New blog

Guess I get bored easily/busy/writer's block. So I started a new blog dedicated to books and my love of reading.

Check it out at http://kmdbookworm.wordpress.com/

Tomorrow

Penn State in the a.m. tomorrow! Much to do before I leave. Packing and cleaning have never been my favorite things to do.

But tomorrow!

One last year before I become a professional, working member of society. Better make this last year of youth count!

Just cause I love this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPMIXk-ipT0

All this moving, all these places, people and goodbyes

The thing about being young is that your never in one place for very long. And it strange how that is both exhilarating and incredibly tiring. In the past 8 mos. I've gone from Pa. to N.J. to Ireland to N.J. to Pa. to Fla. and now to N.J. (for 3 days) and back to Pa.

Permanence is severely lacking in my life. Heck, my friends aren't even permanent. I mean sure I can stay in touch through e-mail and Facebook, but it's really not the same as seeing them in the flesh. And I keep leaving people and people keep leaving me. Sure, when you get older and settle down people filter in and out of your life -- but not at this unstoppable rate.

And this, I realized is why I've gone a bit crazy buying stuff for my apartment at PSU. Because it will be a permanent home (meaning I'll live there a little less than a year). But it feels more lasting than anything has in almost a year. And that's why I want it to be perfect.

And Naples, well, I wouldn't really want to live here. But boy has time flown. And I am going to miss it. When you move somewhere no matter how much or how little you like it, the place becomes a part of you. It becomes a comfortable, reliable, familiar place. It becomes a home.

I'll miss this little home I've made for myself. This summer was great in so many ways, and despite having two friends here (my 21-year-old roommate and a friend of my mom's) I wasn't really lonely. Maybe a bit bored or in need of conversation at times, but not lonely. And I liked my routines, my volunteering, days by the pool, nights in the office. Einstein Bagel run on Saturdays, church on Sundays. Talking with Jen and watching "More to Love" and laughing at the stupidity of it. I'll miss that. And Tuesdays with Patty they were a big highlight. I'll miss my slot editor, Vicky, a lot as well. She was a great editor and a great journalist. I hope I am as good as she is one day, that the other editors will say "Katie would have know what to do" "If Katie was here ..."
Well, maybe I will be. I'll reach for it at least.

And now it all changes again. Another place, a different routine, less me time and more time surrounded by people. But at least it's not a whole new place. Going back to PSU is returning home after being gone for almost a year.

Hello, future. What have you in store for me now?

All right I admit it, I like cute

Ever since I was young I've had a hate for the word cute. Chalk it up to the fact that the main adjective used for me was cute and I always thought it was connected to my height. I wasn't a fan of my short stature when I was young and although it is sometimes a little frustrating it no longer bothers me.

But the word cute used to make me cringe. It also once made me roll my eyes at Jimmy Carter, no lie the man called me cute and I did not appreciate it.

However, as I've grown older the word itself no longer bothers me even though I'm still not a fan of being called this. I just like cute things more. I've discovered the wonders of Anthropologie and not to overkill on the word, but all of their stuff is so darn cute! I feel after working pretty hard this summer I could treat myself so I've bought a lot of little cute decorations for my very cute State College apartment. Kind of fun and folksy and maybe a bit whimsical?

I've also discovered some new, cute music. The band is called Owl City although it is just made up of one guy, Adam Young. But I adore his music. It's fun and happy and ... well ... cute. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4JLa0hbUw)

This has also led me to discover an up and coming genre, New Urban music. Well at least that's what Wikipedia is calling it. I've looked for more on it but haven't come across much, except this.
But the music is "more positive, more melodic, more romantic, and with a greater diversity of subject matter." More cute if I may be so bold. And it's exactly my kind of music.

So I guess, well after the years when cute would be an appropriate term for me and the things I like, I am finally embracing my inner cuteness.

It's really not such a bad word, after all:
Cute (adj.)
attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty.

About A Book (or three)

I've haven't been updating recently. Just been busy volunteering, putting things in order for fall and more work now that I've been designing Business and Commentary front almost every night.

So I'll post later about Friday's charity, but right now I'm behind on my books updates. And I passed and will surpass my reading goal of 15 books this summer. I'm on No. 16 right now.

I've read three books in the past two weeks, loved two of them but wasn't a big fan of the third.

"Rise and Shine" by Anna Quindlen (two stars)
I didn't dislike this book, but wasn't really a fan of it either. It's the story of two sisters living in New York. One is the famous host of a morning news show (A 'Today Show' type thing) and the other is a social worker. The book is basically about the relationship these two very different sisters share. The characters were OK, and I especially liked the son of the TV show host. But there wasn't anything I greatly liked about the book. Quindlen gave great insight to the social worker sister because she was the narrator, but I didn't feel like I really understood the other characters as well. The climax was also anti-climatic and I didn't like the way it happened and then was sort of swept under the rug.

"Sex, Drugs, and Cococa Puffs" by Chuck Klosterman (three and a half stars)
I thought this book was great, and just tore through it. Klosterman writes pretty much stream of conscience so the flow of the book was very quick. It's basically just his thoughts and opinions on pop culture, and everything from basketball to dating to journalism. There were a few sections, such as the basketball one, that I skimmed over because I just don't have much interest in the sport. But there were others I just found myself nodding my head along to. I also don't normally laugh out loud while reading, but this one did produce a few verbal 'he he's' from me. But his knowledge of pop culture is extraordinary and the chapter on journalism spot on. Reporters really aren't biased -- the story just depends on who calls back first, and the people who bother to call back at all.

"Love, Rosie" by Cecelia Ahren (four and a half stars)
Ahren is the Irish novelist who wrote "P.S. I Love You." So, as you could probably deduce, "Love, Rosie" is 100% chick lit. And I really enjoyed it. It's the story of a girl named Rosie and her childhood best friend, Alex. It follows them as they grow up together, grow apart from one another and find each other once more. Basically, it's a story of the power of friendship and love. The one thing that I wasn't sure I would like about the book is the way it is written. The book is told solely through correspondences between Rosie, Alex and their friends and family. It's letters, e-mails and IMs. A book for the technology age for sure. I've seen a few like this, in particular by Meg Cabbot, and have always shied away from that type of novel -- I felt a story couldn't be told only through correspondence.

But I was wrong. Ahren did a fabulous job of capturing the true essence of each character and giving all the information and background needed without any explanation except for the words written by the characters to each other. But what really made me love it is the fact that I can relate to the way it is written. The book made me think about those friends that I am no longer able to see, and thus communicate with only through the written word -- in letters, e-mails and instant messaging. And looking back at those e-mails and IMs, there really is a story to uncover. And the book, although fiction, gives me hope that those friendships will continue to grow in years to come Maybe someday those people will once again come back into my life, and as more than words on paper or a computer screen.

