Poison Halloween Candy a Myth?

http://co123w.col123.mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0

Live Science, wrote this article that I thought was very interesting. I remember being a kid and having to dump my entire bag of candy out on the floor before I could eat a piece! My parents used to bring candy they bought on our Trick or Treating extravaganza so I would still be able to eat a piece from each house! Now I'm grown, and as I take my siblings out: I find myself doing the same things! I guess its just a myth about the needles being in your pixie sticks, but there is no doubt that there are people out there who are sick and crazy, so I'm still paranoid!

Mad Mad Mario

This youtube short is very funny! Specifically for someone who played Mario when they growing up. The short narrative reminds me of a short we had to write about for our first exam. Its very short, only 1 min 51 seconds, and the truth is just blurted out so rashly! The creator of this short, used narrative in a way that is humours and realistic (I guess realistic-you have to watch).

Bobbing for apples

This morning, and for the past week 98.1 a local country station has been playing a game for their listeners, Bobbing for Apples (in light of Halloween).  When they called in, they figuratively bobbed for an apple.  Only the apple that came out was not edible, it was electronic.  Just a thought of how this world runs now a days:  Kind of upsets me.  Why are we giving out thousands of dollars worth of electronics because its Halloween, and not using those funds for something more useful and for those who don't have a home, or food on the table. 

Everything by Lifehouse

In the midst of a crazy busy semester, I am also planning my wedding! And I am pleased to say that my fiance and I have finally found our song. :) We've been searching for such a long time, and this song suits both my needs and his.  He did not want a real slow sappy song, and I wanted lyrics that gave me chills.  This song incorporates non traditional wedding music, by adding a bit of rock all while singing those magical lyrics that give me butterflies!

Need a Halloween Costume?

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=1579465940

This man, Chad Vader ID's as many costumes as he possibly can at the  Dragon Con. Take a look! His use of narrative is hilarious! Tones in his voice, tactics, everything you can imagine.  Pretty humorous!

"We walk the same path but we got on different shoes."

 

"we walk the same path but we got on different shoes"

This week as we work on Ideologies, this status on FACEBOOK worked perfectly for a good valid point.  We are all human beings, living on this earth.  Our names define us, yet our class, race, ethnicity, and gender classify us under stereotypical ideas and beliefs.  The world has evolved from the 1800's, and yet we are still facing racism and sexism on a day to day to basis.  When will it be okay for culture to believe a white woman can date a black man?  A man to date a man?  A woman to date a woman?  A man to change his body and be a woman?  All of these non traditional ideas are what scare people in the world.  I, myself have faced a hard time with my older grandparents who were born in Italy, as I marry a man who is not Catholic.  When I told my grandmother this, she wouldn't speak to me for a while, and that broke my heart.  Why does she have to believe that I couldn't possibly find love outside the Catholic Church? This is just one of the many examples on how the world has these normal expectations on how we are to act and be in this world.

Anne Frank

The past few weeks, another course I am currently taking have been based around the Holocaust.  (Which I believe I have mentioned in past posts) This week we were required to watch a film The Shop on Mainstreet and this film brought me back thinking of Anne Frank.  When I was younger, my fascination with the Holocaust started all because of her diary that we were required to read.  I remember being so young, yet having feelings of an adult.  Feelings that I had no idea of how to comprehend.  Learning about a girl who was the same age as me (at the time) going through this horrific era in her life.  Her diary is by far one the of worlds most read book- - and, that brings joy to me.  Books, and diaries, and biographies need to be read and need to be discussed.  History books can only provide us with so much information and background of our worlds history, but, real life events documented in an easy to read narrative- are what keeps our minds strong, and full of past knowledge.  Has anyone else ever read this?  And if so-- what are your memories of reading it as a child?  (I assume you read as a child, if its a newer, recent read, what about now- as an adult?)

Fathers and Fatherhood

This semester, I am taking a seminar on the Literary Themes:  Fathers and fatherhood.  I did not know what to expect throughout this course, but as we move past mid terms, I am pleased to report the class has been a wonderful experience.  We were asked to read, Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs and this book, is something like I have never read.  It is a grim memoir of a boy, Augusten, and his memories of his childhood- - most negative and almost hard to read. 

I thought this was a good blog topic, as we all have or had fathers and sometimes we take those relationships for granted.  After reading this book, and watching the 1988 film Raising Arizona, I am grateful for my relationship with my father and step father. 

Anyone familiar with either of these two examples?  The book and/or the film?  What did you think?

Worlds hardest game..Can you swing it?

http://armorgames.com/play/1043/the-worlds-hardest-game

So I am SO not a gamer, but my fiance was trying this game out, and from the looks of it, it looked easy as pie! Well you try and tell me what you think..Its fun to play actually!

