New life

thehungryrunnergirl1 Comment

Moving from New England, this is my first week in California. Man, this place is just so awesome. Palm trees, beaches, mountains, sunny weather… I’m just really lucky to be here.

Compared to California, New England was just not for me. Sixteen-hour flights from home, feeling very far away from my family. In winter, there would be so much snow, and blizzards. I couldn’t go outside and run, and that was the worst part of being there. All I could do was to shut myself up in the room studying. The highest temperature will be 32°F and the lake right by my old school freezes and turns into a skating rink. It was very pretty…

but I prefer palmtrees and beaches.

I’m so lucky to come to Cali, and OVS. I appriciate my parents and teachers, especially (thebrownguy) for bringing me here.

I’m very stoked for this year, and can’t wait to get to know more people.

Contagion

venturatreker1 Comment


This afternoon I went to go see the new movie Contagion.  It is a thriller about a world-wide epidemic that in the end wipes out 26 million people across the globe.

The movie is extremely realistic with the virus being a strain between pig and bat DNA.  The film tracks the spread of the virus through the airports, busses, and casinos.  The virus spreads by about any form of exposure to a contagious victim.

After watching the film it really makes me think about how many times I touch my face, and the amount of times I touch things that thousands of people have touched.  It is truly amazing though how strong the human immune system is that it can combat the multitudes of bacteria that enters the body every day.

In Contagion, even with a ‘novel’ virus it still only takes about 3 months for the world  to contain the virus.  Even though it is a fictional film, it still makes for quite a thriller and a real mind bender.

From home to school, the transition

r3t5nomLeave a comment
View of Land's End arch on the Southern tip of...
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Going from a beautiful place like Cabo San Lucas, which has beaches that stay in the 80’s Farenheit, to a weather bipolar place like Ojai Valley, California, is not an easy change to go through . My home is a paradise, and the people and food there are fantastic. OVS is a great school and there is no doubt in my mind that this school has helped me grow in many different ways while I’ve been here. The truth is that as much as I try to convince myself to make this like a second home for me, I can’t, because a home is where your family is.

Our Drugs on That?

bedghostLeave a comment

Drug smuggling has played a big part in our everyday world. Even people who are not directly involved may be affected in some way indirectly. But have you ever wondered how drugs get into the country? With all the border patrol the government provides? Well apparently some crafty groups have developed the most unusual methods of contraband. To say the least…

Well it turns out drug cartels, like the Gulf Cartel, have researched for various ways to avoid all the new methods, gadgets, and security that impose a potential threat to their narcotics not being able reach the market. They have gathered the brightest minds they could find, and came up with some of the most astonishing and silly methods to avoid getting caught and make that big buck.

Here are some examples:

Human Carriers

This method involves a person literally becoming the “suitcase” that carries the drugs. They do this by warping narcotics with plastic, the size of pills, and then literally swallowing various of these plastic capsules. Since external drugs are exposed and internal drugs are not. This is method is very effective, but has many consequences and can be deadly.

Parasite Crates

It is as it sounds. Drug Cartels designed crates that could be attached at the bottom of ships. Without creating drag, so many, ships may not even be aware they are caring narcotics across the country. When they reach their destination a team of 4 or more can detach the crate without port harbor authorities ever knowing.

There are many other ways ,but why waste your time reading when you can watch it here.

Kickin’ Some Ass

backinphillyLeave a comment

Sebastian Janikowski made history on Monday Night by tying the NFL record for longest field goal kick in history.  The record stands at 63 yards long, which ties Jason Elam and Tom Dempsey.

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The Raiders and Janikowski have both issued appeals to the NFL to review the kick and hopefully extend the distance to 64 yards, which would pass the record by 1 yard. This is also the second time that a record-tying kick has been made at Mile High Stadium in Denver, which is considered an advantage due to air quality at that altitude.

Jobs for America

therightliberalLeave a comment

How do we as a country lower the jobless levels. There is no doubt that it is a problem, the only question is how we fix it.

Obama‘s massive “Jobs for America” bill could potentially do a lot of good. Despite being a huge fan of Obama, I do see a couple of issues.

First is that I’m not so sure it will get through the house. Obama seems to be fairly confident and I know he has a bit more information than I, but with the general consensus of Republicans not supporting the bill, I don’t see how this is going to pass.

