English 101 Blog Sign-Off

Well, this is it, my last blog assigned by my English 101 class. I have to admit, I am mildly saddened that this blog adventure is coming to an end. At the beginning of the semester, I was a bit agitated that we were being required to post a blog each week. I had never really been the blogging type. I guess I never really thought people would care what a simple guy such as myself would have to say about anything. I mean, when it comes down to it, the only people that will really read any of my blogs are either friends or those classmates of mine who are required to make comments on at least two of my posts. However, since starting these blog assignments, I have come to realize that making a blog is not so much about getting your opinion out there or getting your name well-known as much as it is an online journal (which is in a public forum). I believe that making a blog is more for yourself as a way to vent about something. Sometimes I feel so passionate about something that I want to just right it down so that I could possibly build upon such beliefs. Having a blog allows you to do that in a way that is simple and allows for others to gain insight to your thoughts if they feel so inclined as to look up your blog. Blogging gives you the chance to really explain and develop your ideas more-so than a simply status update on facebook. With this in mind, I think I have made the decision to continue to blog. While my blogs may not be as frequent as posting one every week as I have, when I feel passionate enough about something, I will blog about it. I believe that this can be beneficial to me. While I may not find satisfaction in having a certain number of followers, putting my opinions on an online database makes these opinions eternal. Given that I can remember what my email address was or my password, when I'm in my 30's, 40's, or dare-say my 50's, I can look back at my blogs and remember what was going on at this point in my life how I felt about them. So, in conclusion, I would like to say that it has been a priveledge and I would like to thank all of my classmates who posted comments and took the time to read what I had to say (even if you required to do so, it still means a lot).

Sincerely,

KP

Things to do at ISU

I imagine that visiting a place like ISU would be as similar of an experience as spending a weekend with a circus. Each person here has their own unique talents and skills, and while people here may seem a bit "freakish" and a little scary, for the most part they are all quite pleasant individuals. As I had mentioned in previous blogs, fitting in here at ISU means going as far as wearing a North Face zip-up. This kind of apparel acts almost as a in ID card or a pass which allows you to get into any party or frat as it shows that you're just another ISU college kid who's hip and cool. However, while there is an abundance of Greek culture and parties here at ISU, I would not necessarily recommend spending your entire weekend at a frat as the party scene, in my opinion is not very much different from the party scene at any other school. You're guaranteed to see the same sorts of guys who "chill" by the keg all night, there's always that same guy who is just way too into dancing, 0r those border-line "dirty girls" who have their noses pierced and are wearing far too much bronzer. These are all typical things that can be seen at each party no matter what school you're at. So if you really want to see what sets Illinois State and the rest of Bloomington/Normal aside from everywhere else in the world, I would recommend heading towards downtown Bloomington. While downtown Normal (which they just recently named uptown Normal) is also pretty sweet, it is currently going through some serious construction and would provide little more fun than you may find watching a puddle collect water. Anyways, as I was saying, downtown Bloomington is where it's at. This downtown area provides all the typical sorts of restaurants, bars, and shops that a typical downtown are would. However, one place that I have always noticed will give you a night to remember wasn't any of the sports bars. No, it was the local hookah bar, rather, that provided me with memories that I will hold onto and joke with my friends about forever. You see, on a Saturday night in downtown Bloomington, you are blessed to witness the beauty that exists in a college town, which is a great diverse population of college students all united with one common goal, to get waisted...oh I mean...to have fun. That's right, and while the hookah bar is not the common place to go buy alcohol, it is known to house all a manner of students and young adults who wish to have a relaxing smoke. At one end of the room, there will be a group of dazed and confused students who seem to be way too intent on watching a bad horror movie such as "Puppet Masters" or "Tiki Death!" At the other end of the room, you may notice a cult of goths wearing see-through shirts or who are bound by leashes to their girlfriends. Now I know what you're thinking, "ok...weird!" But if you can put your own preconceived thoughts about how a normal person should dress aside and actually take the chance to have a smoke and chat with these people, you will notice that each of them are all rather pleasant and polite. Sure, they may enjoy music about darkness and demons more than your typical Average Joe, but when it comes down to it, every one is there just to have a good time. Now while this may sound like something that you never plan on experiencing, I fully understand and would recommend any of the other multiple bars or restaurants in the downtown area as they are all equally accommodating and full of people looking to get happy.

