Miss City Discovers: February 2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Wednesday Wonders

It's a rainy day here in New York. I am tired. It is cold. I had an 8 am. That's what my mood is right now. But hopefully, I will be cheered up as I share with you my weekly internet finds.

First up:

Since it's raining out, I almost mindlessly started searching for rain boots. I thought these were very cute. I like the red. Are these even rain boots? I am delirious from this day.


Can we go back to Valentines Day? Where it was acceptable to eat an unnecessary amount of chocolate? I have no idea why Bed, Bath and Beyond had a soufflé recipe on their website...but I came across it and so I thought I'd share it with any people who were still missing the I'm-in-love-with-hot-melty-gooey-chocolate...and-I-don't-need-a-man-day.




If you haven't gotten a grip on my mood yet...pretty sure by this next carb-filled desire of my mine, you will. Who in their right mind wouldn't devour this Fettuccine with Tomato-Cream Sauce?


I'm sorry...is this thing real? Why don't I have one.


I don't think there is any amount of motivation strong enough to get me to the gym today...but I found this list of "10 Easy Ways to Sneak in a Workout" for all you hopefuls out there.


I couldn't stop laughing at this little boy pretending to talk on the phone like his mom and dad do. Pretty sure it's his mom by the way he randomly cackles and says things like "Alright". 




My friend, Morgan, posted this to her Facebook and it's just more of a reason to be obsessed with Beyonce. 



I have a problem with throwing out magazines..my favorites are Seventeen, Cosmopolitan and Fitness. I think I need one of these beautiful racks




I am so amazed at this artist,  Takahiro Iwasaki, who makes these tiny little sculptures out of wires and thread and other insane materials. Check out this page of all his creations!



One last thing to make you laugh...I can't help the fact that I love pranks like this. Have a great rest of your Wednesday!





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Monday, February 25, 2013

Why Jennifer Lawrence Is So Cool

Self-explanatory.

Love you Jennifer.

Love you Silver Linings Playbook.

Love you Jack Nicholson for hitting on Jennifer.

Goodnight!

Summary of "What Money Can't Buy"


The author, Sandel, begins by introducing more out-of-the-ordinary instances of buying and selling. For example, he lists that you can upgrade your prison cell for $90 a night or have the right to shoot an endangered black rhino for $250,000. He mentions these statistics in the beginning to make it clear that there are instances of buying and selling that the public may not be aware of. The statistics are startling and are there to have the public ask should we allow that? Does that really make sense? Is it justified in this case, or that case? Where should we draw the line? With each statistic, a new question about the moral limits of markets is intended to rise. Over the last 30 years, market and market values have been dominating American life. Beginning with Margaret Thatcher and then projected after the Cold War, markets have been thought to do no wrong. But since the crash, we can see there may be an invasion of morality considering the markets.
Over the last 3 decades, we have lived in a time where almost everything can be bought and sold. After the Cold War, market and market thinking changed from not only being able to buy tangible goods, but also intangible commodities that may not be ethical. Sandel poses the question, isn’t this change in market behavior worth asking questions about? Ever since the 1980s when Reagan announced that “markets, not government, held the key to prosperity and freedom”, an era of “market triumphalism” began. We may not have intended this market take-over to occur, but it did have causes like the important historical events mentioned above.
After the market crash in 2008, there was uncertainty about whether or not the market could allocate risk competently. The author then goes into both sides of the argument over what caused this destabilization within the seemingly “safe” market. One reason that the market collapsed, the author states, was greed on Wall Street. He then says that greed is only a partial influence, however. The biggest factor was the idea that the reach of markets now stretched into ranges of life where markets never were before.   The market governs the world we live in either way; we never will completely ignore market values. 
Sandel argues that what the people of the United States should be arguing about is what should and should not be in the market place. The two reasons that Americans should be worried about too much being up for sale are inequality and corruption. Inequality is a reason in the sense that, in a world where everything is for sale, the rich have it easier than the poor. The more money can buy, ‘the more wealth- or lack of it- matters’. For the second reason, putting a “worth” on almost everything can corrupt the good. Sandel uses the example of paying a child to read. If you pay a kid to read, you may be teaching them that reading is a chore rather than a pleasurable pastime. To be able to sell your vote would demean the responsibility of a person to their country.
The biggest question Sandel poses is, “Do we want a market economy or a market society?” A debate about the moral limits within a market is absolutely necessary, being his final point. “The great missing debate in contemporary politics is about the role and reach of markets.” Sandel is taking a position of awareness for a healthier public life.  He wants to alert the public to take a position. People are making businesses out of things that maybe shouldn’t be businesses. Markets have been so promoted that markets are conflicting with other values. Explicitly, Sandel says that he doesn’t imagine we are all going to agree in every case, but the public needs to have the argument.  

