Day: December 3, 2010

A Home Away From Home

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ojai
As a senior this year, I have had to adjust to several new changes. I find it hard to believe that the first semester is already almost over. And just two days ago I turned in all of my college applications.

These new things are both exciting and nerve-racking. The next step is finishing up the year, receiving a car at graduation and heading off to college , opening a new chapter in my life. I have been going to OVS for 11 years now and when I think about it, I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.

OVS has prepared me, taught me to be an independent studier, and offered me countless friendships that will last me the rest of my life. I am thankful that my aunt chose to put me into this school and although at times I have detested OVS, I will always appreciate the way it has pushed me and supported me for the most part.

Spike Jonze

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Spike Jonze is not only one of the most versatile directors in the field, but his attention to minimalist style is unmatched. After all, how many directors do you know with their own stage name?

Jonze kicked off his career by making music videos for MTV back when they had music. He produced “100%” by Sonic Youth, solidifying his position as a directing prodigy. He makes high profile music videos to this day. His credits also include directing Daft Punk, Weezer, the Beastie Boys, R.E.M., Fatboy Slim, and recently Arcade Fire, with his beautiful take on “The Suburbs”.

Jonze is also one of the few people on this planet that can include both Where the Wild Things Are as well as the Jackass trilogy on his resume. Another interesting tidbit: his brother is the high profile DJ Squeak E. Clean, famous for his collaborations with the musical group N.A.S.A.

From super slow motion skateboarding videos with remote explosives, to elaborate costumes for CGI blockbusters, Spike Jonze is a brilliant director and one of the most respected names in the industry.

We Aren’t Really Horsing Around..

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I’ve been riding horses since I was five and there have only been a few years of my life where I wasn’t fully immersed in a riding program. When I came to OVS, I expected the riding program to be just as it was at my old barn, Springdown, but it wasn’t at all. I can barely remember the Lower Campus’ program, but when I came to Upper and I was incredibly pleased.

Horses

It was 2006 when I joined the Upper Campus’ riding program, and since then I can safely say that I’ve ridden almost every horse, jumped every fence, and gone on every trail offered.

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Spider-Man Meets Broadway

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Recently, Broadway’s musical, “Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark,” has become an online hit as people have been intrigued at the idea of a masculine hero turned into a man in tights.

Directed by Tony-winning Julie Taymor, with scores by The Edge and U2‘s singer Bono, this musical has become the most expensive show in the history of Broadway, reported to cost a total of $65 million.

On Sunday, actor Reeve Carney took center stage as “spidey” on Broadway as preview performances of “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” began in New York’s Foxwoods Theater. Unfortunately, audiences were marred with long delays by numerous technical mishaps.

“Overhead stage wires dropped on the audience, scenery appeared on stage missing pieces–and the show’s star was even left swaying helplessly over them midair during what was supposed to be the climatic end to the first act,” said Michael Riedel, a known New York Post columnist.

Feeling more like “guinea pigs” than an audience, these public viewers did not share the same excitement as directors had anticipated.

Although it may not have gotten off to a great start, “Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark” is expected to be better prepared, more equipped, and ready to perform on it’s scheduled opening, January 1st.

Ambani brothers at war.

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After their split in business a couple a years ago, the richest brothers in the world, Mukesh and Anil Ambani, seem to be constantly competing against each other, not only at work but also at home.

The brothers divided their billion dollar property after the death of their self-made father and oil tycoon, Dhirubhai Ambani. Ever since, there has been no stoping for the two who are determined to beat each other in the race.

The two took their competition home. While the elder, Mukesh Ambani spent a whopping $60 million to buy his wife a corporate jet for her 44th birthday, the younger, Anil, did not feel left behind because the year after he spent $84 million on a Yacht that he bought for his wife, Tina Ambani.

yacht.jpg

With the opening of Mukesh’s new billion dollar house in Mumbai, which has been announced the most expensive house in the world, it is obvious Anil probably feels a little left behind. However, it is probably not long before the younger brother had something new to challenge his brother with.

Qatar and Russia Beat out US and England to Host WC

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Today, 22 FIFA members voted to put the World Cup in Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022. This comes as a bit of a surprise when there were countries like the US and Australia bidding against Qatar. Russia receiving the 2018 bid was not a huge shock after allegations surfaced that England FIFA members had possibly participated in unethical business practices (To put it nicely).

Sepp Blatter hands over the world Cup to Russian minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko

So some stats on Qatar. First for all of you who have never even heard of it, it is in the Middle East, a peninsula sticking off of Saudi Arabia. The population is just over 1.5 million with 4, 416 square miles of land, making it the smallest country in land and population to ever host a World Cup. Qatar has the second highest GDP per capita in the world, with wealth coming from its large amount of oil and gas reserves. The country is an absolute monarchy, being ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-19th century.

Qatar

Obviously Qatar has the resources to build stadiums and other necessary infrastructure for the World Cup but there are some potential problems. First Qatar is a strict Muslim country, and soccer hooligans have a tendency to make religious people upset.

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Shorted Shortstop

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Ever since the offseason meetings began, Derek Jeter‘s contract fiasco with the Yankees has had more curves than many of the starlets he has dated in the past. Coming off the worst season of his career where he set career lows in Batting Average (.270), OPS (.340), and Slugging Percentage (.370), Yankees GM Brian Cashman told him to “Shop around the free agency market.”

Jeter NY Post Cover

This almost dooming quote stemmed after Jeter rejected the Yankees offer of a 3 year $45 million contract. His 10 year $189 million contract from 2000 has just expired and he has officially become a free agent. Most Yankee fans will agree with me that we love having him in New York, however we have to admit that a contract this lucrative is simply asking too much.

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The Beatles Are On iTunes!

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“Tomorrow is just another day. That you’ll never forget.”

Apple displayed this arcane message on their website until 10 A.M. Eastern Standard Time on November the 16th. It has been replaced with a large monochrome picture of the Beatles with black bold letters reading, “The Beatles. Now on iTunes.”

This message is still presented on Apple’s website today. The Beatles have reached the Top 100 downloaded songs on iTunes within the first few weeks and still stands strong in its ranking.

UCLA Bonfire

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Yesterday (Wednesday, Dec. 1), the UCLA Bruins held their annual beat ‘sc bonfire.  The bonfire is a burning of all things Trojan. The students at UCLA brought their old red shirts to burn. Any student who brought a red shirt was given a free blue one. The bonfire was held at Wilson Plaza at UCLA.

The great rivalry between the two schools has resulted in major pranks. The students at UCLA have been taking turns guarding the massive Grizzly Bear statue. This year, however, they failed to protect it enough. The bear was painted red and the surrounding fountains were spewing red dye.