlife. Though these beliefs are mainly shaped by religious teachings, some are influenced by raw faith, strengthened by doubt.

The most faithful people are characterized by not only their moments of weakness, but also by times of undying love. This could mean love and optimism for mankind, or a vision that includes peace and happiness for the world. These people are also very well-balanced in their journeys through doubt and questioning, and strong in their beliefs and faiths. When people recognize that faith and doubt are inseparable, is becomes much easier to realize their full spiritual potential.

Happy Xmas December 10, 2008

Another article I wrote for the regional high school newspaper, around Christmas time. I thought it was timely now…

 

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Christian vs. Non-Christian Christmas Charity Organizations

Each year at the beginning of November, the choir classes at the Charter Academy start filling shoe boxes with children’s toys and candy. The boxes are wrapped in Christmas paper and shipped to kids ages 3-14 in various third-world countries. The event is called Operation Christmas Child, which is a Christian charity program.

I’ve always participated in this, because it’s so easy to become blind to what the less fortunate live through. I wanted to show my support in any way, if just for the satisfaction of knowing some poor child got the little Beanie Baby I put in my shoe box.

But this year, as I was watching the demo video for Operation Christmas Child, I felt no desire to send any boxes. I only felt pity for the children– not because they were unprivileged, but because of what goes with the shoe box. That is, a lengthy Christian brainwashing session.

I do know that Christmas is honored because of a Christian tradition. But it has certainly transcended all religious boundaries, and is now celebrated among many faiths (or lack thereof) and advertising companies.

So why haven’t charities also surpassed religion? If those who aren’t Christians can give gifts to friends and family, why can’t they give to the same recipients of our shoe boxes?

There are substantially fewer of these non-Christian gift-giving opportunities. A Google search returns 1,710,000 links to Christian-organized Christmas charity pages, and only 61,800 non-Christian ones (some of which have to do with different holidays altogether).

Even through the advertising marathon around Christmas, when everyone is encouraged to buy as much as possible, there still remains a gift-giving spirit for those we know and love. That intent can apply to people we don’t know, too. We can give to anyone. (Yes, the next step is singing “Kum Ba Yah.”)

Sometimes we just drop off a load of old clothes to the Salvation Army or women’s shelter. This local effort can go a long way, but there is so much need in other parts of the world. After all, it’s Christmas.

Don’t give up on spreading Christmas cheer if you don’t want to participate in a Christian charity donation. Of course, you’re already technically participating in a Christian holiday, but that’s excused more and more since Christmas is so commercial. Besides, Santa isn’t a Christian figure. Dyslexic devil worshipers sell their souls to Santa. Or, so I’ve read.

Naturally, charity doesn’t need to stop at Christmas. The (Red) Campaign is an organization that has spread through seven well-known brands: Apple, Motorola, Gap, Emporio Armani, Converse, Hallmark and American Express. Proceeds from (red) products help eliminate AIDS in Africa, and the amount donated totals $45 million so far. The Global Fund is part of the (Red) Campaign and accepts direct donations, instead of proceeds from merchandise.

If you believe getting rid of global warming is an act of charity, you can help our country by buying “environmentally-friendly,” or “green,” products. The Whole Foods Market, Burt’s Bees, Ben & Jerry’s and even Wal-Mart are considered “socially responsible” companies.

We have choices. This season, they happen to be (Red) and “green” charity opportunities. What could possibly be more festive? Add a little mistletoe and selling your soul to Santa, and you’ve got yourself one merry little Christmas!

Rallying Myself Together December 10, 2008

This is another piece I wrote for my ex-school paper, about a rally against global warming that I went to. It might not make sense if you aren’t familiar with Northern Idaho, but here it is…

 

I don’t know what I expeted when I went to the rally. Maybe I pictured the scene in Across the Universe where one person is on a podium speaking to hundreds of fired-up hippies. But that won’t happen in Coeur d’ Alene. Sure, it’s a college town, and it is becoming more liberal by the decade… but it’s more likely that a mere forty people will go down to City Park on a cold Saturday in Novemer to show that they’re willing to do something about global warming.

