Strength Training

Skiing is extremely demand on the lower half of your body – having strong legs are essential. Squats are one of the best exercises for this. They work your quads and hamstrings, which control your knee joints and glutes. Try squats with or without free weights, but do them, especially if you do not have access to a gym. Alternatively, if you prefer a machine-based leg exercise, the leg press is a good option. Lunges are also great for leg strengthening – again do these with or without free weights. For further quad strength try wall sits, you’ll feel the burn afterward.

Balance, Agility and Plyometrics

Practice balancing by doing one-legged squats or exercises on a balance board. Developing agility will also help improve your overall skiing technique. Quick repetitions of lateral jumps is a great ski-specific agility exercise, especially since skiing involves a lot of lateral movement.

Plyometrics builds explosive power and combine elements of speed and strength. One type of plyometrics exercise that is great for skiers involves standing on a stable, elevated surface (a box or bench), jump down and then immediately jump back up. Repeat this motion with ten or more reps.

Endurance

Cardiovascular endurance is emphasized more in cross-country skiing than in downhill, but it’s still an important complement to an alpine ski focused strength training program. Working out on the stationary bike gets your heart and lungs going while simultaneously targeting those crucial legs muscles like your quads, hamstrings and calves.

Try doing intervals on the bike: warm up for five minutes on an easy level, then increase the level or resistance and pedal hard for one minute, then decrease the resistance a bit to rest, then increase it again and go hard, etc.

Fitness routines are necessary for any sport. Olympic skier Lindsay Van spends 6-8 hours a day in the gym to prepare for skiing. She and other professional skiers are just as dedicated to dry-land training, as they are to actually skiing. But while the rest of us may not have not have eight hours a day to spend in the gym, if you can get to the gym for one hour and incorporate some squats and lunges into your routine, you’ll be well on your way towards a long and healthy ski season.

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The elections are particularly important because, “They will test the political views of the Arab world’s most populous country and the extent to which they are compatible with the economic progress and good relations with the West,” wrote Adrian Blomfield, Middle East Correspondent for The Telegraph, in an Egypt Elections Q&A.

According to Mozn Hassan, head of Nazra Feminist Studies, an NGO based in Cairo, and an expert in constitutional reform, the elections mark an important starting point in the country’s political regeneration. “These elections will not change Egypt – this is not the situation,” Hassan told Al Jazeera English. “At the same time, they will determine whom the people want…The elections will make it clear,” she said.

Civil-military relations in Egypt are not at its best. SCAF’s conduct during the post-revolution period resulted in the people’s distrust towards the ruling military council. During a wave of new protests after the revolution, SCAF reacted with “heavy-handed measures” to put out protests and utilized military tribunals to “silence dissenting civilians,” Al Jazeera English explained. Hence, these elections serve to test how far the military council is ready to submit itself to civilian control.

This is Egypt’s first free election in decades and the turnout is high. Egyptians are voting to create the first democratically elected assembly in the country’s long history. Al Jazeera English reported that in Cairo, thousands of voters flocked to schools in the prominent neighborhoods like Zamalek, Nasr City and Maadi, well before polling booths opened at eight in the morning, to stake their place in line.

More than 50 political parties are participating in the elections along with thousands of independent candidates. However, ex-regime members were banned from running in the elections. In the first round, Egypt’s Islamic political party, the Muslim Brotherhood, is in the lead. The second rounds of elections are scheduled for next week.

The date for presidential elections in Egypt is said to commence early next year.

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I’ve been trying to come to terms with this idea ever since. I thought that my music tastes were “maturing” like my personality was (relatively speaking, I only just became a legal adult a week ago). I started referring to the music I listened to in high school as my “guilty pleasure” music, but really, that’s a bunch of crap.

