the random musings of a peculiar high schooler, providing perspectives on current events, the arts, culture, and other aspects of the contemporary world. my life, however, does not have many details to it; therefore it is mundane.
As you can see, I've conducted a major overhaul of my blog. After a lot of added patience and frustrating HTML and CSS, I'm mostly satisfied with the result. Please bear with me: The fine details still need adjustments. In particular, I'm experimenting with different color schemes to see what I like best. Initially, I thought this was a waste of time, and I always feel guilty about wasting time when I should be doing actual work. But, I think my blog really needed a change, and this layout/template is very original. So...yay or nay? Let me know what you think! Song time! [insert really tacky segue] I love Feist and her originality; I wish I could see her in concert sometime soon. Here's her song "The Water". It's simultaneously relaxing and stirring. I listened to it at camp on nights when I couldn't sleep.
If you haven't figured out yet, I'm not a typical teenager. I don't usually mind this and have learned to accept it, but sometimes it just bothers me that I can't get along with other people. Every now and then, I try to join a conversation with acquaintances that I don't know very well but hope to get to know better, and it always backfires, like the other day, when I started talking to a few idiots after overhearing their conversation. They stared at me blankly and subsequently walked away. Geez. I don't let incidents like these get under my skin, but I always wonder why I can't trust people. Someone can seem like a perfectly kind individual, but who knows if they actually are? We're always hiding something, each and every one of us. In a unexpected segue, I am currently reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, easily one of the most innovative books I've ever read. It's hard to describe its style. I mean, it's a memoir, but not in the typical sense. Eggers, who is now a bestselling writer and editor of McSweeney's, candidly recounts the loss of both of his parents to cancer when he was 21 and the responsibility of raising his 8 year old brother afterwards. Yes, it's sad and thought-provoking, but it's surprisingly hilarious. His sardonic and witty satire makes the book very entertaining. Like I mentioned before, it's hard to explain, so read the book to find out what I mean! The way the book relates to my anecdote is that it comes back to the thing about hiding pieces of yourself. On the outside, it's like we have a protective shell that holds everything in place, while on the inside, we might be on the verge of collapse. But, our "shell" is concealing the breakdown we might be having. Likewise, when someone looks at Dave Eggers, they probably don't see the pain and suffering he carries around. In the book, he briefly alludes to this observation, saying that there were times when he wanted to flaunt his heartbreak in front of people because that's how he wanted to be defined: The Tragic Person. Other times, he wished he could put his personal loss behind him because he didn't want to solely be associated with that. For instance, his family had become somewhat of a legend in the suburban Chicago town where he grew up, and it upset him that people didn't really remember them for anything else. You can never tell exactly who people are. When people look at me, they might not see an ambitious, pessimistic, stubborn girl who simply wants to fit into society and make sense of the world. They might just see a nerd who tries too hard to be nice. (An aside: the post title is from the introduction to the book. I find it very fitting since I did not intend to make these connections in this post.) Blerg, I have nothing else to say. Life is booooooring, but songs like this one always make me feel a little better.
Not surprisingly, I can't seem to concentrate today. I'm lacking in cohesive thoughts, hence the jumbled list form of today's dispatch. -Apparently, Columbia is one of the greenest schools in the US. The environmentalist in me is very pleased to hear this. My application for the summer program is 80% complete, but I still need to finish that dreaded personal statement. Blerg. -Getting ready for another trip, this time to Chicago for Wind Ensemble adjudication. I am eagerly looking forward to getting out of borderline dead suburbia and touring the Windy City, if it didn't have to come during what I like to call school's Spring Tempest. Looks like I will have to do loads of homework on the 9hr. bus ride. -The drama on this week's Office episode was tense! Michael acted so differently around the new VP, like we've never seen him before. It was ironic: I didn't know whether to laugh or cry in the last part. (No spoilers in case you haven't seen it yet.) -Speaking of The Office, John Krasinski stars with SNL alum Maya Rudolph in a new dramedy from American Beauty and Revolutionary Road director Sam Mendes, Away We Go. [trailer] It has the potential to be a great flick, and I've been looking forward to it for a while. -RIP Natasha Richardson. It's devastating to hear about a tragic accident that didn't deserve to happen to such a classy actress. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't seen a lot of her many stage and screen credits, but growing up in the '90s, I loved her work in The Parent Trap. -Fact: 60% of my Saturdays are spent procrastinating, stressing, lamenting, pondering, and writing pointless blog posts like this. -Fact: Radiohead has a song for every mood. I wish I had their creativity.
