Assignment 19 Philip Allison

A piece of advice I find really quite impactful in my everyday life is "don't stop believin." Even though this advice wasn't given specifically to me, Journey really touched me with their hit. This saying applies to anything you need or want it to. For example, I had an I Am Third basketball game today, which we lost. We all thought we were going to lose from the start, given that our team has only won one game despite my post presence. We were down by four, with two minutes to go, and right as I made a slick move to the basket I thought "don't stop believin" and I didn't. I didn't stoop believin, despite missing that very layup. But this is only one scenario to which the saying can be applied. On any test or challenge, if confidence is running low, "don't stop believin." If your team has just conceded a goal and it is the ninety fourth minute, "don't stop believin."

Assignment 20: How to...

Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?
--Benjamin Franklin

Ben makes a good point. For this week, put your gifts and skills on display by developing a "how-to." Choose something that you have a level of expertise in and explain step by step how it is done.

No repeats though! If two people are both really talented at making ice and one beats the other to the post on "How to make ice..." then, second person - you need to reflect upon your other talents.

So, stop standing in the shade and astound us!

Oh, this can be a video blog that you create.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, February 12th at 11:59 pm

March 26th is the last day to make up blogs 20-22

Assignment 19: Claire Telfer

The first thing that comes to mind is to always do your best. The simplest advice in life usually applies to most situations. My biggest pet peeve is when people don't try. If you don't try on homework, I don't care because homework doesn't matter that much, but if you don't try on the things that matter, then why even do it? Especially with sports, if someone gets a bad time or does a bad job they say "Oh, that's okay, I didn't really try." Why would you waste your time practicing something for hundreds of hours if you don't try when it matters? If I'm going to spend my time on a hobby or a sport or an instrument, I'll do it 100%.  I want to show other people that I have a good work ethic and I'm committed to doing what I set my mind to. The advice to always do your best has pushed me to persevere in my daily life and that sometimes it's ok to not be the best at something as long as I'm trying. If I can put forth the time to make a difference in life by doing my best, then I'll do anything I can to make it happen.

Assignment 18: Claire Telfer

High school has made me realize more than anything that school really sucks. It has taken over my life and interests, and I rarely find myself with a day where I can sit and do nothing. My bucket list for high school will most likely start next year, as I have not had any time in the past two years to do anything meaningful other than homework. My top priorities on my bucket list are to be able to enjoy senior year without a bunch of homework, push myself to be the best I can physically be by lifting weights and swimming, join the tennis team, start taking photography more seriously, and keep up with my French so in college it will be easier to minor in said language. 

I hope that college is better than high school and especially that I pick the best college for me. My bucket list for college is to find something that I'm passionate about to study, be able to make new friends, step outside my comfort zone, to join student organizations, and to pursue what makes me happy. In general, I just want to be able to have that golden "college experience" that everyone talks about without overworking myself. 

Finally my number one on my bucket list for life is to never settle. If I'm not happy with a job, then I'll get a new one I actually enjoy. If I don't like who I'm in a relationship with, then I'll break up with them. If I don't like where I'm living, move somewhere else. It's a waste of time to do things that make you want to throw yourself out of a window when you can just get rid of it or change it. 

henry macfarlan- assignment 18

Before i graduate high school, I want to win a high school soccer state championship.  I have play varsity soccer since my freshman year, and every year we fall short of a state championship. It is a highly difficult aspiration, and few teams and their players achieve it, however, it is an accomplishment that is far from impossible to achieve.  With a state runner finalist finish in 2015, and a good team next year it is far from unbelievable to see myself winning a state championship next year.
Before I finish college I want to be living in my own place.  Living in my own apartment or house by the end of college is important to me as it represents one of the first steps in achieving independence.  Thus it is important for me to have my own place by the end of college.
Before I finish living, I want to learn at least one language fluently.  Learning language is one of my favorite, subjects in school and it is important to me to continue that into the rest of life.

henry macfarlan- Assignment 17

The director i chose to compare to films was Quentin Tarantino, as his films are notorious for carrying themes and motifs across multiple works.  The two films i will be comparing are reservoir dogs and Tarantino's most recent release, The Hate full 8 . These films are both films in which key pieces of evidence, that provide for the events that occurred prior to the film.  Both films reveal these pieces of evidence through flash backs.  Both films open in the middle of the action, leaving the audience scrambling to find out what is happening.  In these films, some sort of murder has occurred, alongside a series of wrong doings.  While the audience is left confused by a cold open, the characters are not far from the audience.  In both, the audience follows a character who is also struggling to discover what is happening.  In reservoir dogs, the audience follows a bank robber who hardly knows his accomplices and is left confused when a job goes poorly and some of his colleges are left dead.  In the hate full 8 we follow to bounty hunters who come across an inn where a murder has occurred but the characters do not know.