In the end, there were about twenty people on the sidewalk, handwritten signs bobbing up and down to get the attention of the passing cars. No one honked.

It wasn’t as discouraging as it could have been. There’s some satisfaction in knowing when you’re right and other people are wrong, even if you don’t have much support. So, like the people who organized the meeting, I was just happy with the number that did show.

Then again, I might have been slightly expecting some kind of liberal underground Coeur d’Alene movement, into which I would be gratefully invited. Then, of course, I would be given all the bumper stickers and pins I wanted, free.

And when I got to college, I would fit right into the normal college atmosphere. I might even be the high school girl who was in a conservative town’s small awakening. 

As it was, though I was welcomed “warmly,” is was clear that the number of people who wanted to start saving our planet in Coeur d’Alene could reach a solid three dozen by the time I’m out of college, and these people certainly didn’t have any underground motives. All the bumper stickers and pins cost money.

But really, what would the impact be of having an underground anti-global warming club? Saving our planet doesn’t threaten anything. It’s just a little more costly, and it takes some effort from everyone. Especially Hagadone.

I’m in love with my car… July 22, 2008

This article was really difficult to write, but I’m glad I did. The whole thing was a learning experience and I’m glad it’s over. The article was published in my high school newspaper.

_______________________________

I would tell you that the screeching of tires terrified me. I would tell you that I will remember forever the sound of my car hood crunching. I would tell you that I felt the whiplash through my entire body as my car slammed into the back bumper of the car in front of me.

Actually, I remember almost nothing.

I remember the adrenaline rush and being in shock, I remember hurriedly jamming down the brake pedal and not forgetting to push the clutch in. Mostly, I remember the aftermath, when I got out of my car in a daze and tried to assess the damage done. I wasn’t knocked out, of course–just in shock.

Insurance cards specifically warn against making any statements about who was at fault, so I won’t. I know I was obeying all the rules – wearing a seatbelt, going the speed limit, not multi-tasking – I wasn’t even changing the radio station or shifting. But when I hit black ice going into a right turn lane, I hadn’t started slowing down yet, and of course, my brakes were useless against the power of the frozen roadway.

The truck in front of my fishtailed precariously, but was traveling much more slowly than I was. At later estimation, I’d say I probably hit the truck while going about 25 mph.

I was able to drive my beloved vehicle to school after I and the other driver had discussed the accident. There was bright yellow-green coolant on the road, so I had to watch my engine temperature guage, but all was well. I wouldn’t pop the hood to look at the engine, but the car was running, so I assumed all was fine. I wouldn’t know what to look for or listen for anyway.

Obviously, I was late to school, but the secretary, vice principal, and principal all seemed to know what had happened anyway. I’m sure I was shaking as I took my excused tardy slip, but I wasn’t pessimistic.

I would replace the coolant easily. And the engine still ran, so that didn’t seem to be a problem. I might even be able to live with the hood a little beat up. The grille was shattered, but who needs a grille? And I was still alive…

The final word would come when I took my car to the nearest Subaru dealer to get an assessment and estimate of costs. I was still able to drive the car, albeit at 45 mph on the freeway.

Doesn't look as bad as it is, actually.

I waited for what seemed like hours while the guy at the body show added up uminaginable parts and labor costs. I tried to imagine the worst. $1500? $2000? Even at $1500, my car would be totaled and I wouldn’t know what in the world to do.

Finally, he hesitantly but factually told us that my car was indeed totaled; the damages would be at least $3300 to fix. There was a little consolation in his voice as he continued with the actual parts he would need to replace, but the terms fell on deaf ears.

