Frat Parties Have Lost Appeal
I’ve grown weary of frat parties. Once an exciting weekend pastime, dancing the night away with a mass of perspiring, inebriated fraternity brothers with hardly any dance skills to speak of no longer appeals to me.
I quickly lose interest as guys continually attempt to make a pass at me. Am I uptight just because I refuse to make out with a guy to whom I mean close to nothing and whom I will most likely never see again? I don’t think so. My girlfriends freely hook up on the dance floor and I still respect them, however they know and I know that I have very strong morals and that I will continue to stand by them, regardless of how carefree I am feeling when I go out. I tire of constantly turning my head to avoid an unwanted kiss. All I can think about in that moment is the best way to make a polite getaway.
I can’t help but think about the time I sacrifice just to go to a party—time I could be spending relaxing or attending a cultural event like a play or a musical performance. The preparation alone, at least for females, can take a solid hour. I shower, style my hair, apply make-up and grumble over outfit after outfit for what purpose? Once I arrive at a party, it’s only a matter of minutes before my hair resembles a rat’s nest, my make up is melting down my face, and my outfit is damp with sweat.
I prefer dancing alone or with one of my girlfriends to getting intimate with a guy. Grinding bores me, either because the guy is so drunk that he is hardly conscious of his depleted dance skills or he just doesn’t know what he’s doing. Moving from side to side is no difficult task, yet some guys still have difficulty finding their rhythm.
I would much rather put that wasted grinding energy into having a decent conversation with a guy over a cup of coffee or taking a long walk outside. I frequently want to grab my clueless dance partner by the hand and lead him to the nearest coffee shop and start a stimulating conversation, just to break the disconnected vibe that I try unsuccessfully to ignore. Of course, this is an unrealistic action that I would never take because most “normal” people go to parties to feel that disconnection and can somehow accept its existence.
No longer a freshman, blinded by the overrated glamour of bumping and grinding in a sea of sloshed students, I can see the true nature of frat parties and the view is not a pretty one. Everyone is packed in the room, like an oversized can of sardines. The air is moist and the smell of sweat, perfume and cologne is suffocating. I have to push my way through the crowd as drunken girls impale my feet with their stilettos and fall on me, laughing hysterically. The scene is almost comical, but I am so disgusted that I cannot even laugh.
Maybe my waning interest in the party scene is a sign I am getting old, or that I’m simply no fun. However despite the hostile feelings that I harbor towards frat parties, I do still enjoy a good dance party—one that involves guys that have some self control and respect. I like to feel good after I go out, not used and trashy.
I’m only 20. My idea of a good time is changing and I’m maturing. I’ll still go out, but from now on, I’m going to choose my parties wisely and I can guarantee that frat parties will not be high on my list.
Marvels both social and technological abound on Election Day
We are truly lucky to be living today. Yesterday we witnessed an incredible thing happen; an event that will resonate in our country’s history forever. It never really occurred to me just how momentous this was until our new president elect told that story about the 106-year-old woman who cast her vote for him.
This is the kind of thing we will tell our children about. This is our moon landing; our Brown v. Board of Education. What this means for our country is everything. It shows we aren’t stuck in a rut, like we have assumed for years now. If we can let something like this happen, it shows we really are ready for the future.
As long as I live I will always remember that feeling of excitement and anticipation as this election drew to a close. That feeling that big changes were coming, no matter who won. And yet, the results were never really in doubt toward the end, at least in my case. Sure, I had some tiny worries bouncing around in the back of my head, but as the last week came along and especially as the counting started, I knew that everything was going the right way.
And what a way to see it all go down! Those who watched the election on CNN were gifted with an excellent treat; using experimental video technology, CNN was able to construct a 3D holographic image of a person being interviewed in their newsroom. Not physically there, but they could be seen by anyone watching via television. They used it twice, once to get a report from Jessica Yellin, and another time to interview the Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am. This in addition to John King’s masterful manipulation of the election board tracker made a nice complement to Obama’s talk of the future. When such mechanical marvels are used with ease by news agencies, public consumption can’t be far away.
