Its that time of year again! Sept 25-Oct 2 is the American Library Association's "Banned Books Week". The idea behind this is to inform people about the efforts made to censor books. This week is meant to promote the freedom to read!
Of the top 100 Banned/Challenged Books of 2000-2009, here are the top ten: 1) Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling 2) Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 3) The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier 4) And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell 5) Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck 6) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou 7) Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz 8) His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman 9) TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Myracle, Lauren 10) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky For the complete list, click HERE!
The Harry Potter series has been my favorite since I was eight! If it weren't for J.K. Rowling, I may never have picked up a book!
If you're interested on learning more about ALA's Banned Books Week, click HERE!
I love how there are so many users on social networking sites. The friends I make online somehow vanish. Sometimes there is no real way to keep in touch. Even with the people in our everyday lives we manage to distance ourselves. Right now I'm listening to "One Week". It's such a great song. I miss the 90s!! There are so many cool references in the song. They even mention Sailor Moon!! I totally miss Sailor Moon. I wish they'd play it on Cartoon Network again, but Cartoon Network has really changed now. Plus Sailor Moon is such an old show. Hmm.. This song also played in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You. Here's the music video and lyrics!
"One Week" -Barenaked Ladies
It's been one week since you looked at me Cocked your head to the side and said "I'm angry" Five days since you laughed at me saying "Get that together come back and see me" Three days since the living room I realized it's all my fault, but couldn't tell you Yesterday you'd forgiven me but it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry
Hold it now and watch the hoodwink As I make you stop, think You'll think you're looking at Aquaman I summon fish to the dish, although I like the Chalet Swiss I like the sushi 'cause it's never touched a frying pan Hot like wasabe when I bust rhymes Big like LeAnn Rimes Because I'm all about value Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits You try to match wits, you try to hold me but I bust through Gonna make a break and take a fake I'd like a stinkin achin shake I like vanilla, it's the finest of the flavours Gotta see the show, cause then you'll know The vertigo is gonna grow Cause it's so dangerous, you'll have to sign a waiver
How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve I have a history of taking off my shirt
It's been one week since you looked at me Threw your arms in the air and said "You're crazy" Five days since you tackled me I've still got the rug burns on both my knees It's been three days since the afternoon You realized it's not my fault not a moment too soon Yesterday you'd forgiven me And now I sit back and wait til you say you're sorry
Chickity China the Chinese chicken You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin' Watchin' X-Files with no lights on We're dans la maison I hope the Smoking Man's in this one Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic Like Sting I'm tantric Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy
Like Kurasawa I make mad films Okay, I don't make films But if I did they'd have a Samurai Gonna get a set a' better clubs Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs Just so my irons aren't always flying off the back-swing Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon 'Cause the cartoon has got the boom anime babes That make me think the wrong thing
How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad Tryin' hard not to smile though I feel bad I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve I have a history of losing my shirt
It's been one week since you looked at me Dropped your arms to your sides and said "I'm sorry" Five days since I laughed at you and said "You just did just what I thought you were gonna do" Three days since the living room We realized we're both to blame, but what could we do? Yesterday you just smiled at me Cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie
So its a new year. I could fill it with expectations that I'll never live up to. But the smarter thing to do is take each day as it comes. Anything can be turned into an obstacle. I think at some point most of us have learned that its possible to survive even the toughest of times. A year ago... I didn't have the same responsibilities I have now. Funny how a lot of people only see the negative. The negative overshadows the good things we really have. Its midnight and I really don't feel like I'm making much sense. Hopefully I'll write something better soon.
Today I had two interviews for volunteering positions at two local hospitals. I was late to one, because I got lost. Why a hospital needs so many parking garages is beyond me. I was the youngest one there and the lady in charge gave me one of those dirty looks like I was some irresponsible kid. How much could she have covered in the 5 minutes I was late anyway? Regardless they took my application. The second interview went alot smoother. I'm pretty much in, I just have to submit a copy of a TB test and go through a background check! I'm a little excited. I can't do patient care but I figure the experience will be good. So far I'll be escorting patients at one hospital and either working with the newborn hearing screening or ER at the other. Its now or never to find out if I have the skills it takes to work in the health care field!
