Correct Prediction

            Unfortunately, the Australian Open ended this morning. L I watched the championship match between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray before I ventured out in the ice storm for work, and it was a sentimental time to say the least. It was the final match on the final day of the Australian Open, which means that I don’t have any tennis to watch until the next tournament…. I know, #firstworldprobs. I was sad to hear when I came home that Murray had lost to Djokovic for the Aussie Open title. I don’t know if any of you know of my disapproval of Djokovic, but that’s a totally different rant for some other day. I’m just glad that Nadal wasn’t able to play due to his illness; otherwise I would have been really mad if Djokovic had won.

            Although my prediction (Murray winning it all) for the men’s singles tournament was incorrect, my prediction for the women’s singles tournament was correct. Victoria Azarenka, “Vika” defeated Li Na (China) late Friday night/early Saturday morning central time and seventeen hours later in Melbourne, Australia. I was really happy for her since she is my favorite player, besides Serena and Venus Williams, but you got to love them since they represent a powerful, American woman. However, since Sloane Stephens beat Serena Williams in the quarterfinal, I was pro-Vika! There was some controversy when Vika played Sloane in the semi-final to go to the championship. Vika supposedly faked an injury so she could get more rest time and psych Sloane out. You can follow the rest of the incident in the following article, but basically she misspoke and said that the nerves got to her and she just needed to calm down, but it was really because she couldn’t breathe. I feel like there is no harm done here because Stephens said that she didn’t mind and in my opinion, it was a simple misunderstanding.

            In the following article, you will read about the incident concerning Vika’s trophy and how the wrong country was etched on it (BEL v. BLR) or Belgium v. Belarus. I’m sure they will get on that pronto…. Kind of a lighthearted way to end the tournament I suppose, but again, just a mistake.  (373)

Re: Miss Representation

Low Temps, Low Tolerance

       Since I haven’t done a rant or ‘things that really irk me’ post, I figured I would try one out. Today was the first day back after a three day weekend. Most would say that they feel refreshed and ready for the week, but I would argue that a couple more days would be nice to recuperate. I guess it turned out to be an average day at school. For the most part my classes and work ethic went well, but I also had the mindset of ‘Why am I here?’ and ‘It’s so cold out. I would rather be at home under a blanket.’ I guess to really sum up why it wasn’t a fantastic day would be because everyone was SO squirrely today. By squirrely I mean: obnoxious, overexcited, low attention spans, and a lack of concern for other’s learning. As I know that most of my readers are juniors, I am going to put this lightly on you. You really don’t need to be that excited nor cheerful at 8:00am, sorry. I really just want to go to class, learn in peace, and not be interrupted by your constant gossip of what you did or what you want to do with Jimmy. Ew, my ears did not need to hear that. There’s a time and place folks, and school isn’t that.

To finish my day at school, I thought of a few things that really bother me as I was walking out of school. I’m not quite sure why these stood out to me today, but they did and here they are:

1)     Using your money for the wrong reasons: I think that there’s a time and place to use your money, whether you’re filthy rich, dirt poor, or somewhere in-between. It’s good to use money to help others if you donate or send them gifts, but it shouldn’t signify your power, which I find happening in our school system more often than not. This is probably a bit Democratic for me to mention this, since Republicans would argue that it’s their money that they earned. I will just leave it at that and let you form your own opinions….

2)    Leggings: Dear lord people. Don’t you remember the Facebook group that said, ‘Leggings are not pants’? Some might present then that yoga pants and running tights are basically the same thing, and I would somewhat agree as they are not a complete substitute to real pants, but yoga pants and running tights have a function. Leggings have the function to be worn under skirts and dresses (more of an accessory you could say.) Not to be worn by themselves so you can look like a ‘hipster.’ No matter how cool the design or fabric, I really do not need to see the outline of your booty as I happen to look down the hallway when I’m standing by my locker, sorry not sorry.

3)    High school students who think they are in love: All I’m going to say for this one is that, you are not in “love” as a freshman let alone a sophomore. Sorry, but the likelihood of you marrying your high school sweetheart are one in a million. Also, your reasoning and judgment have not fully developed psychologically, so what you consider “love” now, may be totally skewed. I suppose it’s nice to have someone that you can call yours in high school, but I’m just going to say that it’s pretty nice to fly free and not feel attached to someone. Maybe that type of thing is for you, but if it’s not, don’t feel bad about being single, you’re definitely not going to be “forever alone.”