Here are some music selections I'm listening to on this chilly, drizzly day. Some of these are recent findings; others are taken from my MP3 player/vault of too many songs. Milk score, Danny Elfman: Initially as I viewed the film, the score didn't really stand out as a redeeming facet (probably b/c of everything else that engaged me), but I've just now discovered its memorable qualities. "Come On, Come Out", A Fine Frenzy: A Fine Frenzy (aka Alison Sodul) is a unique singer/songwriter who combines traces of alternative rock with genuine vocals, and this song reminds me of feeling carefree and lightweight. "Gravity", John Mayer: Ah, John Mayer. I love his blues/acoustic style. He makes it a flawless combination, and it really shines through in this lovely, soulful song. "Gymnopedie No. 1", Erik Satie: This understated piano work originates from the Impressionist period of French composers in the 19th and early 20th century. Flowing and wistful, it's not an easy piece to master. "New Slang", The Shins: This song is all about exposing the insecurities of our "inverted world", from the wisdom and wit of these indie rock trailblazers. "Only Human", Jason Mraz: 'Cause we are, but we're not the only ones on this swiftly tilting planet. We share everything with the other living, breathing creatures on this Earth, but sometimes, we can never change. "'Cause we're only human." "The Story", Brandi Carlile: We all have a story to tell, whether we like it or not. It always makes for a deep topic to ponder on a rainy day, where our story begins and how we wish to continue it. "Chasing Pavements", Adele: This British newcomer mixes old school vocals with her own talented skills. I love the results.
Also, happy 28th birthday to the ethereal vocalist and all-around cool guy Josh Groban!!! For me, any of his work could fit into a rainy day, but one of my all-time favorite songs is "February Song", with its melancholy melody and bittersweet lyrics.
"Where has that old friend gone, lost in a February song? Tell him it won't be long, 'til he opens his eyes, opens his eyes. Where is that simple day, before colors broke into shades? And how did I ever fade into this life, into this life?"
I'm proud to say that I've been a fan since the very beginning of his career and am constantly excited to see what other eclectic happenings he expands to in the future.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi I feel like another chapter of Americana is ending. After nearly two years of rising and falling, peaks and tumbles, momentum, downfalls, anticipation, punchlines, and everything in between, everything comes down to this moment. So, I urge people to vote today, regardless of who they support and the issues on their minds. This is your chance to make a difference, your right to take action, your day to fight for what you believe in. Do you want to make your voice heard? Secure your future? Take a stand? If so, this is your opportunity. Don't waste it! VOTE, because it matters. Below: some last minute inspiration from some people who really want us all to vote today.
And, if that's not enough, this song might help too. Lastly, I leave you with some pictures I took in and around my neighborhood: a few snapshots of suburbia in early November (both McCain-Palin & Obama-Biden campaign signs and more foliage).
The much-needed 3-day weekend due to Columbus Day has made me feel relaxed for once. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to do anything interesting. :( On Friday for my journalism apprenticeship, we wandered around downtown asking people about who they were voting for in the presidential election. Unfortunately, my friend and I didn't really get a lot of people to talk to us. No one is around at 9:30 on a chilly Friday morning, not to mention, they don't notice two nerds holding notepads, squinting at the uber-bright sun. =D It would have been more effective if we did it during lunch time, when a lot of people, especially office workers, are out and about. Among the few people we managed to get: an African-American guy sitting outside of a restaurant exclaimed: "Obama is the MAN!!!" (lol.); a conservative college student for McCain (interesting.); and an undecided Caucasian man who blamed it on "lack of interest" (a problem for lots of voters). Most of these we got through the help of another girl in the group: a cheerleader-type blonde wearing stiletto heels. (Figures; who isn't going to talk to her, especially guys??) Some of the people my friend and I talked to were really annoying. These two ladies sitting on a bench doing absolutely nothing claimed they "didn't have time for this". One guy questioned us: "Can't you respect my privacy?!!?" (Wow, he must have had a bad day.) I mean, I realize it can be sort of a personal question, but you can just say who you're voting for and walk away. A lot of people couldn't talk to us: everyone at Breugger's Bagels was either on a cell phone or a laptop, and a few homeless-looking guys walking around looked rather big and scary. Afterwards, we combined the group's data and each wrote a vague story about it. Well, at least, mine seemed vague. I had to make up names and ages of people, b/c we forgot to ask. Current "semi-obsessions": "Superwoman" by Alicia Keys. I love this song; feminist pride! Alicia Keys is one of my favorite artists. Her versatile contralto range + classically-trained pianist = a truly inimitable style. I also admire her charity work fighting AIDS in Africa; Revolutionary Road International Trailer. YouTube won't let me embed it, so I found another version.
