Laura's blog

This May Term, I had the experience of taking a course called Writing Creatively About Science, taught by author Dava Sobel ( Longitude , The Planets , Galileo's Daughter ). We read and analyzed pieces ranging from New Yorker articles, nonfiction science books--like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (which I recommend to everyone who likes science, human stories, social and legal issues, or a good read), self-selected science writing and science fiction, and science-themed poetry. We looked at content, writing style, grammar, craft, and ways different authors treated their topics. I think everyone came away with a clearer understanding of what "science writing" means. My conclusion: if artists are so stereotypically fluid and flexible, like water, they should logically possess some of water's fascinating properties. For example, being able to fit to the shape of their container as well as being able to sprawl across the floor in an abstract blob. They should als...

It's been a year--and what have I done? "That's what my daddy always used to ask me on my birthday. 'What have you done for yourself this year, honey?' And if I didn't have a good enough answer, he'd eat the whole cake himself. He made smashing cakes...It is my personal opinion, Abby, that a person should have an interesting accomplishment added to their existence at the end of each year. I, for one, have had a different job every year since I was twenty-six. Aside from this one, of course." - from the one-act play Abby's Birthday, by Matt Minachino Abby's Birthday is about an assassin who kidnaps Abby--a typical, Paris-Hilton-type spoiled rich kid and aspiring actress--on her 20th birthday. The above is a line from the assassin, Diane. In answer to that, I can say that I played Abby in Abby's Birthday for the one-act festival this May Term. :) I also played Katherine Howard (wife #5 of Henry VIII) in another one-act, The Rose Club. In ...

The new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer, which includes a clip of Molly Weasley vs. Bellatrix Lestrange, had me all but jumping up and down in nerdy enthusiasm last night. So without further ado, I give you a list of badass movie one-liners, inspired by J.K. Rowling's awesomest mom ever. Anyway... "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" -Molly Weasley, future Deathly Hallows movie "I don't believe in no-win scenarios" -Kirk from Star Trek  "The name's Bond...James Bond" -James Bond, from James Bond (duh) "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die" -The Princess Bride "I'll make you an offer you can't refuse" -The Godfather Often, badass lines are accompanied by equally badass actions. For example, the "Luke I am your father" card would not be nearly as effective if Darth Vader hadn't just cut off his son's hand. So the whole line is more like *hand chop* *scream* ...

Well, I've been a bad blogger (say that one five times fast). At least this month. I've only had five posts for the month of April, nothing particularly interesting to say, and have barely tweeted or shared posts to Facebook where people might actually be directed to read them. On the plus side, you all have been patient and nice enough to comment on my posts this month, so thanks. :) Most of that is due to Hell Week and finals week; some of it is due to me writing reviews instead; and some of it is just me being lazy. Sorry about the lazy part. Hopefully, my life will get itself back on a normal schedule for the rest of this last term and May will see a more prolific blog! But first I have two questions for you: The first is easy. What would you like to read about? I generally just ramble about my interests, but if there's something particular you'd like to read, go ahead and leave suggestions. I do have all those now-deleted movie reviews, the rights to which shou...

What are you doing this Easter? Besides gorging yourself on candy? ;) Or bouncing off the walls? Or drinking wine or whatever you gave up for Lent? (I am watching YouTube!!!) A side note (ooh! A shiny distraction!!): Maybe it was watching the Dr. Who Christmas Carol last night, but I'm getting this urge to watch The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It's the two biggest Christian holidays and World War Two all in one movie. :P Actually, though, the reason I'm thinking about Dr. Who and A Christmas Carol is because it related uncannily well to the Easter sermon today, "Thieves in Paradise," with the reading from Luke about the thieves on the crosses next to Jesus. One had a deathbed conversion and Jesus told him he would go to Paradise/Heaven. Which reminded me of A Christmas Carol, of course--though there's not actually anything overtly Christian in the story; and in the time period, Christmas wasn't officially celebrated--but you can probably see where...

"To be or not to be; that is the question-- Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them." Et cetera. It's from Hamlet (in case you didn't know/in case that play has not quite penetrated every part of popular Western culture), and it inspired the name of my college's online literary magazine. Outrageous Fortune. Coincidentally, it's the only online college literary magazine made up of undergraduate work only, and it's run professionally--like literary magazines in the "real world," the editors may not publish their own work. The only graduates allowed to submit to the magazine are MBC alumnae, and I their work is published on a separate page. So if you're an undergrad or know any artistically inclined undergrads, tell them to submit--poetry, prose, and art! :) Anyway, I'm blogging about this because Outrageous Fortune has ...

So I gave up Youtube for Lent, but I'll get to that in a second. First of all, Shiloh Rules is over and the performances went wonderfully. Secondly, I am in denial of finals week (finals week? What finals week? What on earth are you talking about, voices?) And thirdly, this is National Library Week. I am celebrating this week dedicated to America's libraries by tweeting twaiku -- twitter haiku in 17 syllables and 140 characters. For example: "The boy is embarrassed / to be at the library-- / and then he sees her." The twaiku contest is hashtagged #nlwtwaiku and the prizewinner gets a $50 Amazon gift card (which the winner will, of course, use to buy books). But back to Lent. In the past, I've given up chocolate, soda, fast food, and makeup. One year I decided to write a poem for every day of Lent -- I produced a few haiku and a weird poem about roadkill, but I soon discovered that Lent vows kinda go the same way as New Year's resolutions. You tend to forge...