mondays... mondays... mondays...

today is gonna be my long day again. after classes, i have orchestra, then choir. what was i thinking when i made my schedule? LOL. i really dont like the choir's repertoire this sem. its the jazzy type. we're gonna be accompanied by a jazz band instead of an orchestra. and there would be tap dancers. i havent seen them perform yet, but maybe i would like it. and yeah orchestra... *sigh* its torture. im not sure if im still gonna join next sem.

hmm, so yeah. i can say that my weekend went well, i got to see my friends from MI, meagan and mandie, two of my favorite singers. and on sunday, i had dinner with my foster parents, the Holloways. food was good. its always a blessing to me being at their place.







i think this is all for now. i still have to read another chapter of my book. and also, i still need to look for a job online. wAAAAAAH! job hunting is a B****! oops, sorry for the language. =P

Understanding Seelye: A Textual Analysis

*this is the draft of my writing assignment, not yet complete. this is so hopeless...


Seelye, Katharine Q. “Lurid Numbers on Glossy Pages! (Magazines Exploit What Sells)” The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings. Eds. Richard Bullock & Maureen Daly Goggin. New York, London W.W. Norton & Company 2007. 525-529.



“A trip to the newsstand these days can be a dizzying descent into a blizzard of numbers”, says Katherine Q. Seelye, author of “Lurid Numbers on Glossy Pages! (Magazines Exploit What Sells!). In this article, the author explored the wonders numbers can do in magazine sales and how people yield to this number tactics. She claims that in magazine publication, number sells.

Seelye analyzes that most of this publications are aimed at women. “Service” publications especially, are filled with random tips and trends that will surely catch women’s attention. She states that editors used numbers as a selling point while readers find all the information they want in the magazine. Men’s magazines too, according to Seelye are buying the numbers racket. She illustrates how editors used catchy phrases and tips to get men’s attention, one of the schemes used are polls. Seelye warns readers that polls can sometimes be mistaken as interviews. In addition, Seelye reveals that editors sweat to find out the perfect numbers but there is no solution, it is all due to chance.

The author also points out that odd numbers are far more believable that even numbers. Odd numbers speaks authenticity, she relates from an interview with an editor. She assesses that editors insists that they use numbers that their writers actually find in their reporting. And they said that number 7 have a certain appeal while 13 is to be shunned. The size of the numbers however depends on the subject matter, reports the author. She finds that smaller numbers are used for serious matters like exercise tips, and bigger numbers are fine for something that says value without saying work.

Most editors test their magazine covers in focus groups to find which cover is more alluring to customers, says Seelye. She reports that the winning cover is almost always the one with large numbers printed on it. Numbers sticks out and draw the eye on monthly magazines, which aid the publishers’ battle with celebrity magazine. The author alleges that the biggest force that monthly magazine are dealing with is celebrity magazines. “You are not competing with other people’s numbers, you’re competing with Brad and Angelina and babies” quotes Seelye from a statement given by Kate White, editor of Cosmopolitan (p.527).

Sex still sells, claims the author, especially when confounded with celebrities. But in front of those glamorous celebrity photos, still stand the numbers. She describes how Glamour magazine features Sarah Jessica Parker’s photo on the cover, surrounded by numbers. The author finds that magazine editors used numbers to give readers something to focus on against the busy background.

However, numbers are more than just a graphic device, says Seelye as she notes that people are busy, and because of that, a quick, entertaining and informative read is ideal. She also explains that editors also use numbers to tell their readers what they have found and to alert them about the editor’s expertise, without wasting their reader’s time, since internet is also a powerful device in getting massive informations. The author relates that although some editors are trying to drop their numbers use, readers are still looking for numbers according to research, which shows that numbers really sell.

Seelye points out the difference between newsstand and subscription sales. According to her, newsstand sales are more money-spinning than subscriptions, because publishers find their new customers in newsstands, while subscribers already know what they want and has already subscribed, and probably at a discount. The author relates that still; newsstands sales have their own problems. It become more crowded and promotional space at checkout counters have become more expensive. Because of this, some editors start to produce separate magazine covers, one for newsstand and one for subscription. “On the newsstand, the cover is acting as a poster, an ad for what’s inside, the loyal reader is looking for what makes the magazine exceptional” Seelye quotes Glenda Bailey, editor of Harper’s Bazaar (p. 528).

In an interview with some magazine readers, Seelye finds that they also look for numbers, particularly in rankings and ratings. She relates how readers used numbers as a point system and to let them evaluate things quickly. But the author reveals that editors admit that they still use numbers even if they have already burned out.

somethin to talk about



im happy that its finally friday. this week has been good, well sort of. nothin interestin really happened. its just home-school-library for me. and i do try finding a job, i sent in a lot of applications already, both online and walk ins.

school has been ok, i had a psych exam last wednesday, i was a bit frustrated coz i dint get to answer some of the questions correctly. but im pretty sure that i passed that test coz ive prepared so much for that. i also did a paper for my writing composition class. man, writing is not my forte. the only thing i could write is this blog, no rules and style or whatever. hah!

what else... hmm. oh yeah, im so thankful for friends, but right now i would like to thank my friend CHAM for all the support. she's very motherly. lol jk. but yeah, she's really a friend that i can count on. she's the one on the pic, it was from her screenshot actually. that pic caused her trouble. i thought it was funny. oops sorry cham. =P

because of a girl
today i got to drive jenny home. it was raining so hard earlier and i thought maybe jenny needs a ride, but before i got to ask her, she called me first. man, goodthing my genius in driving did not show up. LOL. she lives pretty far but i had fun driving with her. i think she's cool.

whew!

