So my older brother, Daniel, just graduated.
Hurrah. Hallelujiah. Amen. You are dismissed.
This week was crazy busy for me. On monday, tuesday, and wednesday I had finals. On thursday we were doing chores like crazy, getting ready for a bunch of family that was coming over for Daniel's graduation. Then Friday our family came. Saturday (today) we had the graduation ceremony and then a huge party with a bunch of people over.
And tomorrow I'm leaving with Daniel for a two-week overseas trip to Romania. Sheesh. I feel very rushed.
I'll tell you all about how it went when I get back, but I'll be absent for awhile.
Sayonara.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
I love America
Don't you love our country? I do. Unfortunately, there are idiots in every family, and here's a few laws they drew up...
In Tennessee, it is illegal to drive a car while you are asleep.
In Memphis, Tennessee, no woman may operate a car unless a man is running or walking in front of the car waving a red flag to warn approaching pedestrians and motorists.
In Connecticut, bicyclists traveling in excess of 65 miles pe hour can be stopped by the police.
It is prohibited to walk backward after sunset in Devon, Connecticut.
Belvedere California's Municipal Code has a section which reads as follows: "No dog shall be in a public place without its master on a leash."
In Florida, you may not hunt or kill deer while swimming.
In Kentucky, women weighing between 90 and 200 pounds, appearing in a bathing suit on a public highway, must be escorted by at least two officers or armed with a club.
Infants are forbidden to dance in public halls in Los Angeles, California.
It is unlawful in Dyersburg, Tennessee for a woman to call a man and ask him out.
In Idaho, it is illegal for a man to give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing less than 50 pounds.
In Lexington, Kentucky it is illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your pocket.
It is illegal in Hawaii to insert pennies in your ear.
Maine has a law that calls for a legal hunting season on all attorneys.
Baltimore, Maryland's Municipal Code has a section which reads, "Any services performed by a @#!*% must be recorded."
"Intoxicated persons are prohibited from operating a vehicle on any public highway or street, except for a wheelbarrow." Utah Ordinance.
In Pennsylvania, "Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop ever mile and send up a rocket signal, wait ten minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and then continue." This same statute goes on to say: "Any motorist who sights a team of horses coming towards him must pull well off the road, conver his car with a blanet or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass. If the horses appear skittish, the motorist must take his car apart, piece by piece, and hide it under the nearest bushes."
A Newburgh, New York ordinance states that no one is allowed to eat popcorn or peanuts while walking backward when there is a concert in progress.
"Any vehicles meeting at an intersection must stop. Each must wait for the other to pass. Neither can proceed until the other is gone." New Hampshire traffic ordinance.
In Alabama, it is a crime to put salt on railroad tracks. The offense is punishable by death.
"No person shall knowingly keep or harbor at his house or her house within the city any woman of ill-repute, lewd character or a common prostitute, other than wife, mother or sister." Ashland, Kentucky ordinance.
In Washington State, it is against the law to pretend your parents are rich.
"It is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town." Tacoma, Washington ordinance.
In South Carolina, if you inadvertently kill someone while attempting suicide, you have committed an offense which is punishable by death.
The best, however, comes from New York. In New York, it is illegal to do anything illegal.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to drive a car while you are asleep.
In Memphis, Tennessee, no woman may operate a car unless a man is running or walking in front of the car waving a red flag to warn approaching pedestrians and motorists.
In Connecticut, bicyclists traveling in excess of 65 miles pe hour can be stopped by the police.
It is prohibited to walk backward after sunset in Devon, Connecticut.
Belvedere California's Municipal Code has a section which reads as follows: "No dog shall be in a public place without its master on a leash."
In Florida, you may not hunt or kill deer while swimming.
In Kentucky, women weighing between 90 and 200 pounds, appearing in a bathing suit on a public highway, must be escorted by at least two officers or armed with a club.
Infants are forbidden to dance in public halls in Los Angeles, California.
It is unlawful in Dyersburg, Tennessee for a woman to call a man and ask him out.
In Idaho, it is illegal for a man to give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing less than 50 pounds.
In Lexington, Kentucky it is illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your pocket.
It is illegal in Hawaii to insert pennies in your ear.
Maine has a law that calls for a legal hunting season on all attorneys.
Baltimore, Maryland's Municipal Code has a section which reads, "Any services performed by a @#!*% must be recorded."
"Intoxicated persons are prohibited from operating a vehicle on any public highway or street, except for a wheelbarrow." Utah Ordinance.
In Pennsylvania, "Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop ever mile and send up a rocket signal, wait ten minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and then continue." This same statute goes on to say: "Any motorist who sights a team of horses coming towards him must pull well off the road, conver his car with a blanet or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass. If the horses appear skittish, the motorist must take his car apart, piece by piece, and hide it under the nearest bushes."
A Newburgh, New York ordinance states that no one is allowed to eat popcorn or peanuts while walking backward when there is a concert in progress.
"Any vehicles meeting at an intersection must stop. Each must wait for the other to pass. Neither can proceed until the other is gone." New Hampshire traffic ordinance.
In Alabama, it is a crime to put salt on railroad tracks. The offense is punishable by death.
"No person shall knowingly keep or harbor at his house or her house within the city any woman of ill-repute, lewd character or a common prostitute, other than wife, mother or sister." Ashland, Kentucky ordinance.
