Hey Notes From North Sheridan Followers:
Exciting news! I just received an e-mail from Jimmy Greenfield, the site manager on ChicagoNow.com, teling me that NFNS will be added to ChicagoNow.com!
AAAHH! For those of you who don't know, ChicagoNow is an online blogging community with 200+ blogs carrying on conversations about literally everything. It is a way for Chicagoans to connect and create and discuss anything and everything- I can't even describe the variation in subjects so check it out right now! www.chicagonow.com
The other exciting part of this is that ChicagoNow plays a large role in feeding to RedEye, the free daily commuter paper that I am in love with so this is my first step toward my dream of writing for RedEye!
Basically, I'm psyched. However, this means NFNS is going to move to a new home on ChicagoNow.com pretty soon (more details to come) and I'm going to need all the help I can get. Right now I'm going to be blogging on a trial basis and I need to prove myself if I want to move up to the paid blogger tier. Basically I have to be more creative, more innovative, make more use of social media and get more page hits than ever before, so I'm counting on YOU, the readers, to help me out!
Well that is all the information for now, but just wanted to let you all in on this exciting move for NFNS. Thanks for all your support!
3.09.2010
3.04.2010
Conversational Phrases That Should Probably Die
Lately, I’ve noticed several patterns in the way people talk. Not so much in diction or accent or sentence length, but rather those phrases you hear people say in class or when they don’t know someone very well. They say these things time and time again in order to send a certain message about themselves, when really all they’re provoking in the listener is a disenchanted glare and internal groan.
“Where is home?”
At first glance this seems like a harmless question. However, in my experience it is almost always uttered by some overly friendly older man at the airport who chose to sit at the stool next to you, even when there are plenty more available further down the counter, or by some college aged guy who isn’t used to talking to girls but wants to appear intelligent so he thinks of this genius way to ask “Where are you from?” To be honest, home can be a relative answer. Do you really want me to answer this? I can answer about how home is whenever I’m with my laughing with my close friends or drinking a raspberry mango shake with passion fruit jellies from Tea Garden or closing my eyes and feeling a warm breeze stroke my forehead or the sound of a pipe organ playi- oh what? You’re just wondering where I’m from? Maybe move over a couple stools and I’ll tell you.
“(Insert activity here) is what I do.”
I’ve heard this in many contexts. Art is what I do, soccer is what I do, music is what I do, summer is what I do, swimming is what I do, knitting is what I do- okay, well I’m glad you do that, but do you do other things? Do you also “do” eating? Do you “do” friends? It appears that this singular activity is so much a part of their identity that it is the only verb they can perform. “Hey man, wanna go play some basketball later today? You’ve been sitting inside staring at that plant for like three months…” “Sorry dude I can’t. You know this. Horticulture is what I do. I literally cannot do anything else.”
“Well I was just going to say…”
This statement is almost always heard in large classroom discussions. Usually two people will start talking at the same time, and then one will actually talk and preface their statement with “Well I was just going to say…” No, you are actually saying that. There is no past tense in the comment you are currently making. And the worst is when people say this even when the teacher actually calls on them and there is no question in the fact that they are supposed to be talking at that moment but still manage to sneak in the excuse that this was what they were going to say if they didn’t get called on, but they did get called on so… I guess they’ll just say it?
Somehow making any small group discussion into a comparison of who has the best I-did-the-stupidest-thing-when-I-was-drunk story.
If you are a typical college student you probably will drink at some point. Meaning that all the other college students around you probably drink as well, and they have all probably done some pretty dumb things. However, I don’t really get what people are trying to prove to me when we are in class and they decide it is necessary for us to discuss their beer pong record or their terrible hangover. I generally don’t hang out with those in my small groups outside of class, and so it is slightly frustrating when the only interaction I have with them is their retelling of the previous night’s shenanigans. We are actually discussing post WWII gender roles and if you can tell me the answer to number three I will be way more impressed than that story about you spending $54 when you were blacked out at Dunkin Donuts last weekend. In addition, these stories are actually a lot less original than you would think. There is inevitably one girl who off handedly mentions she owes her mom a bottle of peppermint schnapps because she drank it all last Christmas (a painfully obvious set up to the exchange: “wOw your parents don’t care if you drink?” “Oh hell no they get drunk with me!” “wOw you’re sooooo lucky”). There is also inevitably some guy who brings up the time he saw (insert animated fantasy movie here) high (“I bet that was soooo crazy” “Dude it totally was!”) If this practice continues (which I’m sure it will considering this seems to be a theme among every college campus everywhere) at least think of something more innovative to do when drunk, so I can be mildly entertained when you distract me from doing any sort of work. Thanks.
Note: Though I say all this, I know that I have definitely been guilty of all these phrases myself, and will probably continue to accidentally use them for a very long time. Also all of these statements said in most contexts aren't really bothersome to me, its just that I happen to notice them in certain settings as of late. Just wanted to add that disclaimer so no one is offended because they happened to use one of these in the last few days. No worries. I probably have too haha.
“Where is home?”
At first glance this seems like a harmless question. However, in my experience it is almost always uttered by some overly friendly older man at the airport who chose to sit at the stool next to you, even when there are plenty more available further down the counter, or by some college aged guy who isn’t used to talking to girls but wants to appear intelligent so he thinks of this genius way to ask “Where are you from?” To be honest, home can be a relative answer. Do you really want me to answer this? I can answer about how home is whenever I’m with my laughing with my close friends or drinking a raspberry mango shake with passion fruit jellies from Tea Garden or closing my eyes and feeling a warm breeze stroke my forehead or the sound of a pipe organ playi- oh what? You’re just wondering where I’m from? Maybe move over a couple stools and I’ll tell you.
“(Insert activity here) is what I do.”
I’ve heard this in many contexts. Art is what I do, soccer is what I do, music is what I do, summer is what I do, swimming is what I do, knitting is what I do- okay, well I’m glad you do that, but do you do other things? Do you also “do” eating? Do you “do” friends? It appears that this singular activity is so much a part of their identity that it is the only verb they can perform. “Hey man, wanna go play some basketball later today? You’ve been sitting inside staring at that plant for like three months…” “Sorry dude I can’t. You know this. Horticulture is what I do. I literally cannot do anything else.”
“Well I was just going to say…”
This statement is almost always heard in large classroom discussions. Usually two people will start talking at the same time, and then one will actually talk and preface their statement with “Well I was just going to say…” No, you are actually saying that. There is no past tense in the comment you are currently making. And the worst is when people say this even when the teacher actually calls on them and there is no question in the fact that they are supposed to be talking at that moment but still manage to sneak in the excuse that this was what they were going to say if they didn’t get called on, but they did get called on so… I guess they’ll just say it?
Somehow making any small group discussion into a comparison of who has the best I-did-the-stupidest-thing-when-I-was-drunk story.
If you are a typical college student you probably will drink at some point. Meaning that all the other college students around you probably drink as well, and they have all probably done some pretty dumb things. However, I don’t really get what people are trying to prove to me when we are in class and they decide it is necessary for us to discuss their beer pong record or their terrible hangover. I generally don’t hang out with those in my small groups outside of class, and so it is slightly frustrating when the only interaction I have with them is their retelling of the previous night’s shenanigans. We are actually discussing post WWII gender roles and if you can tell me the answer to number three I will be way more impressed than that story about you spending $54 when you were blacked out at Dunkin Donuts last weekend. In addition, these stories are actually a lot less original than you would think. There is inevitably one girl who off handedly mentions she owes her mom a bottle of peppermint schnapps because she drank it all last Christmas (a painfully obvious set up to the exchange: “wOw your parents don’t care if you drink?” “Oh hell no they get drunk with me!” “wOw you’re sooooo lucky”). There is also inevitably some guy who brings up the time he saw (insert animated fantasy movie here) high (“I bet that was soooo crazy” “Dude it totally was!”) If this practice continues (which I’m sure it will considering this seems to be a theme among every college campus everywhere) at least think of something more innovative to do when drunk, so I can be mildly entertained when you distract me from doing any sort of work. Thanks.
Note: Though I say all this, I know that I have definitely been guilty of all these phrases myself, and will probably continue to accidentally use them for a very long time. Also all of these statements said in most contexts aren't really bothersome to me, its just that I happen to notice them in certain settings as of late. Just wanted to add that disclaimer so no one is offended because they happened to use one of these in the last few days. No worries. I probably have too haha.
