Thursday, October 30, 2008

Torture in the form of endless dots accompanied by a Random Rant!

Why!?!?!?! Why must a student's intelligence be measured by a test of how many bubbles they can correctly fill in throughout a certain amount of time? I quite honestly despise standardized tests because forcing a person get up early in the morning, pay to go somehwere they don't want to be, sit for 4 hours whilst filling in bubbles, then writing an essay is as incorrect morally as this sentece (and quite possibly entire post) is gramatically. Teenagers (who are generally the people taking standardized tests) do not function in the morning nor do they function on weekends, so basing their future off of test scores from exams that were taken in the morning on Saturdays is entirely bogus. I mean if a student must be forced to hav their future career based on said test-scores the least people could do to help them out is get them out of school to take the tests that way the tests don't impose on their leisure time which is usually filled with homework anyway. The educational system of this nation needs to CHANGE, so somebody please FIX IT! I love Saturday Night Live this year. I actually only discovered it this year because I was tired of political comercials and the election. Thus ends the rather short rant.

Don't Even...

For all the people out there who believe that horse-back riding/any sport involving horses is not a sport, I have quite an argument for you. If you really wish to engage me on this subject go ahead, but be aware that I warned you not to.

Horse-back riding and all afilliated activites is/are (a) sport(s). (Is that messy enough for you?) If so here is what I'm attempting to say: Equestrians are Athletes! Most people who disagree: have no knowledge of horses, are afraid of horses, have never seen a horse except for on TV, or think they know everything about horses because they rode a pony at the county fair once and decided that was all the experience they needed to determine that riding horses is not a sport. Well I have a word or two to say to said people about their supposed knowledge on horses and neither word is very nice.
It takes a build-up of certain muscles to be able to control a two-ton animal and keep that animal's respect at the same time. For instance when stopping correctly one does not merely yank on those 'string things attached to the halter' (yeah, their called reins ad they attach to th bit which is attached to the bridle) one must sit down in the saddle and crunch ones abs in order to use one's tailbone to signal the horse to stop, if the horse does not stop then one must gently but firmly apply pressure to the horse's mouth by way of the reins while continuing to crunch abs. Even something as small as stopping the horse is a muscular task.
Another display of strength when riding is portrayed when one is 'going fast' (loping, cantering,
galloping). During this time one must once crunch abs and use leg muscles to collect the horse and safely mmove in to the next gait. Whilst one is loping/cantering one must continue to crunch abs in order to stay upright so as not to fall off the horse and DIE, while also using their legs to keep the horse moving at the correct speed. Moving at high speed on a horse can be very dangerous so before you say "Oh, that's nothing, (compared to another sport i.e. soccer, football, baseball, what-have-you)" why don't you get on my green, speed-crazed mare and try it. If you can successfully canter her in a perfect circle while maintaining her speed, not falling off, not letting her run away with you, and getting her to slow back down, then I might listen to you.
Equestrian sports are the type of sports that build muscle, increase reaction time/mental capabilites, and teach a person how to control almost every muscle in the body which is what I think about every other sport in the worl also does. What most other sports in the world do not have is the imminent danger of serious injurey or death. Equestrian sports are more dangerous than extreme skiing (which is not something every highschool sport could claim), every time an equestrian involves themself in any way with a horse they are risking their life. This is caused by the unpredictability of a horses actions. At any given moment a horse could bolt at, kick, bite, or trample anything in their path. I have almost been killed due to horse-related accidents at least twice in my six years of riding horses, I've been thrown, run away with, knocked down, dragged, stepped on and almost trampled by a two thousand pound animal (for most scenarios) many times and I'm sure there are many more near-death experiences yet to come. Could any highschool jock say the same. I've watched friends almost die, and had a friend put into a coma by a horse, each one of them still participates in and loves the sport. Part of the sport is the thrill and the danger, the other part is the life-long friendship/partnership one makes with the horse they ride. Horse-back riding is one of the most demanding and rewarding sports in the world today.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

I was taking the ACT and then it came to me...

