How could I forget "Mystic River", "Gone Baby Gone", "The Departed", and "Fever Pitch"? All classic Boston movies that shed the lights of intensity, the questions behind what is right versus what's wring, and the importance of family within one Beantown. It's amazing, really, how actors such as Mark Wahkberg, the Afflecks, Matt Damon, on occasion Morgan Freeman, Adam Sandler, have drawn such attention to the Hub.

Now the debate is on WHICH Boston film is going to steal it all at the Oscars. Best actor? Best movie? According to this article, it could go either way. Ben can get Boston's vote by upholding the good reputation of our city that he gives, along with his brother Casey and, of course, Matt Damon. However, Marky Mark could take it away because he lived the Boston lifestyle that we can all imagine - drugs, sex, and rock and roll. (or in his case, rap) How can we forget the epic Fenway-robbing scene? The best action scene I've seen in a long time. But what about Mickey Ward and his crazy family? Though they had their fair share of problems, they somehow always put a smile on my face. Whichever way it goes on Oscar night, as we all anxiously wait by our television screens in the hopes of hearing our preferred movie being announced, there is one thing that's true: Boston's pride has only risen.

Boston: The Next Hollywood? Cont.

The next Oscar movie in line? "The Social Network." Though people believe it's just a movie about a guy who made Facebook, where did it really all start? That's right - Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. So not only are these Hub-located films showing the "badass" streets of Charlestown and Lowell, but they also present the sophisticated, intellectuals of our city. According to boston.com, the Oscars haven't been overloaded with Bostonians since "Good Will Hunting", in 1998, another terrific movie. 

Who do we have to thank for the "New Hollywood"? There are only 2 immediate people I can think of: the best friends, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Let's face it, no one would care about Boston if "Good Will Hunting" was never made. We would never know Matt and Ben. Want to know 2 men who truly care about their hometown? Them. Throughout their wonderful and prosperous careers, "Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have gone out to California only to literally bring it back home." And that is truly something they should be thanked for. There are things about Boston people don't understand - our undeniable love for our sports teams, our desire for winter and then our immediate need for summer, our recognizable accents, and so much more. But by having Hollywood come to the Beantown, we gain a "major source of pride", and within these scripts and actors, there is "more evidence that the area has stories to tell that the world wants to see."

Boston: The Next Hollywood?

I love Boston. I love everything about my hometown. I originally grew up in Brighton, right on the Allston line, which was only ten minutes from the city, so traveling to Boston every weekend wasn't a big deal. There's something about the city that is so vibrant, yet unique. It's no Big Apple - it's small and keeps to itself. It full of wonderful Bostonians (and their accents). It's no Hollywood - you're not going to find Brangelina and Robert Pattinson walking down the street. I was more than thrilled when I found out that almost every Oscar-nominated movie this year took place in Boston. It's such an honor, and it speaks so highly of Massachusetts as a whole. Though I felt "The Fighter" was just so-so, it portrayed Lowell pretty accurately. My sister and I even fight about the accents! I think for actors who grew up in random states across the country, their Boston accents were decent. I fell in LOVE with "The Town". The first time I watched it, I was sitting with my parents. My dad, the former Charlestown High School football coach, called out everything that was going to happen - "I knew a man JUST like the florist whose shop was right down the street from the school", "the cop won't say anything about the robbers - how can he?", or, my personal favorite, "Mal, I know exactly where that is." He was like a little kid! That made the movie better, in my personal opinion.

Are We Becoming Cellfish?

