Fan Etiquette: A List of ways to be a Respectful Fan

    Fans, sigh. Fans frustrate me and seeing as I am a huge fangirl, I spend a lot of time, and I mean A LOT of time with other fans. Fans are their own special breed of people, sometimes obsessive and too emotionally involved with the lives fictional characters or real people. And, take it from me, being a fan is maddening, especially dealing with other fans. Of course, dealing with other fans doesn't have to be unbearable, in fact, you get lucky and meet super nice friends all the time. (Stephanie, Ruth, Grace, and Becca). However, sometimes you end up meeting other fans that are less than respectful. Fans need to be respectful because, let's face it your favorite author, or your favorite actor, or your favorite director doesn't owe you a thing. Not a single thing, so as a fan, you must respect their privacy and their choices. Now, in theory, that doesn't seem all that hard but for a lot of people, it is.
      It's May and that can only mean one thing in fan world (also known as Tumblr), it's finale season! All the TV shows are having their finales and then going on hiatus, and as soon as the last episode airs, most fans descend into madness. So logically, the most crazy and disrespectful month for fans this year has been May. Oh May, you have not been kind to us. Fans have lost their minds and most certainly their manners. There is no chance in h-e-double hockey sticks that we'll all make it out of summer hiatus, if we fans don't make a set of guidelines/rules. Now, if you'd told me in April that these would be necessary, I would've laughed in your face, because all the rules I'm about to put down are common sense! I'm honestly disgusted that I have to write this at all.
So without further ado:

Top 4 Rules for Being a Respectful Fan During Hiatus

1. Don't Send Death Threats to Show-runners: Anyone who runs a show has a huge target on their back, no matter what! The best example of this is Steven Moffat, perhaps the most hated man to work at the BBC. Moffat is currently the show-runner of Doctor Who and Sherlock, and you'd think people even like his shows, he is beyond disrespected!

Fans scream at him for being sexist, homophobic, and racist when he wrote a very liberal sitcom, Coupling, which was edgy thirteen years, and maybe even now. It wasn't ashamed of sex and openly displayed gay characters. (Plus other social issues). To be frank, this man is nowhere near Conservative, racist, homophobic, or sexist. It must be noted that just because you don't like how he wrote the strong female character, doesn't mean he's sexist! (JUST FYI.) In 2012, Steven Moffat was run off social media by death threats and constant hate. That's not ok. People shouldn't feel so threaten that they can't use social media. Fans we're supposed to be the good guys, don't assault the people who run your favorite show, because, honestly sometimes it's not their fault. Sometimes they have to push back release dates because the star of the show is busy filming The Hobbit. Grow up.

2. Don't Send Death Threats to Spouse's: Why would you think this would be a good idea? EVER? Do you think your celebrity crush thinks it's cute when you send things like, "get cancer and die" and "I'm gonna murder you" to their spouse? Life lesson: They will not fall in love with you, they will be mad that you're threatening their family. This post says it all, although be warned there may be profanity.
3. Don't Ask Celebrities at the Hospital for a Picture. EVER: A few weeks back, Jared Padalecki (Supernatural, Gilmore Girls), left a fan convention early after his sister-in-law got in a bad car crash. People have been supportive of him and his family generally, except someone did ask him for a picture at the hospital. Now, I don't know how they asked or when or how they even found him, but if you don't know and he's in the middle of a family emergency, now is not the time to approach, to ask for a picture of all things. Just no. (It should be noted that no one, or at least no one I've talked to, knows where this picture comes from, so for all I know it could've been harmless. But still, don't ask for pictures at hospitals.)
4. If an Actor sets limits, respect them: Actors (and other members of a TV crew) can be gracious and spend time with fans at conventions and other functions. Some celebrities willingly devote time to their fans, even if it means being away from their families. Sometimes they'll do question panels or sometimes they'll do performance. Either way, if they set some sort of limit, you should respect it. If they don't hate to be asked certain questions about a panel because it makes them uncomfortable. That's ok. If they want you to refrain from anything for the sake of their privacy or their comfort, that's ok and within their rights. Remember they're human after all.

