The Christmas Wishlist

Here goes nothing... (from left to right, top to bottom)

Cath Kidston - I guess their kinda like the Vera Bradley/Lily Pulitzer of London... (idk) But anyway, they always have gorgeous prints in the cutest bags and mugs! My favorite styles are the Book Bag and the Cedar Mug, I already have those two in the Royal Guards print! (too freakin' cute) I'm dying over this snowy-London-Holiday print! I want right now!

Royal Apothic: Kensington Garden - Keeping with the British brands trend, I found this little gem at Anthro. It smells divine! Such pretty floral scents! I took one whiff and I was back in the gorgeous English gardens I perused this past summer!

TIME: Inside the Red Border - I adore TIME magazine for a plethora of reasons. Whether it be the photographs or the layout or the page design or the actual articles, I just find that magazine so awesome! If I were to work at any mag, it would be TIME without a doubt. An informative and pretty coffee table book about this publication is right up my alley.

Pride & Prejudice - I lost my copy of one of my favorite books. It would be really nice to get another one, especially in this pretty Collector's Edition Hardcover. :)

J. Crew Everything - If I get anything J.Crew this Christmas, I will be the happiest of happy campers. But come items that I have been crushing on for months is the Schoolboy Blazer in Navy, the Cashmere Boyfriend Cardigan (I looooveee youuuuuu), and the beautiful Cambridge Turtleneck Sweater.

Kate Spade - I love Kate Spade, and their tech accessories hold a special place in my heart. They don't sell this cute Dictionary case for iPhone 4S (sad face) but I love it nevertheless.

J.Crew Shoes - These. Shoes. Oh my. Love at first sight, for sure.

LET THE CHRISTMAS CHEER BEGIN!

Union Issues

Unions are great, they really are. But I believe unions have their time and their place. Those times and places should not involve students.

To give you a bit of backstory, the teachers union at my school is severely butting heads with the district, due to the fact that the district is attempting to postpone negotiations regarding salary and the teacher evaluation system until after School Board Elections. Of course, this is a straight-up douche bag move and pretty damn idiotic of them. They are also shoving the idea of "iPad integration" down the throats of all teachers, classrooms, and students in the district, which is also completely idiotic and further proves that the district is seriously not listening to what the teachers and students are saying. I mean, let's be real. The middle school in my district, who jumped in head-first into this iPad education thing, had a drop of 18 points on their API score this year. EIGHTEEN POINTS. The largest drop they've had, ever. Clearly something is wrong and clearly the district refuses to see past their bureaucracy. 

I support teachers because I believe that they are truly a foundation of success and growth later on in life. But in reaction to all this bull that the district has been pulling, they have refused to work past their pay. Their doors are closed at lunch, meaning school clubs cannot meet in classrooms. This is the second time they have done something like this. Last year it was a bit more dramatic, they wouldn't do any letters of recommendation for the seniors. Obviously, this method got the district to meet the teachers halfway, but I think it was still morally wrong.

To use students and their parents as political pawns? To utilize their anger and frustration as a means to an end? I don't approve of the teachers' actions. Teachers do noble things, but that does not make it right for them to pull cruddy political moves. This is in no means ok. Some might say that this is all about the students and their well being, BUT it still does not give teachers to, in essence, use students as leverage to get whatever they want, in this case, it's higher salary and an upper hand in negotiations. Some might even proclaim that teachers were basically boxed in a corner, and this move is a move of desperation. Once? Maybe. But twice? I don't think so. This is the second sequential year that the teachers have pulled this move. This doesn't look like desperation to me, it looks like savvy political strategy.

So, my conclusion is that both parties are at fault here. The district and the administration continue to be, well, the district and the administration, and teachers now think it's ok to pull moves like these. I say that the district needs to man up, keep to their word, and be straight forward with the Teachers Union. They deserve that much. In addition, I think the Teachers Union needs to cut the crap and stop using pupils to their political advantage. It's not right. It's not ok. Be truthful teachers, you are not getting the students involved to benefit them, you are using them to get what you want, which has nothing to do with our education and has everything to do with the size of your wallet and the benefits you receive. Do I believe that teachers need a higher salary and more benefits? Yes, absolutely. But do I validate their current actions? Do I think it's ok to use students as political leverage? Heck no.