I do have sympathy for those who supported John McCain; I would have been a sore loser if it had gone the other way. But Barack Obama’s leadership is what we need in this new century. Now, as Obama so eloquently put it, we do indeed stand on the cusp of a new dawn; I can only hope that everyone else in this country gets as swept up in the furor and we do unite as a people.
Halloween Changes as You Grow Older
Halloween for adults is quite different than Halloween for children. Try to remember Halloween as a child and the myriad things to look forward to. There was the thrill and excitement of dressing up as your favorite person, place, or thing, wearing your costume to school and later in the evening (meaning 5 p.m.) going trick-or-treating, and filling your candy basket to its brim. The definition of Halloween hasn’t changed; but our actions and expectations have. We proclaim trick or treat, and ask for shots instead of candy. And although there are perks to being able to stay up past 10 p.m., with the change in bedtime comes a change in culture. This Halloween especially I observed changes that occurred in my friends mentality towards the holiday.
Halloween used to be an all-day event, but along with age comes the loss of excitement for certain holidays. College student still look forward to All Hallows Eve, but our enthusiasm is now geared towards how “trampy-and-trashed” we can get. Girls prance around in freezing cold weather wearing less than they sleep in. Each year, less layers and more skin is shown. Boys’ expectations for costumes increase; testosterone overrules the instinct to generically dress as superman or an astronaut. They compete to win the best costume.
Apathy though is not merely limited to Halloween. We receive less presents on Christmas, the Easter Bunny stops hiding eggs, and you no longer look forward to getting older on your birthday. Sure, some of us still carve pumpkins, go to corn mazes, and ceremonially dress up in costumes, but instead of being the greedy child that needs candy; we now look forward to the experience of the entire night spent with our friends. It is the event, not what you get.
This altered taste for Halloween may not be such as good thing. We no longer expect to fall asleep in a sugar coma, but there is nothing wrong with that. Perhaps if we revisit our youth, it will help to inspire a stress free Halloween. If not, at least you get to be someone else for a night.
The Gym Is No Fashion Show
Girls are too self-conscious when they go to the gym. Though I make sure I at least look presentable, I refuse to put the extra, unnecessary effort into primping and polishing my look prior to a gym excursion.
I go to the gym to workout and break a sweat—not to prance around in front of guys, flaunting my legs in barely-there gym shorts. In fact, the more clothing I’m wearing, the more comfortable I feel. I want to be at ease while I’m doing my crunches, not worrying that they guy on the track has a clear view up my shorts. I don’t want to have to check every ten seconds to make sure the strap on my tank top isn’t sliding down my shoulder either.
Last year, one of my friends commented on my baggy gym attire. The outfit consisted of leggings, loose shorts, a large Oregon shirt, and tennis shoes. “You obviously don’t care what people think of you,” he said matter-of-factly. I don’t know whether or not he meant to be offensive. Regardless, I took the positive, complimentary insinuation, because I guess he’s right—I don’t care what people think of me, at least not at the gym.
I work out so I can look and feel better the next day. I could care less about my appearance while I’m running the track, peddling on the bicycle or lifting weights. I know that regardless of what I wear to the gym, I’m still going to end up looking disgusting afterwards. Thus, I see no point in pinning my hair back in a perfect ponytail that’s just going to fall out, or applying make-up that’s just going to melt off.
This problem doesn’t really apply to guys so much. Loose shorts and a loose t-shirt are common dress for those males bench pressing over 100 pounds in the weight room or shooting hoops underneath the track. Plus, they don’t tend to be the ones caking on the make-up or devoting too much time to choosing an outfit.
As for those gym-goers who insist upon maintaining a picture-perfect look as they work out—I harbor no disdain. I simply cannot help but comment on the noticeable vanity, not to mention, how uncomfortable some of the outfits must be. I’ve tried the tight, short shorts. They are not comfortable.
