CHEEEEZZZY pick-up lines....

Most of us women have had to deal with it, and if you haven't, I would say you're pretty lucky...Cheesy pick-up lines. Somehow, they're only funny when you hear them on Comedy Central. I went out this weekend with some girlfriends, who were subjected to quite the "interesting" pick up line. It was as follows, "What's this I hear about all these Mizzou girls hooking up with Indian guys?" Needless to say, my friends just laughed and walked away...So I'll put it to you, have you ever used a pick-up line with someone? Have you been subjected to a funny one? Comment below!


Here is a funny video I found on YouTube about pick-up lines...



And here is another really funny one!



AND...Want to learn a great line or two? Click here!

The Beibs...

Alright, so I want to be very clear hear with my words and my opinion of Justin Bieber. I am NOT, and repeat AM NOT in any way attracted to a 16-year-old boy. I very much have a view of the biebster that bounces between uninterested and intrigued, but I will admit that my appreciation of his music has grown.

First, a little background....I was first introduced to Justin Bieber right as I left for camp at the beginning of summer '10. For the next 3 months, I was unable to escape the constant exposure to his songs from the boy-crazed 12 year olds under my care. They would sing his songs everywhere, draw pictures of him for our cabin, discuss him in depth during free time, and request his songs be played during daily chapel. At first I wondered, who is this kid? But by the end of the summer, I didn't really care to know him...I already knew too much: where he was born, what his eye color looked like, how beautiful his smile was, how great he was at dancing, how nice his flowing locks looked as he flipped his hair, how gorgeous his pre-pubescent voice sounded, and of course, how nice it was to gaze at his perfectly chiseled 16-year-old body.

Returning back to civilization after months of seclusion in the woods, I soon realized this guy was not going away. I proceeded to mostly tune him out, and dismiss him as an artist suitable for most of his fan base -- 13-year-old girls -- and nothing more. But little by little, I started to enjoy a few of the songs he had on the radio. I caught myself humming a few tunes, and actually singing along to "Eenie Meanie". What is happening??! I can't be turning into one of those creepy college-aged girls who are obsessed with some little kid!

I later reflected with a friend, and came to a resolution. If I was 10, I would probably be in love with Justin Bieber, just as I was in love with Justin Timberlake at that age...So, I can't really harp on his crazed fans, because I was once a crazed pubescent preteen as well. So this past weekend when someone suggested we go see "Never Say Never", Justin's debut movie, I was OK with it. And little did I know, I would actually enjoy it! Seeing that movie, I have a deeper appreciation for Justin Bieber as an artist (I know, that sounds kind of crazy), and I actually like his music! And I'm not gonna lie, the little guy has some swag! No wonder little girls are in love with him...Usher has definitely taught him well.

So, moral of the story: don't judge a book by its cover? Well, maybe, maybe not. I would say, never be "too cool" for anything...even listening to a scrawny little kid sing about his middle school crush.

N-word, or no n-word...that is the question.

     Most of us read it during highschool, and some of us slept through it. Its a book that has long since been forgotten in our minds since that 10th grade class, but its drawing TONS of media attention as of late. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain is considered one of English literature's classic American novels for coming-of-age teens in the highschool classroom--but has been the target of swirling controversy when it was first published in 1884. The story is set in a fictional town in Missouri in the late 1830's, and follows the adventures of two friends, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Sounds innocent, right? Well, maybe, maybe not. The language of the book is what is causing so much hoopla around its use in a highschool classroom. Reflective of that time period in history, the characters frequently used the n-word and other racial slurs in reference to a character of the story, Jim, a nearby slave. Over the past 30 years, many schools have banned use of the book in classrooms, citing the language, which was deemed unsuitable for minors. Here's an excerpt from one of the pages of the novel.

EXCERPT (pg. 66)

"Well I reckon there's a right smart chance of people here that'd like to know who killed him. Some think old Finn done it himself."

"No--is that so?"

"Most everybody thought it at first. He'll never know how nigh he come to getting lynched. But before night they changed around and judged it was done by a runaway n****r named Jim."

"Why he--"

I stopped. I reckoned I better keep still. She run on, and never noticed I had put in at all:
"The n****r run off the very night Huck Finn was killed. So there's a reward out for him--three hundred dollars. And there's a reward out for old Finn, too--two hundred dollars. You see, he come to town the morning after the murder, and told about it, and was out with 'em on the ferryboat hunt, and right away after he up and left. Before night they wanted to lynch him, but he was gone, you see. Well, next day they found out the n****r was gone; they found out he hadn't ben seen sence ten o'clock the night the murder was doen. So then they put it on him, you see; and while they was full of it, next day, back comes old Finn, and wen't boo-hooing to Judge Thatcher to get money to hunt for the n****r all over Illinois with."

     More recently, a Mark Twain scholar Alan Gribben has announced his plans to publish a censored version of the book. Gribben is working with NewSouth Books in Alabama to publish a new version of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "Tom Sawyer" sometime in February. According to Gribben, the N-word appears 219 times in "Huck Finn" and four times in "Tom Sawyer", but the new version will replace the n-word with "slave". (http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13802339) The media has been a buzz with commentary from educators, writers, and other scholars who are either appalled at the notion, or agree with Gibben's decision. Some say re-writing the novel is just an attempt to avoid necessary but uncomfortable conversations with students on racism, and others say the words only bring hurt and pain--that race conversations about race can occur without this book.

An MU English professor recently went to bat for Gibben's revision plan, and says the idea is an honest attempt to bring more viewers.

As an African-American female, I think it's important to remember and reflect on our history in its entirety--good and bad. I think the context of this book and the book language presents interesting themes to discuss. Although conversations about race and racism in this country are quite uncomfortable for many people, its a necessary...and what better time to start than a 10th grade English lit. class? Maybe teachers need training on how to present and discuss controversial books like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", or maybe schools arrange an assembly to discuss some of the book's issues before students read it. But I personally don't agree in the censorship of literature for the sake of preserving someone's feelings or preventing hurt. The hurt has already happened. The hurt is still there. To me, ignoring what has happened only exasterbates ignorance, and in no way advances a more "racially cognizant" society.

So what do you think? Does the revision ruin an integral piece of American literature? Or is the book's crude language unnecessary in appreciating the themes of the story?

Phone Tag!

I'm sure all of you have played it before...the most frustrating game on the planet: PHONE TAG. Well, in a relationship that relies entirely on the modern day technology of the phone or skype, you become really really really experienced playing this game. Between classes, work, studying, and hanging out with friends (not to mention a partner who has a full-time job), the whole "I'm calling you while you're in class"/"I'm calling you back while you're in a business meeting" thing happens quite often. In fact, a little too often. Then, inevitably, the irritation builds, as you feel "left out" of whatever else is going on in your partner's life, and you realize you haven't talked in a day, or two, or three from being so busy. So here's what I have realized. Is whatever you're doing all that important that you can't excuse yourself for a minute to take the call? I mean, right, with some exceptions, its probably not a good idea. Say, if the dean of your respective college or schools comes to speak to your class--maybe thats not a good time for a phone call. But if you're working on peer-editing in your freshman english class, or headed into a movie with the girls, or about to shoot hoops with the guys, or headed into the gym--taking those five seconds to say hello can mean all the difference in their day. So do it. Live a little. Maybe people might thing you're rude, and maybe people will bust your chops for being attached to your phone, or your girl, or your man--but who cares? Because at the end of the day, your relationship is significantly more important than hearing your professor repeat the keys to journalistic success for the 100th time.

Until next time,

Lonely Lover