Swing shift, soixante neuf.

My posting is slowing down due to the fact that I keep thinking I'm writing a paper for school, needing to cite sources, and credit ideas.  But this is a blog, where I can think for myself, and say what I want.  Booyah!

So, recently it's come to my attention that this whole "Zero Tolerance Policy" at schools is a really bad idea.  A good twenty years ago, boys fought all the time, hence the saying "Boys will be boys."  However, now when there's a fight on the school yard, or in the school halls, it's almost warranting media attention, and usually one is brought up on charges of assault.

I've met a few gentlemen from another school who got expelled for fighting, and it's bullshit, to be frank.  Zero tolerance policy means that animosity grows, and fighting becomes a big deal.  Sometime you need to just rough up a guy, because he isn't taking the hint, or the statement.  There's a few people I'd love to lay out for some stuff they've done or said, but I know it'll fuck up my chances for university, so I keep a lid on my temper.

Getting back to why Zero Tolerance policy is a bad idea, is it stresses people more than a fight does.  After a good, clean fight with an honest disagreement in interest by the contenders, most of the animosity goes away.  I recall last year there was a fight, and after the two had worked out their issues, they looked each other in the eye and shook hands, before walking off.  Later to be caught and suspended.  Now, personally, my grandmother encouraged me to fight if I was having trouble, not take bull from anyone.  This got me in trouble more than once.  Not serious trouble, but I had been sent against the wall a few times in my time.

However, whatever parents can believe to make themselves sleep easier, whatever.

A little gift from Red and me

NSFW due to swearing

I'm a Zelda fan, what can I say?

I was gonna write a deep, meaningful, personal blog post about my state of mind, my feelings, true love, miracles... all that kinda stuff.

But who cares, right? The most important thing is...

VIDEO GAMES!

I've been replaying Zelda: Wind Waker for the past week or so, simply as something to do whenever I'm not at Mr. Karria's house. In fact, when I told him I was playing it again, he said "Ew. Why bother?"

Why indeed?

The very first video game I EVER played was Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I fell in love with it. I even kinda sorta like it's not-as-hot-sister Majora's Mask. Wind Waker was one of the only reasons I got a Gamecube in the first place. I understand why so many people dislike it. The graphics are pretty cartoonish. But really, is that it the only reason?

I may be the minority when I say this, but I love WW's graphics. They're colorful and fun. In fact, I hate quite a few of the 'newer' games since they all seem to be shaded in Brown and Gray. And Muzzle Flash. It's still a Zelda game at it's core. The dungeons are still intense and require thought if you're like me and don't leap to walkthroughs the minute you start a game (and bonus: no Water Dungeon), the pure amount of subquests keep the game fun for a long period of time, and... well, this is kinda tiny, but the music is nice. There are times where I'll simply let the game run paused somewhere as I do something else for background noise. I did the same thing in OoT, and to a lesser extent, Twilight Princess when it came out.

To make a long story short: I love the Zelda storyline. And, as a fan of Zelda, I still love Wind Waker, even with it's silly cel-shaded graphics. And no one can convince me otherwise.






They could have left out Tingle though.

Bakin' Cookies! (What not to do)

I had two very simple things to accomplish today:

1. Bake Oreo-type cookies for a Halloween party
2. Cook supper for my boyfriend and myself

For the sake of this post, we're only dealing with 1 right now.
A quick check of the cabinets last night revealed my father was low on vanilla. No problem, he says, leaving me the money to go buy some in the morning. So at 10 am, I walk the mile and a half to the grocery store, buy vanilla (and root beer, because I can), and walk home.

Seems simple right?

I start gathering ingredients, before I stumble upon the problem. My father must have thrown away his shortening. Now, I could have walked back to the same grocery store, bought shortening, and walked home. Or, I thought, I could go to the grocery store in the next town over, since it's about the same distance, and not feel like a total fool.

Side note: I have a bad knee, so I tend to favor one of my legs when I walk long distances. The reason why I tell you this will become clear in a moment.

I underestimated the distance to the other grocery store. It ended up being 2.5 miles away. I was only grumbling about this until I realized one of my hips hurt. A lot. See, being the inactive person I am, walking 8 miles in 2 hours wasn't exactly the wisest thing I've ever done. But then I wondered, how many other Americans would be willing, or able to, walk that much? So then I felt a little better about myself.

And I suppose, maybe doing all that exercise just to bake cookies may be a little counter-productive. But these better be the best damn cookies EVER.

Write your letters in the sand for the day I'll take your hand, In the land that our grand-children knew

So, I spent seven hours studying for a math test over the weekend, and still failed it.  For the first few hours afterwards, I was crushed.  I was ready to raise the white flag in total defeat, but then I realized something.

