Some Cool Sites to Keep You Busy While I'm Gone

          Ok guys, so I leave for camp later today, and I'll be away until Friday.  So, if you really need something to do instead of reading my posts, here are some cool web-sites to check out.  I visit most of these often, and a few I found recently.

http://www.teefury.com/
http://cheezburger.com/sites
http://www.onemorelevel.com/
http://www.nitrome.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/04/28/really-stunning-pictures-and-photos/
http://www.lostateminor.com/
http://www.viewshound.com/

Passion

          Passion is an extremely strong feeling that motivates people like no other.  I'm surprised DC Comics didn't include passion in the eight emotions that fuel each super-galactic protector corps' rings.  If someone has a passion for something, they are willing to preform tremendous actions or work their whole lives for that one goal.  Passion has lead to all of the world's greatest accomplishments, including every space mission, technology achievement, art masterpieces, and business.  Curiosity also assists in these conquests, but they all start with that special desire.  Passion is at its best when goals are achieved after genuiene hard work and determination.  My aunt owns a small business, and for years she had saved money, worked multiple jobs, and clocked long hours to get it off the ground.  And when tough times hit, she just kept moving, paid her employees, and took the burdens on herself.  Now, I hear of great big companies wanting to expand and employ her business, and my admiration for her grows with every story of success, and struggle.  Here is a woman who followed her dream, didn't wuss out, and stuck it through.  Everyone should learn from her, or any other hard working individual, and know that with passion, determination, and hard work, dreams really do come true.

Oh no, where's my flow!?

Flow. Noun. The state of a person's, usually a male's, hair when all curls are absent and his hair sweeps across his forehead.
Yup, flow. It's all the rage. It's every guy's goal to have it. The hair flip (noun- the sideways flick of the neck that causes hair to fall to one side)is flow's sidekick, and together they fight the crime of out of date hair styles. Yet most parents are anti-flow and pro-neat-and-tidy. Which introduces flow's arch nemisis- the hair cut. Or maybe even flow's eternal deadly opponent known as the buzz cut. Teenage boys tremble at the mention of either, and will whine with all their heart to avoid the barber's wrath. I think a barber as a super-villain is a pretty amusing mental picture. Can't you just see the utility belt, filled with five differnt kinds of scissors, a buzzer, and that annoying little brush thing that gets the hair of your neck? (If your not like me and are actually talented at art, feel free to post a scketch of this ravenous monster) But in this comic book, it's the villan that usually wins. Do not fear my friends! In about three weeks, our hero will return until he once again faces the inevitable.

Oh the Humble Human

          As much technology as humans have been able to create over the years, we are far from limitless.  Over the winter, one thing that baffled me was snow's ability to stop us in our tracks.  Snow has been occurring for millions of years, and yet humans have not been able to master it.  And this applies to all weather and natural disasters.  Although we might be able to predict these happenings, the same problems from the weather hinder our generation almost the exact same way as each one before.  The need for sleep is another reminder of our species limits.  Sure, you can take drugs to keep you awake, but every living creature needs to sleep, eventually.  And them there's the vulnerability that comes with sleeping.  You can be the toughest person alive, but I guarantee you look the same as everyone else when you sleep.  And you might even need a teddy bear too.  But limits such as these should not be a symbol of weakness, but rather a chance for unity.  No matter your race, social level, successes, failures, popularity, or world views, we all belong to the family of the human race and have the deficiencies that come with it. 

Americans

          Do you ever have that feeling where you think someone doesn't like you, and they haven't even gotten to know you?  I don't know about you, but that annoys me so much.  And I think the whole country has this problem, if you imagine the countries of the world as a group of people.  When people in America think about the poverty, violence and disease around the world, the reality of these problems can never fully register.  This is because we (Americans) live on the other extreme.  The way our society is set up, a world without public education, having enough food, or healthcare doesn't make sense.  So when people struggling around the world think about America, all they can see is a spoiled population, who has most things (sometimes literally) handed to them on a silver platter.  But that is not what this country is, or ever was, about.  And this attidude the rest of the world may have towards Americans makes me even more anxious to travel, not as a snobby annoying tourist, but as simply an individual who wants to learn about different cultures, and build relationships.  It's only when we stop being ignorant and show the good sides of American hearts, that we can change our reputation for the better.