Turns Out Professors Want You To Learn
After nearly seven months of struggling through the new medium of lecture classes, accelerated learning curves, and grades comprised of two papers, a midterm, and a final, I’ve discovered something very important: professors actually want you to learn.
Yes, yes, I know. Of course they want you to learn. But the fact I’ve come across is they want you to learn. Learn, as in get the nuggets of information they pez dispense three times a week and insert it in your mind for your neurons to chew, suck and crack in their little dendrite teeth until they’ve lost their sugar rush and are ready for the next dispense. However, not everyone eats their pez the same way, and its up to us, as students to let our teaching professionals understand how do dispense it best.
Let me explain.
The other day I was in my philosophy class, blandly transcribing my teacher’s blackboard notes and lecture voice to my notes on John Locke. Typical day, typical class: I was just ready for it to be over. Then my teacher stops her lecture and completely switches gears. She goes into a maniacal fact vomit on the state of the prison system, practically yelling at us to agree with her sweeping general statements on how “This is the civil rights issue of our time, GUYS!” and how this is a terrible travesty, and how, oh, yea, John Locke talked about liberty and this pertains to liberty as well. Okay go ahead and leave ten minutes early.
Wait, what?
Okay, first I am forced to regurgitate mundane basic facts about a reading wrote four hundred years ago in thick archaic diction, then listen to fact after fact about an issue I am unaware of in an attempt to connect the basic facts to our lives today, and THEN without giving me a chance to discuss or ask questions you boot me out of a class I am paying $200+ for?! Not okay.
By the time I had walked ten feet from the door, I was livid. Obviously there was some disconnect between the way she was teaching and the way I was learning- how can I be getting anything out of that class period?
So I decided I needed to let her know in some way how I felt about her teaching practices. I wrote her a polite but firm e-mail explaining my frustration at class being cut early and the disconnect between contemporary issues and the topics being discussed. I also suggested a few alternative options to the way she was approaching the material. Then I signed my name, proofread for grammatical errors (she is my professor), and hit send.
Though I was slightly nervous about her reaction, I felt glad I sent the e-mail. Even if she didn’t agree, at least I would have felt like I did something to change my academic life for the better in a class that could pertain to my eventual major/minor.
Thankfully, she was more than happy I wrote her the e-mail. She said she normally doesn’t get this sort of honest feedback from a student and had noticed a decreased level of interest in our class. Apparently she had also just finished grading our papers and wasn’t too pleased about those grades, starting off the class on a sour note. However, the next class period we spent the entire time discussing how we could make the course more relatable and beneficial for everyone. It was probably the liveliest discussion we have had thus far. The class since then has been going much better, for both students and teacher.
So here is my advice to students everywhere: if you don’t like something that is going on in your class chances are other students feel the same way and your teacher is noticing. We only have four years of college (and maybe two-four years of grad school) to prepare us for the rest of our lives. That’s pretty intimidating once you think about it. So if for any reason something isn’t working for you, take some initiative and make it change. You’ll likely help yourself, and probably a few other students and professors along the way.
Yes, yes, I know. Of course they want you to learn. But the fact I’ve come across is they want you to learn. Learn, as in get the nuggets of information they pez dispense three times a week and insert it in your mind for your neurons to chew, suck and crack in their little dendrite teeth until they’ve lost their sugar rush and are ready for the next dispense. However, not everyone eats their pez the same way, and its up to us, as students to let our teaching professionals understand how do dispense it best.
Let me explain.
The other day I was in my philosophy class, blandly transcribing my teacher’s blackboard notes and lecture voice to my notes on John Locke. Typical day, typical class: I was just ready for it to be over. Then my teacher stops her lecture and completely switches gears. She goes into a maniacal fact vomit on the state of the prison system, practically yelling at us to agree with her sweeping general statements on how “This is the civil rights issue of our time, GUYS!” and how this is a terrible travesty, and how, oh, yea, John Locke talked about liberty and this pertains to liberty as well. Okay go ahead and leave ten minutes early.
Wait, what?
Okay, first I am forced to regurgitate mundane basic facts about a reading wrote four hundred years ago in thick archaic diction, then listen to fact after fact about an issue I am unaware of in an attempt to connect the basic facts to our lives today, and THEN without giving me a chance to discuss or ask questions you boot me out of a class I am paying $200+ for?! Not okay.
By the time I had walked ten feet from the door, I was livid. Obviously there was some disconnect between the way she was teaching and the way I was learning- how can I be getting anything out of that class period?
So I decided I needed to let her know in some way how I felt about her teaching practices. I wrote her a polite but firm e-mail explaining my frustration at class being cut early and the disconnect between contemporary issues and the topics being discussed. I also suggested a few alternative options to the way she was approaching the material. Then I signed my name, proofread for grammatical errors (she is my professor), and hit send.
Though I was slightly nervous about her reaction, I felt glad I sent the e-mail. Even if she didn’t agree, at least I would have felt like I did something to change my academic life for the better in a class that could pertain to my eventual major/minor.
Thankfully, she was more than happy I wrote her the e-mail. She said she normally doesn’t get this sort of honest feedback from a student and had noticed a decreased level of interest in our class. Apparently she had also just finished grading our papers and wasn’t too pleased about those grades, starting off the class on a sour note. However, the next class period we spent the entire time discussing how we could make the course more relatable and beneficial for everyone. It was probably the liveliest discussion we have had thus far. The class since then has been going much better, for both students and teacher.
So here is my advice to students everywhere: if you don’t like something that is going on in your class chances are other students feel the same way and your teacher is noticing. We only have four years of college (and maybe two-four years of grad school) to prepare us for the rest of our lives. That’s pretty intimidating once you think about it. So if for any reason something isn’t working for you, take some initiative and make it change. You’ll likely help yourself, and probably a few other students and professors along the way.
Questions of a Non-Jesuit at Loyola
In this week’s Loyola Phoenix, there was an article describing the administration’s goal of extending student use of Rambler Bucks to local Rogers Park restaurants. Finally! I thought. Loyola’s administration is actually listening to the wants of actual students, not simply the skewed results of thousands of surveys or catering to the “needs” of student athletes who can’t even sell out a free game (sorry Rambler Basketball, sad but true). However, the article went on to say that Rambler Bucks couldn’t be used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, or birth control products. “We need to keep in mind that we are a Jesuit University,” said vice president for Student Development Robert Kelly.
And there it was again: Jesuit University. I have heard this phrase tossed around in nearly every context at this school: complaining about party atmosphere, applauding academics, justifying social justice core, and explaining student body make up. It appears that being a Jesuit University defines Loyola more than I realized.
So it got me thinking: what exactly is a “Jesuit university”? And further, what exactly is a “Jesuit”? Having gone to public school my entire life and having seminary educated Lutheran parents, Catholicism to me is a murky clouded subject, swirled in myths of kneeling, first communions, and plaid skirts. However, I had chosen to come to a Catholic university on the pretense their values didn’t extend much further than the academic rigor. Plus, “the Jesuits are the most liberal of Catholics,” someone had once told me. Cool. I’m liberal. We’ll all get along right?
Or perhaps not. Now that I actually attend Loyola, I have noticed that liberal for Catholics is a lot different than liberal for the rest of the world. While Loyola has a prominent LGBT community it is apparent from the lack of options for birth control (even to the extent of condoms), extreme policies on alcohol/drug use, and bothersome guest policies, going to a Catholic university is quite the switch in ideological viewpoints.
But where does this difference come from? In attempting to explain the “Jesuits are liberal” myth, I decided to do a little research on the background of this branch of Catholicism. It was founded by Ignatious Loyola and a couple of fellow priest friends on the basis of working to create a higher academic standard for the clergy and strict following of religious text (seeing as it is rigorously studied). When I typed in “Jesuit ideals” to Google to see if I could get to know a little bit more about their political ideas interestingly, nearly all the hits were Jesuit universities advertizing their adherence to their ideals with little explanation of what this actually means aside from broad descriptions such as ‘Contemplation in Action’ and ‘Faith and Justice’. However, after clicking around, I began to understand that the Jesuits seem to highly value academic excellence, social justice, and creating a well rounded person. Nothing really seemed to speak of alcohol, tobacco, and birth control as a part of this definition.
