Category: journalism

Stuff having to do with the world of journalism.

“SHORT SLEEPERS” DO EXIST!

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

I have to admit that as a person with strange sleeping hours, I am extremely jealous of those who can get so little sleep but yet still function so well.

Turns out there are actually people that acquire this condition as a young age; they are called “short sleepers.” They are naturally early risers and late sleepers.

In contrast to people who simply sleep less than the recommended 7 hours, this rare species can actually continue their day without endless cups of coffee or countless 5-minute naps. Instead, they feel perfectly normal and healthy, and continue their day with optimism, an outgoing personality, and tons and tons of energy.

But how could this be possible? I mean, they have to be tired, right?

Scientists have determined that this type of sleeping pattern usually develops during childhood and simply continues into adulthood. I assume it is comparable to nail biting, not only can it be a natural habit but it is also an easily developed and continuous tendency.

But at least this habit has it’s perks. While some people may believe that sleep is the best part of their days, these people believe quite the opposite.

“Sleep is a waste of time.”

Yep, that’s right. The main personal reason they do not sleep is usually because they find better things to do, and thus began multitasking away.

As much as I would like to say that I acquired these “short sleeper” genes, I know I have not.

But at least its an excuse to sleep more!

Prom

yourgingerkidLeave a comment

Tomorrow night I will be somewhere in Ventura living out the last hurrah of my senior year.

I honestly cannot wait. We’ve waited four years to finally have a dance dedicated to us and not have to ride on the bus to the site and back.

The juniors have spent weeks planning this event for us and have really tried to make us happy. I can’t see a reason why it wouldn’t be enjoyable.

It has all built up till the final moment. As seniors, it is out opportunity to enjoy what has been planned for us and to share the experience with others. We should honestly just have a good time and forget that some of us don’t get along.

I propose that tomorrow, we leave all of our preconceived assumption about prom and all our negativity behind. Let’s enjoy our last prom with class, please. It’d be lovely to thoroughly enjoy this moment.

I went on an adventure which took me from Ojai to Topanga and everywhere between. One of my best friends prom dress never came in the mail, so with my aunts help, we spent seven and a half hours in search of the perfect dress. It’s people like us that actually care about prom, where as most don’t. It’s supposed to be a memorable experience that is shared between classmates, and our adventure today really reminded me of that.

We are one class, sharing one experience that will forever be remembered. Let’s make it the best we can.

Glenn Beck, the Anti-Elitist.

smackyjackjack1 Comment

America, we will remember this day. Write it down, Wednesday, April 6th, 2011. This is the day that America’s greatest idiot finally got his  show taken off the air. Glenn Beck has finally been removed from television.

Let’s look back at one of Beck’s blunders.

Glenn Beck is the moronic dunce that cries at the drop of a hat. Beck once cried when he was grossly misinformed about the happenings at the Boston harbor on December 16th, 1773. Beck was under the impression that the “patriotic” American colonists were symbolically  protesting the “elitist” British Government’s rise on taxes. Beck also believed that the British were comparable to the modern day Liberals.

Ok, where to begin? First of all, Mr. Beck, the colonists were not protesting the British taxes as much as they were protesting the monopoly the British had given to the East India Trading Company. Secondly, the Liberals of today are raising taxes to lift the USofA out of it’s trillions of dollars of debt (thank you Reagan). The British were heavily taxing paper, and other miniscule things. For you, Mr. Beck, to even attempt to compare the poor governing of the British in the 18th century to Obama and those Liberal elitists, is so ridiculous, that it baffles me to think that you have your own show. Oh, I’m sorry, HAD your own show. Even the corporate giant FOX News has realized how stupid you are.

Finally, I would just like to point out the irony that you are being fired for not knowing how to perform your job well enough, when you constantly call out elitists.  An elitist is not a bad thing, Mr. Beck. Hell, you don’t even have to be an elitist to have your own show. Just show some intelligence.  However, if you were an elitist, then you would still have a job. Isn’t life funny?

