National Scholar!

Of all the scholars we had to choose from, I found Sonia M. Livingstone to be the most interesting! She studied and received a degree in Psychology within the field of Communications. I thought that this was interesting because I am a Mass Media major and she works a lot with kids. I'm glad that she takes pride in teaching about Internet safety and the dangers of the online world. Kids are now exposed to a lot more stuff than when I was a kid ten years ago. She also is an advocate of directing younger people to healthier food choices. I can tell that she cares a lot about future generations and the greater being of our world.



This video below is Mrs. Sonia Livingstone talking about the opportunities and risks for children onine. To find out more about her resume and what she accomplished, make sure you check out this site: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExpertise/Experts/s.livingstone@lse.ac.uk

Tech Tweeting?

Rumor is there's an iPad coming to Verizon? Welp I guess AT&T's monogamous relationship with Apple's iPad has officially ended. Sources say that a wi-fi version of the iPad will lauch October 28th ranging between $630-$830. I personally think that it's a waste of money because there are many compact laptops that have the same features at a much cheaper price. I think apple is getting redundant as well. The ipod touch looks just like the iphone, and now the ipad just looks like a bigger version of both. Who really needs a touch screen anyway? I guess when it comes down to it, the tech savvy people will want it just because it's a new thing on the market.

For more information about the release check out this Washington Post article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/14/AR2010101404366.html

Beautiful Stranger

Beautiful Stranger
by Chanel Danette 11/30/10

Beautiful stranger,
my beautiful stranger,
too beautiful to speak one's name.
I find myself staring from afar,
waiting for you, to recognize my sole being.
Waiting for you, to recognize me.

See, I am a huge fan,
although it hasn't been that long.
I admire your ability to keep me longing for more
even though you've given me so little.
I wonder how I am infatuated with your smile in a matter of seconds.
In a matter of minutes,
I have given you my heart.
This is truly unexpected and quite strange.

I don't mind if you walk away though.
But if you walk away, keep an ear to my fading words.
Know that my heart skips a beat,
and I inhale your scent into my life.
Beautiful stranger,
please don't be scared.

I am the one afraid.
Afraid to speak to you,
for these butterflies will run you in a different direction than what was intended.
I am already planning on giving you what I see in the mirror,
so please don't take advantage.
You are the most beautiful of God's creations,
I believe I have fulfilled life's purpose.

The moment I met you, I knew I couldn't forget you,
a face, that lit me up inside.
I really don't do this too often.
Matter of fact, rarely did I think this could be.
Another human being is causing me to dream love's dream.
Take my hand because I promise to not let this go.
Hundreds of miles between us,
are only now a few feet to me.
Beautiful stranger, beautiful stranger.

Second Life

Is it possible to have a second life without having a first? It sure is! But wait, how is that possible? There is this virtual reality world that caters to your every need and provides you with a realistic life outside of your own.

Coincidentally, it's called "Second Life", and it is a program that was launched in 2003 by Linden Lab. The virtual world started out as just an idea that developed into a major three-demensional universe with over 18 million users or "residents".

With the ability to travel to different places, you can interact with millions of users and host conferences. You can also swim underwater, visit museums, attend an event, and so much more! The opportunities that Second Life gives you are endless and many use these experiences to their advantage. People actually partake in special events that they wouldn't normally be able to do in real life.

Like some other amazing features, the video below invites you to actually watch live performances and concerts in Second Life. So why pay money for expensive tickets to be pushed all the way to the back by crazy fans? At a concert in Second Life, you could potentially have a front row seat to great music absolutely FREE!

I know that when I first was introduced to this amazing new phenomenon, it was shocking to see all of the features it possessed. I was fascinated at how you can create a personalized avatar to fit your description and give it the qualities that you want it to have. However, I'm still afraid that people may get too comfortable with the program and not explore life outside of the computer screen. We already have enough technology that separates humans from interacting with other humans in a personal setting. Second Life can very well get too addictive, and too much of anything isn't good.

You can learn more about how to play at http://www.secondlife.com/

Heart Murmurs

HEART MURMURS
by Chanel Danette
09/15/10

Beating inside my chest,
its a pain I cannot cure.
What's the sound of love?
What's the sound of hurt?

Eyes will close so the tears won't fall.
The mouth will close so the heart won't speak.
What's the sound of love?
What's the sound of hurt?

Days go short and the nights grow long.
Winters are colder and the mid-summer breeze is crisper.
What's the sound of love?
What's the sound of hurt?

There's a laughter in my voice,
but a soreness in my chest.
Beating, beating, beating...
What's the sound of love?
What's the sound of hurt?

No Title

No Title
by Chanel Danette
7/30/10

I want to write a poem about nothing.
No meaning, no subject,
no purpose, no topic.
No adjectives, no hyperboles,
no alliterations, no rhymes.
This poem is strictly about nothing.
It means that it doesn't speak to an audience, it doesn't feel.
It has no way with words.
It can't be turned into a song, a love letter, or an essay paper.
It doesn't care that it's being written right now or saved for later.
It doesn't feel or determine a personal battle within.
It's just a pencil to a paper, a little piece of nothing.
It has no wounds to heal, or a voice of its own.
It can't be interpreted because nothing can't have a meaning.
It has no smile, no tears,
no laughs, no face.
And if you looked at it, it would stare back with an invisible blank.
No characteristics, no personality.
The inside is empty like...
(and I would put a simile here) but something can't be compared to nothing.
The funny thing is, although I say this poem is about nothing,
it's still pertaining to a certain someone, something,
thought, or action.
Because the poems that I write feel like I feel,
sometimes more than I feel.
And if this really is a poem about nothing,
then I guess this isn't a poem then.

Interrogation

Interrogation
by Chanel Danette 3/20/10

The first thought that crosses my mind when I think of you is confusion.
Creating a cluster of question marks that mark my path questioning if this is the right road to take.
Whether straight or curved, the road seems long and unbearable
leaving me with the isolated point at the end.
You lead me to believe in a lost cause with no effect.
Seems like a cause not worth hiking, or a shameless hike not worth the effort.

Or maybe it is like a game of clue or an episode of unsolved mysteries;
because in this version, the killer who punctures my heart is never revealed.
They are slick and sly and waiting to go in for the kill,
they are waiting to break my heart into pieces that continue to fall and shatter like broken glass.
Only to hit the floor bearing loneliness, no broom to carry it out or sweep me off my feet.

I often recall hearing a lot of "whys" about the "whos", "which" is us,
and "what" I really want to know is "when?"
"when" do i get my turn, i don't really care "how" it will happen,
you just gotta tell me "where" and i will be there.
Nothing is enough, instead you ask too much.
You are deemed unable to share your life, your soul, your being.
Instead there is too much confusion, too much static to focus on one channel.
You can either turn to a different station or view the black screen. It's your choice.

What you do share with me is the unveiling of a secret ingredient,
too secret that even the chef doesn't know his own recipe.
He is unwilling to try something new. Unfamiliar with creating a better recipe unknown to his kitchen.
So there is a pinch of unsureness added to the mix,
creating a spicy, yet satisfying, flavor that only you could enjoy.
For I find this taste bitter and not to my liking;
not what I expected.

So next time, I'll ask the questions and be confused;
for my certainty of you will have shifted and my judgement has become poor.
You will still ask me "how" and "why",
but turning the tables, I will be the one unsure.