As the school year comes to a close I can't help but reflect on what I have learned in this course. It's been a solid year and I feel that I have accomplished a lot. I secured a spot amongst the English people at The University of Western Ontario and can not wait to begin my University career. Though I am ready and willing to embrace the challenge of high academia, I can not deny the role this high school played in equipping me for this challenge.
I started in grade nine with less than stellar marks. Poor work ethic and procrastination hindered me from doing well. I was so good at procrastination that I wrote a paper for my English class explaining the benefits of last minute scrambling. Obviously the paper did not receive the mark I was hoping for. As the year progressed however I actually tried...Well actually that's a lie. I didn't start trying in high school til grade 11 because my parents were begging me for effort in school. My marks were fine but nothing university worthy and so I picked up the books and tried for the next three years. Finally I had realized that being smart means nothing if you don't have the motivation to use it. Effort means so much more than brains because someone decides to put effort forward, no one decides to be smart or dumb.
It wasn't long before the offers started pouring in. The flood gates were open and my parents anger was cooled for the time being.
Now as the year comes to a close its hard to believe that the past five years of my life have gone by in what seems like months. Every decision, lousy paper, failing test, was just a reminding speed bump for the need to put effort into what I do. These skills and lessons will carry me through university and life. So this is bye, it's been a fun year with all of you and thanks for being an awesome teacher Feick.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Elections, Elections, Elections
Truthfully, the only reason I voted Liberal this year was to be a rebel, go against the flow, piss off my parents, but I did have some information on the party. Their health care platform was much better than that of the other party's, and this year in particular has shown me how desperately our health care system needs increased funding and medical resources. So my vote wasn't completely out of spite.
Go Bob Rosehart.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Prosecutor: Teen forced dad to sign $100,000 check before killing him
The man's son felt that his father had not given the 19 year-old what he deserved, so him and his three friends waited for the father to come home after working late one night at the office. When the father got home he was forced into a chair, tied, and gaged. After telling his son his banking information one of his hands was released to write a check for $100,000.
Upon recieveing the check the son beat him with a baseball bat and stabbed him repeatedily with a knife. The father's body was discovered a few days later still tied to the chair, with a bag over his head.
The son was denied bail, and the three friends of the son were held on bail, ranging from 3 million to 1.5 million.
This isn't so much of a "funny" story, but rather a disgusting horrible story. I only saw one picture of the son and his face was so remorsless it made me sick. I honestly don't even know if there is a way of commenting on this story that Miss Feick wouldn't frown upon.
I picked this one because thought depressing and morbid, it happens; which again is a depressing thought. I guess just don't read this post if you're in a good mood, or a bad mood for that matter. Actually, you just probably shouldn't read this post.
Upon recieveing the check the son beat him with a baseball bat and stabbed him repeatedily with a knife. The father's body was discovered a few days later still tied to the chair, with a bag over his head.
The son was denied bail, and the three friends of the son were held on bail, ranging from 3 million to 1.5 million.
This isn't so much of a "funny" story, but rather a disgusting horrible story. I only saw one picture of the son and his face was so remorsless it made me sick. I honestly don't even know if there is a way of commenting on this story that Miss Feick wouldn't frown upon.
I picked this one because thought depressing and morbid, it happens; which again is a depressing thought. I guess just don't read this post if you're in a good mood, or a bad mood for that matter. Actually, you just probably shouldn't read this post.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Ye Olde Tea Shoppe
Being a 4U writer's craft student, I am forced to write two blogs today. The second blog is without direction, without focus, and is just plain hard without the creative juices flowin'. My first blog after all took an hour, but mainly because Tim was distracting me with his game of Tetris Battle (yes Ms. Feick, he was) but still this second blog is difficult!