Now reading: "The Little Book" by Selden Edwards (really liking it so far!)

I'm on a desk, forever! (it's a good thing)

So finally, after weeks (more like months ...) of waiting I found out this evening that I am the Daily Collegian's copy desk chief editor for fall 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am beyond happy, beyond excited and cannot wait to be back in State College, on the sidewalks of U. Park and in the lovely basement of the James Building.

Senior year, here I come!!!!!

Something to Look Forward To: Blue, White and a Social Life

I love my independence and alone time and all that, I really truly do. But, I also need excitement and good friends, maybe even a random dance party or two. I have had the former, not the latter, all summer. So what am I looking forward to the most? PENN STATE. (and the COLLEGIAN). I do love summer and being lazy and sitting by the pool, and going back to PSU means work and a ton of it. But I want that work. Because along with the stress and anxiety of that comes everything I've been missing for the past 8 or more months (woah literally 8).

The noise and chaos of the James Building, getting ready for a night out in my adorable apartment, downtown State College when all the students are crowding College Ave., quick Starbucks runs and Panera runs on busy nights of journalism, football games, chants of We Are!, BOE meetings and going to them with the knowing affects of the night before, old friends, my ritual of Saints on Sunday mornings, walking through campus when it's a bit cloudy but the leaves are stunning reds, oranges and yellows; meeting at the HUB by the fish tank ... the list could never end.

It'll be my last year in Happy Valley, but oh WHAT a year it WILL be.

New Design

What do you think?! I like sunflowers ... :D

A few songs of summer

Every season or, for the time being, semester (fall/spring/summer) has a soundtrack. Of all things that remind me of people, place or moments, music is the strongest reminder. 90% of my friends have a song that instantly reminds me of them and three of them, and my brother, each have a playlist dedicated to them. And there's always the fall, winter, spring and summer songs. To wit: when I hear Norah Jones' sweet, soft voice I have this need for it to be fall.

Needless to say music is very important to me.

Most times the songs of the semester are new ones I discover on my own or through movies, TV, magazines, etc. And others are songs that are maybe popular on the radio or are constantly playing somewhere, somehow -- which is usually how it happens. (Case and point: The Irish were more than obsessed with "Kids" by MGMT. Thus, I will NEVER hear that song and not think of a pint of Smithwicks or Carlsberg, and the pubs of the Emerald Isle.)

This summer has had less "semester" songs spinning on my iPod than most because of my semi-lack of social interaction with those of my age, and the fact radio stations down in Florida are down right awful. But here's a few of my songs of the summer.

The Script (They're actually Irish, but I didn't learn of them until I saw their video on TV a few weeks ago.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi7kHvM-ivI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlR3aMRDick (I wasn't a fan of this song at first, but after a few listens I warmed up to it greatly.)

Black Eyed Peas (My roommate told me about having this stuck in her head one day, then we heard it on TV, and a few days later on the radio.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXtCTixWR3g

Friday's Charity: Doing it Yourself

Sometimes you hear those uplifting stories on the news or read them online. Stories about a kid, teen or adult doing something to make a difference. Planting a garden, setting up a meals-on-wheels program or raising a money for a good cause. And you think, how can one person make a difference? Where do they build this up?

Well I found a great Web site if you're interesting in starting your own small charity or if there's a cause you feel needs attention.

It's called DoSomething.org and I think it's a really great stepping stone for teens to get involved in charity work. Especially in doing something that holds great meaning for them. All you have to do is apply for a grant at the Web site. As far as I understand they give out a grant a month of $500. That doesn't seem like a whole lot of money, but it's enough to get a project started.

You can also donate to DoSomething.org, and they have sponsors that will donate if you shop at their stores or online.

A lot of people who've I've talked to about my volunteering have been older, and they've been very surprised and impressed that I am volunteering. And while it's nice to be praised for it, it's also a little depressing that this is their reaction. Should it really be such a big deal to give back a little time to help others, no matter your age? Are we so self-involved as young adults that the mere fact of simple charity work is something to be impressed by? Everyone should at some point in their lives stretch out a hand (or two) to those in need. It doesn't take much. All you need is a little bit of time or even just a little bit of money to make a difference.

About A Book: "The Fountainhead"

Finished book No. 12 just the other day, and even though it took a while to get through I really enjoyed it.

The book was "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand. It's a bit hard to explain all of the intricacies to the book but it is about an architect named Howard Roark and the struggles he faces in order to be an individualist in an increasingly collective society. He wants to follow his own path and make his buildings the way he envisions them with no outside influence. This becomes increasingly hard as every group, contractor and builder wants to have their own say in how the buildings should be created. There's also Peter Keating, the exact opposite of Roark. He has little talent and relies on the help of others to rise to the top in the world of architecture. And there's, of course, the love interest: Dominique Francon. She is the perfect woman for Roark and their relationship is certainly an interesting one as she fights to live in a world that she doesn't feel lives up to her standards and stifles her own individuality.

The main theme of the book is Objectivism, Rand's own philosophy. It consists of Metaphysics: objective reality; Epistemology: reason; Ethics: rational self-interest; Politics: individual rights and capitalism; and Aesthetics: metaphysical value-judgements. It's actually a bit hard to explain and easier to understand once the book has been read, but it's a very interesting philosophy. I also really like the character of Howard Roark, he's supposed to epitomize the perfect man, and I think in many ways he does.

That's what makes the book a bit difficult to understand and read, at least it really makes you think when reading it. Often times I had to set the book down just to contemplate what I had read. I'm also sure I missed a lot of the underlying themes and motifs. I feel it would take more than one read to understand everything Rand is trying to convey.

But it was worth the read, and I'm definitely going to read her other masterpiece: "Atlas Shrugged."

Up next?: "Rise and Shine" by Anna Quindlen

To live an old dream or create a new one

Haven't updated lately. Guess I've been busy/lazy. But I have been thinking about the future. My mom told me to update my resume the other day and I've also been gradually looking into graduate school.

And I'm ready for 'it', the real world. But of course I'm not ready to leave Penn State. A few co-workers when finding out I was a senior asked if I was excited to get out of school. Hell. NO. I love Penn State too much to want to leave, but I know it will come to an end. But I still have a year, so not too soon.

But with graduation less than a year away, I have to start really thinking about the future. And it's a difficult situation because of both the economy and the troubles newspapers are facing. Grad school is looking like a good idea and I know what I would study if I went: Library sciences. Yet, at the same time, I feel like grad school would almost be giving up on my dream. Why go study something completely different than journalism when since middle school I've known that was the field I wanted to go into? What would be the point of four years on the Collegian, four years of studying, living and loving journalism to just go on and study something completely different?

