Opinon: Down With DST!

 

Daylight Savings Time started during World War I as war effort to reduce coal consumption. Most countries that started it during WWI stopped doing it immediately after, while some countries began doing during WWII. We here in the US never stopped, even though the reasoning behind it no longer made sense. So here we are, stuck changing moving our clocks one hour forward every spring, also known as "spring forward." Many different people argue about whether it's better to keep our current system of changing clocks, to make DST permanent or to make Standard Time permanent. But one group of people is pretty much in agreement: doctors! It has been proven in many studies that DST is bad for our health. It might be nice to have more sunlight in evening, especially if you're an early riser. But the risk of heart attack stroke and traffic accidents much outweigh any benefit. We writers of the Arts Connections Blog are in agreement. Daylight Savings Time sucks!

Will’s Book Nook: Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes

 

In my last Book Nook, I wrote about the Roald Dahl censorship controversy, so this time I want to talk about one of my favorite Roald Dahl books, Revolting Rhymes. I have it in audiobook form, which also includes Dirty Beasts and is read by star of stage and screen, Alan Cumming. The funny and sometimes naughty rhymes combined with Cumming’s delivery had me laughing quite a lot. His comedic timing made it even funnier than I originally expected. I quote it all the time. I especially like to reference the part in "Goldilocks" when she's on trial for breaking and entering and she's clearly guilty of that. I also love that Dahl made Red Riding Hood a wolf hunter. She even helps out in the "Three Little Pigs" with their wolf problem. Speaking of which, my favorite quote from that rhyme is when the wolf says, with determination, "If I can't blow your house down [...] I'll have to blow it up instead." I give it 5 out of 5 scribbles, because of Cumming's narration. 

Interview with Alex

Alex is the newest member of the teaching staff here at Art’s Connections. She took over Theater Games and Book Club at the beginning of the semester in January. We sent her some interview questions to get to know her better.

Q: Have you worked with people with disabilities before?

A: I have! The last was a lovely young lady on the spectrum who I taught and accompanied throughout the day. Plus, as a disabled person myself, I've spent a lot of time in the disabled community.

Q: Do you like music? what kind? Do you have a favorite band/singer?

A: I love music! My favorite kind would be alternative rock and punk rock, but my favorite band is OK Go!

Q: Are you originally from New Mexico?

A: I only moved to New Mexico about 2 years ago. Before that I spent most of my life in Texas. And before that I moved around quite a bit with my family. I even spent a few years in Japan!

Q: Have you done any local theater productions?

A: I have! Most recently I performed in the New Mexico Seven at the Fusion theatre and am currently cast for the Shakespeare Festival this summer! In fact, I was in the festival last year. If you saw As You Like It, I was the forest person with the dog!

Q: What is your favorite theater production that you've been in? 

A: My favorite theatre production that I've ever been in was a show called (& Medea). I was a puppeteer and got to design and build almost all of the puppets myself!

Q: Do you direct? What have you directed?

A: I actually haven't directed, but I've thought about trying it out. I have written original shows though! 

Q: What other places have you lived?

A: Like I said, before New Mexico, I was in Texas. Before that was Delaware, Japan, and Virginia, where I was born.

Q: Do you like to travel?

A: I love to travel! I especially love flying. It always feels like an adventure.

Q: What is your favorite travel destination?

A: This is gonna be a bit cliche, but I love going to theme parks, they're just so much fun.

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A: Coyotes! 

Q: Do you have any pets? What kind? What are their names?

A: I have 2 dogs and a cat! One is a German Shepherd named Emmett, the other is a Pitbull, my service dog named Drax. They're both 4 years old. The cat is named Winston. She's blind with no teeth and is 10 years old.

Q: What is your favorite book/movie/show?

A: Right now my favorite book is I think Room by Emma Donoghue, my favorite movie is Chronicle, and my favorite show, at least right now, is The Last of Us.

Q: Do you like to cook? What is your favorite food/cuisine?

A: I'm not much of a cook, but I make a really good spaghetti! In terms of my favorite food, it's definitely pizza.

Q: What are your hobbies or favorite free time activities?

A: I love writing, reading, dancing, and sewing!

Q: What's your favorite color?

A: Green!

Q: Do you make art? What kind? Do you have a favorite artist?

A: I do make art. I love making collages and weird abstract paintings. I don't really have a favorite artist, I just have artwork that I love. My favorite is abstract. 

Q: Share a joke with us!

A: What do you call a fish with 3 eyes? 

Fiiish.

We love it! Welcome Alex!