Beers, Buds, and Babes

Today I would like to take some time to talk about music. Due to a recent release of Asher Roth's single "I Love College," I have been led to ask myself what direction music is headed as an art form. If you haven't heard the song, I would suggest clicking on the following link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43pkqeamXe8.
In short, the song is all about what Roth holds to be the college culture. The song has a pretty mediocre and steady beat, and the lyrics are not all that complicated either. The entire song is pretty much about how much Roth appreciate drinking, smoking weed, and getting girls naked. Now I know you may be asking yourself, "Big Deal. What makes this song any different from all the other musicians who sing about this very same thing?" Well, the answer to that question is nothing really. The only difference with this song is that it's being sung by skinny white guy. Then it occurred to me that this is where we stand today in terms of musical talent, or lack there of. Every time I here the new popular single that comes out each week, once again preaching about the joys of drinking, smoking, and sex, I ask myself how these artists can get signed to a label while true musical geniuses go unnoticed.
More and more it is appearing as though the demand for the next musical pop star is no longer for someone who can master a musical instrument, or someone who can promote the best ideas and values of society and culture. No, the demand for the next musical superstar, rather, is for whoever can come up with the next beat and easy lyrics for people to dance and sing along to while they're getting drunk. It's rare, and has become unnatural, to hear anyone singing about politics, race, culture, or art on MTV. This troubles me as I believed music held a place in the arts as a means for people to express themselves and their beliefs and values through song in the hopes of making a connection to their listeners. Now one may argue that artists who sing or rap about sex, drugs, and booze are expressing themselves by establishing the things that they enjoy most. And to that I would have to say that I don't know who then to feel more sad for, the artist who holds these things to be most important to them, or the listeners who feel the strongest connection to these songs.
Today, it seems that not only has the content changed of the typical, popular song, but the meaning of music has also changed. The word "art" seems to now refer to something that used to entertain us. When people hear of music as being an art form, they think of classical music or instrumental music. The word "music" now refers to what is most popular today. Pop has taken over the music label, placing all other styles of music into a different genre. Smaller, less famous rock bands don't fit into the label of "music" either. Instead they are now placed into the category of "indie rock."
So again, I must ask, is this the direction we are headed in terms of music as an art form?

An Outing of Shouting and Pouting

Upon the start of the school year here at ISU, I told myself that I was going to try and go to every single home football and basketball game that there is. However, my actual attendance at these sports events was far from frequent. Since being at school here, I think I have attended only two football games and one basketball game. While our basketball team was exceptional this year, making me feel very guilty about only going to one game, I can't really beat myself up over not going to very many football games as the team extraordinarily stank this season. Yet, despite their fualts, I chose to attend two home games with my friends in the spirit of being active in campus events and for the sake of going out to have a good time with friends. I remember the first football game I went to especially more than any other campus event that I attended because of how new and fascinating the experience was to me at the time. It was a friday night game and the opposing teach was Eastern Illinois. I was going to the game with 7 ohter friends, all of whom were seated in the "Zoo Section," which acts as the student section at all the home games. I however had bought a ticket late, after all openings in the "Zoo Section" were taken. So, in an attempt for all of us to sit together, me and my friends made a valiant effort to try and sneak me into the stands. Each one of them approached the ticket-checking Nazi while I attempted to slip past unnoticed. However, the ticket checker had eyes like a hawk and promptly told me to turn back and sit in my assigned section. So instead of sitting where we all hoped, me and my friends found a bench that we could all fit on in the guest section (which was all ISU students anyways) and proceeded to watch the kickoff. Now for me, my memories of the rest of the game is kind of a blur. It seemed as though we were all paying more attention to each other and to the drunk fans around us than to the actual game. This is one thing that I failed to mention earlier. I guess that the popular thing people like to do before an ISU home game is get decently drunk, go to the game, get subway afterwards, and then go to your respected house or apartment party. So as my friends and I stood there trying to pay attention to each play and each down, it became too hard not to get distracted by laughing at the rediculous comments or shouting from the drunks behind us. I remember that for most of the game, ISU was winning by at least two touchdowns. So around the end of the 3rd quarter, my friends and I decided that we would check out early and beat the rush to Subway. As we left, joking about how disastrous it would be if ISU started to lose after we left, our nightmares soon became a reality and ISU lost by three points. Pathetic. So in our grief, we all ordered subway and then went to our friends apartment and had an incredible time. The end.

Sleep Deprived

So as a college student, there was a topic that had always caught my interest though I had never been provided the opportunity to experience. This topic I speak of is sleep deprivation. You see, I had always heard that when you don't sleep for more than 60 hours, your body can have negative responses that may include hallucination. It wasn't until this week that I understood the truth of this rumor. This past week has been ridiculously busy for me as I had 4 tests and a paper to write throughout the course of the past five days. While I definitely got a taste of this experience this past week, it is important to mention that these hallucinations are not comparable to those that you may have while experiences a shrooms trip. No, the hallucinations I experienced were very minor. I heard things or people that were not really in my room. While I was in the bathroom, I thought for a moment that my brother was washing his hands right next to me, which I knew to be impossible as he worked in the city and would have no reason for coming to ISU at 5 in the morning on a Thursday night. However, while all of this may sound fascinating, it was all a rather unpleasant experience. My sleep pattern was not the only thing thrown out of wack, but my eating schedule was also in a funk. After eating a whole meal at 4 in the morning, your body realizes that this is not normal for you and I started to develop a constant stomach ache. My head also felt like my brain was doing sommersaults as it becomes deprived from its required rest that it usually has during sleep. However, I will say that while I'm not planning on doing this again any time soon, the lack of sleep that I experienced this week was a necessary sacrifice to accomplish what I needed to do and I would probably do it again.

