TIGblogs - Julia Barry's TIGBlog http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us Google Earth- The Rest of Our Planet http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/597251 There are also updates on the terrestrial side, including GPS tracking, virtual time travel (where users can observe changes in satellite images, such as the 2006 World Cup stadium or the desertification of Africa's Lake Chad) and narrated tours of imagery and content in Google Earth. There are also updates to the Mars 3D section, so if users have had enough of the blue planet, they can always look at the red one.]]> Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/597251 Edmund Spenser, Marry Me Now! http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/595001
This is for all the romantics, and for those that believe that love lasts.

Sonnet 75

One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
But came the waves and washed it away:
Again I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.
"Vain man," said she, "that doest in vain assay
A mortal thing so to immortalize,
For I myself shall like to this decay,
And eek my name be wiped out likewise."
"Not so" (quoth I), "let baser things devise
To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:
My verse your virtues rare shall eternize,
And in the heavens write your glorious name.
Where whenas Death shall all the world subdue,
Out love shall live, and later life renew."]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/595001 Good Old Disney http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/595003

I love my Disney! I always have. Even now, in high school, my friends and I have Disney movie-a-thons. They have sweet worlds where dreams come true so then, why won't  a lot of the parents that I know let their kids watch some of the Disney movies? 

This girl I know's mother is a professor of Native American studies at the college near me. She wouldn't let her daughter watch Pocahontas because she believes it is too racist.  Now, I realize that it is racist. Most of the Disney movies are, but do we really take them seriously? I always just watched them for fun. Maybe we're too hard on Disney. But then I looked back on them. No matter what message Disney may be trying to put across, there is another message that comes across too. 

I did some looking and found several articles that other people had written with their opinions. I think that many times people forget what's good about Disney and instead criticize the bad. But I agree with a lot of what was written. 

Let's take Beauty and the Beast. She goes to live with the Beast (who is actually a prince under
 an enchantment until he finds someone who will love him as he is) so that her father may go free. Of course Disney is showing
 us not to judge people based on looks. It's showing us to treat people how you want to be treated. The musical at my school this year is Beauty and the Beast so we have all been cynically judging the true motives in this movie. It used to be quite a feminist movie back when it was in French with actual actors. Now, though, underneath the nice coating, what is it telling us? At my school and in some of the article I read, people think that Disney is telling us that even if some one is abusive, it doesn't matter because under it all they are a good person who loves you. If you just put up with it, everything will work out.  

Or take most of the Disney princess's. They just wait around for people to hand them things and fall in love with the first guy to save them. I remember my  sister's stage when she wanted to be a princess. She wore a dress every where and insisted on being treated like royalty. Why do people think that it's bad for someone to pretend this for a few weeks? It made her think she could do anything she wanted and she did grow out of it. 

I know that no matter what people might say, I'm going to go on being a Disney geek but what about you? Do you think that Disney is putting down the little girls, making them think they have to marry the first prince that comes along and saves them? Or are we too hard on Disney? 


Ps. I wrote this while watching the recording of Rent on Broadway which is so amazing and you should all watch. But because of that I might have had some senseless mistakes with my spelling and grammar. Still it's an awesome show. 

]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/595003 the economy (and you) http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/594155 I just finished editing a story for my school's television station/public access channel, and it made me wonder...how is the current economic situation affecting all of you? It's really hard to understand some of the mumbo jumbo being spewed by the politicians and economists, although there are a few (more understandable) alternatives...thanks, Hank and John. (I'm also partial to this video of Hank's, but that's a whole different blog post waiting to happen.) But what is a far cry easier to grasp is the jobs being lost and the people being put out on the street, not to mention the budget cuts being made in school districts across the country. Regardless of your individual situation, as girls with interests spanning from the performing arts to math and science to sports and everything in between, we're all likely to see a change in what is available to us over the next few years.

So, I'm curious. What changes have you seen personally, in your life and those of people around you? What do you anticipate? ]]> Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/594155 "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/593443 (This is basically a continuation of the topic discussed by RandomLogic in this post.)
"It is a miracle..." Albert Einstein said those words and when I first read them a few months ago, I was startled by how much they rang true to me. As a public school student for nearly ten years at this point, the number of times I've heard words like these is really unfathomable: "On the test..." "Next year..." "In middle school/high school/college..."