So what if I'm not good at math.  I can draw, I can write, and I can speak to people.  But then, while I was watching Star Trek, it hit me.  In this idealized Space faring future, there'd be no room for me.  I'd need to understand Warp theory, and transporter beams, and Photon Torpedoes, and Phasers.  None of which are high on my list of things I think I'll understand.

It's fully coming to me now that people who excel at the Arts but not in much else are deemed to be dumb, or problem children.  I know my math teacher from grade 9 and 11 told my mother several times I didn't belong in the Academic/University streams, not that she made much of an effort to get me to understand it.  It's my firmly held belief that we are focusing so much on Math and Science now, that people who think differently are being left by the way side because we're too hard to teach, or because we don't think the way the "norm" do.

Personally, I'm a tactile learner.  Give me something to fiddle with that'll aid me in understanding, and I'm a happy kid.  But because that would require extra effort, most teachers don't bother with it.  My current math teacher is even worse, she goes home at lunch, taking her kids out of the daycare to watch them at home.  Pretty evidently, her attention is elsewhere, and she doesn't seem to like helping much when extra help is asked for.  Not a terribly encouraging woman, either.

Back to the subject at hand, I can draw pretty well for someone with no real formal training.  I didn't learn from books, I just sort of did it.  Looked at examples and drew them from that.  Apparently that's a rare skill to have, not needing templates when drawing.  Also a skill which is being phased out of "mass production" in schools.  Students aren't really encouraged to think for themselves, to learn for themselves, they're told to listen in their seats, and then regurgitate the information.  I can't do that, it's boring, I end up doodling in the margins of my pages.

If school teachers have their way, Math and Science will become the art, it'll be what everyone is good at, and learns the same way, and that is a dismally depressing future to behold.

-Red.

Vikings scrape by a 6-0 series so far.

Well, the defense dominated the ball for the first half almost entirely, until the end, where no major mistakes were capitalized upon, but a field goal was got.  After the half, the defense came out strong at firs,t but disappeared later in the half, with Ravens players tiptoeing down the field for 20 yard gains at any given time.

At the end, this game came down to a muffed field goal attempt by the Raven's kicker, ending it at 33-31 for the Vikings.

Arghhhhhh.

In other news, I'm going to pick up the slack here, I was emailed an article from Quotulatiousness.  What this article contained was another blogger, bloggin about another blog.  This is fun to type out.  Anyway, this was my first encounter with "AROOO".  AROOO is a website dedicated to the "Equality" of Feminism.  What it actually turns into is a hatefest agains males of all varieties.  As an 18 year old male of no criminal record, no problems in school, no violence towards anyone, and in their eyes, I am the same as a serial rapist murderer.

If you just "Huh?" 'd as well, I suggest heading to their website.  It's linked to the first point I mentionned their name.  I don't even really know where to begin.  These guys girls are literally for the infanticide of males, and the infanticide of females until Females are the oppressors in power. 

Alternatively, if you don't feel up to the hate machine, this is a perfectly summarized article at The Femmenist

Deffinitive summary of the chronology of the Legend of Zelda Series, as requested.

LOL SUMMARY, okay, anyway, there is a tie for the beginning here.

So, original theories state that Ocarina of Time is the first order chronologically, as it's Link's first quest, sword, etc.  it also ENDS in Ganon being locked away in the Sacred Realm (I'll get back to this).  Next up is Majora's Mask, given that it's pretty obviously the same Link.

Several generations later, Minish Cap/Four Swords/Four Swords Adventures happens, which are all Prequels to a Link to the Past.  The whole tradition of heroes wearing green and stuff is the only legs this has to stand on as far as being chronologically first, so it's regarded as being after OoT Saga.

At this point, Link's Awakening (I love this game) happens, followed or preceeded very closely by the oracle saga.

From this point, is the Original game, and LoZ 2

Now, we get to some fun time paradoxes.  Remember how Zelda sends Link back to the past in OoT at the end of his quest because she wants him to live his life normally (lol)?  Well, turns out Time lines don't just disappear because someone leaves it.  Link has disappeared from the Adult Time line, which leads to the beginning of Windwaker, as there is no hero to take up the sword.

Alternatively, in the Child Timeline, Ganondorf has disappeared, and so there's no threat to Hyrule, it's presumed nothing really happens, Link fight regular old evil, etc.  Land is safe, Ganon finds other ways of breaking out.