Philip Allison Assignment 18

The number one thing on my high school bucket list is to attempt to make connections with as many people as I can. Making many friends will make high school much more enjoyable, but will also help in the long run. You never know if you will need a favor from a high school friend later on in life or in your professional career. These relationships can also end in becoming business partners after college. My number one thing on my college bucket list is go on at least one study abroad program. I think this will be extremely beneficial to me and anyone else later on in life, and would be a great experience, depending on the destination of the trip that is. My number one thing on my life bucket list is to just enjoy my life as much as possible. This would involve traveling and having a good career.

Rebekah George Assignment 19

It seems that most roads lead back to world domination. Fortunately, this prompt does as well. The best advice I have ever received came not by the spoken words of some important figure in my life or a quote from someone I admire. No, this advice came from the depths of the interwebs (i.e. Tumblr).



“Knowledge is power, power corrupts. Study hard, be evil.” –Anonymous



As per the last blog—my bucket list—the end goal here is world domination. I’m assuming that you have to be at least a little evil to pursue a goal so lofty. Anyway, I also figure that learning things can only aid me in my conquests. Julius Caesar conquered places, and he learned in a school-ish setting. I suppose this advice also gives me hope. Considering that my least favourite place on (quite literally) all of planet earth is school—a disgusting cesspool of ridiculous expectations and undiagnosed mental disorders—the idea that my goals can be accomplished by applying myself to an institution which I abhor helps me sleep at night. Of course I think learning is important, but the schooling system in America has managed to corrupt even the purest of endeavors (surprise, surprise).



This advice grants me the strength I require to get through the day at school. It pushes me to apply myself even when I really, really, really, really don’t want to. And I’m sure those who happen upon the ravings of this decidedly odd seventeen-year-old probably wonder if I am either a. insane or b. a force to be reckoned with—the answer to your question is “yes;” however, this oddly insane force of darkness is an educated and oddly dark mess of insanity. So, good sir (or madam), learn all that you can. A love of learning will enhance your life, I assure you. And it might just save you too.  

Assignment 18- Angelica Malkowski

1. Before I finish high school, I want to get my actual driver’s license. I still have just my permit because I never have time to practice driving. Busy roads like Richmond and Man O’ War aren’t good roads to begin driving on, and they’re the ones I find myself on most often. Or, with my busy schedule, I can’t drive to my oboe lesson, etc. because I’m doing homework. Weekends tend to be busy as well, for both me and my mom. Eventually I’ll learn how to drive and take the driving test, but until then I’m stuck riding with friends.

2. Before I finish college, I want to go abroad to Europe. I’d like to spend a summer abroad studying in France, but if that doesn’t work out I still want to go to Europe, especially France and England, before I graduate college. I’ve never been out of the country before so I know it will be an amazing experience when I do go.

3. Before I die, I’d like to see a show on Broadway. I love musicals, but I’ve never seen one live on Broadway. Before I die I’d like to change that.

Assignment 18 - Ella Franklin

High school? No ambitions. College? A little more than none. After college? Many, but unrealistic.

I genuinely have no items on my bucket list for high school. I have already kicked high school's bucket. There are things I would like to have done but I didn't and I no longer want to now that it's over. The past stays with the past.

I could write about what I have accomplished in high school. I would imagine as an incoming freshman, my bucket list would've looked something like this:
1. Get all A's.
2. Start something really cool or something and make it to where no college could ever reject you.
3. When the time comes, get into a really good school, like Northwestern.
4. Get a "best friend," whatever that is.

Maybe I'm just tired or my lack of ambition now is blinding me from seeing my past ambitions but truthfully that is all I can think of. Did I do any of those things? No. I got B's. I started a club, yeah, but colleges will definitely still reject me. I remember always desiring  really good friend when I was a freshman, and since I've come to realize there is no such thing. I don't long for it anymore. I guess really that is the ultimate level of completion? Not longing for something you once longed for? I've realized the only person who will truly ever understand you is yourself.

