High School Do Over

If I could change one thing in my high school career I might change my grade 8 and 9 years. I dont really think I would change anything. If I changed one thing it would affect the entirety of my life. I like where I've ended up and the changes I've made to myself. If I changed my grade 8 and 9 years to become less of a loner; who knows what path I might have ended up on. It's like the butterfly theory. A butterfly flapping its wings in Texas can affect the weather in China. A little change I could have made could have destroyed my highschool life for all I know. I'm content where I am and where my future is headed. If I want to make changes I'll do them in the future. There is no point in even worrying about what I could have done in the past. A better thought is what I can do in the future. Life is life, there are no do-overs, repeats, or second chances, all you can do is learn from mistakes to become a better person. The only thing you can change is, not making the same mistake twice. If you want a better life follow these great words of wisdom, "Life can suck it, lets go have fun."

Song Lyrics vs. Music Videos

In my opinion music videos are stupid. I could care less that we are all taken to the same "place" and see the same things. Its the fact that they are pointless and have no character. A song is unique, but 99% of music videos show the same stuff over and over. Music is meant to be unique. Its meant to be screamed, sang, cheered at, or watched live. A video is just so they can air it on TV, which defeats the purpose of music in the first place. I hate watching music videos because they are so stupid. All the music from the era of rock in the 80s didn't have music videos and they seemed to make it in the big time. All these new artists and their shitty videos tarnish the good name of music. Music is meant to be heard and create its own meaning for each listener; not have it shown to us in the form of irrelevant images. Music is "the art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion." It is designed to be enjoyed. A music video is "designed to promote the sale of recordings" not evoke emotion, imagery, or creativity in any way.

Spring Break

This spring break I had the opportunity of visiting Costa Rica for 2 weeks. I went with my family and we stayed in an all inclusive 4 star resort on the shores of the Papagayo Bay on the Pacific side. Some people like watching the scenery or taking tours to view the country side. Although I partook in these sorts of activities my favorite experiances lie in the thrills of doing things that just make your jaw drop. Well, those, and beach party nights and meeting new friends.

One of the most memorable adventures I have had while on vacation was riding the ziplines this year. We went to 2 separate locations on different tours. The first was a short ride; it was just nice to do it again. The second was truely astonishing. The one zipline was a kilometer long!! Also, there were a few just shorter than that, but you still could hear the screams from people. My mom freaked when I started bouncing the longest zipline (you have to ride it in pairs), some of the terms she used are not appropriate for this blog. Needless to say I was laughing the whole time. Looking down from about 500 feet up at some of the most beautiful scenenery in the country is definatley an experiance I will never forget.

However much fun tours and activities can be there still isn't anything that can compare to meeting new people. I met some friends down there that just make the time spent so much more enjoyable. The whole resort becomes a playground. From pool volleyball, to the bar, to beach parties and the disco; everything became a blast. The way I interacted with these newfound friends; nobody would ever guess that we only met a week ago. When it comes time to leave everyone is sad that we have to part ways; that there will be no more 2 am party nights with an all inclusive bar handing out vodka shots and Sex on the Beach like it was water. The good thing is I will always have the memories of the time we spent together and the fun and crazy things we did; but the best thing is the few secret things myself, and only myself (and the few buds who were there) will ever know. It is those memories that make the holiday awesome and bring a smile to my face every time I think back.