Taken from the Legend of Zelda wiki, they say this on the sequels:

The Legend of Zelda --> Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
A Link to the Past --> Link's Awakening
Ocarina of Time (Child Timeline) --> Majora's Mask --> Twilight Princess
Ocarina of Time (Adult Timeline) --> The Wind Waker --> Phantom Hourglass --> Spirit Tracks
Oracle of Seasons <--> Oracle of Ages (can happen in either order)
The Minish Cap --> Four Swords --> Four Swords Adventures (currently unconfirmed if other games occur between these titles, i.e. between The Minish Cap and Four Swords)

 But because LoZ fans can never agree on anything, I've provided what I feel the strongest argument links are.  Have fun!

A man walks down the street in a hat like that...

So, I wore my Jayne hat to school today, and I estimate I've spent more tmie wearing it than not.  Jayne hat:

I'm quite proud that no one has said much, although a few peolpe have said what I have as the top of the post.

Sirenia

So, as promised, here's a band I stumbled across on Youtube today, called Sirenia.  Upon looking them up on Wikipedia, I blew the entire tone of this band outta the water, quite literally.  I'll explain closer to the end.

Upon original clickage, I discovered a band that claimed on Wikipedia:

The band uses melodic instrumentals, synthesizers, and distorted guitars with female vocals, male death vocals, clean male vocals, a choir and violins. The lyrics are concerned with human existence, emotion, and mental states.

 However what I took away from it was your typical Goth Rock band, riding on the ideas the brought singers like Emilie Autumn and Amy Lee to high success.  The ripped Victorian or Gothic Lolita dresses, the haunting vocals, and some liberally applied eye shadow.  Not to say that the song I listened to ("The Path to Decay"- From their Album "The 13th Floor") was terrible.  I found it to be quite a generic representation of some people that take themselves far too seriously, and darkly.

So with that in mind, I watched the video, and all I found was empty messages, and eyeshadow that I'll have to scrub off with acid.  What makes this band worth mentioning?  Well, primarily I want to say that although it is generic, it would work for a lazy afternoon of some melodic, symphonic music, although if you're looking for some true ear candy, you'll have to go further afield.  Secondly, this is worth mentioning because they bill themselves so highly, when Sirenia is a breed of Sea Cows.  Yes, this emotional tear jerker band is, in fact, Oceanic Wildlife.

To this band, I'll give a generous 3/5 for lack of originality, but for working with a terrible name.

Cheers!

We were just running for cover, from a world going no where.

Hey guys, Red here.

So, I was watching TV after school today when a peculiar commercial came on, and I have some thoughts on a line that was said.  It was one of those reality shows focusing around a group of twenty-somethings at a nearby Ski resort called Whistler.  During the commercial there's the usual hooks for the Jerry Springer watchers, particularly a few people getting punched in the face (Hey, I haven't looked at the keyboard yet).  As the commercial was finishing, someone's voice over said something like "I don't see why we can't end an evening without a fight."

I, surprisingly enough, have a theory on this.  When you look at these people, they're the highschool jocks, and the girls that hang off them, who's lives revolved around sports, parties, etc.  Now, what I'm hypothesizing here is that because these kids never had to pick a social circle, never had to define themselves based on their personalities or beliefs, they stuck with whoever was the same as them.  Equally unthinking, popularity based drama queens.

I'm not claiming that my own circle of friends isn't without it's problems, but we never end things in a fist fight, or harsh words.  We have spoken on many topics, from law, to politics, to religion, and all found grounds of not offending eachother, while enjoying ourselves.  These people in the commercial, however, appeared to only be held together by their sport, and their beer.  I don't watch reality dramas, nor game shows.  They don't interest me much, because I find the people on them to be so fake.  The people who feel that thinking is hard.

A girl in my science class today openly called the teacher a liar, when she proposed that we have elements in our body, and in nature that are only found in us, and in suns that have burnt out.  She further proposed that our planet was created by this explosion, and the heat/radiation given off is actually what heated the primordial ooze enough to create life.  This girl, however, openly covered her ears and told the teacher she was a liar.  I apologize, but if you're taking a science course that features a lot on Biology, and evolution/creation of mankind is brought up, you need to be able to logically think and acknowledge the points made...

Wow, tangenting.  Sorry, back on track.  The fact that these kids never had to deal with differences with people on a larger scale than "She dated her ex's best friend!" they don't know how to deal with people out there.  I know I've been told several times that I think too much, or they don't understand why I think something until I sit them down and explain (usually several times) before they get it.  Even basic rights and freedoms.  So of course these "reality" shows about pretentious highschool/college jocks in the real world are full of drama.  Same with the rich kids you see on the Hills and stuff.  Too spoiled, not enough real experience and substance behind them.

I should really put all these morning updates in 1 post...

I was upset when I heard that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, for basically not being George Bush.  However this website gives me some small hope as far as why he was given the prize.

