Categories
Japan Personal School

28 Days Later

It has been a while since I last posted so, this one is going to be a long one. I hope I can recall all that I have wanted to post.

Ok, so there is this kid named Austin Hart. He’s in a couple of my classes including Physics and Pre-Cal. We joke around all the time. Well, one day in Pre-Cal we were kind of ripping on each other pretty hard and during a part when the teacher was teaching I was just doodling my name in lighting then Austin made some crack. Well, I figured I would would take this opportunity to illustrate to him the current situation of our lives. Nate, me, and even Austin broke out into laughter in the middle of a lecture. I’m sure we looked like idiots, but it was just too funny. There was no way he could recover from such a burn so I walked away from Pre-Cal that day triumphant. Me: 1 Austin: 0

So there’s a new craze sweeping college dorm rooms across the nation. It’s name you ask, Guitar Hero. This game is pure fun. I don’t know what they used to program it, but it was probably something like a fun-puter. OK, lame jokes aside the object of the game is to hit a combination of buttons the correspond with those on the screen. To expand this, there is a guitar controller with 5 fret-buttons and a strum-bar. The game has 47 songs to choose from with varying difficulties. A note or combinations of notes (color coded for ease) will pass down the screen, as they line up with circles at the button you hold the correct fret-buttons and stum the stum-bar. It’s almost like DDR. Simple enough concept, but for some reason it’s just terribly fun. I think the key is it’s simplicity. Some may think this is a new concept, but I just want to take this time to plug the original, Guitar Freaks. It’s been in Japan for sometime. Why it took so long to come here, beats the hell out of me. In conclusion, go. buy. Guitar Hero. You will not be disappointed.

The big part of this blog would be the exchange students. Let me explain. Crown Point High School has a sister school in Japan, Arima High School. We exchange students with each school every year, we go to Japan one year and they come here the next. It was so fun when they were here. It was so sad when they left. They were definitely some tears shead by the students. Anyway here is a recap of their stay. They day they got here we went to the mall. We were all still getting used to each other so there was a schism of Americans and Japanese. Sunday a bunch of students and their hosts went to Chicago. We took the train up but our groups got kind of split because of train stations and scheduling. We decided the Shedd Aquarium would be the place of choice. When we stepped off the train we noticed right next to us our other half-of our group. It was so weird we were one train apart the whole time and didn’t even realize it. So, that worked out for the best. The aquarium was awesome. I heart the aquarium and the last time I was there was like in 6th grade. After the aquarium we tried to head to Ed Debevic’s but the aquarium was too far away to reach in time on foot. We ended up going to Starbucks and grabbing hot chocolate or whatever kind of crazy moocachocalataee everyone else got. When we got hoem we went to Steak and Shake to actually eat. It was some god-awful service. I was kind of tweaked and did not leave a tip. The next day we had the students shadow us all day. I felt bad for Manami. My classes are less than stellar and classes such as Government were especially boring on that day. I had golf try-outs after school that day and the next day, can you say bad scheduling? That was a pain. I didn’t even make the golf team. That’s ok I didn’t really wanna make it this year anyway. That’s not to say I did not try I just sucked pretty bad. The week kind of sucked. We tried to show them stuff afterschool, but a lot of the time we were tired an whatnot. Thursday I didn’t even go to school because I had to catch up on sleep I missed from staying up late then getting up early for school. One day, Zack, Nao, Manami, and I hung out Zack’s house and played Mario Kart for SNES that was really fun. I was in that way tired, but not sleepy mode. So, I was kind of giggly. Me and Zack took one of his blankets and hid underneath and said it was our castle and that they couldn’t come in. They honestly didn’t care, but we kept asking them if they wanted to come in and they said no, and our response was “Well good, because you can’t.” It sounds stupid, but it was funny. I believe it was Saturday that we decided to go cosmic bowling at Inman’s in Valpo. It was a lot of fun. Your’s truly won the first match *blows on nails then polishes them on shirt*. The night before they left we all went to Zack’s house to hang out. We played Guitar Hero and DDR. Kevin actually got to kiss two of the exchange students, and get this his deal was “If you guys kiss, then you can kiss me.” What the hell kind of deal is that!? After most of the people left I got to talk to some of the students one on one. I liked that the best. It being about midnight I asked if any of them were sleepy, and I got the most memorable and adorable response ever from Nao. In perfect English she tells me “Time is precious, so I don’t want to sleep.” I agreed and continued on the conversation. The next morning my family and Manami went out to breakfast before we dropped her off at the high school. We were all sad she was leaving even my day which is surprising. The night before I stayed up and made a scrap book for Manami. I gave it to her at breakfast. In the car she started crying. It was so depressing. I plan on going to Japan this summer so hopefully I will see them soon.

