Do you remember the oh so sweet and innocent days of your childhood? When you knew nothing about sex or condoms and HIV was just one letter short of a bee hive? The days when you had no idea what period or a penis was.
Well those days are gone dead and kaput. Not just for me or you but for this generation of children as well.
You can blame TV or videogames or whatever influence you like, but the fact of matter is: kids are not the sweet and oblivious children you'd like to think they are. Take away the satellite and nintendo and it won't change anything. I, for one, was not corrupted by the Simpsons or the Mario Brothers, no that great and prestigious honor was left up to my sister, nine years my senior.
I won't bother you with the details, but let's just leave it at this: by the time I was nine years old, my sister had dunked my brain so deeply in the gutter that I figured out what '69' was by looking, just looking, at a yin yang. Yeah.
I'm sure a lot of people are surprised to find that they need to worry more about what the older siblings are teaching they younger, forget bad words and habits, they're actually giving them the precursor to Sex-Ed! Sure, not all your highschool students are going around and whispering to they're younger brother or sister, "Hey guess what," but somehow, someway, maybe even someone, has given kids a bigger piece of the 'birds and the bees' pie than you wanted.
For example, the other day I'm sitting in my sixth hour class, after everyone else but two other students have left, (We all had 7th hour off) when one girl brings up how her teacher started talking about a situation she walked into with her niece and her niece's friend. Apparently this teacher had walked into her nieces room to find nice game of doctor going on. She caught her with her panties down and her skirt up, and her little friend (a boy obviously) had a spoon.
Yes, you heard right a spoon.
When asked what he was doing the little boy replied, "I just wanted to see what would fit in there."
Holy.
Shit.
Fortunately, the teacher had walked in before the little boy had the time to play 'spoon peg, round vagina'.
Doctor games are being played at this very moment all over the country, and someone isn't always going to walk in on time; or at all for that matter.
The children of America are growing up fast and smart, when this generation reaches highschool they'll being going in with a very full education.
GaRblEd bY
Liz
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This is the letter I sent to the editor of my high school newspaper explaining why I want to be on the newspaper and why they should let me. It got me a spot on the staff next semester. Well along with all the fabulous work I did in my Journalism class, the prerequisite for the newspaper. ^_^
November 15, 2008
Dear Editor-in-Chief,
My name is LizZ, (obviously I put my real name here) and next semester –hopefully next fall as well, I would very much like to become a part of the newspaper staff.
When I was twelve years old, my mother introduced me to a movie from the 1970’s; something she did quite frequently. The movie was called All the President’s Men a true story about the two reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein who uncovered deep secrets about the Watergate Scandal, which controversy over eventually lead to the resignation of President Nixon. Kids change careers like Paris Hilton changes outfits: fast, on a whim, and each time moving on to bigger and shinier things. As far as anyone else knew, journalism was another career I’d toss to the wayside soon enough, but I knew it was something different. I don’t want to be a journalist to take down a president, or to uncover the scandal of the century. I’m here ready to be a part of the >insert Newspaper name here< because journalism is in my soul. I want to get out there and meet people, hear their stories, find the truth and connect the dots. Then, when readers feel like they met the people I met, when readers hear the stories I heard, when they read the truth I’ve found, it won’t be just the dots that connect, but people. That’s why I want to be on the Newspaper staff.
What I want, and what you want are two very different things, so here are a few reasons why you want me on your staff. I’m ready to throw myself into the task of making the >name< the best high school newspaper it can be. I have conviction, determination and a fair amount of brainpower to bring to the table. As a member of the Newspaper staff I could only be an asset.
As Mary Clemmer Ames in the poem “The Journalist” said: “To serve thy generation, this thy fate: ‘Written in water,’ swiftly fades thy name; But he who loves his kind does, first and late, A work too late for fame.” We are not here for fame or glory we pass in and out of this existence in a blink. Much like the police we are here to serve and protect –the truth.
Sincerely,
LizZ
I am so proud and honored to be on Newspaper. I'm hoping to make journalism my career one day. I plan to go to a university when I graduate and major in Journalism. With a minor in psychology of course, since I love seeing how people tick. And, being able to tell when someone I'm interviewing is possibly lying or holding something back would be a big bonus on the resume.
GaRblEd bY
Liz
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A text message:
Yay! Aren't you just warm and fuzzy all over? That was an amazing speech, and we were there, we got to see it and we get to see the incredulous look on our grandchildren's faces when we say we saw the first black president elected, Barack Obama, I am happy and proud on this great day, November 4, 2008, and I look to what will come with hope.