I feel like going to grad school would almost be giving up on my dream. I could go into journalism when I graduate, but after four years of studying something different I wouldn't want that time to go to waste by not doing something related to my grad degree.

All I've wanted to do for the longest time was to graduate and move to Brooklyn and work on a newspaper or magazine. Copy editing, writing, whatever I'm offered really.

And when fall comes and then spring, too. I'll try everything and take the best offer. But if I get into grad school and get offered a job copy editing a paper in N.Y. (or even Boston or Philadelphia) I think I'd take the job offer. Sure I'd love to put off diving into the real world a little longer and continue my education. But then I feel if I don't go after my dreams now, they may slip away and possibly be replaced by new dreams. And new dreams are great, but I don't think I'm willing to let go of the ones I have now in the hope that new ones will come along. In the end everyone has an opinion. But mine is the most important.

The future is mine alone and I have to choose for myself what direction to go in. And whatever opportunity looks like the one that will help me to follow my bliss is the one I will reach out and take -- even if the salary isn't great, even if I'm in an old warehouse converted to loft in seedy Williamsburg as long as I am doing what I love to do, that's what will matter. I just hope the opportunity presents itself to me, because I don't want to have to settle for less than what my heart desires.

For the love of New Jersey

I love my dear home state for all the trouble it seems to enjoy getting itself into. I mean, seriously, people rag on the 'armpit of America' enough already. So why not give 'em more to talk about? But in all honesty, I love it. We Jerseyans are pretty tough, pretty corrupt and absolutely awesome. I mean we have a reputation to uphold and we do it well.

In case you live in a hole or just don't watch any sort of news media, read THIS.

An FBI official called the corruption "a cancer that is destroying the core values of this state." Well what does he know? It's not a cancer per say, possibly the cause. But then again, they say too much of anything will give you cancer. And maybe it's better N.J. has cancer from corruption instead of crime or pollution (well, not that we don't have a nice amount of that, too).

And know that in New Jersey only the strong survive, and if you're from the Garden State be proud of it -- and all it's corrupted beauty. Because really, there's no place like home.

Money, Money, Money Must Be Funny in a Rich Man's World

Went out to lunch and on a boat ride today with my mom's friend Patty. It was a really nice time. The boat took us around the Naples bay where all the wealthy Neapolitans live. And oh boy do they know how to live. The houses were ridiculously fancy and the prices? None less that $7 million. The most expensive? A mere $90 million. Oh and that starting $7M is just to build the house, not to buy the lot on which the house will sit.

It was pretty interesting to see and gape at yet at the same time Patty voiced exactly what I was thinking, "I wonder how much the Three Cups of Tea guy could do with the money spent to build these." (See this post for further clarification) And the people who own these houses don't even live in them most of the time, they're just "summer homes" (though usually occupied in the winter months).

We also saw a bottle-nosed dolphin! It saw up beside the boat and was jumping in the water - so that was really cool to see. We spotted lots of Pelicans, too.

But for all that rich and famous lifestyle gives, I'd rather live in an apartment in Brooklyn than in a multi-million dollar home on Naples Bay.

Something to Look Foward To: I'm on a Boat

Tuesday I will be joining a friend of my mom's named Patty on a boat tour around Naples. It will leave from a little market down the boulevard from me called Tin City. The cruise itself is called Double Sunshine Sightseeing Cruises. We're going to grab lunch at Tin City before we head out on the 1 1/2 cruise. The boat will make it's way past all the "natural beauty, wildlife and history of Naples." It goes past mangrove islands with lots of exotic Floridian birds. And, fingers tightly crossed, we may even see dolphins and/or manatees! There's also a bar on board, and since Patty has been so kind to me I think a margarita or daiquiri might be in order. I mean it gets so hot in the afternoon, we'll need something to keep us cool.

I'm also pretty excited to say "I'm on a boat *&%$#!" (The content in that link is not suitable for those under 18 or more than 40 [the 40 because they might not find it funny, but offensive.] because of explicit language.) I won't actually voice this out loud, but I may think it.

Time is worth more than money

Most of them are much older than my 21 years. They have shorter hair, softer looking in shades of white and grey. Most are quick to smile and have more energy than I can muster on a daily basis, especially before I've had the chance to down a cup of coffee. And they help out, unselfishly on their own time and for a reward of simply the satisfaction of helping others. The volunteers at Literacy Volunteers of Collier County that I have met so far have been kind, welcoming and show a great enthusiasm for what they do.

Their students are most middle aged men and women, yet the tutors seem to think of them as their own children. Praising their accomplishments and pushing them to do better and try harder. One tutor, new to LVCC, came in on Saturday with a wide smile and much more energy than I. She introduced herself with a flash of a smile and set about looking for an unlocked room for her tutoring session. She talked animatedly saying that "her girl" should be in soon, and that she was always a little late but such a great student to have. I helped her find a unlocked room and the hidden light switch as she talked about how nice it was to see such a young person volunteering. Then her student showed up, she thanked me and they got to work.

The rest of the afternoon went by peacefully. I basically sit there and read and help out those in the lab if one of the computers acts up. They always thank me before they leave, usually in halting English and that's what makes you realize how valuable the tutoring actually is because it gives the students confidence. Without that they may know more English than they let on but also may be afraid of speaking it because they fear getting it wrong or looking ignorant. Confidence when learning a language is very important.

I actually don't know much about each volunteer, what their background is or where they are from, but many of them seem to be older residents, who are most likely retired but making the most of their time by helping others. They could live comfortable lives in the lush gated communities that pepper Naples. They may not have many worries, at least not the kind their students would have. But that's not what matters when you walk in the door, it's not who you are or where you from it's that you've taken time to help and to care. The volunteers there are more than just a few cans of food or an anonymous donation (not that those are bad things, really) but they are giving of themselves the one thing we never seem to have enough of these days and something that is more valuable than paper bills -- their time. In times of recession many people are watching their bank accounts carefully and it's understandable, but you can give back without even opening your wallet. Simply volunteering your time a few hours a week can make a difference in someone's life.

Friday's Charity: Hunger Pains

It's not Friday anymore, but my computer at work more likely than not has a gross virus on it (Let me just say, I HATE TECHNOLOGY. Sometimes.) I usually work on my blog during the day and fine tune it and post it during the down time at work when we're waiting for the first editions of the paper to print. But better late than never and I don't think anyone was constantly refreshing their browsers to see if I updated this tonight.

This 'Friday's' charities are about food. Food is obviously one of the fundamental needs of all living creatures, and here in America we certainly like our food. But man is it expensive. I can't go to the grocery store without spending at least $20-$30 bucks, buying non-name brand food and feeding one mouth. So I can't imagine how hard it is to feed a family when you have very little money.