I do, however, think I have done a lot of things that aren't on my bucket list from freshman year just because my freshman self would never have imagined me doing them. I've made a lot of friends I never would've thought to be friends with as a freshman, to name one. I just feel like I've discovered a lot of things within myself and outside myself which I find interesting. So I guess if I really really had to make a bucket list for "the rest" of high school, it would be:
1. Surprise yourself.
I've been doing it for a few years now and I've enjoyed myself.
Also,
2. Finish calc homework that I interrupted to do this.

Ok, for college I have more ambitions. Only because it hasn't started so I can't be over it enough yet to not have ambitions for it.
1. Meet new people.
2. Try new things. (vague)
3. Live out of town and start a new life, without parents, with actual independence. (finally)
4. Be more social.
5. Go to UVA. (hopefully)
- if I go to UVA, live in the rooms that are down in that area where the rotunda is that I can't remember the name of but only special students get to live there.
6. Get super into something and take a lot of classes in it.
7. Take sitar lessons.
8. Surprise myself!!
My top priority here is probably to surprise myself. I'm telling you, it's the way to live.

Life beyond college: the final frontier. I have given this a lot of thought over the years, a lot of thought. So much that I can't really list what I want. I guess traditional "bucket list" things for life are like, "Go skydiving," but I'm thinking more of how I want my life to be. I will say, I have always wanted to visit the redwood forests in California. But more on the topic of my life, I would like:
1. Have a nice apartment.
2. Have a really nice wardrobe.
3. Have dogs - names are a big deal - possibly something from mythology or if not that, music. Probably a male Bassett hound or just a mutt named George, after George Harrison, like The Beatle that everyone says is irrelevant but really that just means they don't know what they're talking about.
4. Don't get married before age 30.
5. God forbid, don't have kids before 30. Don't even consider it before 28.
6. Have a good job, maybe writing or maybe talking.
7. Don't live in D.C. I like politics but God I hate Washington.
8. Drive my dad to church when he's too old to drive himself.
9. Live in Boston or stay in Virginia (maybe) instead.
10. At the end of your life, as a retired widow living alone in some little retirement town, commemorate your husband by running errands bad and bougey in his old Cadillac.
Wardrobe is top priority, even when I'm in the Cadillac.

Assignment 18 Rebekah George

Ah, this blog speaks to one of my favorite pastimes: pondering death and the complexity of the short time we’re allotted here on earth to try and accomplish as much as our little meat sacks can handle. Refreshing. Anyhow, I do not have, nor have I ever had, a bucket list. I suppose thinking about the future has primarily consisted of worrying about continuing to be not dead and, additionally, about going to college and getting a job that consists of not living in a box. I see “bucket lists” as more of a mandatory to-do list. I think my answers shall attest to that.



High school (or the worst state-enforced activity I’ve ever been forced to participate in):

Continue to be not dead

Don’t destroy your future by doing something stupid or/and illegal

Get into a college that leads to not living in a box and eating old shoes

Maybe get a job, I don’t know. People are ew.

Incite a rebellion

College (or my saving grace from prison—I mean high “school”):

Write a novel that makes so much money that I don’t have to go to school anymore

To live and do stuff, I guess. School work? Join a gang? Something. Live my life.

On that whole “gang” thing: a gang that isn’t violent, but is full of very tough-looking people. We’ll bake muffins and knit sweaters for the poor

Steal candy from a baby

           

Life (or working until I die. I am so optimistic today.):



            Die eventually

            Marry someone that isn’t irritating

            Get a dog that is large and intimidating and then name it something that is not at all intimidating, like a Rottweiler called Mr. Mcfluffypants or Pumpkin (kids are also ew)

            Meet Edward Snowden

            WORLD DOMINATION

            Write a novel that makes a similar amount of money to the first so I don’t have to work

            Be given a medal of friendship from Russia for something that is friendly



**Note** These are in no particular order.

           

As for priorities, my priority for high school is to not destroy my future. That is important. I don’t want to live in a box or eat old shoes. My priority for college is to write that novel so that I can accomplish my previous goal of not living in a box and also not worry too much about actual school or life in the future. My goal for life is world domination, but if that doesn’t work out, I’m cool with the medal of friendship. Quite frankly, I really just want to know for sure that I’m taller than Vladimir Putin. This fact brings me much joy and is my source of power in life. But, anyway, I want to know for sure that I am personally loved by an entire country (as decided unilaterally by one person). That would be my new source of ultimate power that could assist in the whole world domination thing. And if that doesn’t work out, I’ll settle for death. At least they can put “she died trying to take over the planet for the sole purpose of proving that she could” on my tombstone.  And, in closing, if the United States government wasn't spying on me before (a Ludacris and naive idea), they definitely are now.