In Washington State, it is against the law to pretend your parents are rich.
"It is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town." Tacoma, Washington ordinance.
In South Carolina, if you inadvertently kill someone while attempting suicide, you have committed an offense which is punishable by death.
The best, however, comes from New York. In New York, it is illegal to do anything illegal.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Multi-Personality Disorder
So, how many of you out there have alternate personalities? I know I've got a few friends with 'em. Aren't they so annoying?
Shut up, precious. Annoying is a point of view.
Yeah? Well you're annoyiasdflkjsstopit!
That was fun.
Anyway. Has anybody gone to the trouble of naming their...selves? That guy's name is Reaper. He likes coming out after I've had too much coffee or not enough sleep. Like now.
Hey! You're not giving us a fair chance to explain ourselves, precious. You're giving us a bad name.
You already have a bad name, idiot.
How many legs does a chicken have?
About as may brain cells as you do.
Yah, but we're you, precious.
No you're not. You're different.
Ah, that's cruel! That was mean. Very mean.
Shut up and go away.
Shut up, precious. Annoying is a point of view.
Yeah? Well you're annoyiasdflkjsstopit!
That was fun.
Anyway. Has anybody gone to the trouble of naming their...selves? That guy's name is Reaper. He likes coming out after I've had too much coffee or not enough sleep. Like now.
Hey! You're not giving us a fair chance to explain ourselves, precious. You're giving us a bad name.
You already have a bad name, idiot.
How many legs does a chicken have?
About as may brain cells as you do.
Yah, but we're you, precious.
No you're not. You're different.
Ah, that's cruel! That was mean. Very mean.
Shut up and go away.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Under-Appreciated
So, how many of you knew this week was National EMS (Emergency Services) Week?
Not me.
Sheesh, there's so many national days I don't even know the point-one-percent of them. But I think this is one we ought to remember. There's so many people out there who do vital jobs, which we don't give a second thought about. Sure, we have heroes in the military, but we also have heroes here who save lives as well. Firemen, Policemen, First Aid, etc. They're a vital part of this nation.
And yet, they are so minimized. We give all our attention to celebrities and power-hungry politicians, and in the process forget the screws that link the mighty beams of this country's structure. So, here's to you, all those who are civil servants of this nation. You deserve recognition. We salute you.
One other class I really wanted to talk about was judges. Not just courtroom judges, but people whose job it is to make important decisions. From a referee to the Supreme Court, it's a tough life.
You have to be absolutely committed to justice, to being fair. No matter how sympathy you feel towards one choice or another, you have to pick the right one. I have several friends who referee soccer games and such, and one said 'You can't care at all what the parents think. Not one bit.' Which is a very hard thing to do, because it's pretty much guaranteed that some people will hate you for making that call.
One person who really comes to mind is a judge from the show 'Britain's Got Talent' (and one or two others), who I only know as Simon. He's a gruff, logical, and stubborn individual who is very demanding. And you know what? I like him a lot. He's what a judge should be. He makes decisions on what he belives to be right. He doesn't care what the crowd - or his fellow judges - thinks (At least not enough to change his mind). And his standards are high, which encourages people to work hard in order to impress him. He may never hear it, but Simon, man, I salute you. You're at the top of your game.
Aaanyway. I'm not cut for judge's cloth. I like being on the good side of people, so it's hard for me to make uncaring, logical decisions like that a lot. But should you decide to go into something like law, or refereeing, please do it! This world needs more just people.
Adios, amigos.
Not me.
Sheesh, there's so many national days I don't even know the point-one-percent of them. But I think this is one we ought to remember. There's so many people out there who do vital jobs, which we don't give a second thought about. Sure, we have heroes in the military, but we also have heroes here who save lives as well. Firemen, Policemen, First Aid, etc. They're a vital part of this nation.
And yet, they are so minimized. We give all our attention to celebrities and power-hungry politicians, and in the process forget the screws that link the mighty beams of this country's structure. So, here's to you, all those who are civil servants of this nation. You deserve recognition. We salute you.
One other class I really wanted to talk about was judges. Not just courtroom judges, but people whose job it is to make important decisions. From a referee to the Supreme Court, it's a tough life.
You have to be absolutely committed to justice, to being fair. No matter how sympathy you feel towards one choice or another, you have to pick the right one. I have several friends who referee soccer games and such, and one said 'You can't care at all what the parents think. Not one bit.' Which is a very hard thing to do, because it's pretty much guaranteed that some people will hate you for making that call.
One person who really comes to mind is a judge from the show 'Britain's Got Talent' (and one or two others), who I only know as Simon. He's a gruff, logical, and stubborn individual who is very demanding. And you know what? I like him a lot. He's what a judge should be. He makes decisions on what he belives to be right. He doesn't care what the crowd - or his fellow judges - thinks (At least not enough to change his mind). And his standards are high, which encourages people to work hard in order to impress him. He may never hear it, but Simon, man, I salute you. You're at the top of your game.
Aaanyway. I'm not cut for judge's cloth. I like being on the good side of people, so it's hard for me to make uncaring, logical decisions like that a lot. But should you decide to go into something like law, or refereeing, please do it! This world needs more just people.
Adios, amigos.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Sequel Time
How many of you have seen sequels? Pretty much all of you. For just about every successful movie, there's a sequel. Some can be good, some can flunk. Just recently I watched the sequel 'Hoodwinked Too'. It's the sequel to a pretty successful movie, 'Hoodwinked'.