Everything we do in school seems geared toward preparation for one thing: tests. Whether these are tests that will be given next week, or tests that will be given by the state at the end of the year, or tests that will be given in the next level of education, we are constantly preparing for them. We are always looking to what's coming next. In fifth grade, we had to write everything in cursive, since "In Middle School" (these things are said so much that they really should be capitalized that way) we would have to write everything in cursive. Throughout middle school math classes, we were chastised every time we forgot a pencil because "In High School" it would count against us as not being prepared for class. Now we need to do our research, format our essays, take notes, do everything in certain ways because that's how we'll need to do it "In College." But it's all centered around moving up and getting good grades. What will keep us moving along this education track we're expected to follow? How can we get good grades that reflect well on the school and get us into college?

In elementary, middle, even high school, that's fine. Just keep moving along and doing what you're told -- the most important choice I've had to make in the past month or so was probably whether to take comp sci or Shakespeare for my elective next year. And of course, I considered several things. a) Which will I enjoy more? b) Which will allow me to be exposed to more new things I've never learned before? c) Which will I be able to get a higher grade in?
...One of these is not like the others. Because for the past six years or so, grades have been increasingly important, and they will probably continue to grow even more important for another six-ish. But last year I realized something:
In life, there are no grades.
Basically, our education system is geared toward making us the best students it can. We're taught how to write perfectly structured essays, recite poetry and spell words, memorize dates and names of important events and people, and factor lots and lots of quadratics - essentially, how to get good grades. The goal, then, seems to be that by the time we finish first high school and ultimately (if we so choose) college, we will be perfect students. Unfortunately, at that point, it won't matter anymore.

So my question for you is this: Do you think school is preparing you for life, and in what ways?
(If you know what you want to do when you finish school, do you believe that you are learning skills and gaining knowledge that will help you achieve this goal? If not, do you think your classes and experiences are helping you reach a point where you will know what you are going to do?)

(Photo from UW-Madison website.)]]> Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/593443 Valentines Day http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/592987
Happy Valentines Day to all of you! 
Valentines day is such a happy day for many people, it's a day to celebrate love, its a day to eat chocolate and generally enjoy life. I love Valentines Day and though I don't really do anything special on it, it still makes me happy to see all of my friends and family celebrating.

1)  The thing that makes me sad is how much Valentines Day has become commercialized. It seems like it's becoming just another Hallmark holiday. It seems like most holidays have become excuses for people to spend money. Do you think holidays have become to  commercialized?

2) This holiday is also sort of a couples holiday. One of my friends calls it "Singles Awareness Day" Not that you people need a reminder but you don't need to be dating someone to enjoy the spirit of the day! You're awesome how you are. 

Happy Valentines Day!! <3

As a side note related to Valentines Day I wanted to include a poem my little sister wrote for me on Valentines Day when she was in 2nd grade.

Rose are red
Violets are blue
Surgar is sweet
And so are you 

But the roses are wilting
And the violets are dead
And the sugar is lumpy 
And so is your head

Happy Valentines Day Anyway Emma
Love Rebecca

]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/592987 Writing in Schools http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/592477
Perhaps it is just me, but I always feel that when I write for school, it is so fake. I say things like "Yet another reason that the rise of Christianity prompted the decent of Rome is that it embraced all types of people. "  It's not that I don't like to write, because I love to, it's that school stifles my creativity. At my school, we must write in a Steps Essay form. When I asked if I could experiment and use a different base for my paper, I was told that I would be to complicated for me. This upset me slightly. I have been writing since I was really little and going outside the box would only improve my writing. So, why then can't we write a little differently? I don't mean writing a narrative when they ask for an essay, I mean that I wouldn't block out every sentence of every paragraph. I would write as it came naturally, letting words flow onto the paper. But no, my school is still in the dark ages about writing. 

Do you have some teachers that are very strict about how you write? Have you been lucky enough to have a teacher that encourages writing of all types? Is school really helping us become better writers?

Ps. Before I entered high school, my writing teachers were amazing. They encouraged us to try new things, and taught all forms of writing. (One of them was recently named Teacher of the Year for my state) I've only encountered this "my way is the best way to write" in high school, so I can't say that all school writing is bad. 
]]> Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/592477 Texting Etiquette http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/592475
But what are the rules of texting etiquette?

How long is a polite span of time to respond to a text message?

Are there topics inappropriate to texting that would be appropriate to a phone call?