One year older, four teeth less wise.

dmilesburton1 Comment
Weisheitszahn5
Image via Wikipedia

It’s Sunday night. School begins again tomorrow, and the weekend is done.

This statement both reassures me and makes me a little upset. To tell the truth, it’s not schoolwork or the fact that I have to wake up early, it’s that my wisdom teeth really hurt.

Let me correct myself: the empty spaces in my mouth where my wisdom teeth were really hurt. All four of them.

This past Friday began quite pleasantly for me. I woke up, showered and brushed my teeth, and then got in the car to go to the oral surgeon. I was called back pretty quickly, put in a chair and set up with heart rate monitors and oxygen, and then I felt a needle in my arm.

I was a little nervous, seeing as I don’t really like needles, but I stayed calm, knowing that in a few seconds I would be knocked out. I was sitting there wondering how much longer the sedative would take when I woke up in a different room, lying on a bed.

Apparently I was strapped down, but I don’t really remember much. Just asking my mom if I was still in the surgery room. Turns out I wasn’t.

I stumbled to the car, and then I fell back asleep.

We drove up to an intersection, and I opened my door and leaned my head out of the doorway as I threw up.

Apparently this was normal, seeing as my mom didn’t even flinch, just said that if I kept swallowing blood, it would happen again, and that we’d get some gauze when we got to my aunt’s house.

We did get gauze, and it did help… for a bit. That is until I puked again. And again. And two or three more times after that, I don’t really remember.

Anyway, I spent most of my weekend in bed, throwing up any food I ate and slowly stopping the consistent bleeding in my mouth.

So, to wrap up my story, I’m upset about the week because I can’t just lie down and rest, but I’m excited for the week because it means I made it through the worst.

Also my cheeks are really swollen.

 

Ignorance Isn’t Bliss

yourgingerkidLeave a comment

I’ve been at OVS for five years now. It’s safe to say that I can call it home away from home and a place that has played a major role in shaping the person that I am today. From age 12 to 17, a person in most easily molded due to being in the formal operations stage of cognitive developement. A normal teenager wouldn’t dream about spending this much time at ‘home,’ but here you don’t really have a choice.

In a normal household, in a normal life, you are exposed to the outside world. You see tragedies happen first hand and just simple little realities of life. Up on a desolate hill with less the 125 people it’s like living in a zoo. We have absolutely no clue as to what’s actually going on in the real world.

Can’t we watch the news during breakfast?

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Every morning a constant flow of students make their way in and out of the cafeteria, some staying for a meal and others rushing through. Would it be so much to ask to turn on the news to see what’s going on outside our little world?

Just last year when the oil spill off the coast of the Mexican Gulf, most of the students weren’t aware of it until a while after. I found out because I was in Advanced Placement Environment Science, but I’m pretty sure that most of the foreign population had absolutely no clue about it.

It’s so silly! Why can’t the news be turned on in the mornings? I can say that if the news were to be played I would actually eat breakfast and not rush through. I’m sure that a lot of people would. Hell, it’d educate us, not distract us. There really isn’t a reason not to turn it on in the mornings!

We’ve Heard Enough About Rebecca Black!

sennymcflyLeave a comment

Good lord! Most of us know who she is. The girl who made a hit song that blasted through the charts and made iTunes enough money to take over the world and give out free iPads to everyone in Africa. She became famous within the time it takes for your heart to beat twice. But, what she really did was she turned the best day of the week into a NIGHTMARE!

I promised myself that I would refrain from posting my feelings on the internet so I will try to keep my comments at a calm and reasonable level.

Since the thirteen year old “superstar” hit the web her fame has grown to a completely unnecessary and undeserved spot at the top. Seriously man, if girls like this can hit number 2 on MTV‘s charts with a song like that then I want nothing to do with the music business and every real artist that has ever made music should just quit now.

*Now, just a side note: I just want to point out that it doesn’t really surprise me that much that she reached number two because MTV sold out a long time ago so… Going on.

You were so cool MTV. What happened?

