Giving Blood Is a Rush

I donated blood today for the second time ever, and I felt so good about myself afterward. The first time I donated I was so nervous and I refused to look at either the needle in my arm or my blood flowing into the bag. It didn't hurt too much but when I thought about the needle stuck in my arm it made me feel a bit panicky. But a few weeks later when my official blood donor card arrived in the mail along with a letter saying thank you and that my blood would help save someone's life, I made a mental decision that I was going to make it a habit of donating more frequently. Therefore, I waited until the two month mark when I became eligible to donate again and scheduled an appointment. This time around not only did it hurt less (I hardly even felt a pinch!) but I was done much quicker because I felt comfortable enough to squeeze my hand in counts of four to get the blood flowing faster. Most importantly, I felt very appreciated by all of the staff members.

Even if you don't like the sight of blood or are afraid of needles, I recommend trying to donate blood at least once. You may be surprised how easy and painless it is. According to the American Red Cross website, there is someone every minute of every day that is in need of blood. Another statistic that was rather shocking to me is that only 3 in 100 Americans donate blood. I am happy to say that I am one of those 3 and that I am helping someone in need. If you're looking for a place to donate, go to Red Cross's website, type in your zip code, and it'll pull up several locations on any given day that are holding a blood drive.

My new contribution to society will now be donating blood every 2 months. Like I told the volunteers at the blood drive, I'm young and healthy, I have no excuse not to donate!

Film Review: Letters to Juliet

I saw Letters to Juliet last night. It was alright, just your typical romance film. It was also predictable, like most romance films. Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, is a pretty cute, non-threatening character. She was made out to be such a push-over in the film, which is the only reason why I really wanted her to have a happy ending. Although the other lead character in the film, Charlie, played by Christopher Egan, is pretty cute with his blonde hair, clear complexion, and beaming blue eyes, he wasn't a very interesting character...or maybe he's just a bad actor. I saw an interview with Seyfried and she said her favorite scenes were with Gael Garcia Bernal (who played her fiance Victor), so apparently Christopher didn't shine on or off the screen.

Other criticisms I have are that there were a lot of car scenes that simply showed Charlie softening over Sophie every time he creepily viewed her from the rear view mirror. I found myself a little bored throughout the movie. Finally, the ending with Charlie climbing the vine to reach Sophie was corny. I was surprised when Sophie confessed her love for Charlie even though he was a rude and uninteresting ass throughout the entire movie. (This is where our society gets the overuse and undeserving use of the L word). I also wanted to laugh out loud when Charlie predictably fell from the vines as he leaned in to kiss Sophie. Wouldn't it have been a nice twist to the Romeo & Juliet re-enactment if Charlie would have broken his neck just after he and Sophie established their mutual love for one another?

Overall, Letters to Juliet was cute, but I could have went without seeing it at the theater. It did make me want to drink some wine though after seeing all the beautiful Italian vineyards.

My film rating: 2/5

Victoria's Secret Goes Major League

I lovelovelove Victoria's Secret new Major League Baseball Collection. I think the Pink Collegiate Collection did so well that they figured a MLB Collection would do well also. Unfortunately, my team, the Detroit Tigers, did not make the list. The collection consists of the following teams: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals. I have a feeling that if the Pink MLB Collection takes off, they will expand on the number of teams, just like they did for the number of schools for the Pink Collegiate Collection. Anyway, I think VS made a smart business endeavor. What girl wouldn't like to go to a ball game rocking cute sports team memorabilia that is actually made for a girl's body? Now come on VS, bring on the Tigers!

College Or No College?

I read an article in NYTimes yesterday about how going to college may not be the best solution for everyone. While I do agree that some are just not "school" kinds of people, the article does report statistics that the majority of those with college degrees make more money than those without degrees and that their chances of being unemployed is less. That to me makes sense because if students are going to school for a few years to become knowledgeable about certain topics, and they are paying thousands of dollars in the process, they should be rewarded for their dedication, time, and money put into furthering their education with a good job afterward. I sometimes shudder when I think about how much money went towards getting a dual B.A., but I just have to hope that it will pay off eventually.

Today, I think it has become not only increasingly important but also almost expected of young adults to continue on the path of achieving a college degree after graduating high school, but I also understand that not every benefits the same amount by continuing school. While a college or university can help culturally enrich lives, cultivate new, open-minded outlooks, and serves as a great place to network, others may argue that those who go straight to the workplace are more prepared for what it takes to live in the real world. I understand that becoming a part of the workforce helps to develop a whole new set of problem solving skills that may not be achievable in the classroom, but I really think it just depends on the individual and how he/she makes use of the time out of school in order to make the claim that the individual gained more than a college student.

While it's difficult for me to understand why one wouldn't want to stay in school for as long as possible (partly because I am a nerd and like learning and partly because college is so much different than high school, it is like a whole new experience), I do think that one who does not attend can still be successful as long as there is determination and self-discipline to make use of that time.

In the Times article, Morton Schapiro, an economist who is the president of Northwestern University said, “I’m not saying don’t get the B.A. I’m saying, let’s get them some intervening credentials, some intervening milestones. Then, if they want to go further in their education, they can.” I like what Schapiro is saying here. Since job competition is growing fierce, it is important not only to get that degree but to also gain some "real" experience in addition. Building up one's resume while in college is ideal. Schools are now stressing those summer internships more than ever, even if they are unpaid, because experience is essential to landing a good job, not just the name of the university you attended.

I'm nervous about finding a job for myself, but the young adults to come are going to have to be even more intelligent and experienced. Yikes!

