Music appreciation in every form.....

Last night I had a chance to observe the Penn State acapella group known as the Pennharmonics. They were accompanied by fellow acapella groups from the University of Pittsburgh and Rutgers University. While it has always been a lifelong goal of mine to be able to be a part of one of these singing chorals, I realize that my voice just isn't quite what they would be looking for lol. However, it is a musical form which is harmonious, eloquent, and really moves me in ways that are unique. I have a passion for the harmony, tone, and rhythm acapella groups can bring to audiences without the accompanyment of any outside instrumentals or digital recordings. I think what draws me to it is how just a group of people can turn silence into song with just the right pitch of voices over the right group of people. There is just something about how they can all hit a note in tune together that just sits well with me i guess. But acapella isn't the only form of music that should be appreciated. All musical art forms, whether concert band, jazz ensembles, or opera should be openly appreciated for the talents that the performers possess. Every genre has its ability to entrance people in the wonderful world of sound, and each individual's tastes should be widely accepted and respected by all. I hope one day that I am able to pursue my musical tastes in something similar to an acapella group, but for now I will sit back, enjoy, and watch as the talented musicians of the Pennharmonics take me into another world of harmony and peace......

Remembering the good times

It seems like just yesterday me and my friend Phil were making our way up to State College from Altoona in the fall of 2006 for our first ever PSU football game as students. We had a 12 pack of beer, a grill, a pack of hot dogs and buns and plastic silverware and plates. That was it. Today, 4 years later, we had 3 tents, 8 cars, 4 grills and enough food and drinks to feed the United States for a month. We had evolved, but along the way we made tons of memories and have plenty of stories to share forever. Like the time I did pushups in the field or when a lady tore her ACL dancing. No matter the memory, the simple fact that we made them and remembered them is what truly matters. Today when I stood in the stands for my 28th and final home game of my student career and sang the Penn State alma mater, it was hard not to get choked up. Not just because it was the last home football game as a student for me, but because I was a senior and it was almost time for me to move on. I have made tons of friends and even more memories in my 4 years at Penn State, and I can't wait to go out with a bang next semester. The point though is to live in the moment every day because time flies by faster every year it seems. The friends and memories you make in college should be the best experiences of your entire life. Don't let anyone or anything hold you back from doing or accomplishing what you want out of it. When it is finally your turn to walk the walk and wear the cap and gown, do so knowing that you these were the greatest four years of your life, and they should be. When you look back years from now and remember all the good times, you'll know that it couldn't have been any better, because you can say 'i was there and it was the greatest adventure ever'. So let the good times roll. I know I have.

tv program needs to get back to its roots and learn from others

The Office is funny. For 6 seasons it has brought dry humor and multiple character personalities together to create a hit sitcom that has captured millions of fans across the country though. However, the show is reaching a point(like all shows do at some point I presume, particularly sitcoms), where the storylines are advancing and the show just isn't as funny as it used to be. The premise of the show is based around everyday experiences in an office, but the last two seasons haven't reflected that very well as the writers advance characters and relationships in an effort to make up for an ostensible writer's block, as they say. While I am sure it is difficult to continually produce new storylines after 6 seasons, it is imperative and paramount that you do not deviate from the original structure of the program that brought you so much acclaimed success and accolades. Take a look at two very successful sitcoms that had incredible runs: Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond. While having two very different backgrounds, they wrote their series the same way: good, quality humor every episode. Sure, you have to advance some story lines at some point, but that cannot consume your entire episode or series, because eventually you will lack creative humor and alienate all your loyal viewers. Consequently, those 2 shows were some of the longest running sitcoms in television history and were wildly successful, even by today's standards. While The Office has captured everyday life in a short 30-minute comedy sketch every Thursday night at 9pm, it is time for it to either return to what works for it or call it quits; because we all want to see it end in glory rather than not knowing when to quit.......that's what she said.

a reflection on college life at PSU

The recent death of fellow student Joe Dado should remind us of a few things. First, that none of us are invincible and that things can happen when you drink too much. I think we as college students tend to believe that because we are in fact college students that things like that just won't happen to us; we're too smart to get into trouble like that. Unfortunately it happens and we need to watch out for ourselves and each other at times. Secondly, that as upsetting as his death is for his friends and family, it is the ultimate punishment for lack of self-control and responsibility. Being a freshman at Penn State(and particularly UP), is an experience you will never forget. But this comes with great responsibility as well. What we should take away from this incident is that in the own the only person responsible for you is you. No one, not even your friends sometimes, are going to hold your hand through everything. You need to know when to either 1. stop drinking; 2. call a cab; or 3. get help from a friend to walk you home or take you to get medical assistance. It's just common sense. While his death saddens the community, Joe Dado unfortunately payed the ultimate price for irresponsibility. It is very difficult for me to write this and say that Joe's death is in any way his own fault, but sadly alot of it is. We should all remember to take care of ourselves and each other. This incident has thus created many negative externalities on the student community, including the Nuisance Gathering Ordinance proposed by the State College Borough Council and also harsh words from its members about Penn State's "binge drinking" problem. Let's be clear right now about one thing: there is no public policy they could ever put in place that will deter or even decrease the amount of drinking that happens at this university; it's just not viable or feasible in any way. There are just too many students to be able to enforce any sort of law. There is not enough law enforcement. Penn State's administration is not interested in curbing drinking as much as the borough council is either. If PSU's policies become too severe towards drinking, this may deter many applicants from coming here, meaning less tuition revenue for PSU. This is an example of the principal-agent problem. I was talking with one of my friends about this incident when it happened, and I told him that in about a month Joe Dado will be forgotten and everything will return to normal and everyone will continue drinking and partying and having fun like usual; sure enough, that was the case. By now, everyone forgets about Joe Dado unless you see it in the paper. Why? Because frankly, and unfortunately, unless your life was directly affected, no one honestly cares. People look upon this incident and say 'ahh he got drunk and unfortunately fell and died. But I didn't know him and it didn't happen to me, he's just a freshman, time to move on.' This is a very unfortuante attitude to have, but the truth though is that it's the truth. Everyone has forgotten about Joe Dado and moved on and continued life, and in some respects that is the right thing to do, to move on. The world can't stop because of one incident. Frankly, I'm surprised more incidents like this don't happen here, with 40000 students, and on home football weekends even more than that. Maybe that is an ironic testament to our student body, who knows. The State College Borough Council wants to curb binge drinking, but the only change that could ever come about is if the students decide to enact it themselves. Face the facts council members: we're 40000 strong, we have very few incidents for as large as we are, and if residents of the community are upset at that, then move. You knew what you were getting into when you moved here and if you don't like it, you have the freedom to leave. Penn State will always be here. Drinking will always be here. Even unfortunate incidents like Joe Dado's death will never persuade students to cut back on drinking; anyone who was downtown on Halloween can recognize that. There is really nothing that can be done. College students like to drink. Penn State has 40000 students and is a great facilitator for that. It will never, ever change. 50 years from now Penn State will be the same. If the borough council isn't happy with it, then maybe they should take their complaints to another borough, because PSU isn't going anywhere, neither is drinking, and neither are the students.