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If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say, Don’t Say Anything At All.

yrreskrap1 Comment

For the first time in a very long time, I was shocked and shaken to the very core. I was ashamed to know that I share the world with such narrow minded people and I was reminded of the ignorance and blind arrogance that plagues and clings to our society like a heavy, dirty rag.

A few days ago, my friend shared a YouTube video with me. It was a video of a blonde girl, Alexandra Wallace, from UCLA, singling out a group of people, stereotyping all Asians. Let me tell you, it was nothing short of disgusting. Click here to watch the video.

In her rant, she complained about the burdens of having Asians in the dorms on the weekend. Their family members come on the weekends to cook for them and she claimed that their parents were not letting them grow independent. Apparently, having parents who care for their children enough to come and cook homemade food for them is a huge nuisance for her. At this point, Alexandra left me thinking “Why does it matter to you?”

It only snowballed from that point.

Rolling her eyes, Alexandra continued to rant about Asians in the library. Apparently while poor Alex was studying her political science, Asians were always on the phone. She raised a mocking hand to her face and opened her flagrant mouth: “OHHH CHING CHONG BING BONG TING TONG.”She heartlessly disclaimed the severity of the earthquake in Japan and proudly mounted herself on a rocky pedestal of fool’s gold when she called herself “the polite, American girl.” She publicly and very ironically announced that Asians needed to learn “American manners.” Sadly, this queen bee, this high and mighty girl who studies political science has forgotten that America, a salad bowl of cultures, was founded on its immigrants. “American manners” is in part Asian manners as well as manners of Hispanics, Africans, Germans, Italians, and more.

What shocked me the most was the her complete dismissal of the disaster that has shocked Japan. In her few short words, she had repudiated the heartbreak and worry that the earthquake brought onto many. My friend, Minako Otake, could not sleep all night when she heard of the news because she was worried for her family at home. She was tense, waiting for the call to hear the comforting voice of her mom and dad telling her that they were okay and to know that they weren’t a part of the thousands that were reported to be injured or dead. My boyfriend’s family lives in Japan. As Alexandra called it, “the tsunami thing” is a very good excuse to answer a phone call in the library.

The motives for her video were racist, debasing, and facile. I am sure that Asian families aren’t the only “hoards” of people that come to visit on the weekends. I am sure that Asians aren’t the only ones in the library that are using their phones and I am sure that she has probably realized the magnitude of her words. In these 2 minutes and 52 seconds, Alexandra Wallace of UCLA proved her sheer ignorance.

I am Korean American and proud of it. I know that when I get into college, wherever that may be, my family will come visit me on the weekends too and bring me food and maybe do my laundry. It is not because I am Asian. It is because I know my family will try to make my first year of college as comfortable as it can be. I know that I will probably be one of the many people from different ethnicities that might use their phones in the library. I know that my language might sound like a harsh din of rushing vowels and clanging consonants to the foreign, prejudiced ear but it is most definitely not something to be mocked or ashamed of.

In a world where people strive to be different and find beauty in the rarity of things, it is remarkable and eye opening when I find someone so narrow minded and audacious as she. To label a group of people because of their roots is wrong. What kind of world would we live in if we were all one generic race, one generic language, and one generic look? Hopefully, Alexandra Wallace (and many others) will come to terms with the many cultures that constitute our diverse home that we call America. Until then, I hope, at the very least, the magnitude of her words and their ramifications has taught her that if she doesn’t have anything nice to say, she shouldn’t say anything at all.

Under-appreciated in the NBA

smackyjackjack1 Comment

Many of the NBA’s best players go unnoticed throughout their careers. The Best example of an under-appreciated player is Derek Fisher.

Fisher is the team player. He has put up solid stats for his whole career. This season, the 36 year old Laker has averaged over 6 ppg. But what Fisher brings to the court is more than talent, he brings heart. This inspires all of the other players to be better.