To give some background, I was and still am in love with my car. It was the cute white Subaru with all the bumperstickers. If you ever looked in it, you’d see it was a complete mess (I was getting to that, I swear…) but even all the articles of junk reflected every aspect of me. Every time I got in, I loved my car a little more. It was a dream to drive (not that I’ve experienced driving many cars). I was used to the manual transmission and the car’s certain drawbacks, like the defective air conditioner, slow heater, and scratchy sound system.

Believing that I had ruined my favorite car (ok… my only car) forever, I cried for the rest of the afternoon. I cursed the ice and the chance that I just might have been following a little too closely.

lovely.

Three weeks later, my neck has stopped hurting and I’ve found a body shop where my car would be fixed for $2000. The insurance company is reimbursing me with $1100, which is about what the car is worth, and I’ll scrounge up the rest.

I won’t get through this article without homage to KerriAnn Wright, who was less fortunate in her car accident. I know I’m extremely lucky, and if I had to have this kind of learning experience, I’m just glad that it happened the way it did – no one was hurt, and I’m actually going to get my car back.

KerriAnn’s crash was a wake-up call to all of us in some way, and some of us probably made resolutions to be attentive while driving and maybe even have perfect driving records. But sometimes circumstances like that cannot be controlled, even in one’s best efforts. I’m not saying that happened with me, but the fact remains true. Please drive carefully!

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KerriAnn was a girl who was killed in a car accident in my class’ sophomore year. She was driving, and the crash killed both her and her father, and critically injured two of her brothers. She should have graduated with us this past May, and we all missed her.

My car was fixed for $2000, and the front looks absolutely brand new. I absolutely love that little ‘93 Subaru Impreza hatchback. It gets an average of 30 to 31 mpg, and it’s just been perfect for me.

I will post pictures of the bumperstickers soon! : )

Blog Much? July 18, 2008

Ironically, I wrote this almost two years ago, when I wasn’t even interested in having a blog. WordPress isn’t even one of the sites I researched. It may not be of much help to someone who is already reading or keeping a blog, but the variation in some blog sites is interesting.

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So you got internet a while ago, and you now have email and instant messenger. What’s the next step? Instead of that old dog-eared journal, check out the options for a new, clean, organized blog space online. Blogging is also handy if you’re concerned about privacy. It can be completely anonymous (if you make up a false name) so you can really write anything at all. But what IS it?! A blog is an online journal, used for telling people more about yourself and what goes on in your life. People get to know you better, and you may gain some friends! However, none of these sites are dating services. You may add pictures, varying fonts, sizes, and colors of text, website links (HTML), and videos in almost any blog. People can leave comments, rate, or leave kudos on a blog. When you read a blog later and decide you didn’t really want to curse out your teacher, you can go back and edit or delete that entry (not possible with that old dog-eared journal…).

Blogs are being used for every purpose imaginable. Businesses have blogs where they may post news and articles, job options, things for sale or things wanted, or advice from entrepreneurs in starting and continuing a business. Magazines and newspapers use them to publish articles and the paparazzi post pictures of celebrities. Musicians and bands use them to share music and show talent, gain recognition, and sell albums.

Be aware that other people may be able to read your “diaries.” Because these sites are accessed by more people (and creepier people) than you may want to be reading your blog, all blog spaces have options for making an entry private. The Myspace inventor and advisor Tom posts messages reminding users that the internet is not always as safe as people think. On Myspace, there is an option of making your entire profile page invisible to anyone not on your friends list, but hacking is always a possibility and Tom encourages people to be aware of this. Safety comes with awareness, and the more ignorant the user, the more potentially dangerous the website.

You might want to explore other people’s blogs before you try one for yourself. There are thousands available and a simple, general search about music on Google will come up with countless blogs. Exercise caution, however blogs are not censored (for pictures or words) so if your internet browser doesn’t filter out explicit content, you could be caught off guard. Make sure that the blog site is free (if that’s what you’re looking for) and think before you write.

