Final Blog - Angelos

If anyone has been following my blog and actually reading it (doubtful), they'd know that I'm a health nut and "Christian rightwinger". The part of me that is the rightwinger-ness has a big problem with useless, senseless government spending. The health nut in me has a huge problem with the way our country eats. Now, the health nut and the rightwinger are butting heads and creating conflict in me.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/12/obama-signs-law-requiring-healthier-school-meals/1

So, Michelle Obama had her husband, our president, sign a bill that will send $4.5 billion into the school system to improve public school lunches and breakfasts. The measure will attempt to make school meals healthier, and right along with Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative across the country, will try to reduce obesity in kids. The health nut says, "Right on! Government support!" The rightwinger says, "NO! There was a better, cheaper way that won't involve them!!!"

My mom is THE "in" to the health food world and what's happening. She told me a couple years ago that a mother in Minnesota (or somewhere around there) reformed her kids' school lunches to be organic, with healthy servings of salad and vegetables. Funny part is, is that the bill for the school came out 1 cent cheaper per day than before!

She received the information from a friend, who scours the internet and picks the brains of all kinds of doctors for information on topics like this. I know that this sounds all kinds of not-credible, but just walk with me for a bit here.

What if all of the nations schools implemented this program for 1 cent cheaper a day? 1 million schools would equal $10,000. There are probably 1 million in CA alone. What if that $10,000 went into organic farming/farmers who would provide food specifically for the local schools, DAILY? Or into local orphanages, to improve the foods there, DAILY? Or maybe it could be turned into scholarships at junior colleges? Hmmm...

Michelle Obama's initiative is a good start. I hope, for the sake of the rest of the world, that the initiative will include organic foods and plenty more salads, fruits, and veggies. I remember the cole slaw in school and man, was it nasty. I'd pick a salad with a nice balsamic vinaigrette over it any day. Or how about the tater tots? Greasy potato-balls that were only good if you dipped it in the ketchup, which was the only reliable source of at least decent flavor.

Tangent...

Anyway, I do know that initiatives to improve public school lunches have been around since 2004 at least. Marion Organics has tried, and many more. Perhaps this government boost will do just that - boost the efforts into something nationwide and tangible. Perhaps it'll even spread into private schools and junior colleges.

This is my hope, anyways. If this movement actually takes off and schools have better foods, it'll maybe inspire families at home to go organic. One thing leads to another, and I'll be willing to betcha that disease rates will decrease along with obesity.

Yay for health food! :-)

Final Blog- Banner

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/03/park51-building-ground-zero-mosque

There has been so much controversy over the "cultural center", "mosque", whatever you call it by, to be built in New York. The news has consistently pushed that it will be a multi-cultural center, inviting people of all ethnicities and religions into its gigantic gym, 9/11 remembrance room, and prayer halls. The proposed design for the front of the building is a honeycomb-like pattern, in which the Star of David is clearly seen. The article pasted above says that "rightwingers" and "Christian extremists" call the mosque a mark of victory.

There has been so much attack on those "Christian extremists" and "rightwingers" for looking at the record of history and determining that history only repeats itself, and that the muslim religion is not going to change its ways simply because one country (that it hates) has laws. Islam has left its victorious flag in every country it has conquered, over sacred sites and homes alike, and almost always in the form of a mosque.

If anything, this proposed "cultural center" in NY fits the bill. It follows the pattern. It doesn't seem to be anything different, except for the fact that they're calling it a "cultural center" and adding some features that make it more diversity-friendly, ploys to get better press.

I think what bothers me the most about the above article is the caption for the picture. It reads, "Park51 in an artist's rendering - the building had been dubbed the 'Ground Zero mosque' by rightwingers and Christian extremists, but is intended for multifaith and secular use". Well excuse me for calling a spade a spade.

Let's see... a building 2 blocks from Ground Zero, funded by Islamic extremist groups, implementing an Imam to run the center, whose grounds have been fiercely defended by a random rich Muslim whose faith has always, in the past, built a mosque as a sign of conquering a land.... is not to be called a mosque. That's curious.