I don’t feel guilty about it at all. The music I listened to when I was younger has contributed just as much to the person I am today as the culture of my hometown, the mentors I’ve had and the friends I’ve made and lost in my short 21 years of life. When I’m stressed, I listen to the music I did when I was 15, and it’s as reassuring as a phone call from a childhood friend, reminding me of who I really am and where I’ve come from.

So far, this semester has not been gentle with me (see: Hurricane Irene, Nor’easter 2011, Sonic Youth breaking up, etc). And when the going gets tough, I turn to punk.

This is, however, where I get frustrated: Massachusetts, I love you, but you bring me no punk.

I come from a place where the only music scene that has existed in my lifetime is pop-punk and hardcore. Give me a circle pit, and I feel at home. (Alright, so “give me the safe perimeter of the circle pit” is more accurate, but whatever—something other than disaffected hipsters standing with their arms crossed as far away from the stage as possible.) But once I get to the Pioneer Valley, telling people that I graduated from high school with the guys from Title Fight and Cold World and shared cheese steaks in South Philly this summer with the guys from Such Gold is like speaking another language. These bands mean a lot to me, and probably a lot more now that I’ve befriended and grown up with them and watched them succeed. Massachusetts is very important to me, too, though, in terms of finding a community I feel some affinity for. And despite all the great music we get that comes through this area, we are conspicuously lacking in punk.

My memories of music are attached to the only venue my entire corner of Pennsylvania had—a dingy, sketchy all-ages punk club, which was sadly closed down a little over a year ago. With that devastating blow, and the fact that I will have to drive all the way to Worcester on a Friday night to see Into It. Over It., my frustration is reaching its peak. Western Massachusetts—do you have no dissatisfied youth who want to scream and be in a sweaty mosh pit? Do you have no angry, skateboarding, likely mischief-causing hoodlums lurking your streets listening to the Descendents or the Casualties?

All I’m asking is for a little less mellow, a little more angst. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the community of people I’ve known and met through punk music, and I would be sad to see this corner of the world I’ve come to love so dearly miss out on that experience. Western Massachusetts, please: up the punk.

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As we register for classes, this week has made me realize how fast time moves and how I am not prepared, in any way shape or form, for graduation come May. However, one thing is starkly clear for me as I reflect back on who I was when I entered this beautiful brick and ivy campus; I am amazed at how much Mount Holyoke has shaped me. How my convictions have changed, how I know so much more about myself, and a little bit about the world, in the last four years. I’m sure you feel the same way too, even if this is just your third month in the 413.

I shouldn’t be surprised by this, after all it is your experiences which help to shape who you are. I think more than anything I am proud to be able to say that Mount Holyoke has shaped me. It is an environment which is empowering, where your beliefs are solidified and where you learn how to quickly and efficiently get rid of your compost at Dessert Dilemma night in Prospect (what more do you need to know to get through life?).

One thing I wish I had more of that I haven’t really encountered here are debates. Debates about beliefs and opinions, which make you red in the face and where you have the unfortunate urge to punch the person who you are disagreeing with. Yes, ever so often the stray “disagreement” will arise but oftentimes the topic would be superficial a,“What?! You don’t like The Kooks?! Who even are you?” type thing. Perhaps this hasn’t really occurred for me because the people I surround myself with all have similar viewpoints on the big, hard-hitting issues. I urge you, however, to start an argument, friendly of course, and see what comes from it. Will it further confirm your beliefs about say, illegal immigration, or will your world turn upside down as you realize maybe what you once thought is not what you now believe.

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Growing up, television was banned from our house during the summer. Well, not banned exactly, more like we didn’t have one. And forget AC. Growing up in New England, my mother swore we would never need air conditioning, never mind central air. So my sister and I would escape to the library on sweltering days when the beach resembled a sauna, packed with people happily tanning and trying to forget about the godforsaken heat around them.

The library was cool and quiet. There were games to play and picture books to peruse but as I got older it became a great haven of worlds, places to visit when I wanted to escape the Cape Cod atmosphere that I was so immersed in. I would stack my arms with books and then escape to my backyard and read in the hammock until the sun went down.

