Month: May 2011

The XX.

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The XX

The XX are a musical group from London specializing in indie pop/rock. Formed in 2005, the group came together to create simple, but effective, music. Living up to the indie genre, the music they create is definitely individual, standing out in the music industry.

Releasing their first album “XX” in 2009 the group received much praise for their individuality and great music. In the same year they won the Mercury Music Prize and were ranked as “one of the best of year” in the Rolling Stone.

The XX’s sound works well because of the dual voices used. The males soothing deep tones compliment that of the females and accompanied by simple acoustics the music molds together perfectly.

The band’s music is simple but catchy with their warming tones creating the perfect ambience for a night by an open fire or a time of relaxation. Due to release an album this year, fans are excited see if the new material can triumph over that of the legendary “XX.” Lets just hope they don’t disappoint.

Ochocinco: This time its bull-riding

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So I posted a while ago about ochocinco trying out for a soccer team, and in my opinion, it was pretty funny to see him try to entertain himself and his ADHD-like enthusiasm during the NFL lockout.

Now he’s done it again, recently posting on his twitter, “Can everyone please follow @teampbr and @fordtrucks,after I ride this bull for 8 seconds I’m giving the away the F-150 I win.” and a few hours later posting “#EPIC RT @pbrcoo: @ochocinco that’s the deal. Show up and get on the bull u get 10K, ride him for 8 secs and its a brand new F150″

In other words, Ochocinco is trying to be a bull-rider, and hes getting $10K to ride it and a brand new truck if he stays on for 8 seconds.

Well he rode the bull a couple days ago, and he lasted 1.5 seconds.

Yes, there is a video.

So no truck, but he managed to make ten thousand dollars for less than two seconds of his time.

Pretty legit.

Relay For Life 2011

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“Just one more year.”

May 14, 2011, Ventura, California, Relay for Life.

It is approximately 9:00 am in the cold parking lot of Buena High School in Ventura. The yellow bus unloads its passengers, yielding the start of the day. Slowly, students crawl out, it was too early for them. But the grey, salty breeze shifts cool between their sleeves and awaken the tired students. The day had begun.

A loud voice could be heard on the loud speakers, announcing highlights of the event. Schools were commended for their outstanding fundraising. First, the honorable mentions, soon followed by the bronze teams. Then came the silver teams. My school, our school, Ojai Valley School, had been recognized as a silver team for raising so much money. In our school of just under 100 students, we managed to raise  $3,060. It was a great start to our day.

The empty track was broken by a mass of survivors, clad in the same purple shirts. Among the many survivors was OVS AP psychology teacher, John Valenzuela. He made his way around the track while our school gathered at one corner and shouted words of encouragement to him, our screams choked with tears, because we had all seen him battle through this scary disease and we had won this battle together. He put his hand over his heart and we all knew what he felt.

Throughout the day, students walked around the track, bought food, and even partook in a wedding between a survivor and the love of his life.

That night, some of our students stayed overnight and endured heavy rains, cold, and hunger but came back with smiles. And at the end of the day, all I could think to myself was “just one more year.”

Friendly Fires.

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Friendly Fires.
Ever need some dance but good quality music for the summer months? Well Friendly Fires offer the perfect solution for this problem. The group’s alternative beats and sounds, described as dance punk, along with their fast and spontaneous lyrics combine together to make the perfect summer BBQ music.

Forming at the age of 14 in school, the St Albans group came together to produce great music. As the group progressed through the different stages of education so did their music and in 2009 they released their first album “Friendly Fires.” Including hits such as “Jump In the Pool” and “Paris” the album was announced as one of the shortlisted bands for the Mercury Music Prize.Now, two years later, the English band is set to release their second album “Pala.”

Expected to be released on the 16th of May in the U.K and the 24th in the U.S, the first song off the album “Live Those Days Tonight” has already been previewed.  With similar but more grown up sounds in comparison to the first album, “Pala” is deemed to be a great success in the coming months.

Jackson, Wy

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I’ve been thinking. I have lived in and visited a lot of really different, strange places. I was born in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  Jackson is quite a different place than Ojai, California. Jackson is the predominantly white, right wing small town in the heart of the Rockies.

While living in Jackson, our neighbor was a one armed, gun wielding man named Lefty. Lefty had a bit of a temper.  One time, when our dogs were barking a bit too loud, he threatened to shoot them.  Okay, let me just pause for a moment to let you picture the image of a one armed guy with a shotgun. In my opinion that’s quite a feat to be able to wield a shot gun with one arm.

Anyway, once our other neighbor heard the threat, he threatened to shoot Lefty if he shot our dogs.  And that was how problems were solved in that particular part of Jackson. Out here in Ojai, it’s almost strange for someone to own a gun, especially if they were to flaunt them as the Jacksonites did.

I could go on about stories in which guns are involved, but I won’t.

 Jackson is a great place to be with nature. It is one of the few places left almost  untouched by man. The Tetons look over the town, with their tall and foreboding peaks. Jackson is a place where Elk come into your backyard, and where seeing bears is not uncommon. 

Going back to Jackson is something I want to do again really soon.  I would recommend going to Jackson for anyone who likes nature. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Barring Alaska, it is the prettiest state in the US.

The Pursuit of Nationality

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I am Korean. And, I am Americanized.

My circle of friends varies–Koreans who have never been in America, Koreans who have tasted American culture, Korean-Americans, Americans, and Europeans.

As a high school senior who began boarding in 2003 as a fifth grader at a private school in California, I know what America is. As I get older, I now face some dilemmas within the Korean and American social structures, and I am not alone in this journey of confusion and struggles.

