Monday, August 18, 2008

I Loathe Pwer

I hate being told what to do. This has absolutely nothing to do with what I've written before, but as I am in a foul mood, blogging helps.

I am rather positive that I am not the only one who feels this way. I hate the fact that parents can tell their child to do whatever it is they wish to do, regardless of the child's own feelings or want. While this is usually a good thing, after all, young kids don't know enoughy of the world to make smart choices, I disagree with the idea that 17 or 18 year olds be treated as young children as well. I believe that by that time, not only have they garnered the ability to think for themselves, or at least attempt to, but they are also not one to stand by idly and do something that they themselves do not firmly believe in or want to do.

In my case, I refuse to audition for something that I have been in for years, just to make it to a higher section. I play my instrument for the joy of playing it. I don't play it to say, "Hey, look at me, I'm better than you." It's true that beginners are not always as good as those who have been playing for longer than they have, but I see no point to shove that in their face. I also refuse to audition when the director knows my playing talents as well as the fact that there is never anyone other than myself in my section. That's a rather easy choice even without an audition. Add in the fact that my section has no different points, and presto! I see no reason to audition. Of course, there's also the fact that I haven't had to audition for years, and my parents have never raised a huge fuss about it. It appears that all that history goes out the window once the idea of a easier and harder orchestral split comes into play.

Now, I love to play complicated music that challenges me to work harder and become a better musician. However, I refuse to be forced into auditioning for a harder orchestra when I do not want to. I'm all for a harder orchestra. Hell, I've been wanting one for years. But I don't like being told that even if I don't want to audition, it doesn't matter because I wil. That's where I draw the line.

And you may be asking, "Why would you not audition? Isn't this what you wanted?" And the answer is quite simply: Yes, I wanted this. But not when being forced into it. I am a busy person. I am involved in many activities, and as such never really have free time. My friends can all attest to that. The original orchestra is two hours long, and the harder one would be only one. But when you add in everything else I do, it really piles up. The smartest thing to do would be to drop something. And since I already play in bands at my school, my logical choice would be to drop whatever would be redundant. And see, I would rather not drop it. It's my last year with it. Kind of sad in a way. But if I'm being told that what I want has no say concerning it, and that I have to do it, and that people already assumed I would audition and be in the harder orchestra, that's when I feel the need to stop and dig my heels in.

I'm all for free will. And if doing something that imposes itself on my free will, then I'm not a happy camper. I don't think anyone would be. So, to make a long story short, I disagreed, rather loudly, that I was going to audition, and instead of ending in the familiar stalemate, it ended with my parents blackmailing me. If I don't play for one, then I don't play in my school band, which happens to include the marching band, which is my life from summer till January. So we are at an impasse: Either I do as they say, or I do what I told them and I loose my music. Most of my friends know me to be an extremely stubborn person who hates being ordered around, so chances are I will not audition. However, I can most ardently promise that I will not give up my music without a fight. No matter what.

Anyways, sorry about this little, or not so little rant. I'll be sure to post something literary soon.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

The Power of Music

Music is a powerful thing. You may be thinking that you already know that, but have you ever really thought about the power this can give to people? Why do you think countries play patriotic music before sending their soldiers off to war? Because it pumps them up and gets them all ready to kill for their country. That using music to encourage nationalism. Hitler used it. Other than the fact that he was a great orator, the Nazis also used music. They knew that they could use music to sway people, to get people on their side.

Has anyone seen Brokeback Mountain? If you listen to the music, you'll see-or should I say hear-that the music is all beautiful and amazingly loving when the two cowboys are together, but once they go home and are with their wives, then the music is unhappy. Yes, music has moods. Moods it inspires in the listener. So obviously, different music can be used to inspire different moods and actions/responses.

If you don't believe me, just listen to your own music. Put something in that's loud and hard to understand. Next put something in that's quiet and almost like classical. Which one was easier to listen to, and which one was it easier to relax too. Obviously, the answer would be the second style of music.

As I have said, music can dramtically, or not as dramatically, affect people's moods. This is something that people will always use, since it gives them power. And power is something that almost no human being can pass up. So we might want to be careful about what we listen to and where. After all, what's there to loose?

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn

Warning: This blog contains spoilers for Stephenie Meyer's new book "Breaking Dawn". You are forwarned. Do not read if you don't want it spoiled.




So, I know that I previously wrote how I like SM's Twilight trilogy-which is no longer a trilogy, but a series-but now I am ammending that. I just read "Breaking Dawn" and I was very disappointed. Overall, it was okay. A very nice read, and I will gladly admit that there were parts that had me laughing and wanting to re-readmany times. However, I dislike how SM changed the rules regarding her vampires. Previously- and I apologize, but I do not have the books to say which book and which page says this-SM said that vampires have no bodily fluid. If that is true, then how was it possible for Bella to get pregnant? It's not possible. In order for that to happen, Edward would need blood in a vital part of his body for that act, not to mention that SPERM is what causes people to become pregnant, and sperm is alive. We don't think it is, but it really is. So, if Edward is dead, and basically "frozen" at seventeen, wouldn't that mean his sperm is frozen as well, or dead? Just a thought.

And at the end when Nahuel-the other dhampir-shows up, it also goes against all her rules, because that means vampires are able to have children, or at least that male vampires can sire children with female humans. But once again, that calls for blood, and since SM already previously stated that they don't have that...Well, you get my point.

Also, what was up with Jacob imprinting on Renesemee? I mean, it's a bit akward imprinting on the half-human half-vampire daughter of your ex-love. And Jacob hates vampires. It's reather ironic that he imprints on a half-vamp, or dhampir. And really, Bella may have wanted him and her to be a big family, but his imprintation is a bit too much.

Moreover, Bella's transformation into a newborn was a bit of a letdown. Yes, her shield may be the reason that she is soo rational, and maybe it's because she was prepared, but the fact that she barely had any problems, and when she did, there were nothing large, just seems totally unfair. I mean, SM made Bella into the perfect newborn, with almost no angst. That goes totally against all her vampire history.

Anyways, that's most of my problemswith BD, but this reviewer makes many good points with which I agree completely with.

I know my views might not please some of SM's fans, but it's what I truly believe, so deal with it.