Breaking Barriers

Jorge Ramos and María Elena Salinas

Today after my Spanish class I spoke to my teacher about Jorge Ramos, one of the best journalists in Hispanic television. He's interviewed just about the highest ranked people in the world like the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro.

On television it showed a clip of Ramos interviewing Chávez and Ramos was asking blunt and difficult questions. The president replied with anger since he "felt" he was being attacked but Ramos was simply doing his job by asking bold questions to receive a primary response.

I can only imagine how much stress he has in his daily life with the thought of needing to deliver good inquires to his interviewees. I, myself, panicked when I had to interview other students and my school's principle! I can only imagine how life-changing that moment must have been for him.

Another characteristic that attracts me to Ramos is that each time something major occurs in the world, where ever it be-- the following day the public can count that Jorge Ramos is already headed to the destination. Absolutely dedicated and inspiring.

I just found out he has his own book so next time I'm headed to Borders I'm going to try and buy it. I can only imagine if I'll ever reach that point in my aspirations of becoming a top notch journalist!

Pathogens Born Of Wormy Interludes

Incubus spiritually fulfills me.

I feel like such a hippie when I listen to them and I absolutely love it!

Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?

Green Day has finally announced the start of the North America Summer tour!!! They kick it off on August 3 in New Jersey and they're planning to play outside arenas this time around so we'll definitely receive fireworks at the end :)

I'm incredibly thankful that I know when dates will get closer to Cali and I KNOW how much to save up now! This is wonderful! I had been aching to go to a show but now this will pretty much make me stingy with my money. I want to have enough cash to hopefully hit three shows. I know I said earlier that I wanted to hit all of the Cali dates but I don't think I was being realistic. So, I know I'm definitely be attending San Diego and Los Angeles. I'm more than positive my Mom will be okay with it. Besides, she might want to come with me this time around. After all, she does enjoy Green Day's stage performances.

OMG and I have to notify my best friend of this news immediately! I must take her to a show with me since she hasn't been able to witness the amazingness Green Day gives off during their lives. Ahh, this is such exciting news that my heart is bursting with joy!

Hopefully there isn't a major band that tours close to LA this time around I wont feel tempted like I did with Dir en grey which I had to pass up either way. Although I'm missing them dearly too.

I swear I'm addicted to concerts. I told my friend that it was like a drug to me and I was addicted. I should probably go to rehab or something. Actually not really 'cause I still want to continue attending gigs. But at least it's a HEALTHY drug! And the adrenaline rush is amaaaaaaaaazing. It's euphoric!

My goodness I probably sound like a mad hippie! I suppose I'll stop rambling now.

Music is Magic

Music is definitely important in my life. Whether I'm in the shower listening to KROQ, while I'm walking down the school hallways listening to my iPod, when I'm working on school papers at 2 o'clock in the morning my iTunes is on, and when I'm in the car with my Mom, it's ALWAYS on. Unless I become bored and crave silence but that's rare.

A couple nights ago my mother was explaining to me that I've always been in touch of my emotions and when a sad love song streamed through the radio, I'd tell her to change it because it made me sad. My aunt told me a similar story a couple of days earlier. This probably explains why music has been so important to me in my life; maybe this also explains why music makes me feel the way I do. It's difficult to describe in words but music can definitely express it for me. Sometimes I'd rather say, "Here. Listen to this song. That is me right now."

Usually when I'm angry or sad I turn to music to vent. I eve made special play-lists on my iTunes concerning with my mood. I have one titled: Serenity and another 90's Flashback, and another Sunday Afternoon.

Not to mention, I enjoy quoting a lot of songs and there are songs that I can't wait to be able to quote such as Green Day's Coming Clean.

Seventeen and strung out on confusion
Trapped inside a roll of disillusion
I found out what it takes to be a man
Well,Mom and Dad will never understand

Seventeen and COMING CLEAN for the first time
I finally figured out myself for the first time
I found out what it takes to be a man
Mom and Dad will never understand
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME



I forgot the point I was trying to make. What a disappointment.

Gotta catch 'em all!

For a couple of days now I've been re-watching the first season of Pokemon on Youtube. Listening to the opening song brings back so many wonderful memories! From the start, the theme song was catchy, immediately appealing to young kids and it's STILL catchy.

