What the plank?!

I found this gem on Google images. I wish it was real!

Unfortunately, it's gotta be photoshopped.

So, here's our video. What an adventure! (I'll elaborate on this later...)

Well, I think we, the Dunder Mifflin Misses, had our ups and downs with this project. We liked our idea and set off filming weeks ago. Unfortunately, we took the videos on my HTC Droid. We were able to upload them to my computer but their filetype was not compatible with iMovie. After hours spent attempting to import/export/convert/download/upload/unzip files, we had to give up. Overall, this was the most challenging part. Because none of us are too tech savvy, we ended up getting very frustrated and stressed out. We decided to refilm and this is what we came up with! Despite all of our difficulties, seeing the finished product was definitely the most rewarding part. I have such a feeling of accomplishment and I bet the rest of the gals in my group do too!

Okay, this is a little too strange.

JBiebz on a whale (from Google).

I'm kind of in love with his new song, Mistletoe. And I'm not afraid to admit it.

Environmentally friendly hair products from Garnier Fructis? Sounds questionable...

Check this ad out!

IYOW Thesis: Garnier Fructis’ Pure Clean hair products are the best option for both your hair and the environment.

Triune Brain (Toolset #1):

• The Neocortex is engaged through quick snippets of text—“residue,” “pure clean,” etc.
• The Limbic System is engaged through colors that evoke emotion—grey/drab colors signify frustration due to residue, and green signifies happiness and health.
• The frames in this commercial are moving at a fast rate, making it hard to process.

21^st Century Media Culture Shifts (Toolset #3):

• Discursive shift—The advertisement makes it hard to now whether or not it’s really biodegradable, there is no scientific background shown to support claims.
• Cultural Shift—Surveillance on the Web determines whether or not the ad is relevant to a specific person on websites like Hulu, etc.
• Technological Shift—Advertisements like this one used to only be available on television, now they can be seen or watched on many different media devices (smart phones, computers, etc.)

Five Facts or Claims:

1. Pure Clean uses 92% biodegradable formulas.
2. Pure Clean will not leave “dulling residue” in your hair.
3. Pure Clean does not include any heavy silicones.
4. Pure Clean includes antioxidants and fruit extracts.
5. Pure clean is four times healthier (than what?).
6. Pure clean is “proven to perform.”

Seven Basic Principles of Media Eduaction (Toolset #4):

• Value Messages—This advertisement intends the viewer to value the environment and have the attitude that “green is cool.”
• Reality Construction/Trade-Offs—The viewer does not see negative aspects of the product, like harmful production practices or the waste cycle of the plastic bottles used for hair products (and other personal care products).
• Production Techniques—This advertisement useds colors, angles, lighting to give off positive feelings for the majority of the ad, in contrast to the first few seconds where negative feelings are induced to symbolize “residue.”

Persuasive Techniques (Toolset #5):

• Repetition: “Pure Clean” is repeated over and over again.
• Scientific Evidence: The ad claims that Pure Clean is “4x healthier” but does not provide actual evidence that shows what it is healthier than or in what ways.
• Beautiful People: The actors used in the advertisement are attractive men and women that have beautiful hair.

P.S. Check out my best friend's beautiful dread head in the making! Not sure how Garnier Fructis would feel about that...(photo taken by Sierra Urich).

P.P.S. Check out the Skin Deep Database if you care about safe cosmetics! And you should!

Get lost in a book! (a.k.a. media memoir)

How could you not want to see that movie? I had the 1973 version when I was a kid. That song, Chin Up, brightens my day every time I hear it.

Before we could read on our own, my parents read to my sister, Leah, and I. My dad’s favorites were out of a book of bedtime stories—this included Rumplestiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, and other classics; it was a treat for our Dad to read to us, as he was often tired when he came home from work. My Mom read to us most days out of our favorite picture books: Goodnight Moon, Snowflake Bentley, Where the River Ends, and more. We had quite the collection. I learned to read pretty early on during elementary school and I remember the first chapter book I ever finished was E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web (and it is still one of my favorite stories). The Little House on the Prairie series followed in its entirety, as well as The Boxcar Children.

As a child, I was a complete and total bookworm. I would spend entire days lying on my bed, lost in a book. During our many family camping trips to Vermont State Parks during the summer vacations, my activity of choice was to read for hours. My sister always got frustrated because she wanted to explore, but I was content sitting near the fire having my own adventures within fantasy novels. Although my parents always encouraged my love of reading, they didn’t really have to. I went above and beyond when it came to meeting my 20-minute reading quota for every day.

