song-of-the-week song! (WEEK 7)

day 7, WEEK 6

the last two days i was adventuring in central PA and HERSHEY PARK, but i have no pictures because i didn't take a camera, and the girl with the camera was there by cover of lie to her parents so she couldn't risk pictures . . . thus, apologies on that.

instead, enjoy exploring the 1000 JOURNALS PROJECT, which i'll never stop thinking is just damn cool!

day 4, WEEK 6

some of my favorite lines from one of my most favorite books, LIFE OF PI:


"There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence, were something weak and helpless.  These people walk by a widow deformed by leprosy begging for a few paise, walk by children dressed in rags living in the street, and they think, 'Business as usual.'  But they perceive a slight against God, it is a different story.  Their faces go red, their chests heave mightily, they sputter angry words.  The degree of their indignation is astonishing.  Their resolve is frightening.  These people fail to realize that it is on the inside that God must be defended, not on the outside.  They should direct their anger at themselves.  For evil in the open is but evil from within that has been let out.  The main battlefield for good is not the open ground of the public arena but the small clearing of each heart."

"For fear, real fear, such as shakes you to your foundation, such as you feel when you are brought face to face with your mortal end, nestles in your memory like a gangrene; it seeks to rot everything, even the words with which to speak of it . . . You must fight hard to shine the light of words upon it.  Because if you don't, if your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you  open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you."

"Now I will turn miracle into routine.  The amazing will be seen every day.  I will put in all the hard work necessary.  Yes, so long as God is with me, I will not die.  Amen."

day 3, WEEK 6

white chocolate time!



day 2, WEEK 6

while watching the republican debate on cnn, i'm bizarrely reminded of the HUNGER GAMES and the "game masters'" system of scoring the candidates' potentials to win the game (if anyone hasn't read this book, in order to win the game, you must kill the other candidates until you're the only remaining).  in the debate, the politicians--like the hunger games' candidates--must make themselves look good, but in doing so i really see it as making the others' look worse than them.

anyway, following the "game masters'" scoring system of 1 to 12, and trying to be as neutral as possible:

[however, a note: i've known of former sen. rick santorum for many years since i grew up in pennsylvania, and my opinion of him is exceedingly low.  in addition, it annoys me to no end each time he refers to pennsylvania as if he still represents it when he has lived in virginia since 2001 and lost his senate seat five years ago . . . so it was particularly hard to be neutral concerning mr. santorum . . .]

rick santorum . . . . . . . . . 3

michelle bachmann . . . . . 7

newt gingrich . . . . . . . . . 5

mitt romney . . . . . . . . . . 8

ron paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

tim pawlenty . . . . . . . . . . 5

herman cain . . . . . . . . . . 6

song-of-the-week song!

day 1, WEEK 6

my friend works at a "locally grown" fruit stand that sells tomatoes adorned with stickers from arkansas . . . 

day 7, WEEK 5

exactly one year ago, today, i had the privilege to speak at my high school graduation.  it seems like it's been forever since then . . . here's what i said, or at least what my written copy said:

"I am immensely honored to speak on behalf of the class of 2010 before so many proud parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, friends, and of course teachers.

I am equally honored to say that I know the secret of life.  The secret is surprisingly simple, and in fact, I believe that deep down everyone already knows it.  It is only a matter of recognizing it, and it is this: this life is yours.

I mean to say that this life is your life; it is your story.  Of course, we all have influential teachers, coaches, mentors, and parents who guide us for the better.  Yet, the final decision in each situation must come from within.  Each decision holds its consequences, whether they be foreseeable or not.  We each write our own lines, our own successes, and our failures.  In this way, the magic of this life lies in the individual determining how his or her life shall be, and then accepting the consequences.  However, I know that this does not always seem true in every case.  There are those who glide easily along with the support of the good will—and strong will—of their parents, friends, and others.  For example, it is easy to allow a parent to choose one’s classes for the next year, or one’s college.  It is easy to trust the advice of a friend so as not to exert one’s own mind.  And, as all of us know, it is certainly easier to accept a book recommended ever so passionately by Mrs. Vottero than to reject her.  Sadly, it is also easy to remain neutral and impassive, to never stand up and stand out—to never truly change the world around us by maintaining who we are within.  But in the end, this lack of assertiveness holds an even greater consequence.  By not acknowledging the self-determination that life requires, one is in a rather sad way, not living at all.

Further, by not living assertively, we do a disservice to those around us, as well.  I point out that when we are born, there are tears.  When we leave this world, assuredly, there are tears.  Therefore, if we do not live; if we do not recognize that this life is our own life to do with as we will, and if we do not write our story with our own hand and in doing so achieve nothing original and individual, then what have we done but make people cry?

And so, as we sprint off the starting block that is High School and race into the unknown, I implore my classmates not to fear the unforeseeable consequences that may be.  Rather, let us accept the secret of life.  Let us know that we are responsible for what is, but more importantly, that we determine what is to come.  Let us do this while keeping in mind that the secret is not something too incomprehensible or profound.  It is simple.  We individually direct our paths in life.  No one else can do it for us.  This life is your life.

To our teachers, mentors, coaches, families, and friends, thank you dearly.  And to my fellow classmates, congratulations.  This is the moment to make your life your own."

Frankmusik When You're Around

i can't get myself to like his music, but his beats are pretty sick:

day 5, WEEK 5

a lady came into the shoppe today and told me it was "too hot for chocolate."

i think chocolate was too hot for her.

also, i guess i miss bloomington a little . . .

day 4, WEEK 5

two years ago to the day, i went to france for a month with nine other kids from my high school

here are some of my favorite photos that i managed to hold onto:

town of arromanches-les-bains:

the castle, chambord:

inside courir, a store on champs-elysees:

in saint-michel neighborhood in paris:

courtyard in the louvre:

the louvre:

gargoyle at notre dame:

jouars-pontchatrain:

at the local high school:



day 2, WEEK 5

dad-quote-of-the-day quotes

dad: "what's a guava?"

me: "why are chickens so mean to each other?"
dad: "they're descended from dinosaurs"
me: ". . . oh"

what can i say?

day 1, WEEK 5

song-of-the-week songs!

i couldn't decide between three songs, thus why not feature them all:

to see the official music video for "don't fight it," which is infinitely cooler, CLICK HERE

day 6, WEEK 4

evening view from the kitchen window

day 5, WEEK 4

places i need to go:

-- zanzibar
-- kenya
-- texas
-- germany
-- china
-- india
-- sweden
-- vietnam
-- barcelona
-- cuba

places (cities, specifically) i've been that i love:

-- montreal
-- montfort-l'amaury
-- washington, d.c.
-- versailles
-- lake placid
-- new york city
-- chicago
-- philadelphia
-- ocean isle
-- paris
-- arromanches-les-bains (calvados in general, too)

day 2, WEEK 4

coolest greensburg graffiti:

The Plastics Revolution - Light Of Day - A Black XS Live Sound Take Away...

song-of-the-week song! (WEEK 4)

day 1, WEEK 4

click here to see XU BING'S ART!  just do it