Modifications?

So. I've decided that I've been trying too hard on these posts. I try to make them the classic rushed, "I'll do this because I have to", semi-bullshit papers that we all have written. That very well could be why I haven't really been looking forward to posting these things and that when I do post with that mentality Im not really being as "deep" or "intellectual" as I could be. With this said I now have come to the conclusion that I can be laid back with my writing and be thoughtful at the same time.

SHOOTINGS

There have been more and more school shootings the past couple years. This doesn't effect the way I feel about school security and safety. Anything bad can happen to you at anytime. I don't think that as students we should be too worried about it. At the same time nothing close to this has ever happened close to me. Im not sure I would still feel the same if anything happened however, I know that I would have to keep moving on. Living paranoid of all the bad things that could happen to you is no way to live at all. 

The article said that cards to permit owning firearms are very rarely given to people with mental problems. That is a bit comforting, however a lot of mental disorders aren't even diagnosed. I think that for a person to go back to a school they used to attend or go to the school they currently attend and decide to shoot means that something went wrong there. There must be some significance to it being at the school as opposed to some other place. This just means that maybe teachers-and other students need to be more in tune with their students and friends. Like issues with suicide, maybe we just need to pay more attention and lend a listening ear when it seems needed. 

Why I Love the Beat Generation:

I guess I should probably explain who they were first. The Beats, or "Hipsters", might be thought of as pre-hippie hippies. They mainly showed up from the 40's through the 60's. But who was invloved?
Jack Kerouac was very significant in the Beat Generation and is often credited with starting this movement. Jack Kerouac is most famous for his book On The Road( If you havent read it, READ IT, thanks for enlightening me Jen!), which he originally wrote on a giant scroll. Jack was friends with Neal Cassady who showed up as Dean in On The Road. Neal was an energetic man who loved women, drugs, and driving. Neal was so energetic, always wanting to move, that unlike most of the others involved in the Beat Generation, he didnt write much. However, he did drive the bus Further for the Merry Pranksters. Another key figure was Allen Ginsberg. Allen was a homosexual poet known for writing the contravercial poem Howl. Allen's father was also a poet and Allen was a very political man. Gregory Corso was also friends with alot of these men. Allen's life partner Peter Orlovesky became a part of the movement as well. He was an artist who, after strong encouragement from Allen, started writing. William Burroughs was also quite important, he traveled and wrote alot. Burroughs had a very unique writing style and had a big influence on Allen.
Most of these men Met at Columbia University where they became friends. They would get together and do a variety of drugs, while discussing anything from politics to aliens. Members of the Beat Generation also traveled to places all over the world.
I like the Beats because of their unique lifestyle. They challenged the "American Dream" (which was what everyone thought they wanted at the time). They showed that you could be happy even if you didnt follow that path, if not happier. They knew themselves so well. Drugs were a big deal for The Beats but more so for intellectual expansion as oppose to using for recreation. Allen Ginsberg for example, recorded his feelings and experiences everytime he did any type of drug, almost like a science experiment. He also didnt repeat a type of drug for awhile after he used it before as to not get addicted. The fact that sex wasnt so covered up was also different for the times. Many people wouldnt ever talk about or contemplate their sexuality. Allen for example, was homosexual and his life partner, along will most of his freinds, were not. Their lifestyle was so different than most of those around them however, they moved alot an they would occasionally find places with people that had the same ideals or open mindedness. Two of these places were The Villiage in New York and in San Francisco. They were also connected with the Bohemian culture and with the Subteraneans.
I research The beats a lot and Ive read a lot of their works, one of the things that I love about them most is their perspectives on things. They were quite care free but at the time very aware of what was going on around them. They were very educated, yet rejected the status quo. They were also very spiritual and many of them tr4aveled over-seas to explore their spirituality further. Their open-mindedness and desire to constantly expand their minds inspires and interests me. Their un-conventional, cut-up writing styles fascinate me as well. After reading about how they lived I begin to wonder if something so great as the Beats could possibly be "reincarnated" into a time suh as ours...

A list I've been meaning to make..

Things That Make Me Happy

Making lists, 1st edition books, bubbles, sunshine, moonlight, STARS, coloring, "chalking", THE SKY, my bird, parakeet kisses, dancing, inspiration, imagination, wild flowers, friendship bracelets, new music, old music, TRAVELING, NATURE, mountains, animals, adventures, camping, accomplishment, THE BEAT GENERATION, rain, poetry, road trips, making a difference, politics, Linworth, vegetarians, passionate people, Horseback Riding, PICNICS, popsicles, baking for people, fishing, creeking, kayaking, icees, Germany, Europe, Snorkeling, Sanibel Island, Bubble tea, Ice Skating, House, Painting, PHOTOGRAPHY, Lomography, the perfect picture^

Finally after DAYS of looking for blogs along the lines of what I had in mind I found something:

Everything Everywhere: www.everything-everywhere.com

This website is written by a man named Gary who sold his house and his internet consulting firm and now travels the world writing his blog. It is also a non-profit blog. This blog appealed to me because he is living semi-non materialistic, and its always nice to hear how people can get along just fine without so much..stuff, it gives me a bit of hope that I can do the same. Plus, I think this is something that a lot of people dream of doing, but in the mean time they can read about Gary's experiences. The main reason I like this blog is because it incorporates photography and travel which is what I want to do.

also...

incurable-hippie.blogspot.com

I like this blog because I can relate well to the author. She doesnt write like shes writing for an audience so much as for herself. She complains and rants just like the rest of us. And I enjoy the variety. I think that the average reader of this blog would be a women in her 20's-30's with liberal political views.

Heath Ledger and the role of celebrities

So, Heath is dead. 

I found out after chelsea texted me saying "HEATH IS DEAD!" and I replied with "WHO??". I honestly didn't (and still don't) really know who he was. I had heard is name but I didn't have any idea about what kind of person he had really been.

Ever since I was in middle school I have noticed that I'm a bit out of touch with the celebrity world. I can only name a few specific actors, maybe 10 total. I always thought this was a bad thing. People idolize these people! Why don't I know more about them?? Maybe I should, but i've come to the conclusion that this isn't a problem for me personally. 

A celebrity is defined as a well known and/or famous person.  Its a well known fact that if your a celebrity your always going to have the media after you. ITS NEWSWORTHY BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ALL ABOUT THEM-its "juicy", dramatic news, most of the time. America-and the world for that matter-wants to know about these people. We idolize them. For some people this is a good thing. Most people think its good to have a role model. I remember having to write about them in school, without actually having one. Its good for people having role models, but I dont think younger kids are getting the best. 

(Im sorry but..) I don't really care that he died, in the sense that in didn't make a difference to my life. I don't think we need to waste our time on learning every little detail about celebrities lives. Besides, we're just supporting the media bombarding these people trying to live their lives every time we buy People Magazine.