LAST HEBDOMADAL FOREVER

Yesterday, May 5th, brought a special celebration to many parts of the world. Disneyland in California will be celebrating its 50th anniversary which is spreading to Disney parks around the world. Disney has always played a special part in my life, something I think most people don’t really understand.
My family has been going to Disney World since before I was even born. Over 20 years ago my parents celebrated their honeymoon there and we’ve been going ever since. I think I’ve been there 14 times in my 19 years of life. A lot of people wonder how you can keep going back to a place “just for kids” when nothing really changes. But that is what makes it so special: it is a constant place, removed from everything else in the world where you can go to just get away.
Disney World is really much more like a second home; some people have a cabin up north, my family goes to central Florida. Everything is familiar just the same as when you left. It’s a place you can really be yourself because you are away from judgment and discrimination. Everyone is equal and everyone has a right to be there. The great thing about Disney is that it spread so far beyond just a park but to everything in life.
I really love EVERYTHING Disney. What can I say; I get it from my Mom. Our house is filled with Disney, whether its trinkets from out last trip or everyday items like silverware. Disney is just the one thing in my life that has always been there, it’s dependable and always there to cheer me up when I need it. Everything I remember from Disney is exciting and meaningful. Every time I visit I can relive the memories over and over again. As soon as I leave I can’t wait to go back again.
The one thing that just always seems so right when I go to Disney World is seeing Cinderella’s castle. Sure it’s the big icon of the park, but it really is the best symbol of the fantasy. It’s mystical, romantic cheerful, everything Disney should be. You just know that the castle is something special that marks such a magical place.
Disney has played such an important part in my life and nothing would be the same without it. Disney has affected American culture for over 50 years; here’s to a great 50 more.

Heb 14

Sitting outside shows a whole new life in Madison with everyone out enjoying the sun, relaxing out on fresh cut grass, playing Frisbee, laughing talking; suddenly studying doesn’t seem so bad when you can work on your tan at the same time. The campus has this new life and vitality to it that wasn’t here last fall. It’s sad this must come at the end of a school year, just when everything seems right.
Everyone always says how things go so fast; but really everything does seem to pass by at lightning speed. I swear it was about a month ago that I moved in to my dorm room, this little closet space. At least it forces me to keep everything neat or else I’d have no where to sleep. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve had three roommates this year. I know it’s a lot but I’ve had a great roommate for the spring semester. It seems everything really started in January.
Somehow, everything is now comfortable and familiar. Last semester just felt like a whirlwind of activities, trying to find that perfect group of friends, doing well in classes. It felt like I never had a chance to take a break. It was like high school all over again with little cliques forming and people finding their home. It’s weird to think these are the friends I can make and have for the rest of my life.
Even sitting in a lecture seems weird. I remember last summer I never thought I would get used to living here. I didn’t feel prepared for anything. Now a big lecture hall seems natural, like I’ve learning like this for years. Everything seems oddly independent and it’s scary how easy it was to forget about home and even people I knew. I can feel high school friends growing farther apart. But what can you do when you try to go forward and everyone else seems to be holding you back?
I wish I didn’t have to leave so soon. Sure, I’ll see people again next year, even over the summer. It just won’t be the same. Why when everything is finally comfortable do we always have to leave?

Heb 14

Since beginning this year of school I have found a new love: Sex and the City. I had never seen the show before, but hearing my friends just rave about it, I knew I must be missing something good. After I couldn’t convince my mom that the entire series on DVD would be an excellent investment, I began to borrow my friends. I spent every spare moment watching episodes and traveling through the seasons and years with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. Somehow I feel connected to these four women as they make their way through the best city in the world: New York City. Maybe what makes them so familiar is the way that these four women remind me of my four best friends here at school. Our conversations don’t go quite as far into the gutter, but we definitely cover a wide range of topics that usually leave us laughing till our stomachs hurt. Like the Sex and the City girls have come to take a special place in my heart just like my best friends.
First there’s Charlotte York, ultimate WASP and the most conservative of the group. She’s an eternal optimist, always believing love and the right answer is just around the corner. Liz would definitely be just like Charlotte. I don’t know if it’s even possible, but Liz is probably even more conservative. She certainly is the most innocent member or our group and is easily offensive by some of the Sex and the City conversations. But that’s why we love her, for her innocence and genuine belief that everything will be okay.
On the complete other side of the spectrum is Samantha. She’s completely free with her lifestyle and just seems to be missing that self-censorship we all need to use sometimes. My friend Danelle would fit her almost to a tee. Danelle definitely does not have quite the active social life, but she certainly doesn’t think about what she says till after it comes out. The scary thing, she says this is tame compared to how she used to be. I don’t think any person could possibly reference sex more than Danelle. It is surely a certain art form that many should not strive for.
Next there’s Miranda, completely cynical and sarcastic towards life. She always has the perfect pessimistic view towards any situation and is always waiting for the bottom to fall out. Jess definitely, out of any of us, knows how to put life into perspective. Sometimes you have to expect things to not be great and that’s just the way it is. She certainly is sarcastic and has a sharp punch line for everything. She’s always great when you just need a laugh.
Last but certainly not least, there’s Carrie, the glue that holds the groups together. She’s always the first one you call when something goes wrong and always willing to help everyone. My friend Val is the person that everyone can go to. You can talk to her about anything and she’s really the one that holds the whole group together. She’s the unequivocal leader.
Somehow we all came together to make a group. It feels like a great privilege just to take a part in their lives. Hopefully, will all be together still talking and laughing into our thirties.