MySpace.com

MySpace, accessed by millions each day, is more of a friend space than a real blog space. On it, you can create a detailed page with your very own “www.myspace.com/yournamehere” link and any information you want. You can add friends (including well-known or obscure bands or artists, movie websites, or TV shows) who have accounts and write comments on one another’s pages, and send private messages (like emails) as well. Posting bulletins (which are shared with everyone on your friends list), instant messaging, and blogging all happen in MySpace. The blogs themselves aren’t put up front on the page; visitors to your page click on the blog title, which leads to the actual blog.(The Illuminati has a MySpace, too! www.myspace.com/ccailluminati)

Xanga.com

Before Myspace, the majority of blog users had a Xanga account. But now, Xanga users are in the minority. That doesn’t mean this simple site isn’t worthwhile, however. It’s got the bare minimum for a blog site, and sometimes that’s only what someone would want. The blogs are shown right on your main page, which you can design all you want. People may rate or comment on your blog and subscribe to it if they want, which means that they will be notified every time you publish a new blog entry.

Blogger.com

A more professional approach to blogging, this blogspace creates networks between friends and even coworkers. Taryn Broadwater, a writer for the Spokesman-Review, has a blog on Blogger.com, and though she uses it to write about home life and herself, she has a link to the Spokesman-Review website and her profession is displayed. In one blog, she mentions that though she doesn’t put her kids’ names or her husband’s name, she does post pictures of them and it might be easy for someone to find them. But she loves writing for fun (“The blog is a form of therapy for me”) and says there is a limit to paranoia.

Squarespace.com

This site isn’t free, which takes it up a notch in professionalism and probably gives it more credibility as a safe place to post your blogs. You can create your own web page with this system as well. The templates (or the your blog layout designs) are endless, as well as the fonts and colors. Paying for a blog may make it safer, but it might also be unnecessary. Organizations like The Wall Street Journal use Squarespace they can afford to use such a professional space to its full potential. If you are worried about safety, writing under a fake name is your best bet for staying anonymous.

Blogstream.com

Another free blog space, Blogstream has a chatroom and all the typical options for blogs. You may upgrade your blog and pay for it so that there are no advertisements displayed on the page and more room to write or post pictures. If you are viewing another person’s blog, you can click on “Family Filter” at the top of the page so that any inappropriate blog entry is not displayed. Or you can click on “Clean,” which omits anything offensive. Blogstream is still small and relatively unknown, but just as good as any blog space available.

Livejournal.com

This blogging option is another way to keep connected with friends and meet new people. The networking is based on location or similar tastes (but again, this is not a dating service…) or “communities” (groups with the same interests). This is a popular site because you may “post to your journal from anywhere!” which means that, with some phones, you may write a blog on your phone and upload it to the internet from there. Livejournal, which has existed since 1999 and has about 12 million users, is adding a search soon. You can use this to search for a blog topic, an author, communities, or anything else on the site. All of Livejournal’s features are free and signing up is easy.

Mulitply.com

Multiply is great for interacting and sharing your blog with only people that you already know. It’s very personal and specific to you get your own internet address, add your friends who have blogs, then comment with them right on your page. You can even simply import your email’s address book into your list of friends. “Live replies” on your site aren’t exactly instant messages, but they are very fast and enable a discussion of a blog. Multiply is one of the only sites that boasts about being very compatible with pictures, music, video, and HTML links. You can post pictures and HTML with almost any blog space, but music and videos are hard to put on a page without making the site slow or the page format different. The simplest form of Multiply is free, but extra features can be added for a monthly fee.

Search Engine Blogs

You can create blogs with most search engines now (such as Google, Yahoo!, and MSN) and most email providers. These are either private or shown on your profile. This is more convenient to some people, since with Yahoo! for instance, you can have an email account, instant messaging, music provider, and blog all with the same username in the same Yahoo! base. And you can always use these search engines to look for other blog spaces, since the options grow every day.