Playlist #2: Neo-Flapper

Imagine: Paris, 1925. You walk into a seedy, but sincere enough bar. As you step inside, you can't help but notice the place is a bit snappier and sharper than the rest of Paris, perhaps with an aftertaste of the modern era lingering in the background, despite the authentic people and fixtures inside. Your eyes are lined, your hair is swingy and swishy, and your silvery sequined dress shines brightly in the dim light of the smoky bar. The skirts are short, the heels are high, the liquor is pretty loose. You have a drink in one hand, a cigarette in the other, and a F. Scott Fitzgerald look-a-like chatting you up with his witty tongue and sparkling eyes. What's the band playing behind all the hub-bub?

They are playing this playlist.

Fangirl: A Book Review

Rainbow Rowell really did it... She stole my heart!

Fangirl is such a teenage girl book, such a fangirl book, and such an amazing, enrapturing story! 

It's doesn't have a lot of intellectual prowess, and not a lot of thinking power is needed for this book. Purely a fluffy, fun read. But with all of the heavy analyzing required for mandatory school readings, fluffy readings are right up my alley.

It basically tells the story of two identical twins, Cath and Wren as they enter their freshman year at University of Nebraska. Cath & Wren were super-fangirls for the fictional Simon Snow series (it's basically like Harry Potter with vampires in the mix). They do the whole fangirl bit, and they write fanfiction too. Turns out Cath is brilliant at writing and is supremely internet-famous for her Simon Snow fanfiction, written under the pen name "Magicath." But once they enter Uni, Wren grows out of fangirl-hood and becomes your stereotypical drunk college girl while Cath is still desperately stuck inside her awkward self.

As the story progresses, the twins hit many bumps in the road, especially having to deal with their eccentric, overworking single-dad and the whole deal with their elusive mother (don't want to spoil the deets). Not only does Wren branch out, but so does Cath, especially in the boy department. Cath basically in a weird place with these two guys she meets, Nick and Levi, who are both cute and charming in their own ways, and she has to choose what is best for her: a life alone or a life with someone special? On top of all that, she is major struggling in her Fiction-Writing class. You'd think fiction writing would be a no-brainer for someone who writes tens of thousands of words of fanfiction, but she butts heads with her professor and faces another choice: giving up/staying in your comfort zone or treading in uncharted waters/being fearless?

This book was pretty damn good on a lot of levels. All the subplots were just awesomely weaved into the main story. The fangirl elements really pulled the story together and just made the story more relatable! The relationships were actually believable. None of "all-this-sugary-syrupy-sweetness-gave-me-an-actual-headache" relationships happened. There were sweet moments, romantic moments, rough moments, awkward moments, and just an overall great depiction of the trials and tribulations of a relationship (or, at least, what I think happens during a relationship). The guy Cath ends up with is just wonderful, and he's believable enough to make you hope that there's some guy like him out there for you.

The only thing that disappointed me was the ending. I felt that it was a bit rushed, and maybe a little incomplete. But then again, maybe I was just a bit unsatisfied with the ending because I wanted more. (I really didn't want the book to end!) Perhaps both factors are at play.

Despite the ending the book is worth the read. For fangirls, it's an absolute must! It's so adorable, you'll love it! For non-fangirls, just give it a shot! It's a good book all around, truly for everyone...

And I'm still buggin' about the cover art! So pretty! The illustrator is Noelle Stevenson, AKA "gingerhaze" in the tumblrverse. She does many other fandom-geared doodles and even does some pretty legit art and comics! You can check out her stuff here.

Sherlock/Doctor Who Cross #lovethistoomuch

JUST READ IT, OK?

Playlist #1: City Slickers

Imagine: You are walking on a bustling city sidewalk, somewhere between 7:00-8:00 AM. It's slightly foggy and the brisk wind is blowing right onto your cheekbones (think London or Manhattan). You've got your fabulous (and warm) coat on over your soft cashmere sweater and skinny jeans. A big, comfy, and chic scarf is covering your neck, and you can hear your high-heeled boots making that wonderful sound it makes when it hits the pavement. You've got a large latte in one hand, your iPhone in the other, your big ol' "It Bag" is tossed over your shoulder, and earbuds are in your ears. What are you listening to? 

