Tuesday, May 13, 2014
It's Finals Week
So I've noticed that it's finals week. In case you're wondering what I've been doing, it's mostly this:
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
It's Nearly Finals' Week
So I've noticed that it's nearly finals' week. Therefore, that means I'll be taking a temporary break from posting. Since my only known readers are my best friend and mother, I doubt there will be too many broken hearts mourning my absence from their online lives. Still, on the off chance that one of you has desperately fallen in love with the words I write, have no fear! I will return as soon as I finish these finals. Wish me luck, I'll need it!
Friday, May 2, 2014
My Generation Needs to Stop Being Apathetic
So I've noticed that my generation needs to stop being apathetic. I don't know how many times I've heard one of my college peers rattling off complaints about how they work so hard, and yet are unable to make enough money to pay for school, housing, food, life. Still, if you ask that same person if they've written to legislators about how they want an increase in the minimum wage, the answer tends to be a resounding, "no." Better yet, if you ask them whether or not they'll be voting in the November election the answer is a resounding, "There's an election in November?" They don't even know.
And let me tell you something else, I live in a mostly conservative state. I have absolutely no issue with people who are Republican, and I have nothing wrong with people who are Democrats. What I do have an issue with is people having no freaking clue what they party they swear by is even doing. I mean really? You really want an increase in the federal minimum wage? Then why do you vote Republican despite the fact that all but one Republican Representative voted against raising the federal minimum wage.
I'm an independent voter, meaning I don't subscribe to any party. This isn't because I don't care enough to research and decide which party my views fall in line with, but it's because I care enough to research and realize that both parties are absolutely crazy idiotic. Both are getting more and more extreme by the day, and while politics has become a contest between the two parties conducted with the eloquence of a three ring circus, my generation turns to social media to receive half-stories and snippets of biased information about things that may be happening in Congress, but who knows really? Meanwhile the more supposedly "informed" of my generations turn their sites to either a. Fox News, home of the Republican Figureheads or b. MSNBC, home of the Democrats who like to hear themselves talk nonsensically. And this is their only source of "legitimate" information.
Forgive me if I'm of the opinion that people have brains and should be capable of forming more of an educated opinion of things that affect our daily lives. And I'm sick and tired of hearing the excuses like, "Well I really don't care. It doesn't affect me. My vote doesn't matter anyways." Are you an idiot? Well no shit, Sherlock. Of course it doesn't matter because you're not voting. And FYI, to use language you might manage to understand from your extensive knowledge of acronyms, it does affect you. The reason that you're still being paid 7.25 an hour (instead of, I don't know, a livable wage) is because you don't care enough to vote for someone who would vote to raise it. So honestly, if you didn't vote, don't even talk to me about this.
Honestly, I've made my stance on this one issue clear. I think the minimum wage should be raised. That being said, if you do extensive research, make an educated decision to recognize biases in your news sources, and the formulate an opinion that opposes mine, I totally and 100% respect you in every way. And I totally and 100% respect your opinion as well, though I may disagree with it. But please, my fellow peers, don't watch ten minutes of your preferred biased news station and then consider yourself an expert on the issue. Just because you can rattle off whatever the guy on the TV said, doesn't make you an expert, and doesn't make you intelligent.
So, please, for the sake of our nation and my sanity both, stop being so goddamn apathetic about everything.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
People Need to Stop Degrading Others
So I've noticed that people need to stop degrading others. Now, this is a broad topic with many facets, and I'm a bit pissed off so let me elaborate.
As I may or may not have mentioned by now, I am a plus sized woman. I am an overweight woman. I am a size fourteen, and it's not something I'm proud of necessarily, but that's my size. No, I'm not obese, but I could be healthier. I have had serious issues in the past because as I grew up I ate in unhealthy ways and I was always really defensive about it. Basically, I ate my feelings from the time I was six, so I don't honestly remember a time where I wasn't overweight. So after living this way for my whole life, I decided in the past couple years to change and become healthy.
