Top Ten...

Hanson.

Ever since their music was introduced to me, Hanson has been my favorite band.  Their music, as well as their sound, is unique, and in my opinion, incredible.  Choosing my top ten songs by them was no easy task; however, I finally settled on these:

10. "Mmmbop"

I had to put this song on my list.  "Mmmbop" is the first song that I ever heard from Hanson, and it is really what got me hooked.  This is a truly feel-good song; one that makes you happy just from hearing it, even if you don't completely understand it.  This is the song that will require extreme efforts to get out of your head.

9. "If Only"

This is a song that pretty much every one can relate with.  It is about liking someone, but not knowing what to do about it or either being too scared to do anything for the fear of messing up.  This song is about wishing that you had the guts to do something about your feelings.
"If only I had the guts to feel this way."

8. "Lost Without Each Other" 

As you can probably tell from the title, this is ultimately a break-up song.  The lyrics are sad, as most break-up songs are; however, unlike most other songs of this type, Hanson manages to convey the sadness felt by parting ways without making it in any way sappy.  This song is upbeat, and though it contradicts the sadness, somewhat positive.  This is a break-up song that will not cause unhappiness in its listeners.

7. "Go"

This is a sad, yet beautiful song; every time I hear it, my heart just gets ripped out of my chest.  In my opinion, this song is about a break-up that wasn't meant to happen; the line, "But i don't wanna wash my hands clean", symbolizes this perfectly.  It is saying that though this couple is over, they don't want to be done with the other.

6.  "Underneath"

To me, this song is about being in a place where no one understands what you are going through.
"Take a look around and tell me what you see... you'll find me underneath."  I feel like this is the line that really sums up what this song is about.  In my opinion, it is saying that if you could just take the time to delve a little deeper, to what is beyond the surface, then you will reach a greater level of understanding.

5.  "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'"

I think that this is a revenge song.  I feel like it is about a man who has found out that his girlfriend is cheating on him, and in response to this, he decides that she is no longer worth his time.
"I've been thinking 'bout somethin' other than you."

4. "Weird"

This song, I feel, is about trying to find your individuality, but in the process of doing this you become an outcast because you are different.
"When you live in a cookie-cutter world, being different is a sin"

3. "The Walk"

In my opinion, this is a song about vulnerability.  I feel like Hanson was trying to say that we need to put ourselves out there, out of our comfort zone, and not let our fears get in our way as we take "the walk" on "the tightrope" that is our life.

2. "Strong Enough to Break"

This song is meant to show the struggle that the Hanson brothers faced as they were trying to break away from their record label; as they tried to find acceptance within the music world.  This song is so personal to this band.  It is filled with so much passion... so much emotion.  The pain they felt is clearly translated in the lines of "Strong Enough to Break"; when listening to this song, it is as if I have experienced it too.

1. "Use Me Up"

"Use Me Up" is an absolutely beautiful song.  It is about... emptiness.  This song says that even if you are feeling nothing but pain and misery, anything is better than being numb to the world. 

"Nothing could be worse than numb... Please, use me up"

"Moon River" -- Flute Music

I have been playing the flute since I was in the seventh grade, and over the years it has grown to be a major part of who I am.  My flute is like one of my vital organs; it has become something that is absolutely necessary for my survival.  I can’t imagine living my life without my instrument… and looking back, I don’t understand how I lasted so long without it. 

Along with the passion that I have for playing my flute, I am also in love with the song “Moon River”, from the wonderful classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  In my opinion, this song is absolutely beautiful, and to be able to share it would be an honor.

The great love which I hold for both of these things has inspired me to create this ‘How-To’.

How to play "Moon River" on the flute

Before I post the actual song, I should probably start by saying that in order to play this song, you will need to know the following notes:

If you can play these, you will undoubtedly be able to play “Moon River”.  

Well, that is all i have to say, so here is the song (:

Good luck, and enjoy!

The Truth about Forever

In the fifteen years that have been my life, I have read more books than many.  They are, by far, one of my greatest passions.  I was wrong in assuming that my love for books would make the process of choosing one to review any easier.  In all honesty, I actually feel as if this caused my decision making to be a far more difficult task.  After much consideration, however, I was finally able to set my mind on one book; The Truth about Forever.  

She saw her father die... and ever since, the true identity of Macy Queen has been a distant secret; a part of her hidden behind a permanent façade of “perfection.”  That is, at least, until she finds Wish; an accident-prone catering company with a liking for chaos.  As the summer progresses, and Macy’s relationship with Wish grows, her carefully constructed front begins to dissolve.  Along with this new-found openness, Macy finally starts to realize the truth about who she really is... and with it, she will discover the truth about forever.

This true meaning of forever is hinted at all throughout the book.  Though this message can be interpreted in different ways, I feel that what the author was trying to convey is that everything in this life is temporary.  If things are going good for you, then live it up while you can, because one day it’s not going to be there anymore.  And if things are going badly, just know that soon enough it will be over; in the end, it will all somehow work itself out.  Live your life for today, because tomorrow is never a guarantee.  Forever is now.

In my opinion, this novel was flawless.  Dessen immediately captured my attention, not loosening her grip for even a second.  I got lost in this book; feeling as if I were living in this world she created, experiencing everything directly with the characters.  I could rack my brain for hours on end and come up with not even a single piece of criticism on this work of art.  All I can say…

Beautiful.

Bendable Breakthrough?

Look at your phone.  Study its architecture, its unique design; think of all you know of phones and the technology behind them.  Reflect on all of the technological advances that have come to these devices in the past, and any that you feel could come in our future.  Did the possibility of having a flexible phone ever cross your mind?  I know it never occurred to me.  But guess what, that seemingly illusive idea is now closer to reality than ever before. 

Both Samsung and Nokia have been experimenting with new technology and have found ways to allow a phenomenon such as a bendable phone to be possible.  Samsung has been creating a phone with a “foldable screen", while Nokia has been working on a design that will allow a flex-to-input concept, which works by either bending or twisting the phone to complete your desired process.  I have included two links at the bottom that more thoroughly explain these new ideas, one discussing each design.  But, for those of you like me who don't particularly enjoy reading news articles, I will summarize each of them for you now.

Let’s start with Samsung.  According to my article, Samsung has created a plastic-backed AMOLED device that will allow phones to be made lighter, thinner, and above all else, it will allow them to have a foldable screen.  Analysts say that the first examples of this device could possibly be in a screen that would fold over the edges of a phone, taking away the frame and permitting the screen display to continue to the sides.  This design is thought to be “indestructible”, and while that is a major selling point, its remarkably thin build is a close second.  A later model of this design, one that will actually fold in half, is likely to come later in 2013.  This all new design could definitely give Apple a run for its money.

While Samsung is working on a “foldable” device, Nokia has been taking strides to create one that is flexible; one that you will bend and twist in order to operate.  Nokia, however, is not the only company working with this flexible technology.  Canadian researchers recently created a prototype for a “paper phone” that also has a flexible build.  The dream for these flexible designs is to eventually create one that could roll up like a scroll and unfurl to be the size of a tablet.  High hopes have clearly been set for these future products.

In my opinion, considering how rapidly technology has been advancing, I feel that virtually anything is possible.  Though I do think that the idea of having a bendable phone is farfetched, I have no doubts that the technology geniuses of today can make this idea a reality.  

http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2012/03/02/apple-under-pressure-as-samsung-preps-foldable-screens-for-2012/2/

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/425988/are-bendable-smart-phones-the-future/