At the beginning of the year, I blogged only because I had to- it was part of my class AP English Composition. At the very beginning I wanted to pretend I was someone else on my blog- I wanted to pretend I was an old Russian man whose name was Vladimir. If you look at the oldest posts, you will see that I write a great deal about Russia (after pretending for a week or so I just changed the pronouns to match my own personality). I was taking it as more of acting practice because I really didn't understand the concept of keeping a blog. Of course, then the teacher pointed out to me that blogging was about being honest and writing about what you truly believe in and are interested in. I liked that route better anyways, so I began to write about me. Still, I was only writing because I had to for my class.
As the year went by, I started to become more involved with my writing. It became less and less of an assignment for me and more of a place where I can just write and have people hear what I have to say. When I am just talking, sometimes I have trouble expressing myself and I stutter a lot (at least in situations when I am not confident in what I want to say). So writing is a good resort for me, but writing in notebooks can get very laborious. Thankfully, I can type quasi-quickly so blogging has become that place for me to go aside and just put down what's in my head.
Also, people can listen to what I have to say. People are willing to read my thoughts and my opinions. Although few people really read my blog, I'd like to believe a whole lot more people do read it, 'cause it makes me feel better. I like the YouTube videos that I put on here, and I just want everyone else to take a look at those because I think they are truly something special. I'd hope that people would take a look at those videos, but I doubt that anyone does. However, since this site is open to everyone, there's always a hope that someone's watching it. There's always a hope that I am changing someone with my words. I mean, that's the point of writing-- to change someone, either yourself or another. There's only one time in my memory when my writing has had a deep effect on someone- it was at the Interreligious Council of Cedar Rapids. I read a speech I had written about the late Rabbi Chesman, and the speech brought one lady in the room to tears. I will always remember that feeling- that overwhelming feeling of extreme self-fulfillment. I wasn't joyous by any means, but I began to understand the power of words.
I'm not sure that I will keep blogging often after this school year, but I do know that blogging has had quite a strong effect on me. To me, my blog is like a big journal of my thoughts of this year. It hasn't been very journal-esque, but I know that when I look back at it in five, ten years I will laugh at the thoughts that I've had, even though now they have seemed to be very important. Nonetheless, blogging creates enormous opportunities as countless amounts of people are able to look at what you have to bring to the table. My writing has definitely improved because of this place, and I am going to miss writing on here every week. Who knows, maybe I will keep on writing on my blog. I may start to miss that feeling.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Rock Island
This "song" is one of the greatest talking rhythm sections that I've ever heard. It has got all kinds of rhythms in it, and it seems like all of the rhythms are happening naturally. Although I have a lot of bias, I must say that the Broadway version is much better than the movie version- both of them. Both versions of the scene fail to take an account enough rhythms by the train. Also, both could have lots more inflection by the actors. The old video of Robert Preston's version is more bouncy than Broderick's version, but both could use the train as rhythm much more often. For example, every time someone repeats something, it is often because the train made a bump and he felt like he had to say it again to keep in with time. For example, at around 2:00 in the new video the man talking repeats the U-needa several times. When he says this each time, the whole train could have a bump and he could stress the "U" part of the word. Another part is at 3:15 when the man repeats "Big Brass Bass." At this time he could again stress the word "Big" and the train could have a beat there. Little things like that would make both scenes much more interesting. They just need some more stresses in the text. Also, the new movie failed to remember that these train tracks of the time were not perfect and were often very bumpy, thus making it difficult for the men to walk without rocking. Also, the beginning of the song in the first one seems very fake. The words and rhythms seem too artificial and contrived.
Nonetheless, the "song" is very great, and just by listening I think you could see the potential of the music to really entertain an audience. I really love The Music Man, and I think this scene is a great way to start off the whole musical.
Here's the new, Matthew Broderick version:
Here's the older version with Preston:
Nonetheless, the "song" is very great, and just by listening I think you could see the potential of the music to really entertain an audience. I really love The Music Man, and I think this scene is a great way to start off the whole musical.
Here's the new, Matthew Broderick version:
Here's the older version with Preston:
Eye of the Tiger
Although I had heard it before seventh grade, it was during this time when I first became really familiar with the song. My show choir in middle school was performing it- it went along with the theme of "cats." I immediately fell in love with the song. Its hits are rhythmic, and the tune is really cool. I believe it was first made famous in Rocky III, one of the installments of the hit movie series that rocked the world with its intense boxing scenes and dramatic life experiences. "Eye of the Tiger" was written by Survivor, and the song is a legend today. It is really energizing as well. The song is just an all around uplifting tune that gets you in the mood to accomplish whatever you want to do. It gets you pumped. Here's a music video of the song by Survivor.