Ok, so I've been feeling burned out lately. Really burned out. School sucks. I mean I love it and I love to learn but I'm just so tired. I haven't stopped. I've been going in the Fall, Spring, AND Summer term for two years now. So instead of dwelling on the stress, I want to look foward to the future. In two years, I am definitely going on vacation. By then I'll be almost done with my degree and it seems fair. I've been researching the information for the Open Water Scuba Diving license and if I save up the money it could be possible...
So I haven't really been on My Opera since the beginning of the summer. Mostly because college has kept me busy! I suppose it doesn't matter much that I haven't been online. Life is crazy! It seems like we never truly get a break from anything. A girl in the area just died from the swine flu, or the H1N1, whatever. Just thought I'd add that since I mention it in an earlier blog. Anyways... I will be posting my short story soon. Just because I can and I figure someone somewhere will eventually get bored and read it someday. I didn't get a chance to go to the Blink-182 concert since it was on a Monday night. But my cousins and I got tickets for The Sounds, who are coming in a few weeks. Something to look foward to
I had the weirdest dream yesterday when I was taking a nap. I was with Adrian and the baby, but somehow the baby could walk and stuff. And then someone was chasing us and all of the sudden we were underwater like in an outdoor aquarium and we could breathe underwater. Then whoever was chasing us sent some white tigers (or are they lions? which ever they have at that hotel in Vegas) after us and the baby had a bow and arrow and was shooting at them. All of this was in that aquarium thing. Then we went into this meadow and someone had been killed there and there was a pond and unless you've ever watched Avatar the Last Airbender and saw the pond that they had in the Northern Water Tribe with the fish swimming around in it you probably wouldn't know what I'm talking about but it was exactly like that pond in the middle of the meadow surrounded by bamboo. Then we were being chased again then I woke up. Anyways... Nothing too new. I got all my requirements done and I sort of tried asking my mom if I can go to the Nine Inch Nails concert this month but I can only go if Adrian has the night off. Thats about it
So today I got Deathnote Vol. 2 And tonight I'm trying to cram all possible information about Venus, Mars, and the Jovian planets for my final. I got a grant and scholarship for both schools next year so all tuition and textbooks are covered. I just need to make up my mind. So far I'm 200 pages into The Count of Monte Cristo, only 1000 more to go! I made some tea just now but it doesn't taste all that great. My mom was watching some random show when "Tear You Apart" by She Wants Revenge came on and caught my attention. I don't totally understand what's going on in the show though. Everyone is freaking out about the swine flu. I don't know if I should be. It's serious everywhere and the news is just freaking people out, as usual. I guess I'll worry once a case of the influenza has been confirmed in my state. I guess nothing else is new. One month from today I'll be at the No Doubt concert Paramore and The Sounds are gonna be there too but I don't listen to them so I'm not excited about seeing them.
Today was long somehow. I got a new dress, which was great (except for the fact that I never wear dresses regularly). I can't decide if I want to wear it to Adrian's graduation yet or if I'm just going to stick with the one I originally picked out. My mom's friend is coming to visit. One of them smokes and its awful because I hate the smell. It gives me a headache Adrian and I watched Book Two of Avatar the Last Airbender today. We also went on IMDb.com and looked up all the people that do the voices on the show and its amazing how much some of them have done in a short period of time. I love cartoons and some of those people did voices in video games I've played (like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy X-2). I still don't know if I'm going to the university in the fall or staying at the community college one more year and then transfering. I've got the scholarship and financial aid approved for both and I've been accpeted, but I need to make my decision by June 1st Tomorrow I'm going to hang out with my cousin, which is great. I miss hanging out with her. Its weird when you move out and don't see the same people everyday. I went on to myspace last night and it was weird. Its VERY different from this one and it made me think about all my old friends and the way things used to be. Oh well There's about 33 days until the No Doubt concert!!! I got my tickets 6 weeks ago I bet its gonna rain or something retarded but it won't get cancelled because of the weather so hopefully the weather improves next month. I'm getting more and more nervous about finals... Guess I'll write more later
Darian just turned 3 months I'm so glad he's healthy and happy! I've been feeling kind of sick. Only 2 more weeks of school!!! Hopefully this week I'm going to start planning my graduation party with my cousin. It'll be great Not too much to say right now. It's way past my bedtime and I'm sleepy.
My Opera