The two charities I will write about both help feed those in third world countries. Many of the charities I'm going to write about will most likely be international -- though this doesn't mean I don't believe in helping those in my own country but sometimes people in other countries need the help more. (I'll touch on this in another post)

The Hunger Project
It is global, non-profit organization committed to the sustainable end of world hunger. Working in 13 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to develop effective bottom-up strategies to end hunger and poverty.

What I like about this group, and World Neighbors which is very similar, is it's mission. Donating food and money to people is just fine, but that will never in itself solve world hunger. What these two organization do is both help feed people in third world nations and teach them how to feed themselves. They teach people how to plant and nurture crops, they teach people to work together and mobilize, foster government accountability and go further than just addressing malnutrition but illnesses like AIDS/HIV as well. They also both have programs to empower and strengthen women's presence in the communities.

World Neighbors also invests in people and their communities by training them to create their own life-changing solutions through programs in agriculture, literacy, water, health and environmental protection.

I also love charities that have multifaceted ways to volunteer and help.

For The Hunger Project you can donate, make a pledged to raise a certain amount, host an event to raise money, volunteer and work for the charity, travel with them (if you donate a lot of money, though) or just support the business partners they show on their Web site.

World Neighbors also allows you to volunteer, donate and host events for them. They also host events (there's one in Oklahoma City in October) where they raise proceeds for the charity, they even say just getting information about the charity out into the world help (like writing a blog post about it!) Also, WN has an initiative called WOW! (Work of Women) which raises awareness about the issues women in poor, rural communities face and works to do something about these problems, so a person could also help out with that. They also have an Adopt-A-Village program and even has a service for converting an extra car, truck, or RV into a tax deductible donation benefiting World Neighbors. (Fred, this may be your future).

Lastly, one of the best fundraising ideas most sites have are penny programs. Just think about it, you get a big group of friends (or members of clubs, organizations or co-workers) to save up all their pennies for a couple months, let's say each person saves 1o pennies a week for four months. That's only about $1.60. But if you get about 25 people to do this, that's $40 you could donate to a charity -- and it would only cost each person a 1.60 and I'm betting some would be willing to donate much more than that.

Oh, and RIP Walter Cronkite. "Our job is only to hold up the mirror - to tell and show the public what has happened. "

Following the example of other nations is beneficial

Just recently the Group of 8 (G-8) met in L'Aquila, Italy to discuss global warming and the environment. As all countries start to work toward ways to make sure that future generations don't suffer because of the affects we have on the environment today, I wonder why we don't start small and follow in the examples of others.

Now I'm no expert on global warming, what's causing it and how to stop it. But saving energy and protecting the environment is important as well. And with all this talk of big plans and major changes needed to protect our planet, we need to realize that while the big planning goes on we should still be making small steps -- and learn by example from others.

I was in Ireland for 5 months and nothing they do will make a huge impact on the environment, but a small impact should not be something to ignore. When you can't change everything, changing something is better than changing nothing. To wit: In Ireland the supermarkets require you to buy plastic bags when you purchase your food. Otherwise they sell canvas bags for cheap that you can bring with you to place your food in. Not a bad system, because who wants to add more money to an already expensive grocery bill? Think about how many plastic bags your groceries go in, and feel that plastic -- not very biodegradable, is it? I actually brought back a few plastic bags after shopping here in Florida one week to have them repack my groceries in, and the bagger didn't seem to pleased about it. But it's so much less waste.

Also, in Ireland you can actually turn outlets and each individual heater off with the push of a button. This save so much energy quite easily. There's so many outlets in American houses that have electricity coursing through them that are rarely used. Such as the four in my room at home that is occupied about 20 days a year at most.

Ireland also saves water by having a hot water boost standard in most homes and apartments. Although I am a huge fan of long, luxurious showers, in Ireland these became a pleasure of the past. The hot water lasted about 15 minutes, and anyone else wanting a shower had to wait for it to heat up again. If you wanted to take a shower later on in the day (after everyone else had) you had to turn on the "boost" which would power the hot water back up in about a half hour. This saves on energy since the water isn't continuously heating up, and also because people are forced to take shorter showers.

And, when it comes down to it, some of these things aren't only helping the environment -- they're saving residents money on electricity bills. Plus, Ireland is very aware of the growing problems because of global warming and the excess of energy modern society uses.

These are small things America could consider doing in the future. Considering the size of our country they could make a big difference in energy use and waste.

The Book is Always Better

Went to see "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at midnight, and while I won't write any plot spoilers I will say was fairly pleased with the movie. But for me, that's not saying much. Now I know the movie can never really be exactly like the book. For one, everyone's imagination is unique so everyone is always going to envision sets, characters and scenes a little differently. Secondly, directions and script writers love to have room to be creative and make their own spin on things. And lastly, it's hard make a book that is more than 400 pages into a movie without either leaving scenes out or making it ridiculously long. And "Half-Blood Prince" clocked in at about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

I think this movie was one of my favorites and I certainly liked it better than "Order of the Phoenix." There were just three things I would have changed: Ginny and Harry's relationship was dealt with kind of awkwardly, there was a whole small scene that didn't even occur in the book and did not do anything to help the plot of the movie along and they changed the ending - as usual. For some reason the director's never like the movie to end like the book. But in this movie they really changed it and left out probably the last 50 pages or so.

But it had some good scenes that were pretty much exactly what I imagined when reading it, and the movie had some good lighthearted moments, too. I also cried a little at the end, but not as much as I probably would have if they had stuck to the ending of the book.

I'll give it four stars, which for me is pretty good.

The next book to movie that I'm anxious about is "The Time Traveler's Wife." It comes out this year and my fingers are crossed that it will do the book justice. But I won't count too hard on it.

Just To Make You Smile

(Someone please show this to my future fiance)

http://www.collegehumor.com/pictures/gallery:Proposals#1916423

Something to Look Foward To: Take Me to the Movies

It's Sunday! YAY! Because that means it's my Friday. Oh, the strange life of a copy editor.

But this week will be one filled with popcorn, cute animation and a whole lot of magic.

Of course you all know what I'm talking about here. HARRY POTTER! (and I'll also be seeing "Up!", which I've been wanting to see for quite a while.)

Oh, Harry Potter. What can I say about you? It's been an obsession, I will admit, for most of my teen years and now beyond. The books aren't spectacularly written, but the plot and characters and sheer bliss I get out of reading them -- well that's why I love it. And so many memories surround the books, a HP club I was involved in for two years of college, which brought me together with three of my most amazing friends; getting the 7th book while at PSU for the summer and sitting up all night with a friend reading it while laughing, gasping, crying, cheering etc.; seeing the movie at midnight with friends from high school and good friends from college; dressing up like Hermione for Halloween; and even attending a Yule Ball or two. Oh, yeah, and I did get Dan Radcliffe's autograph after seeing Equus on B-way - that was a most perfect day.
And, although I am no longer a member of the club, and the midnight movies won't be quite as special as they were when I could go to them with the people who have been with me through it all, Harry Potter still has an unexplainable allure for me. The books out-do the movies a thousand times over, but I still enjoy going to them and seeing young kids get so enchanted by them. I hope in the future kids will still enjoy reading the books, and won't just watch the films. (my children will have to at least try reading the books before I'll let them watch it on DVD.)

