AMV: Popular art of splicing clips from animation films and cordinating them to a song file. The most carefully and skillfully compiled of these pieces are noted for either acurate placement of character's mouth movements to the lyrics, or the movements of the characters and scenes to certain chords or notes in the song, sometimes even both.

For your viewing pleasure I have gone through quite a few files and come up with the best of the art in my own opinion. Two of them have won major awards for their style and finess:

Enjoy.







And just because this one makes me giggle every time I watch it:

Me: WOOOOOOOO! I'm going to the Smithsonian for Spring Break!

Dad: Wow, there's something seriously unique about you, college student.

Me: It's true.

Dad: Well, I mean, college students go to Cauncun, Long Beach, places like that for Spring break. *pause* Enter into Bikini contests *even longer pause* end up on 'videos'.

Me: Oh, don't worry Dad, I'm sure I'll end up on video when I'm hog-tied and carried out of one of the museums by the cops for resisting staff and staying too long.

Dad: Thats my girl.

I'm pro-choice because I know better by experience than to tell someone else what to do with their body. I am responsible for myself, I know myself better than anyone else, and I love myself more than anyone else ever will.

From the very beginning to the very end, I will always be there for myself.

I'm pro-choice because I know the meaning of fear. I know what it's like to have nowhere to call home, and to beg the teachers to lengthen your study time because you are so scared to head back to the mouth of hell that other people assume is a safe and loving place. I know what it is life to be told that you are making things up and that no man would ever do that.

Well guess what.

They do.

You can't hide behind your blind faith in religion forever, and telling someone "it wasn't your fault" and "God still loves you" is NOT going to fix the years of irrevocable damage that has occured.

These phrases are not sufficient enough to constitute an explanation for these women, nor a support program that they will require.

I'm pro-choice because I was told that heavenly father wanted to have a child if I was raped repeatedly by relatives and friends, because that life isn't mine to take. But I know that an all-loving diety would not ever condone such a thing and would not condemn a twelve year old girl to hell for making a healthier decision for herself.

I'm pro-choice because I have suffered a fate that most pity, even more exemplify, but very few are willing to speak up for without flinching or treating me like a victim.

Because I'm not a victim, I'm a survivor.

I'm pro-choice because I respect other women's rights to their bodies and to have children. I know for a fact that a high percentage of women who seek abortions had used a contraception method that failed. It is not just a lazy teenager or loose woman that isn't making the effort. These are people who truly knew they could not have children in their lives for one reason or another.

I'm pro-choice and for comprehensive education because the current system uses ignorance as a weapon to achieve unacceptably intolerant goals. My own high school teacher couldn't teach about Margaret Sanger because if he said "condom" aloud he would be fired. If I had known exactly what sexual activity was, I would have had a greater chance to speak up for myself and stop what happened to me.

"Evidence shows that comprehensive sexuality education programs that provide information about both abstinence and contraception can help delay the onset of sexual activity in teenagers, reduce their number of sexual partners and increase contraceptive use when they become sexually active. These findings were underscored in Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior, issued by former Surgeon General David Satcher in June 2001."

I'm pro-choice because I look forward to a future where there is enough education, awareness, and openess about sexuality that birth is adequatly controlled to those who can afford on all planes to care for a child, love a child, and provide for a child.

I don't want abortion.. I never have. I don't know a single human being alive that truly does.

I want openess, enlightenment, and education.

I am pro-choice.

Watch this:


Then watch this:


"Dance4Life appeals to me both as a performer and as a human being. Their approach to one of the world youth's major challenges, HIV/AIDS, is very strong. They offer young people attractive ways of becoming involved in the project, rewarding them with a dance event at the end. It is this combination of serious information with dance and entertainment which motivates so many young people to move for Dance4Life."
Tiësto, ambassador Dance4Life

“I take part in D4L because I think we shouldn’t forget that there are a lot of things that are wrong. Especially in Africa we have huge problems with HIV. Not only in Africa, but in Eastern Europe as well. The infections are growing. We have to make people aware that there is something out there. If they wanna do what they wanna do, they should do it safe.”
Paul van Dyk, DJ

I knew I loved DJ's for a reason.

To learn more about this absolutely amazing foundation and all the dance parties available, clicky here.

And remember:
"Tell me and I will forget
Show me and I may remember
Involve me and I will understand"
Confucius~

Start Dancing! Stop AIDS! Dance for LIFE!

Utah is not exactly the most conducive environment for people to learn how to date for a healthy relationship. When people are raised in an extremely religious culture that promotes patriartical thinking and behavior, things can easily go awry.

Often there are several stereotypes that arise from this kind of society. I think the Jane Austin captured the male stereotypes perfectly in her novel "Pride and Prejudice", and that the film Stepford Wives covers the female stereotype soundly.