Secondly is the effectiveness. Just like with the health care bill, compromises could kill the effectiveness. We don’t know if the healthcare program will work but hopefully it does, but with compromise comes less progress. Obviously there is no way around compromise with the American system but I just don’t see how such a small redistribution of wealth will make such a large difference.

Employing teachers, emergency workers and other public helpers is a huge step in the right direction but will the boost from that be worth the $447 Billion put in to it. Are people going to save or spend with more money?

Hopefully if they have learned anything they will save, but for the sake of the US economy, we hope that they spend.

As I see it, this is a progressive move, despite my doubts. But ideally we could go after business and try to encourage them to hire through incentive. Tax the corperations that are switching technology with real people and see if there is a change.

It may seem immoral to go after those corperations but if you look at the amounts of money they are taking in that are not being taxed due to loopholes and interesting accounting, many would find the morals to be lacking heavily.

We are trillions, yes trillions, of dollars in debt. We can not act like the banks once did and pretend that our debts will go away given time. We are facing a financial crisis so large that it is scary as well as difficult to imagine. As painful as paying taxes may be, we need to suck it up and increase tax rates. The luxuries we have from the government are only in place due to taxes.

Jobs are the key to having a good economy and Obama is working to create jobs. Whether or not you support the bill, admitting the economy is in trouble and that jobs are the answer is a necessity. Support the bill and see where it goes, because in the end, we need help now.

Paradise Pier

kirbyfullyloadedLeave a comment

“Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides.” 

There is something consuming about the sea, something so compelling and wild it cannot be expressed.  Catalina Island is a magical place, surrounded by miles of clean, open ocean.  Toyon Bay is a small hidden cove, near Avalon, on Catalina and in the summertime, the sunset is visible from the beach.  And at dusk, the most enchanting place in the world is the pier.

“But when I climb up to my island peak, Escape awhile the madding world of strife, I envy not an earthly thing, this life, Which sometimes galls, is swept clean of its cares, By friendly winds, and once again I smile, Ay, truly, life seems sweet– A thing worthwhile.” –Captain Eddie Harrison

Toyon Bay pier is very old.  The wood, bleached by the sun, is stained by all manner of sea-filth.  Strings of clear fishing line are pulled taut across the weather-beaten rails to prevent birds from landing on them.  A battered wooden storage box rests tiredly against the right side of the pier, accompanied by a digital thermometer attached to the very end of the railing on the left.  There is a lifeguard chair next to the thermometer.  Covered in cracking white paint, it is wooden and overlooks the bay, facing right off the pier toward the Point; a green fabric umbrella with a faded nut-brown stand, somewhat crooked, shades the chair.  A long steel ramp slants downwards onto the float, where the boats land and cast off.

There are little holes in the planks that make up the floor; you can see down into the clear blue water and observe the myriad of fish and small sharks that swim below.  Waves churn around the stanchions that jut out of the water, resisting the thrashing, pulsing currents.  Seaweed writhes and dances around the supports in a lovely, hypnotic rhythm.

“How the sea took me, swept me back…The only sound was the roaring sea, the freezing waves…and yet my heart wanders away, my soul roams with the sea…”

The water in the bay is pure, crystalline aqua near the shore.  It deepens to a vibrant, striking turquoise as the sandy bottom falls away.  All around the pier, the water is dotted with bright orange spots, friendly garibaldi swish happily in the gently swaying amber forests that grow around the bay.  The marriage of oceanic and autumn colors is magnificent.  Leopard sharks dart in and out of view, their splotches of grayish-black color camouflages them in the shadowy surf zone.

“The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish.”-Jacques Cousteau

Palm tress move gently to and fro, above the stone amphitheater.  They are quite large, even for palm trees.  Their startlingly green leaves are pointy and hang down around the trunk like a peel hangs from a banana.  Clusters of blaringly orange dates hug the trunk, high up by the leaves.  The trunk is made of rough coco-power colored bark.  Deep zig-zagging lacerations create an intricate pattern in the trees that make your eyes fuzzy if you stare too long.Read More »

Beginning of the End

rangerthecat1 Comment


I can picture myself on June 8th, 2012. I’ll be standing on stage, in front of my peers and my family, accepting my high school diploma. And it will officially be over. These four dreaded years we call high school will OFFICIALLY be in my past. I have dreamed about this moment for so long.