I'm hoping the 6th movie, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", which comes out Wednesday, will not disappoint. The first and second movies were only so-so, the third was great, the fourth my favorite mainly because it's my favorite book in the series and the fifth movie was a bit of a letdown (didn't help having one of my good friends sitting next to me during it and sigh, moan and shake his fist in frustration ... hope he doesn't read this, haha.) But the 6th was a book chock-full of really vital information and key scenes - but I'll just have to wait to see how well it plays out on the big screen. I'll be there at midnight, but this year without my wand and HP-obsessed loved ones. I expect texts and calls from you in the following days to discuss it!

About a Book: The God of Small Things

Just finished book No. 10 on my summer list: "The God of Small Things" by Adrunhati Roy.

It's one of those books where I get to the end and I'm like, "hmmm." Meaning I liked it and I didn't like it. Roy writes in a sort of magical realism style ... with out much magic. The story is about two unidentical twins, a boy and a girl, living in India and how one day changes their lives and the lives of those around them. Seems like a straight forward enough plot, right? No so much. From pretty much the start you know what the event that changed everything probably was, but she doesn't let you in on HOW it happened until about 235 pages into the 320 page book. Sometimes you don't know where Roy is leading you or how a certain event even matters in the grand scheme of things. But in the end, usually they make so semblance of sense. There's lots of little history and back story on the characters that shows how their past has shaped them, but then sometimes has little baring on the actual plot.

At some points in the book I had had enough of the weird description with some words in capitals for a reason I couldn't guess and some descriptions that words just strings of words. Ex: "Melted chocolates. Cigarette sweets. Orangedrinks. Lemondrinks. CocaColaFantaicecreamrosemilk..."
It got a little tedious after a while.

But sometimes the descriptions were enchanting and beautiful. Some parts made me smile to myself and other made me a little sad. But there was no extreme of emotions. I didn't laugh out loud, cry or get angry at any of the characters or events - though that could just be me. I liked the characters but didn't loved them, I also didn't really hate any of them. I more or less felt disconnected from the whole story while reading it, instead of getting lost inside it like I usually do with books.

Also, the time element was not confusing, but a little disruptive in switched from past events to present events and the book actually ended with a past event, beautifully written but leaving out a sense of closure for the book. Yet, though annoyed by the lack of closure I kind of liked the ending. And it did go into a part of the plot that had not yet been fully developed.

I guess I'd say read this. It won the Booker Prize and is a solid piece of literary work - but give yourself time to get used to the writing style, the book gets better as it goes on.

And, favorite quote from the book:
"If he touched her he couldn't talk to her, if he loved her he couldn't leave, if he spoke he couldn't listen, if he fought he couldn't win."

Friday's Charity: Remember your first book?

Last week I wrote a post about a charity called the Central Asia Institute (CAI), and I decided that every Friday I will research and write about a charity. Many people say they don't have time, energy or even the money right now to volunteer or donate. But it really doesn't take a lot to make a difference. There are hundreds of charities out there to donate time, money or items too, but because there are so many it's hard to know which ones to donate to. Hopefully my Friday posts will help you find the perfect one for your interests, skills, etc.

This week's charity is: First Book

Do you remember your first book? Maybe not the first one you ever read or that was read to you, but maybe one that made you love reading or look at the world differently. (Leave a comment about it!) The first book chapter books I fondly remember reading were given to me by my brother: R.L. Stein's Goosebumps series. Now I may have read other more ... intellectual books than this, but these are ones I can clearly remember. One was about an invisible boy and the other about worms. I need to reread them at some point.

But anyway, the charity, First Book, is a national charity that provides new books to children in preschools and after-school programs, mentoring and tutoring programs, shelters and day care centers. I love to read, it's one of my favorite activities to do when ever I have free time (a testament to that is the book log I keep and the fact I'm on my 10th book of the summer). So, maybe I'm biased but I think reading is a very important and children should develop a love of reading from a young age, especially in a world overrun by the Internet and television/video games.

A great thing about this charity is all the ways you can get involved! You can buy books (mostly children's books) from its Web site and a percent of the proceeds go to the charity, you can donate used books (in good condition) that the charity will sell to make a profit, you can volunteer to help out or even just donate $2! (only $2 is needed to buy a new book for a child).

So think back to the favorite book that you read - or had a parent read to you - as a child. Whether it was a picture book, a novel or even a choose-you-own-adventure book, I'm sure it meant something special to you. And every child deserves to have that.

A Darn Good Cup of Joe

When I move to a new place there are two things that are top priorities. Finding out where the bookstore is and where I can get a good cup of coffee. The bookstore is the easy part and in Naples I can choose from either Books-A-Million or Barnes and Noble. I'm partial to the B&N. But as far as coffee goes, well before today I hadn't quite found the right place. Sure there's a Starbucks down every street, but when looking for a coffee place I want something local. There's one on Fifth Avenue South , a street in Naples that is full of restaurants and stores too expensive for an intern at a newspaper. The coffee shop, aptly names Fifth Avenue South Coffee Company is nothing special. I got a latte there a week or so ago and was not impressed. It was definitely too watered down. Plus, the selection is nothing to be desired. I think their sandwiches and smoothies looked more promising than the coffee selection.

And then today after volunteering I was dying for a good cup of Joe. I hadn't been down to 3rd Street South in "Old Naples" yet and although I knew it was along the same vein as Fifth Ave. S. I thought I'd see if there were any cute coffee places. And I found the perfect one. I saw it out the window to the left, Bad Ass Coffee Company. Well, the name certainly caught my eye, especially considering the uptight, wealthy and older demographic of the region. Probably why the store was pushed back a little from the main street.

The store was cute, all decked out like a cafe in Hawii (which I soon found out is because the company and coffee is from a chain in Hawii.) And the flavors? Endlessly amazing. I only saw a few scribbled on the board above the register so I ordered the Snickerdoodle (dark chocolate, hazelnut and I think something else...) Then I noticed on the counter there was a menu of flavors, at least 12. With everything from Chocolate Raspberry to Vanilla Coconut (have to try that one next!). While the price for my large cup of Joe was not cheap ($4.75) after one sip I knew it was worth it. While I won't be visiting BAC every day, I will definitely be back soon. and now I know a present I can get for my father, who brews a pretty good cup of Joe ... since I always seem to add too much water or too few spoonfuls of coffee grinds. (http://badasscoffee.com/)

Also: I went to look up where "cup of Joe" came from and no site seemed to know its origins. Some said it was named after Josephus Daniels, who was secretary of the Navy during WW1. He banned alcohol on navy ships leading to an increase in coffee consumption. Others say it's named for the common man, good old Joe whatshisname. I think I like the latter the best, because I like the picture the average man (and woman) sitting at the kitchen table in the morning and reading the newspaper with a hot cup of coffee in his/her hand.

