These kids and their newfangled music.

So this week, with the death of Michael Jackson, I got to thinking. You see, that day, and the following one, all the pop and hip-hop radio stations played Michael Jackson songs in tribute. So here's my thought: what happened to all the music icons? I mean, who can our generation really look up to in the same way that our parents adored the Beatles, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, or Michael Jackson? Who has so shaped our generation's music that, if they died, the radio would play their music non-stop? I'll answer that question for you. Nobody.
You see, music today has degenerated into nothing more than a free-for-all, gladiator style death match of competing musicians (and I use that term liberally).

Music WAS Show Business. Music was IT.

These days, anyone gets a record deal, which the record companies then take and warp into something that resembles nothing of the original version. Music today, especially rap, is nothing more than ego-obsessed, proud, gaudy, swaggering "artists" trying to one-up each other.
Now, I will say this; there ARE good songs out there, but it is getting increasingly difficult to produce an original sound while saying the same things (I love you, nobody understands me, life is so hard for me, I want you back etc...)
But back to my first thought, where are all the icons? Why is it impossible for us to rally in the same way that the world followed Elvis? I think that it is because there are so many different branches of music nowadays that everyone can find something that is explicitly tailored to that individual. Everyone wants to be different, to set themselves apart, to define themselves, that they are almost afraid of liking a band that is accumulating a following. Because nobody wants to be the same as anyone else. I miss the icons. Thank goodness someone invented CDs.

Graduation and stuff

Well, seeing as its been forever and a half since I've blogged, I thought that I would throw you all a bone. Because I know how much you all LOVE reading my blog.
Anyway, there have been some fairly Momentous Happenings in my life since my last post...all the way back in April. I have graduated (finally!!) from high school, and am proud to say that I am now a Higley High Alumnus (Alumni? Illumininati?). The ceremony was fine, save for the fifteen minute period where it was sprinkling rain. An interesting side note, it has only rained TWICE on graduation day (May 20) in over fifty years. Last year was the first time in half a century. And I have to say, waking up that Thursday morning, realizing that I was finished with high school, was pretty much the best feeling ever. Except that I had to work that day. Oh well.
So, Momentous Happening number 2: I have my schedule for ASU! I went to Orientation Day and got it all hammered out. I tried to organize it so that my classes fell on the same days, leaving me with a free Friday. It ALMOST worked out, I have just one class on friday. My schedule reads as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (M,W,F for future reference) from 9:40-10:30 I have Introduction to Sociology. M,T,W,Th 10:45-11:35 is my Elementary Italian. M,W,F at 11:50 I have Adv. First Year Composition. Tuesdays at 1:30 I have a Language Exploration class, and M and W from 3:30-4:45 is my Math 142. Sorry for all the confusion, but who said that college was sinple?
This brings us to Momentous Happening 3: I have officially started my mission papers! I am SO EXCITED!! My 19th B-Day (Nov. 12) is looking closer every day (wait...it IS getting closer every day...) and I haven't started freaking out yet, but I am sure it will set in sometime. My mission prep class is amazing, and My teacher is the best I could wish for. His name is Joeseph McConkie and he knows EVERYTHING! He will be teaching us a lession, and will list off references from everywhere in the scriputres and even conference talks from twenty years ago! It's incredible, I love this guy.
Sorry, but I have to go now. My dad just reminded me that I have to make an appointment to get my MMR boosters (for ASU!!! GO DEVILS!!) and to do that, I must, regretfully, leave the keyboard behind. Alas, parting is such sweet...wait, Lexi, what's the line?

Finally, some news for you all

Well, I apologize to all of my loyal fans (all three of you) for not blogging in SUCH A LONG TIME! But that's how it goes sometimes. Anyway, a bunch of things have happened in my life since I last left you.

One: I went to my ASU Orientation and it was really fun and informative. I got my student ID card (called a "Sun Card") my schedule, a map of the campus, and met my counselor. I am majoring in Italian (for now, since I am probably going to change it once I get back from my mission and I will only be at ASU for one semester) and I have classes every day of the week save for Friday. Then I sent in my housing exemption form (because I am not living on campus. Danger Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!.). I am very excited to be a Sun Devil.

Two: I only have four weeks left in my senior year and you know what? I'm not feeling like its the end of the world like everyone else. Nor am I thinking that I can't wait to leave that stupid place. I have had some really amazing times at high school, and yeah I'm going to miss it, but its just one of those things that you move on from. I am not worried about my finals because let's face it, this is Arizona. Education standards? What are those again? Even though I am taking the AP Literature and Composition test, I'm not stressing. Either I'll do well and get credit for ASU, or I won't and I'll take it over and be ahead. Whoop de doo.

Three: I donated blood for the first time, and it was pretty neat. I gave one or two pints (I can't remember. Is that a bad sign?) and figured out that my blood type is B positive. Yay for punny jokes.
Well, as Porky Pig says, "That's all, folks!"
P.s. To every student that I know, hang in there. Its almost done. Just four tantalizing weeks left. I can almost taste the 110 degree heat and chlorine pool water. I know that's kind of a gross analogy, but that's what you get when you read my blog.

Beeng a seenur is ahsum!!!