I have to comment on this because I am tired of hearing this. When I was golfing in some really cold weather for try-outs an overweight adult come up and asks how we are we respond with “Cold.” He says “o you kids are young, you’re fine.” The fuck?!? Since when did age determine the outside temperature? You hear it all the time too “Your young you shouldn’t be tired.” It’s usually from some haggard 40-year-old who hasn’t seen exercise or his penis (fat stomach joke, think about it) in quite some time. I forgot that because I’m 18 I don’t get tired, cold, or hungry. Look adults get some flippin’ exercise and maybe you wouldn’t be so tired. Don’t use age as an excuse. That’s my Gripe of the Blog.

I will update more often, I promise. Comment’s wouldn’t hurt either.

Categories
Japan Media Personal School Technology

Are You Humming Kelly Clarkson?

Sorry for the gap between updates.

I have a lot I said I would put in my blog, but I am not sure I remember it all.

First off, Ted Leo covers “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. Go download it, it is amazing.

UBDs are finally over. For all of you who don’t know what UBDs are, they are like mini-finals. They stand for “Understanding By Design.” Crown Point High School states “They are required by the state.” The question that begs to be answered is if they are required by the entire state of Indiana, why is CPHS the only school who has them. Hmmmmm. Anyway, we had them this week and I was very stressed about them and extremely glad they are over. You know that feeling you get right before you go on vacation like the night before. A really anxious feeling and you can’t sleep or do anything. I feel this way all the time now. I can not wait for the future. These next 4 months of school feel like such a waste. I feel that I have learned all I need to from this town and I need to move on.

On a lighter note, I have a couple stories for you guys/gals. Last year in Algebra II, Finny drew a penis, but he drew it a tad askew and made the shaft extend pass the balls. We ended up making it into a chicken. Well in Pre-cal this year I redrew it on a review sheet and again we made it into a chicken. I added a caption of the onomatopoeic expression for a chicken, bagok! The day before the Pre-cal UBD I went to Finny’s house to study and I brought the review sheet with me. April ended up coming over later on to “study” with us. Well she sees the drawing and says, “What’s a bag-ok?” Me and Finny look at each other in amazement for a second then bust out laughing. We still haven’t let it go.

One passing period I was standing next to Finny and Apirl’s lockers as I always do and next to them this white trash, thug gangster comes up, you know the type, jeans half way down his ass, big fucking sweatshirt with something like “Southpole” or Tupac on it, and on top of that his hair was this greasy mess of curls that looked like he just stepped out of the shower (which defiantly was not the case) Well out of all the things in the world he could of said he had to say something to reinforce the stereotype on him. He said, and I quote “Aww hell naw. We gotta get drunk tonight.” Yeah I know, you can’t make that stuff up. Me, Finny, and April all look at each other wide-eyed, kind of in a stupor, all thinking the same thing, “Did that guy really just say what I think he said?” We all then busted out laughing not caring if that kid heard us or not.

