Blog on Blog

Personally I liked the idea of blogging. I think they are an interesting way of including writing into our curriculum. Blogging is a good way of keeping young students interested in writing. Also I like them because you have a great choice of topics and the format of how you write is not limited.

Last year we did journal entries instead of blogging. No one liked journal entries because they were really old school and you had to write in cursive. Blogging is more current because you can do it on the internet and you can type instead of hand written cursive. Also blogging keeps young people interested because it happens on the computer, the same as everything else today. You can search the web and find information about your topic, listen to music, and do whatever you want on the computer while writing your blog. Blogs also have the potential of reaching vast audiences quickly.

I like blogging because you have unlimited topics to choose from. Every week at least one student writes a topic, Ms.Weldon writes at least one topic, and you can even make your own topic which stimulates creativity. This is a huge difference compared to journals. For each journal entry you had a specific topic you had to write about and it was very difficult sometimes to think of something to write.

Not only can you write about whatever you want but you can also write in any format. You can write a story, an essay, a poem, etc. This is very good feature because it lets us express our creativity in many ways and opens up many more possibilities. It also suits many different styles of writers.

I hope that blogging is accepted and is used for middle school from now on. Personally I think they are the future form of expressing your opinions. If they are continued most middle-schoolers will have a positive experience during middle-school Language Arts.

Alchohol

In 2007 approximately 1,239 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in Canada through alcohol impairment. Alcohol is a major problem. Personally I think alcohol should be illegal for a few reasons. Alcohol dulls your senses, it brings out harmful actions/moods, and it is considered a drug.

Alcohol dulls many of your senses. When alcohol is consumed it makes your vision blurry and slows your response time. This can cause disaster if you are driving under the influence because it can make you crash into things you may not see or be able to react to fast enough. It also lowers your sense of danger. This could be harmful because you could put yourself into a position or situation that might threaten your life or health without even knowing it.

Not only can being drunk affect your possible health but also the health of others. When someone is under the influence they can experience extreme anger and agitation. These emotions can bring out violence that normally wouldn't occur. This violence can be toward children, spouses, or other friends and family. Obviously this can hurt others but it can also hurt the alcohol abuser. Their actions under the influence can cause them to lose their jobs, custody of their children, and respect from their family and friends.

The definition of a drug is a substance that has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. According to that definition alcohol is a drug. Alcohol has many mind altering effects as does heroine, marijuana and other narcotics. An impaired individual can have just as poor judgment as people on other narcotic drugs. If they are illegal why isn't alcohol?

As long as alcohol is legalized families will continue to be abused and people will continue to lose their lives from drunk driving. Personally I think it is very apparent that alcohol should be considered a narcotic and become illegal. A world without alcohol would be a much happier and safer place.

commented on Olivia's Blog

Facebook

Social networking is one of the biggest things done on the Internet today. There are many sites that provide this quality. These sites include Facebook, MSN, Skype, IChat and there are many more. Personally my favourite is Facebook. I like Facebook because you can connect and talk to friends, look at photos, play games, and its totally free.

The essential quality of social networking is being able to connect and talk to your friends. Facebook makes this really easy because to find a friend you just type in their name. For most other sites you need to know the person's email address or username. Also Facebook makes it easy to chat with people while looking through Facebook. It has a little bar at the bottom of the screen where all your chats are located and it makes a noise when someone sends a message.

One of the other qualities Facebook offers is the ability to look at photos. This is a great trait because you can look at any of your friends photos, while chatting. Most people put there vacation pictures on Facebook as well. Also Facebook is a good place to store your digital pictures.

Another thing that is unique about Facebook is that it gives you the ability to play games online. Facebook has all kinds of games including, poker, farming, treasure hunting, and arcade classics. You can play these games while talking with people, looking at photos, or navigating Facebook.

Possibly the best quality of Facebook is that it is totally free. You can do all the things I have mentioned and more without spending a penny. You can also go on it when ever you want without worrying about the price.