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Shine a Light July 18, 2008

I wrote this movie review (of Martin Scorcese’s concert/documentary film of the Rolling Stones “Shine a Light”) for my high school newspaper. I saw the movie in an IMAX theater in Vancouver, BC.

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There are some things about your parents and their past that you just have to ignore or pretend don’t exist. Like the fact that both of them may have worn bellbottom pants and enjoyed disco balls at one time. But you can’t always just write off their music sense… or even lack thereof. I think I can truthfully say that my life changed when I started listening to what my parents said was great music.

Of course, it’s also thanks to them that I’m rather in denial about what decade to which I think I belong.

While they relive their adolescence through movies like “Across the Universe,” all I can do is long for what I missed. And while my parents were able to experience real concerts of groups like the Stones and Queen, I’m forced to only imagine what it could be like to actually sit in Mick and Keith’s audience.

It is, admittedly, a little easier to imagine in an IMAX theater where Keith’s guitar and Mick’s lips are even larger than life.

Martin Scorsese has brought us hits like “Taxi Driver,” “The Aviator,” “Gangs of New York” and “The Departed.” Now, he’s brought a New York stage to mere mortals who haven’t been touched by the sweat of a Stone (metaphorically speaking) or counted their wardrobe changes during a concert. Complete with snippets of black-and-white interviews straight from the 60s, Scorsese’s newest film “Shine a Light” reveals the glory of one of the finest rock groups of the British Invasion.

The main performance footage of the movie was shot at the Beacon Theater in New York City, where the Rolling Stones performed two nights in a row to packed crowds. The audience was varied in age and social status, from your average teenage girl to Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

Bill Clinton introduced the group, reminding everyone that he’d had the pleasure of doing so before, and that he still thought the Stones were forever a classic group, one that many generations could enjoy. And when the camera panned over him in the second half of the movie, he seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself.

Some say the Stones are at the absolute bottom of their game. They’re still wearing skin-tight leather and hippie-era-jewelry, while their wrinkles are growing and their skin is sagging. But they’re no less talented than when “Satisfaction” was number one on the charts. In fact, they secure their One-of-the-Greatest-Rock-Bands-of-All-Time status when they collaborate with other contemporary artists, like blues guitarist Buddy Guy, Jack White of the White Stripes and Christina Aguilera. These musicians were all featured in the movie in duets.

The Rolling Stones have always had a somewhat questionable reputation. Between the Beatles and the Stones, the Stones were always the “bad boy” band who had supposed drug references and satanic allusions in every song. They are quick to remind critics that it’s all in the interpretation, however.

The band is made up of Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Charlie Watts (drums) and Ron Wood (bass, guitar). All are in their sixties. Their voices are gravelly, their arms are veiny and their hair is thinning. But they’re still performing, with more vigor and enthusiasm than we find in many other artists. They’re still producing music, with more talent and genius than most mainstream contemporaries.

So why wouldn’t you want to experience the closest thing you’ll ever get to seeing the second-best rock band of all time (Beatles still rank number one, of course)? Maybe because the thumping bass is just too thrilling. Maybe because the songs are too familiar and enjoyable. Maybe because otherwise, your parents might just rub it in your face that they got to experience the hype firsthand.

Or, ok… maybe because “Shine a Light” isn’t actually playing in a theater near you, let alone the IMAX. It’s bound to come to our hamlet soon, and if it doesn’t, it will definitely be available for rent. At least invest in some digital surround-sound to make the most of the experience, and watch it with someone who can relive the band’s greatest highlights.

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“Final Thoughts” July 16, 2008

This was part of a compilation of articles that all the senior editors (including me) of my high school newspaper wrote. The newspaper was ending, not just for the year, but until further notice. We were all heartbroken (even though we were all seniors and would be leaving anyway). We produced a fantastic paper and were very disappointed to hear that it would end after we left. So this is the “goodbye” article I wrote for the last edition of our paper, The Illuminati.