So AP Tests are done... I'm done with school right??
NO! As soon as the AP Tests got finished a got assigned a project in four out of my five AP classes. Now I don't blame the teachers for giving me work, but all of the projects just came at me at once and I got pretty overwhelmed. In AP English we have to read a bunch of essays and do reading notebooks on them, as well as write a video essay of some sort (but that's due in a while). I've got nothing in AP Calculus- I'm pretty home free from now on- and on the quiz on Friday I got 18/20 which I'm very okay with. In AP Statistics, I just finished the final project after seven hours of work on the computer. I started it on Thursday, when I handed out the survey which asked what show you preferred more- Seinfeld or Friends? I got 100 surveys back, and I analyzed them today performing several tests of significance and independence. The project is worth half of our final grade, and I think I did pretty well on it- well I did okay on it.
In my AP U.S. History class we've got two projects going- TWO! The first is due Friday. We are supposed to use a poster board to show someone's life. The good thing about it is that it can be anyone's life- past or present, fictional or non-fictional. The only limitation is that we have to have two full pages of data about the person. I'm thinking of talking about Stalin. Although I have been to Russia two times, I still don't know a lot about Stalin. He's a very complicated man and he made a very complicated Russia. His reign is very interesting to me as his industrial advancements are contradicted and overshadowed by his harsh policies and hostile treatment of people. I know that he was paranoid all of the time, and eliminated all enemies within Russia very quickly. When people ask me about Stalin, I think I should know more about him so I can tell those people what they want to know. This is a good opportunity and excuse for me to brush up on my Stalin history and examine his life.
The other U.S. History project is our final project. Our teacher left the door pretty wide open here, and we can do basically whatever we want. He said it can be as didactic as we want it to be, but I am leaning towards more didactic and in depth. However, I still want it to be fun and entertaining. I know my friends are reenacting a battle in history, but I think I want to do something else. I don't know, reenacting a battle doesn't seem very specific and doesn't catch my fancy. Nonetheless, they will probably do a really good job with it and make it really interesting to watch. My plan is to take five different wars and to take a song and change the words to show each war. The five wars are the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. I am not sure what songs I want to use right now, so if you have any ideas just leave a comment at the end of this entry- thanks! Also I am going to print off copies of all the words and give them to my classmates so they can sing along. This brings another decision- to write the lyrics to modern songs or older songs. These are some possibilities of what songs I'm thinking of doing: "I Kissed a Girl," "Bye, Bye, Bye," "My Heart Will Go On," "Eye of the Tiger," "We are the Champions," "The Circle of Life," "A Whole New World," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." I want to do songs where everyone knows the tune, and I think that most people are familiar with those songs.
In AP Chemistry, we are doing a lab in which we have to identity which acids fit which element, given the characteristics found in the experiment match the characteristics of the element. This should be okay though because it can be mostly done during school.
So this is my life for the next few weeks. I am a little frightened because it is just a lot of work. However, I will be so happy once everything is all done. I'm going to be ready for summer.
In my AP U.S. History class we've got two projects going- TWO! The first is due Friday. We are supposed to use a poster board to show someone's life. The good thing about it is that it can be anyone's life- past or present, fictional or non-fictional. The only limitation is that we have to have two full pages of data about the person. I'm thinking of talking about Stalin. Although I have been to Russia two times, I still don't know a lot about Stalin. He's a very complicated man and he made a very complicated Russia. His reign is very interesting to me as his industrial advancements are contradicted and overshadowed by his harsh policies and hostile treatment of people. I know that he was paranoid all of the time, and eliminated all enemies within Russia very quickly. When people ask me about Stalin, I think I should know more about him so I can tell those people what they want to know. This is a good opportunity and excuse for me to brush up on my Stalin history and examine his life.
The other U.S. History project is our final project. Our teacher left the door pretty wide open here, and we can do basically whatever we want. He said it can be as didactic as we want it to be, but I am leaning towards more didactic and in depth. However, I still want it to be fun and entertaining. I know my friends are reenacting a battle in history, but I think I want to do something else. I don't know, reenacting a battle doesn't seem very specific and doesn't catch my fancy. Nonetheless, they will probably do a really good job with it and make it really interesting to watch. My plan is to take five different wars and to take a song and change the words to show each war. The five wars are the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. I am not sure what songs I want to use right now, so if you have any ideas just leave a comment at the end of this entry- thanks! Also I am going to print off copies of all the words and give them to my classmates so they can sing along. This brings another decision- to write the lyrics to modern songs or older songs. These are some possibilities of what songs I'm thinking of doing: "I Kissed a Girl," "Bye, Bye, Bye," "My Heart Will Go On," "Eye of the Tiger," "We are the Champions," "The Circle of Life," "A Whole New World," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." I want to do songs where everyone knows the tune, and I think that most people are familiar with those songs.