Overall I think Facebook is the best social networking site available today. Facebook offers you the ability to look at other people's photos and it allows you to find your friends and talk to them easily. Also Facebook allows you to play games. The best part is that you can do all this completely free.

iTunes vs Limewire

In today's society CD's, records, and tapes have almost become obsolete. The majority of music is downloaded from the internet and put onto iPods and mp3 players. The two biggest and most popular music sites are iTunes and Limewire. iTunes is the more professional and official site. Limewire is interactive site which allows users to import music as well as export. Personally I like Limewire more for a few reasons, the music is free, it has much more music than iTunes, and it has non professional or unofficial music releases.

First, all the music and videos on Limewire are free. This is a great benefit because you can get as much music as you want without having to worry about racking up a huge bill. When I used iTunes I very rarely got new music because of the price. iTunes has recently made everything more expensive, a single song is now $1.29. Now that I have Limewire I get new music almost every day, and I don't spend a single penny.

Second, since Limewire doesn't need to get Licenses for music they can get music from almost every artist. iTunes must get a license or permission for music from the artist. There are a few very popular bands who aren't on iTunes such as AC/DC.

Third, limewire has unofficial music. On Limewire you can download mixtapes and music that is not released professionally. You can discover many new artists and up and comers. Also many famous artists record music that is not released. Most of this music can be found on Limewire.

I have heard that Limewire is susceptible to viruses, and the quality and consistency of the music isn't great. I have not experienced any viruses and the lack of quality does not pose a significant problem. So personally I think Limewire is the overall better site because it is affordable and provides better access to music.

Is Justin Beiber The New King Of Pop?

Micheal Jackson is one of the most famous music artists of all time. He started his musical career with the Jackson 5 when he was 6.

He started his career as a child star but as he grew older he changed his styles and had different fan bases, until his death on June 25th, 2009. There are very few artists who can stand the test of time. Micheal worked hard to earn the title "King Of Pop". He didn't have the title until much later in his career, after countless singles and albums in the top charts. Not only did he hit the top charts but he influenced the direction of pop music and dance. He was an innovator who brought pop music and his kind of dancing to the fore front.

Justin Beiber also is starting his career as a child artist but he is famous for his looks and age. Also he has a feminine voice that many people like. In a few years Justin Beiber will grow out of his little boy looks and voice. If he can adapt to his changes and revamp his style to appeal to different audiences than he may last a little longer. If he is unable to than he has about a year left of fame. Also, if he wants to reach Micheal Jackson's status he needs to bring something new to the scene, because right now he is doing and singing the same stuff as everyone else. So far Justin has only put out two albums. It is not fair to classify him as the "new king of pop". He is not far enough in his career for anyone to know if he will ever earn that title. Personally I think he will be like the Jonas Brothers, he will be around for a couple of years and then never heard of again. If last year, you told Cassie or Maddie that in grade eight they would not like the Jonas Brothers at all, they would call you crazy, but guess what. It happened. So, only time will tell if Justin Beiber is a flash in the pan or the new king of pop.

Commented on Olivia's Blog.

School Uniforms

At our school we have to wear uniforms. Most people don't like them, but personally I don't mind them. I like uniforms for a few reasons: they cut down on bullying, they cost less than clothes, they help with your morning routine, and they make our school look professional and united.

Uniforms make bullying less of a problem because you can't pick on some one's clothes if you are wearing the same uniform. Also everybody is supposed to wear the uniforms the same so you can't pick on someone for the way they wear clothes either. Uniforms help create a level playing field in the class room. To stand out you must have a great personality or excel academically. In this sense uniforms help to create a more relaxed and comfortable school environment where the focus is on learning.

A single t-shirt today can cost more than a hundred dollars, and is only worn a couple times. Kids who don't have uniforms want to wear a different outfit everyday, which can get very expensive. Uniforms are relatively cheap and you get very good use out of them since you wear them everyday. You also only need to buy one or two sets.

In the morning you don't have a lot of time to get ready. You have to shower, pick your clothes, brush your teeth, eat breakfast, get your books ready and get to your bus or car. Since our school has uniforms you wear the same thing every day. This helps with your morning routine since you don't have to decide what to wear. Freeing up this step gives you more time in the morning.

When a school is together wearing a uniform it looks very professional. Since everyone is wearing the same thing the group looks like one. Everyone is connected and united. Schools look unprofessional when they are on field trips and every kid is wearing different clothes. All you notice is a collage of colours and patterns. There is no continuity.

