This is a paper I wrote way back on September 9th, 2002 for english. A lot hasn't changed. Some has.

-Hello, my name is Mike Mendoza. I am sixteen years old. Some may say that I am a typical teenager, and they may be right, but I don't like to be stereotyped, so I tell myself that I'm not. I am a very diverse person, not really in the activities I participate in, but my mind controls what I do. Sure, everyone's mind does that, but whether I'm by myself or with other people, I'm in my own world, and it shows. I may tell people, it depends on if I want to or not. I'm independent enough to choose, and I also depend on the people around me. It's a great balance that I don't want to teeter either way. Right now, however much I complain, life is good.
-When I say that I'm independent, I mean that completely myself at all times. I will not act as if I have to act or talk a certain way just to please someone else. It isn't all it's cut out to be. I may hang out with friends who belong to a certain clique, but it's hard to stay with them for a long time because I don't fall into any particular clique myself. That's why it's good to hang out with maybe four or five different groups that will influence me in their own way. I can adapt to each group but not assimilate myself like them. This is because I am a good learner.
-I have always been an extremely fast learner. Older people always tell me this, and it gets to my head. I swear that I know everything, and it's good that I notice this, because, what I've been doing lately is learning how to react to people, not just how to do things that can be mastered, which I always do [anyway]. The issue is I have to put myself to the task at hand, but that's also something I'm learning. Other people I will never completely understand, but I'm trying to quickly master "people" so I can have an advantage.
-An advantage over people is nearly impossible unless everyone except me became much more
ignorant. But that world doesn't exist. Or does it? In my head, maybe? I'm walking down the street, I have thirty seconds, I'm over five miles away, and the penalty for being late is to walk the distance until the next day. Why not run? No. Wait. Why not turn around to find a fast sports car with my name on it? It doesn't drive, it flies at supersonic speeds; yes, that's it! Along the way, the buildings are firing missiles at me...
-This is what goes on in my head 24/7. It's [not being able to manifest ideas] the only thing that depresses me. Being in this world where we are limited these too these pathetic bodies and minds. and the truth is most people don't think of this normally. Most people are stuck in this world. They take it for granted, when it could be taken away from them, or them from it. Sometimes I wish I didn't think like this. It is depressing. I may have it wrong, but at least I think I'm different in my own amazing mind.
-I think sometimes people depend on me for answers because maybe some part of me is what they aren't. I don't know what it is, but I do the same with other people. I don't really like people having to depend on me for things because I'm afraid I won't have the right answers. I'm willing to try, though. I won't back down from a challenge, even if I know I surely can't win or be right.
-I don't mean to sound narcissistic, but I am a lot of fun to be with. I can make almost anyone laugh, but I won't try if I know it isn't going to be funny. That's my goal in life, to make others laugh. I love it because I don't have to study for it, and I don't even have to pursue it as a career, all I have to do is have someone around once a day who will genuinely laugh at me for being a cornball.
-When all of my traits come together, there will be no stopping me. I will be able to make other people laugh as if they've never laughed before. I will alter the laws of this earth with my mind as I control peoples' trust in me because a man has nothing but his word. I will be my complete self without interference. There will be no stopping me.

The 2006 Video Music Awards

*This editorial does not reflect the views or opinions of Myspace.com, yet said views and opinions can, quite directly, be applied to said website.

There was a reason I had MTV blocked on my cable. First, I have a question to pose. Why the long faces? MTV couldn't have paid the audience of its 2006 Video Music Awards to smile even if they threw Jack Black into the mix. Wait. They did. So then why did it seem as if the crowd couldn't wait to leave? Was it the change in format, opting to begin the show with an extended lip sync performance by Justin Timberlake, rather than the traditionally comedic introductions of shows past? Was it the too-cool-for-school atmosphere?

By this, I mean to point out the members of the crowd, or at least the ones shown on air, acting as if they weren't to be bothered by anything. The "lighter" acts seemed out of place and downright nervous, but it wasn't entirely their faults. I'd look awkwardly cautious too if I was surrounded by a nearly 90% hip-hop crowd; if you could call it that. It was less a company of musicians than it was a collection of angry looking statues. Even Queen Latifah feigned elation for acts she probably doesn't listen to; if she's heard of them at all, win VMA's for videos they obviously did not have any influence in creating. Instead of awarding acts with Moonmen, why isn't MTV acknowledging video directors and graphic designers for, at the very least, creating real art? I digress, but I admit it.

Turning back to Black, I feel bad for Jacky boy. He should’ve hung back with his good buddies Ben Stiller, and David Cross. He should’ve stuck with the stuff of innovation. I’m not greedy, but I guess I might sacrifice creativity for the insane amounts of money he’s banking. I just wish the writers wouldn’t make it so painfully bland. Where was the creativity this year? The MTV of the past was known for being funky, funny, and new. This year, by new, they meant simple. From the commercial graphic campaigns to the writing, the theme was “we’re going to let you in on it, but we’re going to tell you we are, as if you didn’t know any better.”

Backstage shots, narrated by “producers” cueing up the “next shot,” letting viewers in on the “process,” peppered throughout the program didn’t say much for MTV’s integrity. Neither did making a puppet out of a genuine Al Gore to show that MTV cares about the environment. Most apparent in the lackluster direction, the comedy was supposed to be of the awkward variety. Long, awkward dialogue, followed by even longer, more awkward pauses made for quite an um… er… awkwardly long awards show. It could’ve been funny if it were more self aware, but the producers just couldn’t let that happen. They had to remind the viewers who put this show on; remind us who was in charge. Acknowledge the awkwardness, MTV.

It wasn’t a complete train wreck, although it came quite close. Pink’s “mock” acceptance speech was a supercilious masterpiece. A not-so-subtle slap in the face to the new MTV and the redundancy it stands for was quite an orgasmic release. I’ll put down ten cents she won’t win another Moonman. I’ll also give multiple props to the set designers for creating a plethora of clever visuals throughout the night. They truly transformed Radio City into much more than a music hall with huge, clear projections that truly took the term non-traditional to where it belongs.

The 2006 Video Music Video Awards presentation couldn’t once even hit mediocre. Transitioning from unintelligible rappers, to… unintelligible rappers- okay, so MTV isn’t that diverse. That isn’t to say there isn’t hope for the network, but with the internet, and its atomic shockwave of music entertainment, MTV hardly sits back and lets itself become obsolete, but managed, along the way, to become disinterested in the content it showcases, and does what it seems to do best. Put on a “show.” There is a reason I have MTV blocked on my cable.