It was when I starter daydreaming about fantastic article leads like this one that I realised I wanted to go into journalism as a career. Leads can usually be placed in one of the following categories: sappy, questioning, ZAP!, yawn, news, bitter, me me me, you you you, or a combination of those.

For your entertainment, since you will never read another lead from me in The Illuminati, I will give you some outtakes for this article:

Sappy: Well, we editors have come a long way, but it’s time to put an end to the magic.

Questioning: What does one do when the publishing of her favorite paper comes to an end?

ZAP!: My beloved paper! Gone! No more! It is an ex-paper!

Yawn: Mrs. Smith just told us there might not be a paper next year.

News: On May 5, 2008, Journalism/Yearbook adviser Jane Smith announced the potential end of The Illuminati for the ‘08-’09 school year.

Bitter: As if just not writing for the paper anymore weren’t enough, the administration has decided to shut down our precious paper altogether.

Me, me, me: I could die – I don’t know what will become of me if I can’t see my name in my school’s paper anymore!

You, you, you. You never know what you have until you have it taken away from you, and you won’t know how much you’ll miss the paper until you’re not reading it anymore.

And so on, and so forth.

The lead of an article is “a short summary serving as an introduction to a news story, article or other copy,” but you’ve probably figured that out. Obviously, the lead is probably the most important part of a story. It can make or break the other 500 words of an article, or it can make or break every reader’s opinion of the author.

The lead is “a guide or indication of a road, course, method, etc., to follow.” I can’t remember writing my first lead ever, but I’m sure while writing I wasn’t thinking it would automatically lead to my primary career choice. Or life in general.

The lead: an observation, some inspiration, a motivation. Fuel for action. Reason for change. A cause for the effect. The question for the resolution. Or, the roadmap for the action. The plan for the plot.

The body: The supporting scene. Details. Specifics. A blow-by-blow of conflicts. Whatever makes the outcome worthwhile. Everything that gives meaning to the point. An argument. A testimony of passion. An explanation, a legacy.

The conclusion: … I’ll be honest – I don’t know yet.

And what happens after? We begin again, of course. For there will always be another deadline or another incentive. Then begins the new cycle of creativity, of excitement and of craziness. Just like life, everything keeps moving. It may be disorderly (everyone has that really yucky, disappointing article every once in a while), and the outcome may be completely unsatisfactory.

As some great young prophet said, “any blank piece of paper is a world to be created, an idea to be stated or and emotion to be conveyed… [it's] a canvas just like Life; it’s ours to do with what we wish; it’s reserved for our imagination.”

So here we all are, each writing just one more lead for our adored Illuminati, paradoxically choosing the best beginning to end our editorial reign, choosing the best conclusion to commence the rest of our lives.

… And there you have it. That is all my work; I would appreciate it if no one stole any part of it. Thank you.

Breast Cancer Symptoms June 30, 2008

I wrote this as a sample of my writing for a potential employer, but I thought it was interesting and helpful anyway.

A diagnosis of breast cancer often comes without warning. Luckily, there are some signs to be wary of that might, if investigated early, save one from a malignant (or deadly) case. The first and most easily recognized symptom is pain in the breast(s). This pain might be caused by lumps in the tissue. Lumps are the second dangerous sign of possible breast cancer, especially if they grow or won’t go away. Finally, one should look at changes on and around the nipple area. The changes might be in color, texture and sensitivity. Any of these signs warrant a doctor’s aid.

LimeWire feature article June 30, 2008

This article was written for the same selective-staffed regional high school publication as the article below.

Look no further for T-Pain’s latest single. Look no further for the newest version of Photoshop. Look no further for thousands of downloadable pictures of Johnny Depp, his movies and transcripts of every interview with him.

All are available from LimeWire.