In terms of purchase of alcohol and tobacco, I understand and agree with where Loyola is coming from. I don’t think Loyola has to provide students yet another venue in which to entertain their vices, and on the meal plan to boot. However, I don’t think this can be explained simply through the excuse of we’re-Jesuits-so-we-don’t-drink/smoke. Alcohol and tobacco use is a problem that transcends religious society: Catholics, Lutherans, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, everyone has a body, and everyone’s body has the same reaction to smoking numerous chemicals mixed in tar and drinking substances that kill brain cells. We can’t use the excuse of “being Catholic” to put ourselves up on some self righteous pedestal, when this is a scientific, not ideological debate. Also it is important to point out, Market 820, Loyola’s Water Tower Campus grocery store, does in fact already sell alcohol. Though you must use cash to purchase alcohol, this is a store created to service Loyola students’ needs. The option of using Rambler Bucks is taken away, but the convenience of the location places alcohol at nearly the same accessibility level.
As for birth control, nearly all the girls I know are on some form, mostly the Pill, whether they are sexually active or not. For many, it is a medical prescription in order to regulate menstrual periods. You would think Loyola, constant lauders of their successful pre-med program, would recognize this medical need and provide for students who need this medication. In addition, Loyola’s Fine Arts Annex shares walls with the Caris* Pregnancy Clinic and Planned Parenthood. If students really want birth control/condoms it’s not as though they have to walk far. However, these are resources for the residents of the neighborhood as well. Should Loyola really be taking away from the residents of Roger’s Park just because of their own archaic thought-processes?
I’m not writing this opinion because I think the Jesuits are bad people nor have a bad philosophy. On the contrary, I actually think the themes of academic excellence, social justice, and creating a well rounded individual are something I would like my institution to help me strive toward. However, it sometimes seems that Loyola hides behind this idea of “Jesuit ideals” in order to excuse some of their personal political beliefs, and then outright ignores their fundamental values of academics and social justice in lieu of fancy buildings and reconstruction of athletic facilities. If Loyola found a way back to its Jesuit roots, I think I could truly say the institution is “leading people to lead extraordinary lives”. But for now, I see Loyola as a school trying to be something it fundamentally cannot be, while covering up its pitfalls with religion.
*(Before you make the inevitable joke, Karis/Caris/Charis is the Greek word meaning ‘grace’ and no I am not affiliated with the institution despite our shared name)
WHAT DO YOU THINK?!
Loyola people, I'm counting on you to give me some feedback on this post. How do you feel about Loyola's position as a Jesuit University? How do you feel about going to a Catholic school? Heck, how do you feel about Loyola adding on local Rogers Park restaurants to Rambler Bucks? Just let me know, LEAVE A COMMENT :D
And there it was again: Jesuit University. I have heard this phrase tossed around in nearly every context at this school: complaining about party atmosphere, applauding academics, justifying social justice core, and explaining student body make up. It appears that being a Jesuit University defines Loyola more than I realized.
So it got me thinking: what exactly is a “Jesuit university”? And further, what exactly is a “Jesuit”? Having gone to public school my entire life and having seminary educated Lutheran parents, Catholicism to me is a murky clouded subject, swirled in myths of kneeling, first communions, and plaid skirts. However, I had chosen to come to a Catholic university on the pretense their values didn’t extend much further than the academic rigor. Plus, “the Jesuits are the most liberal of Catholics,” someone had once told me. Cool. I’m liberal. We’ll all get along right?
Or perhaps not. Now that I actually attend Loyola, I have noticed that liberal for Catholics is a lot different than liberal for the rest of the world. While Loyola has a prominent LGBT community it is apparent from the lack of options for birth control (even to the extent of condoms), extreme policies on alcohol/drug use, and bothersome guest policies, going to a Catholic university is quite the switch in ideological viewpoints.
But where does this difference come from? In attempting to explain the “Jesuits are liberal” myth, I decided to do a little research on the background of this branch of Catholicism. It was founded by Ignatious Loyola and a couple of fellow priest friends on the basis of working to create a higher academic standard for the clergy and strict following of religious text (seeing as it is rigorously studied). When I typed in “Jesuit ideals” to Google to see if I could get to know a little bit more about their political ideas interestingly, nearly all the hits were Jesuit universities advertizing their adherence to their ideals with little explanation of what this actually means aside from broad descriptions such as ‘Contemplation in Action’ and ‘Faith and Justice’. However, after clicking around, I began to understand that the Jesuits seem to highly value academic excellence, social justice, and creating a well rounded person. Nothing really seemed to speak of alcohol, tobacco, and birth control as a part of this definition.
In terms of purchase of alcohol and tobacco, I understand and agree with where Loyola is coming from. I don’t think Loyola has to provide students yet another venue in which to entertain their vices, and on the meal plan to boot. However, I don’t think this can be explained simply through the excuse of we’re-Jesuits-so-we-don’t-drink/smoke. Alcohol and tobacco use is a problem that transcends religious society: Catholics, Lutherans, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, everyone has a body, and everyone’s body has the same reaction to smoking numerous chemicals mixed in tar and drinking substances that kill brain cells. We can’t use the excuse of “being Catholic” to put ourselves up on some self righteous pedestal, when this is a scientific, not ideological debate. Also it is important to point out, Market 820, Loyola’s Water Tower Campus grocery store, does in fact already sell alcohol. Though you must use cash to purchase alcohol, this is a store created to service Loyola students’ needs. The option of using Rambler Bucks is taken away, but the convenience of the location places alcohol at nearly the same accessibility level.
As for birth control, nearly all the girls I know are on some form, mostly the Pill, whether they are sexually active or not. For many, it is a medical prescription in order to regulate menstrual periods. You would think Loyola, constant lauders of their successful pre-med program, would recognize this medical need and provide for students who need this medication. In addition, Loyola’s Fine Arts Annex shares walls with the Caris* Pregnancy Clinic and Planned Parenthood. If students really want birth control/condoms it’s not as though they have to walk far. However, these are resources for the residents of the neighborhood as well. Should Loyola really be taking away from the residents of Roger’s Park just because of their own archaic thought-processes?
I’m not writing this opinion because I think the Jesuits are bad people nor have a bad philosophy. On the contrary, I actually think the themes of academic excellence, social justice, and creating a well rounded individual are something I would like my institution to help me strive toward. However, it sometimes seems that Loyola hides behind this idea of “Jesuit ideals” in order to excuse some of their personal political beliefs, and then outright ignores their fundamental values of academics and social justice in lieu of fancy buildings and reconstruction of athletic facilities. If Loyola found a way back to its Jesuit roots, I think I could truly say the institution is “leading people to lead extraordinary lives”. But for now, I see Loyola as a school trying to be something it fundamentally cannot be, while covering up its pitfalls with religion.
*(Before you make the inevitable joke, Karis/Caris/Charis is the Greek word meaning ‘grace’ and no I am not affiliated with the institution despite our shared name)
WHAT DO YOU THINK?!
Loyola people, I'm counting on you to give me some feedback on this post. How do you feel about Loyola's position as a Jesuit University? How do you feel about going to a Catholic school? Heck, how do you feel about Loyola adding on local Rogers Park restaurants to Rambler Bucks? Just let me know, LEAVE A COMMENT :D
2.10.2010
Northface, Uggs, and Hunter Boots Conspiracy
Recently, Chicago was hit with a "massive" snowstorm. Now, while I don't mean to sound like some uppity been-there-done-that kinda gal, I am going to have to say "been there done that", to all you wimpy Chicagoans. 10-14 inches is typical snowfall in Minnesota and I love it. Sadly, Minnesota's plows have adapted to this annual snow dump, and I rarely got the taste of this foreign concept called a "snow day", so seeing the city freak out over this pleasant powdering had me chuckling a little inside.
However, I wasn't laughing for long.
In Minnesota we survive our winters by using common sense equipment. Ski jacket, so we can go sledding/nordic skiing/dog walking and stay warm and dry; heavy, water-proof boots so our toes won't freeze off in one of the above mentioned activities; and any glove/hat/mitten/scarf with hometown 3M Thinsulate technology to keep our fingers warm but not sausage-like. While there were noted brands, such as Columbia, Northface, and Patagonia, there was no real stigma attached to any of the brand names: if it was warm, you wear it. Plus there is always a Target brand version of these items and they are almost always inevitably bought.
Then I came to Chicago.
I came to this city because I wanted to be the city girl. I had visions of myself prancing down Michigan in a perfect outfit, laughing smile forever on my face, cheeks rosy from the excitement of the hustle and bustle, welcoming the Windy City with an open joyful heart and a Mary Tyler Moore-style hat toss. However, nowadays you're more likely to see me in my Northface ski jacket from 8th grade bent over and stomping up North Sheridan, my cheeks ruddy and my mascara running from the brutal bully wind.