Now, I have been successful to some degree. I have lost quite a bit of weight and become healthier overall, but it has been an extremely difficult journey, and it's one I'm still on. I still am trying to become healthier. Now, I don't mean that I dream of being a size six. That's never going to happen. I am 5'10", I have a big build naturally, and a healthy weight for my size is 165 lbs according to my doctor. Now, I am far heavier than that at the moment, but it's a goal I'm working towards. I'm also not saying I am trying to be skinnier, because that is a horrible goal that only leads you to self-hatred. I am trying to be healthier.
If you've never been overweight, I'm trying to find a way to explain to you how hard it is to lose weight. First, you're addicted to certain kinds of foods, your body is literally craving them all the time. It's a physiological reaction that's difficult to overcome in itself. Also, food is often used as an emotional crutch, I know it was for me. So instead of dealing with my emotions as a child, I ate. Now I'm not letting myself have that option, so it's an emotional struggle as well. Then there's the difficulty of knowing that you aren't where you want to be health-wise, and that it will take a long time to get there. And just knowing that it won't just happen immediately is hard, because oftentimes it turns into self-hating, and then you get emotional, and then you want to eat. I'm not saying it's impossible, because I completely am for people trying to become the healthiest they can be. I'm just saying it's incredibly difficult.
So now let me get to my point. If I'm in the gym working out, don't you dare mock me. How dare you. Now I know for some of you, it's difficult to imagine that this even happens, but it does. It happens all the time. I can't even tell you how many times I've been working out in the gym only to be laughed at or overhear comments like, "I hope the machine doesn't break" or "Isn't it a little too late for you to be trying?" This happens. And it's not just me. I was talking to a girl from one of my classes the other day who said, "I had to stop going to the gym. I had to, because working out was supposed to make me feel good, but instead I left in tears almost every time I went because people were so horrible."
I don't know where people get the idea that they have any right to be rude. Especially since it's quite clear that if someone is at the gym, they're taking the steps to make themselves healthy. I remember I quit going to the gym for a month last semester after one guy, who thought he was particularly hilarious, walked over and said to my face, "You got the wrong place, the BRC (my college's cafeteria) is across the street" before walking off and laughing with his friends. His obviously hilarious joke being that I was more interested in food. The worst part is, I was too shocked, horrified, and embarrassed to even say anything back. And this is because other people were laughing along with them.
As I may or may not have mentioned by now, I am a plus sized woman. I am an overweight woman. I am a size fourteen, and it's not something I'm proud of necessarily, but that's my size. No, I'm not obese, but I could be healthier. I have had serious issues in the past because as I grew up I ate in unhealthy ways and I was always really defensive about it. Basically, I ate my feelings from the time I was six, so I don't honestly remember a time where I wasn't overweight. So after living this way for my whole life, I decided in the past couple years to change and become healthy.
Now, I have been successful to some degree. I have lost quite a bit of weight and become healthier overall, but it has been an extremely difficult journey, and it's one I'm still on. I still am trying to become healthier. Now, I don't mean that I dream of being a size six. That's never going to happen. I am 5'10", I have a big build naturally, and a healthy weight for my size is 165 lbs according to my doctor. Now, I am far heavier than that at the moment, but it's a goal I'm working towards. I'm also not saying I am trying to be skinnier, because that is a horrible goal that only leads you to self-hatred. I am trying to be healthier.
If you've never been overweight, I'm trying to find a way to explain to you how hard it is to lose weight. First, you're addicted to certain kinds of foods, your body is literally craving them all the time. It's a physiological reaction that's difficult to overcome in itself. Also, food is often used as an emotional crutch, I know it was for me. So instead of dealing with my emotions as a child, I ate. Now I'm not letting myself have that option, so it's an emotional struggle as well. Then there's the difficulty of knowing that you aren't where you want to be health-wise, and that it will take a long time to get there. And just knowing that it won't just happen immediately is hard, because oftentimes it turns into self-hating, and then you get emotional, and then you want to eat. I'm not saying it's impossible, because I completely am for people trying to become the healthiest they can be. I'm just saying it's incredibly difficult.