While it was becoming common for a song to cost 99 cents online, LimeWire was gathering a following of people who paid absolutely nothing for their music… or videos, documents, pictures and programs.

It advertised itself as a file sharing program, not a “free downloads!” site. The creators weren’t ambiguous in their intentions for LimeWire’s uses. The website proclaims, “LimeWire is legal software, but it is illegal for you to use LimeWire to share copyrighted files without permission.” And yet, anyone could share any program or file on their computer, and millions across the world would be able to access it and save it on their computers. The software isn’t monitored, and many files are copyright protected.

Created in 2000, LimeWire had been downloaded 3 million times in its first year. Be 2005, it had reached hundreds of millions of downloads, and was one of the most popular programs online. But its fame didn’t come without controversy. Artists and musicians were earning nothing from LimeWire’s users.

People began boycotting LimeWire, but since it’s a free program, this didn’t hurt the company in the least. Arguments surfaced from people claiming that LimeWire was (or should be) illegal, because it allowed people to access music and other media for free, when normally it would have a price tag.

The consequences for downloading files illegally?

“Your activities on peer-to-peer networks such as LimeWire’s may be monitored by copyright owners… Risks include significant settlement fees if you are sued,” LimeWire’s website explains. “Right now, our filtering blacklist is not comprehensive and many copyrighted files may still be available on the network.”

Not every file shared through LimeWire normally costs money. Some are free to begin with, and some are in the public domain.

It’s impossible to restrict the sharing of any files on LimeWire. There is no way someone would be able to segregate all the files that aren’t originally free or public domain. So if the objective is to discourage people from stealing, that is not a solution. Getting rid of LimeWire wouldn’t make any difference either, because there are many other programs that serve exactly the same purpose. Some programs even enable file sharing in much, much larger proportions than LimeWire.

There haven’t been any lawsuits against LimeWire regarding file sharing (yet), but there have been cases involving software companies. One of these is MGM Studios vs. Grokster, Ltd. In this case, Chief Justice David Souter made the statement, “…one who distributes a device with the object of promoting its use to infringe copyright… is liable for the resulting acts of infringement by third parties.” This reiterates the danger LimeWire users have. If you “share” copyrighted files through LimeWire and are caught, LimeWire is not at fault. You are.

And “getting caught” is not the only danger of using LimeWire or other file sharing software. Users are also in danger of identity theft. One man in Seattle, Washington was arrested in September 2007 for using LimeWire to link to other people’s computers to get credit card numbers. By the time of his arrest, he had reached 83 victims.

If there is any assumption that the creators of LimeWire are selfish and are only interested in their own profit, it might be incorrect. The advanced version of LimeWire, called LimeWire PRO, charges a monthly rate for faster downloads and personal tech-savvy help. But alas, LimeWire is its own enemy! Now LimeWire PRO is available for download through the more common free version, and no one benefits at all.

In all probability, technology experts will devise a way to make copyrighted files impossible to share, within a system where the actual sharing is legal. There are already “protected” files that computers won’t recognize and cannot be shared or uploaded online, but all other files still exist as well.

The moral of the story is that sharing copyrighted files is, and probably will always be illegal. LimeWire is not, and may never be illegal. So if you choose to use LimeWire for downloads, do so at your own risk. It is possible to track downloads today, and it is also possible to track identities through computers. Be careful and safe; don’t go haywire.

Article about TESC (The Evergreen State College) June 30, 2008

This was written for a regional high-school newspaper with a selective staff. It’s a compilation of the optional essay I wrote for my application to the college, and another informative feature-like article I wrote about it.

In a bubble of ignorance, believing that school was supposed to be about competing for grades, doing meaningless homework, and taking even more pointless tests, I was frustrated when I visited Evergreen. Why couldn’t I have been left alone, left to choose a ‘traditional’ college and complete my education in a more ‘normal’ way? I could have persisted with learning little, retaining little and being unenthusiastic about the whole process.
Luckily, there was another alternative. After two weeks of debating with myself and discussing with my dad, I jumped. It was a leap of faith– faith in myself, and faith in Evergreen’s spectacular system (or refreshing lack thereof).