Then I step onto the el and see some 20-something working girl in a slouchy muslin hat, purple peacoat, patterned dress, gray tights and forest green Hunter boots, and I just want to ask her: "How do I become you?!" It appears something I still have yet to learn in Chicago is how to maintain the warmth, while not looking like I just returned from an expedition to Antartica.
Here I can name off the winter-wear brands by heart: Ugg, Hunter, Northface. Either you have one of these logos on somewhere throughout your ensemble, or you can quickly be labeled as un-hip and un-Chicago based on the style of your winter wear. While all of these brands make high quality, functional pieces of clothing, they are extremely expensive especially for a college student who recently downsized from two minimum wage jobs to one. However, I still find myself slipping into an envious gaze whenever I see those green Hunters with the little cream colored sock folded over the top. I know I can get the same boots on Target.com, but I want the rugged glamour that comes with the "Hunter" name outlined in a red and black box.
Now are these brands necessary for looking cute and staying warm in the city? No, of course not. But does seeing them everywhere sure tempt me? Yes. It sometimes just feels like the young and hip of Chicago seem to be a part of some secret community where their membership comes with a Northface parka, Ugg boots, and thick dark rimmed glasses. However, maybe its just my perspective. To everyone else, they see these brands as dependable, easy to access, and worth the extra cost for quality. This of course is the logical explanation...
I'll still be looking out for that secret community.
However, I wasn't laughing for long.
In Minnesota we survive our winters by using common sense equipment. Ski jacket, so we can go sledding/nordic skiing/dog walking and stay warm and dry; heavy, water-proof boots so our toes won't freeze off in one of the above mentioned activities; and any glove/hat/mitten/scarf with hometown 3M Thinsulate technology to keep our fingers warm but not sausage-like. While there were noted brands, such as Columbia, Northface, and Patagonia, there was no real stigma attached to any of the brand names: if it was warm, you wear it. Plus there is always a Target brand version of these items and they are almost always inevitably bought.
Then I came to Chicago.
I came to this city because I wanted to be the city girl. I had visions of myself prancing down Michigan in a perfect outfit, laughing smile forever on my face, cheeks rosy from the excitement of the hustle and bustle, welcoming the Windy City with an open joyful heart and a Mary Tyler Moore-style hat toss. However, nowadays you're more likely to see me in my Northface ski jacket from 8th grade bent over and stomping up North Sheridan, my cheeks ruddy and my mascara running from the brutal bully wind.
Then I step onto the el and see some 20-something working girl in a slouchy muslin hat, purple peacoat, patterned dress, gray tights and forest green Hunter boots, and I just want to ask her: "How do I become you?!" It appears something I still have yet to learn in Chicago is how to maintain the warmth, while not looking like I just returned from an expedition to Antartica.
Here I can name off the winter-wear brands by heart: Ugg, Hunter, Northface. Either you have one of these logos on somewhere throughout your ensemble, or you can quickly be labeled as un-hip and un-Chicago based on the style of your winter wear. While all of these brands make high quality, functional pieces of clothing, they are extremely expensive especially for a college student who recently downsized from two minimum wage jobs to one. However, I still find myself slipping into an envious gaze whenever I see those green Hunters with the little cream colored sock folded over the top. I know I can get the same boots on Target.com, but I want the rugged glamour that comes with the "Hunter" name outlined in a red and black box.
Now are these brands necessary for looking cute and staying warm in the city? No, of course not. But does seeing them everywhere sure tempt me? Yes. It sometimes just feels like the young and hip of Chicago seem to be a part of some secret community where their membership comes with a Northface parka, Ugg boots, and thick dark rimmed glasses. However, maybe its just my perspective. To everyone else, they see these brands as dependable, easy to access, and worth the extra cost for quality. This of course is the logical explanation...
I'll still be looking out for that secret community.
2.04.2010
My Left Wing Week and Some Thoughts on Politics
It all started out last Wednesday when my self-proclaimed liberal philosophy teacher, who also informed us that she was on several painkillers and loves cats, put a picture of George Bush eating a puppy on a powerpoint about Plato's The Republic.
And that's just the beginning.
The same day of my Philosophy teacher's powerpoint, I watched the State of the Union and received tweets from @BarackObama on my phone updating me with soundbites from the speech. I continued to receive tweets from the President throughout the week informing me of the online conversation that would be taking place through Organizing for America and persuading me to join the fight for the middle class by signing a letter to Congress.
On Friday on my way back from class, I walked through CFSU and was handed a flyer that blamed capitalism for all of America's current problems and urged me to join the fight for an economy that shared the wealth among the people. Yes, I was being asked to join the Loyola Socialist Club.
On Tuesday, I attended a lecture called "Demonizing Barack" which discussed how Barack Obama has been demonized by the right and how it is affecting his presidency and policy-making. The keynote speaker largely blamed the Republican Party for, well, everything that is wrong with America today, and proclaimed that everything they did that inhibited the President's policy-making ability was because of their inherent racism and prejudice against African-Americans. One of the panelists pointed out that when looking at the voting patterns of the South in the Obama/McCain race, these states voted as though "they were still in reconstruction".
On Wednesday I attended the premiere of Rush Limbaugh! The Musical. As you can imagine, Limbaugh was portrayed as a an idiotic conservative zealot bent on exterminating the Jews, Blacks and hippies from America, thanks to a little help from his friends Ann Coulter and Reverand Right-Wing. Also note that when the narrator hypothetically mentioned that Barack Obama would win the Presidency in 2012, the entire audience broke out in applause.
After this high point of liberal celebration, I went to an open mic benefiting Haiti at Heartland Cafe in Roger's Park. The music was great, the poetry was great and the subject matter was significantly left wing. If the fact that it was a benefit open mic didn't immediately swing the political pendulum to the left, the crowd of college students, young adults, and loyal attendees from the neighborhood cheered at mentions of the end of George Bush's presidency and the many proclamations of the need for change and peace, and the entire event was hosted by a Rastafarian.
Just thinking about this week makes me want to head to the nearest Megachurch for just a slight breath of another opinion.
Now I'm a liberal, both socially and fiscally, but to be honest, I even felt like this week was a little much. I believe liberals have the best ideas when it comes to political issues and are a force for positive political change (as well as the way our nation is headed, at least socially), however I am not okay with getting caught up in groupthink mentality. I always appreciated the fact that an urban environment tends to be more open minded, however anything in excess can lead to tunnel vision. One of the most frustrating aspect of politics today are the the fundamentalist right wing and left wing politicians who refuse to even listen to one another to make something of the tangled mess the government has been handed. Even though I am aware that my ideologies are generally purely liberal, I still like to hear the conservative opinion before I decide on an issue.
In Minnesota this was easy. Minnesota, and especially the Twin Cities, has voted consistently blue since 1976, a longer streak than any other state in America but my high school was home to just as many conservatives. Granted some weren't the most articulate in their views, but their point of view was represented nonetheless, and I could always find someone who was informed enough to have a conversation about any issue.
In Chicago, this is slightly harder. I find that the political movements tend to be caricatured and extreme on both sides. Either I have a repeat of this ludicrously liberal week or I talk to the people outside Dunkin' Donuts holding the signs portraying Obama with a Hitler mustache. These people, both wings included, represent the polarized views that are sucking America in two directions: either you are a communist hippie who supports legalizing marijuana, abortion rights, gay marriage, and big government spending or you are an uptight white man only focused on family values, abstinence, the right to carry a gun, and pure capitalism. Where is the wiggle room? As Obama said in his State of the Union, we need bipartisanship if we're going to get anywhere. Liberals, conservatives, democrats, republicans, hippies, and white men can all agree on a few key issues. No one wants to get cancer only to find out their insurance doesn't cover the medical bills. No one wants their son or daughter to die overseas. No one wants a depression or to be unemployed. However, compromise is necessary if any of these things are going to get done.
And as for the Loyola Socialist Club? Maybe next year...
And that's just the beginning.
The same day of my Philosophy teacher's powerpoint, I watched the State of the Union and received tweets from @BarackObama on my phone updating me with soundbites from the speech. I continued to receive tweets from the President throughout the week informing me of the online conversation that would be taking place through Organizing for America and persuading me to join the fight for the middle class by signing a letter to Congress.
On Friday on my way back from class, I walked through CFSU and was handed a flyer that blamed capitalism for all of America's current problems and urged me to join the fight for an economy that shared the wealth among the people. Yes, I was being asked to join the Loyola Socialist Club.