I should be feeling happy. Actually, I really should be feeling overjoyed. Completely ecstatic. And a part of me is very excited for that moment to come. A small part.

The bigger part of me is feeling overwhelmed, nervous, and sad.

Ojai Valley School has not been my only high school experience. Public school came first. Back then, I never pictured anything different than walking out with about 500 other students accepting our diplomas on the gigantic front lawn of my public high school. And thank God I was wrong about that.

This school has taught me everything I know about myself, really. I have discovered so much more than I knew existed within myself. I remember the day that I showed up here. I wanted to leave more than anything. I wanted my old life back and I wanted to go home.

Now, this is home. This place is my home. Not just a place that I live, but much more than that. I have made countless friends, some of them who I hope I will know for the rest of my life. I look up to some of the faculty at this school more than I look up to anyone I have met before. They have really pushed me to be my best self. Without them, I would not be who I am today, and I really owe everything to them; they are truly a second family.

With them, I have laughed, I have cried, and I have laughed and cried some more. I have argued, I have slacked off, I have worked hard, I have tried new things. I have sang, I have danced, I have met amazing people, I have been pushed to my limits. But the most important thing that I have done here at OVS is I have found myself.

I know, 9 months seems so far away, but really I know that it will come much too quickly. Time really does fly by, and for once in my high school career, I wish it would just slow down so I could enjoy the amazing moments of my senior year that are to come.

So, with a heavy heart I say to you all, here’s to the beginning of the end. Because before I know it, it will be June 8th, 2012, and I will be standing on stage in front of everyone, saying goodbye, looking back at all the good memories I have of this place. Bitter-sweet is the only way to describe it. And who knows where I will be headed after then? As the saying goes, “when one door closes, another door opens.” As much as I look forward to everything in my future, I just wish this door would never have to close.

The Subtle Difference Between Living and Experiencing.

theycallmedameLeave a comment

Everything always seems to flow so quickly before me.
I feel like it was just yesterday I was a stumbling, mumbling, and awkward freshman.
It was just yesterday that I was lost
confused
scared
and lonely in a new place with new people and new feelings I had never witnessed before.
There is no distinct line
no significant bright flash
no abrupt change in events that separates all the past years from this one.
How did I get here?
Where did the time go?
Why did I not grip to those moments while they lasted?
And now I’m back.
Freshman and sophomore years are over.
Surreal summers have come and gone, flying past in an unreasonably quick wind.
It barely rustled my hair before it was gone, leaving still and stale air in its wake.
Now that there is no wind
no more cool breeze
the air is hot and suffocating.
It weighs down on me with a significant pressure
I am Atlas.
I am willed by others to be mature
respectable
in control of absolutely everything and anything I can be.
I am willed by myself to succeed
to be in control of what I can
to be happy instead of content.
I do not want to be responsible for everything else
if only to just live life.
I want to be responsible for myself
and experience life, not just mundanely live it.
I reach for the excitement that others only yearn for.
I want to explore the world
change lives
become a better person than anyone ever anticipated.
I want not to live up to others expectations
but to live up to and surpass my own.
I want to be free from others and myself.
I want to be happy,
I want to experience life,
I want to change lives.
I need to be me.

Bright Star

yourgingerkidLeave a comment

Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art–
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature’s patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors–
No–yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever–or else swoon to death.

John Keats

I love poetry. There’s nothing more in this world that could make me feel as much emotion and imagine so much as it. It’s simply magical. It’s creation and writing at it’s finest. And there’s one poet who inspires me more than any other.

John Keats.

Every single one of his poems is written so articulately and beautifully that I could re-read it a thousand times over and still find it fascinating. It’s a true gift to be able to create works such magnitude as he did. It’s no wonder why the created a movie about him.

Bright Star is a film based loosely on the romance between Keats and Fanny Brawne. Even though story line is probably far from accurate, it’s an insanely beautiful movie. (Not to mention the casting is fitting and absolutely stunning.)

From start to finish your world becomes there’s and you find yourself immersed in 19th century England and into the lives and two young, ill-fated lovers. It’s captivating, and it my face, I couldn’t take a break while watching it. Every single detail is so accurate and the characters are so lovable that you wish that the movie would never end. Even the actor who plays John Keats, Ben Whishaw, has won numerous British acting awards, and in my opinion, irresistible in this movie.

It’s available on Netflix on demand. I would definitely recommend watching it.