Almost every institute of higher learning proclaims a “one-of-a-kind” education of some sort. But Evergreen has the genuine raw appeal of a completely non-traditional atmosphere, though it’s definitely not for everyone. It is intriguing to students who have never questioned their school’s method of awarding grades or percentages.

Through high school, we’re trained to “strive” for the A, or maybe to accomplish “just” the B. But as anyone who has taken at least a semester of high school knows, the definition of a letter grade changes in every class. Do you really have to reach for that A in choir, like you do the one in math? Maybe you’re psyched for a C in history, but disappointed by a C in chemistry. With all the ambiguity and shape shifting of grades, it’s a wonder that we still put meaning in them. Then again, it’s so ingrained in all students that we just accept it.

Not at the Evergreen State College. No letter grades are assigned, no numbers. Nothing that could be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Teachers instead write complete, comprehensive evaluations of students and their work throughout a quarter. They can choose to give full, partial or no credit for a program.

Evergreen doesn’t require as much academic prowess and scholarly willpower as it does creativity. I have an unlimited imagination, but never has it been applied to designing a college education. In an institution which allows this and encourages it, the mind is freed of meaningless worries such as credits, grades, and mere memorization. Instead, a swiftly growing and maturing brain will engage in more important processes, like internal discussion, developing ideas and opinions, self-analysis, and self-discovery (partly through self-doubt).

Evergreen’s program system clears things up for those of us who were frustrated by having to jump from learning about DNA to reading Moby Dick in two hours. What if we could connect the two based on something they may have in common?

In a program, all types of classes—arts, sciences, social studies—are all tied together around a central theme. Usually, there are two to five professors who each specialize in an area within the program. They all collaborate and share their expertise.

The students’ environment is collaborative as well. When they don’t have to compete for a grade or “setting the curve,” there’s much more energy for sharing opinions, knowledge, and backgrounds.

Authors of what we call the “Great Books” believed that this was always what learning was supposed to be about. Why, then, didn’t education remain such a quenching and enlightening process? Obviously, most people are probably not meant to write books, which, thousands of years later, are still memorable enough to be called the “Great Books.” But how and when did education become so untrustworthy that tests of knowledge were developed? When did it become so discrete that we could measure the amount of it in a letter grade? When, in fact, did education become a measurable quantity at all?

There exists a college where one’s own schools of thought matter most. Personal concepts can be applied to a learning environment where there can only be endless rewards– the introduction of new thoughts, which develop and are reapplied. This means a cycle of win-win collaborative learning situations in discussions, ideas and personal growth.
There is so much to look forward to at Evergreen. Aside from its unique perspective on studies, it doesn’t lose any exciting opportunities available at other colleges. There’s so much to get involved in and so many choices to take advantage of in clubs, sports and the arts. Many activities were not options for me in high school.

I have attended a specifically college prep school for the past six years. Needless to say, it wasn’t prepping me for the type of learning I will embrace at Evergreen. No, the Coeur d’ Alene Charter Academy has been training me in the ways of the traditional college, where I would spend even more tedious hours fighting for that weird letter A that really represented nothing.

Then again, it’s not like there’s an Evergreen Prep School. And because of the whole diploma thing, high schools need a way to quantify how much a student has supposedly learned.

I’m confused by the awarding of letter grades for tedious memorization and regurgitation of textbook knowledge, and by what, if any, relation these grades have to learning in the first place. Evergreen opened my eyes to this disconnection, thankfully. In attending Evergreen, I’m especially anticipating seeing the world unrestricted by the blindness caused when education is made into a monotonous, unimaginative chore. Evergreen is a breath of fresh air after struggling to find inspiration in a traditional school system.

The Evergreen State College: www.evergreen.edu