I remember I'd come home from school and the first thing I'd do was turn on the TV to Kids WB and wait for Pokemon to come on. I'd watch it everyday with my cousin. We became so engrossed with the series that we eventually began buying Pokemon cards even if we didn't play the game. We simply enjoyed collecting them. I had some cool holographic cards too that my aunt would buy me.

I also had a game for my Nintendo 64 and I would play that for hours! In the beginning I would lose easily to my opponents but as I gained experience I was able to battle the gym leaders on my own without consulting my cousins for help. That was a proud moment in my childhood life.

Anyways, while re-watching the series I finally realized how long the first season alone is and I found out that Pokemon is STILL running and is on Season 8. I thought it was over already? Total mind boggling. I'm sad that I lost interest after the first season was over because afterward new Pokemon were introduced and Brock had left Ash and Misty and were later joined by Tracey. It just wasn't the same anymore. Besides, the new theme song for the Johoto Season didn't tickle my pickle. It wasn't revolutionary like the first. It's a wonderful feeling that I was able to relive and I'm thankful for that. I don't think I'll ever forgot about my infatuation with the first season of Pokemon.

To me Pokemon is like everyone's Harry Potter, hopefully that made sense.

It feels like trading brains with an imbecile

Listen


And it feels, it feels like trading brains with an imbecile... for real.
Yes I feel emphatic about not being static
and not buying philosophies that are sold to me, at a steal.
Just when you thought it was safe to think,
in comes mental piracy, NO!

MUN

Yesterday I finally attended my third MUN conference after my absence at Cerritos due to my sudden sickness.

Thankfully my partner was Vanessa who I've become quite close with. We weren't sure our teacher would let us be partners but in the end, we got our choice! Thank goodness 'cause Nessa eased my nerves tremendously since she would be the BS-er and I would be the one doing research.

This was our first time doing Security Council and our first time with VETO POWER! Luckily my school was able to get RUSSIAN FEDERATION instead of some other country. I was incredibly happy we got a good country because we got stuck with Sudan at the UCLA conference. Terrible country.

Nonetheless, when we reached our rooms I was surprised to see that our committee wasn't packed and it was only about 24 students. This made me more comfortable seeing we'd have more chances to speak.

Vanessa and I were so lucky to have North Korea's nuclear issue as our first topic because all of Edison's delegates were aiming for Yemen which Nessa and I completely disregarded since we figured they were novice topics. Haiti was our second issue we were to solve after our lunch but we were hoping it'd change once we'd return from lunch.

During NK's topic, I enjoyed myself thoroughly caucusing and sharing Russia's ideas for aiding this issue. However, I was pissed when another country took MY idea for a solution during her speech; since I mentioned it during caucus, EVERYONE began discussing checkpoints at major ports as a way to alleviate the situation. Next time I suppose I'll just leave it for my speech. Both resolutions were passed in the end.

Anyways, it was finally lunch and next thing I know a lot of my friends found Nessa and I so they just cut in line with us. We had a great lunch, personally. I ate two slices of vegetarian pizza, salad with vinaigrette dressing, and brownies for dessert along with water. It was nice chatting with my friends to catch up and see what shenanigans went on in their committees.

Nessa and I returned to our rooms and unfortunately the topic had changed to Pakistan, a topic neither of us had studied since we were so positive Iran or North Korea would be chosen. D: Nooooooo. We panicked for a moment but by that time we were so drained we didn't really mind on caucusing since we already made friendships with U.S., Nigeria, and the U.K. who were all awesome delegates. Anyways, in the end our resolution was vetoed by France. DAMN YOU! My friend and I abstained during resolutions to be FRIENDLY and NOT veto their resolution which was very similar to ours. It was definitely a low blow.

Our committee finally ended and we didn't receive a crisis or anything which was alright but I was curious to what would happen if we did. Oh well, I suppose there is always next time.

In the end, we headed back to their auditorium for the closing assembly. My school won one gavel and another certificate. I'm very proud of my friends that won!

Closing assembly


YEAH! VETO POWER!


Once I got home I ate a bit more, drank some tea, watched TV for about thirty minutes and then crashed and I woke up at 2:30 a.m.. After every conference I always find myself exhausted!

Anyways, I can't wait for the next one! I thoroughly enjoyed this event.