Heb 12

My 19th birthday is sure to be one I will never forget. On April 1, 2005 the world learned of the grave state of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. My Birthday and the following afternoon were filled with confusion and anxiety waiting for his death to come. Celebrating something happy seemed so wrong when so many in the world were grieving.
I’d have to admit I am certainly not a perfect Catholic, but the death of the leader of my faith shook me. It is a grief that is hard to put into words. You feel a loss, but it’s a person you’ve never met before that somehow seems like a close friend. I watched my friend, much more active in her faith, emotionally break down after his death and subsequently his funeral. It’s just one of those things that seems so surreal when it’s happening; it’s like watching a movie, in a separate time than us. The death of the Pope certainly shook up a billion Catholics and the world.
Watching the millions of people flood to Rome mad me feel less alone and less scared. We all came together in our faith and were there for each other, separate from politics and other world tension. At a time when it seemed all were coming together, I was appalled by the actions and remarks of my fellow students here in Madison.
I heard some people on my floor wondering what the big deal was since we obviously aren’t living in Rome. I found thoughts like this extremely disrespectful to Catholics on this campus and everywhere. The Pope was and is a world leader; sure, he may not run a big country, but his and the Church’s stance on world issues affects the opinions of followers. Also, while the Pope is exclusively the leader of the Catholic Church, he still stands as a symbol of Christianity in the world. It’s a “big deal” when any world leader dies and we must be respectful of them and their people.
One way respect is shown around the world is lowering flags to half-staff. It is appalling that people are claiming showing respect for religious and world leaders is a violation of church and state. The separation of church and state is a freedom of religion, meaning people are able to choose what ever religion they want to practice and the government will not declare an official religion. However, that discussion is for another time and place. People from the Madison area were mentioned on national news for protesting the President’s decree. It seems that the many people who claim it disrespects those not of Catholic faith need to remember that earning respect requires giving respect. The death of such a vast leader should be a chance for us to unite together and not seek more ways to tear the world apart.

Heb 10

I knew coming to Madison meant moving to a liberal town and certainly people have a right to express their political beliefs. However, I think it can become a problem in the classroom when a professor teaches from a bias one way or the other. I experienced this issue in a class last semester.
Last fall I took a sociology class called Contemporary American Society. It was supposed to be an overview of how society functions and the issues in America today. As an introductory class it should have been a general overview. From the first day, our professor admitted his own liberal bias and informed us that the class would be taught from that perspective. However, the bias left out a completely valid counter argument. We were required to watch weekly documentaries that were very much propaganda pieces that took vicious attacks at any Republican ideas. Our professor was by some students which led to a large class debate. Any discontent was dismissed since the first day of class brought warning. Perhaps the issue was even more sensitive in an election year as there was a clear agenda and candidate we were being pushed to follow.
Every person has political views and they do have the right to share them, but a professor should not use his position to recommend political agenda and even speak for certain political candidates. This seems especially pertinent in an introductory level course that should be providing a wide survey of information. If a professor does choose to share his political beliefs with the class, there is no need to go on rants claiming all businessmen are “greedy bastards.” The classroom should be a place of tolerance and respect, not a political stump.
Certainly there are classes that may require a more political slant like studies in political theory. While discussion of political views is natural, there still should be no agenda forced on students. For example, my political science professor, who has chosen not reveal his political preference, teaches the class from a well-rounded perspective.
However, I find the Florida bill also corrupt in its message. I do not think universities explicitly hire liberal professors. As Krugman mentions, it is natural occurence since many people choosing to enter teaching tend to me more liberal than those in white collar jobs. The bias should be removed from the classroom setting, but we cannot create some quota system assuring that faculty political views are well rounded. We cannot force people to think a certain way to meet some standard; instead, we must respect their political reviews and expect the same from them. Nonetheless, political bias should be kept out of the classroom so students can determine their own political views and not those of their professor.

