There Is Never An End, Simply A New Beginning

Dear Journal,

I know how you must feel, but worry not. Despite what the voice states in Everything Matters!, there is never a end. True, the time with my fellow AP English students and Ms. Serensky is coming to a close, but it just marks the beginning of the next chapter that is my life. Not just my life for that matter, but all of our lives. Another year has come and gone, but not without events that have altered the very way we view and live life. The struggles we have faced as AP English students have brought us together through the collective stresses of constant homework, reading, and essays. We get homework, which causes us to complain, which causes us to laugh, which brings us joy. So...English homework brought us joy? I'd rather not create a conundrum, and I'll stick to the simple goodbye.

It has been fun, honestly and truly. Whether I know it or not, everyone has impacted me in some way, and for that I am thankful. I feel as though I am a better writer and person because of this course, so I will always look back on this time we've had in fond memory. The class had its ups and downs; we all know this, but the ups felt as though they skyrocketed, while the downs only made us more determined to reach for the sky.

Some people go through their entire life just staring up at the sky, wishing to touch it.

We choose to take matters into our own hands. We reach for the sky and keep reaching until our hands grasp its vastness. We don't keep the sky for ourselves though, we release it so future generations have something to aim for, just as we did.

If that last couple of sentences confuses you, Journal, then allow me to simplify it. Rather than hoping and wishing for something to happen, we go out and accomplish it ourselves, rather than waiting for something to happen. In order for this to continue though, we need to encourage future generations to do the same. Do we want a society built upon "I could have, but didn't" or "I should have, and did"?

Fellow AP English students, here is my piece of wisdom I'd like to leave with: never give up on your dreams. If you do, that's all they'll ever be, fleeting dreams of a yesterday that could have been today.

Peace Out,

Marc

Oh, It's Worth It. Usually.

1. It's almost impossible not to pass the AP test. Ms. Serensky fully prepares you for it.
2. It helps your writing in general, which is more important than an AP score, in my opinion.
3. You become more responsible. Ms. Serensky doesn't accept late work. Ever.
4. It's something else to complain about, because let's be honest, we love to complain.
5. The books you will read are usually really interesting and great pieces of literature. Some books might be utterly depressing, but that doesn't make it a bad book.
6. The unity between all AP English students with their shared love and pain is an experience all on its own, and brings everyone together.
7. You get graded on in-class discussions, which essentially is everyone just arguing over an obscure part in the book that may or may not ever come up again.
8. You can display your nerdiness intelligence by trying "one-up" everyone else in the class; a.k.a.., Thomas Donley's job.
9. You get to hang out with Ms. Serensky every single day. I mean, it doesn't get much better than that, right?
10. Witness the hilarity as someone attempts to go to the restroom in AP English. Ms. Serensky has never said that she prohibits the use of the restroom, but everyone just assumes it.

Her reaction to #10.

Ms. Serensky, can I use the-nevermind...

No Nonsense

Junior: "Imagine having that same feeling every day of your life..." (Currie 251).
Iago: "Practicing upon his peace and quite,/Even to madness" (Shakespeare 2.1.310-311).
Jack: "For Heaven's sake, don't try to be cynical. It's perfectly easy to be cynical" (Wilde 7).
Junior: "Regular classes don't work for either of us" (Currie 64).
Iago: "Do it not with poison. Strangle [the test] in [its] bed" (4.1.209).
Junior: "What do you mean?" (Currie 244).
Jack: "Oh, that's nonesense, [Iago]. You never talk anything but nonsense" (Wilde 19).
Iago: "Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me" (Shakespeare 4.3.239).
Jack: "You have got to leave..." (Wilde 30).
Iago: "From this time forth I never will speak word" (Shakespeare 5.2.300).
Junior: "Well I think you get a free pass on that, considering" (Currie 273).
Jack: "I hate talking" (Wilde 17).
Junior: "We'll make it quick" (Currie 279).
Iago: "Whilst you were here, o'erwhelmed with your grief-" (4.1.78).
Jack: "Your vanity is ridiculous, your conduct an outrage, and your presence...utterly absurd" (Wilde 30).
Iago: "I humbly do beseech you of your pardon/For too much loving [him]." (3.3.212-213).