"Year of the Elephant" Thoughts


As I began to read “Year of the Elephant”, I was struck by a particular paragraph in the second chapter on page fifteen. Leila is reciting a piece of knowledge passed down to her by her grandmother, whom she was raised by. The guidance has lived inside of her for as long as she can recall, and she now reflects on it as she faces a difficult time in her life. “No woman sells her property-so tradition dictates. I grew up among such words and deeds, and from my earliest consciousness I remember my grandmother’s constant admonition that a woman has nothing but her husband and her property, and that husbands cannot be trusted.”
The very first sentence of this paragraph, ‘no woman sells her property’, speaks mountains about the way Leila has been raised. Why has this specific sentiment stayed with her? The idea that no man should sell his property is not introduced to her, nor is there any restrictions on the male behavior in general. Does she believe that a woman must always hold onto what is given to her, because women can’t accumulate anything of worth on their own? It is seen as a ludicrous and unheard of idea to give up what is so graciously inherited by a woman from a man.
Tradition must have been a great influence throughout her life, as she blatantly recites ‘so tradition dictates’. Maybe at this point in her life, she’s starting to see that tradition is something she doesn’t agree with. But nonetheless, the notion that women must hold onto their inherited property with all their strength as an enduring tradition, suggests that anything that goes against the norm in her culture is a horrifying occurrence. This could very well be why she is so heartbroken and destroyed by the turn her life has taken as she finds herself getting a divorce. Even if she herself wants to try to look outside the world she’s grown up in, there is something so engrained in her being that to end a marriage seems like there is nothing left for her. Nothing left, in fact, except for her property that her father has left her.
Leila’s grandmother is an outwardly significant person from her past who presents the lasting advice about women having only their property and their husband. What role did her grandmother and grandfather play in her life? Certainly she grew up at least slightly different than her other siblings since she was not raised in her parents’ household. Is there an underground, hush-hush institution of women passing down the knowledge of being weary about men and women’s role in society? Leila’s grandmother instilling this principle in her head for as long as she remembers may be an indication of that. With Leila believing that she ultimately only has her property, as husbands are not reliable or trustworthy, she may have always questioned the men around her, and in turn, never sells her property.
Leila offers the information that she remembers her grandmother’s ‘constant admonitions’ ‘since her earliest consciousness’. Her very first memory about the world and a woman’s place within it is that husbands are not to be trusted, women have nothing to earn through their own merit and this tradition is unalterable.
Leila was educated that a woman has nothing but two tangible objects. A man and a house. What does that mean for her? Even the first half of that sentence, “a woman has nothing” should be taken into account. That’s a sentiment she’s heard for as long as she can possibly remember. To have nothing outside of a palpable entity taught Leila that there is no worth to her as an individual, without a man or property. As she journeys into the next part of her life, without a husband, she will most likely face the harsh realities of tradition and discover a way to find the character within herself, someone who has stayed dormant for the better part of her life.  

Post-Oscars Meatless Monday

So I am terribly sad that the Oscars have come and gone, but I had such a great time last night with friends and family celebrating one of the most INCREDIBLE years in film that I've ever seen.

With films like Lincoln, Argo, Django Unchained and Silver Linings Playbook, you get your fill of every kind of story. I was slightly disappointed that Silver Linings Playbook didn't take more statues home, but I know deep down that each and every single movie nominated deserved an Oscar. Sometimes I think there needs to be a category for Best Trailer because...damn...Argo's was good. Dream On makes me want to stand up on my theater chair and clap.



Mom and I totally riveted...

It was a wonderful evening, and I really love all who came and went along with my annoying Oscar ballots :)


NOW, I am not a vegetarian, although many of my friends are and I was just recently extremely disturbed by a movie called Food Inc.

So I've decided to take baby steps by engaging in Meatless Monday! Thought I'd share some cute, quick and easy recipes with you if you want to follow along with me on this quest to be healthier and nicer to the world's animals!