So now let me get to my point. If I'm in the gym working out, don't you dare mock me. How dare you. Now I know for some of you, it's difficult to imagine that this even happens, but it does. It happens all the time. I can't even tell you how many times I've been working out in the gym only to be laughed at or overhear comments like, "I hope the machine doesn't break" or "Isn't it a little too late for you to be trying?" This happens. And it's not just me. I was talking to a girl from one of my classes the other day who said, "I had to stop going to the gym. I had to, because working out was supposed to make me feel good, but instead I left in tears almost every time I went because people were so horrible."
I don't know where people get the idea that they have any right to be rude. Especially since it's quite clear that if someone is at the gym, they're taking the steps to make themselves healthy. I remember I quit going to the gym for a month last semester after one guy, who thought he was particularly hilarious, walked over and said to my face, "You got the wrong place, the BRC (my college's cafeteria) is across the street" before walking off and laughing with his friends. His obviously hilarious joke being that I was more interested in food. The worst part is, I was too shocked, horrified, and embarrassed to even say anything back. And this is because other people were laughing along with them.
Eventually I went back, knowing that if I avoided the gym because of idiots like that then I was just as big of an idiot. But it's difficult and hurtful. I never even told anyone about that incident before now because it was that horrifying for me to admit. I asked one of my friends, who is a major gym-goer, why she thought people did this. She just said that "people a lot of the time feel like if you're fat, you've done it to yourself, and you don't deserve sympathy. I know it's not right, but I know a lot of people that think that way, so they say and do stupid things."
I just wanted to draw attention to this issue, because it's not just me. Gym bullying is a thing that happens, and it's probably more prevalent than you would think. So if I'm in the gym, don't you dare mock me. Don't you dare laugh at me. Just keep your thoughts to yourself, and leave me alone.
There's my rant everyone! Ah, I feel better now.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Lecture Classes Are Stupid
So I've noticed that lecture classes are stupid. The entire premise is kind of stupid. Here we are, 300 people sitting in a hall with one person and a PowerPoint up in front of us. There is no discussion, no deep thinking, but instead the mundane task of typing out each and every word on each and every slide and hoping that somehow the words that appear on our screen will somehow seep their way into our mind so that we maybe MAYBE will be able to pass an exam. Is this really even learning? Because to be honest, sitting in this lecture class I can honestly say the only reason I've learned anything about this topic is because I've read the entire text book (it's my major, so it's interesting... it's not like I just read text books because they're so fun and lovable or anything).
Now, some of you might be saying at this point, "wait, maybe you're not learning anything because you're typing a blog post and ignoring the lecture altogether." Well to that all I have to say is, "Yeah... you're probably right." However, even if I wasn't typing up this post, and instead I was typing out information about radiocarbon dating techniques I still would be thinking about something else. And either way, isn't all this information in the book? And if it's not couldn't I just find it online? I know this sounds kind of negative, but it's true. And it's a little bit sad.
Looking around this room I see about four people with notebooks and everyone else has out their computers or their tablets. And, sitting in the back I am able to see exactly what's up on peoples' screens. Trust me, none of them are typing notes. I see about ten Facebook pages up, one person is checking their grades, one person is looking at pictures of pizza (that look quite good, by the way), another is taking pictures with her computer's camera and putting different effects on them, is that person Skyping? How do you even get away with that in class? Oh, maybe it's Omegle. My point is, what are we really getting out of this class?
Now, of course, there's the argument that we should just not allow the computers and tablets and phones, so on and so forth. However, looking at the notebooks around the room I see one with notes being passed back and forth and one with a very elaborate doodle of a dragon, seriously, they should be an art major or something. It's really good. And those who are taking notes have this stressed out look on their face, worrying that the slide will change before they have the chance to get everything down, so they're just desperately writing and not even listening. In conclusion there's maybe MAYBE one person who's genuinely getting something out of this lecture class.
Instead wouldn't it be more beneficial to make more involved classes with discussions and less students? I think so, at least. Then maybe instead of one person absorbing the information, all of the students would.
Food for thought, guys. Let me know what you think!
Now, some of you might be saying at this point, "wait, maybe you're not learning anything because you're typing a blog post and ignoring the lecture altogether." Well to that all I have to say is, "Yeah... you're probably right." However, even if I wasn't typing up this post, and instead I was typing out information about radiocarbon dating techniques I still would be thinking about something else. And either way, isn't all this information in the book? And if it's not couldn't I just find it online? I know this sounds kind of negative, but it's true. And it's a little bit sad.