And one of my personal pet peeves: Is it considered rude to respond to a missed phone call with a text message?

These are just a few things I have been discussing with my friends while considering getting rid of unlimited texting.

What do you think about texting etiquette?]]> Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/592475 The Dangerous Game of Truth or Dare http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/586491
Hello Ladies! I'm pretty sure almost everyone has at sometime or another played a game called Truth or Dare. (If not, comment and I'm sure someone can explain.) I always loved this game and normally think that it is very fun. There are so many creative things that can be done and so many things to learn about people, especially if you don't know them too well.  However recently I realized how bad it can turn. What with peer pressure and reputations to uphold it doesn't take much. I don't feel the need to say much more, but just, be cautious. Never feel the need to answer a question you don't want to, just jokingly say "I don't want to talk about it."Don't do a dare if it makes you uncomfortable. Normally you can bargain into doing something else or if you have to, break up the party and quit. I don't want to spoil everyone's fun, I just know from experience and some intense truth or dare games, that you never want to do something you might regret in the morning. 

All that said, what are games you play with your people? Words of advice? Lessons that aren't to be learned the hard way?

]]> Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/586491 Some More Elizabeth Barrett Browning for the After-School Snack http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/585055 Sonnet 43

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

- Visit me at www.innovativeteen.blogspot.com]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/585055 The Future http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/584417
But this Monday I was bombarded with no fewer than seven (or was it eight?) emails from different colleges trying to explain why they would be a great fit for me. Um, hi? I'm a sophomore in high school who has no clue what kind of education she wants from her college. How is it that they know what a good fit for me would be when I don't know? But suddenly the pressure's on. The two years until I have to figure out where I'll be spending the following four suddenly seem much shorter. (I feel for you, Gabrielle!)

What do you girls think about the future...specifically, your futures? I'd elaborate more with the questions but my mom is yelling me to go eat dinner so I can get to one of my "extracurricular activities..." Colleges love 'em, right? Heh heh...]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/584417 Supergirls! http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/584419 Part 1. 
Have you ever been asked, "If you could have any superpower, what would it be?" I know that I have and I always love to hear other peoples answers. Some of my friends want to fly. Others want to change back the clocks so they have more time to work on things. A lot of people have told me that they'd want to be able to look into other peoples brains. Given there are a few people who's minds I'd love to read, but in general, I'd prefer not to know. I mean, there's no mystery that way. Besides, my mind is a private place that I don't wish for people to sort through.

If I were to have any super power, I would want to be fluent in every language. Some people tell me that's not a true power, but I think that to be able to do so, would basically take a super human. 

So what powers would you all have? 

Part 2. 
I know that many girls complain about the lack of female heroines. People say that all the super hero girls are pretty pathetic and dependent. They say that even when you do come across one who is capable, her proportions are all out of whack like the picture above. Thoughts?



]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:02:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/584419 Ophelia: Shakespeare "Fanfiction" http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/578395
Though I call myself a Potter fan, I haven't read the fanfiction to prove it. I know it's out there, but I'm not particularly interested in reading about what people think might have happened if Harry and Hermione had fallen in love (your ship sank books ago, people, get over it). Okay, so I'm not being entirely fair. There are some very interesting, very well-written fanfics out there, but they're just not my cup of tea.

That said, as a Shakespeare fan, I loved Lisa Klein's Ophelia. If you've read Hamlet, you'll recall Ophelia as a bit of a non-character. She's central to the plot, yes, but she doesn't have much substance, and just kind of drifts around, doing what the men in her life tell her to. Theories abound as to why - she was the topic of much, sometimes heated discussion in my English class as we read Hamlet. My English teacher, a fairly strong, independent woman herself, had little respect for Ophelia, as Ophelia seemed to have little respect for herself. My (predominantly female) English class offered many differing opinions - perhaps her father's overbearing nature took away her self-confidence, or her lack of a mother made her grow up unsure and insecure. Maybe she was pregnant or maybe she was faking it all.

But Klein's interpretation is by far my favorite. She shows Ophelia as her own person, and a fascinating one at that. Her bio says "Lisa Klein has always been dissatisfied with interpretations of Ophelia and, since Shakespeare is not alive today to write stronger female characters, she has taken it upon herself to breathe new life into Ophelia's story." And that she does, managing to fit her Ophelia nearly seamlessly in with Shakespeare's story, yet still making the characters her own.