Psych exam has been moved on monday! what a relief. but not so much, i think ive prepared enough for that test and iw as excited. but its ok, Thank God for more time to study. i think ive been studying a lot but i still felt guilty of goin to the theatres last night to watch underworld. LOL. yup, my friend lyndon invited me. i dint really like movie, but its ok.

job hunting.

yup, until now i havent found a job yet. i had an interview the other day but unfortunately i dint get the job. how frustrating. im running out of money and i need to pay my bills. man, this is crazy. but yeah, i should find one soon.

so its the weekend finally. nothing interesting is goin on so far, no plans. well, almost every weekend friends are asking me to go out and party with them but unfortunately, i cant coz im broke. but maybe i dont really like partying or goin out getting wasted. well, ive never been wasted or somethin but i just dont wanna be surrounded by people doin those "crazy" things. well i may sound like the most boring person right now but yeah who cares. i have a different idea of fun. and besides, im super broke!!! someone save me. but yeah, thanks to my cousin for sending me some money for gas and food. OMGSH im so useless. but i hope not for long.

hmm, so yup. i need a job. soon.
have a great weekend =)

happy birthday toua!


yesterday my brother josh turned 23. we're the same age now.



this is me with bro and ate shelly as the ghost lady =P

music, my anti-drug
i wrote this narrative for my english composition class. i dont really like writing but its my homework so i have to. honestly, im not really inspired by my grandfather. most of the emotional part of this was fabricated.

My literacy in music started at an early age. As far as I can remember, music has always been a part of my life. I am not a prodigy or someone you could call “gifted”, but somehow I can say that I am blessed with an ear and a heart for music.

Looking back at my childhood, I was often awakened by beautiful piano music played by my grandfather who lived with us. How I love to wake up with the rich, yet mellow sound of the piano. The music gave me a sense of peace and gratitude that made me appreciate each new day. It was as if God was telling me that everything is going to be alright. I was so thrilled once when my grandfather
played an up tempo piece. With my little toy drum I followed the beat of the music, like a metronome. After my “little” performance, my grandfather smiled at me with an approving look on his face. That might be the time when my folks thought that I might be ready for my music lessons.

At the age of five, I found myself in a little studio of my first piano teacher. I was very eager to learn, however, the butterflies in my stomach won’t seem to stop fluttering. “Teacher, please teach me” I mumbled, followed with an awkward bow. That was the first thing I learned from my teacher – COURTESY. Silence filled the room while I wait for instructions, but somehow the secretive ticking
of the clock on the wall seemed to expose itself. Sweat flowed slowly on my cheek as my lesson goes on, then the sight of it dripping on the piano keys made me more apprehensive. Good thing that incident happened only during my first time.

After several months, my first piano recital is coming ahead. The traditional tunes Lightly row and Honey bee were my first recital piece. Every day, my little hands would play the same two songs over and over again, trying to memorize and master it. The recital day came; I rehearsed one last time before we went to the venue. Piano students together with their parents all gathered for that
special day, everyone looked so nice and excited. We were seated according to the order of performance. In next in no time, my turn came. Being in front of a huge crowd, the stage felt like the coldest place on earth. Applause thundered the hall after my performance. That was the day I felt so proud of myself.

My piano lessons continued until when I was in fourth. We had to move to the province and live there for a while because of my mom’s job. It was my very first time to move to a new place, and it was also my first time being separated with my grandfather. It was tough but I had to deal with it. Our new home was located in a very small town, surrounded by vast farmlands and a hundred miles
away from the city. Very different from where we used to live. We couldn’t find a piano teacher for me, so I guess I had to stop for a while. Gradually, I stopped playing the piano. That time, Music stopped playing in my life, and my passion and love for it walked away.

Years went by and my elementary graduation came. My mom decided to send
me back to the city where we used to reside, for me to attend high school. It was a very exciting moment for me. Like most teenagers, I was adventurous and had a lot of ideas of fun and exciting things to do. I had this sense of freedom, but I later found out that I am going to stay with my grandparents again. That idea seemed to lessen my excitement. Before long, school days were here again. my grandfather suggested that I continue taking piano lessons.

He found me a new teacher and started reviewing what I had learned from the past. It was not the same as before, I no longer have the same enthusiasm of learning and making music. Laziness and stubbornness took over. Often times I skipped my piano lessons, until I just completely stopped. For sure, my grandfather was not really pleased about it. But one day, while I was organizing some of my things in the closet, I noticed a box sitting on top of the shelf. Driven by curiosity, I took a chair for me to step on and reached for the box. I opened it and saw a violin inside. How I admired the intricate details on it. On the spur of the moment I went to my grandfather and showed him what I discovered.

“That is your cousin’s violin that he is not using anymore” he said.

“It has been in that box for quite some time now”

“Can I play with it?” I timidly asked.

“Well, of course you can, I was planning to sell it since no one seemed

interested in it”

“But if you wanted to learn how to play the violin, you can have it”

From then on, I found myself rediscovering music. I took the opportunity of learning
a new instrument and my passion for music was once again rekindled. “You will never regret learning how to play an instrument” my grandfather once told me. As days and years passed, those words remained in my thoughts and I came to a point where I pondered that maybe, he’s right. I became an orchestra player and had the opportunity to travel and meet a lot of new people. It was fun and exciting, but nothing compares with the joy of seeing my family, especially my grandfather, with audience whenever I perform. Those moments are priceless.

My life seemed different, and my ideas of fun have changed. Making music is like
therapy for me, an outlet of stress and a freedom of expression. I wonder how my life would be if my younger years were spent doing other things, if I exchanged my time practicing to doing what most teenagers thought was fun.