So even though most students you ask do not have a positive attitude toward uniforms, they are saving our parents money, and they may be helping their school experience without them even knowing.

Commented on Olivia's blog

EVENSONG

Evensong is a tradition at our school. It is when everybody goes down to the chapel at 1:40 and we have a religious service. Not many kids enjoy this event, but it is something that will never go away. In this blog, I am not going to whine about it but suggest a few ways to make it better.

I feel it should be earlier in the day, the chapel should not be as warm, and I think the constant sitting and standing should be adjusted a bit.

Currently, evensong is our second last period. Having it at this time breaks up your academic day. It takes your mind away from school making it difficult to focus during the final period. If it was earlier in the day people would be fresh and ready.

Another thing that really turns students off of evensong is how hot the chapel is. In our chapel everyone is always sweating and complaining about how hot they are. All we need to do is find a more comfortable temperature. By doing so evensong may result in a more positive experience.

My last point was how in evensong, we have to constantly sit then stand every few minutes. The constant up and down gets a little annoying after awhile. I know we have to stand for certain prayers, but I think we should be allowed to sit a little more often ( for hymns etc.). Or maybe all of the standing goes first and then we sit for the rest.

I strongly believe that if we can't stop evensong , then we can definitely make it better by making the few changes I suggested. If the changes can be made, then most students will look at evensong more positively and less negatively.

Commented on Lizzies blog

Life

When I read the blog topic that was posted the first thing to catch my attention was that making the most of life and fulfilling your bucket list may not be the same. If you complete your bucket list it doesn't mean you have made the most of life, and it is possible to make the most of life without completing your list.

A bucket list refers to a list of things which you would like to do before you die. These things are usually things that could be reasonably accomplished. They are usually short lived and result in short term or immediate gratification. Most people can make a bucket list in a matter of minutes. Quickly, here's mine:

1. Sky Dive

2. Race a car on a track

3. Ride the current top roller coaster

4. Bungee jump

5. Own a 1969 Shelby Ford Mustang gt 500 Eleanor

On the other hand making the most of your life usually takes your whole life to fulfill, and the gratification from it will last forever. Life goals may be different for everyone but they may include things such as: being financially successful, having many wonderful relationships, helping the world and people around you, etc. Setting your goals is usually not something you can just sit down and do, it usually takes awhile to figure out. Personally I think making the most of you life would ideally be a combination of all the things listed above.

So be cautious when someone looks back at their life it may not be the bucket list that makes them feel like they have had a successful life. Perhaps it is not what they did in their life but how they lived it.

I commented on Olivia's blog and Lizzie's blog

When most people think of the future they think of flying cars, spaceships, and gadgets. This could be how it ends up, but another possible outcome is that our planet becomes a wasteland. If we are not carefull the technology we are developing and the way we are living may destroy our planet. The impact of Global warming, negative technology, and war may be too great.

Global warming may be a very big issue in the near future. If we keep polluting the Earth at this current rate, global warming could hit us hard. By that I mean it could cause floods, horrible natural disasters, and a possible ice age. These things could wreck the future for us and all generations to come. We need to start significantly cutting down on our green house gas emissions.

All of the new technology looks cool and fun, but it could have negative effects. Most of the new devices let you stay in your home to do things that usually require leaving the home, such as talking too and seeing people, shopping, mailing, watching movies/TV, and many more. These type of devices may make our future generations less healthy and active, and more isolated and possibly obese/unhealthy. We will also soon have robots capable of thinking and becoming life like. This could result in major problems which are depicted in countless movies such as I,Robot, and The Terminator series.

Finally, if we had the ability to make nuclear bombs in the 1940's what do you think we have now? Bombs now or soon in the future could wipe out the whole world as we know it. We could be living in a wasteland with no food, water or shelter. Almost like going back into the past, rather than forward.

The future of our world is entirely up to us. If we act now we might still have the power to change it for the better. We might still be able to have the perfect Jetson style future.

P.S. I highly recommend watching the movies mentioned above as well as Wall-e. They are good examples of what could happen.

