Sweet | A poem

He looked at her like her eyes were the moon -
And, oh, how he loved the nighttime.
He spoke to her like she could never do wrong -
And, oh, there was no one to change that.
He pet her hair like she was the last thing he'd touch -
And, oh, what a treasure that was.

She looked at him like her eyes were the moon -
And for once someone wanted the nighttime.
She listened to him like she could never do wrong -
And she believed all the sweet words he read.
She leaned into his hand like he was the last one who'd touch her -
And she said she was all right with that.

Is it sweet?
Like honey.

Prompt Series, #2 | the silence that won't go away + "Say it."

Silence. Silence. Silence that won't go away. There's no noise at all. Hasn't been. Not for years, it felt like.

She remembers what noise used to be: car horns out the window; birds on the telephone wire; children in the playground across the street; coffee machine's beeps; turning of newspaper or magazine pages; front door opens - pause - I love you before the door clicks shut.

I hurt for this country | A response

The sadness and disappointment today was tangible. I have lost all faith in this country as a people; you have voted for a man who has stolen the safety of so many. My heart hurts. I hurt for my safety as a woman. I hurt for my friends' safety as POC, women, LGBTQIA+, etc. and all combinations. I hurt as a woman who has so much acceptance and peace and love in her heart; I feel crushed by the men who now represent America.
 

I want everyone who now fears for their future to know that I will be here. To cry with you. To hold your hand. To make sure you know you are not alone.
 

We are about to enter a four-year period of hatred. If we make it out of that, we can make it out of anything. I may have lost my faith in the American people, but I will not lose my faith in love. I will not lose my belief that peace and love is the right path. If anything, we must love harder - out of spite.

I have an obligation to respect the title of the presidency and vice-presidency. But I do not respect these men as individuals.

it is alive | A poem

the creator shouts,
my God. it is alive,
as the creature rises
to move and breathe,
seamlessly.

there are no imperfections on satin skin.
the rips and tears and broken threads
of the long years and savored moments -
of wear and tear, of sleep and love -
are the threads i love the most,
are the threads that make skin human.

Prompt Series, #1 | the birds on the front lawn + "you have to stand still"

The birds were all on the ground along the entrance. Just sitting. He saw no reason. There were no seeds over there, no trees - and it hadn't rained in at least a week for there favorite worms, though those often lived in the dirt closer to the garden on the other side of the church.

Gender Inequality of Olympic Proportions | A response

Among the coverage of Olympic events, there are statements made which insult the battle of feminism thus far. I will remind you, as the term is often confused with a concept of female superiority (a connotative definition which better fits misandry), that feminism is primarily about gender equality.

A popular example is the disregard of female competitors by identifying them in headlines by their relationships to men - and for the majority, not even other competitors. Rather than congratulate them by name, big-name news outlets write that girlfriends, fiancées, and wives have done well in their competitions; there has been at least one apology, by the Chicago Tribune, for their specific incident. Others compare winning women to winning men, such as Michael Phelps, when these women won on their own and are overall incomparable. As the gold medalist put it herself, "I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I'm the first Simone Biles."

In addition, there is a double-standard hidden in this coverage, as the ever-popular Buzzfeed has published several articles featuring male competitors in lists of attractiveness, pictures in and focused on their swimwear, praising their bodies sexually, and otherwise objectifying them in much the same ways as women are often subject to. While Buzzfeed specifically objects the sexualization of women, and promotes friendly body positivity, they don't seem to have any qualms with completely sexualizing men. Unrelated to the Olympics, there has also been a newsletter on Buzzfeed dedicated to pictures of attractive men; there are much more appropriate things to subscribe to, which Buzzfeed could support, such as a Twitter account that rates puppies based on cuteness.

The goal is to be as attentive to female athletes for their sport as is common and expected for male athletes, not to turn the traditional tables. Olympic women are not successful because they know men; Olympic men are not successful because they look nice; Olympic athletes are successful because they're exceptional at what they do.

Neutrality is Not an Option | A response

I joined my first protest this weekend (Saturday, July 16). We marched through our community against discrimination; this specifically started because some businesses (e.g. bars) were choosing to be neutral in situations involving anti-black actions and words.

Anthony Clark, a high school teacher, created an event to stand up against discrimination and to emphasize unity and peace. He spoke with the local police about having an organized march, and they collaborated with our group to make the march work with traffic and a music festival occurring over the weekend. We walked on the sidewalk, the police blocked traffic so we could cross, and the commander even walked with us in full support.

We chanted as we marched: United we stand; together we are better; more love, less hate.

At the end, Clark talked about his happiness in our support and actions, and described the pledge to stand against discrimination in the community. He had gone to local businesses, and is still talking to more, about signing this pledge and joining the movement to end discrimination and to unify the community.

Others spoke about their experiences from that night, including community officials, a woman who fought for civil rights in the 1960s, and two high school students.