Loss of Language

I do not believe the loss of language among teens today can be completely blamed on the electronic age. Texting, facebook chat, MSN, and other quick ways to communicate are not the real cause behind our loss of language. The computer will send whatever the operator so chooses to type. It is entirely up to the person to decide what he or she spells and sends. It is the simple fact that the younger generation has become lazier in our doing. Why should we have to type, "Sorry I have to go to dinner, my parents are calling me." when we could type, "Srry g2g, rents call." It is the simple fact that in less keystrokes we can communicate the same message. We do not want to waste a moment of time with our thumbs to put in those extra few characters. Some say, "Why not? It doesn't take any more extra time." But the fact is that if you are having several conversations with multiple people, as often occurs in this modern age, that the time saved with each character eventually adds up. Message by message the writer gains more time. In the course of a week the time saved could amount to an entire conversation. It is like saving pennies, by themselves they are worth nothing, but accumulated they can become worthwhile to keep.
In "1984" the new language, "Newspeak" is set to replace the English language entirely by 2050. I believe there are 2 purposes for this action. The dictatorship government wishes to remove peoples opinions. By removing language the society will no longer posses a way to express themselves and emotions. Every word becomes a generalization of the true meaning or feeling the person intended. The second reason is the simple fact that it can save time. Everybody can speak the same language in a simpler form. Less time spent learning the language means everyone understands sooner, which means that productivity increases. You could explain to a six year old exactly what you want because the child would already have a fully developed vocabulary. It is not a loss of language so much as a refinement of the current one.
Our current age group feels we can communicate with each other by a system with less work. It is easier and less time consuming. We don't have to waste time meeting face to face, or dialing a phone. With a few keystrokes from anywhere we can communicate. I believe that the we are not losing our language skills, but simply improving, refining, and advancing our current language. We are still required to retain the full value of the language. Job interviews, descriptions, books, newspapers, any sort of proper conversation, still has to contain correct grammatical English. I may text fast when trying to send a quick blurb of my current location or what I'm doing, but I also text in depth messages, compliments, and stories or explanations. It depends on your perspective if our generation is losing our language. From an older generations perspective, they say we can't speak worth shit, or should learn how to talk. From a young generations perspective, we are making the language easier to use and much more effective. I am in the middle of these arguements. I believe there is an extent to which the English language can be shortened and made easier. However, there is a fine line in the sand where it becomes too much. Also, we should always retain a full knowledge of the language, because there are moments when proper usuage of language is a must. I wouldn't want to go up to someone and end up blubbering like an idiot with, "Oh y'know," and, "like dude I g2g, peeps ring." So if we can combine these two scenarios, then in my opinion we would have acheived a balance between everyday life, and a business environment. The simple language and the complex one. We aren't losing language, we are advancing it.

Graduation

After graduating this year, I plan to move down to the Vancouver area to pursue future education at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). I have already been provisionally accepted into a diploma program for Geomatic Engineering. Geomatics is the art and science of spacial measurement. The diploma course I am taking is 2 years. Immediately following completion of the Diploma, I will continue with a Bachelor in Geomatic Engineering, which is another 2 years. After that I plan on writing my ALS and BCLS land surveyor exams to enter a career as a land surveyor. After that is completed I plan to move back to Osoyoos and work under my father as a land surveyor.

53rd Grammy's

In my opinion Eminem's "Recovery" should have won album of the year. I really do not have a preference towards any of the artists that were nominated, but I also have not listened to a whole new album that is from this year to have anything to compare to. My judgement is based off: the fact that I listen to and enjoy three of the tracks off "Recovery", I do not like Lady Gaga at all, I have never heard of Lady Antebellum or Arcade Fire, and I have only ever heard one of Kate Perry's songs. Maybe if I listened to more new music my opinion would change, but for now, in my honest opinion, most new artists suck. They all can make music, but only a few tracks from an album are any good. Thank god for P2P networks. I don't think I would ever pay for a whole album of that music. My preference lies with the classic rock artists and a about four bands that have been formed after the year 2000. Unfortunatley the bands of old don't often make new albums, and I haven't had time to aquire an album from 2010 from the others. So if I were awarding the Grammy's, it would not have been "Best Ablum Of The Year" goes to Eminem's "Recovery", it would have been, "And winner of "Best Of The Worst Albums" goes to EMINEM, for sucking the least."

......Views expressed in this blog do not reflect those of the writer or any associates.

Doritos

The Flavour Master raises her hands and wind whistles through the chamber. The walls explode outwards into space. The chip makers cover their heads as both chips rise up and spiral together in a blinding nova of light. The chips spiral faster & tighter until they meet in a BANG and burst of lightning. When the old man opens his eyes the Flavour Master is smiling, holding his chip. Congratulations

Onions & Ketchup is destroyed.

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Picture Worth a Thousand Words

Sheer beauty. A world beneath our own that few get to see. In the depths of the waters lie marvelous places. I love to Scuba dive. It is one of my passions. There are countless sights that just make your jaw drop, figuratively of course, because if you did that underwater you would most likely drown. The types of formations you get to see and swim through leave you in awe. Walls of coral hundreds of feet high, shipwrecks, caves, and cenotes. The colors swirl around, brilliant blues, reds, yellows, all mixing, making vivid creations.

Then there is the feeling. Its not quite like swimming. You dont have to hold your breath or try to stay down. You can just float, suspended in the water. The currents can move around you. Its is like being on the most comforable bed ever made. You be in any posistion and stay in it until you choose. I imagine astronauts would have the same feeling in space. Floating upside down in circles, not caring which way is up. One has to experiance it to know what it really feels like, and the calm that comes with it.

There are few places left that still maintain this type of environment. Places where you can go and be surrounded by nothinng but beauty, with nobody to come and interupt you. Where the daily chores and responsibilies of life seem to evaporate, leaving you with nothing but a feeling of calm amazement. To me it is truely wonderful to experiance time and time again. Alone, nothing but the fish for company. Surrounded by undescribable beauty. The real world is a hundred feet above your head. All your left with is.. freedom.