Enough rambling, let's get this over with. I wanted to blog about a cardboard cut out behind me of an old lady dressed in a blue dress in front of a rose bush, with a sign that said "Ye Olde Tea Shoppe". So I google imaged "Ye Olde Tea Shoppe" to try and enhance the reader experience with the image. After glancing through a few google pages and realizing that my tireless searching was in vain, I came across another picture that caught my eye. It was beautiful, everything that a picture needed. It made me happy; honestly, how many pictures have you come across that have genuinely made you happy. I can honestly say that this was a first for me. Photography was something I thought was a joke; making a life out of take pictures. I mean all a picture is is a snap shot of something happy or sad, a moment you'll never live or experience yourself because you weren't there. And if the photograph is good to evelope emotion within it's viewers, I think we need to share it with others.
To enhance the reader experience I've posted a link to where you can find this picture, please click and enjoy it.
http://www.dafk.net/what/
Enough rambling, let's get this over with. I wanted to blog about a cardboard cut out behind me of an old lady dressed in a blue dress in front of a rose bush, with a sign that said "Ye Olde Tea Shoppe". So I google imaged "Ye Olde Tea Shoppe" to try and enhance the reader experience with the image. After glancing through a few google pages and realizing that my tireless searching was in vain, I came across another picture that caught my eye. It was beautiful, everything that a picture needed. It made me happy; honestly, how many pictures have you come across that have genuinely made you happy. I can honestly say that this was a first for me. Photography was something I thought was a joke; making a life out of take pictures. I mean all a picture is is a snap shot of something happy or sad, a moment you'll never live or experience yourself because you weren't there. And if the photograph is good to evelope emotion within it's viewers, I think we need to share it with others.
To enhance the reader experience I've posted a link to where you can find this picture, please click and enjoy it.
http://www.dafk.net/what/
Disney Disaster
The summer of '05 held a number of memories for me, but none more prominent then my families Christmas Break Disney Extravaganza. It was the first of my families trip's I could actually remember, and if there is one thing I remember clearly about the trip was not the outrageous food, or the coasters or any attractions for that matter. The most memorable experience of this trip was the fact that this trip took place within my "anger teen" years; and I loved to make my parents remember it.
The trip was with extended family, my aunt and her two children (Andrea a year younger than me, and Ryan who just started grade 6), my grandma and of course my family. My mom is the type of women who plans every last moment so that between activities you have barely anytime to think, little lone enjoy yourself. Dad's more laid back, someone I always got along with but we did have our history of spats. My grandma (affectionaltly known as Mon) is a saint who I could never be angry at. But there are two people who went on that trip, instructed by God to tourture me for my wrong doings by doing everything I can't stand. My aunt and her son. Normally I am fine with going over to there home and getting along fine with them for a few hours, but this was a week. A week of loud, abnocious, picky eating, cover stealing, shower hogging, only-going-on-one-ride-because-the-rest-are-stupid, but worst of all is my aunt waking up in the kind of mood that the only thing she wants to do is annoy her grumpy nephew (me) by yelling in his ear before he wakes up every morning. I was furious.
As a result my Disney experience was ruined forever. Sure, I enjoyed the food, some of the rides, but whenever we would arrive back at our hotel room, no amount of Disney magic could make me forget about the harsh reality I now faced; my loud aunt.
Of course looking back now it's obvious I was being completely inappropriate, but it's still funny to look back and think of how a grumpy mood ruined Disney.
The trip was with extended family, my aunt and her two children (Andrea a year younger than me, and Ryan who just started grade 6), my grandma and of course my family. My mom is the type of women who plans every last moment so that between activities you have barely anytime to think, little lone enjoy yourself. Dad's more laid back, someone I always got along with but we did have our history of spats. My grandma (affectionaltly known as Mon) is a saint who I could never be angry at. But there are two people who went on that trip, instructed by God to tourture me for my wrong doings by doing everything I can't stand. My aunt and her son. Normally I am fine with going over to there home and getting along fine with them for a few hours, but this was a week. A week of loud, abnocious, picky eating, cover stealing, shower hogging, only-going-on-one-ride-because-the-rest-are-stupid, but worst of all is my aunt waking up in the kind of mood that the only thing she wants to do is annoy her grumpy nephew (me) by yelling in his ear before he wakes up every morning. I was furious.