I love how the mood changes, along with the music. It really gives people a feel for what to expect in regards to the dark tone of the film. I still would have liked to see more of the supporting cast, particularly Michael Shannon, who plays John Givings. His character is arguably the most complex and interesting of all the supporting characters. The one thing that stood out was the random guy who came out of nowhere with his typical trailer announcer voice ("Academy Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio...Academy Award nominee Kate Winslet"), *cringe*. That felt out of place. Also, why was the "Road" in Revolutionary Road gold? Hmm...I wonder why. Besides those minuscule flaws, I'm loving this new trailer. And for those of you haven't seen it, here's the first theatrical trailer, also very good. It's currently playing with DreamWorks' Ghost Town and Paramount Vantage's The Duchess. FYI: I fixed the video on my previous post, so check it out if you're interested. Sorry I didn't realize my original video was taken down. I'm gonna go chill for a while. Happy Thanksgiving to Zany and the rest of the Canadians!
I'm bored. Here's what I've been doing lately: Reading A Northern Light. Summer homework, particularly the Pre-Calc summer packet. Listening to Coldplay's new album, which is pretty cool. I might post my own review if I get around to it. Favorite tracks: "Viva La Vida", "Violet Hill", "Death and All His Friends", "Cemeteries of London". Listening to other music, mostly Josh Groban and Coldplay, as usual. Eagerly awaiting The Dark Knight. Watching Wimbledon. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, will play each other in the women's singles final on Saturday. Should be interesting. Random song of the day (because I feel like posting one): "Amsterdam" by Coldplay from their album A Rush of Blood to the Head. It's a really pretty song about barely hanging on to life, something we all feel everyday. Gotta love Chris Martin's gentle vocals and piano. :)
Happy almost Fourth of July! You guys have any fun plans this weekend? I'm going to a 4th of July party on Saturday and my friend's grad party on Sunday (a bit late for grad parties, but oh well).
Credits go to Coldplay for the title. If you haven't checked out their new album, please do so, since it came out yesterday. I've heard it's somewhat of a departure from their usual style, but the pre-released singles I've actually listened to ("Violet Hill" and "Viva La Vida") still sound like typical Coldplay. Regardless of if it's the same or different, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is getting generally favorable reviews and is the #1 selling album on Amazon. That's good news, since their last album, X & Y, wasn't so great, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I won't be able to hear this new album until I get back. :( Moving on...good news! After a bit of research, I've figured out how to get Blogspot URLs to show up! Problem solved! This morning, we visited my grandmother's grave (hence my post title). In the pouring rain. :( She died two years ago, during our last visit here. Her death was not sudden, though; she had been sick for many years. I did not know her very well, and that is the case for my other family members as well. I recall feeling awkward at the funeral because everyone was bawling, but I didn't really react to anything. I'm not a very emotional person in general, and not knowing her like everyone else contributed to my "absence of feelings". The Chinese deal with death very differently from us Americans. I won't elaborate too much, but funerals and burials are very tradition-based. Specific rituals have to be performed at certain times. If you want any detailed descriptions, I can tell you some other time. :) But back to today. The cemetery was on the outskirts of the city, so we had take a tour van to get there. The ride was very bumpy, and I tried to catch a few z's but to no avail. On the van, we met some people who were visiting from Spain. They were like us; they live overseas, so since they're here visiting, might as well swing by the cemetery to visit their dead relatives. When we got there, the rain had lightened a bit. The cemetery was huge, and it took us a while to find the gravesite. Once we did, we set out food and flowers on the altar in front of the tombstone. This is one of the rituals I mentioned before. Also, we lit candles and some incense and had to bow toward the tombstone. After that, we burned some paper money, which is to give wealth to the dead. For a while, I stood in silence, listening to the dripping of the rain, wondering when we could leave. Speaking of leaving, I have to admit, I'm having sort of a lousy time here. Most of the time, I'm bored to death, except when I'm near a computer or asleep. Yesterday, my dad's old friend visited, and then my mom's old friend visited. Tomorrow, I believe we're visiting some more of their friends. Hopefully something interesting will happen in the 13 days left. Until then, I will keep counting down the days until I get back. It's the only worthwhile thing I can do. Some other miscellaneous countdowns: 29 days until The Dark Knight - July 18 51 days until the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing - August 8 138 days until the 2008 Presidential Election - November 4