Cottage

My summers are usually spent at my cottage. Events there range from sleeping in and swimming to meeting a terrorist on our property. Last summer I was at my cottage for three quarters of it. My cottage is located on Sugar Island, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It is eight hours away from Cambridge.It is a pretty long drive, but you get used to it. Since it's such a long drive we are usually up there for longer than a few days. The drive is a small price to pay for such an amazing time.

It was built in 1915, over a trapper's settlement from around 1860. My cottage originally belonged to the Hunts. After them it was sold to the Hamiltons. They lived there for 60 years. They used it as a hunting and trapping lodge. Mr.Hamilton also had a little barber parlor on the property. They were a well liked and known family on the Island. Sadly one day Mrs.Hamilton died. She was cooking when she had a heart attack. Later her husband went to a nursing home beacause he developed Alzheimer's. My family was next to purchase it, in 1988. We kept it like it was for many years.

Just a couple years ago we totally renovated it. We basically took out everything, even the walls and upper level. The cottage is totally different now, it doesn't even look remotely the same. We also took down our falling apart boathouse and replaced it with, what we call, the 'Hut'. Which is a one bedroom mini house, where my dad sleeps.

We have also bought a large homestead farm separate from the cottage. On it we have a vineyard, two gardens, a couple open fields, a few large ponds, and my grandpa's house. Yes I said a vineyard, in Michigan. My dad made an amphitheatre shaped vineyard from a hill. My family planted all the grapes and we have been keeping it running for a couple years. Last year we made our first wine.

My cottage is great for relaxing and having fun. It is my favourite place ever. Also since we had it before I was born I have lived with it all my life, and it feels like a part of me. So this summer I can guarantee you that I will be at my cottage dirt biking, and making wine.

40 million dollars. Most people would probably go on a shopping spree or something of the sort (my first idea as well), but there are much smarter ways of using that money. If you use the money wisely it opens up so many doors for your profession. Instead of choosing a job just because the pay is good, you can go after something you are passionate about and really want to do.

By using this money as a nest egg I wouldn't have to have all the stress of buying a house, paying mortgages, university expenses, and taxes etc. Most of the stress today is due to money, which I could avoid. I wouldn't have to put up with an awful boss, or the constant threat of being fired. I could live my life more care free and to the fullest.

I'd also use it towards my family by paying off all their mortgages. I would also give my grandpa some money to put towards his house, and my sister for whatever she needs it for. My whole family would be brighter and happier.

After doing all that I would still keep a couple million for purchases. With that money I would buy a very nice car that would be my fathers, mine, and my brothers until I am old enough to drive, at which time it would be mine. I would purchase a place in Turks and Caicos, as well. At my cottage I would buy a nice large boat for my family and myself to use for many years to come.

MUSIC

I am so old I was alive when much music actually played music- a quote said by ex-lead singer of Skid Row, Sebastian Bach, which says it all. Music isn't music anymore. It's all fake and computer generated. Justin Beiber, for example. He is not a very good singer and there are no real instruments in his songs, yet he is very famous. In today's society if someone is attractive or they are a star on TV or a movie they can be turned into a singer, even if they can't sing. Computers can make anyones voice sound great. All the stars on family chanell have at least one song.

It is also much easier to become a famous singer today then it was years ago. Today you can put videos on youtube, and get a record deal, even if you can't sing (Justin Beiber). When music was music you had to be the very best to even come close to making it big. You could be one of the best guitar players anyone has ever heard and not even be noticed. You actually needed talent, you needed to work your way to the top. There was no computerized instruments, no auto-tune, nothing but your musical talent.

bands were much more of a real thing before. Most bands like Guns N' Roses are still around to this day, when guys like Justin Beiber will be gone in maybe a year. Listen to Baby by Justin Beiber, and then to Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses and tell me which one is music. Which of those songs will last. Real music will never die, it will live on forever on iPods and radios. So please remember when you are listening to all the new hits on the radio that it could very well be your dog singing.

SUPER POWERS

If I could have any super powers in the world, I'd want to be able to fly/super-speed, to have a power like the force in star wars, and to know all languages including those of animals.

Flying is a pretty obvious one. I bet that most people will write it, but it is still a great power. Wouldn't you love to just leap in the air and start soaring through the sky with all the birds and airplanes. You would never need to use the bus, car, bike, or airplane again. You would never get stuck in traffic (unless it's migration season), and you would always be on time. That last one is big for me. If I had super speed I would no longer be the last one out of the class at the end of the day, or the last one done lunch. Although even if I could fly super fast I still would probably get distracted by something in the sky and be late for school.