I no longer visit the Cape for the entire summer like I used to. Busy with jobs, internships, and friends, it’s hard to find the time to read. But when I can, I revert right back to those days of walking through Hogwarts with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, strolling the streets of Atlanta with Scarlet O’Hara, and visiting relatives in London with Jane and Elizabeth Bennett.

I compiled a list of my favorite summer books, just casually relaxing literature, but, hey, that’s exactly the kind of novels you want to read in the summer, right?

The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares

Okay, I’ll admit, I loved The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series. So when Ann Brashares wrote her first adult novel, I eagerly awaited what she had to offer the teens that were now maturing and ready for a more poignant and powerful read. It was no disappointment. The Last Summer was wonderful, better than I could ever have expected. Two sisters return to their parent’s beach house for a summer of unforgettable memories and experiences. Heartbreaking, hopeful, and an unforgettable novel to read on the beach, The Last Summer (Of You and Me) is an incredible tale of friendship, grief, and love.

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

With an Irish wit that will have you laughing out loud, Marian Keyes has a wonderful collection of novels, each with an interesting and hilarious twist. The protagonist Claire and her astonishingly quirky family will keep you turning pages. Satisfying and quick to read, it is easy to fall in love with Claire and the Walsh family over a couple of hours. Marian continues to write about the Walsh family in Angels, Rachel’s Holiday, and Anybody Out There.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

I love Jane Austen. I fell in love with Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility but I think she saved her best book for last. Persuasion is not your classic or timeless love story but is seamless and fun to read just the same. A story of regaining faith, rediscovering love, and realizing that time has little effect on the most passionate of lovers. Jane Austen’s Anne and Captain Wentworth are a set of characters you don’t want to miss.

Getting Over It by Anna Maxted

The first book of Anna Maxted’s wonderful career, Getting Over It is similar in many ways to Keyes’ wit and Helen Fielding’s hilarious Bridget Jones’s Diary. Helen, whose life appears to be at a stalemate with happiness, is just as entertaining as the characters that surround her. Someone who makes death funny, Maxted has written several more novels that will have you bent double all summer long. Laughing until your stomach hurts, Getting Over It is a perfect summer read.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

Odd choice, I know. After a hefty collection of what some call “chick lit,” throwing Shakespeare in here almost seems sacrilegious. But really, who wouldn’t want to go on a trippy love ride about the strangest love triangle/quadrilateral ever thought up? After reading this play and acting it too, I must say it is fun and well worth your time.

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A report published by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said that female Egyptian journalists continue to face discrimination when it comes to assuming roles of leadership in their organizations. Another report published by the federation confirmed that Arab women journalists still face difficulties in advancing in the field of media work, especially the press, in comparison with their male counterparts. This difference lies in a preconceived notion that men are better suited to work in the press than women.

Men in Arab nations are in control of media content. Arab women journalists are deemed unsuitable to deal with news production of issues such as war and conflict. Instead, they are forced to perform menial tasks as assistants or stand by for backup roles. Typically women journalists are assigned soft news that does not deal with formal or serious topics, but there is a growing number of Arab women journalists working as war correspondents.

Iqbal Tamimi, a female journalist, wrote in an article published in the Daily Telegraph that, though Arab women as war reporters are looked at with great pride by the public, they are neither professionally offered training as war reporters nor equipped with protective gear. Tamimi further explained “what leads the woman reporters to such areas is their enthusiasm, and hopes to secure a better position in their careers in a male dominated society”. The Lebanon War in 2006, also known as the Israel-Hezbollah war, was the first time when Arab women journalists started war correspondence. News organizations such as Al-Arabiya, Al-Jazeera and a number of Lebanese satellite television channels had several women reporting from the most dangerous zones during the four-week conflict.