The Villain of Villains

Othello has to be, without a doubt, my most favorite work of literature that we've read all year. Everything Matters! is definitely a close second, but a specific character caused me to choose Othello instead. Iago is one of my favorite characters out of any literature I've read throughout my life, and this may seem confusing. Isn't he the villain? Aren't we supposed to hate him? This is true, and I do hate him, but that's also why he's a favorite. Shakespeare wrote his character so perfectly, and created a character that we could all despise, but commend at the same time. His quotes are so memorable that I didn't need to specifically study some of them, because I could remember them off the top of my head. The statement that "we cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed" (1.1.40-41) still remains a relevant quote that I use often in essays.  Iago was able to sway the opinions and emotions of everyone around him with a couple simple words. This man could even make himself out to be a victim! "To be direct and honest is not safe. I thank you for this profit, and from hence I'll love no friend, sith love breeds such offense" (3.3.375-377). That is a true talent, to be able to completely turn the tables and seem as though he is the one who is being accosted. He never used violence to convince a person, and just smooth-talked his way into the puppeteer-like position he attained by tricking everyone. Almost every single step was planned, and I was amazed by his cunning. Even in the end, Iago manages to keep his cool as he tells them that "What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word" (5.2.299-300). That level-headed attitude, even after being exposed for the villain he truly is, makes me cringe. Sure, I still hate him for being such a jerk, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the genius that is his character. In my opinion, he is one of the top villains in any piece of literature.

Iago doesn't use weapons or brute strength to get what he wants, oh no, he's too good for that. Instead, Iago is a master of speech, and surely doesn't "need to review [his] literary terms" (Ms. Serensky).

(Othello and Iago)

Top Ten

"Top Ten Most Thrilling Academic Moments of My High School Career."

Some of these are serious moments/achievements that affected me greatly, while others are more moments of extreme relief. "Thrilling" is an adjective, defined as producing strong and deep emotion, so all of these could fall under that category nonetheless.

1. Becoming Editor-in-Chief of the school's newspaper. I like to think that I helped improve the newspaper, but that's not for me to decide to be honest. "I saw an opportunity to take the [newspaper] I'd always known, and change it into the [newspaper] that you, and everybody else, has always enjoyed" (Currie 163).
2. Writing thirty pages of my original story, the majority of which was written in a single night. "Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me" (Shakespeare 4.3.103).
3. Joining Choir class. I was pretty good, but my voice was abnormally low at first. I had an inability to hit any kind of high notes before practicing more and more. "I don't play accurately...but I play with wonderful expression" (Wilde 1).
4. Knowing that I will graduate with Honors, although it seems less "thrilling" when you realize that "the whole theory of modern education is radically unsound" (Wilde 13).
5. Creating a blog for AP English 12. This seemed like something that was extremely out of the ordinary, and could be fun. "Oh, pleasure, pleasure! What else should bring one anywhere?" (Wilde 2).
6. Doing well on both my AP English and U.S. History tests. It was my first time taking AP tests, so I was a bit nervous, to say the least. "But what does being an adult teach you, if not how to function in the face of fear?" (Currie 256).
7. Passing my AP Spanish class. It's a struggle. "Lord have mercy on me" (Shakespeare 5.2.57).
8. Passing my AP Physics class, which didn't seem possible for me. "Dost thou mock me?" (Shakespeare 4.1.62).
9. Scoring a 27 on the ACT, but doesn't seem as impressive when compared to many other people at Chagrin. "I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance" (Wilde 13).
10. Receiving an A in AP English for the first time. "And so anything, anything, anything is possible" (Currie 302).

I feel as though the last half of this list makes me seem like a less confident person/student than I really am, and that's not what I meant to do. It's just that I tend to stress over school a lot, a lot more than I probably should. I've had countless "thrilling" moments throughout my high school career, but the majority of them aren't specifically academic.

To a T

Thus far, my favorite poem has been "Sestina," by Elizabeth Bishop, mainly because of its unique repetition of "tears" (6) and the characterization of the objects. In a really weird way, I felt as though I could give each object a personality of sorts, due to the way Bishop describes them. Bishop brings the objects to life through the descriptions, like when the narrator mentions how the kettle "sings" (11), while the almanac and stove speak later on. "'But what exactly is this about, here?'" (Currie 211). The poem was a very interesting tale of a child and her grandmother, and how they cope with the death of someone close to them. No words are exchanged between them, but there is still a tension in the air. The child is absorbed in her drawing, while the grandmother focuses on not crying. It's difficult, however, with all the "tears" around her. I suppose I like this poem so much, because a story is told without actual spoken words. Yes, the objects 'talk,' but it's simply for the poem's purposes; they're not actually speaking. Most might get confused, but "why is that a problem? Why is it a problem to just want" (Currie 132) readers to think for themselves? It's an extremely creative route to take, and I respect Bishop for choosing such a difficult, yet appealing way to tell their tale. "It worked to a T" (Currie 45).