As a result my Disney experience was ruined forever. Sure, I enjoyed the food, some of the rides, but whenever we would arrive back at our hotel room, no amount of Disney magic could make me forget about the harsh reality I now faced; my loud aunt.
Of course looking back now it's obvious I was being completely inappropriate, but it's still funny to look back and think of how a grumpy mood ruined Disney.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Australian Audessy
It's a chilly morning in downtown Melbourne, on the southern coast of Australia and my brother once again insists he knows the right way. We had planned to meet a bus tour of the city at 8:00 am on the harbour but our one clock (the first generation iPod Touch) is still set to Ayer's Rock time. According to the clock we had 45 minutes before our tour started so we decided to do what any tourist would do, go to McDonald's. As we moved past the busy harbour filled with tourists nothing seemed wrong, we were early, time for some McD's. It didn't take long for us to come across a McDonald's, we got our food while having casual conversation. Time for our tour was fast approaching and once again, nothing seemed wrong. Down the street, past the "Rob Zombie International Art Exhbition", around the corner and something was wrong. The once tourist packed bus station was suspicously empty. After 15 minutes of me panicing when I discovered the cause of this issue, we decided to be productive and plan a way of getting back to the hotel. There was no way we could afford a taxi with the cash we had on us, and because we had only gotten to Melbourne late last night meant that the area was much too unfamiliar to walk back; but for now it was the most viable option.
Frustration set in as the first 15 minutes of wandering past and it was becoming painfully clear that navigating the city by looking for "familiar" buildings wasn't working. I can't recall when things got bad. Maybe it was when Dylan suggested stopping for directions and me stubbernly refusing; perhaps it was when my idea to take the rail cars was shot down. Regardless of what caused it, it happened. We went our seperate ways.
In my mind all I wanted to do was beat Dylan back to the hotel, the quicker the better. I could just picture his face when he opens the door to find me, laxing on the hotel room bed watching t.v, explaining how my way was the fastest and that I had been there for a good half an hour. Ohh that vision had to happen.
After asking for directions-three times-the great idea of riding the rail cars to a completely different section of an unknown city, and about an hour and a half of wondering if I was ever going to find the hotel, I found it.
It took Dylan 15 minutes to find the hotel room.
When it was all over I thought back and realized that if only we had not gone to that McDonald's. But then I thought of how delicious it was and how I would do it all again just for a delicous McDonald's breakfast.
Frustration set in as the first 15 minutes of wandering past and it was becoming painfully clear that navigating the city by looking for "familiar" buildings wasn't working. I can't recall when things got bad. Maybe it was when Dylan suggested stopping for directions and me stubbernly refusing; perhaps it was when my idea to take the rail cars was shot down. Regardless of what caused it, it happened. We went our seperate ways.
In my mind all I wanted to do was beat Dylan back to the hotel, the quicker the better. I could just picture his face when he opens the door to find me, laxing on the hotel room bed watching t.v, explaining how my way was the fastest and that I had been there for a good half an hour. Ohh that vision had to happen.
After asking for directions-three times-the great idea of riding the rail cars to a completely different section of an unknown city, and about an hour and a half of wondering if I was ever going to find the hotel, I found it.
It took Dylan 15 minutes to find the hotel room.
When it was all over I thought back and realized that if only we had not gone to that McDonald's. But then I thought of how delicious it was and how I would do it all again just for a delicous McDonald's breakfast.
Friday, February 18, 2011
School Politics
Politics. Hmm well I think it's wonderful that people feel the need to elect leaders to "unite" and "guide" our country in a way that is consistent with the voice of all its citizens, but lets just be real for a second. Politicians are people, and people are greedy. It really comes down to a simple equation of fundamentally two truths: even though I don't like politics (X), you have to acknowledge that they are essential in a democracy (Y), unless you want to be ruled by a dictator with a crazy name who raises taxes and rounds up all the red headed people and deems them unclean you must acknowledge the following equation:
If X^2 + Y^2 = 15, and X * Y = 5, what is X + Y?