This is one thing I hate about the press and about journalists (which is ironic, because I am one). They spend so much time researching the people involved in the story, to get the meat so the EIC can eat, that they usually don't research the PAST. You know, history 'n' stuff. Go figure.

Here is my personal belief: Sure, this mosque will be a great addition to downtown NY. People will enjoy the gym facilities, visit the 9/11 remembrance room and cry, and pray in its halls.

For a time.

I know I'm going to catch a lot of flak for this, but the way things have been boiling down in the last 40 years is insane. Nearly every bit of the pre-end-times prophecies have been fulfilled- we're basically just waiting on the antichrist and his army of passionate followers. And last I checked, the Muslims are waiting on their last and their greatest prophet. Or something like that.

How the heck does that tie in?

My belief is that, while it will be a cultural center now, it will serve a much different purpose later. It will not be the happy-go-lucky diverse building in 5-10 years.

I'll let your imagination run with that, whatever direction it goes.

Angelos Midterm Blog

There is an obvious abundance of women on the campus at California Baptist University. As I recall, for every guy that attends here, there are 2-3 girls to match him. Those odds make the "ring before spring" idea a little tough, and not just for the girls. Imagine being a guy on campus: how would you choose??? Most if not all of the women here are so beautiful, both inside and out. Very few of them have flimsy, bodiless hair, or pock-marked cheeks, the leftovers from a rough bout with hormones. This is what stuns me though: even the ones with limp hair and scarred faces arebeautiful. One look in their eyes, and what you see should encompass their entire being and your perception of them, both inside and out. EVERY girl has at least three physical features that are stunning, and if you can't see them, you're not looking hard enough. It could be their smile, their lips, their nose, or even something quirky, like their hands, their feet, or their knees. The latter sounds ridiculous, I know. But I met a girl once who had the most beautiful knees. Perfectly proportioned to her body, slender on each side of the kneecap, a pronounced kneecap that didn't protrude as if to stab you, smooth tone and even skin texture, and well moisturized. She attends Cal Baptist, but doesn't know who she is. I don't want her to know I'm her one and only knee-stalker.

I can also tell you that every girl can find at least one feature she'd prefer to change. For the whimsy hair-girls, it's body and volume. For the pock-marked girl, it a smooth, even face. For many girls, it's her middle, or her upper, or her lower parts of her body; and though we all have solutions and ways of changing these parts of ourselves, many of us don't take the initiative.

Moving back to my Cal Baptist maidens: Many of them wear makeup. Usually, it's in traces, and usually, that's all that I believe is needed. With a touch of mascara and a touch of blush, most girls are irresistibly lovely. Their loveliness doesn't negate us pock-marked ladies' insecurities, though. I have seen many a lass with a face like mine who don't realize that, with the right steps, their faces can look as smooth and perfect as an airbrushed model's. Or like Jenny Miner's. Like there's a difference.

Unless you're a Sephora junkie (like me), you may not know about the Prep-Prime-Perfect system of foundation. You'd be surprised how much of a difference a few simple steps can make.

Prepping your skin for makeup is, to some, a revelation. When someone washes their face, they strip it of some degree of moisture. Without that moisture, makeup can look cake-y, powdery, clumpy, uneven, etc. So, after you wash, put the moisture back. Find a good moisturizer that suits your skin type, and use it. No one wants a clumpy face. ;-)

Priming the face is actually a fairly new concept in the world of beauty. A primer* is a semi-liquid substance you rub onto your face after you moisturize and before your foundation. It does many things, such as smoothing out the texture of your skin (so your makeup looks more flawless), prevents creasing, and causes your makeup to stay on much longer, negating the need for frequent touch-ups. Many primers even have other functions, such as anti-aging benefits, anti-acne benefits, moisturizing benefits, or oil control benefits.