Read more »

Thursday, February 21, 2013

This Time I Don't


I wonder how long you need to know someone until they start to see through you. I mostly wonder about this concerning relationships between two people in love. How many times do they immediately go to hug you when you’re crying? When does it begin to solely be depressing and too usual? How many times do you get to break down and have it still be sweet and cute and innocent? What does it mean when it stops being like that? Can it go on like that indefinitely?  
Sometimes girls hit their boyfriends when they say something rude or surprising or annoying or weird. It looks like it hurts. It’s certainly not a ‘love tap’. And it’s totally not okay for guys to do that to girls. Maybe because they’re really stronger than the girls and can’t control their own strength? I’m not sure.  When does the boyfriend finally say, “Can you stop fucking hitting me?” Or does he just let it go on like that because he loves her or is infatuated with her or something along those lines? 
Maybe people can just tell when you are being genuine. If you’re crying for a good reason then it stamps the word SORROW across your forehead. If you’re yelling because you’re truly hurt or disgusted then the word FURY is flashing in your eyes. But what if someone is just really great at pretending? Or even just pretending to themselves? I sometimes notice that when people drink they become overly emotional. Is that real emotion or is that something else? Are you a truer self when you’re under the influence of some outer force? What if your beloved is also a type of outer force? I like to think that even if sometimes your reactions belie your actual emotions that the person you love will always just go along with it. They’ll take your fake responses and treat them as if they’re the most authentic they’ve ever seen. Because they love you. And maybe you do that for them too. But when and could the words ever be uttered, “But this time I don’t”? This time I don’t believe you. This time I just don’t care. Why do you always need a reason to cry sometimes? Can’t the first tear be reason enough to pull the person you love towards you? I think the less anything happens, the more special it is. I wish it wasn’t that way. 


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Wednesday Wonders

Hi everyone! So Wednesday Wonders is here again. YES! We made it one week. I had a great rest of the weekend at Endicott College with Dylan and all of his incredibly fun friends. We went to a home hockey game where a bunch of Dylan's friends rocked the rink...can I say that? It was very entertaining. I was so sad to say goodbye to Dylan and his extremely accommodating roommate, Zack. Next time I see Dylan is March 1st when we go see the Nets at the Barclays Center!

I basically had a bus ride from hell on the MegaBus on my way back, however. They decided to switch bus drivers an hour away from New York. Why....? And then the new bus driver came and said that there was a random airbag out. Probably why the first driver booked it as soon as the new driver came. We had to wait an hour for another (worse) bus, and then got stuck in rush hour traffic. But, hey it's okay! I made it back. Just in time for a delicious dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in New York, Pomodoro, with my parents and my Aunt Elaine and Uncle Scott! It was scrumptious as usual.

On Tuesday I got back into the swing of things and attended the first NYU Red Cross Club meeting of the semester. It was very informative and I can't wait for the semester ahead! I think it's about time that I get certified in CPR. I also went to a Headless Society meeting, which is one of the publications at NYU. I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long time. Much needed after that bus ride. My creative juices really got flowing- and I'm considering posting what I wrote during the meeting on here for you lovely people! Be warned- it's kind of melodramatic and depressing. But hey, accept my life.

Lastly (before we get to the fun world of the web), I entered into a contest for a paid summer internship at Vince Camuto. We had to upload a picture of ourselves in our favorite interview outfit. The top 20 finalists get an actual interview, and then two lucky people get the gig! If you want to see my entry, just click this link- I think if you share it, that counts as a vote for me. Here's the picture below, also.


AND NOW....

WEDNESDAY WONDER FUN!

  1. To begin, do you remember how amazing the song Just Breath, by Anna Nalick is? Me and my two childhood besties, Sahana and Hannah, would sing it ALL THE TIME. Like, we actually considered starting a band at one point. And I'm pretty sure I was the only one who actually enjoyed singing, and for them it was just embarrassment. Well, that's what friends are for I guess!



2. In honor of Luke, I thought I'd post this list that made me cry. I truly believe that dogs are the greatest living beings on this planet. They love unconditionally and they are just so damn sweet.



3. I felt this was as good a time as any to bring up Momo. This is a perfectly perfect explanation of why I love dogs so much. THEY MAKE US LAUGH, and they're so smart. Find Momo now!