Don't know? I'll tell you. The answer is chaos. Utter chaos.
School politics, what a great and totally relevant thing. A couple students who want to be able to put that they were student body president have a big popularity contest and whoever offends less people and knows more people will win. Majority of the time someone gets elected that actually tires to make a change but more times than not someone gets in who did it as a dare and does absolutely nothing with his position and almost gets kicked out of office because they show up to a school dance drunk. And I'm not suggesting a certain person, of course.
Politics themselves are so incredibly pointless at an international level, that having elections at the high school level is just a mockery of what democracy stands for.
If X^2 + Y^2 = 15, and X * Y = 5, what is X + Y?
Don't know? I'll tell you. The answer is chaos. Utter chaos.
School politics, what a great and totally relevant thing. A couple students who want to be able to put that they were student body president have a big popularity contest and whoever offends less people and knows more people will win. Majority of the time someone gets elected that actually tires to make a change but more times than not someone gets in who did it as a dare and does absolutely nothing with his position and almost gets kicked out of office because they show up to a school dance drunk. And I'm not suggesting a certain person, of course.
Politics themselves are so incredibly pointless at an international level, that having elections at the high school level is just a mockery of what democracy stands for.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Love Letter
Dear Taylor Swift,
Marc thinks he migh be getting the flu. Oh no is Christmas doomed? I hope not. I'm getting my Z Pac filled tomorrow, can't let that happen to the Kreets. *finger snaps*. I read this as 2 Pac. That would be awesome to get that filled. "How do you want it?" "How do you feel?". Very fitting lyrics. What lead me to draw this picture of Bugs Bunny? Tryin' clown and get a cent and so rather than stand forever flip the dime, you know? I can pinkle with the rain twinkling diamonds and thangs go plinklin enough to hold me, til' I'm, old and wrinkling. I heard the bomb but Marc was crunkin' with his fried chicken so we stayed. You guys dont want A-shan to touch the Boss' business. Coz we want to find out some things so we act like we don't know. A couple days ago on the walkie-talkie Fatty Rui said I was a rat. In front of the Boss and u guys he slammed a rockin' bockin' time. Did you see Jr. on them new 'all-days' he got?
If music be the food of love, play on.
Marc thinks he migh be getting the flu. Oh no is Christmas doomed? I hope not. I'm getting my Z Pac filled tomorrow, can't let that happen to the Kreets. *finger snaps*. I read this as 2 Pac. That would be awesome to get that filled. "How do you want it?" "How do you feel?". Very fitting lyrics. What lead me to draw this picture of Bugs Bunny? Tryin' clown and get a cent and so rather than stand forever flip the dime, you know? I can pinkle with the rain twinkling diamonds and thangs go plinklin enough to hold me, til' I'm, old and wrinkling. I heard the bomb but Marc was crunkin' with his fried chicken so we stayed. You guys dont want A-shan to touch the Boss' business. Coz we want to find out some things so we act like we don't know. A couple days ago on the walkie-talkie Fatty Rui said I was a rat. In front of the Boss and u guys he slammed a rockin' bockin' time. Did you see Jr. on them new 'all-days' he got?
If music be the food of love, play on.
Your's,
Kanye
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Early Acceptance WooooHoooooo
Good news is great isn't it? On Monday I came home from Footloose practise and was trying to rush out the door in an attempt to avoid my parents from hindering me going out for dinner, when my mother dropped an interesting tidbit of information.
"You've got some mail at the table" she said.
"Cool" I replied with an obvious reluctance in my voice.
"It's from the Universities"
For once in a very long time, I actually stopped to inquire further about something she said.
After telling me that they were sitting on the kitchen table, all I was thinking was that I hoped she hadn't opened them already (as she often does). To my surprise they lay on the table untouched. I grabbed them, ran out of site of my parents expectant eyes and opened them. The first one I opened was from Western because Western is my first choice, and it was just some information on their school. Next was Laurier because it was big and big packages feel better to open and it was an offer of early acceptance!! WooHoo. While Laurier isn't my first choice it's still nice to have a "fall back" option. It also made a lot of the time I've spent working on school stuff and studying worth it. To see a tangible example that it was worth it.