On Tuesday, I attended a lecture called "Demonizing Barack" which discussed how Barack Obama has been demonized by the right and how it is affecting his presidency and policy-making. The keynote speaker largely blamed the Republican Party for, well, everything that is wrong with America today, and proclaimed that everything they did that inhibited the President's policy-making ability was because of their inherent racism and prejudice against African-Americans. One of the panelists pointed out that when looking at the voting patterns of the South in the Obama/McCain race, these states voted as though "they were still in reconstruction".
On Wednesday I attended the premiere of Rush Limbaugh! The Musical. As you can imagine, Limbaugh was portrayed as a an idiotic conservative zealot bent on exterminating the Jews, Blacks and hippies from America, thanks to a little help from his friends Ann Coulter and Reverand Right-Wing. Also note that when the narrator hypothetically mentioned that Barack Obama would win the Presidency in 2012, the entire audience broke out in applause.
After this high point of liberal celebration, I went to an open mic benefiting Haiti at Heartland Cafe in Roger's Park. The music was great, the poetry was great and the subject matter was significantly left wing. If the fact that it was a benefit open mic didn't immediately swing the political pendulum to the left, the crowd of college students, young adults, and loyal attendees from the neighborhood cheered at mentions of the end of George Bush's presidency and the many proclamations of the need for change and peace, and the entire event was hosted by a Rastafarian.
Just thinking about this week makes me want to head to the nearest Megachurch for just a slight breath of another opinion.
Now I'm a liberal, both socially and fiscally, but to be honest, I even felt like this week was a little much. I believe liberals have the best ideas when it comes to political issues and are a force for positive political change (as well as the way our nation is headed, at least socially), however I am not okay with getting caught up in groupthink mentality. I always appreciated the fact that an urban environment tends to be more open minded, however anything in excess can lead to tunnel vision. One of the most frustrating aspect of politics today are the the fundamentalist right wing and left wing politicians who refuse to even listen to one another to make something of the tangled mess the government has been handed. Even though I am aware that my ideologies are generally purely liberal, I still like to hear the conservative opinion before I decide on an issue.
In Minnesota this was easy. Minnesota, and especially the Twin Cities, has voted consistently blue since 1976, a longer streak than any other state in America but my high school was home to just as many conservatives. Granted some weren't the most articulate in their views, but their point of view was represented nonetheless, and I could always find someone who was informed enough to have a conversation about any issue.
In Chicago, this is slightly harder. I find that the political movements tend to be caricatured and extreme on both sides. Either I have a repeat of this ludicrously liberal week or I talk to the people outside Dunkin' Donuts holding the signs portraying Obama with a Hitler mustache. These people, both wings included, represent the polarized views that are sucking America in two directions: either you are a communist hippie who supports legalizing marijuana, abortion rights, gay marriage, and big government spending or you are an uptight white man only focused on family values, abstinence, the right to carry a gun, and pure capitalism. Where is the wiggle room? As Obama said in his State of the Union, we need bipartisanship if we're going to get anywhere. Liberals, conservatives, democrats, republicans, hippies, and white men can all agree on a few key issues. No one wants to get cancer only to find out their insurance doesn't cover the medical bills. No one wants their son or daughter to die overseas. No one wants a depression or to be unemployed. However, compromise is necessary if any of these things are going to get done.
And as for the Loyola Socialist Club? Maybe next year...
1.31.2010
Phoenix Article: Vampire Weekend
(NOTE: I may be posting some of my articles I write for the Loyola Phoenix on this blog as well, to keep those outside the Roger's Park circle in the loop on my journalistic endeavors.)
When I first listened to Contra, it was as though I had been listening to their first, self-titled, album Vampire Weekend on a rickety, fading transistor radio: each song takes the elements that make the band so timelessly enjoyable to listen to, and explodes them into Technicolor sound. From the quirky head bopping first single “Horchata” to the lilting, reminiscent finale “I Think Ur A Contra”, this notorious college band proves Contra is no sophomore slump.
On Contra, Vampire Weekend experiments with their staples. Synthesizers, bongo drums, pianos, strings, Caribbean beats and lead singer Ezra Koenig’s buoyant, lilting voice are puppeteered to create a sound that is reminiscent of Vampire Weekend, but unapologetically adventurous on its own. The outcome is a delightfully modge-podge mix of afro-pop and Upper West side attitude that plays with different beats and shifting melodies, while still featuring hooks that will take up permanent residence in your ear. However their strength doesn’t simply come from catchy lyrics and melodies, but also that each song is slightly unpredictable. Driving percussion and guitar riffs break into light hip-swaying bridges, and quiet bongo drums liven up the slower ballads. This contrast enhances and deepens the listening experience on every track.
While Contra stays true to Vampire Weekend’s sound and memorable hooks, the subject matter of their lyrics is definitely post grad. Vampire Weekend focused on crushes on girls in cable knit sweaters and the social intricacies of seeing an ex on campus, the songs on Contra speak of a deeper awareness of the hypocrisies of the world around them. “California English” asks “’Cause if Tom’s don’t work, if it just makes you worse/ would you lose your faith in The Good Earth?” questioning the ironies of wealth and charitable giving. The bouncy, SoCal tone of “Holiday” contrasts with the temptation to forget about the troubles of the world by escaping to the beach, saying “A t-shirt so lovely/ It turned the history books gray”. And the quiet, strings-heavy ballad “I Think Ur A Contra” remembers a former lover, lamenting “You wanted good schools/And friends with pools/…/ Complete control/ Well I don’t know”. However, they stay true to their playful roots with songs like “Diplomat’s Son”, a six minute long romp about getting high and waking up where you least expect it, and “Cousins” is the super up-beat, get-off-your-ass-and-dance track, with Ezra Koenig wailing “Me and my cousins/And you and your cousins/I can feel it coming” as the beat heavy hook. Listeners are once again guaranteed an Ivy League vocabulary lesson from these Columbia University graduates, with references to Contra Costa, horchata, balaclava, 96 point Futura, and Richard Serra. This intelligent wordplay continues to be the basis for Vampire Weekend’s lyrical success and sets them apart from the vague ramblings of many alternative bands today.
While other bands have overhyped their releases, only to disappoint on release day, Vampire Weekend made sure not to make the same mistake. The entire Contra album was made available to listen to six days before the release date, which allowed listeners to take in the entire album before deciding to buy. While slightly a risky move, (if the album wasn’t good this would prominently affect sales, plus allow hackers to rip the songs early to make available on file sharing sites) ultimately it showed their hard working commitment to creating a quality album their fans would enjoy. This paid off as Contra debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and continues to sell strongly.
Interestingly, I think Contra sounds more like Vampire Weekend than Vampire Weekend. While the band could have found marginal success in creating a concoction of head bopping tunes using the same formula, they instead chose to take the fundamental sound of Vampire Weekend and expand it into a new realm of melodic experiments and lyrical intricacies. Though the album title refers to an ambiguous struggle, unsure of what to fight against, Contra comes across as a clear example of how a band should grow while still fine tuning their sound. Clean, smart, and a little bit wild, Vampire Weekend has found its voice.
When I first listened to Contra, it was as though I had been listening to their first, self-titled, album Vampire Weekend on a rickety, fading transistor radio: each song takes the elements that make the band so timelessly enjoyable to listen to, and explodes them into Technicolor sound. From the quirky head bopping first single “Horchata” to the lilting, reminiscent finale “I Think Ur A Contra”, this notorious college band proves Contra is no sophomore slump.
On Contra, Vampire Weekend experiments with their staples. Synthesizers, bongo drums, pianos, strings, Caribbean beats and lead singer Ezra Koenig’s buoyant, lilting voice are puppeteered to create a sound that is reminiscent of Vampire Weekend, but unapologetically adventurous on its own. The outcome is a delightfully modge-podge mix of afro-pop and Upper West side attitude that plays with different beats and shifting melodies, while still featuring hooks that will take up permanent residence in your ear. However their strength doesn’t simply come from catchy lyrics and melodies, but also that each song is slightly unpredictable. Driving percussion and guitar riffs break into light hip-swaying bridges, and quiet bongo drums liven up the slower ballads. This contrast enhances and deepens the listening experience on every track.