After weeks of violence associated with protests, community members had voiced their expectations that this too would end in violence. The worst thing to happen was, amid supportive honking and cheering, a passing driver flipped us off. One person - no biggie.

But let's talk about "taking sides." Many do not believe that the term Black Lives Matter is inclusive; they believe that all lives matter, whether or not they are against the true message behind Black Lives Matter, or that they are inherently trying to end the Black Lives Matter hashtag; they believe that they have no place in movements like these. I have even heard that Black Lives Matter is racist.

First, you should understand: you do not have to be black to support Black Lives Matter. The message is not that Only Black Lives Matter; it's Black Lives Matter Too. All Lives Matter, as a movement, roadblocks the Black Lives Matter movement. We can tell this because a) no one said or pushed All Lives Matter until Black Lives Matter came as a hashtag, and b) the language parallels Black Lives Matter, as to overrun it. And just so we're clear, racism, by definition, can only come from a group in a systematic position of power; white people are the only people that can be racist. Please, take a look at the documentaries I'm Not Racist... Am I? and/or Dear White People.

The third stance isn't really a stance at all. Neutrality. You can't be neutral in situations of justice. When you're neutral, you're inadvertently siding with those against us.

"I support you, but I can't do anything about it because..." Great. No, really. You've chosen to stand with us. Let's talk about this. Whether you're not active about it because you can't donate, because you're afraid to join physical protests, or because you think you aren't welcome, let's talk about it. You have all kinds of options!

"I can't afford to donate to the cause right now." - Understandable. You can still talk about it. Start a discussion about the social problem of your choosing on social media or in person! Attend a protest. Be vocal about your support.

"I'm afraid a protest might get violent." - Of course you are. The march I attended specifically emphasized peace; Clark said that if we give in to the expectation of violence, we're letting the haters win. Make peace a big part of your message when you go out. Talk to the police about your protection. Remain calm. Stay on social media. Emphasize peace, friends!

"I do not belong to the group being discriminated against, so I must not be welcome." - Not true! Several people at the march said that everyone has seen or experienced discrimination, whether you're a woman, black, gay, tall, etc. And even if you don't recognize discrimination happening in your own life, that doesn't mean you can't have empathy for those who do experience it. Go with friends who share your belief in the cause, talk to people from the group about attending an event, or ask someone who is hosting or attending if you can go with them. Support is always welcome.

Even if you still don't want to go out to spread your belief, try spreading it on your favorite social media platform. Talk about it. Educate people. If you hear someone say "I heard there was a protest going on for [this cause], and I'm offended," start a dialogue.

If you disagree with movements like Black Lives Matter, I urge you to do some research and be open to listening. Or, look into movements like the march I joined, the Suburban Unity Alliance; this one doesn't focus on one specific group (if that's why you don't support Black Lives Matter), rather it focuses on bringing together all groups to end discrimination. It's hard to be against unity, right?

And for those of you who are already out there in action, good for you! Keep at it. Bring your friends. Don't stop talking.

Let's remain united and keep a conversation going to end discrimination. Let's focus on togetherness and peace.

Watch for these hashtags: #suburbanUNITYpledge #morelovelesshate

Why People Are Upset About Ilvermorny on J.K. Rowling's Pottermore

Harry Potter fans have undoubtedly heard of the new information written by J.K. Rowling on Pottermore regarding other wizarding schools around the world.

 

In addition to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Scotland), Beauxbatons Academy of Magic (France), and Durmstrang Institute (Bulgaria), which all appeared in the series, we now have Mahoutokoro (Japan), Uagadou (apparently all of Africa), Castelobruxo (Brazil), Koldovstoretz (Russia), and the currently infamous Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (North America).

 

Attentions given to the three former schools are nothing compared to a full back story for Ilvermorny. Mahoutokoro recieves two paragraphs; Uagadou, three, including unnamed and unnumbered additional schools also in Africa, though it reads as if they are no longer around; and Castelobruxo, two and a footnote on Bill Weasley's pen pal. Koldovstoretz didn't even have any information on the Pottermore page, which claimed 11 magical schools but named only six. Rowling has also hinted at an Australian school, but no official information on that is currently available.

 

Now, the writing on Ilvermorny begins with a somewhat brief - though more extensive than any of the other schools - description of the founder's childhood. Isolt, the founder, fled to America from her evil aunt, and then further into the New World from the Puritans who surely would not have accepted a witch among them (Salem, anyone?). And here we begin with the problems.

Salmon | A review

In the past month are so, I have had salmon at three different restaurants (Mother's Day, Wildfire, and Nonna D's). I love salmon.

All of these salmons were made differently, mostly safe and none too adventurous. So, if you're in the area and looking for salmon, I've got some recommendations for any eater. I'm not one for flavors on either extreme end of the spectrum (that is, I can't handle spice but I do need flavor). I enjoyed each of the salmon dishes, and finished all three before leaving the restaurants, and have rated each, in order of preference.

