Photobooth and Life

Photobooth is fun, I was messing around with Sarah. I don't think she noticed though. ANYWAY. Life is good. Stressed for exams, trying to get everything done. Of course the weekend before exams my sister is graduating and I'll have a full house of family. Busy, busy. I'm glad and sad that school is over. Glad because I get to relax, sad because I'll be missing Mark and Larry. Such wonderful teachers. Larry's room is near to empty. It was a great year. Best school year I've had.

Shootings on Memorial Day?

Strangely warm weather occurred on Memorial Day in Chicago. The people living there went to the beach to enjoy the weather. Violence burst out with six killed and 21 injured. It was not said as to why this violence occurred. The article listed a lot of teens who were victims. Why kill on Memorial Day? Why kill at all?

Guns in Bars?

Guns in bars are now permitted in Ohio. When you think about it, bars are everywhere, in restaurants and as single standing buildings. How many people will want to go out to eat if they know people will be carrying guns? I think out of all places guns in bars should be the one place where they shouldn't be allowed. People can get drunk and start threatening each other with their guns. Out of all people in a bar to have a gun the number one person should be the bartender. The bartender should be the only one to have one. But even now since the law passed I think the bartender should be required to have a gun in order for self defense and in case chaos breaks loose.

Naomi and I are the best at cooking.

Over memorial weekend my best friend Naomi and myself had an intense breakfast. Our original plan was making waffles with a waffle maker. The heat was turned on too high so it was a flop, and turned out like so...

We used all the batter on the waffle mix so we had to make more mix. After we made more mix we were too afraid to try and make waffles again so we went and made pancakes. We poured the batter in the pan so we would make one big pancake. Then when it came to flipping the pancake, this is what happened...

 Then with the power of two brains combined we thought it would be a good idea to make small pancakes. As we poured the batter in the pan very carefully we made sure the size was perfect. The edges got crispy, Naomi took that spatula and flipped that pancake like nobody's business. It turned out perfect...

candace!

hahahah, you didn't sign out of your blog in the powder room(:
love, amy <3 <3 <3 <3

jackson was here too.

Food is Good. A Poem.

I enjoy food.
It satisfies when I'm hungry.
For better or for worse,
It goes in my tummy.
Food oh food
I love you.
My tongue flips out when you hit its surface.
Flavors expand my tastebuds.
Food oh food
You're delicious.
I enjoy the flavors of the world.
It's like a road trip on the tip of my tongue.

Ke$ha.

I feel a lack of talent on the radio anymore. When I was small I didn't know what was good music. I just thought Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys were so cool. As I look at music now. Here in 2011, I feel there is such a lack of talent on the radio. I wonder how some of these people ended up on the radio. For example, Ke$ha. I know she has a lot of fans. But when you actually listen to her music, she's talking. I searched for her voice without autotune and discovered a voice that talks to a beat of a song, with occasional voice cracks. I feel as though many can do the same. A little autotune goes a long way. I feel I get lost when it comes to her trademark. She seems to always be a little tipsy or zany when at award shows or in concert. Do people like that? I guess I don't understand the buzz about her. I personally enjoy songs about someone's past experiences that are meaningful. Now, I'm not saying her songs aren't from past experiences.... actually, they probably all are, but meaningful? You can answer that. It's all on personal preference I suppose. 

I'm Still Alive

Harold Camping, a pastor from California predicted that the rapture would happen yesterday on May 21st 2011. He said that all the believers of God would go to heaven and the non-believers would stay on Earth and suffer. Or it was just an apocalypse and the end of the world.

Here in Ohio it was said that at 9:00 the rapture or apocalypse would occur. Well, I hung out with Naomi and watched the movie Get Him to the Greek. Now at 9:00 I just remember Jonah Hill and Russell Brand petting a wall. I don't recall anything else happening.

DREAM Act WHAT?

In all honesty, this DREAM Act situation is quite unclear to me. How it's stated in articles is very confusing. But how I'm understanding it to be is that "immigrants who are undocumented, who completed two years of college or military service who came here before the age of 15 can have their path to citizenship." Now I got that quote from an article, but if they are undocumented how did they complete 2 years of college in the U.S.? Anyway, we currently have a job shortage so I think it would be best of we didn't allow more people in the U.S. because quite frank we need all the jobs. We also already have alot of people in the U.S. so why more? Then again we would have more in the military. It's just a difficult situation. I don't know my feelings on it. What are yours? 