4)    People who don’t hold doors open: This, my friends, is a common courtesy that your mama or papa should’ve taught you when you were a child. I don’t know why or where this expectation came from, but it’s something you do and it’s simply considered rude if you don’t. No one wants a door slammed in their face. Clearly, my bus-riding friends don’t understand this concept. Because every day when I walk out to my car in the North lot, squirrely underclassmen scream, yell, and attack each other and then proceed to not care about other people around them and I get a door to the face. So please, just be a traditional American and hold doors open for those behind you…. you will make someone’s day a little better.  (747)

Violent video games

            Gun laws have been the hot topic of the news lately, and a recent news story really got me thinking on a topic that is now considered the ‘social norm.’ “Do video games cause increased violence in children?” This was also a practice ACT question that was always hard for me to defend because it’s touchy and you need a lot of evidence. My answer and opinion to this controversy would be that it does not cause a child or young adult to be more violent, but it desensitizes the idea of killing someone or what a gun can really do to someone.

            I am not trying to cause an uproar of comments or a bunch of, “you’re wrong and I’m right” debates, but I am just saying that you do not need a mass-murder weapon like the ones used in the Sandy Hook Elementary or Aurora, Colorado theatre shootings. My manager at work (who trains children gun and knife safety at Boy Scout camp) would argue that you do need guns. I honestly never really listen to him when he explains his reasoning to me, partly because I don’t like debates about current events, and also because I don’t like listening to topics that are currently sensitive in modern day culture.

            The argument on the news was that President Obama should do something about the video game industry and the ratings on violent video games. My questions are: What else can he do? What else is there for video game companies to do? The problem isn’t the ratings on the games, the problem is the parents who buy their children the video games and then wonder why they are always consumed in them. Call of Duty is rated M for MATURE. This means anyone ages seventeen and up. Yet, parents still buy their 8 year olds these games. Do they not realize what they are letting their child do? Basically, they are telling the child that they can have anything they want and do whatever they want when they are given the freedom to play a violent video game. I know that it’s not a real life scenario, but what happened to the innocence in children? Why can’t they play Super Mario Bros and be happy? Parents who buy their young children video games are basically conforming to the social norm of the ‘cool, new thing,’ without thinking twice about what the game actually is. There is nothing wrong with the video game industry, nor President Obama’s action on this topic, it’s something that is happening in American families that needs to be taken care of.  (438)

Miss Representation

            In AP Language and Composition we have been watching a documentary called ‘Miss Representation’ that deals with gender and gender roles. It tackles many different ideas and presents multiple statistics, but this video inspired me more to think about my views on beauty and self-worth rather than what the statistics meant. If you want to familiarize yourself with the documentary, feel free to check it out here.

            Growing up and maturing comes with figuring out who you are, what you like, and learning new things, sometimes from your own experiences too. Elementary school is a new beginning and monument in life because it’s a fresh start with a bunch of other little ones in the same position as you. Everyone is your friend, and yes there could be some bullying, especially on those dreaded bus rides to and from school, but it’s not that bad. Middle school is a very awkward time for many. It’s the center of social cliques, groups, and ‘parties’/get-togethers. Often feelings get hurt, and it’s the beginning of your style and personality forming when around others who are not your family. As you transition to high school, you are the “big dogs” on the social ladder, for the most part. Obviously there is still some separation (ex: seniors, juniors, sophomores, freshmen) in descending order of “importance.”

            In high school there is also a lot of pressure to look a certain way and be a certain way. This is a big misrepresentation of what is truly important in school and more importantly, life. Perfect hair, perfect makeup, brand name clothes, super skinny/petite, perfect assets, tan, designer shoes, designer jewelry, iPhone. These all scream social norms in high school and what you have to wear and have to be popular. If you don’t embody these things, you are automatically rejected, outcasted, and judged.

            Although these stereotypes exist, I feel like anyone has the power to choose to not go down that path and give in to what’s accepted as ‘cool.’ I chose to be my own person, and I am extremely happy with the way I am. Be your own person…. You’ll feel better about yourself and you should! Your own style is what’s important, and the only thing that’s important is if you are happy. It doesn’t matter what other people think. I do believe that it’s important to care about what you look like and care about what you wear to some degree, but there’s a difference between it taking over your life, and having some simple respect for yourself.  (425)

#AusOpen

            The ‘AusOpen’ in case you are wondering, stands for the Australian Open which is currently underway in Melbourne, Australia. This is probably my favorite tennis tournament out of the four that are televised yearly. The other three are the French Open (Roland Garros), Wimbledon, and the US Open. Although they generally do last two weeks a piece, which seems like a considerable amount of time to a non-tennis player, this is nothing compared to the constant basketball, football, and baseball games that are ALWAYS on. Currently, everyone is complaining that ‘boring tennis’ is the only thing that you can watch on ESPN2. Well here is how I look at it: maybe it will be good for you to watch a sport that is generally overlooked and underappreciated, and you might even learn something new.