Here is my case:
My mother completed her education in Korea while my father did in America. Weighing the benefits and disadvantages of American educational system, my parents provided me the chance to broaden my insights. Before I took off on my journey to this land of opportunities, they clarified on this one thing–you are Korean. I did not get it because I was legitimately Korean. But the more days I spent in America where the culture vastly contrasts from the one in South Korea, I started to doubt about my manners, logics in English, semi-understanding of American trend, English writing skills, Korean speaking and writing capabilities, and most importantly, adapting to the Korean and American social structures.

I do not know where I will settle to live and work.

Read More »

Why Do We Relay?

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It’s 10:01 pm. Kai, Lucy, and myself are walking on the desert red track at Buena High School. While the senior Lacrosse players have only just arrived, Lucy and I have been walking, dancing, and celebrating for 13 hours. But, we still have 11 more to go.

It started with the survivor lap and when our beloved John Valenzuela circled to the first strait-a-way an eruption of applause broke out from our booth. And as he smiled and put his hand to his heart in appreciation tears began to fall. Mr. V is our survivor.

Then there was wedding. A 5 year survivor was given the chance to marry the love of his life. Tons of ladies in dresses joined in and led the bride’s path to the alter. As they exchanged vows hearts were lifted in the celebration of their chance to live a long life of happiness. He is her survivor.

After numerous laps honoring cowboys, the 80’s, and siamese twins there came the luminaria ceremony. Hundreds of lights shined representing the battles fought by millions. As the names of the lost and the loved showed on the big screen yet more tears came. We sat in silence.

For some the walk is for their mothers and sisters. For others it is for their sons and daughters. For me the walk is for my great aunt, my great grandmother, and my mom’s sister who is a childhood cancer survivor. If you were there you knew who the relay was for. For Dad, for a 13 month old baby girl, for Krista.

Relay for Life is not just a fund raiser for cancer research. It’s a celebration. It’s not a time to grieve but a time to give respect and celebrate life.

OVS relayed for Mr. V and celebrated and continue to celebrate his life. A life that he was given a second chance to live, alongside so many other lives because of the support of their family and community. We relayed. We walked. We celebrated. We fought.

MY POST GOT DELETED ><

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

So, I was working on my post, slaving away (ok not really) at my blog, and suddenly, out of nowhere, “BAM!”

Its gone. : (

“Where is it? Where is it? No, no, no, it has to come back!” I cried as I attempted to revive the last of my blog that I was attempting to finish right before the end of studyhall.

I tried to exit out quickly in order to block the computer’s memory (ok, so maybe it doesn’t work that way) and in panice I cried out to my classmate Bill, “Bill! Bill! Come here!” Unfortunately, even his genius brain could not solve the problem.

My blog was simply DELETED.

And so I sat in my chair with a scowl and a sigh, but then suddenly realized that if this is the worst thing that has happened to me throughout this whole week, I guess I am pretty darn lucky.

Sometimes I feel that these moments of frustration and pouting are necessary, in order to remind me just how lucky I am.

Although cliche as it may be, these are the moments when I imagine starving children across the nations, and people living in wars and terror across the globe. I imagine people who are losing their loved ones, or undergoing the worst of hardships, and then I realize that these few minutes of pouting is a waste of time compared to what I could be doing.

So instead I turned my attention to fundraising ideas for student council relief funds. I may not have made an immediate life changing impact for anyone, but I know I am spending my time productively in order to soon directly help those less fortunate around the globe.
Everyone should recognize just how lucky they are, and realize that sometimes it takes a hardship for us to recognize the good things in our lives.

Boy’s Romantic Prom Gesture Gets Him Banned From The Dance

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

Although the talk of prom may not be popular amongst Ojai Valley School students anymore, numerous schools are just getting ready to celebrate theirs.

This means that the excitement over which prom date, which dress to wear, and which place to dine is rampant amongst teenagers everywhere.

And for many guys, there is always one question that needs to be answered: “How should I ask her to prom?”

I’ve seen the classic bouquet of roses and chocolates, the tennis balls perfectly ligned up to spell out prom, and a hand written song accompanied by a guitar.

For James Tate, a student of Shelton High School in Shelton, Connecticut, his plan was already in place.

Tate and two other friends visited their campus and posted a sign saying “Sonali Rodrigues, Will you go to prom with me? HMU Tate” on the top of their school building.

However, that coming Monday, after Sonali had joyfully said “yes” to Tate, James and his two accomplices were requested to the principal’s office.

Rather than asking them to simply take the poster down, the school officials gave all three of the boys a suspension of one day.

In addition, the school felt that the three boys had clearly violated school rules by trespassing after school hours and “vandalizing” school property. Thus, this punishment was expanded in order to ban the boys from attending their school’s prom.

Tate and his friends are not fighting back against their punishment, but simply wish their school officials could recognize that it was a kind way of asking Tate’s date and they never meant to break any rules in the process.

The End

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You never realize how much you miss someone
until your heart sinks to the floor with grief
A soundless crash that mirrors
After months of forgetting how they mirrored asphalt after rain.

And how days seem to creak on by
When you’re in no rush to take a breath.

And how cigarettes taste youthful
a tremor of nostalgia; a secret childhood kiss
a breath of forgotten lust.

And how, with your legs propped up against the bench; our minds tightly shut
; the breeze spilled into the cracks of our words

And how my heart seemed to bleed through my lips
Your mind finally made up.

My inspiration.