3. Mother's Day on Cermak (North Riverside) - Broiled Salmon:

The broiled salmon is served with rice, potatoes, and vegetables, succeeding a choice of soup or salad.

Overall, the salmon was good, and I would definitely order it again.

The rice was over-salted, but still edible; the potatoes were under-salted. Neither the potato nor the vegetable mix stood out over the salmon.

I chose to put the broiled salmon in last place because it was generally unmemorable, besides it being tender and enjoyable moist. On the Dysh app, a food-rating and -reviewing app for your phone, I did award the dish a 90/100.

RATING: 5/10 

Harambe | A response

Yes, the mother should have been watching. The gorilla should have acted like the female gorilla at Brookfield* in 1996. The zoo should have had a better and stronger separation between the public and animals. The child should have known better not to have gotten into the exhibit. Et cetera.

Parent's can't possibly watch their children every second of the day; I have certainly gotten out of view of people in charge of me when I was younger, and am lucky nothing happened. Gorillas are animals; they act instinctually, they do not have the morals we do and think not to hurt children specifically, and they will have differing reactions based on gender instincts (see: Disney's 1999 Tarzan, Kala vs Kerchak and their first reactions to baby Tarzan; Kala wants to protect him, like Brookfield's gorilla; Kerchak does not see him as part of his family). The zookeepers are more experienced in handling animals than we are; they knew this was the right call in the moment and still stand by it; think of their loss, too, of a beautiful animal whom they knew very well and for longer and better than any visitors.

This is a horrible loss of an endangered creature, yes. It is right to feel poorly that the zoo had to kill him. We need to remember, however, that trying to tranquilize him before he killed (intentionally or otherwise) the child on his own would have taken too long to act, angering him, and possibly directly causing the child's death. We can miss Harambe, we can mourn Harambe, but we cannot place malicious blame on the zoo, the mother, or anyone else.

Instead, see the zoo makes better effort at making sure small children cannot fit through any opening that could lead them to enclosures. Instead, donate to help the protection of silverback gorillas and other endangered animals, such as through the WWF** or to zoological societies. Instead, look for future solutions, rather than blame.

-

* Watch the video of a gorilla saving a toddler (Washington Post).

** Adopt an animal through the World Wildlife Fund.

Faux Braided Crown | A review

I saw this tutorial online and decided to try it myself, as I've never been able to make a braided crown look right. It took about fifteen minutes, to do all four braids, and work them around my head using only four bobby pins (because I seem to have lost all of them).

The tutorial was incredibly easy to follow, and actually doing it was easy as well. I'll definitely be pulling this one out again.

If you can't make the crown, at least you can look like a six-year-old in braids - and now I know I can look young enough to play a child onstage!

RATING: 10/10

Unpacking Like I'm Packing

I'm still moving back into my room at home from college; every day is a specific project, and yesterday's was clothes. In reorganizing my closet, I moved all T-shirts to a drawer in my dresser. But how would I fit all these shirts in a reasonable way?

Well, I'm sure you've all heard about that travel tip to roll your clothes to fit everything better in your suitcase? I've tried it, and didn't see that much of a difference for a handful of clothing items. But for 24 shirts? Absolutely.

The Thing About Wearing Glasses | A review

I wear glasses. You may have taken note of that by the picture in the sidebar. I do not wear contacts; I don't exactly want to touch my freaking eyeball to put them in, and I have long nails - what if I slip? Anyway, I'm fine wearing glasses. I like them, and I'm not bothered by walking around in a blur when I can't wear them for a performance (Note: I am an actor; while everything is incredibly blurry and I can't exactly see the other actors' facial expressions unless I'm standing right next to them, I can see well enough to walk around the stage).

The Pros:

• They're cute
• I can see
• No contacts
• You can see my eye make-up just fine
• I've been wearing glasses too long to not look weird without them

The Cons:

• Sometimes when I lie down, they squish up to my face
• They get all gross when my dog tries to kiss me
• God help me if I take a nap without taking my glasses off

Obviously it'll vary person-to-person, but I'll be keeping my glasses, thank you very much.

RATING: 9/10

The Familial Vibes of the Major Politicians of the 2016 Presidential Race

John Kasich - the dad who's really into golf; will put your report card on the fridge

Ted Cruz -  the weird neighbor that shows up unannounced and wants to talk about God and his vegetable garden

Donald Trump - the cousin who has ruined many a family dinner with his uncomfortable comments; probably dealt with alcoholism and definitely ruined at least three Christmas mornings; gives everyone his business card, even when they don't ask about his business

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Bernie Sanders - the grandpa who invites you on his annual fishing trip; knows you don't really want to go, but wants you to know he's thinking of you; sends greeting cards on every holiday (including Arbor Day, Flag Day, Canadian holidays, etc.)

Hillary Clinton - the aunt you see once or twice a year; she's not your favorite but she gave you $20 one time for no reason