A speech:
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is the place where all things are possible... tonight is your answer... Americans sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals, or a collection of red states and blue states, we are and always will be the United States of America... because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America... Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine, and you've earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House... I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you... Millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, for the people has not perished from the Earth. This is your victory... This victory alone is not the change we seek; it is only the chance to make that change... Out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope; and where we are met with cynicism and doubt... we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes we can. Thank you, God bless you. And may God bless America.
A new hope.
GaRblEd bY
Liz
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So it's finished. My house in Colorado has been foreclosed on. We've packed up, moved out, and I've been shipped out to a tiny tourist town called Moab in Utah. Mom's been out here for a year already for her job. My sister is still back in Colorado but she's in Commerce City now. Her new place is full of black mold so she's staying with her boyfriend in one room with two kids.
Same here. I sleep on the couch since the house Mom's renting is a one bed-room. Life's kinda thrown our family for a loop right now. A loop it's throwing a lot of people with this recession.
It sort of feels like a dream. You never think this sort of stuff is going to happen to you or your family. I could handle moving away, leaving my friends, my home, leaving everything I know behind to start over in a town so small it only has one movie theater. I can handle that as hard as it is for me. The thing is, is that it's not as simple as that. The future is one big '?' (a bigger '?' than it usually is.) Mom has a job she's applied for back in Colorado where her name is pretty much on the top of the list. But it's not a given and it might not happen for another couple of months. Besides that, I might have to stay with Kate in Commerce City until -whatever. Or, I'll stay here in Moab.
Who Knows?? F*ck I don't, I'm not quite sure God, the Universe or whatever Omnipotent being out there does either.
Everything is one Big '?'
One thing is for sure though, For now it's Bye Bye Colorado.
GaRblEd bY
Liz
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We all Have our Addictions.
Don't we? I mean my friend Morgan's addiction is video games and Orlando Bloom. While the rest of my friends and I are addicted to yaoi (yum ^_~) The Beatles had LSD, Paris Hilton has sex, and Mary Kate ( or ashley whichever one it was) has coke and Oprah has chocolate.
T.V. shows today can't go a season without one of it's characters being or becoming addicted to something.
So it's safe to say that we all have our little vices (varying from m&m's to serious drug and alcohol problems) but I never assumed I was one of those people who had a serious addiction to anything.
Well boy was I wrong.
I think most teenagers in this day and age can say that we love the internet. I bet you anyone reading this right now spends at least 2 hours on it practically everyday. Growing up with this phenomenon-what our parents and elders consider to be new and overused like what cd's were; we the techno-generation or "gadget-generation" have taken it for granted. For us the internet is as common place as cd's, cellphones, and blow-dryers. Ironically, the internet, for older generations, is also thrown in the same category as cd's. cells and blow dryers. Believe it or not our parents did not grow up with these things. *Le Gasp!* (well most parents-you lucky kids with the young parents don't have this problem)
So it's safe to say that we all have our little vices (varying from m&m's to serious drug and alcohol problems) but I never assumed I was one of those people who had a serious addiction to anything.
Well boy was I wrong.
I think most teenagers in this day and age can say that we love the internet. I bet you anyone reading this right now spends at least 2 hours on it practically everyday. Growing up with this phenomenon-what our parents and elders consider to be new and overused like what cd's were; we the techno-generation or "gadget-generation" have taken it for granted. For us the internet is as common place as cd's, cellphones, and blow-dryers. Ironically, the internet, for older generations, is also thrown in the same category as cd's. cells and blow dryers. Believe it or not our parents did not grow up with these things. *Le Gasp!* (well most parents-you lucky kids with the young parents don't have this problem)
Now what does this generation gap result in? Parents freakin' out about how much time we spend "in front of the computer" everyday. Honestly I never really thought about it. I mean there are so many different things you can do that you never get the same affect you do with TV (which eventually bores you since it's the same thing over and over again) Parents on the other hand don't understand this. They see it the same way as the TV-sitting in front of a screen all day when you're really:
-watching videos
-blogging
-talking to friends (IMing)
-emailing (which is completely different than iming)
-myspacing which can entail:
-messaging
-videos
-blogging
-changing profiles (we all know how time consuming that is)
-and more
-facebook (pretty much the same as myspace)
-youtube:
-looking up random videos.