     So that's it that's my list. It's not all the rules, just some that I think the general public would benefit from being reminded of. I wrote this list for my peers, who seem to have lost their manners these days, and I hope those manners return to them soon. Because, honestly, celebrities are human beings and they owe us nothing. The fact that they connect with their fans at all should be seen as an honor, and us fans shouldn't disrespect them or their families ever. Would you do that to someone you know? No. So why would it be ok to do it to someone in the public eye?

CAP Hollywood Reflection: Week Three

    Another week, even more challenges! We're rapidly approaching the end of CAP Hollywood, which instead of being exciting, it's actually terrifying. Why?
It's terrifying because when you're making a movie, nothing can ever go your way, EVER. I feel like I must have the equivalent of saying Macbeth in a theatre to our film, because each day, nay each minute, it seems that our film has a new problem.
Last Week Problems:

• I wasn't given any instructions on how and where to search for music. This is extremely problematic because if the writer/director and editors don't communicate the tone they've created with the rest of the crew, the crew will be on a blind manhunt... and that's what I spent days doing last week, only to have all my music deemed unusable. Of course, I wasn't aware the music was unusable because no one told what to look for and I was given no instruction. All I had to work with was the idea of a dystopia, which I think we can all agree is subjective. What reminds me of a dystopia doesn't always remind my group members of a dystopia. Hence our music dilemma, hence the need for the director to give instructions. (As you can tell this didn't frustrate me at all. Also, my job isn't technically music.) 
• Our group has serious communication issues. I spent a majority of the week looking through really bad sound effects, FOR A SCENE THAT WAS CUT WITHOUT MENTIONING IT TO ANY OTHER GROUP MEMBERS. However, no mentioned to me or any of my other groups members that we had basically dropped all of Act 2 and one of the most pivotal scenes of our film in the trash can. It was very considerate of my group members.
• No really, the people in the editing suite just don't attempt to direct us or update us on anything and I may cry. 

This Week's Problem:  

  However, it's no longer last week, now it's this week which means so much more drama! But this week, I think we only have one serious problem. 

• As of Friday, all of our audio has been deemed unusable! (This makes me cry a lot.) We have the choice to make our film all voice overs or narration. This is extremely problematic because our main character is played by a working adult who should not be taken out of work just to act in a high school film that he appeared in, without pay. This man has already sacrificed his time. I think it's really unfair to expect and ask for him to put his LIFE and CAREER on hold for a four minute film. (I just feel very strongly about this.) Secondly, voice overs would be nearly impossible to achieve with our variety of shots and dialogue heavy clips. If we attempted to voice overs, I think it would like a five year old made our film, an undesirable effect. Secondly, unless someone actually has a plan by tomorrow, it is highly unlikely that we could pull off a narration only film, but maybe we could? But again, that would require making someone miss work to be a part of our film. Our situation just has no winning. Well, I mean maybe it does and my group has updated me. They tend to do that. 

So, this update and reflection seem quite mean- spirited, but i'd like to defend myself I spent days working to find sounds for a scene that no could bother to mention to me was cut. I was never given instructions on any of my tasks and everything I did was vetoed. So now, I have to do the same thing this week with, again, no instructions. No one is communicating and our audio has been killed by the powers that be and I'm watching a thought provoking film die. It's not a good situation and it's very stressful, and I think I'm loosing my mind. 

BUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE STEPHANIE'S POSTER IS AMAZING.