Males here are often be stereotyped in the character of either Mr. Collins (The man of god seeking a 'deserving' woman of his attentions) or Mr. Wickham (the devious and deceptive man with 'issues'). All of these men, of course, can only settle and will only want a woman that strives to be perfect for hearth, home, and producing children (much like a mechanical Steford Wife).

Like Elizabeth Bennet, I often struggle with my perceptions/judgements of men and how to conduct myself in such a society. One that defiantly doesn't approve of me, and one that I struggle to understand in fair judgment without extreme bias and not follow.

I'm not saying that I'm perfect and society has wronged me. But I honestly feel like there's a extreme divide here between what is healthy and what is implied with little to no direction or education.

Not many people are taught much about what it means to be in a 'healthy' relationship here in Utah. It is just overly emphasized over and over again every Sunday and in the home to avoid physical contact and go have fun. Strict rules are often the norm here when it comes to dating. A popular one is that people are not allowed to date before the age of 16. Even then it is usually restricted to group dating, and steady dating is not allowed until 18. Even then, it is often encouraged to not allow any of these individuals to be left alone or to allow them to go anywhere overnight without chaperones if at all.

Although this system works for some, I still look at some of the rates and wonder. Like how the divorce rate is unbelievably high compared to other states. Oh, and how the sexual incest and abuse rates are at times triple other state averages in the union.

Okay.. so what happens to the people that decide not to follow this belief structure? People who decide to be intimate and follow a different path? Especially when the local culture has affected the sexual education system to the point where a teacher will be fired immediately if they say "condom".

Oy vey.

Things and behaviors carry over from one's upbringing, so how does one go about knowing what to expect out of a relationship or dating that isn't based entirely on religion or upbringing?

Hmm..

I stumbled through and thought upon this for many years. Finding one's own dating philosophy can definitely be tricky and difficult, especially with a pious upbringing (the focus on what NOT to do instead of what to expect and do for a healthy relationship) and very little education in the ways of sexuality and the consequences of actions or inaction.

I found this just a short few months ago, and I honestly feel like this is the most honest and healthy approach to dating and relationships I've ever seen.

Dating Rights

* I have the right to refuse a date without feeling guilty.
* I have the right to ask for a date without being crushed if the answer is no.
* I have the right to choose to go somewhere alone without having to pair up with someone.
* I have the right not to act "Macho" or "Seductive."
* I have the right to say "no" to physical closeness.
* I have the right to say "I want to know you better before I become involved."
* I have the right to say "I don't want to be in this relationship any longer."
* I have the right to an equal relationship.
* I have the right not to be abused physically, sexually or emotionally.
* I have the right to change my goals whenever I want.
* I have the right express my opinions and have them be respected.
* I have the right to have my needs be as important as my partner's needs.
* I have the right to grow as an individual in my own way.
* I have the right to change my mind.
* I have the right to not to take responsibility for my partner's behavior.
* I have the right to not to be physically, emotionally, or sexually abused.
* I have the right to break up and fall out of love with someone and not be threatened.
From: "What You Should Know About Relationship Violence"Texas A&M University Vanessa Diaz Clark & Dean 0. Clark II
(Excerpted from Student Handout, Intermedia, Inc.)

So right click and copy people. Share share share!

*flips out calculator*

Anticipated Book Cost According to the School Bookstore:
$518.65

The result of combining the awesome powers of Half.com and Amazon.com:
$194.33 (this also includes three cd's and two books that have nothing to do with the cirriculum)

Oh, so sue me.. I splurged.

The Difference for the math impaired (mostly me so I can glorify my victory over 'The Man'):
$324.32

HAHA!

Take that!

Shelley: 1

The Man: 2,678,546,345,223,042

I'm catching up I tell you. I am catching up.

Moral of the Story:
If you are a student don't put up with these terrible prices. You need to get the ten digit ISBN number, the author of the book, and get familiar with the cover of the text. For the ISBN number, put that into www.google.com and it will automatically bring up the links to Amazon.com. Don't worry about it not being the right edition, that ISBN number is assigned to each specific title and edition. If you are familiar with the author and the text cover, go to half.com and research the title and author (they are not so fabulous on being able to look up the book by ISBN, hence why I mentioned Amazon.com first). That way you can compare the prices and get the best offer for your money.

It's not like a certain someone is going to make it any easier on us in regards to costs of attendance and tuition. *cough*Bush*cough*

The History of Rock in Five Minutes or Less



Ah.. Red Hot Chilli Peppers have always managed to eloquent and succintly show exactly what lots of other groups are striving to capture their entire careers.

Such an interesting and unique flavor these peppers have.