So Many Eyes

I remember the AP English class after my experience with meeting David Sedaris.  Even the morning after, I was still feeling a mixture of excitement and sadness, because after all, "It is always painful to part from people whom one has known for a very brief space of time" (Wilde 31). A good portion of the class is a blur, but I cannot imagine a more embarrassing, yet favorite day. I entered the room, fully prepared to start telling Ms. Serensky all about what had happened. Before I could even say anything, she grinned and proceeded to ask, "How was it meeting him?" I was slightly confused, because I was one hundred percent sure that I hadn't said anything to anyone at the school, but then she explained. "Mr. King was there, and told me about it." In all honesty, I must say, "[I] wish they understood that there is joy in this fact, greater joy" (Currie 302) than I had experienced in any other class. I'm not quite sure how to put it, but it makes me uncomfortable, yet proud to know that other people know of my accomplishment. Not that meeting David Sedaris is an 'accomplishment,' but the act of speaking in front of thousands of people as I introduced him. I didn't explain much, however, as I took my seat and Ms. Serensky started class. I was surprised though, when she proclaimed that the next few minutes would be spent focusing on me as I explained what had happened, and then others could ask questions. Again, I felt uncomfortable as all eyes were on me, but then I was reminded of something: I had a couple thousand eyes focused on me during my introduction, so why was this more difficult? Probably because I actually know my classmates, and will see them for months to come. Speaking in front of a bunch of faceless people is easy, because it isn't intimate. Speaking to a small group of people you know personally? That is ten times more difficult. I recollected the events nonetheless, to which everyone was generally impressed or, at the very least, surprised. I even remember someone blurting out how they wouldn't have been able to speak as I had done, but I rejected their claim: "I think thou art just, and think thou art not" (Shakespeare 3.3.382).While I do believe public speaking to be a talent of sorts, I still think that anyone can do it. I appreciated the praise, but it's something that any person could do if they believed in themselves enough. So yes, it is impossible for some people, but only because they don't believe they can speak in public.

Class continued on as usual after the short diversion, but it was definitely a defining moment in my high school career. Luckily, I already possess an ability that many will not have for years to come.

Unfortunately, I'm terrible at a lot of other things, like pronouncing long words.

Also, I need this shirt.

Judgemental

Partial transcripts from the files of Lady Bracknell. Client is Rodney Thibodeau. Sessions conducted between April 13th, 2011 and April 14th, 2011. Transcribed to hard cpy from Dictaphone recordings.

LB: "I have always been of opinion that a man who desires to get married should know either everything or nothing. Which do you know?" (12).
RT: I'm not sure.
LB: Surely you must have an opinion about your own knowledge.
RT: "You'll just tell me I'm wrong. Say I'm stupid" (136).
LB: So you're saying you know nothing?
RT: "This doesn't feel like help to me" (137).
LB: No, no, "I am pleased to hear it. I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance" (13).
RT: Oh, uh...thanks? I dunno where you're going with this, to be honest. Can I leave now?
LB: "Ignorance is like a delicate fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone" (13).
RT: I've gotten hit with a couple baseballs before, so I don't see what that's gotta do with me. Plus, I'm not a desolate fruit.
LB: Delicate.
RT: Delicate?
LB: Delicate.
RT: Right, that. Anyways, I just don't see what why you're asking me this stuff. We've been here for hours.
LB: It has been approximately five minutes since you first arrived.
RT: Five minutes?
LB: Five minutes. "And now I'll have a cup of tea, and one of those nice cucumber sandwiches you promised me" (8).
RT: "I did? When? Are you sure?" (135). Uh, I guess I can try and make some right now if you want...I still don't like the way you're talking to me though. I'm not smart, but I'm not dumb either.
LB: Isn't that an absurd contradiction?
RT: "Yeah, I guess that doesn't really make sense. I guess it is like you say a contradiction" (130).
LB: No matter, I prefer contradiction as opposed to the actual and whole truth. It can get quite dull. Now, those sandwiches, if you please? I'll wait patiently.
RT: [an irritated frown overcomes his face as he stands and says aside, to himself] "I'm gonna get real weird with it."

Your Discussion Matters!

(Junior)

It's really irritating, to be honest. I must admit that this, of all things, isn't a situation that is as irritating as the end of all things as we know it, but it's irritating nonetheless. When I receive praise, I'd rather be there to hear it for myself, rather than have a voice tell me about it. The voice told me that an English class was discussing about me and my changed ways, after my choice to relive an alternate path. They live in a far off, warm, and wondrous land of Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

You see, that was a joke. Ohio, from what I've been told, is a very...Nevermind, it doesn't matter.

That was another joke. Man, I am on a f***ing roll.