While Contra stays true to Vampire Weekend’s sound and memorable hooks, the subject matter of their lyrics is definitely post grad. Vampire Weekend focused on crushes on girls in cable knit sweaters and the social intricacies of seeing an ex on campus, the songs on Contra speak of a deeper awareness of the hypocrisies of the world around them. “California English” asks “’Cause if Tom’s don’t work, if it just makes you worse/ would you lose your faith in The Good Earth?” questioning the ironies of wealth and charitable giving. The bouncy, SoCal tone of “Holiday” contrasts with the temptation to forget about the troubles of the world by escaping to the beach, saying “A t-shirt so lovely/ It turned the history books gray”. And the quiet, strings-heavy ballad “I Think Ur A Contra” remembers a former lover, lamenting “You wanted good schools/And friends with pools/…/ Complete control/ Well I don’t know”. However, they stay true to their playful roots with songs like “Diplomat’s Son”, a six minute long romp about getting high and waking up where you least expect it, and “Cousins” is the super up-beat, get-off-your-ass-and-dance track, with Ezra Koenig wailing “Me and my cousins/And you and your cousins/I can feel it coming” as the beat heavy hook. Listeners are once again guaranteed an Ivy League vocabulary lesson from these Columbia University graduates, with references to Contra Costa, horchata, balaclava, 96 point Futura, and Richard Serra. This intelligent wordplay continues to be the basis for Vampire Weekend’s lyrical success and sets them apart from the vague ramblings of many alternative bands today.
While other bands have overhyped their releases, only to disappoint on release day, Vampire Weekend made sure not to make the same mistake. The entire Contra album was made available to listen to six days before the release date, which allowed listeners to take in the entire album before deciding to buy. While slightly a risky move, (if the album wasn’t good this would prominently affect sales, plus allow hackers to rip the songs early to make available on file sharing sites) ultimately it showed their hard working commitment to creating a quality album their fans would enjoy. This paid off as Contra debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and continues to sell strongly.
Interestingly, I think Contra sounds more like Vampire Weekend than Vampire Weekend. While the band could have found marginal success in creating a concoction of head bopping tunes using the same formula, they instead chose to take the fundamental sound of Vampire Weekend and expand it into a new realm of melodic experiments and lyrical intricacies. Though the album title refers to an ambiguous struggle, unsure of what to fight against, Contra comes across as a clear example of how a band should grow while still fine tuning their sound. Clean, smart, and a little bit wild, Vampire Weekend has found its voice.
1.27.2010
@StateOfTheUnion: The President and Twitter
"America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation. Again, we are tested. And again we must answer history's call"
"It is because of the spirit and resilience of Americans that I have never been more hopeful about America's future than I am tonight"
"The bank bailout was about as popular as a root canal. But I promised I wouldn't just do what was popular- I would do what was necessary."
"People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay."
"Because of the Recovery Act, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed."
"We can't allow financial institutions, including those that take your deposits, to take risks that threaten the whole economy."
"All of our men and women in uniform around the world must know that they have our respect, our gratitude, and our full support."
"I never said change would be easy. When you try to do big things & make big changes it stirs passions &controversy- that's just how it is."
A 7,137 word speech, reduced to a eight sound bytes totaling 185 words. 2.6% of the speech was delivered to the people who decided not to tune into the address, but receive 140 character messages to their mobile device as not to interrupt whatever other important activity they had to do. While I agree The State of the Union can be a little tedious to watch (Obama: "My fellow Americans-" Cue entire democratic side 3 minute standing ovation and the entire republican side scowl, sink back in their seats, and shake their head/text. Repeat at least 55+ more times), I think it is a shame this is all some people are getting. The State of the Union isn't something we should take for granted. It is the president clearly stating what he wants to do and his take on the current political environment of Washington. Even if you don't support Obama, at least listen to what he says in order to legitimately back up your claims.
"It is because of the spirit and resilience of Americans that I have never been more hopeful about America's future than I am tonight"
"The bank bailout was about as popular as a root canal. But I promised I wouldn't just do what was popular- I would do what was necessary."
"People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay."
"Because of the Recovery Act, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed."
"We can't allow financial institutions, including those that take your deposits, to take risks that threaten the whole economy."
"All of our men and women in uniform around the world must know that they have our respect, our gratitude, and our full support."
"I never said change would be easy. When you try to do big things & make big changes it stirs passions &controversy- that's just how it is."
A 7,137 word speech, reduced to a eight sound bytes totaling 185 words. 2.6% of the speech was delivered to the people who decided not to tune into the address, but receive 140 character messages to their mobile device as not to interrupt whatever other important activity they had to do. While I agree The State of the Union can be a little tedious to watch (Obama: "My fellow Americans-" Cue entire democratic side 3 minute standing ovation and the entire republican side scowl, sink back in their seats, and shake their head/text. Repeat at least 55+ more times), I think it is a shame this is all some people are getting. The State of the Union isn't something we should take for granted. It is the president clearly stating what he wants to do and his take on the current political environment of Washington. Even if you don't support Obama, at least listen to what he says in order to legitimately back up your claims.
1.13.2010
Earthquake in Haiti: What Happened, How to Help
On Tuesday, January 12, Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake, leaving thousands dead and nearly one-third of their population in need of emergency aid. This 7.0 magnitude earthquake toppled the presidential palace, the tax office, a prison, hospitals, schools, and almost entire neighborhoods. According to an Associated Press article, run on Chicagotribune.com, by Jonathon M. Katz, the death count is unsure, but Officials in Haiti are estimating anywhere up to 100,000 (estimates have also run upwards of 500,000) have died from the destruction and its aftermath. In addition, the head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission was missing and the Roman Catholic archbishop of Port-au-Prince was dead. It is reported that the main churches and seminaries of Port-Au-Prince have been reduced to rubble.
When I heard this news, I was in shock. Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to be a docent at the Our World At War photojournalism exhibit, which was hosted by Loyola's School of Communications and sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross. In this exhibit, five photojournalists from the VII Agency traveled to war torn nations around the world and photographed the conflict and its victims. Ron Haviv captured the conflict in Haiti, and the stories told by his photographs, combined with the background information on the current condition of the country, moved more than one hardened business executive to tears (See the photos below).
Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and has been ruled by violence for most of the last 30 years. A majority of its population live on less than $2 per day, and have resorted to eating mud cakes flavored with small amounts of butter or salt to sustain themselves. When the ICRC conducted a survey of people in Haiti 98% of those surveyed responded they had felt the effects of armed violence, whether or not they had been directly affected, and 66% of those directly affected said they had limited access to such services as water, electricity and health care.
Haiti needs our help. The conditions in the country were horrendous to begin with, and now they have been hit by a natural disaster that threatens to throw the nation into even deeper turmoil. Imagine this event in America: the White House collapsing, the nearest hospitals and schools reduced to rubble, several large organizations and buildings devoted to peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts (the church and the U.N.) destroyed, and piles of bodies lining the streets of New York, L.A., Chicago, and even the Twin Cities. We are so lucky to have a stable country and not be hit by a natural disaster, and now it is time to take advantage of our wealth and stability and help a fellow nation get back on its feet.
THURSDAY UPDATE:
International relief has started to make its way into Port-au-Prince. Planes carrying rescue workers from China, France, Spain, and the United States landed, bringing people to provide aid and tons of food, water, and medicine. However, it took nearly six hours to unload the supplies from one Chinese plane, hinting at a possible bottleneck as relief continues to pour in from around the world to the already damaged airport.
Though there is little authority (many UN trucks and state vehicles are stuck trying to get through crowded streets of people and stopped cars), many people are being freed by neighbors and volunteers, and there are reports of little to no gunfire in this normally chaotic city. There were reports of looting immediately after the quake, but people were taking food, and disturbances are rare.
The dead lay along the streets, some covered in white cloth. Some try to drag dead bodies to hospitals to dispose of them, some are taking bodies to the hills for impromptu burials. Brazil, the largest military force currently in Haiti, is urging authorities to create a cemetery in order to prevent an epidemic.
While Haitians wait for supplies, they have used what they can to help and transport victims. People are being carried to hospitals in wheelbarrows and makeshift stretchers fashioned out of unhinged doors.
*Check out this piece written by Bill Clinton. It is a quick but poignant read about the earthquake and what needs to happen now.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1953379_1953494_1953521,00.html?xid=rss-topstories
Below I have compiled some basic facts about Haiti, its conflicts, and the earthquake that hit. I have also put together a list of websites and resources where you can donate money and learn more. (Note: the text messaging option is really quick and really easy- I did it and it takes less than 30 seconds and donates $10, which can help a lot)
Please donate, get informed, and tell others about the earthquake and Haiti's conflict.
This is a photo of the Haiti wall at the Our World At War exhibit.