So, warning, spoilers. Ima give a little review on this movie.
For those of you who watched the first one, it was quite a hoot. The animation was unique, the characters interesting, the storyline intriguing, and the dialogue hilarious. My favorite character had to be the squirrel.
Well, since it did so well in the box office, they just had to make a sequel. Thus, 'Hoodwinked Too'.
Let me tell you, I've heard so much and seen so much of terrible sequels, I was pretty much suspecting this to be one too. I guess you could say I was expecting to be 'hoodwinked' of my expectations.
Hee hee. Yeah, that was terrible.
Anyway, let's get into the movie. Basically, it starts out with two children, Hansel and Gretel, being in jepoardy from a witch who wants to cook them alive. Red's granny and the organization HEA (Happily Ever After) goes in to save them - but Red's granny gets kidnapped. Red, however, is away training. She and Wolf team up to go save them; but it turns out Hansel and Gretel are the evil masterminds behind the whole thing; hoodwinked! A secret truffle recipe makes them invincible! Of course, they eventually defeat them.
A few of my thoughts now. While I was expecting a bomb-out, it actually wasn't too terribly bad. They had some awesome lines in there, and I laughed until my sides ached. That being said, however, it wasn't amazing either. It felt a lot like Kung Fu Panda 2 - they were trying way too hard to be funny. They over-used over-used cliches all over the place. A little of that's not too bad, but boy did they overdo it.
Lemme tell you though, two german children have never been so disturbing. The squirrel was awesome as ever, of course. And I swear, wasn't that old singing goat always singing 'I was prepaaaaared'? Well he certainly wasn't in this movie. Literally, every other other scene the goat was being squished or blown up. I feel sorry for him.
So anyway, there you go. I also threw in a tidbit about Kung Fu Panda 2 in there, didn't I? Well, it was much like this one - overdone. The humor was cheesy, it was so overdone. Admittedly, I laughed a few times, though.
Enjoy your week.
So, warning, spoilers. Ima give a little review on this movie.
For those of you who watched the first one, it was quite a hoot. The animation was unique, the characters interesting, the storyline intriguing, and the dialogue hilarious. My favorite character had to be the squirrel.
Well, since it did so well in the box office, they just had to make a sequel. Thus, 'Hoodwinked Too'.
Let me tell you, I've heard so much and seen so much of terrible sequels, I was pretty much suspecting this to be one too. I guess you could say I was expecting to be 'hoodwinked' of my expectations.
Hee hee. Yeah, that was terrible.
Anyway, let's get into the movie. Basically, it starts out with two children, Hansel and Gretel, being in jepoardy from a witch who wants to cook them alive. Red's granny and the organization HEA (Happily Ever After) goes in to save them - but Red's granny gets kidnapped. Red, however, is away training. She and Wolf team up to go save them; but it turns out Hansel and Gretel are the evil masterminds behind the whole thing; hoodwinked! A secret truffle recipe makes them invincible! Of course, they eventually defeat them.
A few of my thoughts now. While I was expecting a bomb-out, it actually wasn't too terribly bad. They had some awesome lines in there, and I laughed until my sides ached. That being said, however, it wasn't amazing either. It felt a lot like Kung Fu Panda 2 - they were trying way too hard to be funny. They over-used over-used cliches all over the place. A little of that's not too bad, but boy did they overdo it.
Lemme tell you though, two german children have never been so disturbing. The squirrel was awesome as ever, of course. And I swear, wasn't that old singing goat always singing 'I was prepaaaaared'? Well he certainly wasn't in this movie. Literally, every other other scene the goat was being squished or blown up. I feel sorry for him.
So anyway, there you go. I also threw in a tidbit about Kung Fu Panda 2 in there, didn't I? Well, it was much like this one - overdone. The humor was cheesy, it was so overdone. Admittedly, I laughed a few times, though.
Enjoy your week.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Anime Thoughts
Yours truly is back again, ladies and gents, and this time?
We're gonna look at some anime.
Now, I'm not a huge anime freak (meaning, I haven't watched a whole lot). The animes I have seen are all of Bleach, most of Naruto, and all of Sword Art Online. I'll give you some thoughts on each one.
First, Bleach. It's got some good and bad things in it. It develops its characters quite a lot, and you get to know them very well, which draws you deeper into the story and the emotional underlines. I'd say that's a good thing. It also has some of the most spectacular fights in anime history, so if you're an adrenaline junky, Bleach is the action anime for you.
However, it's also got some bad stuff. Just about all anime has some sexual inappropriateness, and Bleach is no exception. In fact, it might be one of the most inappropriate animes out there, which is one reason I don't watch it anymore. It also has quite a bit of swearing. Ironically, one Japanese swear word can mean several in English, depending on its pronunciation. But aside from those two things (which are in just about every anime I can think of...ugh), Bleach also has a few other flaws. One, its fights are way too predictable at times. I can literally say what's going to happen next, and a cliche I think Bleach introducted and completely overused are the two guys charging at each other, then ending up facing away from each other, for the finale. Just count how many times it happens! Seriously! Lastly, it's got a dragged out storyline. It just takes so long to get to the climax you wonder if there even is one. Overdramatic. At least it's not as bad as Naruto.
