slam poets

I have neglected to update for a while, so I will tell you what I've been doing.

Tonight my brother was talking to me about poetry. He had an assignment to write a short narrative piece and was having a hard time deciding what to do. As a rule, he does not like or understand what he calls 'English major' poetry. Occasionally after one of my literature classes I'll have him read what we've been studying; I think I've subjected him to some T. S. Eliot and Hart Crane. We've argued (or rather, discussed) differing opinions on the worth of work like theirs. Earlier I made him read a few Shakespeare sonnets and a Robert Frost piece called 'Stars' so he could understand something about different forms and et cetera. He ended up writing about a sailor in old spain. After, I youtube'd up some of my favorite slam poets--Taylor Mali, Katie Makkai--to show him that not all poetry lies in that box of stuff he doesn't like. He really liked Mali.

I love it when these poets get fired up and in the moment with their work. They're brilliant. Even the hard-to-get poems come to life in a good slam poet. There is just a vibrance of emotion that comes across, and a meaning communicated that otherwise escapes. 

I am just here to share a little bit of what I love. Enjoy. :)

(Slight language warning)

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Book Review: The Lathe of Heaven

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Amazing

Something--or rather someone--really cool happened this morning! A best friend of mine had her first baby! His name is Steven, and he was born 21 in long and weighing 8.1 lbs. Look at his cute little cheeks. :D Congratulations to his parents! You two are going to be so good for this little guy.

When I woke up this morning for school I got the news. The baby idea had been a bit abstract before today. But now that he's actually here, the thought that a new life just started... Life is brilliant. I can't even begin to comprehend the miracle that is a new soul in the world. God made something pretty amazing. 

We're all moving into a new stage of life, gradually, one at a time. My mind is truly blown. The future. Wow. 

Well, that's all I had to say today. I can't wait to meet this little guy. :D Except I'm not so good with babies. Oops.

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Public higher education on its last breath?

Last year there was a huge uproar at my school and all through the state. The community college system (as well as the UC's and CSU's) took budget cuts of couple million dollars. Of course, the first things to go were teachers, programs--we even lost whole departments at my school. This year it is coming again: another 4 Million needs to be dropped from our budget for this fall.

Now, everyone gets it. Times are hard. However, a lot of the frustration and bad blood between students and directors has been justified. Why? Our administrators are making close to $150,000 a year salary. That's pretty close to the salary of our state governor.

Last year we dropped journalism, anthropology, recording arts and film. Teachers across all subjects were 'let go'. We lost a single dean, and a few administrative employees. And these higher-ups? Took a hit for us of about $1000 dollars from their salary. They now make approximately $149000. All of this, while they are currently constructing a new technology department, a new science building, a new agriculture building, and a new parking lot. (But the about-four-year-old recording and film departments are standing empty.)

I seriously hope I can find some way to afford a private education when I transfer out of here. There are entire groups of students in my classes that had to pick a new major because of all of this--some of them were almost done, too. Priorities definitely need to be reordered around here. Or at least we need to find  budgeters that can actually do their job. Not all of our schools are in this mess. There are some SoCal schools just like mine who have been contacted this year to comment on their budget. They're doing just fine. Even had a surplus. What's wrong CA?

If you want to know specific numbers, here's an article from a newspaper in YCCD district: YCCD bracing for more deep cuts Continue reading →

translation?

It is interesting to look back at old posts and videos and see myself in the past. I wonder how I was that young, or so changeable. Is this an oscillation that I go through or am I really growing? I won't be able to tell at this point for another year or so, and what happens then?

Some day I'm going to sit down with a psychologist. There are so many things about myself that I don't understand the reasons for. I want to ask someone who knows what qualities are usual and which ones are not. I've always suspected..

I'm still learning myself. I don't think I'll ever be done.

Posts like this crop up when I've spent weekends sick. Never mind me. Continue reading →