Google faces some new competition

"When it comes to decisions that matter, Bing and Decide." That's the slogan of a new search engine by Microsoft called Bing. I heard about Bing after stumbling upon an article about it on NYTimes.com. So, I had to test it out for myself and find out if Bing really is better than Google.

Google is the only search engine I've used for the past (probably) 4 years. And I'm really a creature of habit. When it comes to certain things (mainly food) I don't branch out. But I must admit, I like Bing.

The engine offers much of the same elements that Google does. There's links for news, maps, images and video. But it's also a little bit more pleasing to the eye and gives you more information in one glance than Google does. The homepage of Bing is aesthetically appeasing with a background image of a landscape that has links right on it to describe what you're seeing (today's is one of the Galapagos Islands). And just like google, there's a search bar and you simply type the word in and it takes you to another screen with a listing of all related Web sites. A list that on Bing seems to be a little more concise than on Google. Also, on the left is categories related to what you're searching.

I decided to use the Phillies to test Bing out since there was a game going on tonight. Right after simply typing in Phillies the site took me to a list of Web sites, as you would assume. But also at the top were Phillies stats and info on the current game. Now Google does this too, but Bing gave more information. Including who was on bat, what bases were loaded, stats etc. It also updated this information very quickly so that when I hit refresh, the names and score changed instantly to reflect exactly what was happening in the game. And on the left of the screen were links to bring up more informatiom regarding the Phils, such as schedules, tickets, rosters etc. Nice. Simple. Easy. You can even scroll over the Web sites Bing recommends for your search to get a little more information on each one before committing to it.

However, the one thing I feel Google does better is Gmail. I could never give that up. And while Bing has something called Windows Live, I doubt it matches up. Also, all of my contacts and friends have Gmail so chatting and e-mailing them is a breeze. And right now that is something no other search engine could replace. However, that doesn't mean I won't use Bing now and then. Especially when the Phightin' Phils are playing.

To see the soul of the collective, one must look into the eyes of the individual

A quick smile, brown wavy hair and milk chocolate eyes. She smiled and in halting English introduced herself. Edith. Filling out the form she sighed, smiled. 'My birthday? Ha. I'm 50. 50 years.' She scrawled Puerto Rico into country of origin, Spanish under spoken language.

She was new to the service where I volunteer. Literacy Volunteers of Collier County. I had her fill out the paperwork and showed her how to log onto the computer system and use the programs offered. She sat down and got to work, murming English phrases and words alongside a few others who came to America looking for a better life. Edith double checked with me before starting some exercises to make sure she had enough time to finish them. She had an interview in 45 minutes. It was very important. She's unemployed and looking for a job.

A couple of minutes into a new exercise Edith called me over. She didn't understand some of the questions. 'What is hologram? What does 'to forge' mean?' I could see the frustration in her eyes tears hid behind them, not wanting to reveal themselves. I pointed out an easier exercise for her to do. One where she could listen and repeat. She put on the headset determinedly and started a new exercise. Before she left she kissed my cheek and thanked me for the help.

A little while later a couple came in and sat down at the computers. Notebooks and pens in hand, accented English flowing from their mouths they went through the exercises. Before leaving they introduced themselves. Jose and Maria. 'What name?' They asked me. 'Katie' I replied. 'Kaytay,' they responded. Trying my name out, repeating it back to me. I smiled and wished them a good evening. They repeated it back to me, saying the words with a smile and slightly forced confidence. They thanked me warmly for my time, for volunteering, when all I did was sign them in and read a book, while they worked to learn English in order to better their lives in America.

It's hard to leave behind everything you've known and move to a new place with a language that is alien to you. What's worse is being looked down upon because of that. But some do. They talk about immigration and foreigners, the reform that is needed and how these newcomers are stealing jobs from American citizens. It's hard to say what our government should do about the influx of immigrants. But what they shouldn't do, and what often happens in politics, is ignore the individual. The single mother looking for a better life for her children. Those who could find no work and no hope in the country they were born in. Those who chose to come to America not knowing if it would bring more opportunity, but willing to take the chance. Everyone should have a chance to live the American dream - because that dream is not founded on where you're from, but on the right to live happy and fulfilling life.

Naples Zoo and the value of the copy editor

The zoo was great today! Perfect weather and lots of time to explore. However, no giraffes. But that's because the Naples Zoo has mostly endangered species (all may be endangered, actually) and giraffes aren't. But I think that's great because it's not just the zoo going and taking these animals out of their natural habitats to show them off, but the zoo trying to preserve and protect these beautiful species. So, no Giraffe Test -- but the Naples Zoo gets my seal of approval. It was beautiful, well kept and the habitats for all of the animals were nicely done. The zookeepers also had some good talks about the animals. (It was awesome to see two of them actually petting and playing with the lions).

But despite hating that I do it, I found myself editing all the little signs and posters throughout the zoo (luckily, not a lot of mistakes were found). It's just something that copy editing does to a person. I'm more awake at night, I edit everything from novels to restaurant menus and am even beginning to notice when people speak incorrectly. Oh, and I dream about copy editing, too. Yeesh. Yet, even with the world of journalism turning on its head because of the ever growing influence of the Web and networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, copy editing is still needed. Just because someone is reading something on a computer screen does not mean they won't catch mistakes. And slowly, copy editors are being pushed aside, the first ones to go because when a paper is faced with having to cut back on staff, what we do just doesn't seem as necessary. But a copy editor's job may be one of the most important. A reporter, and sometimes even beat editor, is not always going to notice mistakes, because that's not what they're trained to look for. They want to make sure the story sounds good, makes sense, covers all angles and has all the needed information. Thus, they tend to look at the big picture -- and even that they sometimes miss. Copy editors go into a story often as a reader would -- without much prior knowledge of the content. So they look at it with a fresh eye and catch many of the mistakes others wouldn't. So to all the copy editors out there -- fight for your jobs, because no matter what happens to print journalism there are some things that won't change, including the importance of our jobs.

This article in the Washington Post does a really great job of showing the importance of copy editors in journalism.

Something to look foward to: Lions, tigers and ... giraffes!