            In my opinion, one of the best things about the Australian Open is that it’s televised in January, which is Iowa’s frigid winter, but Melbourne’s steamy summer. It makes me want to be there just by watching. You can kind of imagine that you are there, so it’s sort of like a paradise getaway in your living room. The Aussie Open also has hard courts, which is what I play on during lessons at Elmcrest and during the tennis season at Kennedy, and in general, what the United States uses for a court surface. Rafael Nadal, my favorite tennis player and someone I look up to, had to miss the Australian Open because he was sick with the flu the week before and wouldn’t be able to compete to the best of his ability. Although I can’t watch him or cheer him on, I am rooting for Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Andy Murray of Great Britain. I like to think that Murray is American since that is a common last name; maybe my logic is incorrect but I suppose I can dream.

            Another great thing about watching the tournaments on TV is that I learn new things and can try them in my own playing game. It’s also fun to watch professionals use tactics that you use or have learned, and can couch them from the sidelines like they can hear you and you are their coach. Overall I can say that something about watching tennis is soothing for me. I don’t know if it’s the sound the balls make when they hit the court, or how quiet the match is, (since tennis is a relatively quiet sport, disregarding the tennis grunts and rowdy supporters). Tennis is just something I love.

            I am currently watching Ferrer play Almargo, both from Spain, in the men’s singles quarterfinal. It is quite intense, and they are pretty well-matched players. Every time I look up, the score is at deuce or is tied up. I am rooting for Ferrer since he is the underdog. The score, from the viewpoint of Ferrer, is 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 0-1 and has been going on for three hours and twenty minutes.

If you are thinking that this post has been very scattered, unorganized, and probably not very representative of my writing skills, please forgive me. I tried my best and I will edit this very soon!  (535)

Feeling Accomplished

            Hell week is over. (Otherwise known as midterms) Before this year, I never had to take a midterm exam, I just always knew that it happened in college and often schools that are on semesters. …Someone please remind me why we are on trimesters? Not the point…. But anyways, my aunt and grandparents bless their hearts; always ask me if I have extra homework or big tests at midterm. I always used to say, “Nope, not really, I guess no more than usual.” Looks like I will have a new response when they ask me again this year.

            Yesterday I had 3 tests, THREE, all in a row, with a quiz in 4^th hour. Needless to say, I wasn’t too thrilled before I went to school, let alone the night before. I studied my forty-six vocabulary words for AP Spanish by making online flashcards (I was actually pretty proud of my creativity on that one). After, I did practice problems and other review for AP Chemistry (there is a lot to remember!) I looked over my notes for Stat, but we can use our notes on tests and quizzes so I wasn’t too concerned about that one. Finally, I studied for Economics. Coach White gives us a note sheet for each test, but since I had three other things to study for, I just looked over my notes and decided it wasn’t worth writing it all down again for a couple hours of sleep. The great part of it all was that when taking the test, I never once had the urge to look at my note sheet, even if I did have something on there. The test was over supply, demand, and market-clearing so it was all application, looking at graphs, and scenarios; it wasn’t simply definitions or things to memorize.

The only crappy part of the day was when my lead ran out at the end of my AP Chemistry test. There were a couple questions left that I didn’t know, so it wasn’t a big deal when I used a pen for the remainder of the test, but I also was freaking out because I had two more tests and a quiz to take, with no time to acquire lead. I asked Ms. Bush if she had any lead, and she gave me a pencil so I wouldn’t have to worry about anything. -She is the best!

            Today is actually "midterm" and I had an in class essay (“un ensayo”) for AP Spanish. It was a little difficult because if I didn’t know the word for something, I had to talk around the word I wanted to say. The best part of completing the essay was that I felt great whenever I finished writing that much, all in Spanish. It’s definitely a difficult task, but then it makes you realize how much you know. Whatever the grade comes out to be, I know that I tried my best and that’s all I can do.