Speaking of which, here you go. Naruto is not my favorite anime, but I admit it's got some better stuff than Bleach. For one, it's not as inappropriate. Oh don't get me wrong, there's a whole lot of stuff I can name as somewhat explicit (the sexy jutsu, pervy sage, etc.), but it's not as in-your-face all the time like Bleach. The cursing is also a little played down, though admittedly still there. And as for the storyline, it's got one major good thing and one critical bad thing.
Good first. Naruto has one of the most epic storylines out there. The climaxes are huge, and I admit, I almost cried a couple times. If an entertainment medium can do that to me, then it has (in my opinion) succeeded. However, it's so LONG! I hate that! It takes literally several episodes just to start and conclude one fight, not to mention one section, which might be more like fifteen episodes! Even Bleach isn't that slow! COME ON! I can't tell you how many times I've rolled my eyes and yelled 'Get to the point!' So those two giant positive and negatives cancel each other out. So...I kind of like and don't like it.
Lastly, there's Sword Art Online. Now, I wouldn't recommend either of the two previous animes. You can watch them if you want, I'm just warning you about what's in them. However, this anime I would completely recommend.
Well, not completely. But it's the best anime out of the three I have watched, and if I know anything about anime, that says a lot. Let's get in to it.
Okay, the standard inappropriateness and swearing. For the former, there is very, very little. I can name a few scenes that are questionable indeed (and one that downright shouldn't be in there), but thank goodness there isn't much. Same thing for swearing. It's definitely not used as much in this anime as the other two, and I am grateful for that. However, the two are still there, and you need to be on your guard just as much.
As for storyline, it's pretty much perfect. There is only about twenty-something episodes, so the story moves quite briskly; but not too fast, which is great. Also, I think I actually did cry when the climaxes came around. Now that is the sign of an epic show. They give you enough storyline to fall in love with the characters, but not so much as to smother you. And the love story between Kirito and Asuna (the main characters) is very well done, though of course I don't approve of teenagers getting married. Personally. Now, the only real flaw I could find is the way they did the storyline. Don't get me wrong - it's epic, but they kind of throw in a twist in the middle, and you're like 'What? I thought it was over!' No spoilers intended, but just be aware there's a twist around the beginning of the double-digit episodes. Otherwise, this anime is the best ever.
And that's it. In general, anime is not a very good thing. Why? It achieves a realistic surrealism, and many people can be misled by that. Not to mention every anime, pretty much without exception, has the two elements of swearing and sexual inappropriateness. I wish there was a good anime out there without either of those, but sadly I haven't heard of one. So, if you choose to watch anime, just be aware of those major things. Make sure you identify what's wrong and what's right, but otherwise, enjoy.
(I don't watch anime anymore, by the way. My parents don't like it, and if they say the same for you, then please follow their wishes. You can watch anime when you're out of the house and on your own)
We're gonna look at some anime.
Now, I'm not a huge anime freak (meaning, I haven't watched a whole lot). The animes I have seen are all of Bleach, most of Naruto, and all of Sword Art Online. I'll give you some thoughts on each one.
First, Bleach. It's got some good and bad things in it. It develops its characters quite a lot, and you get to know them very well, which draws you deeper into the story and the emotional underlines. I'd say that's a good thing. It also has some of the most spectacular fights in anime history, so if you're an adrenaline junky, Bleach is the action anime for you.
However, it's also got some bad stuff. Just about all anime has some sexual inappropriateness, and Bleach is no exception. In fact, it might be one of the most inappropriate animes out there, which is one reason I don't watch it anymore. It also has quite a bit of swearing. Ironically, one Japanese swear word can mean several in English, depending on its pronunciation. But aside from those two things (which are in just about every anime I can think of...ugh), Bleach also has a few other flaws. One, its fights are way too predictable at times. I can literally say what's going to happen next, and a cliche I think Bleach introducted and completely overused are the two guys charging at each other, then ending up facing away from each other, for the finale. Just count how many times it happens! Seriously! Lastly, it's got a dragged out storyline. It just takes so long to get to the climax you wonder if there even is one. Overdramatic. At least it's not as bad as Naruto.
Speaking of which, here you go. Naruto is not my favorite anime, but I admit it's got some better stuff than Bleach. For one, it's not as inappropriate. Oh don't get me wrong, there's a whole lot of stuff I can name as somewhat explicit (the sexy jutsu, pervy sage, etc.), but it's not as in-your-face all the time like Bleach. The cursing is also a little played down, though admittedly still there. And as for the storyline, it's got one major good thing and one critical bad thing.
Good first. Naruto has one of the most epic storylines out there. The climaxes are huge, and I admit, I almost cried a couple times. If an entertainment medium can do that to me, then it has (in my opinion) succeeded. However, it's so LONG! I hate that! It takes literally several episodes just to start and conclude one fight, not to mention one section, which might be more like fifteen episodes! Even Bleach isn't that slow! COME ON! I can't tell you how many times I've rolled my eyes and yelled 'Get to the point!' So those two giant positive and negatives cancel each other out. So...I kind of like and don't like it.
Lastly, there's Sword Art Online. Now, I wouldn't recommend either of the two previous animes. You can watch them if you want, I'm just warning you about what's in them. However, this anime I would completely recommend.
Well, not completely. But it's the best anime out of the three I have watched, and if I know anything about anime, that says a lot. Let's get in to it.