But seriously, that's beside the point. The voice informed me of a particular quote made by John Shoemaker, which caused me to chuckle for quite some time. "So by stepping on a bee, we just killed Thomas's doctor career." I laughed at this, simply because of how right and wrong it is. That's not possible, you say? Well, I've got to correct you there, because anything, anything, anything is possible. While it's true that such a seemingly insignificant moment could impact his life (and possibly his career), I believe he could still become a doctor. Every action affects our future, so taking an initiative can greatly improve one's chances at a happier life. Some may say, "It doesn't matter if I...die out here," as I once believed, but I am happy to report that it is a completely invalid statement. "I always expected the worst and because life has never, not once, taught me anything different," I thought that I had no control over my own life.

The fact is, we do have control. Compelte and utter control. At one point, I distinctly remember berating people for not accepting my original plan for salvation: "'Idiots...Dangle salvation right in front of them, and they won't take it.'" I realize that this is wrong, because it is the experience of our actions that makes life worth living, not simply living for the sake of living.

I suppose what I am trying to say, is that Thomas Donley still has a chance to become a doctor if he wants. The decision is his and his alone. If he eventually decides to change his mind, then anything else he does will have just as much importance. Whether it's a janitor or heart surgeon, every single person and every single action matters.

My Dearest Iago,

It's difficult to recall my previous year of AP English, when I was a young and naive Junior. I have come to question my reasons for choosing to go into AP English from the beginning. Why this inquiry came to mind, I'm not entirely sure, but it still deserves an answer. Oddly enough, I think it's the constant talk about it amongst my Junior friends while I was a Sophomore. Every day I was forced to listen about "Ms. Serensky this" and "Ms. Serensky that." I also consider myself a relatively intelligent individual, so I thought that it might be time to push myself even further with a more difficult class and teacher. Now, I already know your famous saying, so don't repeat it in your reply after receiving this letter. You'll plainly state, "We cannot all be masters, nor all masters/Cannot be truly followed" (1.1.38-39).  I understand your train of thought, but that's not the case here. It's true that there are incapable "masters," (although I think a better word would be leader) but Ms. Serensky proved herself to be an outstanding teacher, without even knowing her. How? I had heard about the tremendous passing rate for the AP test. My friends' talk of Ms. Serensky wasn't the only reason I decided to take the class though. My main reason for taking the class was because I wished to better myself. This goes hand-in-hand with competition among my other peers as well, which isn't surprising. (Most) Everyone strives to be the best they possibly can, and it can cause people to fight over a lot of things. Oh how you'd laugh if you could have seen us, so timid first semester, then yelling over one another second semester as we tried to not fail in-class discussions: "He'll be as full of quarrel and offense/As my young mistress' dog" (2.3.48-49). Remember that quote, you dastardly fellow? Well, it's true that we made ourselves like crazed dogs, but it was strangely fun as people competed for the simple prize of being able to talk.

As I said earlier though, I simply wanted to better myself through intensive writing. I've known I want to be a writer since the beginning of Freshman year, so I figured AP English would help my future career in writing. What occupation I would be was unknown, but it would involve writing, that's for sure. Although I do wonder how alike we are, Iago. I despise you for your evil actions, but also understand your mind (which slightly scares me). I do not think that I am a selfish man, but couldn't taking AP English be considered an act of selfishness? For what reason did I start taking the class? Well, for myself, of course! It's a plain way to think, but also has a bit of truth. We do differ in one way, however, and that's shown through your silly comment about "following" Othello: "In following him, I follow but myself" (1.1.55). Yes, I did decide to take AP English and learn from Ms. Serensky for selfish reasons, but I don't do it solely to help myself. I hope to improve the lives of other people with my writing, to inspire others into following their ambitions, and to show how dedication can lead to success.

Online Relevance

As Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, it is sad that this has to be said, but it's true.

Newspapers are dying.

It is the unfortunate, but obvious fact that all journalists must come to terms with. The Information Age has moved on from print and into the intangible creation that is the digital world. People prefer to get their news and information from the internet, rather than going to the library or picking up a newspaper as the majority did not too long ago. Computers have changed everything, and there's no going back.

I still believe that newspapers are worthwhile, but the other avenues have to be considered as well.

I visited Ohio University this past weekend, and this question was brought up when we, the future students who will be studying journalism, were able to speak with current college students who are in the same major. "How has Scripps prepared students to adapt to a world in which the death of print is soon approaching?" This is a pretty accurate quote, because I remember the person saying it in a relatively dramatic fashion. The question was quickly answered though, and I was impressed.

Facebook, Twitter, and blogs have become an important part of journalism, which surprised me at first, but not after considering why.

People go on their Facebook page or post on their blog every day, while some check their Twitter almost every minute. I would love to say that's an exaggeration, but I've seen it before. Check phone, look at teacher. Check phone again, look at teacher. Check phone, read tweet, chuckle, feign paying attention.