What I Would Do If I Didn't Need A College Education

So the question on the table is "what would you do or where would you go if you didn't need to spend the money that you are on a college education?" Well, to be completely honest, I am not spending any of my money on my college education. So if I didn't need to go to college, in all reality I'd probably be sitting at home right now getting really good at a silly hobby like throwing cards or taming pumas. But that really is not fun. For the sake of giving a more interesting answer, I'd have to say that if I were spending all the money for the 4 years of tuition and no-longer needed to, I would probably travel the world. Now you may be saying to yourself "Yup! Go figure. I never thought he'd say that one. Why don't you come up with a more original answer buddy? We all know you'd just blow it all on FunDip." Well you just wait, because I'm not done. The main places I would want to go visit would include Ireland, India, Hong Kong, and Mazatlan in Mexico. While this trip would not only be one in which I could be further enlightened as I would gain a better understanding of the many people of this world and gain a better understanding of myself, but I would also go to those places that are stricken with poverty to offer my support in doing missions works or donations. You see, I figure that I have been so fortunate to be blessed with the love of my family, friends, and with an education, a home, and everything else that I will daily take for grantite. Going away to a place where the people may not be as fortunate will really help me to realize how much I really do take for grantite and will motivate me to give. This trip would also act as a means to grow spiritually. I feel as though it is so much easier to have a relationship with God if I am at home, surrounded by support from my Christian friends and family. However, is that really searching for God. A greater feat would be to find God in a place stricken with poverty. This lies at the very center of what I would like to do most in life. So there, how's that for an answer.

Tips and Tricks at ISU

Below I have listed tips and guidelines that will help any incoming freshman or transfer students to survive at ISU. Now I must warn you, I will speak the whole-hearted truth in regards to this school, so look no further if you don't think you can handle hit.
1.) Bring plenty of quarters. The washer and dryer machines here are one dollar per service and only accept quarters.

2.) Actually wash your clothes. You will make no friends here if you forget to bring quarters and decide to only do laundry every once a month whenever you go home for you will most surely be that smelly kid in your lecture hall who no one wants to sit next to.

3.) If you are taking Bio 101, do not take notes in lecture. The test run entirely off the online self-tests so just take a bunch of those rather than wasting your time staying awake in bio class.

4.) If you are planning on participating in any underage drinking here at ISU, either bring cups or save them from whatever party you go to. If you're a girl, you shouldn't have to worry about this but if you're a guy, most places will charge 5 dollars per cup at each party you will go to in a given night. Keep your cups and either hide them in your pocket or in a girl friend's purse.

5.) DO NOT ROOM RANDOM AT ALL COSTS. If you have a friend, or an acquaintance, or even a person who you never really talked all that much to in high school but know that they're going to ISU with you, room with them. My first semester here I was roomed with a very large, very hairy, and very smelly roommate who only left the room for class and food and not showering or brushing of the teeth. Trust me, as long as you know that the person who you are going to room with has a clean habit of taking care of their hygene, you will be better off for it.

6.) If you're going to go to a Halloween party, do not dress as a pinata. Trust me.

7.) Bring funny stickers and put them on any random worksheets or tests. Teachers will find this amusing and may give you a smiley face on the paper:)

8.) Do not eat at the Burger King in the Bone Center. If you have any questions about this rule, I suggest you read my blog entitled "Puke Burger" below.

9.) Invest in a rubber hand and try to carry it on your person at all times. If you meet someone that you don't care to know any further, keep the hand in your sleeve and let go of it upon shaking their hand. They will understand that you are way to messed up for them and will think twice about trying to talk to you again.

10.) If you forget to shower in the morning or are sick and don't want anyone to notice how terrible you may look, wear a black North Face zip-up. Everyone at ISU wears the one in the picture so you'll blend right in.

11.) Girls, don't fake bake before a party. No one likes an oompa loompa. Instead, where red shoes. They're classy and fun and they can work with just about any color.

12.) Guys, if you're planning on wearing cologne when you go out, keep this in mind. At whatever party you go to, there is guaranteed to be at least 50 other guys there decked out in Hollister, all with the same idea, creating a downright awful blend of scents that will make it hard for any girl to breath. Instead, be the one guy not wearing any cologne who smells like, well, a person rather than a "fierce," or a "polo" or "aqua de gio" or whatever the hell the kids are wearing these days.

Well, that's about all I really have for right now. I know that I'm forgetting a lot, but these are just some of the basics that will help you last your first year here at ISU. Hope you last. Until next time...

-KP