I have done Japan Bowl for the past 2 years, Japan Bowl is a competition held nation-wide and tests high school kids knowledge of Japanese language and culture. This year Indiana decided not to do the national competition where the grand-prize is a free trip to Japan, but do a state-wide competition for “pride.” That was strike one. Then we only got about 3 people for 4th year to sign up. Strike two. On top of all this sensai said we would have to provide our own transportation which wouldn’t be so bad if I also didn’t have to provide it for the stupid underclassmen. They are like the worst bunch of kids ever. They are all like METAL BLEHHH! They also completely hate the idea of personal hygiene. Strike three. Brian and I decided that we were not going to do Japan Bowl this year. It defiantly a relief seeing as the competition is next week and we have studied about zero, plus with college coming up, golf starting soon, and an afterschool job I have way to much on my plate.

Nate recently took the A+ hardware exam and passed with flying colors. Congratulations! I have been putting that test off for so long. So I finally buckled down and set a date. March 10th, 2006 I am taking the A= hardware exam then about 2-3 weeks later I am going to take the operating systems portion. Mr.Fox will be so proud.

VoIP is the wave of the future. I can see it overtaking cell phones. If you do not know what VoIP is it stands for “Voice over IP(Internet)” Basically it allows you to make calls over the internet for free or a small fee. Vonage if you have heard of it (which I’m sure you have) is VoIP, but allows you to call other regular phone users. Skype is a free program that allows you to “call” other Skype users and talk to them for free anywhere.

The only requirements are:
An internet connection
Skype
Microphone
Speakers

They also provide services where you can call to regular phones and receive calls from regular phones for a small fee. The beauty part is the more friends you get to use Skype the more free things become. So spread the word! Wi-Fi is becoming extremely popular. It seem wherever you go there is a Wi-Fi hotspot around providing free internet. Skype has a Windows Mobile version of it’s software. You can take you Windows Mobile enable PDA or device and make Skype calls from any Wi-Fi spot. Like a cell phone without an extra cost. Grant it it has some limitations, but Wi-Fi is spreading like wildfire and for as many homes that are becoming wireless and not encrypting their connection Wi-Fi is everywhere and free is always better than not.

I can’t believe in 20 days the Japanese exchange students are coming. I am so excited! Manami is the name of the girl I am hosting. I have emailed her about a dozen times. She is pretty awesome and I love forming more friendships with people from Japan. When they are here we are going to do stuff everyday until midnight, minimum. It’s also really cool because Manami is really good friends with the Zack and Palmer’s exchange students, and me, Zack, and Palmer live about 3 seconds from each other. March 18th can’t come soon enough.

This part of the blog I am going to do a media round up of what I have seen, watched, or played lately.

Blankets by Craig Thompson
This graphic novel is phenomenal. It is auto-biographical in a sense. It is the story of the auto growing up in a Christian household and the effects of this upbringing. It is also a story of first love. It is touching and recreates the feelings of first love and it’s loss. I recommend you go out right now and buy it. You will not regret it.

Voices of a Distant Star by Makoto Shinkai
This entire anime was made by a single man on his Machintosh over a seven month span. The story takes place in 2046 with two teenagers,Mikako and Noboru, about to enter high school. Although it is not outright said you can sense their is a strong connection between the two. They plan to enter high school together and live happily ever after. Meanwhile there is a war going on in space and Mikako is commissioned to go fight in it. The war is an entire galaxy away and communication is scarce. Mikako and Noburo email each other on their cell phone when separated, but the farther Mikako goes from earth the longer the mail takes to send and receive. It eventually becomes eight years before and email can reach earth from where Mikako is. It is a touching tale of love and it’s power to overcome any obstacle. It is a short 25 minute movie, but packs more emotion and feeling into it than most anime series do in 25 episodes.

Well this blog should have satisfied you as it took me about an hour to write. Until next time.

Categories
Nonsense Purdue School

Already Thinking of College

Well, today was pretty uneventful. I am tired of the ho-hum. I just can’t wait until college. Finny and I are going to have the coolest dorm complete with Hulk Hogan poster on the back of the door. Pre-Cal sucks my left asshole. I really do not like it. Lowery is so old, too. Her lessons are so hard to pay attention to. Well, that’s my bitch-of-the-day. I don’t have much more to say. I just wanted to post a blog for some reason. Post sooner than later.