My main point is that I'm going to have to learn more about the other social networking sites as well if I wish to have an upper-hand in a journalism/writing career. I must thank Ms. Serensky for forcing us to make these blogs though, because believe it or not, this was the first thing that was said at the presentation for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at O.U.

"If you don't have a blog, make one."

Minecraft

(The title of my blog is the title of a popular indie video game that has been in development since May 10, 2009.

Technically, the game isn't even finished, but it is simply amazing.)

When you first begin, you are given no direction. There is no tutorial, no instructions, nothing. There are no other people, no cities, no towns, no civilization. It's simply you standing by yourself.

If you look to the horizon though, you'll notice that there is a small forest. Perhaps you can get some wood from them? Punching trees may seem relatively stupid, but waiting around for nightfall would be an even worse idea.

It takes a while, but you have collected a little pile of wood. It takes quite a bit of thinking, but you eventually learn that by turning some of the wood into sticks, you may create a handle. A wooden pickaxe may not help you mine much, but it's all you have for now.

Time passes as you wander the landscape, while the sun passes the horizon and darkness descends upon you. You begin to walk with a bit more caution in each step, but then you suddenly take off in a sprint after hearing the hungry moan from the walking dead. To your surprise (and dismay), zombies rule the night. Right now, you are in their domain.

You dig into the ground and cover the top, sealing yourself in a hole for the night. It's a pathetic situation, you know, but what else could be done? Just then, you realize something. If a wooden pickaxe can be crafted, why not a wooden sword? You go into your inventory and attempt your brilliant idea, which obviously works.

Your wooden sword is no match for the onslaught of arrows that the skeletons can shoot, but at least it's something. It is a horrible feeling as you sit in your hole, because you are wasting precious time that could be used to collect other resources. You gather up your courage and decide to dig further downward, into the unknown. With a torch lit and a pickaxe in hand, you are not simply determined to survive. No, you wish for much more; you want to live.

(All this, and there is literally no written story or history about the game. This is the sense you have while playing. Writing is a powerful thing, but so are imagery and atmosphere. Watch the following videos to see why this is an award winning game.

I always thought this game could be made into an amazing book. I could definitely see it.)

Torn

I've been excited for quite some time, but I suddenly realized how ready I am for college. High school has been great for what it's worth, but I think it's about time to start my next big endeavor. We've been going to the same building to see (generally) the same teachers for the past four years. I can honestly say that I consider myself lucky for going to such a wonderful school with teachers who (for the most part) know what they're doing. A handful of teachers have affected my education and life in such a way that it would be hard to imagine how I would be without their guidance.

College can also be a scary experience, however, and I have my anxieties. Even though I'm sick of the repetition  that high school provides, I find myself stressing about the unknown. Will I really enjoy college life? I'm sure I will, but still, you never know. Will I get a crazy roommate? I don't care if they're a bit odd, but I just don't want any kind of voodoo ceremonies going on in my room. That would be a tad annoying, to say the least. Will my roommate be too normal? I'm a unique individual myself, so I don't want to worry about getting judged by someone who lives with me. I'll have a lot of stresses in my life when I go to college, and my roommate should not be one of them.

The thought of freedom comes to mind though, and my silly questions don't really seem to matter. Generally, I'll be able to do what I want and when I want to, and that sounds amazing to me. I love my parents, and they are extremely lenient for the most part, but I can't wait to finally start living on my own.

Then again, who's going to cook? It's alright, I can cook up a mean bowl of cereal.

Then again, maybe my roommate will steal my cereal. In which case, the following would probably happen.

Roommate

Me

I'd keep glaring until something happened. Believe me, it works.

Rage Rage Rage

A certain nasty, thoughtless comment was made by Dr. Koons in an email about newspaper. Essentially, he stated that he did not see the value in it.

Really? Really?

As the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, this enrages me beyond belief. What upsets me most is not the fact that it insults me, but that it insults the entire newspaper staff and Miss Beach.

Can the newspaper improve? Of course, I'll be the first to say it. Despite the fact that we have so many people reviewing and checking for errors, some will slip by. Sloppy, last minute changes might be made, or a tiny typo could go unnoticed. As much as I would love for our paper to be perfect, it isn't possible, but I aim to make it as interesting and fun to read as possible. I take a lot of pride in watching people read the newest issue and comment about the most humorous or intriguing articles. Generally, students and teachers alike enjoy the newspaper.

So how can you not see the value in it? It's a source of entertainment for the students, while it improves the writing styles of those on the staff. The constant deadlines will also prepare staff members for later occupations, since almost every job will require people to work together and to finish their task(s) by a specific date. Also, if both Editors-in-Chief (myself and Ali) were accepted into Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, doesn't that say something too?

