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April 2008
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Texting can be fun.. but equally frustrating. The little buzzer that goes off to let you know that you have a new text can be rather addicting, and, I am ashamed to admit, at one point in my high school career, I fell into the texting trap and would substitute actual phone conversations for a marathon of text messages. Text messages are ok under certain circumstances but should by no means ever take the place of actual in-person conversations. I wrote a poem about my many texting revelations and I hope you enjoy it! Textual Frustration ;-) What would I do without my cell phone? How could I survive? Waiting for a phone call, a ring, to rekindle the connection. They start lacking thought, but you give them unfailing affection. Where did the closeness and secrets lose your unflinching grasp? But it just isn't the same, and probably never will be- expectations sink but hope floats. You have tried to make the effort, to shove your way back into their life. They close the doors and lock you out, you are cloaked in remorse, embarrassment, and strife. What have you done wrong? Why have they made you feel this way? You try to be around them now but always fall short of things to say. How can this person, the one you have thought you knew all along be a stranger in your photographs, yet the memories you prolong. You miss that one you used to know, the one you did so much for. But sometimes you crash going down a one-way street, no matter how many warning signs you ignore. So the memories you cherish but the friends, they perish, and you need to realize that you can't change the way they feel or make yourself believe these lies. If they decide that you don't matter when in fact you do, just know that they are blinded by what they can't see and for that you should be through. You have done everything that you possibly can- it is up to them to do the rest and if they don't do anything, then pick up, move on, because a friend and person like you deserves the best! Recently, Chelsea Clinton exercised her right to remain silent after being asked a hard-hitting question at a college campus about how her mother handled her father's, former President Bill Clinton, affair with Monica Lewinski. She brushed off the question, rebuking instead with a rather defensive remark on why the person asked the question in the first place. While a family 'affair' is certainly a touchy subject for any daughter to have to deal with, it is all part of what comes with the territory of having a famous political family. Ms. Clinton should have known a question about her father's affair would be brought up, and she should have been better prepared to handle it, instead of beating around the 'Bush.' The interrogator, Butler University student Evan Strange, a Clinton supporter, said he only asked the question about the affair to 'show what makes Hillary so strong.' Granted, Bill Clinton's affair should not be at all one of the main focuses of Hillary Clinton's campaign for the white house, but Chelsea could have responded with more eloquence and a satisfying answer, instead of responding "Wow, you're the first person actually that's ever asked me that question in the, I don't know maybe, 70 college campuses I've now been to, and I do not think that is any of your business." I think her response to the question teaches us all a lesson. When you respond on the defense, it only makes everyone combative. It leaves the question unanswered, and creates hostile feelings for all involved. Ms. Clinton could have easily avoided the bad situation had she just responded with a vague yet respectable answer such as 'I admire for how my mom handled herself and held her head high during trying times for the family.' A little bit of courtesy and maturity can go a long way, and while Hillary Clinton handled herself well during the scandal of her husband's infidelity, Chelsea Clinton can learn from her mom on how to handle herself when being questioned. Like mother, hopefully like daughter. Houston, we have a problem. Candidates, we need a decision. As NASA's budget is being squeezed tighter and tighter and space exploration is losing momentum in our country while gaining momentum in others, the U.S. space program requires new focus and new funds. The 2008 Presidential contenders should carefully assess their positions on support and funding for the space program. It is a topic that is too weighty not to be considered as a factor in choosing the next president. McCain sponsored legislation authorizing funding consistent with the President's vision for the space program, which includes a return of astronauts to the Moon in preparation for a manned mission to Mars. Clinton's votes in the Senate have supported the NASA budget, and in an interview with the Houston Chronicle editorial board, she claimed that she wanted to "support the next generation of spacecraft for a robust human spaceflight program." However, she has not vocalized this viewpoint too loudly when campaigning in other states besides Texas. Obama, on the other hand, has suggested that NASA money might be better spent on education because 'actually sending bodies isn't always the 'best investment.' How can Obama expect kids to 'reach for the stars,' if he is proposing a plan that will cut funding for an organization that literally reaches for the stars? I believe that space exploration and manned space flights are education in themselves. Space exploration furthers technology development, creates jobs in the science and technology fields, and enables us to acquire valuable knowledge about the world and universe we inhabit In a 2007 survey, young Americans between the ages of 