Controversy Over Short Film Revisited

Several weeks ago I wrote a blog about a police raid during the early days of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, and I said that the film may have been the Swedish film, I Am Curious (Yellow). I have been informed that although I Am Curious did cause quite a controversy, and was even banned in the state of Massachusetts, the actual film that was shut down was Jack Smith’s short film Flaming Creatures (1963), and it was actually shown by the Cinema Guild (CG), the oldest student film society on U of M’s campus.

It was January 1967, and according to an interview in the Fall 2008 Department of Screen Arts & Cultures newsletter (see pages 10-11) with film professor and Cinema Guild Faculty Advisor, Hugh Cohen, he was contacted by an Ann Arbor Sheriff and told not to show Flaming Creatures, only after CG showed another controversial film, Jean Genet’s Un Chant D’Amour (1950) two weeks before.

As can be imagined if a film running for a packed auditorium of students is stopped short, uproar was caused with the police seizure. Not only was the reel confiscated though, a few CG board members were also arrested after disobeying police orders not to show the film. On January 20, 1967 The New York Times reported that about 100 students demonstrated outside the police station afterwards. It wasn’t until over a year later that the CG members who had been taken to court for misdemeanors were dropped of the charges. Ironically, after the charges had been dropped, the State of Michigan published a report saying that the members shouldn’t have been arrested and that the film was much too dull to be considered pornographic.

What I found most interesting about the information brought to me is the number of controversial films that were being shown underground during the 60s and 70s. I watched Flaming Creatures to see if the film was as provocative as had originally been described, and although it may have been considered to push boundaries in the mid-to-late 60s, it would be considered amateur by today’s standards. I was actually bored watching the film, and its filming was rather choppy and dizzying. It’s amazing how far we have come today in being able to exercise artistic freedom. It’s also incredible how desensitized people have become over nudity and violence. The quick flashes of breasts and intertwined legs in Flaming Creatures that was deemed too sexual a few decades ago would be seen as trite today.

It’s fascinating how much of the history embedded in the clubs and organizations on U of M’s campus are concomitant with the changing views and practices of the general public during those times. It just goes to show that Michigan has always been on the forefront when it comes to taking an active role in the issues about which they feel strongly. Even when negatively deemed rebellious, and sometimes even faced with more serious consequences (like jail), those involved with U of M do not back down from voicing their opinions. It seems that Michigan students are often a step ahead in movements of change, and that is something to be proud of.

Feeling Nostalgic

After having moved out of beloved Ann Arbor, my home for the past four years, I have become a bit nostalgic thinking about all of the things I enjoyed about that college town. Therefore, I have composed a list of the things I miss most and will never forget about my time there.

1. The University of Michigan- I have so much pride for my alma mater. Obviously that was the main reason I was living in Ann Arbor to begin with, but the University became something much more to me than a place of higher education. There are several professors and several courses that opened my eyes to various issues and topics and got me thinking about things differently. I also met a diverse group of people all intelligent in different ways.

2. The Michigan Daily- Ah, The Daily. I probably spent more time in the Student Publications Building than my actual apartment. Not only did I work there but it was also a nice study-spot. Working for a student-run newspaper was a wonderful experience and will be a useful stepping stone into a future career.

3. Campus Squirrels- They are plump, cute, and practically domestic. I had so much fun feeding the squirrels in the diag and the squirrel that lived by my house, Chewy, that I would often catch in our tree eating whatever goods my neighbors left out for him. I doubt I will ever come across squirrels as fearless (and well fed) as my critter friends in Ann Arbor.

4. Afternoon Delight- By far my favorite breakfast spot, even more so than Angelo's. I always ordered the same thing whenever I went there, but I appreciated the several vegetarian options available. What I also really like about Afternoon Delight is that they are pretty fast even when they have a line to the door, and their food is reasonably priced.

5. South University Bars- Being able to walk home from a night of drinking was marvelous and something I probably won't be able to do again unless I live in the city. Taxis can be pretty expensive, so I'll always remember the good ol' days when I didn't have to worry about who would be my designated driver and where we were going. S. U. bars were conveniently 5 minutes away from my apartment.

6. Frozen Yogurt- Although I will be able to get frozen yogurt anywhere in the country really, I don't know if it will ever quite mean the same to me. Frozen yogurt was often my treat that got me through a night in the library as sad as that sounds.

7. Urban Outfitters on State St. & Liberty - Nothing can beat being able to do two of my favorite things in one day: shopping and learning. Since Urban was conveniently located within walking distance from my classes, I would often stop in for a few minutes before shuffling on to class. The A2 Urban will always be my favorite because it was also the most organized and well-stocked of any of the other Urbans I have ever visited.

Goodbye Ann Arbor, you were good to me, and you will always hold a special place in my heart.

ASOS.com, I Love Your Style

I recently stumbled upon an amazing online fashion store called ASOS.com. They carry trendy clothing and accessories that look designer but at a reasonable price. I've been trying to find a new clothing venue for a while now to try to mix up my look and wear some pieces that I don't see everyone else wearing, so this is now my go-to place. The only thing I hate about buying things online is that you never know if the product is going to look the same in person, and you can't guarantee that it will fit right. In addition, the clothing on ASOS are all UK sizes. Therefore, you have to add four to your normal size ( i.e., 4 US + 4 = you now feel like a heifer thanks to the greatly differing UK sizes). No wonder foreigners think Americans are fat...we are, and we simply devised a new size system to make us feel better about our measurements.

Anyway, ASOS.com has some pretty cool, up-to-style clothing. I'll let you know how I like it after my first purchase too!