OK, I'll admit yesterday's post might have been a bit too critical of Shanghai. It is actually a cool place to visit, despite its obvious flaws. I hope I didn't piss off the Chinese government. They could probably arrest me for it due to their denial of free speech. Figures. As for me, I'm enjoying the company of my extended family, but I feel my words echo back to me during conversations. It's hard to speak in tongues, and like I mentioned yesterday, everything sort of gets "lost in translation". It's also hard to describe how I feel right now: bored, I suppose. My friends back home keep sending e-mails and Facebook messages and such, so that helps when I have access to a computer. I've never been close to my family, so everytime I see them it's difficult to connect to them. Long story, so I won't go into that now. One thing that made me happy was seeing the iPod/iTunes commercial with Coldplay in it. My cousin was watching European soccer on TV this morning, and it came on during the game. It's the exact same commercial as the one we have in the States, the one with all the cool lights and colors and "Viva La Vida". The only difference was that there were lyrics on the bottom of the screen in Chinese. But it was cool seeing that same commercial. Btw, Coldplay's new album comes out on Tuesday! I won't be able to download it until I get back, but oh well. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to keep tabs on current events. I always have this problem when I'm here. Chinese state-run TV does not put much attention on international headlines, so I check Google News whenever I can. That has contributed to my boredom. Thankfully, my family members have had a few interesting conversations. This morning, my uncle and my dad debated the whole issue of Tibet (the people revolting). My uncle is kinda sorta wealthy on Chinese standards, so he has CNN at his house. CNN tends to be a pretty good source for unbiased news, but on this issue, they mostly report on the Western perspective. My dad tried to get my uncle to understand the Western viewpoint (they side with Tibet): the Tibetans want independence because they feel that their traditions cannot be preserved under the Chinese government. My uncle still didn't get it, but nevertheless, it was an intriguing topic to discuss. I probably could have offered my thoughts, but my Chinese isn't that fluent, at least not for intelligent conversations. Tomorrow, we are having lunch at some fancy restaurant, the first of quite a few family gatherings here. These happen everytime I visit, so I've gotten used to the routine. Polite greetings, pleasant small talk, everyone trying to conceal any animosity they might have. And then there's a shitload of food, way too much to consume; I don't even know how many courses it is. After that, there's the family photo: too much fake smiling and flashbulbs. It's not as bad as it sounds, though. Well, that was a lot of random stuff, considering the fact that nothing at all has happened. I will be back with more developments tomorrow, mainly of the family lunch.
Sorry I've been MIA this week. Finals have absolutely killed me. I have four more next week, so I won't get to chill until Thursday. The really great news: 5 more days of school left! We get out a week from today. But... I'm eagerly awaiting Coldplay's new album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, or just Viva La Vida. It's a good title: "viva la vida" literally means "live the life." It's being released on 12 June in the UK and 17 June in the US and Canada. I'm totally loving one of the singles, "Viva La Vida." Take a listen...
And if you're not really familiar with Coldplay, I would highly recommend "Clocks", "Yellow", and "Speed of Sound" as some songs you should hear. For something slower (if you'd like), try "Warning Sign". Two common aspects of most Coldplay songs that I really enjoy: poetic lyrics and free-flowing melodies. Have a good weekend, although most of mine will probably be spent studying French, Math, and European History...
And it is in the humble opinion of this narrator that strange things happen all the time. And so it goes, and so it goes. And the book says, "We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us." ~Magnolia (1999, P.T. Anderson)
"When you use words, you are able to keep your mind alive. Writing is my way of reaffirming my own existence." ~Gao Xingjian, writer
"More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones." ~Truman Capote