I would never, ever recommend that anyone read any sort of fanfiction without reading what it's based on first, even "fanfiction" like Ophelia. Good news, though: Hamlet is online. You can find the full text any number of places to get a head start until you get a chance to head to the library or bookstore and pick up Ophelia. Because you should. It's a very worthwhile read.]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/578395 Facebook Frenzy http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/579483
I don't like it. I mean, it's super addictive, but it's extremely overwhelming! There's four things blinking at once and I never know who to talk to. Don't get me wrong, I'm a social person, I love people. I'm throughly enjoying finding my friends. But at the same time.. suddenly it seems like I am extremely exposed! It's a weird feeling. And yet I keep signing on just to see what's happening! Do y'all have facebook? Do you like it? Use it? Hate it?]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/579483 Bratz Dolls Make Girls Want Big Heads http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/577413
Bratz Dolls May Give Young Girls Unrealistic Expectations Of Head Size
At first I thought this movie was really just funny, I mean why would Bratz Dolls give people body image problems making them think their heads are to small? But then I watched more and it mad me really sad... I know that the whole thing that if Barbies and Bratz were human, they wouldn't really be able to be alive, but is it possible that some girls believe that's how they are supposed to look? To me the dolls were never anything more than a fun toy. But I guess that to some people, they are more. Is it really possible that our culture is sad enough that girls are growing up hitting themselves in the head with books to make their faces swell? 


(Also, sorry about the ale ad in the beginning. I don't believe there is a way to take it out because of the way it is but realize that I do in not in any way support underage drinking.) 

As Hannah pointed out, the video is from the Onion and everything there is a spoof, I just thought that it would be a good conversation starter because it is based so much on reality. But I guess that I should say this just so that no one truly believes it. 
]]> Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/577413 Inauguration http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/576221 Five o'clock in the morning, so early it shouldn't count as morning. Wearing four pairs of pants, seven shirts, and three sweaters it is still cold. As soon as we get to the Penn Station, I immediately wake up. Its a party! People dancing, singing, kissing, hugging people they didn't know, all overjoyed at the coming event. Clutching my commemorative ticket with Obama's face on it, we wove through the huge crowd that had turned out, literally hundreds and hundreds of people. After an hour on the train, we spill out into a packed Union Station and squeeze towards the doors. Vendors don't waste any time in trying to sell you anything and everything with Obama's face on it. Literally everything. Shirts, mugs, pins, bags, calenders, posters, bobble-heads, and- my favorite- boxers. (I resisted temptation and only bought one shirt, it had a baracktapus on it!!!) Camera in hand, we follow the crowd towards the mall. 3 hours later, we have finally made it to the mall, a trip involving walking the Lincoln Tunnel, circling the mall at least twice, and finally finding a shortcut through a museum all the while bending through crowds. We have pretty good seats, ahem sorry, standing room, we are only the second Jumbotron (huge screens set up from the Capitol to the Washington Monument) back from the Capitol, we can at least see and hear everything. Rick Warren speaks, Aretha Franklin sings, Yo-Yo Ma plays the cello. And then Barack Obama takes the stage. "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" and the crowd explodes. Tens of thousands of flags slice through the air, old women in wheelchairs are sobbing, little kids are screaming Obama's name. I felt so incredibly honored to be such a part of history. In two years, twenty years, two hundred years, this will be a defining moment in history. And to quote my favorite mug I saw, "I was there."]]> Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/576221 Linda Pastan and Leaving Home http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/574597
To a Daughter Leaving Home

When I taught you
at eight to ride
a bicycle, loping along
beside you
as you wobbled away
on two round wheels,
my own mouth rounding
in surprise when you pulled
ahead down the curved
path of the park,
I kept waiting
for the thud
of your crash as I
sprinted to catch up,
while you grew
smaller, more breakable
with distance,
pumping, pumping
for your life, screaming
with laughter,
the hair flapping
behind you like a
handkerchief waving
goodbye.

- Linda Pastan]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/574597 Inauguration Excitement!! http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/572719
I'm sure that tomorrow is the day many of you are anticipating and I'm know that there will be lots and lots more  news coming in the mere hours to come! In the mean time I am feeling sort of stalkerish in the best of ways. I am on CNN.com Live watching not only people talking about Obama but also all the crowds of people at National Mall and Obama at a community service luncheon! 

