When I first thought of a new realization, my mind quickly flew to one I had earlier this week. I finally realized that I will never be a dancer. To give you some background, let me summarize my dancing experience (don't worry, it will be short). I took classes when I was very young, quickly grew bored and moved on, and began dancing again in 7th grade. I was already behind most of the girls I knew, and my classes usually had students at least a year younger than me. I also made the mistake of only taking one class to begin with, rather that a bunch of beginner classes.
I continued for a few years, progressing but never really getting to the skill level of my age-group. So far in high school, I was bitterly disappointed after unsuccessfully trying out for GBN's dance teams. Earlier this week, I was trying to decided whether to take a hip-hop class and a modern class, or a more challenging hip-hop one, and I realized: no matter what I do, I can't be a real dancer. I don't have the years of experience, and I don't have the time to catch up with them. I won't ever dance with the Joffrey ballet, or perform on varsity poms during halftime of a football game. It's just not in my future.
This is a realization I am still slightly in denial with; I'm still taking a few classes, and religiously watching YouTube videos of performances. I will never be a wallflower, just watching others dance if I have the option to hit the dance floor, and there's a good chance I might try out for a few more dance-related things, and probably end up getting hurt again. Sorry to be very cliché, but when you really love something, you can't truly give up on it, but a dream is really just that: a dream. Something you aspire towards, but can't actually reach, because as soon as the sun comes up, it's over.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
360 Degrees: Driving
Being around legal age, driving a car is something I have been thinking about a lot recently. Or, more specifically, learning to drive, considering I have not started Driver's Ed. I think there are many different aspects about driving one can think about, such as environmental effects, responsibility, the proper age, gas prices, and more.
Living in a very privileged area, it's common to hear new teen drivers discussing the new car they'll be receiving for their sweet sixteenth birthday. And TV shows like "My Super Sweet Sixteen" make it seem like getting a new car is mandatory in order to have a successful party. Cars can cost any amount of money, depending on whether they are used or brand-spanking-new. Currently, the most expensive street legal car in the world is the Bugatti Veyron, which costs $1,192,057 new. It is the fastest accelerating car and can go from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds.
Cars contribute a huge amount of pollution in multiple ways. Cars and light trucks consume 16% of the total energy used in the United States, cause air and water pollution from run-off from motor oil, break dust, exhaust and more. Cars also cause noise pollution and take up land space from parking lots, urban and rural roadways. Additionally, the scrapping of cars cause large amounts of waste and landfill space and fun fact: it is estimated that over one million animals are killed everyday by vehicle collisions.
Learning to drive is a milestone in every teen's life, and one step closer to independence. Driving gives one a sense of freedom, and for parents, can relieve them of the need to give their kids rides everywhere. For some parents, however, it can be dreaded and nerve-wracking. Motor vehicles crashes are responsible for one out of every three teen deaths; they are the leading cause of death for this age group. Some people believe that raising the driving age would help prevent accidents and death, while others think it would just delay the problems.
Driving is pretty much a crucial part of today's society. Very few people live close enough to necessary places (doctor/hospital, grocery, workplace, school, etc.) that they could walk or bike there on a daily basis. In fact, some people live miles and miles away from jobs and it would be literally impossible to for them to go there without a car. Especially in colder climates, it would be extremely difficult to get anywhere without a car. In cities, where public transportation is more common, it's easier to live without a motor vehicle, but in many other places, it's quite a hassle. Cars are pretty big troublemakers, but are a seemingly necessary part of our society.
Sources:
http://www.bikesatwork.com/carfree/automobiles-and-environment.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/teenmvh.htm
http://www.thesupercars.org/top-cars/most-expensive-cars-in-the-world-top-10-list-2007-2008/
Living in a very privileged area, it's common to hear new teen drivers discussing the new car they'll be receiving for their sweet sixteenth birthday. And TV shows like "My Super Sweet Sixteen" make it seem like getting a new car is mandatory in order to have a successful party. Cars can cost any amount of money, depending on whether they are used or brand-spanking-new. Currently, the most expensive street legal car in the world is the Bugatti Veyron, which costs $1,192,057 new. It is the fastest accelerating car and can go from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds.