Whilst I was sitting in agony attempting to decipher an essay about paper usage my mind began to wander. Eventually it wandered to the topic of my blog (which was a rather short trip: essay ->AP Lang ->Blog). I began to think hard on what topic I should write about today and eventually I realized it was tome to write about one of my actual blog topics: Movies/Television quotes. Not just any quotes either, fellow bloggers may I present "The Gilmore Awards." As anyone who has watched "Gilmore Girls" knows the Gilmores are big on movies and full of excellent quotes so The Gilmore Awards shall honor my favorite television and movie quotes. (Please keep in mind that in order to find the funny/importance in some of these quotes you must have seen the show or movie so please do not complain/mock/put-down unless you have seen the show/movie and can answer a few questions about said form of entertainment)
"Wow I Wish Someone Would Say That To Me Quote"
  1. Will Tippin(Alias): 'Syd I don't love you for what you do or what you don't do, I just love you.'
  2. Noah(The Notebook): 'So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out.'
  3. Westley(The Princess Bride): 'As you wish.'

Now that the most boring category is finished let us get on to the good stuff:

"Best Quotes Compliments of Great Britain (,Australia, and possibly New Zealand)"

  1. Elizabeth Swann(PotC2): [indignantly] 'No! This is barbaric! This is no way for grown men to settle... oh, fine! Let's just haul out our swords and start banging away at each other! That will solve everything! I've had it! I've had it with wobbly-legged, rum-soaked pirates!' [starts throwing rocks at them]
  2. Evelyn Carnahan(The Mummy): 'He must have been somone of great importance or he did something very naughty.'
  3. Julian Sark(Alias): 'Did it have to be so filthy? I mean, really, if Rambaldi can prophesize the future, he might have advised me not to wear $500 shoes.'
  4. Vala Mal Doran(Stargate SG-1): 'You know, I never thought I'd agree with my father but now I'm starting to remember about how he used to go about, you nurture them, and you raise them, and you teach them the best that you can, and then all they do is break your heart. I always assumed that his experience was just tainted by me.'

"Quotes and Dialogues by Elizabeth Corday (There were too many to fit in the British Category)"

  1. Dr. Elizabeth Corday: [on the phone] I don't care if it's raining fire and brimstone, you are going to get me to that church if I have to ride on your back like a bloody donkey [hangs up angrily] Isabelle Corday: Perhaps you should eat something Dr. Elizabeth Corday: I do not need to eat. Nor do I need a spot of tea, or a moment of quiet reflection on this, my special day. This is America, and sometimes you just have to kick some ass.
  2. Dr. Elizabeth Corday: That's it, then! I'm not staying here anymore! Dr. Mark Greene: Here we go. Dr. Elizabeth Corday: Every faucet leaks, your toilet actually rocks! Dr. Mark Greene: I kinda like that. Dr. Elizabeth Corday: And there are creatures scurrying about in the walls. Do you know what scurries about in walls, Mark? Dr. Mark Greene: ...Bunnies?
  3. Dr. Elizabeth Corday: I can't believe I was allowing myself to feel something for an absolute... Abby Lockhart: Bastard? Jerk?... Wanker?
  4. Dr. Elizabeth Corday: He's a horrid little turd, isn't he?
  5. Dr. Elizabeth Corday: Bollucks to you all!

"The Lorelais Gilmore"