Interview with Mystery Person

Candace: What are your hobbies?
Mystery Person: I like to draw, and mess around and do photoshop. But I spend alot of time on the internet. I spend too much time on it.
C: What are your favorite foods?
MP: Well my mom makes alot of Polish food. I also like black tea, I don't think that's a food though. Oh and pastries!
C: What current event has affected you? Or has one affected you at all? Like the death of Osama Bin Laden?
MP: I didn't know him persoanlly so it didn't really affect me, but I do read the newspaper in the morning. I enjoy BBC as well.
C: Any favorite television show?
MP: I don't watch television that often but if I do it's usually the show Community.
C: Any crazy stories? Weird?
MP: *Laughs* When I was little I had a cat and I wanted it in the blanket with me in bed so i put it under the covers with me and tried not to let it out from under the covers and it scratched my whole leg.
C: Do you play any instruments?
MP: I play the flute, piano, melodica, and jazz bass.
C: What kind of music do you listen to?
MP: I mean, I don't really listen to music that much. When I do though I listen to Modern Classical, and Accordian Music.
C: I heard you were planning to teach a class for Linworth, what would it be about?
MP: I want to teach a class on Slovic culture where we would teach the culture and how to say words like 'dude' and stuff like that.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS? TAKE A GUESS!

Youtube and my Favorite Youtube Channels!

Youtube is my favorite website. I love listening and discovering new music. I found some awesome artists on youtube that I probably wouldn't have found if youtube wasn't here. I also go on youtube for comic relief. One of my favorite youtubers is BadLipReading. They lip read music videos and create a new song with different lyrics. I also like to watch KarminCovers which is a duo who makes covers of songs. They did a cover of a really fast rap song called Look At Me Now, they've inspired me to try and rap super fast. They make it look alot easier than it is. I also have been a youtuber for about a year. I used to make videos, but I didn't like them so I removed them and now I have videos of my sister and I singing which is pretty cool. I really enjoy youtube because even if nobody watches your videos it doesn't matter because you're doing something you like to do and it's like having your own personal television channel. I've been very lucky because I actually have around 230 views on one of my videos and counting. My viewers are growing and it's really cool! Below are some of things I talked about in the article I wrote above!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii5IUihNuno&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCokQt--l4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9mIeYPAc3I

ENJOY :)

Observation

I like to observe people. Look at their body language. How they are feeling. Try to figure out their emotions without knowing them. My mother, sister and I can do this for a long time. When we're out, sometimes we'll take a seat and people watch. I really enjoy this because it opens my eyes to new things. The other day my mom and I were talking about this subject. When she lived in New Jersey she would go to New York, sometimes by herself, sit on steps and watch people. Now, I've never been to New York but I know it would be quite a wonderful place to people watch. Tourists with their cameras, the people walking briskly to get to their jobs on time, and the cranky people who push their way through. My mom even said she saw a streaker on rollerblades speeding down the middle of the road.
One of the places I've been to was California. On the beach. The women sun tanning with their leather skin and the surfers trying to catch a gnarly wave. It's just something I am really interested in doing, and to add a little twist, sometimes I'll narrarate the people as they pass.
What do you like doing? Do you do this as well?

Feel the Music

Alot of people like music. Alot of people also carelessly put anything on their iPod. Not me. I'm very picky. The music I listen to has to move me, or mean something to me. I like to have relatable music. Of course I have some silly songs, or songs that are just awesome and trippy. But the majority of music I listen to has feelings. I listen to the lyrics and put myself in their situation. One of my favorite artists is Sufjan Stevens. He writes his songs about the hardships in life. He has inspired me to write my own songs. Not about how I want to be Ke$ha [kidding] or how I was chilling with Lady Gaga last night [not kidding that really happened], but about what I have been going through, who I love, what I love,whom I am, and my emotions stirring. I have been working on my first song for a while. The lyrics are very meaningful. I try to write them so it still gets the message across but it's not too literal. For example, my father left us about two years ago and the divorce just ended recently. I am writing about how miserable I was during the time. One of the song lyrics is "Mental scars not bruises". Clearly meaning, it's something unfortuantely I'm never going to forget. But also in the song is the outcome, or what is going to come out of this experience, the positives if you will.
Music is something I feel for, it's something that means alot to me. I've grown up being exposed to the arts by my mother. I'm interested in all genres, opera, indie, broadway, folk, and alot more. This is something I love to talk about, and if you do as well, confront me and let's chat.

Celebration or Sorrow?

As the majority of people alive know. Osama Bin Laden was killed on Sunday May 1st. There are uneasy feelings in the air. As for Americans with family members that died in 9/11 or people who were jumpy about terrorists, for a lot of them, it's closure. Some were celebrating, which some feel is wrong, and some may have had sorrow in other countries. And some just prayed.
I can understand where the celebrators may be coming from. I don't agree with celebrating it but for people it is a "HAH" in their face. But celebrating such a thing. Wouldn't it make them as bad as the terrorists? But then the people who are praying, I find that definitely okay. It was closure for them. They feel as though they don't have to worry anymore.