The second photo on the left is of the mud cakes that people eat.
http://www.mandyhenry.com/blog/?p=306
A close up of the first picture on the left (from above).
This woman was running away from gunfire with the pictured child, when she lost her footing and dropped the child. The child was paralyzed from the waist down from the incident.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/haiti-news-081009
Basic Facts:
-Location: Island in the Carribean
-Capital: Port-au-Prince
-Population: 9 million (2 million in Port-au-Prince)
-Life Expectancy: 60.8 years
-Poverty: 78% live on less than $2 per day
-Earthquake hit: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, afternoon
-Magnitude: 7.0
-Number of Deaths: Estimates anywhere up to 500,000
-Number in need of aid: Approx. 3 million
-Current Concerns: Not enough hospitals, spread of diseases such as fever, malaria, and measles, respiratory disease from inhaling dust, escaped prisoners from the collapsed prison, lack of food and drinking water, lack of shelter for those displaced
Links to learn more:
LIVE UPDATES: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456322.stm
PHOTOS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishredcross/sets/72157623201983100/
GOOD HISTORY OF HAITI: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456728.stm
GOOD SOURCES FOR UPDATED INFO:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/haiti/
http://haitifeed.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456819.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8455774.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/world/americas/14haiti.html?hp
How to Help
-Text the word Haiti to 90999 to donate $10
*Through the Red Cross
*Taken out of your phone bill
-Text the word Yele to 501501 to donate $5
*Through Wyclef Jeans organization Yele Haiti
*Take out of your phone bill
-http://www.yele.org/ to donate any amount of money
*Organization ran by Wyclef Jean
*Projects are designed to make a difference in the fields of education, health,
environment and community development.
-Here is a link to all the organizations accepting donations for relief:
*http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-haiti-help-boxjan13,0,6665203.story
"Teach us to give and not count the cost"
-St. Ignatius of Loyola
Sources:
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/haiti-news-081009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/haiti/sns-ap-cb-haiti-earthquake,0,1861962.story?page=1
When I heard this news, I was in shock. Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to be a docent at the Our World At War photojournalism exhibit, which was hosted by Loyola's School of Communications and sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross. In this exhibit, five photojournalists from the VII Agency traveled to war torn nations around the world and photographed the conflict and its victims. Ron Haviv captured the conflict in Haiti, and the stories told by his photographs, combined with the background information on the current condition of the country, moved more than one hardened business executive to tears (See the photos below).
Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and has been ruled by violence for most of the last 30 years. A majority of its population live on less than $2 per day, and have resorted to eating mud cakes flavored with small amounts of butter or salt to sustain themselves. When the ICRC conducted a survey of people in Haiti 98% of those surveyed responded they had felt the effects of armed violence, whether or not they had been directly affected, and 66% of those directly affected said they had limited access to such services as water, electricity and health care.
Haiti needs our help. The conditions in the country were horrendous to begin with, and now they have been hit by a natural disaster that threatens to throw the nation into even deeper turmoil. Imagine this event in America: the White House collapsing, the nearest hospitals and schools reduced to rubble, several large organizations and buildings devoted to peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts (the church and the U.N.) destroyed, and piles of bodies lining the streets of New York, L.A., Chicago, and even the Twin Cities. We are so lucky to have a stable country and not be hit by a natural disaster, and now it is time to take advantage of our wealth and stability and help a fellow nation get back on its feet.
THURSDAY UPDATE:
International relief has started to make its way into Port-au-Prince. Planes carrying rescue workers from China, France, Spain, and the United States landed, bringing people to provide aid and tons of food, water, and medicine. However, it took nearly six hours to unload the supplies from one Chinese plane, hinting at a possible bottleneck as relief continues to pour in from around the world to the already damaged airport.
Though there is little authority (many UN trucks and state vehicles are stuck trying to get through crowded streets of people and stopped cars), many people are being freed by neighbors and volunteers, and there are reports of little to no gunfire in this normally chaotic city. There were reports of looting immediately after the quake, but people were taking food, and disturbances are rare.
The dead lay along the streets, some covered in white cloth. Some try to drag dead bodies to hospitals to dispose of them, some are taking bodies to the hills for impromptu burials. Brazil, the largest military force currently in Haiti, is urging authorities to create a cemetery in order to prevent an epidemic.
While Haitians wait for supplies, they have used what they can to help and transport victims. People are being carried to hospitals in wheelbarrows and makeshift stretchers fashioned out of unhinged doors.
*Check out this piece written by Bill Clinton. It is a quick but poignant read about the earthquake and what needs to happen now.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1953379_1953494_1953521,00.html?xid=rss-topstories
Below I have compiled some basic facts about Haiti, its conflicts, and the earthquake that hit. I have also put together a list of websites and resources where you can donate money and learn more. (Note: the text messaging option is really quick and really easy- I did it and it takes less than 30 seconds and donates $10, which can help a lot)
Please donate, get informed, and tell others about the earthquake and Haiti's conflict.
This is a photo of the Haiti wall at the Our World At War exhibit.
The second photo on the left is of the mud cakes that people eat.
http://www.mandyhenry.com/blog/?p=306
A close up of the first picture on the left (from above).
This woman was running away from gunfire with the pictured child, when she lost her footing and dropped the child. The child was paralyzed from the waist down from the incident.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/haiti-news-081009
Basic Facts:
-Location: Island in the Carribean
-Capital: Port-au-Prince
-Population: 9 million (2 million in Port-au-Prince)
-Life Expectancy: 60.8 years
-Poverty: 78% live on less than $2 per day
-Earthquake hit: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, afternoon
-Magnitude: 7.0
-Number of Deaths: Estimates anywhere up to 500,000
-Number in need of aid: Approx. 3 million
-Current Concerns: Not enough hospitals, spread of diseases such as fever, malaria, and measles, respiratory disease from inhaling dust, escaped prisoners from the collapsed prison, lack of food and drinking water, lack of shelter for those displaced
Links to learn more:
LIVE UPDATES: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456322.stm
PHOTOS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishredcross/sets/72157623201983100/
GOOD HISTORY OF HAITI: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456728.stm
GOOD SOURCES FOR UPDATED INFO:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/haiti/
http://haitifeed.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8456819.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8455774.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/world/americas/14haiti.html?hp
How to Help
-Text the word Haiti to 90999 to donate $10
*Through the Red Cross
*Taken out of your phone bill
-Text the word Yele to 501501 to donate $5
*Through Wyclef Jeans organization Yele Haiti
*Take out of your phone bill
-http://www.yele.org/ to donate any amount of money
*Organization ran by Wyclef Jean
*Projects are designed to make a difference in the fields of education, health,
environment and community development.
-Here is a link to all the organizations accepting donations for relief:
*http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-haiti-help-boxjan13,0,6665203.story
"Teach us to give and not count the cost"
-St. Ignatius of Loyola
Sources:
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/haiti-news-081009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/haiti/sns-ap-cb-haiti-earthquake,0,1861962.story?page=1
1.03.2010
2009: A Hybrid Marathon/Mensa Exam/Psychotherapy Session
The next morning after 2009 ended, after the ball was dropped, after everyone cheered 2010!!! for about ten minutes (appropriate yes?) longer than necessary, after people kissed, after the hangovers were slept off, and after I changed out of new years clothes and into the first outfit of 2010 (sweatpants, appropriate? eh it was comfortable) I realized something: 2009 was a marathon of a year.
It suddenly felt like my mind had just taking the SAT 30 times and ran the Chicago Marathon seven times in 40 degree weather while being told I'm the most successful person in the world and the biggest failure of the world. Basically the equivalent of an Iron Man competition, the entrance exam into Mensa, and psychotherapy combined. I realized not only was this year the most eventful of my life, it was easily the most emotionally and physically draining as well.
Think about it: college acceptance/rejection letters, the end of senior year, graduation, prom, a summer of working and hanging out with friends non-stop, orientation, moving out, first semester of college, grades, back home, and before I knew it there was a fresh new year, a new decade, being handed to me on a big shiny silver platter before I even had time to digest the old one.
I sat down in front of my room heater (I hear heat facilitates the growth of mental activity plus it was -10 degrees) and let my brain finally contemplate, ruminate, mull, study, ponder, and consider the year that had just wrapped me up in its hell-bent tornado and spat me out.