The gym is not the place for a fashion show. Plus, the put-together look just makes those of us wearing t-shirts and baggy pants look bad.
Fearing Failure
Last week I received a D on a midterm for the first time. I might as well have failed.
I suppose it was inevitable this would happen to me at some point or another. It seems we each have that one class that shoots every bit of confidence to hell.
For me, Introduction to Microeconomics is that class. I haven’t missed a single lecture or a discussion, I do the homework and I do extra reading from my text. Yet, despite my devotion to economic studies, I’ve still had difficulty wrapping my mind around the material, concepts my peers seem to pick up on in the blink of an eye. So, to overcompensate for my inability to understand markets, exchanges and equilibriums, I study harder.
I worried about the test a week before taking it. It wasn’t my goal to ace it (I had to be realistic). However, I didn’t think it was too outrageous to aim for a B. I wasn’t so concerned about the grade as I was with my ability to simply comprehend the problems.
I continued scanning my notes until the very last minute in a frustrated attempt to absorb every possible tidbit of information. However, once I had the 46 questions in front of me, I felt as if I had tumbled into a black hole. All knowledge relating to the subject escaped me.
I fear failure. Dark alleys, creepy crawlers and public speaking amount to nothing when it comes down to my potential in life. There are so many outcomes in life we cannot anticipate, but over the years I have managed to maintain a firm grasp on my studies. If everything else around me is falling apart, I convince myself that I can still avoid academic failure, which is comforting, but in no way healthy.
In attending school, we are taught to fear failure. Good grades merit kudos – honors and higher placement in our classes. On the contrary, failure is deemed unacceptable and often results in punishment. If we do well, we move on. If we don’t, we face deficiencies and even possible expulsion.
Since childhood I’ve been stuck in the mindset that failure is unacceptable. In second grade, I remember working for hours with my mom on a presentation about tiger sharks. I memorized my speech and printed out color pictures to show my classmates. I typed up an entire page of information I had collected while researching the topic. I was 8 years old. An A was not going to affect my future successes, yet I felt I had to do well.
I didn’t want to be the center of attention – I just wanted to feel worthy. I always had my nose in a book. I wrote, revised, and rewrote essays, poetry and short stories. I took school projects very seriously and tended to overachieve in an effort to avoid failure.
This part of me will never change. Though I have come a long way since elementary school, realizing that good grades do not define me and that there are some things that just aren’t worth the extra effort, I still become discouraged when I fall below my standards.
I am learning to perceive my failures more as temporary mistakes, as opposed to consuming letdowns. Mistakes are necessary. Without them, we could not improve upon ourselves. In the long run, the most successful people are actually those who have failed the most. They can better-appreciate the successes that they have had.
Of course, I will never be able to say my sub-par grade on my econ exam was beneficial. I would take an A over a D any day. However, as with other bumps in the road, it won’t be long before it’s behind me. This isn’t my first mistake, nor will it be my last. I’m just going to keep hoping that endurance and a positive attitude will make it all worthwhile.
The Pups and Downs of Buying a Dog in College
I recently purchased a dog, a beautiful little Beagle puppy named Shasta. Many people I’ve met in college have debated whether to get an animal in college. Some think it’s too much of a commitment and a responsibility; others aren’t sure if they are going to have enough time to provide ample care. For me, it was a no brainer.
I’ve always wanted a puppy of my very own and being in a house where I can’t have a pet, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get one. I ended up working around it and the other day I got my baby Beagle. For me, having an animal means a little sacrifice and a lot of money, but it is all worth it. The training and the dedication to someone else’s schedule has been hard, but it has also made me realize how great it is to take care of a life other than my own.
Unfortunately, the lack of sleep and the constant attention that the animal needs is exhausting. Some people think I’m crazy for taking on such a time commitment. But when they see her, they fawn and swoon over her and I know some people are a bit jealous.