Oh, and administration doesn't give us nearly enough money. For those of you who have ever wondered why we only published five issues a year, it's because newspaper is poorly funded.

"But Marc, you're a Senior, so it doesn't even matter if they take it away."

That's a comment I've gotten more than a couple of times. Yes, I won't be here, but that doesn't matter. I'm not going to fight for newspaper because of myself. Nope. I'm going to fight so that future students who are interested in journalism/writing may have a creative outlet.

I'm not sure what the administration has planned, but if it has a negative impact on the future staff of the Tiger Times, then you can bet I'll be the first to stand in the office, demanding some answers.

All I can say now is this (cool points awarded to the first person who translates this into slang).

Six Words

I passionately protest this preposterous paper.

Why So Much Apathy?

(Warning: If you don't want to read a blog post that contains much anger and confusion, simply don't read this one. If you want to learn how to be a kind human being though, then please continue. I had a bad day today, and this blog seems to be the perfect outlet.)

Why do people feel so much better about themselves by knocking others down?

I gain my self-esteem through hard work and ambition. There are others, however, that seem to steal self-esteem from everyone else. It's like a leech, and it's disgusting.

There was one thing that happened today that simply annoyed me beyond belief.

So juniors are allowed to be in the senior lounge, as long as they're with other seniors, which makes perfect sense. It's never been a problem before, and I don't see why it would be. The reason I say "before" is because it did become a problem today.

For the sake of names, I will call this guy "Dissenter." Dissenter felt the need to come over while we (three seniors and a junior) were playing the Nintendo 64, so that he could unplug the game. We all asked him what his problem was, and his response was that juniors aren't allowed in the senior lounge. We persisted by telling him he was being a hypocrite (since he has invited juniors to play in the senior lounge in the past) and asked why he would even care. Our protest didn't matter though, because the junior decided it wasn't worth it and left the lounge. We asked Dissenter why he was acting in such a abhorrent manner, and he replied with "Oh, I just don't like him."

Seriously? Seriously? All that, just because he doesn't like him? You know what I do when I don't like someone? I leave them alone. There was literally no point in him doing that, aside from trying to emotionally beat down someone. It's inappropriate behavior, and doesn't work in the outside world.

I could go on for pages upon pages about how much I despise people like this, but I'll stop it here for now. You have no idea how hard it was for me not to include cussing in this blog post. I really wanted to, believe me.

Thank You, Newspaper

Lately, a lot of conversations/events have been reminding me of my position as Editor for the school newspaper and how it has affected my life, and how it will affect my life in the future. Ms. Serensky paralleled Vernon and I today, commenting on the fact that I may be in the same position as him someday. I agreed, although added that I believe I would make better choices than him. I'd like to think I wouldn't publish silly, private photos of someone for petty reasons, but I can't be sure. Despite the fact that I am an Editor, would I feel differently if I were the Editor of a non-funded newspaper? Also, I have never received blackmail against someone I dislike. Would I publish something if it could ruin their lives? I have been pushed around before, and it would probably feel pretty good to be the one in control, like Vernon is now.

I'll probably never know, since I may never be in the same situation, but I still believe I would do the right thing. As a kind individual pointed out to me today, I'm a very empathetic person, which is an admirable quality for a leader to have. This surprised me, since I didn't realize that it was such a recognizable trait in my personality. Either that, or (s)he is just being way too nice.

There's a noteworthy accomplishment that I'd like to touch on in this blog post though.

The last thing I'd want to do is embarrass someone by mentioning their name, so I will simply call this person Awesome. Why Awesome? Well, I like the word, but that's beside the point.

Awesome was having trouble with their poetry papers, and I noticed after taking a glance at their grade. I immediately noticed some of the errors, because the majority of their problems were just grammatical/mechanical. I fix errors like those every day in newspaper, so why not come to their aid? I asked if they would like some help, they did, I took the paper, revised it, then gave it back the next day. During their next poetry paper, Awesome had it next to them as they wrote, or at least that's what Awesome told me. Awesome got their latest poetry paper back and improved immensely.

Seriously, that was one of the proudest moments of my life. You can call me egotistical, you can call me a bragger, but I'm honestly not trying to be any of those. I'm just amazed by the fact that I was able to help someone else through my writing skills. I mean...I do it in newspaper, but in AP English? I never thought that would be possible.

Maybe if we all just helped each other to improve, we'd all be getting A's on these papers. I'm just throwing that out there. Food for thought.