Okay, the standard inappropriateness and swearing. For the former, there is very, very little. I can name a few scenes that are questionable indeed (and one that downright shouldn't be in there), but thank goodness there isn't much. Same thing for swearing. It's definitely not used as much in this anime as the other two, and I am grateful for that. However, the two are still there, and you need to be on your guard just as much.
As for storyline, it's pretty much perfect. There is only about twenty-something episodes, so the story moves quite briskly; but not too fast, which is great. Also, I think I actually did cry when the climaxes came around. Now that is the sign of an epic show. They give you enough storyline to fall in love with the characters, but not so much as to smother you. And the love story between Kirito and Asuna (the main characters) is very well done, though of course I don't approve of teenagers getting married. Personally. Now, the only real flaw I could find is the way they did the storyline. Don't get me wrong - it's epic, but they kind of throw in a twist in the middle, and you're like 'What? I thought it was over!' No spoilers intended, but just be aware there's a twist around the beginning of the double-digit episodes. Otherwise, this anime is the best ever.
And that's it. In general, anime is not a very good thing. Why? It achieves a realistic surrealism, and many people can be misled by that. Not to mention every anime, pretty much without exception, has the two elements of swearing and sexual inappropriateness. I wish there was a good anime out there without either of those, but sadly I haven't heard of one. So, if you choose to watch anime, just be aware of those major things. Make sure you identify what's wrong and what's right, but otherwise, enjoy.
(I don't watch anime anymore, by the way. My parents don't like it, and if they say the same for you, then please follow their wishes. You can watch anime when you're out of the house and on your own)
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Extracurricular activities
Greetings viewers,
Well now that school's out (or for some, there's a short break) I thought I'd give you a little about my extracurricular activities.
I go to Boy Scouts on Tuesdays. Now, before anybody starts booing, let me remind you that if you have a bad opinion of the boy scouts, it's probably because there aren't that many decent ones out there. The Scout Law is 'A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.' While I admit that's about as hard to follow as the Ten Commandments, most guys don't even try.
The Scout Oath is, 'On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, to obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.' Again, it's hard to follow to the letter. The troop I go to is probably one of the better ones out there, yet it's full of guys who don't give a bleep about our values. Sad. I'm trying right now to whip them into some better shape, wish me luck ;).
I also go to CAP (Civil Air Patrol) on Thursdays. If y'all are wondering what that is, let me enlighten you. CAP is an Air Force Auxiliary organization, meaning we are a civilian division of the military. We do a lot of jobs that the Air Force doesn't have much time or resources for, such as search-and-rescue, aireal reconaissance, etc. It's organized a lot like the military in that it has ranks like the air force and follows the drill and etiquette principles of the air force.
However, it's purely a volunteer organization. We have a running joke in CAP, that whenever you rank up, another zero is added onto the end of your pay check. Currently, I'm a Staff Sergeant, which is five ranks up the heirarchy. I get to yell at other, lower-ranking cadets. XD My favorite.
As for sports, I used to play baseball. I don't anymore, because my parents have neither the time or money. I want to do some martial arts, but it's going to be hard getting around to that.
And then of course there's the other usual stuff. Chores, family activities, church activities, etc. If you guys have any sports you play or cool stuff you do, let me know and leave a comment! Thanks for reading.
Well now that school's out (or for some, there's a short break) I thought I'd give you a little about my extracurricular activities.
I go to Boy Scouts on Tuesdays. Now, before anybody starts booing, let me remind you that if you have a bad opinion of the boy scouts, it's probably because there aren't that many decent ones out there. The Scout Law is 'A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.' While I admit that's about as hard to follow as the Ten Commandments, most guys don't even try.
The Scout Oath is, 'On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, to obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.' Again, it's hard to follow to the letter. The troop I go to is probably one of the better ones out there, yet it's full of guys who don't give a bleep about our values. Sad. I'm trying right now to whip them into some better shape, wish me luck ;).
I also go to CAP (Civil Air Patrol) on Thursdays. If y'all are wondering what that is, let me enlighten you. CAP is an Air Force Auxiliary organization, meaning we are a civilian division of the military. We do a lot of jobs that the Air Force doesn't have much time or resources for, such as search-and-rescue, aireal reconaissance, etc. It's organized a lot like the military in that it has ranks like the air force and follows the drill and etiquette principles of the air force.
However, it's purely a volunteer organization. We have a running joke in CAP, that whenever you rank up, another zero is added onto the end of your pay check. Currently, I'm a Staff Sergeant, which is five ranks up the heirarchy. I get to yell at other, lower-ranking cadets. XD My favorite.
As for sports, I used to play baseball. I don't anymore, because my parents have neither the time or money. I want to do some martial arts, but it's going to be hard getting around to that.
And then of course there's the other usual stuff. Chores, family activities, church activities, etc. If you guys have any sports you play or cool stuff you do, let me know and leave a comment! Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
School's Out
Hey guys,
Guess what? School's done! Hurray!
Well, not for me. I've got one week left. But it's pretty much done! And you know what?
I'm not that excited.
Sure, I whine and complain about how hard school is and how troublesome it is, but when I get into the summer I start appreciating just that. School was made to work your mind and train your knowledge muscles (err...what did I just say?). It's a good thing. And honestly, when I'm taking a break, it feels like my mind turns to mush.
That's one thing I really don't like in school. Breaks. Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, Winter break, Spring break...sheesh. Don't get me wrong - they can sometimes be great stress relievers, but they throw me off my rythm. I get lazy. It's hard to start up again.