Criminal Murder Reflection

We are approaching the end of CAP Hollywood soon, and our films and posters are in good shape. Last week, I was absent for a majority of our class, so I wasn’t able to to contribute much to our film, but this week I was present and able to work. This week I looked for music for our film, Criminal Murder. It’s always a bit challenging to find music for a film, especially in a dystopian film where the director has no idea what type of music they want featured in the film, but I digress. So I’ve been playing it by ear. Like most times I’ve gone on the Free Music Archives, I found looks of low quality songs, that could never possibly fit with my film, mostly because of it sounds like white noise. However, I did come across a few good artist in the Free Music Archives, and the most memorable is Dexter Britain. Dexter, who lives in Britain, is a self-taught composer and pianist, kind of like an English Tim Minchin, minus all the profanity. He's ridicously talented and you can learn all about him here. Anyway, Dexter Britain has a few good songs that I think could be used in our film, like Going Under and From Truth.

  After finding a few quality pieces for the score, by Dexter Britain and others, I looked for sound effects, and full disclosure, I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life. Most of the sound effects for "riots" and "screaming" on FreeSound are not intimidating in the slighest, instead they are quite laughable. But there are some sound effects we can work with, mind none of them are every believable, so my search continues. All in all, I think that our film is progressing well and that Stephanie's poster is astounding!

 

  

  

Is Killing Off a Character Too Much?: A Smash Review

     I've finally caught up with NBC's Smash, a show that’s tagline should literally be, "Well at least we tried." Which sucks because Smash had one of the strongest pilots I've seen in years, now fans of the show are patiently awaiting a decision on the show's renewal. Though in the spirit of full disclosure, most Smash fans have become cynical Smash critics who question whether or not the show should be given a third season at all.  

     Smash centers around the behind the scenes of making a Broadway musical, Bombshell. Bombshell is a musical about Marilyn Monroe, written by partners Julia Houston (Debra Messing) and Tom Levitt (Christian Borle). Eileen Rand (Anjelica Huston) is the show's producer and the musical's initial director is Derek Wills (Jack Davenport). Throughout the first season, the creative team come together to find the perfect Marilyn all while continuously rehearsing their somewhat bland script. The two contenders for Marilyn are Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) and Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee). But that was just season one, now we have embarked on this little train wreck we in the Smash fandom like to call "season two." Season Two has introduced us to a few new characters and a whole new up and coming musical, Hit List. 

        Hit List is a currently off-Broadway pop/rock musical written by Kyle Bishop (Andy Mientus) and Jimmy Collins (Jeremy Jordan). Hit List is the story of, "reaching fame in this era, and what it takes to get there." The musicals are now kind of rivals, but not really. Now, Derek Wills is directing Hit List and Karen Cartwright is starring in Hit List. Basically, Smash is trying to make Hit List into Rent. (Spoiler: They aren't succeeding.)

      The reason I want to talk about Smash is The Dead Poets Society. I know that sentence probably made no sense at all, but let me explain. Last week, we watched The Dead Poets Society in English class. In The Dead Poets Society, one of the protagonists takes their own life, and when we discussed this film as a class, a few of my classmates said that the death of a student was unnecessary. They argued that someone getting expelled would have been a better catalyst, however I disagreed. I think the the catalyst in The Dead Poets Society needed to have such high stakes. I think the character death in this film was effective, however that's not always the case, and that is what brings me to Smash. Smash has really done it this time, they've killed one of the show's only likable characters, Kyle Bishop. What I want to do is analyze whether or not this sudden character death on Smash was worth it? Were the stakes high enough? etc. etc.  

    Kyle Bishop didn't look both ways while crossing the street and got hit by a car. Now, he is dead. It was actually really sad, especially in context, but whatever. So now Hit List has its matyr and with its increased attention and support, it can make the jump to Broadway super quickly. Maybe even in time for Tony Nominations! If this whole doesn't scream Jonathan Larson I don't even know what does? I mean, this is basically the story of Rent. Not really, but still. Young talented writer dies unexpectedly and his show becomes super popular and goes to Broadway? Nice, O.K. Smash. I have a few problems with this death. 

1. Kyle didn't need to die. If Hit List is as good as the character say it is, they had a chance of getting to Broadway that season, considering the Anjelica Huston keeps mentioning that tons and tons of other musicals are dropping like flies. 
2. Kyle was much more likable than Jimmy ever was. Jimmy is an isolent little boy who gets mad when the Olivier and Tony Winning director tells him how to act. Boohoo Jimmy, the reason Derek tells you how to act the part is because he's the director. Jimmy is basically the Hulk. (I will be calling him the Hulk from now on). 
3. Heck, the writers could've gotten Hit List to Broadway much easier, if they didn't make the Hulk blow a performance in front of a bunch of powerful theatre executives, Kyle wouldn't be dead and fans would hate Hulk less.
4. Oh, and I think it's a little cheap to be exploiting Jonathan Larson's tragic death for Smash, especially when so many actors from the original cast of Rent appear on Smash. I hope the writers at least gave Daphne Rubin Vega and Jesse L. Martin a heads up, which I assume they did because they gave Andy Mientus (Kyle Bishop) one. But you never know, and the thing is recreating that day for them, almost down to the very last detail might have been ridiculously hard for those cast members. So, I just think it was in poor taste. 

     I think Kyle dying in Smash is a lot different than having Neil commit suicide in The Dead Poets Society. For one, the writers didn't exactly write themselves into a corner here, there were many ways to get Hit List to Broadway in time to compete with Bombshell at the Tony's. They choose the option, that in my opinion, was the least tasteful. For what? They created a super unlikeable character, and now they hope to redeem the Hulk with the death of his friend. I think its cheap, there could've been so many different solutions to these characters problems. Not every fan will agree with me here, and I respect that. But unlike The Dead Poets Society, the stakes on Smash are typically not life or death. 

   Tom Schulman created a masterpiece with The Dead Poets Society, but the writers of Smash did not. Honestly, they wasted one of their most likable characters, a character that had so much potential. A character that had just gotten a backbone too! I think its out of place in Smash and super cheap to basically just  cut and paste the story of Rent into Smash and use it as a way to propel all the love triangles. And that's all I have to say really. 

Oh. 

  Except I did like this one part. Bombshell dimmed the lights on their marquee for Kyle. It was actually really touching. The clip starts at 3:35. All the characters put aside their issues, for like ten minutes, and I thought it was great. It reminded of Season One when everyone was on the same team, and it occurred to me just now that they still are. They're all still friends. So I guess two good things came out of this episode, a tribute to Kyle and a reminder that at the end of the day, the people on Smash actually do care about each other. 

Scientology is not a Misnomer

     Two weeks ago, in English class, we were having a discussion about The Catcher in the Rye and religion came up in the class discussion. At some point, our conversation somehow made its way to Scientology. Which is always fun especially if you believe it's acceptable to mistreat people on the basis of their religious briefs. Anyway, like most conversations about Scientology, it went downhill fast. Even faster than normal. An uniformed classmate noted that Scientology was not a religion, citing that it was stupid. They then added that "Church" of Scientology was a misnomer because Scientology is a cult. Oh man, there was a lot of ignorance in that room let me tell you.To be fair, many people are ignorant about Scientology. So recently, the Church of Scientology pulled a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and started making, "And I'm a Scientologist" videos. But the public seems to have ignored both campaigns because they'd rather talk about magic underwear and Tom Cruise.

So what is Scientology?Well,  it is a RELIGION. Scientology is a tax exempt religion in the United States, Italy, South Africa, Australia,  Sweden, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain. So, at least legally, Scientology is a religion. Deal with it. The Church of Scientology can find its roots in L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics. Dianetics was Hubbard's self held system and it was established as a religion in 1953.
Core Beliefs:
So, now that we've established what Scientology is, what do its adherents believe? 
The core belief of Scientology is, "Man is an immortal spiritual being. His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime. His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized." (Church of Scientology). 
Thetans and the Nature of Man 
A thetan is you essentially, kind of like a soul. A man is different from his body and mind, he is a soul or thetan. A thetan is the subject of reincarnation and it has lost memory of its true nature. 



The Eight Dynamics: Surviving  


The first dynamic is self, "This is the effort to survive as an individual, to be an individual." 
The Second dynamic is creativity, "Creativity is making things for the future and the Second Dynamic includes any creativity. The Second Dynamic contains the family unit and raising children as well as anything that can be categorized as a family activity. It also, incidentally, includes sex as a mechanism to compel future survival."
The third dynamic is group survival,"This is the urge to survive through a group of individuals or as a group. It is group survival with the group tending to take on a life and existence of its own." This can be any sort of group coworkers, family or friends. 
The fourth dynamics is species, "Man’s Fourth Dynamic is the species of Mankind. This is the urge toward survival through all Mankind and as all Mankind." This is everyone not just a group, this is all human beings. 
The fifth dynamic is life forms, "This is the urge to survive as life forms and with the help of life forms such as animals, birds, insects, fish and vegetation."
The sixth dynamic is physical universe, "The physical universe has four components. These are matter, energy, space and time. The Sixth Dynamic is the urge of the physical universe to survive, by the physical universe itself and with the help of the physical universe and each one of its component parts."
The seventh dynamic is spiritual dynamic and it is, "...the urge to survive as spiritual beings or the urge for life itself to survive...The Seventh Dynamic is life source."
The eighth dynamic is infinity which is, "The Eighth Dynamic also is commonly called God, the Supreme Being or Creator, but it is correctly defined as infinity. It actually embraces the allness of all. That is why, according to L. Ron Hubbard, “when the Seventh Dynamic is reached in its entirety, one will only then discover the true Eighth Dynamic.” This is discovering the divine. 

Auditing
Auditing is spiritual counseling practiced within the Church of Scientology. 

Inside a Church of Scientology 
The Church of Scientology is called a cult, well, all of time. Below, I've linked a video that exhibits the main activities within a Church of Scientology studying and learning.



    I could go on and on, but like most belief systems, it would take hours to cover it all. It is a complex belief, one that is based primarily on the individual. Scientology is a religion, whether or not you believe in it doesn't matter. Because, at the end of the day, who are you tell someone they're beliefs are wrong? Frankly, you're no one and you're words aren't intelligent. They just make you look like an idiot.
    I want to end this post by talking about South Park, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Parker and Stone have made countless jokes about Mormon culture (its kind of a bubble) and theology. But at the end of the day, Stone and Parker are fascinated by LDS theology and are in some respects, Mormon apologists. Mormons have deemed the South Park episode, "All About Mormons," to be, ""unexpectedly, our best treatment." Why? Because the LDS/Mormon characters in this episode were nothing but compassionate and respectful, and at the end of the episode when they are judged for their religion, "Gary" gives the children an ultimatum. When you can't see past someone's religion, you have a lot of growing up to do. And we do have of growing up to do, after all we're only high schoolers. But its about now that we need to learn that our love and tolerance shouldn't be exclusive. If our love is exclusive, then we are not really open minded. So love one another, that's all I ask. Dont't knock people down because they're different. 
Sexuality
Religion
Race
Wealth-
It doesn't matter. Love and look beyond the things you don't a agree with because compromise is just a part of this life. 
L. Ron Hubbard said at least one thing right, "To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.” 

West End's Finest

Things I’ve Learned Over the Past Week:
1. President Hamid Karzai really doesn’t like the United States.
2. Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito might be getting back together.
3. There is a musical based on Roald Dahl’s Matilda.
4. The musical is really really good.
5. Tim Minchin wrote this musical and it’s for kids.

This week, I will writing about my new favorite musical, Matilda: The Musical. I watch Glee, and this may make you question my taste in, well everything, but Matilda is flawless. Just flawless, let me explain. The musical is adapted from Rolad Dahl's children's book of the same name, about a young genius, neglected by her family, who must stand up for herself and stop her principal, the Trunchbull's, reign of tyranny. She also helps her teacher, Miss Honey, regain her true inheritance from her wicked aunt. Along the way, she makes good friends, with students and teachers alike, and in the end she finds the loving home she's always wanted. I loved this book as a child and many of my friends did too, like Becca. It's only now that the text truly disturbs me, the amount of child abuse in this children's book is kind of terrifying, but I still love it. So, when I found out the West End musical was coming to Broadway this Spring I got super excited.

Source

     Matilda: The Musical, premiered in Stratford-upon-Avon at the Royal Shakespeare Company. The book is written by Dennis Kelly and the music and lyrics were written by Tim Minchin. After success at the RSC, the production transferred to the West End in 2011. The show won a record breaking SEVEN Olivier Awards in 2012, and now the show is currently in previews at the Shubert Theatre in New York. I bet it will sweep the Tonys this year, and if not eligible this year, it will next year. The musical's plot closely follow the book's plot. Today, I shall review its music.
     Act 1 opens with the song, "Miracle", where schoolchildren discuss their parent's adoration, compared to Matilda whose parents thinks she is a louse. They believe she less important than their reality tv shows. I like this song, Minchin does a good job setting up the story and not only introducing but characterizing the characters. We understand their motives and emotions.

 
Next up, is "Naughty", a solo by Matilda, where she decides to get back at her bullying parents. This is one of my favorite songs in the show because its fun and has references to the classics like, Romeo and Juliet. Matilda begins to stand up for herself and I really can't articulate how funny and cute this song is.

Then, it's the show-stopping "School Song", which very cleverly uses the alphabet throughout its lyrics. Just take a listen. It's so cool. Did you catch the alphabet? Did you? Man, Tim Minchin is a lyrical genius. And its fun to listen to! Plus, it helps introduce the audience to Matilda's main antagonist, the sadistic schoolmaster.


Next is "Pathetic" which admittedly gets lost in the hoopla of awesome that is the first act. But it still outlines Miss Honey's motives clearly and the song has a clear purpose, truly helping the plot move forwards! Also the foreshadowing.



The fifth track is the track introducing the Trunchbull, our antagonist and it is awesome! It's called "The Hammer." Bertie Carvel's (Trunchbull) vocals and Minchin's lyrics. A dream team. This is actually one of my favorite songs in the show. It introduces the Trunchbull and her philosophy very well, plus it showcases her relationship with Miss Honey well. And again I say, foreshadowing! Wow. It's just so choice. I'd recommend that you actually listen to this one.



After, "The Hammer", comes Matilda's mother's time to shine,  also her dance partner is there too. This number is loud, and its appropriately titled, "Loud." Its gives a nice comparison of what Matilda's has, neglectful, vain parents to what she wants, a nice and caring parent, like Miss Honey.



Next, after Miss Honey's confrontation with the Wormwood's, is the song "This Little Girl." Its somewhat like a ballad, but it is brilliant. The lyrics themselves stand out and build off of Miss Honey's first number, "Pathetic". In this song, she reaffirms that she is powerless and pathetic, but she will do all she can to help the neglected Matilda. Maybe its the lyrics, or the vocals, or the orchestration, but this song gives me the chills. Definitely a highlight of Act 1. Also the musical foreshadowing!!!!



Now, it is time for the Act 1 Finale, entitled "Bruce." If you've seen or read Matilda, you may remember that a kid named Bruce ate the Trunchbull's cake and has to eat a whole cake. I like this song, Carvel remains a flawless Trunchbull and its super catchy, but for some reason it doesn't stick out to me. But its still a great song, it just doesn't pop out quite as much as "The Hammer", but its still a really good group number.



Now we open Act 2 with "Telly". It's a quick little song about the pros of tv and the cons of books. Its a funny and charming way to start the Act, and considering that the show is much more serious in the second act. The humor is appreciated.



After "Telly", the act really gets going with "When I Grow Up", which is my second favorite song in the show. It's childish, yet thought provoking. It reminds me off elementary school and what I thought being an adult meant. Its nostalgic in all the right ways. Its fantasy and reality meeting in the middle to create something truly awe inspring.



Get ready to get punched in the gut, because "I'm Here" is a really effective tearjerker. It is also the song that most directly deals with child abuse in the show. It's pretty heavy, its the story of the Trunchbull and Miss Honey, and if you know the story already, you must know exactly what you're walking into here. A father and daughter comfort each other in the midst of an evil aunt's abuse, the song ends with a crescendo in a fit of rage. There are almost no words for this one, every performance rips aparts your heart.



After the roller coaster that is "I'm Here", comes "The Smell of Rebellion". Like "Bruce", its a solid group number, but not the show's most memorable. However, Carvel and the ensemble really do bring their a game. This could never be called a bad song.



Now, it is time for my favorite song, "Quiet." My love of this song is more personal than anything really, but I just know exactly how Matilda feels during this ballad. It is like Tim Minchin grabbed my very own soul and turned it into one of the most beautiful songs in musical theatre. Minchin is a genius, he may be an "Offensive comedian", but the man is really truly a gifted genius.



     We have arrived at "My House", another tearjerker sung by Miss Honey. Its really about how Miss Honey has overcome the abuse inflicted by Trunchbull and how she is content with her life as it is. It brings her story full circle, she is Matilda's beacon of hope and better parent than her parent's ever will be. Not to mention the beauty of Lauren Ward's voice, thank goodness she and Carvel hopped the pond for Broadway.


    We have reached the penultimate song, "Revolting Children." Its loud and it is UNASHAMED, which makes it absolutely perfect. It's a solid song sung by the children celebrating their freedom, essentially it is their battle cry, Plus it has some fun spelling, just like the "School Song."


And finally, we have reach the finale, "When I Grow Up (Reprise)" which contains all the charm and nostalgia of the first "When I Grow Up." It has the spunk of "Naughty" and kindly reminds us all to get involved in out own lives.

All I really have to say about this show and its soundtrack is that is that it is amazing! Tim Minchin is a lyrical genius, and that's all for now.

National Latin Exam Time!

     It's going to be a crazy week! We are starting foreign policy congress and this Tuesday morning  I'm taking the National Latin Exam. I have quite the love/hate relationship with Latin and this is my last taking Latin, which means this is my last year to do well on the Latin exam. (Only enrolled students may take the exam). So today I want to talk about Latin and the Latin exam to pump myself up for this exam Tuesday morning.
       Taking Latin isn't like taking any other language. Latin is different, Latin is special. Other "living" language classes have oral exams and extend their grammar rules over different units throughout the years. Latin has no oral examination and you learn at least one new grammar rule a day. Latin is a grammar heavy class. It's also a culture heavy class, Ancient Rome provides a plethora of topics to explore. Be it religion, geography, recreation, family life, or government, Latin students learn all about. Latin is different, which is why our department is so small, because Latin is not for the faint of heart. I mean, which other language classes are willingly taking an exam before 8 AM Tuesday morning? No one else. Better yet, which other language class is excited about taking an exam before 8 AM? I assume no other class. For Latin students at Blair, the NLE is basically the Superbowl.
    

So what is the National Latin Exam or NLE for short? The NLE is an exam given to current Latin students to test basic mythology, grammar, vocabulary, etc. It is founded by the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League. The exams are distributed based on what level Latin class the student is in. Current exams include: Latin I, Latin II, Latin III Prose, Latin III Poetry, Latin IV Prose, Latin IV Poetry, and AP Latin. The test is forty multiple choice questions within a forty minute time limit. Students who excel on the exam have the opportunity to win medals and certificates.

So what do we do the prepare? Well, lots and lots of homework that's for sure!Latin classes at Blair test on previous Latin exams and translate stories and excersies out of our infamous textbook, Ecce Romani! We do practice exams in class and put together multiple study guides. But I think it's kind of worth it, you know? The NLE only comes once a year and its always nice to do well.

So wish the sixteen other upper level Latin students and I good luck!