When J.K. Rowling’s first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was released, I truly fell in love. I thought I loved reading before, but I had no idea. Every year, I went to the book premiers at midnight and stayed up all night reading. While I was reading, believed I was part of the story. The photo on the left, taken by Ruby Kane, is my dear friend, Hannah Faesy, and I getting our copies of the 7th Harry Potter book at midnight. (Don't judge us based on our smiles...it was late, we had braces...) It’s still one of my traditions to re-read the entire Harry Potter series every summer. However, as soon as I hit junior year of high school, it all went downhill. I began to resent reading, because I only had time for what was assigned for various classes, and Ernest Hemmingway and Joseph Heller weren’t really my cups of tea. I also discovered a tool called Sparknotes that summarized unappealing chapters online.

As for the rest of my family, they didn’t love reading like I did. Although my parents supported my reading habits, they rarely read themselves. My parents are both hard working and busy, they did not have a lot of spare time and when they did they were often too tired to read. However, when they did get a chance to read, which was really only when we took vacations, they really enjoyed it. I took this photo of my Dad, Kelly, reading The Sun Also Rises on the beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico. My sister dappled in reading when she was younger but it was never really her thing. However, both my sister and my parents were involved in my love of reading. Sometimes I read out loud after dinner. Most nights, they shut my reading light off after I had fallen asleep. I was always frustrated in the morning when they forgot to save my page.

My love of books increased my use of other mediums, as I’m sure it did for many of you. Books I loved were turned into movies that I would then watch. Musical scores were created for those movies that fit specific passages in books. Podcasts were developed to discuss and analyze book series. The picture on the right are my roommates, Jill Spies, and Sophie Stern, and I dressed up for the premier of the latest Harry Potter movie, taken by self-timer. Podcasts were perhaps the most influential on my life today. Since I got my very first iPod, in my sophomore year of high school, I have been listening to a podcast about Harry Potter theories and discussion. Because of this, I found other podcasts I like, as well. I also have expanded my use of technology. Without reading, I do not think I would be as studious, imaginative, creative, sensitive, or empathetic. Even though it is an activity that I often did on my own, my family definitely had an effect on my extensive experience with books.

At this point in my life, I would still call myself a reader. However, it is challenging enough to keep up with assigned readings for classes, so I do not often have spare time for recreational reading. Whenever I do have the time, I take advantage of it. To me, getting lost in a book is like a miniature vacation I can take any time I want.

Hello out there!

Welcome to my first blog post! I called it Ginger Snap because, as you've probably realized, I'm a ginger. And I also love baking (and eating) ginger snaps! Wow, I just sat here for ten minutes wondering what to say to the world. I guess I will start by introducing myself to y'all. I'm Amelia, a junior at the University of Vermont, an environmental studies major and a community and international development minor. I grew up here, in this very beautiful state, in the town of Starksboro. My original interest in both the environment and community development started right there, in that little town. My family makes maple syrup (and runs a small country store...how Vermont can you get?) so I've spent quite a bit of time among the trees. Vermont's landscape was what inspired me to study the environment and ways to protect it. That's me in the picture above at the Bristol Cliffs. The photo was taken by my best friend in the whole world, Bella Stachowski.

Since my childhood, I've done a lot to pursue my interests in the environment. In high school, a couple of my friends and I piled into a car and drove down to Washington, D.C. for Powershift 2009! The picture on the right was taken by an unknown powershift-er at the Powershift Rally on the White House lawn. I was also a founding member of my high school's Environmental Action Club. With the club, I visited Costa Rica through the organization EcoTeach, where I learned about sustainable agriculture and wildlife conservation! Because I grew up in such a rural area, I also wanted to learn more about development.

The summer after my freshman year of college, I wanted to get out of Vermont for a little bit, and while considering my interests in agriculture, as well as my travel bug (I've had one ever since I went to Ghana in 2007), I decided to volunteer at a couple farms through WWOOF in Belgium and the Netherlands. It was an absolutely amazing experience. I ended up exploring Germany, Austria, Italy, France, and Spain while I was in Europe! The photo below is me with all of the lettuce at De Stek Farm in Lelystad, the Netherlands; it was taken with a self-timer.

Alright, here's a little bit more about me! Fall is my favorite time of year. My favorite past times include swimming, (at Bartlett Falls [the photo above was taken by a self-timer there!] or Kingsland Bay) grilling, camping, hiking, traveling, roadtrips, adventures, dancing, dance parties, doing Zumba, going to farmer's markets, baking, picnics, reading Harry Potter, skiing, and most of all, being with friends and family. If you want to get down to an awesome band, watch the video below!

Yeah, that's Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, my favorite band in the world! I've seen them seven times.

Anyway, I'm happy to be back up in Burlington. This is a great city to live in and it's going to be an exciting semester. Alright, that's all for now! Have wonderful days, all of you!