-messaging
-uploading videos
-profile edit
-RPG's
-Gaia Online
-Mibba
-Quizilla <--- ^ these two sites are in a whole different ball park because of their unique story poems and quizzes layout.
-blogging
-talking to friends (IMing)
-emailing (which is completely different than iming)
-myspacing which can entail:
-messaging
-videos
-blogging
-changing profiles (we all know how time consuming that is)
-and more
-facebook (pretty much the same as myspace)
-youtube:
-looking up random videos.
-messaging
-uploading videos
-profile edit
-RPG's
-Gaia Online
-Mibba
-Quizilla <--- ^ these two sites are in a whole different ball park because of their unique story poems and quizzes layout.
It takes you hours to read a book and the same goes for stories. Which you have to check up on for updates all the time. -ETC. So most teenagers know all this stuff--do all this stuff-- pretty much everyday. It's no wonder we spend hours on it. Parents assume we're zombies sitting in front of the screen becuase-not growing up with it don't realize it's varying and amazing potential.
Unfortunately they are partly right. We do spend too much time on the internet. About 2 weeks ago I had theserious misfortune of losing the internet. *Le Gasp!*
And it was for no good reason too. For some reason the computer just couldn't go on the internet -couldn't find the server. And now today it came on again for no reason. (I have a sneaking suspicion that it's been on for awhile and my sister knew about it)
At first I was in complete shock. I was desperate for the internet. I tried reloading the page over and over again. Checking back every couple of hours. That was the first day. Then the next day it still wasn't working I reloaded everyonce and awhile but assumed that something was wrong with the ISP (internet service provider) like a cable be down or something and that it would be fixed in a few days.
For an entire weekend I watched nothing but movies on my tv. (We don't have cable O.O) I added up the math and after four days I had watched the equivilent of an entire day (24 hours) in movies.
I was practically a crack addict going through detox. After another week I practically gave up on the idea.
And then today low and behold the internet is back! (Again gone for no reason and back for no reason-my mom didn't want to fix it when we're moving soon anyway) I was so happy I nearly cried. Literally. My eyes started tearing up and everything.
So what has this experiance taught me? I told my family I have no intention of ever smoking or drinking or doing marijauna (genetically I have high risk factors for addiction to these) and I do mean it but alas still a junkie am I and my drug is the internet.
I went through detox and rehab but guess what? I'm still addicted. And as far as addictions can go this one ain't so bad it can't kill me. As long as I get my fix it's all well and dandy. So don't judge me, because...
Unfortunately they are partly right. We do spend too much time on the internet. About 2 weeks ago I had theserious misfortune of losing the internet. *Le Gasp!*
And it was for no good reason too. For some reason the computer just couldn't go on the internet -couldn't find the server. And now today it came on again for no reason. (I have a sneaking suspicion that it's been on for awhile and my sister knew about it)
At first I was in complete shock. I was desperate for the internet. I tried reloading the page over and over again. Checking back every couple of hours. That was the first day. Then the next day it still wasn't working I reloaded everyonce and awhile but assumed that something was wrong with the ISP (internet service provider) like a cable be down or something and that it would be fixed in a few days.
For an entire weekend I watched nothing but movies on my tv. (We don't have cable O.O) I added up the math and after four days I had watched the equivilent of an entire day (24 hours) in movies.
I was practically a crack addict going through detox. After another week I practically gave up on the idea.
And then today low and behold the internet is back! (Again gone for no reason and back for no reason-my mom didn't want to fix it when we're moving soon anyway) I was so happy I nearly cried. Literally. My eyes started tearing up and everything.
So what has this experiance taught me? I told my family I have no intention of ever smoking or drinking or doing marijauna (genetically I have high risk factors for addiction to these) and I do mean it but alas still a junkie am I and my drug is the internet.
I went through detox and rehab but guess what? I'm still addicted. And as far as addictions can go this one ain't so bad it can't kill me. As long as I get my fix it's all well and dandy. So don't judge me, because...
We all Have our Addictions.
Yesterday would've been the time of my life, if it wasn't for somethings like adrenaline, claustrophobia and an orgy.
First, my school was having a rally, and as my friends and I are sophomores we didn't give a shit about it. So we decided to ditch, it was a little difficult, and slightly scary since there was an administrator at every single door. But we found a door that wasn't guarded yet and made it out. Whew. So we go off on our little adventure, across a main street about 1200 feet away from the school, where we decide to put our little plan into action.
