Disney Princesses

Okay, so I thought I'd share this to get other people's opinions on it. I'm sure you all remember how controversial the new Black Disney princess was in The Princess and the Frog. How people were saying their children would be able to relate better to her because of her race, and then there was the whole issue about how the prince wasn't Black and why couldn't they just have a Black couple? Why can't you people just be happy and enjoy the movie? I know when I was little I wasn't thinking "Ariel is White, I guess I can relate to her better". It kind of made me angry when the news would interview little girls and they would spew out lines obviously given by their parents "I can relate to her better because she's Black". Am I saying making a Disney Princess Black was a bad thing? No, of course not. I think it was a great idea, it's just the fact that everyone made such a huge deal about it. Yes, it was a good thing to do, but you shouldn't make your kids believe that the only way to relate to someone is if they are the same race as you. That's just sending out entirely the wrong message.

Well anyway, now I've heard rumblings of wanting a "plus-size" princess. What are your thoughts on this? I personally do not think this would be a good idea. Sure it might make some little girls out there feel better about their weight, but there are too many things that can go wrong. If they make another White princess people will be mad because we have too many of those, but if it's any other race, people of that race might get mad because they are portraying their race as fat. Also, if you make the prince fat too, people will get mad because then you are saying only fat people can marry fat people. There is just no way to make everyone happy, and of course the children who are just trying to enjoy the story will get pulled into the mess as well.

This is not an official Disney princess, just something someone drew. I think she's quite pretty, and I see nothing wrong with her, but so many other people will. They will tear her apart, and who wants to see that to happen to a Disney Princess?

Original can be found here

Finally Finals!

Ah yes, the finals week. Something every student looks forward to and dreads at the same time. Finals week brings both good and bad with it. Good, because it means the end of the quarter and beginning of the holidays, bad because of all those filthy final exams that come with it! This was my first quarter at CSUB and I think it went fairly well. A's and B's. I've already taken a final for my micro economics class- got an 88% on it. Not too bad. Right now I'm supposed to be writing an essay for my multicultural communication final... not going so well actually as I have decided to write this blog instead (: I'm not worried about it though, as soon as I decide to start it, it will get done quickly.

The last final I have is on Wednesday- Finite Mathematics. Something else I'm not worried about either seeing as I get to use a full page of notes. You know, I was actually nervous about starting up at a new school. I thought it was going to be too hard, or I wouldn't make any friends, or, or... well you know, all the normal new school fears, but this quarter has been really good for me. I've actually put myself out there and made new friends, and got good grades. These last few months in general have been good. I can honestly say I'm happy right now- would be happier if I had a job to keep me busy over the holiday, but I guess I can't complain too much.

Just one and a half months until this year is over and it's goodbye 2011, hello 2012. Just think, if the world ends in 2012 like they say it will, I will have spent my entire life in school. Joy. I, personally, do not believe in this, but I guess to each his own. We'll find out soon enough! I know I'm settled for the after-life, so I'm none too worried (:

Well, good luck to everyone who is cursed with finals this week! I hope you all do well!

Much love,
Ashley

Decisions... decisions...

Thank you all for your feedback on my little experiment! This has really been an eye opener. $100/hr. All I have to say is wow. Most of the responses I got were on facebook, so I would like to post them on here too.

Russell Thome AWESOME!!!!!!!

Raul Hernandez wtf, i need some gas money, let me borrow your sign

Sharan Kaur who needs a job when you can earn money this way ;) lol hey should have done it for a longer time so that way you could've gotten more money and made it hard for chris..lol

Angel Guess Amick Job well done. You go girl.
Alyssa Wilson LOVE it!!!
Diane Price Damn. More then I thought! I should go do that!

Mark Wilson Impressed. Well done.

Michael Paul Amick omg, I knew those guys on the corner lived better than me!

Ronda Amick Ashley I never thougt you would do it. I loved the story. Great job and happy you are sharing it with the world. We need more happy news in all our lives.

Hannah Rodriguez damn! see why people just sit out and freaking beg?

Mansoor Al-Mansoor Great job Ashley, now cab this be considered a hobby? If so I'd like to pick it up. I wonder what would happen if you added international?

Alyssa Wilson Seriously, this was brilliant! You may have started something here...

Whitney Schallock I agree this could be something! You should submit this to the newspaper or somewhere!