Shopping

I hate shopping. Call me a tom-boy, but I really do. Going with friends is okay, but only until you run out of things to do and have to find a ride home because you're at that stupid age where you can't drive but have so many places to go. What I hate the most about shopping is the lighting. Blinding flourescant lights are fine for about an hour, but after that everthing starts going down-hill. I feel so trapped if I spend too much time in a store. It's especially creepy at night when you look out the window and see darkness, but are surronded by unnatural light. And then you have to go try stuff on. I don't think guys have this problem, but trying clothes on takes so long and puts you in an even smaller LOCKED room when you're already feeling trapped because of the stupid lights. It's just not a fun time for me, I honestly do not see he thrill. There can be some cool things to buy, which then requires spending money. Oh well, I really shouldn't be complaining because I really am thankful that I have clothes to wear and nice things to enjoy. That's why charities are good so you can share your blessings.

Movies

          Another thing that everyone loves, besides music, are movies.  The cinematic arts, if you will.  There are movies for literally every human on the planet (as long as they can access the technology).  And even if kids' movies aren't necessarily aimed at adults, all movies are based on story lines and lessons derived from adult struggles.  As a young adult, I get the chance to watch children's films without needing a child sitting next to me to avoid looking insane.  This privilege has given me the opportunity to make some fascinating observations.  Everyone knows that less than juvenile humor is incorporated into family movies, which is to be expected considering the script is written by adults.  But while recently (like a loser) watching titles including The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, and Megamind, (best kids movie EVER), I noticed that instead of parents, the adult group most likely to see these films, the story lines were perfectly aimed at the teen aged mind.  All of these movies included challenges like finding you identity, falling in love, and rebelling against common rules.  And aren't those the very subjects that dominate an adolescents thoughts? Another thought teens often come across is a longing to return to childhood where no responsibilities weigh you down.  And I know when I watch classics like The Lion King and Finding Nemo, I travel right back to six years old, eyes wide with concentration and amazement.  So although animated kid flicks aren't cinema's shining glory, they're sure to provide some giggles and warm and fuzzy feelings for all ages.

The Written Word Re-Born

          The Kindle, or any other e-reader, is one of the most ingenious pieces of technology we have today.  And the greatest thing about it is that it not only introduces new views and experiences, but reintroduces classics as well.  Would a teenager really go out and buy books like a Tale of Two Cities or Tom Sawyer?  Getting books digitally and at a fraction of their price, if not free, have made classics like these much more available and compatible with today's paperless society.  Digital books also save thousands of trees and manufacturing costs, and bring out-of-print books back to life.  Not to mention the ease of traveling with a device one tenth the width of one book instead of carrying ten or twelve paper ones.  Yes, the e-reader has successfuly brought the art of writing back into today's culture, and I'm sure there is much more to come.

Music

         My fist blog post is on music, a highly universal subject.  Everyone in the world likes music, and there are probably as many kinds of music as there are countries in the world.  Think about it; no one ever starts a war about music, no heated debates about music end in violence or scandal, and no one is ever excluded from enjoying music.  But throughout the years, our methods of playing, and listening to, music has evolved drastically.  Can you imagine a time without guitars?  Can you picture the present music industry without iTunes?  Music used to be something we simply enjoyed, a rarity for some.  But in the age of iPods, Pandora, Facebook, and other modern sharing devices, the music we like has become our identity.  If you ask someone their favorite musician, or grab their iPod and browse through the songs, your mind instantly forms opinions of them based on their music preferences.  Usually, the lesser-known the artists the person likes, the more intellectual, inquisitive, and defiant the person is.  If another individual's iPod is overflowing with the latest trashy pop singles, it shows that they accept what they our given and wish to maintain an image.  There are, of course, exceptions to these statements, and I certainly wouldn't discriminate against anyone because of their choices in music, it's just interesting to see how music has crept into almost every part of our lives.  I love music, and I think everyone can say the same.