(Also, I feel as though that whole last half completely negates my feelings of "Oh, maybe I'm not that empathetic." I know I'm empathetic, I guess I just didn't realize it was noticeable when I'm not doing empathetic-type things. Well, whatever, I digress.)

(Magicka Page Count: 3 STILL. Very busy week, but unproductive to my writing.)

Magicka

The title of this blog is also the title of the story I'm currently working on.

One of my first blog posts was about how I took Creative Writing a couple of years ago, which helped in my decision to becoming a writer due to the story's success. I hope to transform this "story" into a novel someday. I first started writing Magicka in that class, and chose to continue working on it after the school year was over. I made little progress on the story and even abandoned it for about a year, but I am now rewriting it from scratch. I could have used some of my old writings to save time, but after reading them, I realized that I have become a much better writer. I still need to become even better, but I have definitely improved since Sophomore year.

I am currently three pages into first chapter, which amazes me. I have always found the beginning to be the hardest when writing anything, so the fact that I am slowly making progress is fantastic.

I'm usually not a list-type of guy, but I want to make a couple of bullet points about my goals for this novel. In all honesty, this is more for my benefit. I think it would be interesting to post this, and then look back on it near the end of the year. I have to write 40 pages of Magicka by the end of the year for Advanced Creative Writing, so I hope to accomplish these in that given time.

Goals

• To create unique, dynamic characters who are also identifiable.
• This will be one of my greatest challenges. This story is fantasy fiction with magic (if you couldn't tell by the title. Oh, and no, the title has more significance than that), so it will be somewhat difficult to make the characters relate-able.
• To make everything understandable.
• I have two main points going against me in this aspect. First, I am the writer. As the writer, anything I type will be perfectly understandable to me. The problem I will have is making it understandable to everyone. Not only that, but I'm trying to write a fantasy fiction story, so my descriptions will be more outlandish simply because of its creative nature. I don't want only a certain group to like my novel. I want anyone to be able to pick it up, start reading, and then scream for more.
• Redefine magic.
• This is nothing like Harry Potter. Don't get me wrong, I love the series as well, I just feel as though the word "magic" is automatically tied to Harry Potter nowadays. It will remain one of my all-time favorite series, but I want my story to redefine what "magic" really means.

I thought I had more originally, but those are the only three that I'm really focusing on as of now. I will probably make a note at the end of my future posts to update on my progress, which will be a nice way for me to see how much work I got done for a certain week. I hope to write at least one hour a night on Magicka alone, so that'll be a good start.

Also, here is a drawing of Rel, one of the five main characters. I could describe him and his personality, but where is the fun in that? For those of you who want to comment, try and guess! If you don't want to, then I suppose you don't have to, although I highly suggest it. All the cool kids told me they're going to do it, so you probably should too. No pressure.

(I did not draw this, just for clarification.)

(Magicka Page Count: 3)

Boisterous Blogs and Pleasant Programs

It's getting pretty late, although I suppose this would be considered early for me, since I'm usually that guy that makes his post within the last minutes of the day.

I absolutely loved the blogs, without a doubt. I'm extremely surprised with how well it turned out, especially since this is the first time this has been done in our AP course. The process isn't perfect or flawless, but for a first try, the blogs are a huge success (in my opinion). I mainly used the blogs to talk about subjects from class that I wanted to continue discussing, although I would also comment on a couple of interesting finds that I felt others may enjoy (take Scott Pilgrim, The King's Speech, and tvtropes.org for example). I enjoy the freedom we gain through these blogs, because it's nice to know that you can rant as much as you want on your blog, since we all know there is never enough time in class.

My only criticisms are the requirements of comments and images. I understand that the comment requirement is only there so that everyone is forced to look at different blogs, rather than the same one each time, but I feel as though the requirement only made me feel discouraged from looking at other blogs until the last minute, when I knew the comments were due. If there wasn't a requirement, it would feel a bit more leisurely, and I'd probably still look at as many blogs as I do now, if not more. The images requirement also seems a bit silly, although I'm kind of having fun with it now.

On a random, but related note: I went onto cleverbot.com to ask what kind of image I should post on my blog. Cleverbot, the winner of 2010's Machine Intelligence Competition, replied with, "You can put me in a pot and boil me." I figured that meant it wanted me to post its picture in my blog, so here is an image of our conversation directly after it's last comment. I decided to joke with the program and...well...now I am afraid.

I will be sleeping with my laptop turned off and my door locked tonight.

The Unknown Lurks

Shutter Island has invaded. Obviously I don't think about it every day since watching it, but there are times where I find myself doing nothing, then thinking "Wait a second...is he really insane?" It's annoying, to say the least, so I decided to do a bit more research/analyzing into the movie, and found a couple of interesting points. Plus, rambling about an ambiguous subject is rather entertaining.