Each noise that Shasta makes is precious and I’m so glad that I made the decision to get her. Each kiss and hug means something to me and I know it means something to her too. I know can’t reverse this decision, and I’m not sure I would want to. Although it has only been a few days, I feel like she has been in my life forever and I’m so glad that she is. I know that having a pet in college is not for everyone, but for me it was the perfect choice.
Midterm Madness
I am definitely ready for midterms to be over. It seems like school has barely started and already it’s Week 5; we’re officially in the middle of test central. I had the pleasure of taking back-to-back exams today, as well as one more tomorrow, and I still don’t really get a break until Thursday. Then the swarm of multiple choice, true false, essay questions will finally cease.
Like most people, I have searched for alternate ideas to midterms, reasons why we shouldn’t have these tests every term. Maybe we could be presented with some real life problem to solve. You know, like those good old days of high school classes where the only project was to create a rocket, or maybe just write a superbly average poem. I miss those days. Not that those were ever actually my midterms, but a girl can dream right?
I get it. Without tests, there would be no way for teachers to test how much we actually studied. I get that the point of college is to learn and gain knowledge and retain it for many years to come. But I sure couldn’t tell you half of the specifics of what I supposedly learned in class last week. I’m not a slacker, I do learn the materials, just not when they are first presented. It generally takes me more than four weeks to cement an idea in my head permanently. So I for one want to kidnap midterms, take them to a cemetery, and bury them six feet underground where they won’t ever resurface.
It’s all about finding something you care about. I care about comics, animals, and technological advances; about cartoons, great movies and TV shows. Find me a class offered about robotic animals, a class that teaches you how to make your own shoes and I’m there.
I recently accepted my fate with midterms; the inevitable push the night before to cram the last bits of information in your head. There isn’t much one can do about it. However, I still have my own ways of making those not so riveting classes worthwhile. If you find me in class, I’ll still most likely be daydreaming about what I am going to make for dinner that night. Teriyaki chicken and rice tonight, in case you were wondering.
The Shape Of Things To Come
I recently watched the film I, Robot again, and despite its cautionary nature, it had the opposite intended effect. I want robots walking around outside. I want automated busses. I want robot pals that I can hang with, and complain about how much better reaction times they have than me when we play games.
My wish may be closer than most think. Some may remember the excellent South Park episode where Cartman pretends to be a robot named AWESOM-O in order to pull a prank on Butters. What I didn’t realize at the time (though found out shortly later) was that AWESOM-O (albeit spelled differently) was real. ASIMO is one of the premier ‘bots literally walking around. Hailing (of course) from Japan, ASIMO is probably the more recognized robot-about-town, but others have risen to prominence for various feats.
The HUBO, constructed in Korea, sports one of the most expressible faces on a robot (and has been made to resemble Albert Einstein). QRIO, from Sony was the first humanoid robot to achieve running speed (as in movement involving both feet off the ground at once). You may have also seen four of the latest models dancing to Beck’s song “Hell Yes,” if you saw the music video.
Finally, in the interest of Robo-diversity, Boston Dynamics has given us one of the coolest, codenamed BigDog. Created to be a next-gen “army mule” BigDog is a four legged beat of burden that has an amazing sense of balance. You can find videos on Youtube of BigDog walking on ice, and regaining his balance after being shoved by one of the researchers. (I, personally, would never do such a thing, because the last thing I want for an enemy is mule-sized robot). There is truly nothing as simultaneously chilling and awesome as watching BigDog gallop across a room and jump over a simulated gap in the floor.
Considering that we can do so much this early into my lifetime makes me incredibly eager for future years. Imagine living in a world where humans walk the streets with ASIMOs and QRIOs walking around with us. A world where EMTs are assisted by their faithful BigDogs; where bus drivers are the busses themselves and cars do more driving than you do.