  1. Rory: Do something to make me hate you! Lorelai: Um, go Hitler?
  2. Lorelai: What happened? The reception on the phone sucked. All I heard was "Rory" and "Chilton" and "Get down here." Whose butt do I have to kick? Rory: We didn't go to breakfast. Lorelai: What are you talking about? Rory: We came here. They broke into the headmaster's office as the big initiation. Lorelai: Ugh, those stupid girls. Rory: Uh huh. Part of the initiation was ringing a bell. So, that's what I was doing when security showed up and they called you. Lorelai: That's what you got busted for? That's it? Bell-ringing? Rory: Yes. Lorelai: Were you at least smoking a Cuban cigar while you were doing it? Rory: Mom. Lorelai: No, I mean, "bad girl, how many times have I told you not to ring bells?" Rory: [interrupting] Let's go. Lorelai: [continuing] "They can dent, or scratch, and they make dogs go crazy. Who do you think you are, the Hunchback of Notre Dame? Are you French? Circular? I don't think so." Rory: I'm walking to the car now. Lorelai: [later] Was it a big bell at least?
  3. [At the Yale-Harvard football game] Lorelai: Oh, wait, are you Pennilyn Lott, my dad's college sweetheart? Pennilyn Lott: Yes. Lorelai: You're my almost-mommy. Pennilyn Lott: Well, I supposed that's one way of putting it... Lorelai: I'm so glad to finally meet you. Let me ask you something - would you have let me get a pony?
  4. Lorelai: Mom, it's just a pretend wedding. J-Lo has them all the time.
  5. Lorelai: [at the town meeting, when everyone is talking about the bad things that Jess has done] I hear he controls the weather and wrote the screenplay to Glitter!
  6. Rory: So, is this party Grandma's having going to be a big deal? Lorelai: Not really. The government will close that day. Flags will fly at half-mast. Barbara Streisand will give her final concert... again. Rory: Uh-huh. Lorelai: Now, the Pope has previous plans, but he's trying to get out of them. However, Elvis and Jim Morrison are coming and they're bringing chips.
  7. Lorelai: Hey, I'm studying in there... Rory: I know. Lorelai: Yeah. I have, like, 6,000 pages of case studies to memorize and this whole big test on the Wal-Mart phenomena coming up on Friday and because I have a life and a job and business school's not the only thing I have to concentrate on I'm behind, and I'll probably fail and then that little 18-year-old annoying gnat who sits behind me will get another 'A' and make that 'I'm smart you're dumb' fact to me for the rest of the week and I'll be very upset and will possibly cry. Rory: The music's too loud. Lorelai: Yes.
  8. Lorelai: Heh, you know what I just realized? "Oy" is the funniest word in the entire world. Rory: Hmm. Lorelai: I mean think about it, you never hear the word "oy" and not smile. Impossible. Funny, funny word. Emily: Oh dear God. Lorelai: "Poodle" is another funny word. Emily: Please drink your drink, Lorelai. Lorelai: In fact, if you put "oy" and "poodle" together, in the same sentence, you'd have a great new catchphrase, you know? Like, "Oy with the poodles already." Rory: Hehe. Lorelai: So from now on, when the perfect circumstances arise, we will use our favorite new catchphrase: Rory: Oy with the poodles already. Lorelai: I'm telling you, it's knocking "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" right out of first place.

"The Ultimate Gilmore"

Lorelai: My brain is a wild jungle full of scary gibberish. I'm writing a letter, I can't write a letter, why can't I write a letter? I'm wearing a green dress, I wish I was wearing my blue dress, my blue dress is at the cleaners. The Germans wore gray, you wore blue, 'Casablanca' is such a good movie. Casablanca, the White House, Bush. Why don't I drive a hybrid car? I should really drive a hybrid car. I should really take my bicycle to work. Bicycle, unicycle, unitard. Hockey puck, rattlesnake, monkey, monkey, underpants!

"The Gilmore Awards" are a major work in progress so please be aware that there is MUCH more to come this is simply all my tired little brain could come up with after five straight hours of standardized tests.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Woes of a Weak Immune System

As anyone reading this blog has probably come to conclude I am often ill and therefore I miss quite a bit of school. This has a tendancy to annoy some people which confuses me because there is nothing I can do about it. Other people often accuse me of skipping which is a major pet peeve of mine for if I was a "skipper" why would I work so hard at getting caught up in my classes? Why would I take a day off only to create extra work for myself whcih will take me a lifetime to make up. After all I have a zero hour so all tests and quizzes must be made up during class or after school. This takes more of my free time than I gained from the days spent at home ill, and since I was probably working vigorously on homework during those days I have lost more free time than I would have by going to school. One would think this would clear me of all suspicion, but alas there are still the few people out there who find it easier to believe that I am purposely missing school so that I can go to the doctor to be stuck with multiple needles and have giant q-tips stuck down my throat and scrambled around a bit. Yes indeed that is my idea of a good time.

Last year I was diagnosed with mononucleosis AKA mono which is popularly known as "the Kissing Disease." If I had a dollar for every time someone insinuated that I was infected whilst snogging I would have no need to go to school because I would have enough cash to fund my premature retirement. Alas (even though it would have made for a good story) I was not infected with a kiss. I was infected at the National Lutheran Youth Gathering in which every day twenty-five thousand teenagers convened in a room the size of a football field. It is not doubtful at all that while my group and I were walking through the crowd in search of seats a mono-carrier coughed or sneezed and I inadvertantly breathed in the toxins. You see there are multiple ways for a person to contract mono, one is kissing, but most commonly it is contracted through breathing in the remnants of an infected person's cough or sneeze. Here is a scenario which could have caused me to become ill: the sick person coughs or sneezes and covers their mouth with their hand then touches a chair or bleacher, the next day I sit in (therefore touching with my hands) the chair or bleacher which they touched, I take communion with the hand that touched the infected sitting apparatus and voila I contract mono.