Cars contribute a huge amount of pollution in multiple ways. Cars and light trucks consume 16% of the total energy used in the United States, cause air and water pollution from run-off from motor oil, break dust, exhaust and more. Cars also cause noise pollution and take up land space from parking lots, urban and rural roadways. Additionally, the scrapping of cars cause large amounts of waste and landfill space and fun fact: it is estimated that over one million animals are killed everyday by vehicle collisions.
Learning to drive is a milestone in every teen's life, and one step closer to independence. Driving gives one a sense of freedom, and for parents, can relieve them of the need to give their kids rides everywhere. For some parents, however, it can be dreaded and nerve-wracking. Motor vehicles crashes are responsible for one out of every three teen deaths; they are the leading cause of death for this age group. Some people believe that raising the driving age would help prevent accidents and death, while others think it would just delay the problems.
Driving is pretty much a crucial part of today's society. Very few people live close enough to necessary places (doctor/hospital, grocery, workplace, school, etc.) that they could walk or bike there on a daily basis. In fact, some people live miles and miles away from jobs and it would be literally impossible to for them to go there without a car. Especially in colder climates, it would be extremely difficult to get anywhere without a car. In cities, where public transportation is more common, it's easier to live without a motor vehicle, but in many other places, it's quite a hassle. Cars are pretty big troublemakers, but are a seemingly necessary part of our society.
Sources:
http://www.bikesatwork.com/carfree/automobiles-and-environment.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/teenmvh.htm
http://www.thesupercars.org/top-cars/most-expensive-cars-in-the-world-top-10-list-2007-2008/
Monday, October 13, 2008
Blogging Around: Nick and Margot
I first commented on Nick's blog about generalizations and stereotypes about Hip-Hop:
Nick, I thought this blog was amazing. I began on your side; I personally love hip-hop music. You produced some extremely interesting and accurate points about stereotypes of hip-hop and your arguments were really well thought out and supported. I also had previously not thought about why some people disliked it so much, and you also did not simply blow off their views, but concisely explained (with examples) why they were wrong.
I also really liked your post because it showed that you really cared about what you are writing about, and it explained why as well. Your writing demonstrated your passion for this music and although I already liked it, it gave me a new respect on top of that.
Then, I read a few more but didn't really see one I was that passionate about, until I read Margot's. Then something just clicked, and I immediately loved everything she said. Her blog was about her lack of knowledge about politics and how sometimes people just agree and bash politicians to appear like they know what is going on. I commented:
Margot, I feel we are kindred spirits when it comes to politics. I have exactly the same issues as you; I honestly don’t know who I’d want to vote for, what’s going on in most of the world, or even really what the differences between being a Democrat or a Republican are (which I feel pretty pathetic about). And I would also be interested to know how many people actually know what they are talking about when bashing Sarah Palin or ranting about their love for Obama. I agree with you that many people just jump on a common bandwagon when they are not sure, just so they can be a part of something and argue against someone else.
Nick, I thought this blog was amazing. I began on your side; I personally love hip-hop music. You produced some extremely interesting and accurate points about stereotypes of hip-hop and your arguments were really well thought out and supported. I also had previously not thought about why some people disliked it so much, and you also did not simply blow off their views, but concisely explained (with examples) why they were wrong.
I also really liked your post because it showed that you really cared about what you are writing about, and it explained why as well. Your writing demonstrated your passion for this music and although I already liked it, it gave me a new respect on top of that.