Meh. So like I said, I'm not crazy about summer break. Sure I'm looking forward to it, but I'll actually miss the hustle and bustle of school. Anybody out there who feels the same, or is it just me?
Have a happy Summer Break!!
Guess what? School's done! Hurray!
Well, not for me. I've got one week left. But it's pretty much done! And you know what?
I'm not that excited.
Sure, I whine and complain about how hard school is and how troublesome it is, but when I get into the summer I start appreciating just that. School was made to work your mind and train your knowledge muscles (err...what did I just say?). It's a good thing. And honestly, when I'm taking a break, it feels like my mind turns to mush.
That's one thing I really don't like in school. Breaks. Thanksgiving break, Christmas break, Winter break, Spring break...sheesh. Don't get me wrong - they can sometimes be great stress relievers, but they throw me off my rythm. I get lazy. It's hard to start up again.
Meh. So like I said, I'm not crazy about summer break. Sure I'm looking forward to it, but I'll actually miss the hustle and bustle of school. Anybody out there who feels the same, or is it just me?
Have a happy Summer Break!!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Santa Claws
Hey guys, I know it's not anywhere near Christmas, but I thought I'd post this - I made it sometime last year. Let me know if you like it.
One night the elves were
working away
Santa arrived in the broad
of the day.
The elves stopped working,
turned their heads and they saw
A sight that was horror
and bad news for all.
For there with a shotgun
and a jolly old bellow,
(not counting the pistol
and belt full of ammo)
Saint Nick, that good and
merry old guy
Said, “Merry Christmas
to all-NOW YOU'RE ALL GONNA DIE!”
He blew up the workshops,
destroyed all the elves
Burnt the books and
computers, plus the toys on the shelves.
Then he turned to his
reindeer and his favorite sleigh
“Your turn to die
boys-now you all run away!”
He tracked down Dasher,
and barbecued Blitzen
Blew the hind legs off
Dancer, and stuffed them down Vixen
Comet and Cupid are now
constellations
I think I forgot
Donner-make your own calculations.
And finally at last when
his work was all done,
He took up his pistol and
then he was gone
So remember, all who are
reading this song
Beware of Saint Nick, he
might come to visit
When he does, lock the
door and the windows along with it
Take your claymores and
shotguns and place them correctly,
Saint Nick is no fan of
shrapnel.
He won't come to visit you
now and again
So don't expect presents;
hallelujah, amen.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Video Games
Hey all,
Who here plays video games? I do. Lots of people say that video games are bad for you because they waste your life and are not productive. Some even say that the more battle-oriented ones encourage violence.
Well, here's what I say to that.
One, all things should have an amount of moderation to them. If you can balance playing video games with school/work/whatever else, you're not wasting time. There's a time for work and a time for play.
As for not being productive, it's been tested and proven that video games improve a lot of characteristics. They teach organization, strategy, reaction, and analysis. Some games can even teach you other things, like music (guitar hero), architecture (minecraft), and economics (strategy games in general).
And they do not encourage violence. I have not heard of one case of a person turning into a murderer or serial killer because they played too much MW3 or Black Ops or whatever. They do not encourage people to be violent; in fact, they can be a good stress reliever. There's nothing better than taking your irritation out on an AI.
What they DO do, however, is desensitize you to the seriousness of death: so that when you hear of our soldiers dying overseas, poor children in Africa starving, yada yada, you're just like 'meh, that's horrible'. They teach you to devalue life. That's the only real downside.
As for games that I actually play: here's the ones I can remember (all PC games, not counting my Wii, which I don't play a whole lot):
Star Wars Battlefront II
Stronghold Crusader
Age of Empires III
Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds
Chessmaster
Minecraft
Spiral Knights (not often)
Bookworm Adventures
And that's it. Tell me about some you play! If you don't play video games, well, good for you. You can do other productive things. XD
Who here plays video games? I do. Lots of people say that video games are bad for you because they waste your life and are not productive. Some even say that the more battle-oriented ones encourage violence.
Well, here's what I say to that.
One, all things should have an amount of moderation to them. If you can balance playing video games with school/work/whatever else, you're not wasting time. There's a time for work and a time for play.
As for not being productive, it's been tested and proven that video games improve a lot of characteristics. They teach organization, strategy, reaction, and analysis. Some games can even teach you other things, like music (guitar hero), architecture (minecraft), and economics (strategy games in general).
And they do not encourage violence. I have not heard of one case of a person turning into a murderer or serial killer because they played too much MW3 or Black Ops or whatever. They do not encourage people to be violent; in fact, they can be a good stress reliever. There's nothing better than taking your irritation out on an AI.
What they DO do, however, is desensitize you to the seriousness of death: so that when you hear of our soldiers dying overseas, poor children in Africa starving, yada yada, you're just like 'meh, that's horrible'. They teach you to devalue life. That's the only real downside.
As for games that I actually play: here's the ones I can remember (all PC games, not counting my Wii, which I don't play a whole lot):
Star Wars Battlefront II
Stronghold Crusader
Age of Empires III
Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds
Chessmaster
Minecraft
Spiral Knights (not often)
Bookworm Adventures
And that's it. Tell me about some you play! If you don't play video games, well, good for you. You can do other productive things. XD
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Ouch
Hey guys,
How many of you have had serious injuries before? Not, say, a scratch, burn, or an insect bite or something like that. I'm talking broken bones, sprained appendages, and large cuts.