But for now I just got to keep up working hard so I can get my marks as high as possible. After all, the University marks are due in Feburary!!!! Scary stuff.
"You've got some mail at the table" she said.
"Cool" I replied with an obvious reluctance in my voice.
"It's from the Universities"
For once in a very long time, I actually stopped to inquire further about something she said.
After telling me that they were sitting on the kitchen table, all I was thinking was that I hoped she hadn't opened them already (as she often does). To my surprise they lay on the table untouched. I grabbed them, ran out of site of my parents expectant eyes and opened them. The first one I opened was from Western because Western is my first choice, and it was just some information on their school. Next was Laurier because it was big and big packages feel better to open and it was an offer of early acceptance!! WooHoo. While Laurier isn't my first choice it's still nice to have a "fall back" option. It also made a lot of the time I've spent working on school stuff and studying worth it. To see a tangible example that it was worth it.
But for now I just got to keep up working hard so I can get my marks as high as possible. After all, the University marks are due in Feburary!!!! Scary stuff.
Appreciation Day
So many things in the world go unappreciated and if this blog prompt gives me the option of sharing what I feel deserves just a measly day, well that's awesome. The item I believe deserves more appreciation is bacon. Greasy, salty, bad for you bacon. Now for the bacon enthusiasts who may be thinking "Bacon is pretty well appreciated in North America. It's on like every McDonald's product!" I say nay. No bacon should not only be appreciated in the groggy hours of the morning, or on the burgers of the golden arches. I say that bacon should not only receive a day, rather a week. A week of salty crispy heaven in piggy form.
During this week people would do nothing but eat this delectable pork product from paradise (or dishes that rely heavily on the use of bacon). And people would not eat the watered down phosphate pumped imposter's of today, but rather enjoy the taste of true salt brine delicious bacon.
At this time I would like to salute the men and women of long ago who helped form the history of bacon. You've probably heard the term "bringing home the bacon?" well it originated in the twelfth century when an English church in the town of Dunmow promised a side of bacon to any married man who could swear before the congregation that he had not fought with his wife for a year and a day. Not only has bacon been nourishing the manly need of bacon for hundreds of years, but it has been saving marriages everywhere. This is most likely why divorce rates are so high...PEOPLE DON'T GET BACON FOR BEING NICE TO THEIR WIVES!
Yes bacon may be appreciated early in the morning, but it is obvious that bacon is worthy of a week. Thank you piggies, for becoming bacon.
During this week people would do nothing but eat this delectable pork product from paradise (or dishes that rely heavily on the use of bacon). And people would not eat the watered down phosphate pumped imposter's of today, but rather enjoy the taste of true salt brine delicious bacon.
Yes bacon may be appreciated early in the morning, but it is obvious that bacon is worthy of a week. Thank you piggies, for becoming bacon.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
I Think I'm Old
I'm 18, relativly healthy (I like to think), and yet over the past couple weeks I found myself freaking out more and more about my health. This morning for example, I woke up and my heart rate was about 120 bpm, which is way above the heart rate of an average teen who has tachycardia, which is rapid heart rate (that's right, I looked it up). The other day my right eye went a little blurry so I looked that up too, I think I have ocular glaucoma, which is damaging of the retina. To counter this attack on my body I started eating a lot of carrots... Okay so maybe I overexaggerated many of these syptoms and maybe they're just in my head, but I can't help but thinking that I'm way to young to be worried about how fast my heart is beating and eating carrots. I should be eating kfc everyday with a side of cake while drinking a swiss chalet chicken dinner blended into smoothie form. Yes, that would be great but maybe I should try and find a balance...hmmmm.
What about kfc with a side of cake while drinking a swiss chalet chicken dinner blended into smoothie form, with carrots for added goodness. Yes that sounds like the life for me.