There are also significant social barriers that Arab women journalists face at home. According to the International Woman’s Media Foundations, they are “juggling family obligations with erratic work schedules dictated by breaking news”. This is perhaps more stressful in the patriarchal Arab societies where women are solely obliged to maintain household duties and raise children. In addition, there is also a lack of successful role models to follow examples of.

Moreover, being a single-woman journalist in the Arab world is a challenge of itself. Women need to accomplish twice as much to prove themselves worthy of being capable journalists. Surprisingly, being a woman journalist has its advantage. Tania Mehanna, an award-winning journalist from Lebanon (some consider her as the Lebanese equivalent of CNN’s Christian Amanpour) said that, for some, being a female journalist is useful to enter homes and talk with families where male reporters are barred.

Currently, initiatives are being taken to alleviate the status of Arab women journalists. In February 2002 the UAE government assembled the first Arab Women’s Media Forum called, “Women and Media: Towards an Interactive Media Sphere”. However, the forum, held at Abu Dhabi, fell short on creating practical solutions for fixing the disparity. Instead, complaints rose about stereotyping of women in Arab media or stereotyping of Arab and Muslims in general by Western media.

An Al-Jazeera newspaper in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has established an all-women journalism center in its Riyadh headquarters. Editor-in-chief, Khalid Al-Malik, said this measure would pave way for Arab women to work in journalism, allowing them to be in control and inspire other newspapers to open more opportunities for Arab women journalists. Staffed by 38 members, the women journalists handle jobs such as editing, sub-editing, layout and design of the newspaper, a first in the Kingdom.

Mahassen al Emam, a journalist from Jordan, founded the Arab Woman Media Center (AWMC) in 1998, a non-government organization in Jordan. Emam was the first woman to be accepted by the Jordanian Press Association as a registered journalist and currently serves as the director of the center. AWMC have been actively involved in training female journalists, hosting conferences for Arab women in media, and raising awareness of human rights issue and democracy in Arab regions through film production.

These efforts hope to support Arab women journalists in their profession, by overcoming both social and political barriers, and helping them to assume leadership roles in their organizations.

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On March 11, 2011, an earthquake of 9.0 magnitude on the Richter Scale devastated Japan; it was the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan.  The earthquake generated a 30 foot tsunami which slammed into the Japanese coastline engulfing everything in its path.  Pictures of the horrific aftermath are a sobering reminder that we live on an ever-changing planet.  Man may believe that he is the superior species on the planet, inhabiting nearly every corner of the globe and accomplishing feats such as space travel and deep sea diving, but he is still subject to the forces of nature.  More than 10,000 have died and 17,500 are still missing in the wake of the deadly earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a chilling consequence of living on a volatile planet.

As powerful as the 2011 Japanese earthquake seems, it was just one of the largest earthquakes recorded.  The largest earthquake ever recorded occurred in May of 1960 in Chile with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale.  The largest earthquake ever recorded in the United States happened in March 1964 with a magnitude of 9.2 on the Richter scale.  It has been estimated that on average  more than one million earthquakes of 2-2.9 magnitude happen ever year, but only one earthquake with a magnitude of 8 or higher occur on average every year.

Earthquakes originate at places where the plates of the Earth’s crust meet.  The crust, which is the outer layer of the Earth, is 70km thick and made of many irregular shaped plates.  There are three types of plate boundaries:  spreading zone, subduction zone, and transforming faults.  Spreading zones occur mostly under oceans.  At spreading zones, molten rock rises forces two plates apart and forms new material at the edges.  Subduction zones occur when one plate moves on top of another plate.  Mountain ranges with active volcanoes and deep ocean trenches are examples of subduction zones.  The third type of plate boundary is transform faults.  These occur when parallel plates slide past each other.  The San Andres Fault in California is an example of a transform fault.