Here is a list of illnesses I have had that would have killed me in the 17th century:
1)Scarlet Fever (worst week of my life)
2)Pneumonia (twice, once without presenting symptoms, the other while I was sick with the flu)
3)Strep Throat (as a child there was hardly a week that I didn't have strep)
4)Influenza (last time I had ran a fever of 102 for two weeks straight)
5)Mononucleosis (lasted for 9ish months and now I'm dealing with the aftermath)
6)A virus that posed as mumps by settling in my cheek glands and causing me to run a high fever (since the mumps test took a week to present results I was in quarantine at my house for a week)

My life rocks! I hope to be immune to everything by my last year in college.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Speeding

Speeding is stupid. Why do people have the need to speed? Most of the time answers include: "I'm late for work." "Grey's Anatomy is on in five minutes." "I'm past my curfew and my parents are going to kill me." "Traffic laws are too strict, especially in residential areas." "I like to go fast." "I have to make dinner." "I just do, besides rules were meant to be broken." To me this is intolerable so here are a few statisics for the speeders of the world:

If you are traveling 25 mph you will travel 85 feet before you stop, if you are traveling 35 mph you will travel 136 feet before you stop, if you are traveling 65 mph you will travel 345 feet before you stop. These distances are for perfect conditions in a small car.

A child hit by a car traveling at a rate of 25 mph has an 80% chance of surviving. I child hit by a car traveling 35 mph has an 80% chance of dying.

Each year about 5,000 pedestrians are killed and another 64,000 are injured in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S.

Speeding is a major contributing factor in motor vehicle accidents of all types and has serious consequences when a pedestrian is involved.
At higher speeds, motorists are not as likely to see a pedestrian. At higher speeds, motorists are even less likely to be able to stop in time to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
- A pedestrian has an 85 percent chance of death when involved in a motor/vehicle collision at 40 mph, a 45 percent chance of death at 30 mph, and a 5 percent chance of death at 20 mph.- In 2005, 78 percent of pedestrian deaths in rural areas occurred on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or higher.

Speed was a factor in one third of all traffic accidents involving fatalities, making it the second highest cause of vehicular fatalities second only to alchohol.

The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated at $27.7 billion per year.
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If speeding doesn't get to you, then maybe some statistics about drivers who talk or text while driving will:

Driving while talking on your cell phone is practically the same as driving drunk due to the decrease in reaction time.

Cell phone distraction causes around 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year.

Drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower to react to brake lights and 17 percent slower reaction to regain speed lost when breaking, in other words they imped the flow of traffic.

Perhaps these facts will cause some drivers in the world to shut off the cell phone and SLOW DOWN.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

When Scary Met Funny...

I have most recently become amused with the "scary" movies of this day and age. For instance, whilst watching a scary movie how many times do you find yourself shouting at the TV "Don't go down that hallway alone/Don't answer that door/Don't turn around/etc."? I find that the stupidity of most main characters greatly detracts from horror movies causing them to become unintentional comedies. It causes viewers such as myself to watch horror movies with a large group of other highschoolers and place bets on which character will die first, next, etcetera, and who will be the lucky few to survive the entire ordeal. There is no point to scary movies such as these other than a good laugh.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Music Makes a Movie

Without music there is no movie and the same goes for TV shows। Music sets the entire mood of a scene and is perhaps the most important element of the production। Music can also ruin a movie for if a movie has an excellent plot, great actors, and a big budget, but fails to invest in an excellent composer and orchestra/symphony/you get my drift, the quality of the movie drops drastically from a movie that people will be raving about forever (or at least until the sequel) to a movie that has a "meh, it was okay I suppose" response.

Music apparently also makes the commercial here are some examples:


and

Intro to FYE

Hola!
This blog has no true purpose at this exact point in time. It will probably contain some sort of movie and TV show reviews, a bit of equine babble, and a pinch of random splurging. Youtube will be involved, twill be fun. Enjoy or not, whatever.