Overwhelmed

I am not sure about the rest of the world out there, but around this time every semester I go completely mental.  Midterms..YIKES...finals in 8 weeks?? Double YIKES! Working one full time job and one part time job, all while being a full time college student, takes a toll on me- as I'm sure with you also.  However, I have began to look at midterms with a different light, and pretend my camera angle, is depicting me through other points of view; and I must say it has helped a great deal.  When you take a step back and really look at yourself, as your own personal audience - - it's clear to see the success in sight; that success keeps me going.

So a word to all college students, who are feeling overwhelmed....

Stay calm, take a deep breath and most importantly, realize your success! Its there, you just need to open your eyes or focus that camera to see it! :)

Streaker wants 1Mil?

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2010/10/12/moos.million.dollar.streaker.cnn?hpt=C2

I can't help but laugh! Have you even heard of such a thing?  A man attempting to gain 1 million dollars for streaking at a press conference where President Obama was speaking?  He was doing this for a PR stunt, to display battlecam.com written across his naked body! This Greek millionaire, a prankster himself, posted on this site-  that he'd pay whoever would streak in front of the President 1million! The millionaire is awaiting confirmation from President Obama himself, before the $money is handed out! Do you think Obama would willing contribute to this?  I can't even fathom this right now! haha

Woman, 101, to become U.S. citizen

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/10/11/101woman.citizen.document/index.html?hpt=C1

This article is amazing!! A 101 year old woman who has lived in the Us her entire life, is now finally permitted to receive citizenship!  The past few weeks I/we have been discussion topics about migration, and globalization in my courses, and I thought this article was intriguing and worked well the discussions at hand.  It also made me think- - can you imagine living in a country that you weren't supposed to?  -- Can you imagine raising a family, and starting a life and having the crucial fear in the back of your mind about what you were limited too??  I certainly could not.  Her mini summarized life story told in the above article is really one for deep thought, compassion and questions.  What are your thoughts on all this?  And believe me, I left this open ended, because I want to hear what others think and feel about this article, and the web of issues that are surrounding it!

Facebook Status

 "facebook has changed our relationship with the world, its easy to love because its all about self love, ultimate ego boost, thanks to FB its easy to spead news, although its help share vital information, it creates a permanent record that is not true. boston.com the made-up world of facebook."

This was one of my facebook friends status this afternoon.  What do you think? 

5.7 Miles..3 million dollars raised!

Yesterday,  I took part for the third year in a row, as a walker in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Boston!  It was AMAZING! The day was filled with hope, love , laughter and tears.  As I mentioned before my mother is Breast Cancer survior, and two years ago she did this walk BALD.  Today, her hair is long and curly, and she is whole healed and healthy, and I couldn't be more blessed. 

I have done numerous walks to support breast cancer, but this one is somehow different than all the rest.  This one is much more personable as you are able to walk around the Charles River with children, survivors and those who are currently fighting the disease.  It is such a wonderful and heartlifting experience, I reccomend everyone to be apart of. 

When my mother was first diagnosed, someone said to her 'You are a survivor' and she was confused, as she was just diagnosed, and she was doing chemo etc.  The man who told her this, said 'Everyone who is diagnosed is a survior'.  There were words of wisdom for her, as his explination gave herself, my family and I that little bit extra amount of hope we needed. Last year on this same walk, and woman came up to us, and we began to talk.  She couldn't belive my mother was NOT wearing a survior ribbon, for at the time my mother didn't want to attention and she said it just was not her.  This year, she wore the ribbon proudly, becuase she realized, it was her own narrative being hang across her chest, showing others that survivors can walk, and that if you are going through tx and you are battling hard, you can be in the same situation as her.  It gives others hope, and for that I am so greatful. 

My mother is strongest, most heroic person I have ever met, and I give her a lot praise for all that she has accomplished over the past few years.

Career Women

Yesterday at work, I sat down with a group of girls ages 9-12.  I had printed various pictures of clip art careers, various pictures of families and friends, and various pictures of items I thought they would like to own.  The purpose of this exercise was to have the girls look at their future and tell me what they expected.  There were pictures of pilots, doctors, dentists, surgeons, politicians, and all other big shot jobs you can think of.  But I also included, secretaries, teachers, stay at home moms.  Most of the girls chose one of the cliche 'womens' job.  this did not surprise me.  We then moved on to look at who is most important to these girls.  They chose friends, over families, pets over educators.  After that I had them pick out what they would buy if they could.  They all chose clothes from various top label clothing designers.  None of these were much of a shock to me.  Most of thees answers I had assumed to be chosen, but as I sat back after the exercise I realized that these girls in my program do not fully understand what they ARE capable of; and this was heart aching.  I decided to implement a 'Career Women' program.  Every week, a woman from the area of which I work, would come in ans speak to the girls.  These women will be able to provide explanations to my girls about the endless number of doors they can open in their future, and what they should be doing to get there.

 

I really hope that having these 'Career Women' come in and talk to my girls will help their thought process, of ignoring the 'normal' life path and work towards something exceptional.