And this is just one aspect of what’s waiting for us. You don’t have to be a sci-fi geek to appreciate the changes we’re seeing on a day-to-day basis. I wouldn’t be surprised if just 15 or 20 years from now, we’re all driving (or being driven by) hydrogen cars past hydroponic farms, and massive fields of solar cells and windmills. We’ll be talking to people from across the world just on the street through video screens that link real-time. Look around. Look at news sites. Watch the Discovery channel. The world outside is becoming more like the world in our books and in our movies and in our T.V.s everyday, and it cannot get here soon enough.
Saturated with greenwashing
“Actions speak louder than words.”
English Idiom
Apparently, it’s very easy being green. Everyone from computer manufacturers to television companies to tire companies is “going green,” and all the companies really want everyone to know it.
We’ve all seen them. It’s practically impossible to watch a commercial segment these days without seeing some kind of advertisement where someone sneaks in a mention of how the company is enviro-friendly. Televisions are “energy efficient,” computers are “Energy Star certified,” tires are “less resistant” (and therefore require less engine power to roll). The reasons companies give can range from the believable to the absurd, but my irritation with them is becoming more and more about how many there are, as opposed to their accuracy.
It seems like every public relations company has returned to middle school; one of the cool kids starts using a phrase and people pick it up in hopes of being cool themselves. The meme spreads until everyone in the school is saying it. Finally, we reach the point where we’re sick of that particular phrase, and for the sake of our sanity we never say it again.
This tactic of spending more money on telling people how green you are instead of spending that money on actually doing something environmentally friendly has come to be known as “greenwashing.” The phrase greenwashing was coined by Jay Westerveld in an essay that scathingly responded to the New York City hotel industry’s practice of requesting that customers reuse towels to save the environment. Unfortunately, these measures by New York’s hotels failed to cut down waste generation and failed to recycle more efficiently. Westerveld determined the hotel claims were only made for the profits they would reap from people eager to stay in a “green hotel.”
In essence, greenwashing is the PR equivalent of putting a bumper sticker on your gas-guzzling SUV talking about how much you love the environment.
It is unfortunate this fate has befallen environmentalism. However, unlike “uber” or “bootylicious,” “going green” is a phrase that needs to stick around. The enviro-friendly cause is an honorable one that should be pursued. It’d just be nice if every company in the world didn’t brag about it.
Environmental concern exploded with the success of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.” Immediately, companies jumped on the “go green” bandwagon.
And then it got worse. Suddenly, car companies wanted to be cool, too. It began slowly: The first spot I can remember was from Honda, that for all intents and purposes said, “hydrogen cars,” and showed a Honda driving by a lake. All of a sudden, greenwashing went from annoying to downright hilarious. It’s fine to be in favor of hydrogen cars, but anyone can just say they like them. Honda has the chance to actually do something.
Next came the ads that made you want to cry, such as Esurance’s blatant attempt at pandering to environmentalists by having its spokes-toon yell “Quick, jump in the hybrid!” during one of its commercials.
And it didn’t stop. Subsequently, the oil and coal companies talked about how clean energy was so important to them and how they were researching new technologies to cut down on emissions. This is all well and good, but where are the results? These people have made record profits throughout the last decade. Are they seriously expecting us to believe they can’t make any progress past researching?
Still, this is but only tip of the iceberg. According to a recent article in Time magazine, the fall season of television is set for a massive info-dump of green commercials. If you’re afraid you’re the only one tired of it, fear not, you are far from alone. Just this month, the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain banned ExxonMobil’s ad claiming liquefied natural gas is one of the world’s cleanest fuels, and the ASA said it was intentionally misleading. Norway banned all car commercials from using the phrases “green,” “environmentally friendly” or “clean,” claiming that cars cannot do anything good for the environment.
In the end, it simply comes down to putting your money – literally – where your mouth is. If all these companies put half the money they sink into advertising with appealing phrases into programs that would actually help, we might actually see some beneficial results. As it stands, all we’ve gained is one more thing to hate about TV and a dilution of a vitally important movement in society.
McCain campaign: one of hypocrisy
“It is no disgrace not to be able to do everything; but to undertake, or pretend to do, what you are not made for, is not only shameful, but extremely troublesome and vexatious.”
