Does America really need all of its power?

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America has had a varied history. Originally one of the least organized countries in existence, America would become the most powerful country in the world. America’s modern history has been influenced by the modern world in which we live. America’s Power would not come without sacrifice, as power always has its price.

After World War II America’s leaders took the Monroe Doctrine to the extremes, in short they decided to become the Worlds Police Force. America would spend the latter part of the 20th century embroiled in a decades long Cold War. America’s main goal during this time was to stop communism and spread democracy.

America’s top leaders believed that if every country was Democratic then warfare as mankind knows it would cease to exist. Accomplishing this (extremely improbable) goal would require the US to stay several steps ahead of their enemies. As we all know this requires vast amounts of money.

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Kurt Vonnegut

smackyjackjack1 Comment

I have very defined opinions.

If you asked me my favorite anything, I could tell you.

My favorite author, for example, is Kurt Vonnegut.

Vonnegut has written some of the best books of all time. Sirens of Titan, God Bless you Dr. Kevorkian and, of course, Welcome to the Monkey House.

Welcome to the Monkey House has, of course, my favorite short story of all time in it. Harrison Bergeron is the story of a dystopian future due to poor government (see my last blog) and a suppressed population. The story is so good because it portrays something that could happen. Of course, governments would never become so terrible as to handicap the population, but an era of Orwellian style big brother government very well could.

Okay, now that I’ve made myself out to be a conspiracy theorist and pessimist, I’ll move on to my other favorite Vonnegut book, God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian.

Believe it or not, this is the story of how Vonnegut died. Many times. He was brought back to life by Kevorkian, and the stories in the book are of his near death experiences. Real or not, the 100 or so pages a definitely worth your time. Pondering death, and life after so, is always a fascinating topic full of superstition and most of the time, downright fear.

God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian is also worth reading just so you can hear Vonnegut’s ideas on religion (blog soon to come). This book very well may change how you look on life and death. It has the Jack Beverly seal of approval. What else do you need?

The Moon.

eternity10301 Comment

We are sitting here again. The dim moon hid her face behind the grey clouds, like home, gloomy and unreachable.

Today is the joyous Mid-Autumn Festival, the third and last festival for the living, which is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon, around the time of the autumn equinox. Many referred to it simply as the “Fifteenth of the Eighth Moon”. In the Western calendar, the day of the festival usually occurred sometime between the second week of September and the second week of October.

This day was also considered a harvest festival since fruits, vegetables and grain had been harvested by this time and food was abundant. With delinquent accounts settled prior to the festival , it was a time for relaxation and celebration.

 

Jack came here this weekend to spend this special day with me. Also, our group which includes Vivian, Sophia, and other my Chinese friends on campus cooked Chinese food at the girls’ lounge.

We had a good time cooking the dishes that we used to have at home, and I called them “the taste of home”. We were laughing and talking about our own customs at home. We also ate moon cakes.

As foreign students, the only way to keep us together is to remember our cultures. Festivals of different cultures can be considered as profound bonds between time and distance.Read More »

Harley, My Partner in Crime

moustachulous1 Comment

Most of you know the wonderful dog that can always be found on campus- Harley. Harley  is one of my favorite pets on campus, but there is another animal at OVS that I treasure very much, Harley. The horse Harley of course, but most of you probably had no idea that there were two Harley’s on campus.  Well my Harley is quite adorable (just saying).
Harley after a good day of riding
Almost everyday, I go down to the barn and ride Harley. He always pops his head up out of this stall when I walk by. He always has his tongue sticking out a little (last year he had to have some teeth pulled out after I found one in his stall). I love to hug Harley. I don’t know why, but I just love to hug him. He is such a sweetheart. Read More »

Cotton Candy

kirbyfullyloaded1 Comment

So…Target is the best store ever right now.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a cotton candy maker there, on clearance, for $33.

It was absolutely bomb.

To a sugar-freak, cotton candy is actually the greatest food ever.

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Home of Soul.

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I was lucky enough to have a chance to visit Lijiang with my parents this summer. And till now, I still believe that my soul has settled in Lijiang and it could not escape from there any more.

Lijiang, a popular destination in Yunnan,the southern part in China, is considered a fairyland blessed with fresh air, clear streams, breathtaking snow mountains and an undisturbed landscape inhabited by a friendly group of people. The Old Town there is graced by well preserved ancient buildings and the Naxi culture.

One of the most attractive feature is the way people live and the  mood of the city. I clearly remember the very first moment when I stepped into the Old Town which lied in the center of the city – the peace and comfort strongly flipped my heart.

The small-sized houses stand together to create an atmosphere of unity. The colors are mostly grey and dark blue that take people back to the past. People live in a slow  and leisurely pace. Most residents work as tour guides and the olds spend most of  their time dancing and singing. The whole mood of the town is peace but joy.

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A Fantastic Start

displacedlocal2 Comments

Saturday’s football game against Lee Vining was a great game for us at OVS. The new players and the veterans had great games. Juniors Cody Triggs, Keaton Shiffman and John Olivo were just a few of the players that endured nearly ever play.

John Olivo also ran for one of the 8 touchdowns, shedding 5 tacklers on the way there. He had a second carry later on in the game resulting in 15 yards and a number of Lee Vining defenders with failed tackles.

Sophomore Masaki Takamatsu, in his first ever football game, ran for three touchdowns eluding the defense and shedding tackles on his way to the end zone.
He also caught a pass for his fourth touchdown of the day. Read More »

The Truth About Pinatas

Daphne Psaledakis2 Comments

As a child I was always afraid of pinatas. For one, they look absolutely terrifying. The majority of them are shaped in the form of a donkey, with obnoxiously bright colors plastered all over them. It’s like a tiny not-human version of a clown.

Pinata.

Secondly, as a very self-conscious person, being blindfolded and handed a bat did not exactly appeal to me. Especially when I was told to start beating the thing. What person wouldn’t be nervous when surrounded by a group of kids their age, and told to beat something until it broke without help from their sight?

It’s just not right.Read More »

Why Romney, Why?

frog31 Comment

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Why is it that people vote for politicians who really don’t care about them? I am of course speaking of the “charismatic” Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney.

Romney has distanced himself from the average American several times. The most recent remarks, in my opinion, have been catastrophic. He said, “There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what… [M]y job is not to worry about those people.”

He is proclaiming that he does not care about 47% of America, that is almost half of the nation.

If that is what he said and most certainly what he believes then why are people, the average American still voting for him. I mean most of Romney’s voter base may call most of the attacks on him Liberal propaganda. In this case however the attacks are exactly what he said and yet Conservatives have attempted to defend him in the wake of this public relations nightmare.

I understand party loyalty but to follow a man who does not care about you, the average, is ridiculous.
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Featured Movie: Red Eye

kirbyfullyloadedLeave a comment

Before you read this post, just watch this trailer.

Please?

Gotta say… I’m not a horror movie person.

I’m one of those people.  I freak out when I have to walk 15 feet by myself in the house at night after I watch a scary movie.

However, I do love psychological thrillers.  Those are just OUTSTANDING.

If you’ve visited infiniteblue before, you may know of my passionate love for Cillian Murphy.Read More »