Just a Thought

Our culture defines who we are. And if we are defined by our popular culture today, then we are turning into Montag’s and Millie's from Fahrenheit 45I...

I started this post when I saw miley cyrus's Icecream song on some website's top 20. 

I have no intention of trashtalking, but as an example, her first few songs like Nobody's Perfect.. One in a Million had meaningful things to say to people and left an indelible impression, which led to her rise to fame. And like many other artists, soon you see kids using hannah pencils... lunchbags... the entire line. She shot to the top meteorically and maintained a popular audience first by her talent but now by what? So far, she's written over 30 songs but how many do people really remember and how many are there just to fill the album tracks so there’s money to be made?

Remember a few years, months, weeks ago, we listened to Justin Timberlake, Fergie, and Christina Aguilera, nelly furtado, who are all 2006 news now. Their music used to be worshipped even played in the background of CNN news (haha), but they are history now, because they're all really talented products of the music industry. Unlike the jazz musician of 1920's, or hippies of 1960's, todays' idols don't have any history leading to their prominence, and so their music don't reflect lasting substance and burn out fast. It's just like really absorbing information for a test versus cramming and then vomiting answers onto the test. Real music, like real knowledge, withstands time. Our music isn't real music anymore.

The most meaningful things on TV also usually from previous decades. I remember watching Jackie Chan adventures,  Malcolm in the Middle, Boy meets world etc., and classics like Home Alone, Parent Trap, and School of Rock. But watching sit-coms on popular channels now, I cna't help but notice the mindless humor and storylines that attracts viewers with half-reality. I feel sorry for the next generation of materialistic kids who will be so much influenced by everything from secret life of american teenager-- to-- high school musical 1-2-3--infinite.

the chicken went BACH. BACH. BACH.

I remembered to practice piano today =]

Whenever I strike the first note on the piano, do you know what I usually hear?? First, like the beginning of a chain reaction, I hear a slamming door from my aunt's room upstairs followed by a pounding on the wall from my dad's room, and finally my mom's voice reminding me to "step on the middle (mute) pedal." It's not they don't appreciate music, they're just tired from a day of work =]

But nevertheless.. I suddenly wondered what my playing really sounds like, because when a person sits in front of the piano for too long, that person's ear starts going deaf and deceiving..that person.

That's why I recorded bach's italian concerto, just as a reality check. And gosh my ears overestimated its enjoyability ... more like "spot the mistakes" music =]

btw... if you ever went to the art website Ms. Puzo gave us, this piece is their background music hahaah.

imeem

Rock--on In Peace Michael Jackson

His death made me realize that this world doesn't deserve Michael Jackson.

Since the first time I caught a glimpse Michael Jackson in the yearbook, I've been scared to look straight at anything that resembles his face. But a person's eyes give away his true self, and when you look straight into Michael Jackson's eyes as he is singing, they aren't scary; they aren't the eyes of a pedophile or any of the unjust labels he suffered. His eyes are pure and innocuous. I realize I used to be one of  the people who didn't care for beyond his wrecked appearance or who he was as a person ... and that's really sad to acknowledge.

Call me musically retarded.. but until now I didn't realize how Michael Jackson's songs used to play in my parents' car, how I would convince my dad to play those songs instead of his English Classroom channel, and how I mulled over the beautiful lyrics in "Heal the World" .. without once finding out the songs' names.. or who created them.

Going back to his old songs like "Black or White" and "Earth Song," isn't it possible that all Michael Jackson wanted was one peaceful planet for all beings on earth? Whether his skin suffered a condition or he chose to have it bleached, maybe he just wanted to break a race barrier by becoming a bridge between the predominantly conflicting white and colored races. Maybe all he wanted was for his music to transcend all boundaries, and link the world together through himself. Undeniably, he really had achieved this because whose life hasn't been touched by him in one way or another? 

On a last note, Michael Jackson clearly didn't belong to our mundane world with his amazing vocal range, and imminent capacity for love, so in a way he had finally returned to where he really belonged. So don't RIP; ROCK in peace up there.

The SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT TEST ONE

Oh My Xanga, it's been exactly almost around 1year since I've updated, so here's the start of our reacquaintance:

  I got up at 6:00am for the SAT I today, and found myself arriving an hour early at the gates of a closed Diamond Ranch HS, no doubt a precedent for the rest of my woeful day. It's been a wonderful 2 years since I've thought about the SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT TEST, a self-explanotory test designed to bring our stress to its optimum level.

Morning in the high altitudes of DRHS was eeriely chilly. I located the supercharged group of  15 or so Walnut students huddling in twos or by themselves to insulate the cold (Amen! UNITED WE STAND!). I was relieved to recognize dear BY and anxiously asked him about directions; his words "I have no idea where I am.. but all the Walnut ppl are here" truly offered me consolence. That is some helpful advice!!

So without his help, I finally managed to find my way to F--207, which had an awesome view of the bushes down below.. colorfully embellished by wrappers of various Fritos Lays chips. Far away was a beautiful vista of the DR stadium, like gazing down from the tip of a cliff. I felt truly serene and at ease, until a girl beside me made an interesting comment: "I wonder if anyone jumped here before?.?"

Into the room, I could tell the proctor was awesome, but getting used to the cold was initially impossible, having worn a Hang Ten yeehee surfing t-shirt (WHATEVER happened to SUMMER SUNSHINE!!). During the test, my nose tickled.. and it became stuffed that I practically inhaled and exhaled air like a pregnant woman D: I so desperately need to blow my nose. Being an All American guy... the teacher classroom's didn't endorse tissues.. but that' okay! There must be a restroom close by! (WRONG) But that's not a problem! I have got my SAT Admission Ticket (EW.. I know.. but desperate deperate times call for desperate measures!)

The Awesome Proctor made the entire test smooth-sailing, but I have to admit something distracted me the whole time: this guy William. He was  such a replica of the first friend I made on my first day of school in U.S., Martin, that was my friends' name. It's been 5 years since seeing Martin.. who would have been in 11th grade now, about that height, and dressed that way.... everything matched..but WHY his name is WILLIAM?

So that's how I spent 3 minutes of about every section on the test hypothesizing, contemplating William's mysteriousness. just WHO is he?? During section 8 of the test, I finally decided-- he naturalized and changed his name (HA ENLIGHTENED) just like I might soon. The SAT canNOT show anything about my rational and pragmatic intelligence!

I can say that none of these mishaps hampered my performance on the test. b/c .it's really just like any other test: you get a prep book and stu-cram-dy for it. The only aspect review books really help you on is the Critical Reading, with its expert-compiled hot prospect vocabulary list--- haha so geeky right? Anyone can easily get aboe 750 on Math, and PWN the essay after AP euro. THere are seriously SO many historical examples to use. As for Reading.. Ch***ewewew will help you there, those 600 words might very well appear in 29 of the 30 fill in questions. So Michelle Abilitytofly if you happen to be reading this... (: