Friend Request From a Family Member

My little sister received a friend request from one of my aunts the other day. It's a little troubling when family starts to become intertwined with our Facebook worlds. For so long, my circle of friends dealt strictly with who I knew at college and the few members of my high school that I decided I wanted to check up on from time to time. And of course, every college student has their fair share of drunken photos, embarrassing posts, and annoying self absorbent statuses that only the afore mentioned should know about. There is always that friend who decides to bring up past events that everyone really shouldn't know about. Even though, yes that moment was pretty hilarious, and reminiscing about it makes me happy, there should be a level of tact that should be taken.

When Facebook started to become bigger and better and family members decide to become a part of the phenomenon, and suddenly, we had to be really careful about what was being put up.

So, after my sister called me over, and we stalked my aunt's profile (it's always entertaining to see what information the older crowd puts down), we struggled with the dilemma of whether or not she should accept or reject the offer. Mulling it over for a couple of seconds, she finally decided to click the "Decide later" button, hiding it for a later date.

Of course, after this happened, I anxiously waited for the moment that I would receive a similar request. Even though I was pretty sure I wouldn't know how to respond, I assumed it would a natural next step. One niece onto the next.

So I waited. And waited. And to this day (granted it was two days ago), I have yet to see a bright red notification waiting for me up in the upper left corner.

It's not that I really want my aunt to be my friend. I like where she stands as the woman I laugh with at family functions. But still, I am feeling a tad bit slighted considering my own aunt doesn't want to be my friend.

Security Measures

I often think to myself, when boarding the bus that travels from Albany to Kingston, why is security so lax?

They say you should arrive at an airport two hours early in order to prepare yourself for long lines to go through the security checkpoint. You have to rapidly take out your laptop, shove off your coat, and peel off your shoes before you walk through the metal detector. You have to make sure your liquids reach a level no larger than 8 fluid ounces and now, you have to walk through body scanners.

When going to the bus station, though, no one checks anything. I buy my ticket, hand over luggage that might have to be stored underneath, and walk on to find my seat. While in Boston recently, I frequently traveled by train. Sure, you have to get there early, but no one checks your luggage. You bring it on, store it above you, and just sit.

Not that I think these modes of transportation equally deserve such intense methods of security, due to strict schedules that need to be kept, but honestly, isn't there the same amount of chance that a terrorist could infiltrate these sorts of areas as well?

If people are so concerned with how safe this country is, why just planes? Yes, they did it once, but it wouldn't make sense to attempt to do it again. They must know we've been keeping a close eye on airports after what happened last time.

Why not trains? They travel throughout the country as well and stop in cities with large populations, such as the illustrious New York City and Chicago.

Why not buses? You hear terror stories about buses being blown up in the middle of the streets in foreign countries. I for one do not want to think about something like that happening when I take a ride.

I wish I had the answer to why there seems to be a noticeable difference between all three modes of transportation. To me, it just seems like common sense, to protect more than just the air travelers.

Books versus the Movies

I've always been one of those obnoxious movie goers who absolutely spit on novel based films. If the directors weren't using the book as the script, I used to leave the theater disappointed, angry, and hurt. But now, after seeing the newest Harry Potter movie, I understand why that is completely wrong.

When reading the final Harry Potter book, I was completely overwhelmed by how fast paced it seemed and how sad and dark it was, and because of the fact that it was the last book in the series, I devoured it in a day and a half. I remember thinking to myself, now that would be a great film.

Seeing it up there on the big screen, however, made me realize that the book is meant to be read, and only read, and the movie is meant to be seen, and only seen. They are two different experiences that really shouldn't be related to each other.

There were moments when Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way through vast forests and towns searching for horcruxes that seemed to drag endlessly on, and I often was confused about what was going on. I had no idea why Harry carried around the shard of mirror, even though I know it plays an important role later on.

As someone who actually did read the book, I can't imagine what someone who didn't read it must have felt. There's so much to take in, to remember and piece together, and yet this is only part one of the finale.

Maybe this whole time, I really just never understood the concept of translating literary work into film. It's great when you can finally see your favorite story actually visualized, but is anything really ever as good as the tale that you loved in your own head? I don't think so. Some things just can't be compared, no matter how accurate it might be.

I love David Yates' camera work however, despite the minor plot flaws. And of course, I never realized how superb some of the acting is in those movies. I love the members of the Order, including David Thewlis as Remus Lupin and Brendan Gleeson as Mad Eye Moody, and who can ever forget the chilling face of Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort?

The characters, I think, will continue to survive way past the expiration date of the movies. Who knows? 100 years down the road (or maybe even less if things keep going like they have been) we might just be seeing new faces taking on the reins and retelling the story of the boy who lived.

Scanners

In the height of a holiday, travelers have been expressing their concern over the new body scanners that have recently debuted in airports throughout the country.

These body scanners can examine your bodies (through your clothing) in order to make sure no one is hiding dangerous weapons in undisclosed locations.

Opposers to these new machines say they are intrusive, due to the fact that anyone who objects to going through these scanners will be subjected to a full on pat down.

I was there one of the first days that the new backscatter machines actually were in use, and I watched as certain people walked through two large blue rectangular boxes, holding their arms upright and turning occasionally. I wasn't forced to go through and I don't recall many people having a problem.

I guess I just question why people are so afraid to walk through the scanners. You can say no, but then you are basically being molested by a stranger (for good purposes, mind you). Are people just that afraid to have someone else view them naked?

For starters, according to the TSA's website, features on a person are blurred so no distinction about who you are really can be made. An example of what a security guard sees is here. Also, those photos that are taken are not stored or reproduced.

Not to mention, how many times has it been brought up in casual conversation about how, as strict as standards are in the airports nowadays, you could really get some things past the guards. Drugs for instance, can be stored in the anal cavity, as well as weapons.

Considering how many of our people have worried obsessively since the attack on 9/11 about safety on airlines, is this something that really should be made a big deal? I'm all for privacy, mind you, yet when I'm on a plane, the last thing I want to be worrying about is careening 35,000 feet into the landscape below.

If you ask me, this could also be a great way to target obesity. Think about it. Those who are questioning these so called "intrusive" scanners are just terrified of having someone else view them naked (honestly, who would actually choose the pat down over a simple scan? I've heard it likened to sexual harassment, but really, I think those people are just bringing it onto themselves)

It scares me to think that society has really gotten to such a prude point. It's the 21st century! Being naked is not something we should be ashamed of, considering after all, that that's who we are as beings.

Maybe now that our bodies may be projected to strangers on a less than personal level, people will start realizing that they need to take better care of them selves. It's a long shot I know, but I feel as if this entire argument is stupid. You can't tell me that half of these protesters really care about some pat down that wouldn't even be administered unless they decided to receive it.

What do you care more about? Amped up security or insecurity about your body?

End of an era

When I was younger, I remember walking through the halls of the Galleria Crystal Run in Middletown. It was mesmerizing, with bright lights, signs promising sales, aromas of pretzels and fast food teasingly wafting through, and racks upon racks of clothes. The pet store always promised a depressed dog sitting behind the glass, at once becoming excited after seeing a face on the other side. It was pretty much the best place ever.

Over the summer, I once again walked through the wide set hallways, watching as hurried shoppers passed by the closed down Disney store and instead of smiling characters turning in their window display, cheap sports regalia hung on steel hangers. The pet store closed too, just a blank, white wall reminding those who remembered of the animals that used to roam inside. Empty stores featured odd advertisements in the windows asking customers to just walk a little further.

It makes me wonder about malls today. The Galleria is just one of a few that seem to envelop a museum like haunt, such as the Vallco Fashion Park in Cupertino. As I walked through the seemingly endless corridors, cheesy 80s Muzak playing softly on the overhead microphones, it made me sad to think of what that place could have (and probably had) been. The big stores, such as Macy's, JC Penney, Victoria's Secret, and Sears, stood tall against their tiny neighbors. But still, as loud as their names screamed, they still looked sad, without many customers seeping in or out of their doors.

As I returned my nephew's clothes at JC Penney, I noticed the bored employees, the barely mussed up folded clothes, the giant sales signs. Granted, it was around 12pm on a Monday afternoon, but still, it was eery.

Stores with unrecognizable second hand names promised children's shoes, perfumes, and quality jewelry. The familiar pretzel store stood waiting for me.

These situations just beg the question: What is happening to malls? Are they dying out, losing their touch? Or is it a sign of the economy and consumer's unwillingness to buy as much?

According to MSN Money in an article from last year, "The pain of a dying mall is far reaching."

It's crazy to think about how life will be without malls. They were always such a social staple for teenagers. It was the thing to do on the weekends before we all went off to live our separate lives. Even in college, it was something we'd do when we were bored, and even that mall, which seemed to be in a lot better shape than those mentioned above, had its fair share of closings.

I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if this will turn around or if they will cease to exist, but it's something that may very well become a possibility.

Good news on the job front!

I've been whittled down into a small group of finalists for a reporter job in Utah that sounds like my cup of tea. In the small metropolitan area of Logan, I would be writing about community issues and city government. The paper, according to the editor I spoke with over the phone, is a great opportunity for a start-up job and there seems to be enough security in the job which means I wouldn't have to worry about being laid off anytime soon. However, the indecisive voice inside me keeps nagging. During this tough economic time, do I even have the option to be choosy when it comes to a first job?

I shouldn't be too hasty. After all, the official choice has not been made-I may in fact not get the position-but my head is constantly swimming with questions and what should and shouldn't be priorities.

One important aspect I've been thinking about is the fact that I need benefits. We all know too well that I need them. Accident prone and clumsy are just two words that have been used to describe me and I constantly get sick all year long. I can't keep living without any sort of insurance. It seems like a bad move.

Two. I'm stuck between two coasts. I clearly remember when I was in high school, dreaming about just leaping and going where the wind took me. But that was before I had a really solid support system. Both halves of that support system are on two halves of the country, which means I'd have to create an entirely new one in Utah. That idea sounds scary and I don't know how to decide what is more important to me. Do I accept a job that sounds utterly perfect yet the location doesn't seem ideal?

The pay is something that has been universal in all the job prospects I've come across. Starting out as a reporter, I am expected to make about $20,000 a year, which is fine. I can totally do that. That's more money than I've ever made in my life, combined. I could handle it, and in Logan, Utah, the cost of living is low enough where I could get by all right.

So how does one decide something as important as this? I'm not sure. It's something I'm sure I'll be faced with more than once in my job search. How does one handle this sort of pressure?

Growing up-When?

When do we hit the point where we have our lives figured out? Ever since I can remember, I used to look at adults and think, one day, I'm going to be like them. It seemed like a simple formula that you just grew to know, yet I feel like I didn't study the right cards.

I'm realizing now that the people who looked so secure when I was younger probably weren't. Maybe this struggle is lifelong, and that idea scares me. It's really difficult trying to break out on your own, and I think it's something that many people forget and ignore. It takes a lot of hard work to get to a point where you can sit back, relax, and look at your life with ease.

Just trying to work my way alone through a big city like San Francisco was hard enough. It became easier when I figured out what to do, but that momentary panic that pierced through me was enough to send me running. I'm getting older, yet I'm grasping onto the idea that I'm still a kid, and I don't know if that ever goes away. Do you always just feel like some clueless child for the rest of your life? I'm waiting for the day that I can proudly say I grew up. I'm hoping it comes soon.

California Dreamin'

Being a college graduate is tough work. I somewhat put the idea in my head that it would be easy. I finished an amazing internship, got started with a fun magazine, and didn't realize along the way that my head was, in fact, completely in the clouds.

How does one get through this muddled mess? I have no idea, but I'm currently working my way through dozens of emails, applications, and the like just to find some glimmer of hope. The thing about it all is, the professors never really give you step by step instructions for what happens after you walk out of the classroom. And, honestly, how can they? You're supposed to figure it out. Isn't life supposed to be full of challenges you have to work through? They say you can't reach the top until you're ready to fall. So maybe, this is me falling, and all this paranoia and stomach upsetting rejection will lead me to something more. Here's to hoping.

Right now, I'm living with my sister in the mega tech Silicon Valley, loving the sunshine and trying to keep my head up. I don't know what the next few months will lead to, what decisions I'll choose, or who exactly will still be in my life at that point. I'm scared, I'm restless, but I'm ready.

Cars Roll On

One of the first things you'll ever learn is to look both ways before you cross the street and, as an expert in what can go wrong when you think the coast is clear, you should probably listen to that little nagging voice in your head that sounds suspiciously like your parents. Even when the light is red and you think, "Hey I can go now!" make sure you pay attention to the cars on the sides of the intersection because when you're standing there wondering why that large white vehicle isn't stopping, surprisingly not much goes through your mind besides, "This is going to hurt."

I didn't even get that brilliant flash of my life that so many people talk about. Where were all the years that were supposed to present themselves in front of my eyes? Where was this life changing experience that was supposed to make me realize the bigger picture in life?

However, waking up finding yourself sprawled on a busy street, blood wet on the upper left corner of your forehead seeping down your face, head pounding in an unusual and scary way, right arm feeling odd, with paramedics asking you numerous questions about who you were and where you came from, does create somewhat of an impact on your psyche.

And then realizing later on that the vibrating phone in your pocket that you desperately try to answer as the paramedics tell you to ignore it is your mother calling you telling you that one of your best friends from home passed away gives you yet another wake up call. I may be bandaged, casted, and bruised, but yet every day I feel so thankful I'm ok. I relive that moment, the one where the front of the car rammed into my left side, so often, thinking to myself what could have been if I had been at another point in the road, if I had been facing a different direction, if the vehicle hadn't stopped. For someone like me to be so lucky while someone like my friend Ashley wasn't makes me feel incredibly guilty, yet extremely aware of what can happen in an instant. No longer do I feel that invincibility that young people often do.

You'll probably have friends who tell you that cars will stop for you, and for the most part, they're right. But that one chance sure scares the hell out of me.

I'm back...sort of.

To the blogosphere:

It has been a long, long time since I posted last onto this site, which was a mere two months ago. That time seemed to fly by faster than I could have ever imagined, but it has been a long and grueling process of growth for me, especially when it comes to reporting. Everyone who ever reads this should head on over to the Legislative Gazette's website and type in Sarah L. Evans in the search box. You can see what I have been covering for the past three months, and boy, let me tell you, there is some exciting stuff on there. It is a paper dedicated solely to New York state's government and politics, but there has been some fun stories that I've worked on and I'm curious to know opinions. I promise I will be attempting to update this more often, and if not, continue to check out what I'm doing with my paper.

Beginning of the End

Well, I've started my internship at the Legislative Gazette, and it's turning out to be hard work, not in a bad way mind you, but it makes me miss the days where I complained about boring classes. It's crazy that one week has already gone by so far. I've attended a press conference, gotten my own desk (and phone!), and spoke to important people over the phone.

However, it doesn't mean I have no room to make mistakes, because I'm pretty sure I've made a ton of them already. I'm prepared to accept that, however, and I'm excited to see how my writing and my reporting skills grow and refine themselves. Look for my name every Tuesday. I hope my stories don't bore you.