Assignment 19: plastics

Most of the advice we receive in our lives is unsolicited and quite frankly inane.  However, every once in a while we get a real gem and changes our trajectory.  What is the one piece of advice given to you that has stuck?  Explain its effect on your life.


Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, January 29th at 11:59 pm

February 12th is the last day to make up blogs 17-19

Assignment 17 Rebekah George

*Spoiler Alert*

History: it demonstrates who we were in the past, defines who we are in the present, and decides who we shall become in the future. Recently, and partially of my own accord, I had the opportunity to watch two films, both of which were mostly historically correct depictions of events of African American history. The first was The Great Debaters, which I was required to watch, rather fittingly, in debate class. The second was Hidden Figures (not Hidden Fences; the people at the Golden Garage seem to be confused about this), which I dragged my sister along to see this past Sunday. Both remarkably empowering, the films showcase the best and worst of the human condition; however, each leaves you hopeful that perhaps other people are capable of real change.

The Great Debaters followed the lives of four African American attendees of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas along with their coach and professor, Mr. Tolson, and a score of other individuals who helped and hampered the team. Hidden Figures gives an insightful look at three African American women who played a huge role in getting John Glenn, the first American to orbit earth, into space. Both movies reiterated the sickening racism that was, at one time, considered “normal” in the United States. Both movies casually depict “white only” sections of everyday life and the glaring racism of this time period. In fact, Hidden Figures takes place approximately twenty years after The Great Debaters and not a whole lot had changed as far as the Jim Crow south and segregation were concerned.

Empowerment reigned supreme minutes before the credits rolled. Each film also had the decency to explain what happened to everyone after the story ended. In The Great Debaters, little old Wiley College successfully defeated Harvard University’s debate team. The closing shots explained how James Farmer Jr. would go on to be an integral part of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. In Hidden Figures, John Glenn made it back from the outer reaches of planet earth all on account of Catherine Johnson’s calculations. The closing shots show that Catherine would continue her work at NASA, playing a key role in the Apollo project. Each movie left a glimmer of hope in the watcher. A hope that maybe things won’t be so bad tomorrow. Maybe we can do greater things still. Maybe the world will change because of us.

Philip Allison Assignment 17

Over the break I watched two musicals: American in Paris and La La Land. American in Paris is a classic, or so my parents have told me. After watching it, I believe them. Gene Kelly is a good actor but an excellent dancer. His skills really add to the overall entertainment of the movie, as well as the emotion and mood of scenes. He also sings well, which goes with the dancing. It is surprising how well singing and dancing first into movies, even if the ejections are not smooth. La La Land was a great callback to classic musicals like American in Paris, I have come to conclude. Ryan Gosling was funny in the Big Short and The Nice Guys, as he was in this, and is always a good actor. I am surprised how well he learned to play the piano and sing. His dancing was slightly funny and definitely a good factor mainly because it is so obvious that he isn't great at it. Emma Stone was a good fit for the movie alongside him as well. The last scene of both movies are very similar, so similar it must have been on purpose. La La Land deserves all the awards it earns. I would write a review on Rotten Tomatoes but in class you told us not to bother.

Assignment 17- Quinn Andrews

Review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them I have tried to keep out spoils, but probably did not do very well. So, I apologize in advance. I saw this movie over winter break and I must say I absolutely loved it. Before I go on, I will admit I am very biased. I love Harry Potter and the wizarding world in general. JK Rowling writing it herself just endears the film to me more. My family and I were the people who showed up in Harry Potter t-shirts and merchandise to the ceiling. Still, I feel this is a great movie even if you don't love the wizarding world as much as I do. The main character, Newt, is loveable and awkward and so genuine that you root for him from the start. He starts out with the best of intentions, and manages to make a bad situation worse, and getting not only himself but Tina in trouble in the process. We meet Tina because of one of Newt's blunders. At first she seems unnecessarily strict, but almost immediately we see that she's trying to make a difference and do the best with what she has. Her sister Queenie is sweet and loyal and one of those characters you can't help but love. Jacob we meet during the aforementioned blunder, and he is probably my favorite character. He gets thrown into a strange situation, with people he doesn't know, in a world he never knew existed. Yet, he helps save them all. And I won't spoil the ending, but his life post-wizarding world is probably the sweetest ending. The best part (aside from the lovely characters) are the plot twists right at the end. One person we think is good and feel pity for is actually bad- but not really??? And the guy we think is the bad guy? He turns out to be a completely different person that we did not expect (though you could probably figure it out if you look close enough). Overall, I just loved the film. It was as cute as Newt's fantastic beasts.