Another under-appreciated player is John Wall. Wall is the poster boy for being under-appreciated.  The rookie gets edged out of the spot light because of the fan’s favorite rookie, Blake Griffen. Wall would get the rookie of the year award if it weren’t for Griffen. John Wall is the player no one wants to guard. He is quick and has a good jump shot. He will have quite a career if he can get off of the Wizards.

The final player I want to talk about is Joakim Noah. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Noah is one of the best centers in the league. He is the Derek Fisher of the East. He brings not only heart to the floor, but also talent. 

Moammar Gadhafi: Enemy, Dictator… Friend?

sennymcflyLeave a comment

“He gave us life. I am ready to die for him. He is a father, a brother and a friend to whom you can confide. You have no idea how humble he is.” (Fatia, 27).

When you think of the name Moammar Gadhafi, you don’t necessarily think “humble”. Well, supposedly, while the rest of the world sees this pernicious dictator as a threat to the safety and overall freedom of Libya, the women of his growing army see him as the father they never had.

The girls, or women rather, are recruited by Gadhafi himself and enrolled in a three year training “school” where they are transformed from proper, virtuous, daddy’s girls into highly trained, bazooka blasting, high heel-wearing, ninja warrior, Gadhafi girls.

These young women are literally made into modern day Charlie’s Angels. “Trained killers” is what Lauren Frayer, contributor to AOL News calls them and that is positively what they are. Throughout their training they are educated in martial arts and rocket launching and are unconditionally devoted to their Libyan leader. Women who will literally [like Jesus] die for him. I mean really willing to die. For example, as Gadhafi was being shot at, one of them jumped in front of him and took the bullets and died! That, my friends, is loyalty.

“Revolutionary nuns” is what they call them. Yes, “nuns”. And whatever ideas you can draw out of that…it’s true. I won’t go on any further.

So, could this be the work of Gadhafi’s “Casanova” prowess, or does Lybia’s fearless leader actually have some fraction of a soft side?

A Relay Lost

yourgingerkidLeave a comment

Next month, OVS will be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at Buena High School in Ventura. I, for one, am very excited to see our school be so involved in something that could quite possibly change one in five of our lives in the future. I cannot wait to see people of all different worlds join together to fight one of the biggest killers today and have fun while doing it. To top it all off, this will be the first cancer-related cause I have attended, and I’m quite nervous. I’ve always avoided them because I have a problem confronting what has thoroughly turned my life upside down more than once and stolen the one person who, above all, meant the world to me.

My mom was a remarkable woman. Standing at 5’10 with tight curls the color of embers she wasn’t a woman you could easily forget. She fought for what she believed in and would seldom take no for an answer, which only made her all the more admirable to all that met her. We were all shocked when the news finally reached us. My mom had ovarian cancer and had up to two years to live.

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(My mom second from the right)

How could someone so strong let cancer take a hold of her?

For three months her body deteriorated from a combination of chemotherapy and the cancer itself to a frail shell of a woman with only one spot of her once fiery hair barely holding on. A woman who had once stood so tall and who was so outspoken was confined to a wheelchair and an oxygen mask at all times. It was at that time I was taken to go live with my dad after living practically my whole childhood with my mom.

No more than four months after her diagnosis I was called into the hospital to see my mom propped up onto a hospital bed unconscious and on a morphine drip. My heart must had fallen through the floor and my stack through the roof. This was my mother. A once divine and beautiful woman was spending the last few moments of life in a lifeless shell. How could something do this to her?

This disease, this cancer had taken everything from her. It had taken everything from me. A perfectly good woman was drained of everything and left to suffer, and left those around her to suffer. No one meant as much to me as my mom did. She was my only friend and the only person I could talk to, that I can still talk to. For ten years she served as my idol, now seven years later she serves as my inspiration.

Cancer isn’t just a disease that affects one person, it affects everyone around that person. It’s ruthless and merciless and won’t stop at anything once it grabs a strong enough hold of you. If there’s any way to help those who suffer from it, or have been closely affected by someone who suffers from it, it’s to get the word out. Cancer kills. Help others, help yourself.