Some people say take one day at a time and live in the moment. But that's not always easy to do, especially for me. Maybe it's my age, or simply just how I am, but I always need something to look forward to. (Thus, my entry every Sunday will be about something I am looking forward to!)

So this week I am looking forward to seeing some animals. I'm hoping you guessed what that means; I am going to the zoo! (Update: BABY ANIMALS! And she has my name!)

Now zoos and I, well we have a love hate relationship - though come to think of it it's a one-sided relationship because zoos are probably pretty apathetic toward a 21-year-old girl. See, I love zoos because I like animals and it's actually pretty tough to see really exotic animals in the wild. Maybe someday I'll get enough courage (and money ... and time) to go on safari in Africa and a trip to the jungle and Antarctica or Alaska, but right now I just don't have the ability to do so. So zoos are the next best thing. And honestly, most zoos do a pretty fine job of caring for their animals. But the best test to see how well a zoo cares for the animals is the Giraffe Test, and so we're clear, I made this test up at the London Zoo a few months ago and shall now apply it to all zoos.

The Giraffe Test (LEFT: Cape May Zoo. Credit: Me)
Giraffes are one of the hardest species to properly accommodate at a zoo in my opinion (and not just because they happen to be my favorite animal). So I judge a zoo on how well they can accommodate giraffes. Here's why: they are probably the biggest species most zoos offer, they need room to run and stretch their legs (which, obviously, are incredibly long), tall trees are needed for them to feed from and they live in weather that is very hot. Now I'm no giraffe expert and I've never been able to ask a giraffe what kind of lifestyle it would prefer, but I doubt that they enjoyed small confined pens with a few scraggly trees to feed of off. This is what I have found at quite a few zoos, and thus they are off my list of zoos to go to. (Sorry to the Bronx and London zoos). So far my personal favorite is the Cape May zoo. There they have an area for the giraffes (and zebra as well) that is as close to the African savannah as one can get in New Jersey. I'm not sure where the giraffes are kept in the winter, but at least in the summer they have plenty of room to move around, run and lots of tall trees to feed from.

Hopefully the Naples Zoo will pass the test! I'll let you know tomorrow.
Oh, and what about you? What's your favorite zoo?

Roll the windows down, turn the music up

For those who love to drive, windows down, music blaring - a playlist for the summer. (Sad part about Florida, too hot to have the windows down. Major bummer.)


"My Life Would Suck Without You" -- Kelly Clarkson
*Have to admit, when I first heard the title of the song I laughed a little. Really, Kelly how innovative are we? Yet, it's a catchy song and fun to sing (or in my case, scream) along to. Plus, I also know a few people my life would suck without.

"Everything" -- Michael Buble
*Much calmer than Kelly's tune, but just as catchy. Most of Michael's songs just have a summer swing to them. Also, despite most of them being covers, he does a good job in rejuvenating oldies. And this one's an original, written by Buble, making it even better.

"Rockaway Beach" -- The Ramones
*The Ramones are my band choice of the summer, every summer. Their tunes are fun and catchy, and of course, punk. But not too hardcore. These NYC boys just make you want to sing and bounce along. The Ramones are really at their best when listened to on a warm sunny day.

"Days Go By" -- Keith Urban
*I'm admitting it, unabashedly, I love country music. And Keith is at the top of my country loves list. The best part of this song is when he sings "like a hand out the window in the wind," cause I always have to do just what he says. (Also, check out his newest hit "Sweet Thing," it's very summery.)

"Summer Nights" -- Grease Soundtrack
*A summer staple. I need not say more.

"Why Do You Let Me Stay Here" -- She & Him
*A light, airy and fun song. Plus, Zoey Deschanel is the epitome of adorable when she sings.

"Massive Nights" -- The Hold Steady
*Great to listen to before a night out on the town. A song about crazy nights you'll never forget.
"Never Let This Go" -- Paramore
*Not quite as happy a song, but still catchy. But especially good if you've got a little steam to let off. Another fun one to scream along to.

So break out your MP3 player, roll down the windows and rock out under the summer sun!

Let's try this again (and Three Cups of Tea)

Since my boot camp and coming down to Naples, Fla. I have not updated this at all. Maybe because I've been to busy wasting my days away behind the pages of books, and my nights in front of a computer screen or maybe it's because of the small amount of people who probably will ever read this. I'm not so great at PR when it comes to getting the word out about my own endeavours, and I also feel this blog doesn't offer much to the world (considering the millions of blogs already out there).

However, I like to write. And I like to share my opinions. Plus, it's something productive to do during the long days before I head to the Naples Daily News. Though this blog in now way represents the opinions of the organization -- it's all my own personal thoughts and opinions.

My first post back is about a book you should read this summer, even if you don't read anything else.

It's called Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. And it'll change your life, even if just a little.

I'm not sure exactly when I purchased this book, but it has been sitting on my shelf for almost a year I presume. (alongside more than a dozen other books I have yet to read).

But Three Cups of Tea should not have been sitting there for so long, and I only assume it was pre-destined for me to read it when I did. It's the story of Greg Mortenson, a biography if you will, about his adventures mountain climbing and how they led him to a small village in Pakistan, where he learned the kindness of the village's people and their biggest struggle: educating their youth. This small village's plight inspired a promise from Mortenson that he would build them a school. And he kept his promise, a thousand times over. What this single man accomplished at such a young age is astounding, and he still continues his amazing work building schools all across Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was THE most inspiring book I have ever read.

Mortenson created a foundation to help fund all his projects, called the Central Asia Institute (CAI). I have made a promise to myself that I will save at least $100 this summer to donate to the foundation. (https://www.ikat.org/)

Also, because I have so much time on my hands during the day (basically every day until about 3p.m.) I decided that although I can't do anything close to what Mortenson has done and is doing, I could give back to the community in some way. I decided to volunteer with the Literacy Volunteers of Collier County (LVCC). I believe that everyone in America has the right to the same opportunities as I do -- no matter where they are from, or even if they are here legally or not (personal opinion, of course). But doing so is hard if one does not know the language well. The LVCC teaches English to illiterate and non-English speaking people living in Collier County, Fla. I wanted to be a tutor, but despite my free mornings there still really wasn't enough time for me to take the training and learn the lessons. So instead I will be helping to categorize and inventory the group's small library and also help monitor its computer lab every Saturday. I also bought a few guides to Spanish, since I know very little of the language -- having only taken French and Italian.

My contribution may be small, but every time I leave the center I feel good about what I am doing, and that I've made a difference in someone's life - even if indirectly. I have also begun an application for the Peace Corps. and am going to look into volunteer ops. for teaching English in another country. I want to give back as much as I can while I am young, and with the economy the way it is, I'd rather graduate knowing I'll be giving back and not at home, jobless.

So read Three Cups of Tea, and see if it makes you look at things in a different light.