Assignment 17- Angelica Malkowski

For whatever reason, Rotton Tomatoes won't allow me to create an account (some kind of error I guess), so I'm posting my movie review here. (I saw this movie over winter break by the way, even though it came out a few weeks earlier. I'm not copping out of the assignment.)

Doctor Strange (2016) (Marvel)

**No major spoilers in this review, only slight spoilers that are really just common sense and basic facts of the movie's premise.**

I'd like to start off this movie review with a statement: I am extremely biased. I love Marvel movies, in fact they are my favorite movies, so of course I went into Doctor Strange already excited and expecting an enjoyable movie. I also am a fan of Sherlock and Benedict Cumberbatch in general, so of course I was even more excited to see Doctor Strange. Now, all that being said, I really do think this is a good movie. Benedict Cumberbatch portrays a complex character who, although he is clearly shown to be an ass-hole, somehow becomes endearing. You find yourself routing for this Dr. Strange, even though you know what happened to him was completely his fault. One problem some people may have with this movie is how quickly Strange and Gang are able to defeat the villain. While that's definitely a valid criticism, one must keep in mind that this is an origin movie, meaning Dr. Strange's origin and background are the primary story, so the audience can know a bit of who he is as a person, and better understand his actions in any future movies involving him. While the fighting of and defeat of Kaecilius, including all of the hardships that occur in that process, certainly shape Dr. Strange's character, said character is really the star of the movie. I will say that the movie's plot does include a couple unexpected twists, particularly one at the very end. To recap, if you like superhero movies, or movies featuring arrogant characters who then undergo tragic and strange (;) circumstances which lead to character develop, or if you like Benedict Cumberbatch (aka an attractive man with great hair), then this movie is for you!

Assignment 17 - Ella Franklin

I'm having trouble making a Rotten Tomatoes account so I'll just put a review here.

I saw "Manchester by the Sea" at the Kentucky on Saturday. The Kentucky proved to be a perfect venue to have my heart broken into pieces!

Manchester by the Sea is unbearably sad. It's a wonderful movie, well-acted, original plot, but it is so sad. But I think, with that, there is something to be said for a movie that makes you feel something. I don't feel a lot of things, but this movie did. In the moment that the really sad part is revealed, I felt like my body was just completely drained of any feeling. It was so shocking that it honestly just drained the life out of me. But I don't think a movie has ever made me feel that before. It wasn't sadness, it was complete shock.

There's a special way of constructing a plot, and delivering lines, and creating visuals that all align to make the viewer actually feel something in response to the plot. In "Manchester," everything aligns perfectly to shine a bright light on every dark part of your soul and awaken it from the caverns of your being and shocks you to face them. That's way too dramatic, but the point is, you will walk out of the theatre and immediately say, "Well, that was sad."

The plot was completely original and I couldn't compare it to any other movie I've seen if I tried. Casey Affleck is a great actor. I liked him in "Good Will Hunting," but he didn't really get a lot of screen time in that. This was a really good role for him. Sad suits him well.

Assignment 18: Buckets and Buckets - Matthew Logsdon

Welcome to your first blog prompt for 2016! Yay!

A bucket list is a list of everything you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket. That doesn't mean you can't have such a list for specific aspects of your life as well.


To begin the year, generate your own bucket lists - one for high school, one for college, and one for life. Then, write about the priority on each list.

1. What is the number one item on your bucket list before you finish high school?
2. What is the number one item on your bucket list before you finish college?
3. What is the number one item on your bucket list before you finish living?

(This blog is inspired by Axel Liimatta - former academy teacher - my friend and former colleague that inspires me to live every day more fully)

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, January 15th  at 11:59 pm

February 12th is the last day to make up blogs 17-19