Earthquakes are caused by tension at these boundaries that result with the crust breaking under stress.  The break in the crust send vibrations outward called seismic waves.  The depth within the crust that these breaks originate is called the focal depth and the place directly above the focal depth is called the epicenter.  This is the point of origin of the earthquake.  One of the most common ways of measuring the magnitude of an earthquake, the Richter Scale, is a logarithmic scale that measures the amplitude of  the seismic waves.   This means that an earthquake of 6.o magnitude has an amplitude ten times greater than the amplitude of a 5.0 earthquake.  This scale goes theoretical higher than 10.0, but an earthquake of that magnitude has never been recorded.

Earthquakes can sometimes generate powerful oceanic waves called tsunamis.  Tsunamis occur as a result of earthquakes that occur beneath the sea floor.  Vertical movements along sea floor allow a quick transfer of energy from the Earth’s crust to the ocean causing a wall of water to move outward.  The largest tsunami recorded occurred on July 9, 1958 in Litoya Bay in Alaska.  On this day, an earthquake of 7.7 magnitude along the Fairweather Fault caused 30.6 million cubic meters of rock to fall 914 meter into Litoya Bay generating a 1700 ft tsunami.

At times, the fury of nature can be terrifying, yet if we have an understanding of events such as earthquakes, we can better prepare ourselves in case one hits.  For more information about earthquakes visit http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/and for more information about tsunamis visit  http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/.

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At the moment, with all of the midterm papers and exams hanging over our shoulders like big, ugly vultures, thinking of summer activities seems like a beautiful distant illusion. I have heard several students on campus dreamily discussing their favorite beach locations over a pile of textbooks, so I have gotten the impression that many members of the community would like nothing better then to be lying on a beach somewhere reading.

In fact, this is exactly what some students did over Spring Break. Florida, California, Mexico, and Costa Rica. These areas seem like hot spots in the world that are attracting both the lucky travelers and wishful thinkers. The decline of beach visitation due to the BP oil spill by the Gulf of Mexico seems to have recovered but problems in the oceans are far from over.

Several publications including The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times have reported on oceans issues ranging from invasive species to species endangerment due to overfishing and poor management. Check out these current hot topics on marine issues.

1. The King Harbor Tragedy The Los Angeles Times

This week, millions of dead sardines appeared in Retundo Beach’s King Harbor in California, covering the surface of the water and causing a clean up frenzy to try to save the rest of the harbor ecosystem. The officials of the clean up hypothesized that the sardines were chased towards the bay and suffocated when they chose to remain in the harbor due to limited oxygen in the harbor ecosystem. The Los Angeles Times reported that sardines began to decay, creating a smell and jeopardizing the existence of other organisms in the harbor. While plenty of marine life has benefited from this sudden feast, most the fish will be sucked out of the water by a vacuum to use as fertilizer. Officials have clarified that this was not linked to the recent oil spill by the Gulf of Mexico, but that it was a natural event, albeit a messy one.

2. Looking beyond the jaws The New York Times

A lot of people are scared of sharks. That familiar the-shark-is-coming music from Jaws is enough to unnerve any of these people, but seeing footage of them swimming around with evil-looking toothy grins could give them nightmares for weeks. That being said, I like to think that these people could put aside their fear and prejudices when they see that several shark species are nearing endangerment due to habitat degradation and fishing for their fins. Check out this video from The New York Times about reefs regulation in Glover’s Reef in Belize and shark fishing limits. Glover’s Reef is a marine reserve in which fishing is prohibited, and the benefits are apparent through the diversity rich-looking ecosystem. Rangers patrol the ocean area around the reserve to regulate fishing and check on daily catch of fishermen. The reserve has proven to be helpful for shark populations who are threatened by the growing demand for shark fin soup, a delicacy supplied by fishermen who simply pull up a huge shark, cut off its tiny fins, and throw the rest of the shark back. Because this demand has prevented shark fishing management laws from been approved, these reserves are the best way to conserve shark populations.

