I have over four hundred friends on Facebook. Sometimes I wonder how many of them I actually talk to, how many I actually hang out with, or whether or not it matters if I do either of those things. Virtual communication and social media undoubtedly have many advantages, the most important of which being the immediacy of getting in touch with someone, like with text messaging. Social media, e-mail, text messaging, these are all synonymous with instant communication, or better yet, the instant gratification of immediately establishing contact with someone. But I wonder, how much of the human experience gets lost in virtual communication?

Recently I sat down with Theresa Francisco of the coLAB Arts organization in New Brunswick to chat about the organization and the people involved. CoLAB Arts is a non-profit organization that seeks “to cultivate a hip, mindful, and inclusive community of artists, audiences, and critics” as they so eloquently say in their mission statement.

Modern American Youth are notoriously referred to as Generation Y or Millennials. Attempts to name and define our generation have mostly come from those who are not members of this generation. Our identity as a group, as a demographic, as a social class: it must come from within. We cannot let the world tell us who we are; we must assert our own identity. We are Modern American Youth. I call us the MAY Generation.

Recently I met the band Big Fat Marker at a basement show in New Brunswick. I was so impressed by the fluidity of their sound and the chemistry between the band members that I felt obliged to say a few words about what I heard.

I have been struggling all week to write about the Rally to Restore Sanity, which Alex and I attended in Washington D.C. last Saturday. At first I thought I was just tired after having driven one thousand miles to D.C. from Boston and back. I had many conversations with people about the Rally, and was able to speak about it with ease. Why then could I not strap down my thoughts to some loose leaf? Why?

As Managing Editor of the JVP, I’ve spent the past few months working closely with Editor-In-Chief Matia Guardabascio. I’ve been exposed to her sharp-wit, her strong analytic skills, and her love of literature and music. Business meetings, however, can only let one so far in to the life of another. A Q and A can provide even further access, as is the case with this interview, wherein myself and readers get to learn about Matia’s upbringing and stargazing, amongst other things. The best way to get to know someone, as Matia herself points out, remains to be through casual conversation and plain-old hanging out. But until you have the pleasure of chatting with Matia herself, this Q and A will have to hold you over.

Dear the Editor of the Johnsonville Press,

As a part of a class project at Rutgers University, I came across a website that evaluates many charitable organizations to help donors make the most informed decisions. The website is Charitynavigator.org. Because of its high level of helpfulness, I feel the need to share my knowledge of the website to as many people as possible, hopefully through the help of the Johnsonville Press.

Here is a short photo series from the Rally to Restore Sanity. More pictures to come this week. Expect to see an article from me as well. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these pictures. I hope they make you feel as though you were there.

Sincerely, Matia Guardabascio, Editor-In-Chief

Marlana Moore is the sort of staff member one wants to have: dedicated, enthusiastic, and capable and willing to write on any issue. She brought this same spirit to our Q and A, asking me as many questions as I asked her! And while I was pulled partway under the spotlight, Marlana remains at center stage, which is good news since she has plenty to say and a unique way to say it.

Are you going to the Rally to Restore Sanity?
WELL, YOU SHOULD!
It takes place on Saturday October 30th in Washington D.C. at the National Mall. Check out the website for more information:
www.rallytorestoresanity.com
If you can’t make it, then be sure to check in with the Johnsonville Press because I’ll be there covering the event and providing live updates on our Twitter page. Sign up to follow us on Twitter so you don’t miss out! (www.twitter.com/jvpress)
Also look for an article during the week after the Rally for a detailed account of the event …