(In addition, I think this'll be my theme for Friday posts: charities.)

Journalism is love.

At my "boot camp" for my Dow Jones internship. I'm a bit too busy to post this next week and a half, but I'll update again when I get to Florida.

Indie rock gets a little more color

I've decided for this blog that Friday's will be very light hearted and cater to my inner child.

I'm not sure what a lot of other people do when they're stressed, but I know my roommate goes for walks and another friend listens to his favorite band. For me, well I like to color. Yeah, I'm a 21-year-old girl who still finds bliss in coloring. It's also a good way for me to listen to new music. If I'm doing something else, like reading or talking to friends online, I don't give the music my full attention. But I'm able to do that while coloring.

And now, the most exciting thing to come about in the world of coloring appears. And this new idea probably completes the life of a girl who loves to color, and loves indie rock: an Indie Rock coloring book. WOW.

According to Amazon.com: "The Montreal-based nonprofit Yellow Bird Project has worked with an amazing range of indie rock musicians over the years to create unique T-shirt designs, benefitting an array of charities. This all-new project enlists artist Andy J. Miller to create witty, hand-illustrated activity pages in a fitting tribute to the DIY spirit of the bands. Including mazes, connect the dots, and coloring pages for Bloc Party, the Shins, Stars, Broken Social Scene, Devendra Banhart, Rilo Kiley, the New Pornographers, the National, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and twenty more musicians, and all royalties going to charity."

Not just coloring, but mazes and connect the dots? Jackpot! (not to mention that about 4 of my favorite bands is on that list of musicians!)

Now I just have to explain to my mom why I used a credit card to buy a coloring book ... then again it'll be released on Sept. 1, so maybe I can get it as an early birthday present.

'Bout a Book: The Book Thief

Most books I like, and many books I love. If it makes me laugh, cry and get a bit angry then it's the perfect type of book. If I can set it down and not pick it up again for a few days, then it's not such a great book or a very challenging read.

It might be a bit difficult until I'm situated in Florida, but I am going to try to read a book a week. Each time I start a new book I'll post on it with a back-of-the-book plot description, a rating out of five stars (1 = Don't read it, 2= It was OK, 3= Good, 4= Great!, 5= Go buy it. NOW.) There might be a lot of 4s and 5s, because it's rare that I hate a book (but I did hate "Heart of Darkness", sorry Conrad fans.) I'll also put why I chose that rating, and also the book is next on my list.

Before that begins though, since I'm only half way through my current read, I might as well write about one of my favorite books of all time: "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.



Although this book is listed under children's fiction, I do not feel it is a book for only that age group. Anyone of any age would enjoy it, and it would probably be most appreciated by a slightly older crowd given many of the serious themes it addresses.

"The Book Thief" is set in Germany in 1939. It is about a young girl named Liesel, who lives with foster parents near Munich. As she learns to cope with a pre-war Germany, Liesel finds her escape where many of us do - through books. And because many times she gets these books by chance - in a graveyard, from a Nazi book burning and a mysterious neighbor - she calls herself the book thief. Much of the book centers around Liesel's childhood in Nazi Germany, the close and unlikely friendships she develops (one with a Jewish man) and her escape through reading.

Rating: ***** (5 stars)
I loved this book from the first page to the last. It's not a happy tale, though I'll try not to give anything away, but it is inspiring. I loved the character of Liesel, her acceptance, curiosity and strength. Zusak is a master at his craft, and writes in beautiful prose. I found myself keeping a notebook by my side just to jot down memorable quotes. But the most fascinating part about the novel is the narrator, and his name is Death. Yes, Death is the narrator, and he does a darn good job. However, this is a more merciful death than one would imagine from a story about Nazi Germany. He does not enjoy his job, but finds Liesel fascinating, for he has never encountered someone so much -- without taking from them their own life. This book made me laugh, smile to myself and cry quite a bit (have tissues nearby). I've already read it twice, but I think it may be the one book I'll read over and over again.
(It's also going to be made into a movie set to be released in 2010, which is terrifying because the book is better 99% of the time.)


Up next: "Enchantment" by Orson Scott Card

Can Disney pull it off?

While Fridays will primarily be for Disney posts, I had to write one after seeing THIS!

It's a trailer for Disney's newest animated feature The Princess and the Frog. The movie is set to hit theaters on Dec. 11. From the trailer the movie looks fairly promising. But it's hard for me to tell quite yet. I'm a huge Disney fan, and I feel like the company hasn't put out, in my opinion of course, a 'classic Disney film' since Tarzan in 1999. And even Tarzan almost didn't make the cut for me because none of the characters sang. From watching the trailer it doesn't seem that any of the characters in The Princess and the Frog do sing, but according to Wikipedia there are a few songs and a voice cast.

The film looks promising, and I think it's great that there will be an African American Princess. However, there is already some controversy surrounding this. When information about the film was first starting to surface the title of the movie was reported as being The Frog Princess and the main character was named Maddy. Her name caused some question of how sensitive Disney would be about an African American princess since Maddy can be seen as a slave name. However, more recent reports have stated that the movie will be called The Princess and the Frog and the heroine's name will be Tiana.

In addition, by watching the trailer, it is clear that Tiana is transformed to a frog very early on in the film. If she remains in this state through most of the film, it takes away from the fact that she is an African American princess. However, the film is set during the roaring 20s in Harlem and it seems that much of the culture of that era will be drawn into the film - literally.

Hopefully this will usher in another run of films similar to the ones my generation grew up with, and maybe children of the 20th century will rediscover a love for the older, but beloved, Disney films.

An intro

While I was studying abroad last semester in Galway, Ireland I kept a blog of all my travels. I really enjoyed being able to write about everything I saw/did/learned. Now that I'm back in the States I miss keeping a blog. So, I've decided to start a new one. I'm not really sure what direction this blog will take, or who will read it for that matter. But I figure it can be a way for me to continue to be able to write. And even if no one reads it, I'll enjoy writing in it regardless.


I'm going to try to post at least three times a week, maybe with a theme for each day. This summer I will be at Penn State University for two weeks to train for a copy editing internship at a newspaper in Naples, Fl. I'm really excited for the experience, so maybe I'll come across things in Naples to blog about. Otherwise it'll mostly be on whatever. A potpourri of posts.


The title of this blog is from "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John, written for The Lion King -- my favorite movie of all time. And that will be one of my themes. Every Friday will be a fun post on something Disney. Or at least something to embrace my inner child. Mondays will be dedicated to the arts, most likely movies or music. And Wednesdays will be for books, because I love to read and hope to read a book a week this summer, if not more. I may add things as time goes on or just post whenever my heart desires.


So hopefully you'll follow this little blog of mine -- and if not, I'll still enjoying every minute of writing it.