I think most people have; and if you haven't, then good for you!
Recently, I sprained my left wrist. I think it was doing some yardwork that did it, but I'm not totally sure. It's in a brace currently, but it hurts if I so much as twitch it the wrong way. Even typing this gives me little pangs of agony.
Normally (or, for most people) such a sprain, being on the left hand, wouldn't be a big deal. But I'm left-handed, guys. It's really awkward doing most things with your non-dominant hand. Ick.
As for other serious injuries I've had, let me see: I have split my head open, stabbed my foot with a nail (twice), nearly cut my right ring finger off, and now this sprain. Not too many, thankfully, but it might explain why my other blog is somewhat less normal than this one.
What serious injuries have you sustained over your lifetime? Comment and tell me!
How many of you have had serious injuries before? Not, say, a scratch, burn, or an insect bite or something like that. I'm talking broken bones, sprained appendages, and large cuts.
I think most people have; and if you haven't, then good for you!
Recently, I sprained my left wrist. I think it was doing some yardwork that did it, but I'm not totally sure. It's in a brace currently, but it hurts if I so much as twitch it the wrong way. Even typing this gives me little pangs of agony.
Normally (or, for most people) such a sprain, being on the left hand, wouldn't be a big deal. But I'm left-handed, guys. It's really awkward doing most things with your non-dominant hand. Ick.
As for other serious injuries I've had, let me see: I have split my head open, stabbed my foot with a nail (twice), nearly cut my right ring finger off, and now this sprain. Not too many, thankfully, but it might explain why my other blog is somewhat less normal than this one.
What serious injuries have you sustained over your lifetime? Comment and tell me!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Yard Work
Hey all.
How many of you have big yards? I'm not talking about say, a hundred meters square or something like that, I'm talking about several acres.
If you do, please join me in sympathy. We poor souls labor together, who must do the horror that is yard work.
It's a nightmare, isn't it? It takes over an hour just to mow my lawn. Never mind trimming the edges. Then there's weed-pulling. I have tons of places weed-pulling is called for: islands, trees, a huge garden, a playground, etc.
And after all that, there's mulch. I shudder at the horrible memories that word entails.
Over our yard's history, we've had several truckloads of mulch delivered. TRUCKLOADS!!! And then oh glory, we had to spread it all out. Over all the places aforementioned with weeds. I haven't sat up straight since, I tell you. I'd much rather do construction work - indeed, last summer we had to do loads and loads of mulch-work. Then I got to go on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic and oh joy - it was all construction work! YES! I'm actually happy to change types of work!
Despite all my complaining, though, we were made to work. The Bible says in Genesis 2:15 that God made man originally to work. Imagine if sin hadn't happened, and work was enjoyable. Ahhh.
But nope. Unfortunately, that's something for heaven. And you know what? I can't wait!
How many of you have big yards? I'm not talking about say, a hundred meters square or something like that, I'm talking about several acres.
If you do, please join me in sympathy. We poor souls labor together, who must do the horror that is yard work.
It's a nightmare, isn't it? It takes over an hour just to mow my lawn. Never mind trimming the edges. Then there's weed-pulling. I have tons of places weed-pulling is called for: islands, trees, a huge garden, a playground, etc.
And after all that, there's mulch. I shudder at the horrible memories that word entails.
Over our yard's history, we've had several truckloads of mulch delivered. TRUCKLOADS!!! And then oh glory, we had to spread it all out. Over all the places aforementioned with weeds. I haven't sat up straight since, I tell you. I'd much rather do construction work - indeed, last summer we had to do loads and loads of mulch-work. Then I got to go on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic and oh joy - it was all construction work! YES! I'm actually happy to change types of work!
Despite all my complaining, though, we were made to work. The Bible says in Genesis 2:15 that God made man originally to work. Imagine if sin hadn't happened, and work was enjoyable. Ahhh.
But nope. Unfortunately, that's something for heaven. And you know what? I can't wait!
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Hey guys,
I can't wait to get started. Let's kick it off with a layman's review on one of the most popular movies of the twenty-first century, The Hobbit.
So, I went and saw this for the first time earlier this year, quite a while after its preliminary release. And to be honest, I was completely blown away.
Seeing it in 3-D was quite an experience. And on the big screen, it was spectacular. The sound was so loud I resorted to stuffing my ears with kleenex in a futile attempt to preserve my hearing. And the 3-D gave me a splitting headache afterwards; but who cares, it was awesome.
However, after watching it again, there were one or two things I found that I didn't like.
Number one, the pure scale. While Lord of the Rings was epically huge, it was meant to be epically huge. In comparison to the Hobbit, it's gigantic. But now they're splitting the Hobbit up into three movies as well - while understandable, it's not that necessary. It's just a moneymaking technique. Plus, while I can't really tell, it felt like they used a lot more CGI (computer-generated images) instead of real stuff. That was a strength of LotR, because it interspersed amazing CGI with real-looking miniatures and people in actual costumes. But I think they used much more CGI with The Hobbit, and that just gives the movie a fakish feel to it.