It was hard to imagine how exactly it all happened. Graduating high school is a big deal right? I did it. Going to college is a big deal right? Just did that too. However I have no recollection of really processing how important these two events were within the course of my life. I remember going through with the graduation ceremony as though it was another thing on my to do list- I just wanted to get the whole high school list checked off so I could move onto college. Summer was a big ol' sepia toned lick of ice cream sprinkled in tan lines and cliche top 40 hits. Absolutely perfect, but almost too perfect- by the time it rolled around to head toward Chicago I didn't want to leave the best friends that had made those three months so memorable. I got to college and was thrown into a chaotic mix of new friends, activities, classes, and exploring my new surroundings. I dove into anything I could find just to immerse myself in the "college life" and make a new perfect life at Loyola- just like the one I had left behind. It was a lot to handle: two jobs, three activities, a social life, and schoolwork (...priorities) and I never really took a chance to breathe or sleep. I just focused on the "now", what I was feeling that second, what I could do to to get instant gratification without stepping back and seeing how this semester was just one part of my four years of the college life. This year has been so monumental, so eventful that I felt that everything I did had to be another pivotal event in order to make my life successful.
But even as I did all this, I would still feel empty, like there was more I should be doing. I realized this was because I never stopped to think about what exactly I had accomplished. I was on this achievement high- everything I did had to have some monumental importance. Where are you supposed to go from high school graduation and starting college? Nearly everything is going to seem insignificant and purposeless when you start over at the bottom, and I didn't realize this. Thinking back on this year, I have had the most productive year of my life but I wasn't aware until it was over.
And then on top of these events in my personal life, the world was working through some sizable moments of its own. Of course, Obama was sworn into office, making him the first African-American president and a beacon of hope for a more diplomatic, peaceful, and healthy future. He was handed the biggest tangled mess of predicaments probably ever handed to an incoming executive and it has been a long tough year of discussion especially regarding the economy, health care, and most recently the war in Afghanistan. However when America wanted action most, its been forced to take a slow trek down Obama Road- a lot of talk and little specific results thus far. Though this is frustrating, I have faith. Just as I have to sit back and let my life run its course, I think as a nation we have to have a little faith that the nasty mess Obama has been given may take a couple years to clean up, and we're going to have to be patient to see what can happen.
There was also the Bernie Madoff scandal, Michael Jackson's death, Tiger Wood's scandal, Kanye West's impromptu speech, the Ling sisters not being allowed to leave North Korea, swine flu paranoia and the Fort Hood massacre to name a few of the top events. These events seemed to signify a decline in a national feeling of morality, safety, and security. If the leaders in economy, sports, pop culture, and the military can't even hold it together, how are we supposed to? In addition to dealing with the pressures of everyday life, we were pummeled with new stories about scandal and failures every morning.
However, though 2009 was a strenuous year, it is now over. We all have a fresh new blooming year and can use the strength and hard work that pushed us through this last year to its growth. I plan on taking more time to reflect on what I am doing and why I am doing it and whether I am doing these things just to do something or whether I actually think this will benefit me one day (I swear my life isn't as vague as that sentence). I want to have a lot of amazing experiences, but I'd like to actually take the time to appreciate that I lived the moment instead of hopping to the next one. I believe 2010 will be a regrowth year, and we're going to start off this decade stronger than ever.
Happy New Year! Thanks for reading!
Check back frequently, I plan on stepping up my blogging game this year (it may or may not or absolutely may be a resolution of mine) as well as expanding my social media network thingy by hittin' up every social media network thingy website I can! So add me on facebook, tweet me @karis02 (I pride myself in creative usernames), digg this blog, and tell your friends using those archaic mediums such as texting, calling, e-mailing, or mailing about this blog! Also please comment, I always love feedback. Thanks!
Also check out my personal favorite 2009 end of the year diddly-doos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNzrwh2Z2hQ
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/the_current/features/specials/top89/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/22/top-trends-facebook-2009_n_399929.html
It suddenly felt like my mind had just taking the SAT 30 times and ran the Chicago Marathon seven times in 40 degree weather while being told I'm the most successful person in the world and the biggest failure of the world. Basically the equivalent of an Iron Man competition, the entrance exam into Mensa, and psychotherapy combined. I realized not only was this year the most eventful of my life, it was easily the most emotionally and physically draining as well.
Think about it: college acceptance/rejection letters, the end of senior year, graduation, prom, a summer of working and hanging out with friends non-stop, orientation, moving out, first semester of college, grades, back home, and before I knew it there was a fresh new year, a new decade, being handed to me on a big shiny silver platter before I even had time to digest the old one.
I sat down in front of my room heater (I hear heat facilitates the growth of mental activity plus it was -10 degrees) and let my brain finally contemplate, ruminate, mull, study, ponder, and consider the year that had just wrapped me up in its hell-bent tornado and spat me out.
It was hard to imagine how exactly it all happened. Graduating high school is a big deal right? I did it. Going to college is a big deal right? Just did that too. However I have no recollection of really processing how important these two events were within the course of my life. I remember going through with the graduation ceremony as though it was another thing on my to do list- I just wanted to get the whole high school list checked off so I could move onto college. Summer was a big ol' sepia toned lick of ice cream sprinkled in tan lines and cliche top 40 hits. Absolutely perfect, but almost too perfect- by the time it rolled around to head toward Chicago I didn't want to leave the best friends that had made those three months so memorable. I got to college and was thrown into a chaotic mix of new friends, activities, classes, and exploring my new surroundings. I dove into anything I could find just to immerse myself in the "college life" and make a new perfect life at Loyola- just like the one I had left behind. It was a lot to handle: two jobs, three activities, a social life, and schoolwork (...priorities) and I never really took a chance to breathe or sleep. I just focused on the "now", what I was feeling that second, what I could do to to get instant gratification without stepping back and seeing how this semester was just one part of my four years of the college life. This year has been so monumental, so eventful that I felt that everything I did had to be another pivotal event in order to make my life successful.
But even as I did all this, I would still feel empty, like there was more I should be doing. I realized this was because I never stopped to think about what exactly I had accomplished. I was on this achievement high- everything I did had to have some monumental importance. Where are you supposed to go from high school graduation and starting college? Nearly everything is going to seem insignificant and purposeless when you start over at the bottom, and I didn't realize this. Thinking back on this year, I have had the most productive year of my life but I wasn't aware until it was over.
And then on top of these events in my personal life, the world was working through some sizable moments of its own. Of course, Obama was sworn into office, making him the first African-American president and a beacon of hope for a more diplomatic, peaceful, and healthy future. He was handed the biggest tangled mess of predicaments probably ever handed to an incoming executive and it has been a long tough year of discussion especially regarding the economy, health care, and most recently the war in Afghanistan. However when America wanted action most, its been forced to take a slow trek down Obama Road- a lot of talk and little specific results thus far. Though this is frustrating, I have faith. Just as I have to sit back and let my life run its course, I think as a nation we have to have a little faith that the nasty mess Obama has been given may take a couple years to clean up, and we're going to have to be patient to see what can happen.
There was also the Bernie Madoff scandal, Michael Jackson's death, Tiger Wood's scandal, Kanye West's impromptu speech, the Ling sisters not being allowed to leave North Korea, swine flu paranoia and the Fort Hood massacre to name a few of the top events. These events seemed to signify a decline in a national feeling of morality, safety, and security. If the leaders in economy, sports, pop culture, and the military can't even hold it together, how are we supposed to? In addition to dealing with the pressures of everyday life, we were pummeled with new stories about scandal and failures every morning.
However, though 2009 was a strenuous year, it is now over. We all have a fresh new blooming year and can use the strength and hard work that pushed us through this last year to its growth. I plan on taking more time to reflect on what I am doing and why I am doing it and whether I am doing these things just to do something or whether I actually think this will benefit me one day (I swear my life isn't as vague as that sentence). I want to have a lot of amazing experiences, but I'd like to actually take the time to appreciate that I lived the moment instead of hopping to the next one. I believe 2010 will be a regrowth year, and we're going to start off this decade stronger than ever.
Happy New Year! Thanks for reading!
Check back frequently, I plan on stepping up my blogging game this year (it may or may not or absolutely may be a resolution of mine) as well as expanding my social media network thingy by hittin' up every social media network thingy website I can! So add me on facebook, tweet me @karis02 (I pride myself in creative usernames), digg this blog, and tell your friends using those archaic mediums such as texting, calling, e-mailing, or mailing about this blog! Also please comment, I always love feedback. Thanks!
Also check out my personal favorite 2009 end of the year diddly-doos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNzrwh2Z2hQ
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/the_current/features/specials/top89/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/22/top-trends-facebook-2009_n_399929.html
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