If you had the force you could do so much. You could pick up the t.v. remote from the other side of the room without moving, you could sharpen your pencil at school without walking all the way to end of the class, and you would never have to ask to pass the salt again! Also you could just lift random things around your house up without touching them, just for fun. The best part is that I could tap someones shoulder and actually trick them!!!

Imagine being able to talk to any body in the world fluently, no matter where they are from. Even your pet dog! That would be amazing. I have always wanted to know what my dog is saying, and what is outside when he barks. The most important benefit of this power is that I would ace french class.

Of all the powers in the world I chose those 4. If I had those powers I could do almost anything. I could be the first one done lunch, I could ace french class and if i tapped someone on the shoulder they wouldn't see me doing it!!!

Well, my only experiences with this was when I watched Bridge to Terebithia and then had to read the book for school, also when we read Helen Keller and then watched the movie. When I started reading Bridge to Terabithia I knew everything that was going to happen exactly, but it was still a good book. I haven't read Lord Of The Rings or Harry Potter and I thought the movies were really good. But people who read the book probably thought it was better.
The reason for this is that when you read you can let your imagination run free. The characters can look like whatever you want, and the images you develop from words are your own. A movie doesn't allow as much imagination, but you have picture, sound effects, it is a lot faster and it can be more realistic (you see the people, instead of reading about them). When we read Helen Keller I got a very distinct image of what I saw the characters as. When I watched the movie no one was how I thought of them and the movie had a much different feel than the book.
I enjoy reading books but my problem is if I am reading a book and I travel somewhere or for some reason take a break from my book I never usually start reading it again. When I watch a movie I always finish it, and I can finish it in one sitting. Another benefit of watching a movie over a book is that it can almost feel real. Especially now with 3-D when you watch a movie the sound, picture, music, and 3-dimensions really bring it to life. Surround sound can make the movie sound like it is really happening all around you and your in the centre. Music can very easily set a mood. It can help with tension, thrill, and emotions. The picture really makes you think of the characters as real people and you can easily connect with them. Also picture can vividly show gruesome, or detailed scenes. 3-D really put it over the top. The characters look like they are standing right in front of you. It feels like you can touch them, and like you can interact with them. It also makes you think that you are in the movie.
When people watch a movie after the book they are generally disappointed because often what they imagined isn't on screen. If someone watches the same movie without reading the book they may find it amazing, because they have no mental comparison. Perhaps it is not the adaptation itself, but the expectation one may have.

So What Does It All Mean?

Our world is evolving rapidly, and changing in so many ways. The first segment of the video was about population growth. Are world is in exponential times, so in a matter of years are population will increase drastically . As a result food supplies could be a concern along with the lack of living space and privacy. It appears that the population growth in India and China will be far greater than North America. This could lead to these countries becoming more dominant and influential in the world tomorrow.

The second segment was about jobs and how some jobs are no longer necessary while others are being created. In the past, some one could get a job and keep it for the rest of their lives. Now, some people switch between jobs at a much more frequent pace because of the continuously changing technology. It also becoming a little difficult to choose career paths because people don't know what jobs will be available in the near future.

The last part of the video was on our constantly evolving technology. More and more so life is being based on computers. Dating, shopping, playing, sending mail, talking to people, watching movie, reading, working, as a few examples can all be done using Internet. Our society is becoming more and more technology and computer based as the days pass. The upside of this is that our world is more connected with each other. Facebook and similar sites allow you to talk to people on the other side of the planet very easily, which just a few years ago was thought to be basically impossible. It is very simple for someone to work out of the country with his laptop which, opens up a vast amount of possibilities. The scary thing is that in a few years there will be a computer smarter than a human. Maybe terminator 5 will be based on a true story.

What does it all mean? It means our future will be very unpredictable. Our planet is changing faster than we think. We are in exponential times and we are heading to a total computer age. The world is currently evolving faster than it ever has in the past. So who knows what we are in for? We are all just along for the ride.

P.S. Im in Aruba