I know one of the big problems that we are having though is that some Pakistanis are not believing that the US has killed him. If we release pictures then they will go viral. There's so many things to consider. What do you think?

THEY WEREN'T ON THE TOP 100?!

There were some people that weren't on the top 100 list of most influential people that should've been. One of my favorite actors that I think is genius is Steve Carell. He has been on the show 'The Office' for years and has brought comedic relief to many people, in the show and in movies. His sense of humor is great and so is his personality. He is very funny, but is now leaving the show to be with his family. He should be on that list.
Another person I believe should be on the list is Lady Gaga. Now, I am not a big fan of miss gaga ra-ma-mar, but I happen to know she is quite a smart lady. She figured out ways to get attention, just like Madonna and has insulted, amazed and left jaws dropped open for many people. From here meat dresses, to riskay music videos, and her insulting songs, my question is "Why isn't she on this list?"

Colin Firth and the 100 Most Influential People

I know of Colin Firth and I am familiar with his work. He has always seemed like such and interesting person and I am so happy he is on this list. His acting is wonderful and his recent work in the kings speech was beautiful. I have a good sense of the good people in the world and I can tell he's one of them. I get good feelings from him through his interviews and acting. As I read the Time article about him, it also says he's a humanitarian that gives depth and wisdom to his performances. I really agree with Time and I believe he is one of the greatest actors. I'm very glad he's on the list, he deserves it, he feels the characters and understands where they're coming from. An impeccable man indeed.

Matthew Weiner and the 100 Most Influential People

Time magazine made Matthew Weiner one of the 100 most influential people, stating he is a "genius". He created the drama series Mad Men and Sopranos. Now I can not judge this person because I don't know him as a person and nor am I familiar with his shows. I've heard of them, but never about them, but I think they must be good since he's won an Emmy three consecutive years. Yet everybody's opinion is different. I'm very curious to check out these shows, and once I do maybe I'll make a follow up blog with my opinion.
 Also in the article they said, "He has held up a mirror not only to a time period but to us and has demanded that we look at ourselves (whether beautiful or ugly, good or bad), look at our weaknesses and, most important, look at what makes us great. Essentially, what makes us human." That sounds pretty awesome to me if I do say so myself. I believe that's a great thing to say about someone, and I do understand why he's in the top influential people. Yet in the near future I'd like to dig deeper in this man and his shows and writing. One man writing two shows is quite impressive. There's always a man behind the curtain.
THEN! I decided to look at an interview, see what this man is about! So I watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-gBZ0WGh3U This man is so interesting! I didn't expect it at all! He captures the different personalities people have, the different aspects of people. I agree with this man being on such a list, truly interesting. CHECK HIM OUT LOOK HIM UP!

Facerbooker

Facebook. Why? Why do we find interest in such a boring thing? It is a simply set up website which lets you look what's going on in other friends lives. I spend a fair amount of time on it. But I still don't understand why. I do enjoy looking at other people's things, but it is such a time sucker. Maybe that's why I choose it? But I don't like my time disappearing so fast. It's always good when you're bored, but then you just get bored on it as well after a few minutes. It's a mystery. What are your thoughts on Facebook?

Earth Day, The World's Most Polluted Places

It's unfortunate to say our world is dirty. We have a day dedicated to help the earth and make a change. There are many places that could use the help a lot. Which you can see pictures here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/22/earth-day-2011-worlds-most-polluted-places-_n_852617.html#s268313&title=Linfen_China In the pictures you see multiple scenes of trash and smoke. It's sad to say that the people are breathing this in. Are living in these conditions. As I watched Anthony Bourdain on the travel channel, he went to a foreign country. The country I forget what it was, but it was a country with a lot of poverty. The people lived in the trash. They ate from the trash. They made living off the trash. I sit here and think of how fortunate I am to live in such great conditions. Keep in mind those who are less fortunate. Be thankful.

Ukulele

My coordination is not too grand. Today I was practicing my ukulele and I decided to try something different. Now keep in mind that I accidentally tend to use the same strumming pattern for a lot of the songs I play.
I tried to play the song with a new strumming pattern that is quite difficult and I must say I was doing quite a good job.... but then, it came to singing with the instrument. As I started to sing the strumming pattern would change or I would stop by accident. I need to keep practicing and will hopefully give a video update.

7-year old gets plastic surgery?

