Blogs, Blogs, Blogs.

Throughout this whole year we’ve all written around 18 blogs. Crazy right? That’s around 72 paragraphs that we have all been forced to write. At the beginning of the year, I was actually kind of excited to be writing something on the Internet… later to find out that is was going to be a huge hassle. Week after week, not only did you have to come up with a good topic, but you also wanted to get a good mark (well… for most of us), so you had to put some amount of time into making them decent, something that we didn’t want to put in. Some of the blogs were amazing (Emily V, Olivia, Emily M, etc.) and some others were just plain funny (like how Emilie’s name means chicken). Either way, we had to write them whether we liked it or not.

Now looking back at it, it’s not as bad it is sounds. Maybe I’m just saying this because this is my last blog till school ends, but I really think that it forced me to think out side the box when I’m writing. What I know for sure is that I’m a better writer than I was last year, and for that reason only, I’m more ready to take on grade 9 English. Thanks Ms. Weldon.

Overall, I think that like all things in school, practice makes you better, and in this case it was my writing. I really shouldn’t have been complaining that much about them earlier because it’s just like any other homework that teachers assign us. Maybe, just maybe, they were even better.

-alex Garcia

Hurdles

You have now put countless hours of practice into the qualifier that gets you to regionals. On your mark…GO! You sprint as quickly as you can to the first hurdle. You jump, and then dart as swiftly as your feet can go to the next obstacle.

You’re almost finished the race when you think, “I have to surpass an obstacle. Oh no, an obstacle.”

An Obstacle |äbstəkəl|

(noun)

a thing that blocks one's way, prevents or hinders progress

The way I look at it, is that obstacles don’t have to be there, if what you see, doesn’t take your eyes off the prize.

Always in your life, you are going to find someone or something that interferers with your plans but don’t let that stop you. They are going to be there, no matter what, so imagine they’re not even there. Chances are that if you really try, just like a hurdle jumper, you can make it to the finish line without nockin' down a hurdle.

Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal. So don’t let them intimidate you, or drive you way from your confidence that you will always have within yourself. Stay strong and erase those weak hurdles from your mind because we’re all mentally able.

i commented on Fiona's blog- Tims Vs. Starbucks

iTunes & LimeWire

“Hey mom, can you put on the radio?”

You just heard the hottest new tune this morning while driving to school, and you can’t wait to download it. However, you have to decide.

Should I use iTunes or LimeWire?

Lets start with LimeWire.

This peer-to-peer file sharing system allows you to download any song for FREE. Bonus…right? Sure, the song might be free, but there are downsides that come with that.

To begin, LimeWire could accidentally configure the software to allow access to any file on your computer, including documents with personal information. Such networks can lead to identity theft and lawsuits.

The ability of LimeWire to distribute viruses has also been a concern. Luckily, the much more improved versions of LimeWire have reduced that issue. Despite that, there are still chances of your computer getting infected.

Lastly, I know that it’s not fair to the artists. They work real hard producing songs and music videos that their fans will appreciate, and in a sense, we are getting their art for free. That’s selfish and dishonorable.

Lets move in to iTunes.

Well…what can I say? iTunes is the complete opposite of LimeWire. You have to buy the song (kind of the down side), but there are no chances of you getting viruses or getting your identity stolen. The list goes on, this time, if you buy from iTunes, you are being fair the artists. Plus the sound quality is better. You may not hear it with regular speakers, but with real good ones, you can tell the difference.

What it all comes down to is the price. If you’re willing to pay $0.99 for a song, pay it. That is off-course unless you want to put yourself at risk of identity theft or being called into Best Buy for a new computer.

In my opinion, iTunes is way better than LimeWire because it has a lot more to offer.

*I commented on Emily Vines’ blog- Chewing Gum

A Crazy Society

While gainers are busy eating 12 000 calories a day, people are dying from starvation. Is this right? Off course not! Donna Simpson, a gainer, is trying to become that fattest woman on earth. To do so, she has a site to collect money for her $750/week eating coast. Now that is just absurd and preposterous. But even crazier, people actually give money.

“It feels right to be fat”, is what Donna feels. It’s her life, and she can do anything with it, even if it means putting her life a risk, however, the $3 000 that’s she’s raising per month could go to a greater cause.

Those $3 000, can help the 15 million children that die of hunger per year.

Below are some more reasons why society should give money to help decrease starvation rather than paying to watch gainers eat.