            I am feeling great because I don’t have much homework this weekend! It will be a relaxing weekend filled with family, a little work, maybe a movie, and some time for myself. On Saturday I need to get my scholarship application and essay done- I’m so close, so there’s no reason not to, right? It’s due sometime next week, so if I get it sent in this weekend, I will be set.  (570)

New Facebook App

                Last night as I was watching the local news, something caught my attention. It ws a news story on the recent hype over a new Facebook app, Help, My Friend Gave Me The Flu, that tells you who got you sick or who could be spreading germs around. My initial reactions were as follows: “Well, I guess we’re playing the blame game now,” “This will only encourage bullying,” and “This is kind of a good idea, but has society really resorted to an app to help with illness prevention?”

            I believe that this app has received a lot of attention because this is the cold and flu season, especially in school and work places. According to “Mail Online,” the app was originally created to be a distraction when you are already sick, but it also was a preventive measure on who in a person's circle should be avoided. “It scrubs through your social media contacts looking for coughing, sneezing, "I feel run down" - all those keywords,' said Richard Fine, chief executive and co-founder of Help Remedies, a company that sells over the counter healthcare products. 'When you feel sick, one of the things that we do is look for people to blame,' he said.” This app also makes the people who are a little too detailed when it comes to status updates; feel more self-conscious when they see that they’re “infected.”

I clearly think that this is a bad idea all around, and that you should just use some common sense and judgment around others, yourself, and when trying to prevent illness.

            Although you cannot completely avoid getting sick since there are bacteria and viruses all around you, there are things that you can do to build up your immune system and keep yourself as healthy as possible.

1)     Wash your hands/use hand sanitizer

Since you use your hands for everything that means that they have been everywhere as well. It’s always a good idea to wash your hands when you get home from school, before eating a meal or snack, and do I even have to say it? …..After going to the bathroom….. No one wants infested food going in their mouth or weird gym class germs crawling about as you are watching TV.

2)    Don’t touch your face

It might be difficult or maybe not, it just depends. Avoid your mouth, eyes, nose, ears, and hair- that’s how the germs get in.

3)    Get a lot of sleep

It may be difficult if you have a busy schedule or a lot of homework, but this is the best way to get your immune system back up. When your body is run down, it’s basically craving rest. You are more vulnerable to more illness when sick, so extra sleep refreshes your body and brain, and an essential to feeling better.

If you’re interested, you can visit this link: (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2259975/Facebook-app-trolls-friend-posts-given-flu.html) to find out more, or simply look below at some of the images you might see in this new app.  (502)

Pop Quizzes

            Argument and persuasion. This is the content we are learning right now in AP Language and Composition, along with tone and tone vocabulary. Well, it’s not going so hot. Or at least that’s what my grade would like to reflect. I feel like I understand the information, but something isn’t going quite right in the reviewing department. As many of you know, we took a pop quiz before break and not many people did well; I know I didn’t. However the frustrating thing was that I had actually studied a few times that week and reviewed my materials and flow chart. I’m not mad that my quiz grade was bad, but the fact that I reviewed, asked questions, and prepped this material, all for a “down the drain” grade was frustrating. My study techniques worked first trimester, why all of a sudden are they not doing so well? I don’t know what to change because I have always found success in the past.

The other thing that really irked me was the fact that people who were absent on pop quiz day then knew about the quiz, the questions, so therefore they had time to prepare for a quiz they knew about. When you have knowledge of a quiz, it is no longer “pop” and doesn’t have the same psychological effect it had on the rest of us when we suffered through the hard quiz. Because we can’t take a retake, it comes down to this: the kids who skipped class got rewarded with a better quiz grade, thus a better class grade, while others who actually went to school received a lower score. This may not be the case for everyone, because it very well may have been that the kids who didn’t come to school didn’t study, and students who came to school simply did not prepare like they should have. Maybe I’m just being a baby, but I feel like to be fair, the students who missed class should face a pop quiz at a later unknown date.

If you completely disagree, don’t get me wrong; I know grades are not everything in this world. I definitely don’t think I should have gotten a better grade because I know that I tried my best and everything I could do. I know that my grade will eventually go up once more assignments are put in the grade book too. The major problem I’m facing now is: What’s going on, and why all of a sudden are my AP Lang study techniques not working? Is it because the material is harder, or because my methods are simply ineffective now? We just took a quiz on Monday, and it seemed to go better-at least I felt like I knew more answers without a doubt, but we’ll see the result soon and how my studying seems to be working.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  (482)