As the audience, we meet the ever dashing duo, trying to figure out what has happened on an island that just screams evil. There is, of course, the necessary "A storm is coming." line, which adds to creepiness and takes away from it at the same time. "Whoa, a storm? That's really scar-Oh wait, that's been done before. A lot." It's used so much, there's an actual trope for it on tvtropes.org. I did find myself a bit freaked out nonetheless, so I guess it did it's job.

Then there's the Doctor. Oh the Doctor. I looked at him and said, "Yep, he's evil. He's the bad guy. No doubt about it." I just love feeling so smart, only to realize that the Director of the movie wanted you to feel that way. Seriously, the Doctor's face shows nothing but passive aggressiveness. Compare the next two pictures.

Those two grimaces look exactly the same. Granted, the first one has a more "I know something you don't" feel to it, but the grimace is still there. I don't care if you're crazy or sane, it's hard not to think he's the bad guy in this movie.

Another somewhat stereotypical trope within the movie is the It's Personal, which is obvious when Andrew/Teddy reveals a reason for his investigation having to do with the death of his wife.

A genius move on the Director's part, however, is the use of matches. Andrew Laeddis is an arsonist, revealed by Teddy as well, which I kind of forgot about until now. Once I remembered him lighting all the matches in Ward C though, I immediately wish to commend the Director for his outstanding use of foreshadow. There were plenty of other moments that foreshadowed the end as well, I assume, but that's just one of the few that I remember.

Overall, I thought the movie was amazing, due to its ability to trick an audience, while still making sense near the end. It all came together, and I was left mildly content. Only mildly though, since the lighthouse scene leaves us hanging. It is implied that he is crazy and must receive a lobotomy, but I keep thinking that there has to be more to it. I could just be paranoid, but then again, isn't that what the Director wanted?

And this is why I don't watch suspense movies. Now to try and sleep.

Creeptastic

I was sitting at home, stressing out as usual. Not surprisingly, I've procrastinated on my Data Sheet. I was focusing on my work as I stared at the screen of my laptop, only looking down every now and then to check my book. My Mom had entered the room and scolded me for something about poor lighting, but I wasn't really paying attention.

"Marc, does your lamp not work? You can't work with such little light."
"Okay Mom."
"Are you listening to me?"
"Maybe."
"...I'm going to go see if it works now, I'll get a new light bulb."
"Okay Mom."

My Mom did exactly as she said, and got the new bulb. Now, I hadn't believed it would work, since this lamp had been broken for ages. I had simply kept it for...well....no real reason I suppose. Decoration maybe? I don't know, to be honest. After she put the bulb in and turned on the light, however, it started working. Unbeknownst to me, the lamp was pointed right in my face. A flash of bright, white light blinded me and I immediately tried to cover my eyes. "Hey, uh, Mom, can you change that bulb? White light creeps me out, it reminds me of hospitals and asylums." I slowly moved the lamp so it wasn't burning my eyes, although I stopped after I realized what I had said.

The bright light reminded me of the light from Shutter Island, when the Marshal gets his "migraines," while the asylum comment reminded me of pretty much everything we've talked about for the past month.

After the Data Sheet is done, I am going to sleep off this insanity.

Similarities Between a King and a Student

"Back to school, back to school, to prove to my Dad I'm not a fool. My lunch packed, my shoes tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight!" Oh Billy Madison, I'll never forget that little tune.

Anyways, it feels weird to know that I'll be going back to school with the same old routine. It has been great to go about my day without a real plan or schedule set out for me, but I don't think going back to school will be too bad. We've got a week, then finals, and we're done! Obviously we still have to work hard as students to keep our grades up, but we won't have anymore finals. Alright, we'll have AP testing, but that's different. I'm just trying to look at the bright side of things.

An interesting movie I saw the other night is titled "The King's Speech," which is a British historical drama that focuses on the struggles of King George VI as he overcomes his stammering problem. There is much more to the movie that makes it an amazing film. The main subject, his stammering, really hits home with me considering I used to have a stutter myself (stuttering and stammering are essentially the same thing). After taking some speech classes as a young child, my speech impediment disappeared (more or less), although I still wonder how hard life would be if I did have it. I still stutter every now and then when I'm under a great deal of pressure, but I cannot imagine how I would be able to speak publicly if I hadn't been "cured." When I introduced David Sedaris at Playhouse Square, I spoke in front of hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. That would not have been possible if I still had a stutter. Heck, even taking AP English would be impossible, since we speak every single day during class.

I feel as though I was an adequate public speaker before taking AP English, but I now realize that AP English probably helped me become an excellent speaker.