Lana D. Robertson What Whitney said!! :)

My favorite, and yes, I'm allowed to pick favorites, was Paul's response : "I knew those guys on the corner lived better than me!" And that was one of the things I was trying to prove with this whole thing. Yes, I'm sure there are some actual homeless people out there, but the one's that aren't homeless (and how can you really tell?), they're not doing half bad, at least not from what I can tell. Now, the big decision I have to make is what to do with the money.

I was starting to feel bad about it. I just took money from all of these people. I was thinking maybe donating it to the homeless shelter or something. Then I came to the conclusion to keep it. I was given this money under the premise that I'm a college student. It wouldn't feel right to take the money and go out to dinner, or to the movies with it or anything like that, so I put it all in my savings account, even the handful of change. I'm not without need; I'm sure there are other people who could benefit from this money as well, but I am going to save it for next quarter. I need a little extra help right now. I will spend it on school and books, because that's what my sign implied. I feel good about this decision.

So thank you all for reading! P.S. Chris did not keep up his end of the bet, and because of this I have to agree with Jessica and Mark.  Jessica Angeline Olivares After all your hard work?!?!? I say you boycott him! Mark Wilson Occupy Chris!! Perhaps I shall.... >:P

End of an Experiment

"I usually don't, but you're a student.... At least you say you are."

This guy made my day. This started out as just a bet with Chris about $45 dollars, but the more I thought about it, the more I started thinking about what this means. This was a social experiment. I stood out on the off ramp of Northbound 99 at Rosedale Highway from 11:20 am to 12:40 pm (approximately) and I made $103.76... and a bag of trail mix! Granted, I found two pennies on the ground, but I think they still count :P That's more than I used to make in a month at my last job.

The reason that guy, the last guy who gave me money, made my day was because that's exactly what I was looking for. People will give their money away to "homeless" people without even blinking, and I was claiming to be a college student. I was really wondering if anyone was even going to question it, and apparently some did, but this guy gave me a couple of dollars anyway.

My sign said "Full-Time College Student Anything Helps!" I wrote out a few other ideas, but this one set with me the best, and apparently it worked pretty well.

The grand total is one 20 dollar bill (I was so shocked by this), seven 5's, forty-five 1's and a hand-full of change. I only got positive feedback from people. I got a "good luck with your studies". One man (who I believe is responsible for the $20) asked me which school I went to and told me this was a great idea. Another woman asked how old I was, and when I responded "21" she said "oh, you look like you're 12!... that's a compliment by the way!" Another woman told me "God Bless," and another man commented "What a way to make a living!"

In the beginning I wasn't sure I was going to make very much, my goal was to get at least $45 so I could beat Chris, but after I got the $20, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to make it. I didn't know exactly how much I had, because I hadn't been counting, but today was a really great experience. I was nervous that I was going to get quite a bit of negative feedback (I don't know why I thought this, but I did). It turned out well in the end.


This is what I looked like, only I had on my back-pack too (gotta put the money somewhere!)


So now I am waiting for Chris to get off work so I can show him the money... and he can pay up! If he keeps his end of the deal, I will be 206 dollars richer at the end of today (: On a side note, I am so glad I put some sun-block on my face...

Wordless Wednesday

Helping The "Homeless"

With so many people on the side of the road these days holding signs up that say things like "Homeless," "Stranded," and the like, how do you know who to give your money to that actually need it? There have been stories in the news about people who are pretending to be homeless and actually making hundreds of dollars a day by standing on the side of a busy road. I have seen with my own eyes "homeless" people taking shifts on a street corner. The worst is the so called "stranded" people who only need "a couple of dollars" for a bus ride home and are still there week after week.

So I've been thinking. If people are so inclined to give their money to these fakers, then would they be willing to actually help someone who would actually put the money to good use? Say, a broke college student who is having a hard time getting a job? A person who is actually trying to better herself by getting an education? There will be no lies, no schemes, no faking it.

"Full-time college student. Anything helps."

I brought this idea up to Chris earlier today and he said I should do it. Of course we had to make this into a bet. He doesn't think I will even get $45 out of it in a day. I'm going to wait till next weekend to try out my plan, just because I am generally too busy during the week, especially since I'm going to start volunteering at the S.P.C.A. this week. If you have space in your loving home, please adopt a dog or cat (: I know there website is crap, and I think I'm going to have to talk to them about it, but that doesn't change the fact that the animals there need lovins!




On a side note: also thinking about starting up an illegal paper writing business... got a paper you need done for class? Want an A? Send me the details ;)