And number two, their departure from the book. Now, I understand their dilemma in making the movie - the actual villian, Smaug, just sits in his mountain for ninety percent of the book, doing nothing. They needed a more active antagonist, hence Azog (from the LotR appendixes). However, I believe that in LotR Azog actually dies. Strike one. Plus, they brought in the rising menace from Minas Morgul as well as Radagast - which was pure extrapolation from a passing comment made by Gandalf. Strike two.
Because of these departures from the book, it decreases J.R.R. Tolkien's original purpose and theme. By focusing on Bilbo and his journey with the dwarves, it brings an interesting focus on the development of the characters, not the actual action of the story. This story is about a hobbit, who finds the world outside to be much bigger than he imagined - and on the way, meets some very interesting people. In the end, he gains a more open-minded view of the world, and a more solid idea of what friendship really is. But when you bring in all these antagonists and different storylines, it splinters the original purpose.
But that being said, you have to take into account that this is a movie, not a book. There are certain things that don't translate well from book into film, and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien are some great examples of that. You need suspense. You need to hold the audience's interest. You need to create something that they want to see more of - and since they did all that with The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey, I'd say they did pretty well.
Of course, this is just my opinion. It's a free country, please think what you like. And we'll see you next time, folks!
I can't wait to get started. Let's kick it off with a layman's review on one of the most popular movies of the twenty-first century, The Hobbit.
So, I went and saw this for the first time earlier this year, quite a while after its preliminary release. And to be honest, I was completely blown away.
Seeing it in 3-D was quite an experience. And on the big screen, it was spectacular. The sound was so loud I resorted to stuffing my ears with kleenex in a futile attempt to preserve my hearing. And the 3-D gave me a splitting headache afterwards; but who cares, it was awesome.
However, after watching it again, there were one or two things I found that I didn't like.
Number one, the pure scale. While Lord of the Rings was epically huge, it was meant to be epically huge. In comparison to the Hobbit, it's gigantic. But now they're splitting the Hobbit up into three movies as well - while understandable, it's not that necessary. It's just a moneymaking technique. Plus, while I can't really tell, it felt like they used a lot more CGI (computer-generated images) instead of real stuff. That was a strength of LotR, because it interspersed amazing CGI with real-looking miniatures and people in actual costumes. But I think they used much more CGI with The Hobbit, and that just gives the movie a fakish feel to it.
And number two, their departure from the book. Now, I understand their dilemma in making the movie - the actual villian, Smaug, just sits in his mountain for ninety percent of the book, doing nothing. They needed a more active antagonist, hence Azog (from the LotR appendixes). However, I believe that in LotR Azog actually dies. Strike one. Plus, they brought in the rising menace from Minas Morgul as well as Radagast - which was pure extrapolation from a passing comment made by Gandalf. Strike two.
Because of these departures from the book, it decreases J.R.R. Tolkien's original purpose and theme. By focusing on Bilbo and his journey with the dwarves, it brings an interesting focus on the development of the characters, not the actual action of the story. This story is about a hobbit, who finds the world outside to be much bigger than he imagined - and on the way, meets some very interesting people. In the end, he gains a more open-minded view of the world, and a more solid idea of what friendship really is. But when you bring in all these antagonists and different storylines, it splinters the original purpose.
But that being said, you have to take into account that this is a movie, not a book. There are certain things that don't translate well from book into film, and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien are some great examples of that. You need suspense. You need to hold the audience's interest. You need to create something that they want to see more of - and since they did all that with The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey, I'd say they did pretty well.
Of course, this is just my opinion. It's a free country, please think what you like. And we'll see you next time, folks!
About Yours Truly
Hello viewers!
Here's some stuff about your host.
Right now, I'm 15 years old.
I'm a junior in high school, and I'm semi-homeschooled, semi-private schooled. They call it 'homeschool', but it's not really that.
If you're wondering why I'm a junior at 15 years old, well, my parents started me when I was two years old. They wanted me to get a jump-start on things, and honestly, I think anyone can do it.
I'm a professing Christian, and while our parents are pretty good about shielding us from the coarseness and temptations offered out there, some do get through. It's always a battle.
I am blessed with a number of good friends, including my schizophrenic self (his name is Reaper). Shut up, me.
I enjoy physical challenges and competitions; at least, versus guys. There's no doubt that there are girls out there who could beat me to whipped cream, but I honestly can't stand competing with girls. Just a personal twitch, I guess.
This blog itself is more of a general postplace of things I come across or want to talk about. It may include reviews, rants, controversial issues, plain boring blab, etc. You're picking the wild card, my friend!
Enjoy.
Here's some stuff about your host.
Right now, I'm 15 years old.
I'm a junior in high school, and I'm semi-homeschooled, semi-private schooled. They call it 'homeschool', but it's not really that.
If you're wondering why I'm a junior at 15 years old, well, my parents started me when I was two years old. They wanted me to get a jump-start on things, and honestly, I think anyone can do it.
I'm a professing Christian, and while our parents are pretty good about shielding us from the coarseness and temptations offered out there, some do get through. It's always a battle.
I am blessed with a number of good friends, including my schizophrenic self (his name is Reaper). Shut up, me.
I enjoy physical challenges and competitions; at least, versus guys. There's no doubt that there are girls out there who could beat me to whipped cream, but I honestly can't stand competing with girls. Just a personal twitch, I guess.
This blog itself is more of a general postplace of things I come across or want to talk about. It may include reviews, rants, controversial issues, plain boring blab, etc. You're picking the wild card, my friend!
Enjoy.
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