3. Taking a lion’s share The New York Times

The fish in the tropics are like colorful gems, shaped in every way imaginable with endless color patterns and crazy-looking features. Tourists enjoy snorkeling in tropical areas to marvel at the incredible diversity balanced in such small ecosystem, but one species, the lionfish, is taking a lion’s share out of the Florida Keys. Even at first glance, this fish does not look like one you would want to pester while underwater. With a zebra-like color pattern and spiky mane-like fins that look like they must be poisonous (they are), it’s no wonder this species is causing problems. The lionfish is an exotic invasive from the Indo-Pacific Ocean that is unstoppable. They compete with native species and eat the developing fish of almost any fish species in the Keys. They are capable of laying 30,000 eggs every four days, so soon the whole ecosystem is choked with them. To control the populations, the Florida Keys has created the Lionfish Tournament, supervised hunts of the lionfish that allow hunters to use virtually any method of fishing and they are eaten, since it is only their spines that are poisonous. Watch the video to find out more!

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4) Taylor Swift: You Belong With Me

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A catchy song by a Grammy-nominated musician, I couldn’t resist throwing the video into the mix. Although the first athletic reference isn’t until almost two minutes in, the classic band-geek-gets-the-quarterback fairy tale is a storyline for the underdog in all of us.

So many music videos these days are based around sex appeal and dancing, that it’s great to have one that really sticks to a storyline. Throughout the video Swift plays the hero (the band geek) and villain (the backstabbing cheerleader), giving the video more depth than if an outside actress had been hired. Yet overall the simple happy-ending plot is refreshing.

3) Shakira: Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

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The official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, ‘Waka Waka’ is a video for all ages. Despite Shakira’s vaguely provocative dance moves, the get-up-and-groove vibe stays true to the video’s goal: promoting the internationl event.  This collaboration with the South African band Freshlyground was quite the marketing ploy, bringing in over 306 million views on YouTube.

Aside from the Columbian pop artist, the piece features soccer players: Gerard Piqué, Dani Alves, Idriss Carlos Kameni, Rafael Márquez and Lionel Messi. Throughout the three and a half minute video are scenes interweaving Shakira dancing with clips from previous World Cups. Personally I would have loved more soccer clips than Shakira, but the official FIFA song has come long ways since Ricky Martin’s Cup of Life video, which doesn’t even contain a soccer ball. Although for all the face time Shakira does have, I would have loved Shakira to at least attempt kicking a ball around.

In spite of the mass propaganda throughout the video, the detailed and exhilarating soccer clips make the video worth watching.

2) Vampire Weekend: Giving up the Gun

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Aside from the fact that “Giving Up The Gun” is a great song, the video’s most amusing feature is the random celebrities who appear throughout it. Released just over a year ago on Feb. 19, 2010, the video features a cast of Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Joe Jonas, Lil John and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Vampire Weekend performs in the background of the five-minute piece while Jenny Murry participates in a tennis tournament; Murry was also featured in the band’s earlier video “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.” Throughout the matches, Murry faces both celebrities as well as what appears to be a samurai, in addition to giant and Stormtrooper-esque competitors. It might have been fun if the band had participated in the matches, possibly even playing with their instruments rather than rackets.

Last fall when I interviewed Chris Baio, the band’s bassist, we discussed the ideas behind most of their music videos. “Giving up the Gun”’s concept fell into place after it was revealed that the Malloy Brothers, the directors of the video, knew Gyllenhaal.

“[Gyllenhaal] was listening to our record, and that was a week after it came out, and he decided to be in the video. He was super nice and everyone in the video sort of just showed up,” said Baio. “Everyone willing to be in the video with us was super nice, it was great.”

1) Martin Solveig and Dragonette: Hello (Smash Edit) (Extended Version)

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Although also about tennis, this French DJ outdid himself by not just creating a music video but a film. Martin Solveig, whose real name is Martin Picandet, earned himself the first place spot by combining tennis, a storyline, script, celebrities, and even inserting himself as the main character.