Looking around this room I see about four people with notebooks and everyone else has out their computers or their tablets. And, sitting in the back I am able to see exactly what's up on peoples' screens. Trust me, none of them are typing notes. I see about ten Facebook pages up, one person is checking their grades, one person is looking at pictures of pizza (that look quite good, by the way), another is taking pictures with her computer's camera and putting different effects on them, is that person Skyping? How do you even get away with that in class? Oh, maybe it's Omegle. My point is, what are we really getting out of this class?
Now, of course, there's the argument that we should just not allow the computers and tablets and phones, so on and so forth. However, looking at the notebooks around the room I see one with notes being passed back and forth and one with a very elaborate doodle of a dragon, seriously, they should be an art major or something. It's really good. And those who are taking notes have this stressed out look on their face, worrying that the slide will change before they have the chance to get everything down, so they're just desperately writing and not even listening. In conclusion there's maybe MAYBE one person who's genuinely getting something out of this lecture class.
Instead wouldn't it be more beneficial to make more involved classes with discussions and less students? I think so, at least. Then maybe instead of one person absorbing the information, all of the students would.
Food for thought, guys. Let me know what you think!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Moving is Really Difficult
So I've noticed that moving is really difficult. This is especially true if you've lived in one place for a very long time. I've lived in Idaho for six years, which to some people might not seem like such a significant amount of time, but it's the longest I've ever lived in one place. Plus, I'm only 19 years old, so it's nearly a third of my life we're talking about here. And it's strange to think that I'm going away.
Don't get me wrong, I am so excited to leave. I have never been so sure about a decision before in my entire life. By moving I will be: 1. better able to pursue my dream. 2. closer to family 3. able to start a new life after a devastating break-up 4. able to find work 5. able to repair family relationships. Basically, everything about this move is a good thing for me. Still, it's difficult.
Logistically it's difficult. I have so much crap, and I never realized how much crap I had until it was time to pack it up and figure out how to transport it thousands of miles. There's the packing, organizing, selling things, giving things away, and still it's as if there's too much to possibly transport. Then I start asking things like "How many bags can I check on the airplane before they charge me?" "Does UPS or FedEx charge less?" and even "does a giant pink fluffy unicorn count as a carry on?" There's just so much to figure out.
Then there's the nostalgia part of it. Like when I'm driving by my old high school and I think back on all the memories, or when I'm planning a goodbye party, or even when I see like a stupid sign on the side of the road and I'm like "aw, I remember when they put that up." I mean, seriously? It's a sign! Nobody cares! Well, nobody cares until you're moving and then suddenly every nook and cranny of your memory is going "aw I remember-" and filling your heart with that painful "I'll miss this" feeling.
I guess in conclusion I'm just trying to say that moving is hard. And I'll definitely miss this state, and all the wonderful memories I've made here.
Don't get me wrong, I am so excited to leave. I have never been so sure about a decision before in my entire life. By moving I will be: 1. better able to pursue my dream. 2. closer to family 3. able to start a new life after a devastating break-up 4. able to find work 5. able to repair family relationships. Basically, everything about this move is a good thing for me. Still, it's difficult.
Logistically it's difficult. I have so much crap, and I never realized how much crap I had until it was time to pack it up and figure out how to transport it thousands of miles. There's the packing, organizing, selling things, giving things away, and still it's as if there's too much to possibly transport. Then I start asking things like "How many bags can I check on the airplane before they charge me?" "Does UPS or FedEx charge less?" and even "does a giant pink fluffy unicorn count as a carry on?" There's just so much to figure out.
Then there's the nostalgia part of it. Like when I'm driving by my old high school and I think back on all the memories, or when I'm planning a goodbye party, or even when I see like a stupid sign on the side of the road and I'm like "aw, I remember when they put that up." I mean, seriously? It's a sign! Nobody cares! Well, nobody cares until you're moving and then suddenly every nook and cranny of your memory is going "aw I remember-" and filling your heart with that painful "I'll miss this" feeling.