According to Attorney General Martha Coakley, cell phones should be banned in schools in an attempt to end bullying. I agree, cell phone use can cause bullying. That doesn't mean we should get rid of them all together in schools. Let's be honest: every kid at my school checks their cell phone every chance they get - when the teacher is turned away, leaves the room, or even in some classrooms where cell phones are allowed, we're just waiting for the next new text message. I also agree that bullying has become a terrible "epidemic", if you will, in our country. I was and still am heartbroken after reading Pheobe Prince's story. I will never forget that name or what happened to her. However, I don't think getting rid of cell phones all together ends bullying. There is the internet, probably the largest bully central. I'm not going to lie, I check my phone in every class to see if I have a new text, but in no way does this affect my grades nor start any form of bullying. I think adults immediately just throw technology into the equation, as if it's always the problem. We have to realize that it's a number of things - sure, cell phones, but also Facebook, AIM, Myspace, and there are still those old-fashioned bullies who do it face-to-face. In one my classes I have to put my phone in a little compartment and I'm able to grab it at the end of class. Why can't teachers do that? It's naiive to believe that kids aren't carrying their cell phones with them, and clearly my teacher knows we have them. But my putting it in that little basket, I'm not distracted to do anything other than learn.

When and How Should Kids Learn to Type?

This article speaks the truth. Typing has become a necessity in modern life today, and it's extremely important, both mentally and physically. The more words that are typed, the more the brain works. In elementary school, my classmates and I were forced to take a 30-minute class called "Type to Learn", and honestly, it was a waste of time. At the age of eleven, we were typing more than "dog", "tree", and "jump". It was more like we should have given the program to the teachers. To this day I still have to help my dad type on the computer. I get impatient sometimes, because in the two minutes it takes him to write a sentence, I can write a paragraph. It is never too early to learn to type. What's wrong with working the mind and fingers? In my opinion, the best part about typing is that my ideas don't run out as I'm typing. When I hand write, I lose all train of focus and forget what I'm trying to say. That's my biggest pet peeve. When I'm typing on a keyboard, I get everything down on a computer screen that I want it to say in a matter of seconds.

Struggles of A Hopeful College Student

Since September, actually, scratch that, since birth, there have been only a few significant moments I've wanted to come most: college, marriage, having children, and getting a job I love. The first to that list is soon to come: college. Like every other 17 year-old, I've been constantly fighting with my parents over costs of schools, locations, majors, and what I plan to do after college. People always tell me that I don't need to have my life figured out right now, but it's hard not to feel that way. Three of my top schools all have major flaws, some saving me money, but costing my own happiness. The University of Tampa, according to my overprotective mother, is too far away. Wheelock College is too expensive, and if I really wanted to go there, I'd have to commute. The College of William and Mary in Virginia is incredibly competitive. What happened to the days when an A-B student who played 3 sports and had a part-time job could easily get into any school he/she desired? The college word has become so competitive. I'm actually afraid I won't get into any of my schools now. My biggest annoyance is that these colleges and universities base what they "know" about a student through a few essays, numbers that determine class ranks, letters that teachers just say "____ is a great asset to the classroom", and basic letter grades. I got a B in Probability and Statistics. Woo hoo? That doesn't tell my schools that I've known I wanted to be a special education teacher for my entire life, due to my mentally ill aunt. No where on my application do they find out that I'm a extremely dedicated person, and though I may not be the best, I try my best. No where does it state that I've always had a passion for music and photography. Little things colleges don't know about me? They may seem little, but they make up who I am. It's just extremely difficult to get a break anymore. I have to continuously fight against my fellow classmates just for a spot in a school's new freshman class.

"Teacher-Replacing Tech: Friend or Foe?"

I wrote this post after reading the following article.

As an avid Mac lover, I believe technology is, and will further be, the future. Though no MacBook Pro can replace any of my favorite teachers, there is something more exciting about the internet than any professor. We have possibilities. Opportunities. Every day, from 7:30-2:00, I'm sitting at a desk. Listening to a teacher blab about something I don't understand. If it weren't for this Web 2.0 class and photography, I would be sitting ALL day. The internet lets people's minds wander. If classes were just rooms full of laptops and students with maybe 1 teacher to supervise, I think it would be more effective. Kids can still ask teachers and their fellow students for help, but really we're learning through the newest technology. I honestly believe that iPads, laptops, and other objects of technology are given so much flack because adults are afraid of this major change in education. School is definitely not the same as it was in 1950, 1979, or even 2000. Times are changing and so is technology. Why do we still need teachers when I can skype with a teacher from another town, state, or country, when I need help? The sky's the limit.