The electronic music DJ plays an exaggerated version of himself, still an artist but additionally an angst filled tennis player. Throughout the eight-minute piece Solveig plays against another well-known French DJ, Bob Sinclar. Shot at the Roland Garros, better known as the French Open, the two face off to Solveig’s “Hello,” the first single off his fifth album “Smash.” The toe-tapping beat is so catchy that I wouldn’t be surprised if it was stuck in my head for the next week.

Nerdy and dressed in Ivy League apparel, Solveig begins to lose terribly against the purple shirted and ponytail-wearing Sinclar. Amongst the crowd the camera zooms in and out of women wearing outfits reminiscent of neon 80s workout videos. After losing continuously against Sinclair, the woman Solveig has his eye on appears and he miraculously begins winning; but only until Gael Monfils, the highest ranked French Tennis player, kisses Solveig’s romantic interest. Solveig drops his racket and refuses to finish the mach. The video ends on a “To be continued” note and I was so interested to see what happened that I immediately watched the 11-minute continuation. Not only did “Hello” reach the number one spot in Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands, but was in the top 10 in New Zealand, Ireland, France, Romania, Canada and the Czech Republic.

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I have eleven pictures on the wall above my desk. One of my best friend from childhood, several of my family, one of my cat, and a few others. This small shrine to those I love is precious, simple and extremely personal. Today, I discovered something mind-blowing: I am only friends with two of them on Facebook.

As I sat, staring at these photos, my Facebook automatically reloaded itself. To my surprise and horror, photos from an event I attended last weekend had just been posted. On the brink of a panic attack, I grabbed my glasses to violently scan the album and to locate the photo that would make me wear a bag over my head for the rest of my life.

These photos weren’t just making an appearance on my little bulletin board. They were major league photos, Facebook photos, photos that would humiliate me. So I searched.

And, I found it.

I might add that this is kind of an exaggeration. In a creepy I’m-sort-of-not-in-the-mood-to-be-here-but-damn-I-look-good way, I like the picture. But it is certainly not flattering and I would bury myself in a hole before my future employer saw it.

Yes, I said it – employer. Because that’s what they do now, they look at your Facebook profile to get a sense of who you are and what they are getting themselves into.

Over J-Term I spent a significant amount of time fine-tuning my resume and inseminating dozens of mailboxes and email accounts with it and it’s brother, the cover letter, in the hope of scoring an internship this summer. At some point during this period, I was discussing my professional aspirations with my aunt, who has had ample experience headhunting. Her advice: get rid of your Facebook. Now, I love and respect my aunt more than anything, but really!? I made some snide remark along the lines of, “well, what they see is what they get; so if they don’t like it, screw them.” As the conversation proceeded, we came to the compromise that I would heavily censor my profile.

It was a traumatic moment. At this point, the photos I am tagged in on Facebook are a basic representation of who I am and what I do. One doesn’t even need to talk to me anymore to know that I like to dance, am an excellent chef, and that I thrive off of fun. These photos, documenting tidbits of the last few years, are an archive I savor. Therefore, it was harder than I thought to remove the sacred link that grants people access to a sneak peek of my life.

I felt, and still feel, a little guilty that it was so hard for me to press that button. Why do I care so much that people can see these precious photos? Is it because I want people to think I’m cool? Probably not, since in the grand scheme of things, my life seems pretty basic via Facebook. Is it because I want ex-boyfriends to see that I am surviving without them? Maybe… Or, is it because, like many people, I have gotten used to wearing my life on my sleeve and the concept of privacy has become increasingly foreign? Ding-ding-ding!

We don’t know what privacy really is anymore. The word is losing its meaning and its place in our society. My life, my evolution, my past are all available to anyone who wishes to click “Photos.” The desire to have our lives public is an addiction that is going to need to be curbed. So for now, I remain just a tad more anonymous.

Shit, I hope my future employer doesn’t read this.

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