Perfecting your foundation has many steps, really. If you use a liquid foundation, put your concealer on over the top of it, not underneath. Patting your concealer onto your skin will achieve a much better coverage instead of swiping, as well, so try that technique. Be sure you always set with a powder, giving the foundation a fighting chance to resist humidity and sweat. If you use a powder foundation, don't be afraid to use ample amounts--just make sure you use a good brush designed for the deed, not a sponge or pad. Or, God forbid, your fingers. ;-) For concealing with a powder, be sure you have an oversized concealer brush, and use it in swirling motions over the area you want to conceal.

There you have it. Experiment with your makeup, find out the best ways to do it to suit your skin type. Don't take the art of makeup and make it a science--discover your method of art and get it down to a science. :-)

*http://sephora.com/search/search_results.jhtml;jsessionid=1ZKPHNUT34GLGCV0KRTQX0Q?command=text&attr1=primers&attr2=&%2Fcom%2Fsephora%2Fsearch%2Fendeca%2Fui%2FEndecaSearchFormHandler.search=search&_D%3A%2Fcom%2Fsephora%2Fsearch%2Fendeca%2Fui%2FEndecaSearchFormHandler.search=+&maxRecords=18&recordOffset=0&seeAllCategory=false&searchString=primers&x=0&y=0&_DARGS=%2Fincludes%2FsearchFinder.jhtml

Banner Midterm Blog

Prof. Pearson recently showed the Banner class an old film about the profession of journalism. It was filmed in the classic black and white, had the iconic shaky-camera problem prevalent in early films, and the picture was fuzzy. The male narrator's voice exuded the strength of the the 1930's, but the sound was muffled, as if someone had forgotten the microphone in the closet when they were recording. At one point in this film, that narrator addressed women in the workplace, saying that women typically "find it difficult to compete with men in general reporting jobs. So girls who want to be successful in journalism should prepare for work in the special women's department*." This department included society events, health, beauty, homemaking, cooking, gardening, and other "feminine" topics. I don't condone the video for discriminating against women (the video speaks of the time it was made in, not now), and I even want to praise the makers of the film, undoubtedly men, for admitting that women are far better at these tasks than men will ever be. Erick S. Gray** once said, "Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of sh**!"Now, I know this quote isn't entirely CBU appropriate, but I believe it whole-heartedly. Not to mention it's one of my favorite quotes of all time. As easy as it would be to continue rambling about how much greater women are [;-)], it would be more advantageous to talk about the actual midterm assignment; however, I couldn't do it without my introduction. I am the girl that the narrator was referencing; I love health and beauty. I love makeup, skin care, hair styles, hair care, lotions and tonics and nails and product. I love organic, natural, grass-fed, free-range, vine-ripened, pesticide-free, and stuff that people think taste like grass. I love sharing beauty tips, I love sharing health tips, and I love being innovative when it comes to home decor. But I am so much more than a shallow, blonde, SoCal airhead, the stereotypical prognosis of the fashion industry. I love controversy and sharing my opinion on tough topics, such as the mosque controversy in New York, the health care bill, Christianity in the world today, end time prophesy and its fulfillment, and Jesus. I tend to be a stubborn little spitfire when I enter into these kinds of debates--and if I work hard enough at it, I can write about it, always backing myself up with reliable sources and of course, the Bible. In fact, when I'm "lit up" about something--truly, deeply moved into a passionate state of mind--my writing+research morphs into a (freakishly not-me) force to be reckoned with. The only problem is that my opinions aren't the acceptable mainstream ones, so I meet a lot of resistance; some reasonable, and some so far off the deep end I'm not even tempted to throw a life ring after them. Some of the topics I enjoy most are so controversial, it could get me in trouble if I wrote about them. So, here I am, your temporary health & beauty connoisseur extraordinaire, at your service. Someday, however, I hope you see my name in the byline of controversial articles that make your head spin, your brain think, and your heart move.




* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rvBgaxUXrc
** http://www.urban-reviews.com/insideout-ericksgray.html

Banner Blog #1

How do you blog about a beat that you don't have yet?