You are listening to this playlist.

Broadcast Journalism: The Red-Headed Stepchild?

Newsroom Porn: The BBC Newsroom in Central London

Control Room Porn: BBC's Control Room

Writing in this little blog of mine is so much easier than writing college supplements, so much easier.

Alright. With that little confession out of the way I wanted to get something off my chest. I'm sad to say it, but I think, especially in this time of this era, that print is dead. (Not to me, I still read newspapers like crazy. I mean in the general public.)

Which is why I was tremendously puzzled when my broadcast journalism advisor stated that, "Broadcast is the red-headed stepchild of journalism."

Uhm... excuse me? What? What? What? What? I'm not quite sure I was catching his drift.

I couldn't help but feel a bit weird when he said that. It was like being told that you weren't the center of the universe for the first time. Like you were being told that Santa and Faeries and Unicorns weren't real (I believed in all that shit when I was little). Like realizing that despite the fantastical worlds that were in your head due to books and daydreams, they were all fantasies. 

Needless to say, It burst my bubble a bit.

But I found this kind of haughtiness and attitude that favored print in other places. In Newspro magazine, in internet comments regarding different J-Schools, etc. My question was: Why?

It's obvious to me that broadcast is superior, on multiple levels, to print. I thought it would be obvious to other people as well too, but apparently not. Let's take a look at the facts: Broadcast undoubtedly reaches more people in a more "reachable" format. People watch the news everyday. It's more informative as well. Instead of looking at a picture of the event, you have actual footage of it happening. Instead of reading the words that someone supposedly said, you have the ability to hear it from the horse's mouth and to see their mannerisms and expressions as they are saying.

Why are broadcasters the "stepchild of journalism?" WHY THE HELL ARE BROADCASTERS "RED-HEADED?" I don't understand. I can't even begin to compute this quotation! "Stepchild?" Really? That kind of talk is basically saying that broadcast is separate from journalism. We don't even get the coveted title of "daughter" or "son" or "sister/brother." We are the "stepchild."

Broadcast journalism is real journalism. No matter what anyone says. Sure, print has more history. Yes, I am very aware that CNN was not present during the Revolution. I am also very aware that Ben Franklin didn't intern at KCAL Local News, but his brother's printing press. I know, I know. But broadcast has made lots of strides in history as well. The JFK assassination, Queen Elizabeth's coronation, countless other milestone events: covered by lovely broadcast journalists. Broadcast is also lucky enough to have some great journalists in it's history as well: Walter Cronkite, Fred Friendly, Tom Brokaw, and others that have transcended our past and present.

I know how broadcast journalism looks today in the eyes of Americans. I'm not blind nor am I stupid. We see politically fragmented cable news networks. Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, and others caught in partisanship who will say and do anything to get their numbers up each night so they can keep advertisers in their wallets. But that's not what true journalism is. That's not what it used to be. 

Here is the opening scene from "The Newsroom" to give you a bit of journalistic and American nostalgia. (This made cry, I'm not going to lie to you.)

My point is that broadcast is a bit of a mess right now, but we will rise above the partisanship and the messy political games, and we reclaim the first and only virtue of journalism: the truth. (and that Broadcast Journalism is way better than print. It is fact.)

Broadcast Journalism For Life
#BJ4L

Book Club #1: Fangirl

This book is actual gold. I'm about 200 pages into this 433 page beauty. I highly recommend you read this! To all my fellow fangirls out there, it is completely and utterly relatable. Even if you don't consider yourself a fangirl or don't know anything about fandoms or fanfiction, it's such an adorable coming-of-age story. I think it's especially suiting for seniors, considering the whole tale is about the main character adjusting to college life as a freshman, in a whole new and unfamiliar space.

ADDED BONUSES:

- There are cute guys in the book, and cute relationships

- There are realistic awkward moments that we can all relate to (but not "second-hand embarrassment" awkward)

- There is cussing in the book (FINALLY! An author not afraid to utilize all of the English language and use teenage slang to make her book realistic!)