But in all honesty its probably good to check out stuff, Symptom Checker (symptomchecker.com) is so legit, however akward it may be. Embrass the old man inside all of us and eat some carrots.
What about kfc with a side of cake while drinking a swiss chalet chicken dinner blended into smoothie form, with carrots for added goodness. Yes that sounds like the life for me.
But in all honesty its probably good to check out stuff, Symptom Checker (symptomchecker.com) is so legit, however akward it may be. Embrass the old man inside all of us and eat some carrots.
Graffiti
It's ironic that we were given this post topic because the majority of the beginning of my year has been spent discussing this very issue. More generally, we discussed the usefulness of art, artists and if it's worth pursing. The all wise, all knowing Mr. Ball wisely pointed out that art really has no point. At all. Like it's completely useless. He then added that once you accept this fact, art becomes a tool to make this life mean more than just living from day to day.
And now we arrive at the topic of graffiti. It's cool, clever, smart, but only sometimes. I can appreciate a lot of what the artists are doing and in my opinion I think it's fine. Painting on the side of an abandoned train car, or the side of a broken down building is fine but a lot of the time it's in inappropriate places. I like the idea of letting people graffiti up a wall as an event, great. But people who are irresponsible need to make amends for what they did.
People who tag overpasses, sidewalks and buildings are just vandal. I mean if you really want to express your artistic passion then you can find a place that isn't public property. Graffiti just seems like another way of people rebelling and claiming artistic expression.
Sometimes I think Plato had the right idea...
And now we arrive at the topic of graffiti. It's cool, clever, smart, but only sometimes. I can appreciate a lot of what the artists are doing and in my opinion I think it's fine. Painting on the side of an abandoned train car, or the side of a broken down building is fine but a lot of the time it's in inappropriate places. I like the idea of letting people graffiti up a wall as an event, great. But people who are irresponsible need to make amends for what they did.
People who tag overpasses, sidewalks and buildings are just vandal. I mean if you really want to express your artistic passion then you can find a place that isn't public property. Graffiti just seems like another way of people rebelling and claiming artistic expression.
Sometimes I think Plato had the right idea...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Whaddya Think?
Writers craft is one of my best classes this year (although I'm fifth year so I only have 4, but still one of the best) and on a positive beginning note I have more positives to say than negatives. You know how every year you have one presentation or project that you did good on and actually enjoyed doing? Well this year I had two (I know, I'm breaking the rule for number of awesome presentations per year). I love that we get assignments to be creative, to entertain, and talk in high pitched child voices. If there is one thing I could ask for, it would be more "mini-projects" that focuses on an aspect of writing and try and use that in an interesting way.
I do feel however that there are a lack of free gifts...doesn't everyone want a shiny new pencil now and again? Oh, picture this, maybe if a student in the class has everything done, and is up to date with blogs, assignments, etc. they get facebook privileges during logging periods. Good stuff right? Maybe that's a way you could motivate people to get their work done.
As earlier expressed in the year, it seems that a lot of people in the class enjoy lyrical writing and I really think that we should try a unit on that. And when we have the lyrics all done we can record them (optional).
Remember the writing prompt that involved drawing several objects like a horse, ladder, cube and all that? I think we should do more prompts like that (more interesting).
Optional naps wouldn't hurt either
On second thought, naps should be manditory.
I do feel however that there are a lack of free gifts...doesn't everyone want a shiny new pencil now and again? Oh, picture this, maybe if a student in the class has everything done, and is up to date with blogs, assignments, etc. they get facebook privileges during logging periods. Good stuff right? Maybe that's a way you could motivate people to get their work done.
As earlier expressed in the year, it seems that a lot of people in the class enjoy lyrical writing and I really think that we should try a unit on that. And when we have the lyrics all done we can record them (optional).
Remember the writing prompt that involved drawing several objects like a horse, ladder, cube and all that? I think we should do more prompts like that (more interesting).
Optional naps wouldn't hurt either
On second thought, naps should be manditory.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Christmas Blog
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