In my previous post, the one for Angelos, I mentioned that the beginning of the school year has been psychotic. I can't help but admit that Banner has been a contributor to my headaches, heart palpitations, panic attacks, and my boyfriend's empty wallet; the man has to buy me chocolate and wine just to keep me sane these days.

I've written with the aimed intention of having stories published both in Health, Perspectives, and in News. Hi, could that be more diverse?...

Sadly, I don't think any of my stories made it in to this recent issue, but I feel accomplished at having written them despite the fact. One article was an absolute beast to write. I had to fight my personal opinions, battle through a hundred news stories, pick one angle out of a thousand I could have taken, and somehow figure out how to give a broad, general idea on the situation but leave out the millions of facts and happenings since then.

Did I mention I'm new to Banner? Mi loco en la cabesa, amigos.

I did learn that there are certain stories/beats that I enjoy writing, and that others could disappear forever and I'd hardly want to write even an obituary for them. Articles that involve creativity, such as How-To's, pieces on recipes, health articles, or if I could even write a short story that would be printed for, say, 3 consecutive issues...how cool would that be? These are the things that I enjoy, things that I love writing about anyways. To have them featured in a newspaper--I see you, byline--would blow my socks off.

It doesn't appear that it's going to be as easy as I had initially imagined this past summer, while I was preparing to come to school. I thought I'd take this place by storm, show them I can write, get my name in as many articles as I could in the short year I'll be here. Boy, was I wrong. I can write, yes, but not as well as I thought I could. (God is SO good at humbling you at the precise moment it's least convenient!) And go figure, I write two articles that I believed were going into one issue, and they're not. There is no woe-is-me here, though. I enjoyed the challenge, and I will continue to enjoy the challenge, and even if I get a hand cramp and die, I will be published!

Lofty thoughts, but sometimes, I wonder if I have the gumption. No no... I'm a journalist. I HAVE to have the gumption. It's going to be my job.

Because I'm a senior, yet a newb in Banner, my learning track is quite different than anyone else. I'm not lumped in with Freshman, because their learning pace is too slow for me to get what I need to done, but I can't be lumped in with the seasoned writers, because I'm not. The result: I do my own thing, I guess. I write, and if it gets published, it gets published, and if not, then Maryann will edit it for me.

So, my beat. I can't help but laugh when I think about me having a beat at this point. I'm so far from obtaining the experience I need to be an accomplished journalist, yet I have so little time to achieve so much. The only thing I can really do at this point is practice, just keep writing, and pray. Pray that I'm even able to get a job someday, seeing as my experience is so limited.

Angelos Blog #1

This year is weird. I say that in a present tense, not only because weird things are happening now, but because weird things continue to happen and will keep happening for the rest of 2010.

There has been little to be confident about, even in life, health, finances, residency, food, or otherwise. That is not how it usually is in my world. Usually there is stability, guarantees, reassurances, and security in all of the above. I wasn't even sure if I would make it to school this year or not, given how much I struggled for a loan. I worked hard for this, to be here at CBU--so much so I started the semester off exhausted, not exactly the ideal beginning to a semi-new life.

The pace hasn't slowed yet, either. The semester seemed to launch with more than just a kick start; in fact, it was a kick start with a jet engine/rocket booster attached. I'm surprised at how I've been able to keep up with homework, for the most part.

Just within these past two months I've seen three hospitalizations, two deaths, a broken car, and a pile of bills I'd rather turn into fire kindle. But you know what I've learned?

God is good. It's a phrase my mother keeps reiterating--God is good. God has provided for all that we need, though He is the one who determines what our needs are. He has been faithful to provide for me, faithful to usher in that check or that hug just when I need it. In fact, He's the only reason I'm even here at CBU.

I know this blog was supposed to be about reflections on our first few weeks of school, but every time I glance back at the past month, all I see is one wild ride in life, not at CBU. As much as I wish my education could be my center focus, all I can see are the struggles my family and I have seen, and most of all, how God has provided for us in more ways than we could ask for.