          As I stumbled upon my twitter account and scrolled through the pages of news that didn't seem to strike my fancy I saw the words 'Plastic Surgery'. I figured it may have been just another celebrity with a bad nose job and their lips plumped up 5 times the amount of regular lips. But when I went back to the beginning of the headline it specifically said 'Seven Year Old Gets Plastic Surgery'. My immediate reaction was a dropped mouth opened in awe, then I of course decided to read the article.
          In the article it said the girl went under the knife to prevent future bullying. I can be somewhat understanding of this in some situations but this one I'm a little unsure. The girls ears were truly not that big. They fit her face, her hair covered them if her mother wanted to hide them. It just came across to me as if the mother was ashamed of her daughter's looks.
          The foundation which did the surgery on the child's ears usually the majority of the time does surgery for deformities in children's faces like the lips and mouth. Now I must emphasize, no where in the article did it mention the girl had a deformity. Her ears may have just been a little big. Now if she really was having trouble, I can understand, but the article clearly said for future bullying. Though, wouldn't you think that the girl would get bullied more for getting plastic surgery?
          There are many things to consider while reading this article. Check it out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/14/7-year-old-plastic-surgery_n_849156.html

Rebecca Black!

      I feel I have an obsession with Rebecca Black. Not that she's super talented, and not that she's super terrible. Her song has as of now 107,530,724 views on youtube and the number is still growing with thousands of people listening to the song every second. 
I know I enjoy the song/music video for many reasons. The lyrics are terrible, the song is catchy and many youtubers are making parodies. I listen to the song probably about twice a week, but that's besides the point.
      The people who created Ark Music Factory are geniuses. They found a way to make millions without really even trying. I'll give you some examples. Please remember these are in MY opinion. You are more than welcome to disagree.
Example #1: All the songs have a similar beat and a professional in that field would take about 5 minutes to create the beats for the songs.
Example #2: The song lyrics are simple enough for a young child to write. I know quite a few children to have this example as a fact.
Example #3: All of the videos have a very 'cheesy' theme. They use the same theme in the editing software so all of the videos have the same text in them. In the Rebecca Black video a moving calendar was put in the beginning with a very terrible font. You can watch the beginning here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0
      Now after watching that! Watch this beginning. Pay attention to the mirror, it's not hard because she's singing about it! In the corner you see her name, just like the calendar in the beginning of the Friday music video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvHeiPDa4rs
      Another thing. They claim on their website that they choose young, talented singers. Now, I'm not a talent scout, and I can't judge their singing because that's not my place to say something, but I will say they do use autotune, and perhaps the parents willing to cough up $2000 per music video had to do something with it.
      So, now I wonder if they think the $2000 was worth it....
Comment with your thoughts below! Watch the video if you haven't http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0 and check out http://www.youtube.com/trizzy66.


Thanks for reading!


Candace Not Kansas

Current Events

Jen tells us to blog about ANYTHING!
I am still unsure as to what to blog about.
I sit here, listening to music.
Should I talk about my music?
What about the ukulele sitting at rest to my side?
What about my paranoia of people who don't text me back?
What about my worries of the outcome of the next few years?
What about Rebecca Black and how I created a cover?
What about my youtube channel?
What about how I'm feeling?
What about school?
What about the crazy events happening around us?
What about my friends?
What about my teachers?
What about the economy?
What about the jobs being lost?
What about the children that are having a harder time than I?
What about what I'm thankful for?
WHAT ABOUT ANYTHING!
AS I WROTE THIS, IT HELPED ME BRAINSTORM FOR MY NEXT POSTS!

The Amount of Homeless Families Growing

    As we watched the videos of how more families are becoming homeless, I began to realize how big the problem is. I had no idea at the number of people struggling with money. It was really saddening.

I put myself in the mind of them, and how I would feel. Though my family was struggling and still is slightly struggling with money, I'm so lucky that I am still stable enough to live in my house and have food, electricity, clothes, and etc. I can't imagine living in a van, or a motel. It would be very scarring and scary.

I hope these people find the light at the end of the tunnel and get out of these rough situations. I wish them the best, and hope they will get situated so they can start a new life.

I am very thankful for what I own and what I have. Necessities and luxuries.

Candace

Eastern Cougar Extinct: Mountain Lion Declared Gone From East U.S.

Another animal is extinct. An Eastern cougar. The U.S. fish and wildlife sevice announced on Wednesday.

I think it's sad that wildlife is becoming extinct. The animals had a very small population to begin with. Maybe they should've taken some into captivity.

I feel bad about this topic and I disagree with that they did nothing about it. If they knew they were going extinct then why couldn't they have done something.

I don't believe anyone's opinion is right or wrong. I know my opinion may not be the best, but it's what I feel.

There will be differences on all opinions. For example with the captivity subject. Pandas are in extinction so some zoo's took them in to save them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/02/eastern-cougar-extinct-mo_n_830181.html