By this time our bloods pumping, and the adrenaline is starting to kick in. We're all getting excited and everyone was really anxious (especially those who hadn't done this before, like my two friends and I) There's us, three girls, and the others are six or seven guys. We were expecting to get good and dirty and have some aching muscles by the end. Not like that! Honestly we weren't up to anything like that. Then what on earth could were we up to you ask? Nothing really, just a nice stroll half crouched in a small pitch black storm drain that could possibly flood with water any minute in which the presence of rats was still in doubt with a major street only ten feet above us with cars zipping across at speeds of 45 to 50 miles an hour. See? Nothing to it.
For some reason, we all think this is going to be great fun. Remind me to kill the guy who thought we should ditch the rally and go crawling through this dark dingy place.
My friends have already started going into the maw of this killer beast they jokingly call a tunnel. Eisenhower is a tunnel -well and a dead president, this thing is a death trap waiting to happen. As I'm crawling along the adrenaline is making my heart pound like mad, I'm already panting and I'm imagining the water coming down and killing us all or a cave in or a huge 7 foot tall rat with gleaming fangs comes down and -holy shit I can't breathe. Hyperventilating in a tunnel with no paper bag I'm kinda starting to panic.
You see I have a little problem with small areas folks, especially areas that I can't see more than five feet ahead in with stale air and at least 15 feet under the ground. The problem's called claustrophobia and trust me it is not fun.
Now I have never thought of myself as a coward and believe you me a stupid tunnel isn't anything to be afraid of, but when you can't breathe, you can't breathe, and unfortunately I couldn't go on. I had gone as far as I could, I had struggled with every inch, every step deeper into the darkness was hell but I must have gone at least a hundred-no two hundred feet into that dark dingy hole. I look back and see the entrance... fifteen feet away. -_-'
So everyone else after trying to convince me to come with, and the ringleader in all this, Tye tries to tell me it's perfectly safe, yeah sure, this coming from the guy who thinks it's okay to light firecrackers while they're still in your hand. No thank you.
I sit in the tunnel with nothing but an almost dead cell phone and sewage junk to keep me company. Five minutes later, some MIA compatriots of ours who we had thought to yellow bellied to come show up. One of them, DJ, stops as the rest continue on,
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," I said.
"Chicken out?" He asked.
"Yup." I said.
"See you then," He said.
"Good luck," I said.
... three minutes later...
"Hi," I said.
"Hi," he said.
"Chicken out?" I asked.
"Yup," he said.
"You have shit for luck," I said.
Apparently, he only made it to the first manhole before he had to come back. The others met up with the first group and later I heard, scared the crap out of them. Having someone with me made me feel a lot better about the creepy noises coming from (what I assumed were) my friends deeper in the birth canal reminiscent tunnel. Dj had the brilliant idea of making sex noises to drown out and creep out the others. He tried to get me to join in. Yeah, no. Not gonna happen. When that didn't work he went a little farther down the tunnel, facing away from me and unzipped.
"You are not about to do what I think your about to do." I said.
Ssssssssssssssssssssss ssss ss ss sssss ss. Zip.
"You mean I did what you thought I wasn't about to do," he said.
Ew. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, the school cop decides to drive by looking for ditchers. Now, the entrance to this tunnel is in a valley and we're a fair bit inside, but not wanting to take any chances we decide to hide deeper in the tunnel. This means I have to walk past or rather through the still warm puddle of piss in the middle of the tunnel. Great. Especially since this isn't one of those tunnels with a flat floor, no, just has to be perfectly round. Instead of ruining a pair of perfectly good shoes, I had to put each foot on the side of the tunnel and waddle-wiggle-walk over the puddle.
We stayed there for about twenty minutes just making small talk when the others come back dusty, sweaty and with four extra people I hadn't seen go in. o.o o.O
That's where the fun with the guys ended but my gal pals and I proceeded to go to my house (as at our school rallies are held at the end of school) play guitar hero, go to a park, go to one of the girls' house, (she had homework) where we stole her phone text the guy she liked, wiped out butts across a lawn (I forget why we did this, so don't ask) then we had a 'bra draw' showdown, went back to my friend's house, "BANG"ed her dogs, gave her back her phone, dragged her back to my house, played more guitar hero, chugged mountain dews, stayed up most of the night and had many many orgies.
Today, hopefully we are all going to go to beat each other with pipes shaped like swords covered in foam and go into the tunnels again where I refuse to back out. I'm going in whether I like it or not. I know I'll have to go this time because I made my friends promise to drag me in there not matter how much I protest and they're to evil to have any reservations about it.
Aren't they the greatest?