- Plutarch
People, I have had enough. My frustration has been growing for some time and the straw that broke the camel’s back has finally snapped. On the one hand, I have begrudging respect for John McCain for carrying this race as far as he has. But on the other, I am becoming more and more upset about the increasing falsehood that is coming from his campaign.
At the campaign’s beginning, I was feeling pretty good about the Democrats’ chances. After a presidency that will not be remembered fondly, it looked like the GOP’s chances of success in the election were slim. When Barack Obama was picked as the Democratic nominee, I was ecstatic. I felt fortunate to live in a time where it was possible for a man who could bring significant change to actually reach a position of power and influence.
Barack Obama’s followers quickly rallied around his message of change in Washington, a message of reform and doing away with “politics-as-usual” that resonated with Americans after eight long years of the same.
But things started to get weird when Obama and McCain became the two nominees. Our choice has not been easy: One candidate has the charisma and eloquence to promise us a way out of the mess we’re in, and he has the record and the ability to actually deliver on that promise. The other represents the exact same thing we’ve seen for eight years, but he has mastered the art of spin control.
If you read the promise on his Web site, voting for John McCain is akin to casting a vote for utopia. “Under a McCain presidency the United States will experience robust economic growth, and Americans will again have confidence in their economic future,” it reads. He does not detail his plans to accomplish these promises, but then, President George Bush never explained how exactly he’d accomplish his mission, either.
McCain describes solutions to American issues such as “independence from foreign sources of oil,” and says he’ll “end the war in Iraq with victory and bring our troops home with honor.” Boy, that’s a tough ticket to run against.
In late-August even McCain seemed to no longer believe his own hype because his campaign took a drastic shift. All of a sudden, McCain, too, was an agent of change, as was his brand new vice-presidential candidate, Sarah “New Girl From Alaska” Palin.
Sure, she’s got next-to-no experience with only two years as a governor under her belt, but that’s fine. The GOP must not think experience is that much of an issue – after all, it only calls Obama out on his lack of experience every other day. Never mind that as vice president Palin would be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
The hypocrisy doesn’t stop there. Whereas Obama wants to invest in alternative energy and use limited offshore drilling until we can be entirely free of oil, McCain has voted to reduce funding for alternative energy and lift existing bans on offshore drilling. Truly, he represents the exact kind of forward-thinking the 21st century United States needs.
As McCain will be so quick to remind us, he and his team of “mavericks” are completely detached from the “cronyism”-plagued Bush administration. Nevermind Palin’s abuse of powers scandal, in which the Alaska Legislature’s investigation concluded that she had abused her powers in office. According to the report, she “knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissable pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda.” Other than that, they’re both squeaky clean and scandal free.
McCain also follows the classic Republican virtue of sticking to his guns, as evidenced by his maintaining the opinion that less regulation in the market is a good thing, except when the market takes its worst nose dive since the Great Depression. Suddenly, McCain’s all about regulation. As quoted in a Washington Post article: “In my administration, we’re going to hold people on Wall Street responsible. And we’re going to enact and enforce reforms to make sure that these outrages never happen in the first place.”
Now, I’m not sure, but that sounds an awful lot like the oh-so-dreaded “flip-flopping” that made John Kerry famous in the 2004 election. Maybe it’s only flip-flopping when Democrats do it.
I honestly cannot comprehend how McCain has kept such hardcore support for as long as he has. It sometimes feels like he’s trying to sabotage himself, what with ripping off Obama’s slogan, hiring Palin in a blatant attempt at calling Hillary Clinton supporters to his side, or any other attempts at pandering that he’s been accused of.
In the end, it may surprise you to learn that I don’t actually hate the man. In fact, I have great respect for the service he has shown this nation, and I believe he genuinely wants to do right by this country. But he needs to stop trying to be something he’s not. Maybe at another time, he would be the right person for the job. But in this election, at this time in history, that job belongs to another.