18-25 showed high levels of apathy about sending astronauts to the moon and Mars. What does the future hold in store for my generation if we do not seek knowledge, explore, sustain and grow our technology base and expertise? While government funding for NASA obviously hits close to home for Texans, NASA's mission is important to the success of our entire country. All great countries have been countries that have explored and searched beyond their borders. If we fall behind in the re-ignited space race, in future years, we will no longer be a 'great nation.' While Bush has laid out a commendable plan to develop a new spacecraft, Orion, to take flight in 2015, and to send a voyage to the moon in 2020 to build a lunar habitat, the space shuttle is set to retire in 2010, leaving an uneasy five-year gap in space exploration. During this time, China will also be forging ahead in an effort to go the moon. Some people think that NASA is merely a commodity. They argue that we have too many problems to deal with here on earth to spend money to propel a few select individuals out of the gravitational hold of our planet. Granted, NASA's $16 billion budget is a lot of money, but it accounts for only 0.6% of the federal budget. And, while it is true there are many important issues to deal with and many projects that need funding, NASA's funding compared to the $609 billion DOD budget or the $1.58 trillion budget for social programs is small. I can't bear to see my generation farther behind in the exploration of space than my parents' generation. Do we really want to be 'grounded' for the rest of our lives? In addition, by creating an international space program, the U.S. has brought together 15 countries around the globe to work on a complex engineering project of peacetime. The furthering of international cooperation and friendships are benefits of the space program that are frequently forgotten. In a time where anti- American sentiment runs rampant, it certainly wouldn't hurt to be working toward a shared goal with countries around the globe. They have an important stance to take on space exploration that should have a gravitational pull on the decision of all voters. After all, the United States has always been a country of action. I want a President whose courses of action aren't just 'wishing' on stars, but 'reaching' for them! So I am pretty sure if someone were to ask me my age tonight- as I was wearing my Hannah Montana t-shirt at the Rodeo with my friends- I would have told them I was five years old! We were definitely one of the older groups at Reliant Arena for the Hanna Montana show but we didn't care! Hannah Montana was AWESOME! And, so was Miley Cyrus! It was a two-for-one, one-of-a-kind concert! But, in the midst of the concert, I had some revelations about the 'Montana Effect' that has forever changed the tween girls of America. "We want Hannah! We want Hannah!," two little girls decked out in glitter and Hannah Montana gear screamed in the row below us as the lights started to dim. As I looked around the jam-packed Reliant Arena, I pondered in awe of how one tween could have an empire, and, with her fanatic following, I think it is safe to write that she could pretty easily take over the world. All girls were dressed like her at the concert, all girls were mimicking her every dance move, eyebrow raise, hair flick, and every girl in the audience tonight wanted to be Hannah Montana, or Miley Cyrus if you will. In the midst of 'Hannah Montana's clean-cut, yet diva performance, I sat thinking about how, perhaps the reason for the wild success of Hannah Montana, is because, deep down, we all wish we could live that glamorous double-life. We all wish we could be admired the way she is, yet, be so down to earth. Everyone wants the diva side of Hannah, with the southern charm, witty humor of Miley. It is so interesting how many girls at the concert idolized, literally, this celebrity, this pop culture icon, that isn't even old enough to rent an R-rated movie. One of my favorite parts of the show however, was when Hannah Montana turned into Miley Cyrus. There was a definite shift in the atmosphere as she showed her young audience that she was maturing into a provocative artist. Her dance moves to 'See you again' with her hip-shaking and smoldering eyes, clearly sent the message that she was ready to grow-up and couldn't stay in the perfect 'Disney' image forever. Same with all girls. We can be whoever we want to be, whenever we want to be. Just because our life- with high school, drama, sports, boys, and everything that comes with it- may way us down, a change of a wig, an outfit, or an attidude, may be just what we need to release our inhibitions so we can truly have 'the best of both worlds' as Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus would sing! -- Meredith Baker's Fundraising Page It is the same story, with different names, and it is the third time it has happened within the last twelve months. A young disturbed male, intelligent but angry at the world, makes a name for himself by taking others out and going out with a bang. Continue reading "Meredith: Honoring the victims, instead of covering the killers" "Ah I can't believe it is 2:30 a.m.! I wanted to be in bed by 10!" I thought to myself last week as I was running on empty and two energy drinks. 'How did this happen? I still have my math homework to do, I was going to read ahead in english, I was going to call my granparents to check in, where did the time go?' I pondered as a stared blankly at my physics textbook. Enter art of procrastination. It consumes my time and takes as much effort to do as it takes to prolong. Continue reading "Meredith: The Cons of Procrastination" |
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