There are so many people expected to show up that even getting near DC is going to be crazy. I was so close to convincing my parents to let me go stay at my Uncle's office on Pennsylvania Avenue but they decided that there were to many people for that to be safe unless they escorted me which they can't take of work to do. Luckily for me, there is plenty of live coverage though!

Obama and Biden both believe that MLK day should be celebrated by doing something to benefit the community which is why I was able to watch Obama at the luncheon. I hope you are all as pumped as I am for the historic day that tomorrow will be!
~Emma
]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/572719 Foreign Language Films http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/571193
Have you girls seen any movies in other languages? Any recommendations?

(yes, this was a somewhat selfish post, but I'd love to hear your thoughts because a lot of people I know aren't especially big fans of movies that aren't in English. I'd be happy to share some of my favorites as well if anyone is interested.)]]> Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/571193 Music and Poetry and All That Jazz http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/569949 The relationship between music and poetry used to be hand-in-hand: if you liked music, you liked poetry and visa versa. Nowadays, rap is the closest hybrid we have. I read this poem this week in English class, and just fell in love with it.

The Guitarist Tunes Up

With what attentive courtesy he bent

Over his instrument;
Not as a lordly conqueror who could
Command both wire and wood,
But as a man with a loved woman might,
Inquiring with delight
What slight essential things she had to say
Before they started, he and she, to play.

- Frances Conford

Wow.

Visit Gabrielle at www.innovativeteen.blogspot.com for musings on poetry, writing, life and an awesome interview with Tina Ferraro this Saturday.]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/569949 Pshh.. Secrets http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/568981 January is always kind of a drab time of year. The snow is old and gray, it's evilly cold. We have finals and there's only February break and Valentine's Day to look forward too. Now, the combo
of these plus rehearsals, bad news, and a kind-of cold, has brought me way down. Which is a feat because I'm generally a very peppy happy person. I don't like to not be happy. So throughout my day I've found little glimmers of light and fun! Just thought I'd pass them on...

Post Secret...This is an absolutely delightful idea.
You have to see it for yourself. So click the title of this post.
Walking in the cold...with someone! My ultimate torture
is to be cold. Which I get easier. But a brutally early morning seems
so much better, so much warmer, when you have someone to share it with.
Naturally Curly... If you have even remotely curly hair, check this out.
I have wicked curly hair, and while this site is intense, it's a great resource/community/help.
"I Believe" by R Kelly... Yet another Obama song.
But regardless of politics, this song is inspirational. And a super
bright ray of sunshine for late night studying.
TV with your little sibs... Or any younger than...
Or older than. My sister and I watched American Idol together,
and it was amazing.
Overpriced Warm Drinks... Yes I know there seems to be a theme here.
But I really hate cold above all else.
Perspective... Don't lose yours. Very few things constitute the end of the world.
Your finals are important but take a break and read a really good book.
I promise you can talk on the phone with a good friend for an hour and
you'll feel much better. Get out of the groove, see old friends.
Super exciting... My resolution this year was to write every day.
In keeping with that.. I've started my own little blog. Just whatever I feel like writing.
Check it out! (Yes you've seen the newest post there before)

So, I'll sign off now because I'm much to cold. Keep hopeful, keep happy, keep warm!

]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/568981 Tips for those Scary Times http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/567315
Yesterday I spent a good chunk of the day at auditions. I love acting, singing, dancing, and I have no problem getting up in front of people to do so. But auditions? They always make me nervous. But you never want to go onstage to an audition looking like a nervous wreck so over time I've worked out things that work for me to do to calm down. 

1. One breath in, two breaths out. Slowing down your breathing, not only makes you look more together but also makes you feel more confident.

2. Drink water. You want to make sure that you stay well hydrated, especially because a lot of theaters are really dry. A note of caution on this one though, make sure you don't drink to much because you really don't want to be running to the bathroom right before it's your turn. 

3. Practice, practice, practice. But then on the day of, give yourself a break. You already know what your doing and could do so in your sleep, so just give it a break and let what happens happen. 

4. Don't set your standards too high. I know it's hard not to want the very best but we are young and have our whole lives to do amazing things. Just realize that every audition is practice and the more we put our selves out there the better we get!