Then, I read a few more but didn't really see one I was that passionate about, until I read Margot's. Then something just clicked, and I immediately loved everything she said. Her blog was about her lack of knowledge about politics and how sometimes people just agree and bash politicians to appear like they know what is going on. I commented:
Margot, I feel we are kindred spirits when it comes to politics. I have exactly the same issues as you; I honestly don’t know who I’d want to vote for, what’s going on in most of the world, or even really what the differences between being a Democrat or a Republican are (which I feel pretty pathetic about). And I would also be interested to know how many people actually know what they are talking about when bashing Sarah Palin or ranting about their love for Obama. I agree with you that many people just jump on a common bandwagon when they are not sure, just so they can be a part of something and argue against someone else.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
360 Degrees: A Song
What is a song? By my definition, a song is a short piece of music usually consisting of vocals, and a menagerie of instruments, depending on the genre. The genres are endless: ska, punk, reggae, classical, opera, rock, techno, pop, hip hop, R&B, screamo, metal; the list goes on and on. Every larger genre also breaks up into many little sub-genres, until it gets so confusing and everything is over-categorized. Sometimes I almost just want to hear the music, without labels, titles or even track numbers, listen to it with out expectations, the way it was meant to be listened to.
Music can inspire many emotions, that may or may not have anything to do with what the song is supposed to be about. Even one specific song can have drastically different significance for different people. For example, a song from a musical may bring up wonderful memories for a former cast member, or disappointment and anger for someone who auditioned, but didn't even get a callback. Or the song, "Lips of an Angel", by Hinder, could be a sweet reminder of the first song a couple slowdanced to, or a painful reminder of an unwanted heartbreak.
One song can either cost 99 cents, or hundreds of dollars. Illegal downloading is done by hundreds of thousands of people, through programs like Bearshare, Limewire and BitTorrent, that are wreaking havoc on the music industry. If caught, one could be forced to pay fines from $200 to $20,000, or even more, depending on the amount of songs. Pirating songs is morally wrong; the artists, producers and record companies recieve no recognition or profit for their work.
An artist writes a song. A producer likes the song. A radio stations likes the song. A nation buys the song. That artist may have gone from a nobody to a rising star, because of some lyrics scribbled on a yellow notepad, a few repeating chord progressions, or a melody stuck in their head. One song could be a beginning, or a farewell. Some artists may not write their own songs, merely playing whatever is put in front of them, but I always have more respect for those that do; they always seem more honest and meaningful.
One song can mean so many different things: a career, fame, a wonderful or horrible memory. It's even possible for one song to be all of those things at the same time. The concept of a song was created from the human's love of music, and although not all people may have the same idea of what good music is, there's something out there for absolutely everyone.
Music can inspire many emotions, that may or may not have anything to do with what the song is supposed to be about. Even one specific song can have drastically different significance for different people. For example, a song from a musical may bring up wonderful memories for a former cast member, or disappointment and anger for someone who auditioned, but didn't even get a callback. Or the song, "Lips of an Angel", by Hinder, could be a sweet reminder of the first song a couple slowdanced to, or a painful reminder of an unwanted heartbreak.
One song can either cost 99 cents, or hundreds of dollars. Illegal downloading is done by hundreds of thousands of people, through programs like Bearshare, Limewire and BitTorrent, that are wreaking havoc on the music industry. If caught, one could be forced to pay fines from $200 to $20,000, or even more, depending on the amount of songs. Pirating songs is morally wrong; the artists, producers and record companies recieve no recognition or profit for their work.
An artist writes a song. A producer likes the song. A radio stations likes the song. A nation buys the song. That artist may have gone from a nobody to a rising star, because of some lyrics scribbled on a yellow notepad, a few repeating chord progressions, or a melody stuck in their head. One song could be a beginning, or a farewell. Some artists may not write their own songs, merely playing whatever is put in front of them, but I always have more respect for those that do; they always seem more honest and meaningful.
One song can mean so many different things: a career, fame, a wonderful or horrible memory. It's even possible for one song to be all of those things at the same time. The concept of a song was created from the human's love of music, and although not all people may have the same idea of what good music is, there's something out there for absolutely everyone.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)