- The cover art is pretty darn bomb

Just read the book, ok? I'll do a proper book review once I'm done with the whole thing!

Why Does It Matter?

It was leading up to Halloween. I wanted to dress up like Lieutenant Uhura from Star Trek. Why? I absolutely adore her. If I could trade places with anyone in the sci-fi universe, it would be her. She's all smart and sassy and just awesome. I thought it would be the perfect costume. I have the boots she wears, and I could easily re-create Zoe Saldana's look with the long, sleek, black ponytail and the sharp cat-eye liquid liner. (If only I was as pretty as Zoe is... sigh) She's also chief communications officer on the Enterprise, and I run the sound board during the live broadcast of my school's news program. I know it's not the same, but we both have headsets and play with switches, buttons and lights on a high-techy board, manipulating sounds and stuff like that. I was so pumped about it.

But then, my friend and my mom talked me out of it. They both said I would look "dorky." They both had absolutely good intentions. Both were looking out for me, I suppose. So, I obliged and caved, and I didn't get to be Uhura for a day. I reasoned that no one would know who I was, and I would be the only person clad in Star Trek gear.

But I was so, so wrong.

I walk into AP Bio class on Thursday, and, to my surprise, my teacher was dressed up in a Red Star Trek Engineering costume. The dress, the boots, the everything. Turns out, all the math and science teachers were in Star Trek apparel. It was like being on the Enterprise. Then, the Star Trek theme song started chiming from the PA system.

I was beyond bummed.

The Trekkie spirit was all around me, and I wasn't even wearing a costume! Just some yoga pants and a sweatshirt. To be completely honest, I was a little heart broken. I couldn't believe I caved! Why did I do that?

Was it because I was afraid of what people would have thought? Most likely.

As I was talking about the costume more and more with my friend about 3 weeks before heart-breaking Halloween was thrust upon me, she started asking questions like, "Why are you so into Star Trek all of the sudden? How long have you been obsessed with Star Trek? Do you watch the TV show? Why do you like it so much?" Those questions made me extremely uncomfortable, and she kept asking them. Again, she asked with good intentions, but I just wanted to scream in her face "Why does it matter?"

In consequence, I chickened out of the costume because I didn't think I was like "Trekkie" enough to pull it off.

But in all honesty, why does it matter how my liking for Star Trek started? I felt like she was questioning the legitimacy of my liking for Star Trek. It made me feel defensive and awkward. I didn't expect such a strong reaction from myself, but I felt it nonetheless.

I'm going to fully disclose the origins of my "fanhood" for all things Trek: It started with the movies. I loved them. I started to get more into it from there, watching the original TV show, window-shopping for merch, following some lovely tumblrs. I bought my Red Star Trek Engineering phone case from ThinkGeek.com back in September. I picked red because it matched Uhura's dress. So, I mean, you could say that I'm not an OG fan because I started liking Trek from the blockbuster movies, but I personally don't think that makes me any less of a "fan."

Now that I think about it, a lot of things that I am now a fan of are due to "late" jump-ins. I jumped on the Sherlock wagon a bit late. I hopped in the Doctor Who fandom extremely late. But that doesn't make me any less dedicated or make me like it for all the wrong reasons. Some people might even presume that I'm liking all these geeky things because it's "cool" to be a "geek girl" now. That's total BULL. I'm not a part of these fandoms to boost my self-image. If anything, I'm in these fandoms because I want to escape myself and the world I currently inhabit.

Plus, I really don't think a "fake fangirl" would buy a Trek phonecase, a TARDIS scarf, make a paper Who-Lock TARDIS for her desk, and break 5 needles while hand-sewing a red buttonhole on her peacoat lapel so she could have matching red buttonholes with Sherlock Holmes. 

My point is: No one has the right to question why someone does or doesn't like things, and no one has the right to make you feel inferior about your legitimacy in your fandom of choice.

I'm a fangirl. I maybe semi-new to this fandom world, but that doesn't make me any less of a fan than the next person. I am a Trekkie, a Whovilan, a Sherlockian, a Hiddlestoner, a Pine-Nut, and a member of the Cumber Collective. And I'm damn proud.