So can you tell how far my Arizona education has taken me? Seriously though, I love being a senior, and I really have learned a bunch of stuff. But I've got to say, not having an A hour AND getting out an hour early feels awesome! An excellent little reward for working my butt off these four years. Even if this year is the easiest year ever recorded in the history of easy schedules. Anyway, AIMS testing is this week, but I am not going because I have already passed all of my AIMS. For those of you who don't know what AIMS are, they stand for the "Arizona Institute for Measuring Standards." They really do not mean much outside of Arizona, but it's nice to know that I have at least met the educational standard....of the state with the lowest educational standards in the country. Nice. At least I get a free day from school. That's always a bonus.

Sorry, no clever title for this one

Like I said, I can't be briliant ALL the time. So I'm pretty excited for this week, but no for any reason you might think. You see, I actually have to go to work this week. I have almost twenty hours, which is more than the past three weeks combined. And I kinda like getting money. I like it a lot, which is why I'm excited. And (insert Greek accent here) there you go.
My mom has been in San Francisco since Thursday and returns to us today (Monday). We are all very excited to see her and have missed her. Some of us, namely her oldest son whose blog you're reading, have been a bit jealous that she has gotten to enjoy the weather of the Bay area, but I can forgive her. She grew up there and it holds semtimental value for her. I just like the weather and being able to see the ocean.
On Friday of last week, I went to the dentist, who happens to be in my ward, to get a cavity filled. This was not the funny part, that came after. You see, when he numbed me, he said it would wear off by about noon. Well, it didn't. I don't blame him at all, I was enjoying the sensation of having the entire right side of my mouth and tongue completely numb. Especially when I tried to stick out my tongue to see if it had swelled like I had felt it had. It stuck out off-center, veering to the right because I could not feel it enough to make it move equally. I got quite a kick out of it, and so did my friends when I told them about it. And now I'm sure my family will, too, now that they will have read this.
Great. Another reason for them to tease me. Just what I need. Why do I always make it so easy for them?

I Love Christmas Time

I think that besides Thanksgiving, Christmas is my favorite time of year. Although the real meaning has been horribly distorted by the obscene amount of commercialism and materialism that seems to spontaenously seep from department stores , the overall feeling still makes itself known in the radio station that has been playing Christmas music since Novermber second, the first trip to the closet where all the decorations are kept, and the excitement and anticipation of being with family. Add to this the fact that school is done for the year (it sounds longer than the actual two weeks that we really have off) and its shaping up to be a merry season after all.
I actuall get by quite easily this year, considering its my senior year in high school. I only have three final exams, and two of them are elective credits (choir and spanish) and the other is english, which I've got a pretty good handle on. My course load has not been exactly staggering this year, either. I take great joy in the fact that I can brag to my sisters about not having any homework - for three weeks straight. It's actually a running joke in my family. My mom will ask me "Mike, have any homework?" and I'll just look at her and laugh.
One interesting thing, though, is my government class. It's called "We the People" and I love it. The class centers around the Constitution and how laws are interpreted and applied to our society, in the present as well as in contemporary times. The class goes to a mock debate at the congressional district level (in place of a final exam), and the top two schools from each district go to the State competition. My school happened to be one of them, and our state competition date is January ninth. I'm very excited to go and I feel reasonably prepared.
My family is all doing well, although Katie may have stress fractures in her legs from playing basketball. We're still waiting for the lab results, but we hope it'll be good news. Lexi had her first choir concert on Thursday and she did very well. She is in the advanced "Chamber" choir and had an excellent performance. The beginning choir was, well, a bunch of beginners. That's all I have to say about that.
The boys are also doing well. Nick had a trumpet solo (accompained by the piano) in his Jr. High band concert and was very good. Lucas had his Sixth grade Christmas concert as well and while he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there, he did a good job.
So...I think that's everything. I hope you all (and by that I mean the maybe three people who read this) have a Merry Christmas and to please not get sucked in by the flashy commercials and deals that the stores are having. Also to remember that the actual reason we celebrate Christmas is in the name itself. Merry Christmas, everyone.

Holy cow Thanksgiving's Over!

How did this happen?! What happened to the "Spirit of Thanksgiving" and all the food? Oh, yeah, I forgot. The food is in our fridge (and will be for another two weeks), and while we were all very thankful for my mom for expertly cooking the food, nobody seemed to be thankful enough for the opportuntiy to wash dishes afterward. Weird, huh? But they got done, and I think there will be some excellent pictures on my mom's blog to give you an accurate representation of just how daunting the task of washing eighteen sets of dishes can be. But overall, we had a great time. My cousins and their parents came over, as well as grandparents from both sides of my family. We even had a fire pit in the street in our front yard, but the younger boys were supprisingly uninterested in it, in favor of those stupid, newfangled electronic devices (our Wii and the computer). Something just doesn't seem right when young boys won't gather 'round a fire and try to see how long they can hold their hands in the flames, or aren't throwing things in it. My mother was very disappointed.
Well, I have more news. I've been accepted into Arizona State University, as well as Nothern Arizona University. But something even more exciting happened, concerning ASU. I've been awarded the Provost Scholarship, a renewable scholarship valued at seven thousand five hundred dollars a year! When I opened the letter, I thought that they had made a mistake and that there was ANOTHER Michael Corbitt. But there's not, and I'm so excited. Now, I know that ASU is not BYU, but I only have six months after I graduate before I turn nineteen, and I was thinking of getting my general education done down here and then when I get back, I would apply to BYU and then finish my required years up there. Hey, should I ask my parents about this? Is this something that they would like to know about? Naw, I think a suprise would be more fun.