1. 1 Did you know that in Asian, African and Latin American countries, over 500 million people are living in what the World Bank has called "absolute poverty”?

2. 2. Nearly one in four people, 1.3 billion - a majority of humanity - live on less than $1 per day. This equals starvation.

3. 3. One out of every eight children under the age of twelve in the U.S. goes to bed hungry every night.

4. 4. Malnutrition is implicated in more than half of all child deaths worldwide - a proportion unmatched by any infectious disease.

5. 5. About 183 million children weigh less than they should for their age

6. 6. To satisfy the world's sanitation and food requirements would cost only $13 billion-what the people of the US and the European Union spend on perfume each year.

Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger, so why are people reading articles on gainers instead of growing awareness about poverty? Next time, help out the needy.

I commented on Fab's blog- Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber Vs. Michael Jackson

Is Justin Bieber actually being compared to Michael Jackson? Wow. I have nothing against Justin Bieber, or anything for Michael Jackson, however, that’s a big comparison that people are making.

For starters, Justin Bieber is a newcomer. He is talented, and therefore has accomplished many things for his age (Ex. He performed for President Barack Obama). Nonetheless, he’s not as gifted or experienced as Michael Jackson.

To make my point even more clear, below are a few comparisons of their accomplishments.

Justin Bieber

Michael Jackson

Video: One Time FAVOURITE INTERNATIONAL VIDEO Myx Music Awards Sang for President Barack Obama Bieber was a presenter at the 52nd Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010. He was invited to be a vocalist for the remake of We are the World for its 25th anniversary to benefit Haiti.

Michael has been inducted twelve times in the Music Hall of Fame, more than any other act He’s in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice Other Achievements include thirteen Guinness World Records (more than any other artist) 15 Grammy awards (including the Living Legend Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award) 26 AMerican Music awards (more than any other artist) 17 number one singles in the US He also has estimated global sales of over 780 million records, making him one of the best-selling recording artist ever

As you can see, Michael Jackson has broken more marvelous records and accomplishments than Bieber. However, you have to take note that MJ is now died and Beiber only just turned 16. Either way, I personally believe that some day, someone will surpass MJ’s accomplishments, but it’s not Justin Beiber. He hasn’t done enough in his short career to earn the title, King of Pop.

I commented on Cassie's Blog- Justin Bieber

First Impressions

It’s your first day of school, and your trying to make a profound impact on your new teachers.

You got the job, your hired, but your haven’t met your boss yet. You want him to appreciate you.

To your teachers, you want to seem like a confident, strong, individual student. Further, you want your boss to see the obedience, passion and respect in you. However, in order to make them have a good perception of you, your first impressions count the most.

They matter so much because they’re what people base you on. In addition, they can give you great opportunities.

For the future, don’t be late for a meeting or a lazy couch potato. Don’t be negative Nelly, be positive Polly. Above all, don’t question yourself.

You don’t want to be known as a timid or eccentric person, so have right judgment and reverence. Those characteristics can give people great long lasting effects.

For next time, remember that first impressions count!

I commented on Emilie Pollard's Blog- Uniforms

How i Became the Golfer I am Today

by: Alexandra Garcia

I was going to start this blog by giving you the dictionary’s definition of the words passion and ambition, but somehow that didn’t seem…well, that ambitious. So, I’m telling you my story- how I became part of the Elite team of Glen Abby.

I few months ago, my friend Jenna and I received a letter in correspondence to the Elite team that we were applying for. Unbelievably and remarkably, we both got in. However, it was harder than we both thought.

First, it took us passion.

Golf gave us a craving of victory. Just to see that ball go in the hole, or having that felling of triumph put a smile on our face, so we went all the way.

Next stop, ambition.

They say that opportunity knocks, but ambition pounds the doornail. So personally, I worked out twice a week. Trained with my coaches for 3 hours, and played and practiced. In addition, I did Heart Math. On average, I spend around 5 days of my week doing things that were golf related.

Even when I just felt like being a couch potato, I had to wake up at 6:30 on weekends to be in time for my workout. Sometimes I just wished that I could have just gone back to bed, but I would have been sponsored by Adidas and Tailor Made if I had.

I guess that if I did look up the word ambition, it would have defined it as a desire for fame and fortune. What it wouldn’t of said is that this desire isn’t driven be our want to get ahead, but rather by the fear if saying exactly where we are.

So there you have it in so many words. I became the golfer I am today with PASSION and AMBITION!

*I commented on Lauren's blog