In AP Chemistry, we are doing a lab in which we have to identity which acids fit which element, given the characteristics found in the experiment match the characteristics of the element. This should be okay though because it can be mostly done during school.
So this is my life for the next few weeks. I am a little frightened because it is just a lot of work. However, I will be so happy once everything is all done. I'm going to be ready for summer.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day
So when I think of mother's day, I think of all of the old times when I was young and did all of the great things for my mother. So I'm writing this entry as if I'm young- like elementary school.
Mothers Day is a fine holiday. In my family mothers day is very important. Every year my Dad and I make my mom a wonderful breakfast. We often make French toast, eggs, potatoes, sausage, yogurt and fruit for her. We make up a fancy tray and take it up to her in bed. We also take her the newspaper and a homemade card. She loves the corny cards I make her. I make up funny poems and let my brother sign the card also. He is not great about getting or making her a card, so I am nice and let him in on mine. When I was young I also would make my mom origami animals and flowers. One year I made her a whole origami jungle. It was quite spectacular and she still has it displayed in the family room of our house.
The one thing we do not make for her is her coffee. She loves coffee, but neither my dad nor I drink it so we do not know how to make it. Every year my dad says "honey, will you teach me how to make coffee so that next time I can make it for you?" Well, he never learns and she never gets her coffee on mother's day or her birthday. I don't think she minds though.
After breakfast we clean the kitchen for my mom. She usually does that so it is really helpful to her that we take care of our huge mess. When my dad makes eggs he always makes omelets, he puts in everything in the refrigerator. It makes a mess with all his chopping, slicing, grilling etc... They are quite tasty though, and we all love his omelets.
On mothers day everything is done to please my mom. I try to take care of the dog so that she does not bother my mom. My mom loves to take naps. Especially on Sundays, so it is usually extra long one on mothers day. My mom can nap up to 2 hours some Sundays. It is amazing because she just lies down on the couch in the living room and no matter what is going on around her she can sleep. The one thing that will bother her is the dog barking. That is why I try to take care of her as much as possible.
My parents always take a bike ride on Sunday if it is nice outside. This mother's day was no exception. My parents love to ride their bikes. I don't know where they go. Some place for "coffee". I think it is great that they like to do that together. They tried playing golf together but, my mom didn't like it. My dad is really good and my mom has never played so she was bad. She hates being bad at things and that game is very frustrating. I personally do not like golf either. My dad and my brother both love golf. Now that my brother is away at school my dad doesn't have any one to golf with. I think it would be great if my mom and I liked golf and would golf with my dad, but we both hate the game.
The last thing we do for my mom on mothers day is have a nice dinner together. We go out for dinner, so no cleaning up messes. My mom gets to choose the place. Today she chose Red Lobster. I think the only reason was that she had some gift certificates to use. My mom is pretty thrifty and she doesn't like to spend money on food. We did get an appetiser and desert and we all had beverages. Those three things are not typical for our family. The dinners were pretty good. Mine was the best, crab legs! One of our favorite family traditions it to take cards with us to the restaurant. We love to play Euchre. My mom loves this game and frequently is on the winning team.I know she played that card game a lot when she was young.
The best thing my mom likes about mothers day is that it is just for her. She can decide what to do and when to do it. She usually just does what everyone else in the family wants to do. But, this day is all hers.
Mothers Day is a fine holiday. In my family mothers day is very important. Every year my Dad and I make my mom a wonderful breakfast. We often make French toast, eggs, potatoes, sausage, yogurt and fruit for her. We make up a fancy tray and take it up to her in bed. We also take her the newspaper and a homemade card. She loves the corny cards I make her. I make up funny poems and let my brother sign the card also. He is not great about getting or making her a card, so I am nice and let him in on mine. When I was young I also would make my mom origami animals and flowers. One year I made her a whole origami jungle. It was quite spectacular and she still has it displayed in the family room of our house.
The one thing we do not make for her is her coffee. She loves coffee, but neither my dad nor I drink it so we do not know how to make it. Every year my dad says "honey, will you teach me how to make coffee so that next time I can make it for you?" Well, he never learns and she never gets her coffee on mother's day or her birthday. I don't think she minds though.
After breakfast we clean the kitchen for my mom. She usually does that so it is really helpful to her that we take care of our huge mess. When my dad makes eggs he always makes omelets, he puts in everything in the refrigerator. It makes a mess with all his chopping, slicing, grilling etc... They are quite tasty though, and we all love his omelets.