4. Random and old. But one of my favorite moments in live television ever. This is why I want to be Rachel McAdams. And why I want to marry Ryan Gosling (just kidding Dylan). If you want to watch the actual clip, just click here


5. Since everyone is ALREADY talking about the Harlem Shake, I thought I'd show you my favorite version so far. And of course it is at NYU. Why wouldn't it be? Note: of course they put credits.


6. This Kale, Carrot and Chickpea soup looks so mouthwatering, I want to fight someone because I don't have a kitchen in this jail cell they call a dorm room. Uh. Someone make this for me.



7. I don't know about you, but I've always had the weird desire to do a Mud Run. I secretly want to roll around in mud and call it exercise. Don't you? Pick from 8 awesome ones on this list!



8. RYAN GOSLING, you are a prince! Have a great night!






Saturday, February 16, 2013

The Truth About Memory


Memory is fleeting and not always trustworthy. Memory is not concrete. Memory is not simply something that can be written down; there’s no exact and right account of what occurred in a memoir. Sometimes, fudging the edges of a story is your best bet on getting the truth out. Reading “Memory and Imagination by Patricia Hampl, really sparked my interest in the idea that when we relay stories about the past, we may not always be telling the truth. Maybe the past is something we don’t want to remember, we literally can’t remember or in order to get the big idea across, requires some doctoring.
It’s strange. Memory, that is. We can remember the way someone shook our hand, but not their first name. We may remember that there was a table with the inscription, “Do something today”, but where was that table? Why was it remembered? Who is to say what is more important than the other? We hold on to what felt most significant to us at that moment in time. Unfortunately, we seem to hold onto hurtful memories more often than we do the positive ones. It does make sense, since something that pains you is a strong emotion. I’d like to think that happiness is a strong emotion as well, but it seems as though we let glee fly away because we are waiting for agony to hold us hostage once again. Happiness is a soft, light embrace, whereas pain is heavy, tough and shadowy. We want to understand, and in order to understand pleasure and contentedness, we usually can cut right to the chase; “this is what made me happy”. But since pain can be indistinct and obscure, we want to know more. It consumes our mind, taking over and tainting our memories. When we look back, then, we see it and we remember that along with anything else during that phase of our lives.
It’s still important to get these ideas and memories down, regardless of the small fibs that might be told to fill in the blanks because the main idea, the big picture that affected the rest of our lives, will still be there. Patricia Hampl brings up a terrifying example of the idea that there are enough books to fill a room now about denying the existence of the Holocaust. If there are people willing to write down the lies, forcing the forgetting, then there need to be those to remember as best as they can, and write that down. Good must always battle evil. Even if the truth is evil, it can’t be forgotten.
Writing truthfully is very challenging, but I believe the more truth you allow to come through, the more the reader connects and reciprocates. The most personal and truthful piece of writing I think I’ve ever written was my piece about how I feel about New York. To begin, I wonder why I was so honest. Was it where I was? Literally in a classroom at New York University? Or where I was in my life? An 18-year-old girl who thought she knew where she was going, and then didn’t? Or was it the people who surrounded me? I’m assuming it was a combination of all three. Maybe one day when I look back, I’ll remember a perfectly perfect explanation for this first piece of honest writing. It will all make sense. Maybe the truth comes out later. Memories learn and grow up too. Then they reveal themselves when we’re ready.
One of the main ideas I make in that piece is about these little “things”. The controllers that went with the video games in the little apartment had more meaning and influence on me than anything else I remember about New York. And that’s why I remember them. That’s why those details are still tangible in my mind. They are symbols for my life at that time. Maybe it really wasn’t so much the playing of video games, but the fact that it was something my brother and I could do together without fighting, and it meant a lot to me to receive my brothers approval. It’s just a thought, but these little objects and small details serve as symbols for what was so vital to me then. Being open and authentic and questioning everything I’ve believed in about New York, about myself and about my future in this city up to this point is naturally difficult to get down on paper, let alone allow people who are practically strangers to read and judge. However, there’s a sort of calm and breath that releases from you after your worries are seen and considered by others. I just want others to see what I see, and to get a grasp on what I feel. I want at least a partial memory of my life and struggles to be held onto by someone else, even if what he or she ultimately remembers isn’t what I said in the first place (as expected). When they take a little, a little is liberated from me. That could very well be the point of telling personal stories, to share the memories and ensure that at least a particular detail of what is told will dwell in someone’s mind, to resurface years later, when the situation and original memory-holder is long gone.