And I see other people have thought the same thing. Me, I was just astounded. But remember, the "real" Nobel Prizes are awarded by the The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Economics), The Swedish Academy (Literature), and The Swedish Karolinska Institutet (Physiology or Medicine). The Peace Prize is from The Norwegian Parliament—just a bunch of crooked politicians (are there any other kind?).

Don't wanna wake up Monday Morning.

This article is quite a scary look into what exactly is going on across the Pond, and a reflection of our own society.

For many, their proudest moment was getting into university, passing their driving test, getting married or having a baby.
Just over one in eight said neither of their parents had even noticed their proudest moment.

 I personally know a few people who's parents seem downright awful to them.  Swearingat them, hitting them, yelling, kicking them out, and then wondering why their kids don't like them.  I don't understand it, not that I ever expect to, but I suspect they justify these actions in their own heads.

Should people like this really be parents?  Anyone who has parents like that, I apologize, because you're likely great people, but should you be treated like that?  Not that we have the right to screen people on whether or not people are allowed to have children, but children should grow up in a loving environment, not mistreated like that.

Ready? Ready? Set, go!

I found this while playing with Google Reader this morning.  I'd probably go to something like this, although only looking at Fantasy and Sci-fi.

Barley said he wanted to take "a more strongly editorial approach" to the book festival, creating themed strands in the programme that reflect the way that the world is seen by writers. By way of example, he said, a feminism strand might be constructed around the 40th anniversary of the publication of The Female Eunuch next year.
The festival must, he said, steer clear of "looking like a publisher's catalogue" with authors invited simply because they have published a book that year.

 The final line of that quote thereIs what makes this so potentially promising, because they'd invite people WORTH reading, and not just anyone who'd made a book in the last year.  Link is here.

Finally, someone let me outta my cage, now Time for me ain't nothing, 'cause I'm counting no age.

Yaey! Long hiatus is over, Karria and I will be attempting to pick up the blog postings again.

So, last week I was speaking with a few friends in real life about Music. Nothing odd there, until we realized that all the catchy pop hits and popular music these days are basically the same. I believe Scotty said that there's actually a machine that calculated the equation of music, and they create music based on this, for the popular mainstream.

Now, I don't want to get overly 1984 on you, I'm well aware that good music is out there, it's just where you dig for it. However, a style of music, scientifically created to be ear worms to catch your attention, and specifically created for you? I feel very much like I'm one of the proletariat, being fed things that will keep my brain in the "norm" and not questioning what there is out there.

With that being said, whenever I come across a band I like, or feel that they have a good message, I'll post it. Maybe a weekly thing, since I'm feeling the need to expand my musical tastes.

I've also been approached to play drums in a "band" (From the sounds of it, it'll be more like a jam session). I'm curious about this, as I'm interested, but I'm not very optimistic about my increasingly rusty skills. I've always been a fan of the idea of having a garage band, or equivalent part of the house band, but I never quite got the swing of the drums. The multitasking alone made my head spin after a while.

Changing tracks, the school's anime club that I run is coming together well, and I'm quite enjoying being one of the leaders. School is going well over all, and I'm glad I came back. I'm meeting so many cool people that I never really got the chance to interact with before now.

Now, enough about me, I'm posting something interesting I found a few weeks ago, here.

What we’re trying to do is to interface electronic components with the human body. One of the challenges is that conventional electronics is typically made on very hard and flat surfaces. If you look at our own body we are a 3D object that is moving all around. The challenge is not only electrical but also mechanical because we need to find ways to make electronic things that can conform the body and therefore use materials that are no longer hard and brittle but materials that can be elastic, similar to our own skin, for example.

Quite an interesting idea there. I've always found the idea of electronic implants fascinating, albeit a bit scary in some movies. I think this could be a huge step in the right direction for amputees, and even robotics. Just think, you could have a hand that not only grasps, but allows sensory feel, like a regular arm?

I leave you now, before I blow all the interesting info I've found, and leave myself nothing to post later!

I live! Also, this is a ramblematic post

It's amazing how long things will go un-updated when people get caught up in their lives.
This last summer has been insane on about 20 different levels. Many of my friends have gone off to college.

I decided to stay home. I never suggest to anyone to do this. All I have really done is spend away all my money and gotten completely frustrated with myself. The inactivity is driving me nuts more than I thought it would.

But now, for the wonderful overshare thought of my day.

My mother was 18 and a recent high school grad when she had me. Since I was born in November, that means she became pregnant in February, when she was 17.

My father was 28.

To this day, I don't know how my parents met or when they got married. It's something that has bugged me my entire life, and something I'll probably never know. When my parents divorced it was extremely messy and painful. Neither of them will talk about the other without swearing or getting extremely angry.

I don't understand why it bugs me so much that I don't know this about my parents. I think it may be time for me to attempt to do a little research on my own. I just don't exactly know where to start.