bottom of the barrel

Today I have, for the first time, finished a book of Post-it notes. Well, almost finished. I have five of the pink octagonal flowers left. But since I have a Whitworthian meeting in about 20 minutes, it's a safe presumption that they little sticklers will be utilized within the hour.

(I just got a phone call, so now we're down to four.)

please don't judge

One of the projects for my Jan Term class, "Writing for the 21st Century," was to make an effective slideware presentation with audio narration, and then to post it to SlideShare.net. Seeing as how I did not want to spend my entire Jan Term working on a Power Point, I decided to take the assignment in a slightly different direction. This is the result.

Important disclaimer: I have a wide range and depth of blessed friendships in my life. I love them all, and all for unique and special ways, even if those particular ways did not make it into the presentation.

Another important disclaimer: I did not edit the audio after I recorded it, and the script was not exactly planned. You can tell.

What are friends for?

sam I am

People are always accusing the media of biases. Too supportive of the right, of the left, of gay rights, of "family values," of certain religions, the environment, pro-business, anti-business, you name it. And yes, I would agree that on some level it is impossible to create journalism in a vacuum. Even if it's not apparent in the story, just the decisions about news factors alone show biases of some sort.

Yesterday, my biases could no longer be kept a secret: I'm pro-koalas.




I wanted to be the Associated Press reporter who got to watch a firefighter rescue Sam, as the rescued koala has now been names. And clearly I'm not alone in my bias.

Since the video was first posted, Sam has become an international sensation. Multiple news outlets have been following his recovery (aka publishing the AP story, because everyone is slashing their foreign bureaus). CNN even did its own follow-up story:



This is the kind of journalism that I realize seems frivolous in the face of a $800+ billion bailout, but what can you do. It's certainly a more pleasant way to cover widespread destruction and death that showing half of Australia burned to the ground.

I need to get on with my life

So tonight, my list of possible ways to pass the time consisted of mainly two options: reading my Interpersonal Communication book, or watching the Grammy's. And since I was craving some cocoa and still have not mastered the task of sipping a hot beverage while reading, I opted for the latter.

I still don't know if I chose wisely.

I think the Grammy's themselves could have been tolerated, if I had not first been victim to the E! Live at the Red Carpet event. I thought that since I was watching a taped recording of the event from eastern time, I would've been spared the awkward bouncing between Ryan and Giuliana. But no. I had to suffer through every terrible interview, including Jack Black's entourage. Ugh.

But I think what was even more frustrating was not the stars, but the wannabe himself, Ryan "Giant Tool" Seacrest, as I have now named him. I don't think there was a single person who he did not try to pull out a personal connection with. To John Mayer: "Well, we'll have to go to that one Mexican restaurant and talk about it over margaritas." Or to Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Fantasia, and Jennifer Hudson: "Man, how long ago were you on the show? It seems like it's been too long." Someone needs to get him a pet or something, so he can stop taking out his personal frustrations on celebrities via awkward interviews laden with sexual inuendos.

A few other notes of frustration: The Jonas Brothers do not belong on stage with Stevie Wonder. Coldplay is overrated. Even if you don't think you're going to win, spit out your gum so you aren't chewing it during your acceptance speech. And if I ever meet Jennifer Hudson, I will do two things: give her a giant hug (she seems like she would give really good hugs), and tell her she has the most amazing voice I've ever heard. End of story.

(For a complete list of winners, check here)

an update

A lot of you have been asking what my schedule looks like from here on out. I just got some updates from Teach For America, so I just thought I'd pass them along:


March 3: Take the Praxis I series, the entry exams for most teaching certification programs.
March 14: Take the Praxis II: English content. This is specifically to be eligible for teaching
secondary English.
May 17: Graduate from Whitworth University.
June 15-20: Induction in Baltimore. This is specific for all the TFA corps members who will be
teaching with me.
June 22: My 22nd birthday
June 29-August 2: Summer training Institute in Philadelphia, at Temple University.
August 17-21: Orientation in Baltimore
August 24: first day of school