I guess in conclusion I'm just trying to say that moving is hard. And I'll definitely miss this state, and all the wonderful memories I've made here.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
I Love Movies
So I've noticed that I love movies. A lot. So for this post I thought I would share with you my top 50 favorite movies list. All of these are must-sees, and if you haven't seen them yet then you bring shame to your family honor. Here we go!
TOP 50 FAVORITE MOVIES:
1. The English Patient
2. In Bruges
3. American Beauty
4. The Godfather: Part II
5. The Godfather (side note: never watch The Godfather: Part III, because it sucks and doesn't exist.)
6. Gladiator
7. A Beautiful Mind
8. Little Miss Sunshine
9. The Lion in Winter (Peter O'Toole was robbed of an Oscar for this)
10. The Shawshank Redemption
11. One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest
12. Lawrence of Arabia (Peter O'Toole was robbed of his Oscar here too)
13. The Way Way Back (side note: The acting isn't always top-notch, but the writing and themes are what makes it so incredible)
14. Platoon
15. Out of Africa
16. The Deer Hunter
17. Million Dollar Baby
18. The Sting
19. Schindler's List
20. It Happened One Night
21. Dial M for Murder
22. Psycho
23. Her
24. Django: Unchained
25. Life is Beautiful (Make sure you watch it subbed, not dubbed.)
26. The Last King of Scotland
27. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
28. Citizen Kane
29. As Good As it Gets
30. Gone With the Wind (But only if you're in the mood for it, and you can really commit to watching it. You can't be half-hearted with this movie.)
31. Up
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
33. Fight Club
34. Casablanca
35. How to Train Your Dragon
36. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
37. Forrest Gump
38. 12 Angry Men (The original, please. None of that 1990s remake crap they shoveled out)
39. Pulp Fiction
40. Reservoir Dogs
41. Unforgiven
42. The Diving Bell and Butterfly
43. Howl's Moving Castle
44. American Hustle
45. The King's Speech
46. All the President's Men
47. Midnight in Paris
48. The Elephant Man
49. Good Will Hunting
50. A River Runs Through It
Now, keep in mind that these are only of my humble opinion. And ALSO these are not the only great movies. I have a full top 500 list, but I figured that would be too many to put down in one post. Now go watch these... like right now. Seriously.
TOP 50 FAVORITE MOVIES:
1. The English Patient
2. In Bruges
3. American Beauty
4. The Godfather: Part II
5. The Godfather (side note: never watch The Godfather: Part III, because it sucks and doesn't exist.)
6. Gladiator
7. A Beautiful Mind
8. Little Miss Sunshine
9. The Lion in Winter (Peter O'Toole was robbed of an Oscar for this)
10. The Shawshank Redemption
11. One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest
12. Lawrence of Arabia (Peter O'Toole was robbed of his Oscar here too)
13. The Way Way Back (side note: The acting isn't always top-notch, but the writing and themes are what makes it so incredible)
14. Platoon
15. Out of Africa
16. The Deer Hunter
17. Million Dollar Baby
18. The Sting
19. Schindler's List
20. It Happened One Night
21. Dial M for Murder
22. Psycho
23. Her
24. Django: Unchained
25. Life is Beautiful (Make sure you watch it subbed, not dubbed.)
26. The Last King of Scotland
27. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
28. Citizen Kane
29. As Good As it Gets
30. Gone With the Wind (But only if you're in the mood for it, and you can really commit to watching it. You can't be half-hearted with this movie.)
31. Up
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
33. Fight Club
34. Casablanca
35. How to Train Your Dragon
36. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
37. Forrest Gump
38. 12 Angry Men (The original, please. None of that 1990s remake crap they shoveled out)
39. Pulp Fiction
40. Reservoir Dogs
41. Unforgiven
42. The Diving Bell and Butterfly
43. Howl's Moving Castle
44. American Hustle
45. The King's Speech
46. All the President's Men
47. Midnight in Paris
48. The Elephant Man
49. Good Will Hunting
50. A River Runs Through It
Now, keep in mind that these are only of my humble opinion. And ALSO these are not the only great movies. I have a full top 500 list, but I figured that would be too many to put down in one post. Now go watch these... like right now. Seriously.
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