5. Imagine. Think of two people who will love you no matter what happens and put them at the back of the house. They could be your grandparents, parents, best friends, or dogs. Say what ever you're saying to them, sing what ever you're singing for them. Do your best not because it's an audition but because you want them to see you doing well.  

6. Most importantly, Don't worry. Go out there and rock it! What happens happens. Go with the flow and know that's all you can do. 

  I wrote this list from personally experience not as an exert or anything. I made as inspiration from auditions yesterday but I think most of it could be applied to any stressful situation. 

Because you are all such amazingly talented people, I'm sure you have some advice of your own and I'd love to hear it so go ahead and comment away. 

]]> Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/567315 Some Elizabeth Barrett Browning for the Morning http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/565921 Sonnet 28
My letters! all dead paper, mute and white!
And yet they seem alive and quivering
Against my tremulous hands which loose the string
And let them drop down on my knee tonight.
This said—he wished to have me in his sight
Once, as a friend: this fixed a day in spring
To come and touch my hand. . . a simple thing,
Yes I wept for it—this . . . the paper's light. . .
Said, Dear, I love thee; and I sank and quailed
As if God's future thundered on my past.
This said, I am thine—and so its ink has paled
With lying at my heart that beat too fast.
And this . . . 0 Love, thy words have ill availed
If, what this said, I dared repeat at last!

- www.poets.org]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/565921 Reflections on the Gaza/Israeli Conflict http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/564777 Snowflake

As you may have heard, the situation in Gaza and Israel is less than ideal. Israel is dropping a barrage of bombs and missiles into the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the rockets that the terrorist group Hamas has been sending into southern Israel for months. I’ll let you know that I am writing this article from a pro-Israel point of view, and it is purely an opinion piece. But before we talk about what is happening today in Gaza and Israel, it’s important to understand some key history.

The Gaza Strip is a small piece of land (Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey, so that makes Gaza pretty teeny) with a high population density that is inhabited by not only Palestinians, but the terrorist group Hamas. Israel captured Gaza in 1967, but due to violence, Israel pulled troops and all Israelis out of the Strip in 2005. It was previously ruled by the more moderate Palestinian group, Fatah, but now Hamas is in control. Still, Hamas has been relentlessly pelting southern Israel with rockets, including cities like Sderot, Ashdod, and Be’er Sheva. So Israel decided that enough is enough. While pursuing diplomacy and more peaceful forms of settling the conflict, Israel launched a surprise attack on Gaza, aiming to destroy Hamas once and for all.

This has sparked enormous criticism around the world, mostly coming from Europe and the U.N., who claimed it was a “disproportionate” response to Hamas’s terrorism, as well as many other anti-Israel sentiments. Meanwhile, as the Israeli Air Force attacked Gaza, Hamas continued sending missiles into southern Israel. My friend lives outside of Be’er Sheva, and her town was hit by a missile! But we can’t forget about the situation back in the Gaza Strip. The death toll is rising, and Israel recently bombed the house of a key Hamas leader, killing him and some of his family members. Israel is doing everything it can to prevent civilian deaths, but because Hamas refuses to build shelters and alarm systems, unfortunately some women and children are being wounded and killed. Despite the fact that Israel has proclaimed that a 48-hour cease-fire would be harmful to Israel, they are keeping all options on the table. Contrary to public opinion, Israel is shuttling Gazans to Israeli hospitals to be treated, and they are strongly considering allowing humanitarian aid into the Strip.

But here’s what frustrates me about the U.N. response: since Hamas is deliberately targeting civilians whereas Israel is combating a terrorist group, isn’t Hamas committing the war crimes? As a sovereign nation, Israel reserves the right to protect and defend its people, and isn’t that what it’s doing now? But what I’m really wondering is what you girls have to say about the crisis in Gaza. Have you been following it? If so, what are your opinions on the subject? Do you believe that Israel should cease all military operations in the Gaza Strip, or do you think they should fight to the bitter end?]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/564777 A Poem http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/563377 Patiently.
Quietly.

My dog lays at the top of the stairs.
And he pretends to nap
but I know he's awake.

My dog hears my foot steps.
He stands and yawns.
He stretchs and looks back.
"are you coming?"

My dog waits until I'm down the hall.
To make sure I'm really going to bed.
Then he bounds up the stairs,
and into bed, already asleep.]]> Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:01:00 -0500 http://juliabnewmoon.tigblog.org/post/563377