Research Narrative

Thinking about doing a research paper or having to just do research gives me these awful flashbacks to high school and our wonderful librarians. We had a very affectionate term for one, the Library Nazi, for her sheer ability to instill terror in all those who entered her domain. Our teachers would announce a special library session when we needed to do any kind of research. It was always followed by a collective groan around the room and a stern reminder that we should take advantage of the opportunity we have This involved the same speech heard tens of times before about where to look for information, how to use the library catalog, and all that other nonsense. The speeches never changed and the Library Nazi would stalk around the room and look over your shoulder as you worked at the computer. I can never look at research the same.
I can’t say a particularly hate doing research, but it’s definitely one of those things that needs to be quick and painless. So when I started to do this assignment, I wanted to find the quickest book and I could go, look at, and leave. I started first looking for another book by Scott McCloud. I really like the one we had to read for class so I was hoping to find the something similar. I went onto MadCat and searched for his books. I got four results: two from the Historical Society and one other new book. I really didn’t want to venture to the Historical Society and the other book was at College Library. I could handle College Library, I already have had to do research there. I was getting ready to make my library trek when I found some disappointing news. In my earlier excitement I missed a small minor detail: the book was already checked out.
I started looking up some works by other authors we have read, but I was disappointed that no books were in my beloved College Library. Everything was in the scary Memorial Library where they checked my ID so they could find me if I made too much noise or did something wrong, at least in my imagination. I settled on another work by Nyberg, mainly because she had the least number of options. So I sat in my dorm room staring at my computer, trying to get the courage to actually go to Memorial Library cursing the very existence of English class. Why did I need to practice looking up books again? Didn’t I already know how to do this?
I made my way over to Memorial Library and went inside the lobby. The place really seems overly formal for a library, but I showed my ID and walked. I was very excited to know I had the right pass to get in and I made it through phase one of my mission. Luckily I found the stacks directory right away. I had my call number and according to this map, Nyberg’s Seal of Approval: The history of the Comics Code was on this floor in the South stacks. Alright now I was getting somewhere. I went into the room and found it quite empty and dreary, quite different than the lobby downstairs. Although I suppose how fancy do a bunch of books need to be. I made my way through the stack till I found the right place, but to my dismay, the book I needed was missing. Great, I thought I was almost done with this library business.
I started to look at the book around Nyberg’s knowing that similar books are always grouped together. I found more books about comics but they were all so boring. I was literally a plain navy blue or army green cover with some writing on the front and page after page of small print inside. How could a book about comic not have any pictures of comics? I sat looking through what seemed like the same book over and over again completely disappointed and worried I would have to start this whole process all over again. Then, I hit the jackpot
One shelf above I found the coolest book of all the comic options, and this is coming from a non-comic lover. Stupid me decided not to bring a pen or anything to write down the title, and all MadCat searches following proved unhelpful. So number one thing I learned when doing research: bring a pen. Anyway, this book was amazing. It had comics from all over the world and a history of where is came from. It had a compiling of every comic every created with descriptions about them and pictures to go with many. Being the Disney lover that I am, I was completely excited that they had Disney comics in this book. It also brought back some good memories of French class in high school as I found Asterix, a French comic character. I also found it interesting that this book had compiled previous trials regarding comic books and child delinquency. If I were doing a paper on comics, this book would have been perfect.
The thing that I think bothers me most about research is that it’s a hit or miss kind of activity. Sometimes you find what you really need and sometimes you don’t. It’s always great to find exactly what you need right away, but as long as you go in with an open mind it doesn’t turn out to be so bad. I you may even overcome your fears of big college libraries like me. I thank the library gods who created the cataloging system because it cuts out a lot of extra work when books by the same subject are all put together. I’m ready for my next library trek and ready to tackle the research world. Besides, the Library Nazi is still stuck in her high school lair, and she can never haunt me again.

Heb 8

Today people’s opinions on music are infinite; things no longer fit into only one genre. However, there are some key characteristics that do run through any person’s opinion: musical ability and performance. These two criteria must be met for any artist to be considered valid.
First, an obvious component of judging music must be the sheer talent—musical or instrumental— of the individual or group. While there may be differences in style, everyone can agree that a singer must be able to at least sing, that is stay on the correct pitch. One thing that is also important is the artist’s ability to write songs. The ability to create new music is an important gift as we would never here creative songs again. Another aspect that should be greatly considered is the ability to play a musical instrument. There are plenty of singers who are great at singing and playing an instrument only enhances their talent. You should be able to play the music you create. These two criteria are reflected in modern musical tastes as we have an influx of singer-songwriters who play the guitar or piano and plenty of new rock bands. Songwriting and instrumental talent also greatly affect the performance ability of an artist.
Concerts are the major part of the music industry. Year round there is always multiple groups traveling the globe performing their music. The ability to perform live is an important aspect when judging musical acts. I think a person’s musical ability is only as good as their ability to share it with others. A live performance really shows the talent of the artist as they receive no assistance from any recordings or computers. When judging any act, a person must take into account their ability to perform their music live as concerts are a way for the artist to connect with their listening audience.
Judging music, like any art form, always lends itself to being highly subjective but there is certain criterion that is shared by everyone. An artist must above all have musical talent that can be broken done into vocal or instrumental, writing and performance. Music is not about its ability to make a spectacle, but just about making the music

(Author's Note: This criteria is meant to apply to mainstream music.)