On mothers day everything is done to please my mom. I try to take care of the dog so that she does not bother my mom. My mom loves to take naps. Especially on Sundays, so it is usually extra long one on mothers day. My mom can nap up to 2 hours some Sundays. It is amazing because she just lies down on the couch in the living room and no matter what is going on around her she can sleep. The one thing that will bother her is the dog barking. That is why I try to take care of her as much as possible.
My parents always take a bike ride on Sunday if it is nice outside. This mother's day was no exception. My parents love to ride their bikes. I don't know where they go. Some place for "coffee". I think it is great that they like to do that together. They tried playing golf together but, my mom didn't like it. My dad is really good and my mom has never played so she was bad. She hates being bad at things and that game is very frustrating. I personally do not like golf either. My dad and my brother both love golf. Now that my brother is away at school my dad doesn't have any one to golf with. I think it would be great if my mom and I liked golf and would golf with my dad, but we both hate the game.
The last thing we do for my mom on mothers day is have a nice dinner together. We go out for dinner, so no cleaning up messes. My mom gets to choose the place. Today she chose Red Lobster. I think the only reason was that she had some gift certificates to use. My mom is pretty thrifty and she doesn't like to spend money on food. We did get an appetiser and desert and we all had beverages. Those three things are not typical for our family. The dinners were pretty good. Mine was the best, crab legs! One of our favorite family traditions it to take cards with us to the restaurant. We love to play Euchre. My mom loves this game and frequently is on the winning team.I know she played that card game a lot when she was young.
The best thing my mom likes about mothers day is that it is just for her. She can decide what to do and when to do it. She usually just does what everyone else in the family wants to do. But, this day is all hers.
Miranda Sings
Lately some of my friends have been imitating this girl on Youtube. Her name is Miranda, and she sings songs, but very badly. I think in real life she sings very well, but for these videos she purposely sings badly for a comedic effect. At first I was skeptical. I really didn't think that a girl trying to be funny would be very funny- especially when singing. However, this girl pulled it off very well. In this video, she sings Dance Ten Looks Three. It's a song from A Chorus Line. However, that's not important. It's the way she sings that song that is hysterical. I literally laughed the whole time. Take a look.
AP Tests- Two more left!!!
Last week I completed three AP Tests: Statistics, Calculus, and U.S. History. I thought that I was good at math until I took the two math associated tests. Both lowered my confidence in mathematics extremely. But whatever, they're done. I have two more to go- Chemistry and English Language. I am super scared. I got a three on the practice exam in my chemistry class, and I know that I am not a very good writer. I'm just hoping for a four on both. Actually, that's what I'm hoping for all of my tests. Actually, let me lower my expectations to an average of 3.5- which means I can have two 3s and the rest 4, or three 3s and a 4 and 5 (or three 3s and two 5s). There's nothing I can do now to affect the grades of the tests I already took, and I need to accept that. You see, lately I have been finding myself looking through books seeing if I got a multiple choice question right on the test. I was never very confident on the tests, but I think I got at least a three on all of them so far.
Here are my traditions for the AP Tests:
1. My mom makes me two eggs- sunny side down for breakfast
2. I listen to "Sparks" from Theatre Cedar Rapids' version of "Tommy" on the way to the testing site in my car
3. After the test is over I exclaim, "We're done!" several times, even though we're supposed to remain quiet
I can't wait for that letter in the third week of July telling me how I did on each of the tests. But I have to remember that whatever happens happens. I know I tried my best, and maybe I'll get a lower score on the tests because I didn't master the material well enough. I have been pretty busy this schoolyear with Happiness, two musicals, and speech team. I can't believe that I even attempted taking five AP courses with this after school load. So no matter if I get all ones, I think I've done a pretty good job, and I don't see how I could have done better.
Here are my traditions for the AP Tests:
1. My mom makes me two eggs- sunny side down for breakfast
2. I listen to "Sparks" from Theatre Cedar Rapids' version of "Tommy" on the way to the testing site in my car
3. After the test is over I exclaim, "We're done!" several times, even though we're supposed to remain quiet
I can't wait for that letter in the third week of July telling me how I did on each of the tests. But I have to remember that whatever happens happens. I know I tried my best, and maybe I'll get a lower score on the tests because I didn't master the material well enough. I have been pretty busy this schoolyear with Happiness, two musicals, and speech team. I can't believe that I even attempted taking five AP courses with this after school load. So no matter if I get all ones, I think I've done a pretty good job, and I don't see how I could have done better.
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