A Few Points of [Un]Interest

That is what I'm bringing to AP Euro tomorrow. It's lemon coffee cake. It sounded delicious so I hope it turns out good.

I was supposed to work today but the pool was closed due to weather. I'm not complaining. I have to bake, pack, do Biology homework, go over lines for AP Euro skit, and translate "Rock Me Amadeus" into English. It freed up five hours of my time. I'm feeling less pressured now. 

We had the seminary auction today. I didn't get everything I wanted but I got the main thing: $25 gift certificate to AMC 20. I figure that if I go see matinees, I can see five movies with it. Probably my best purchase since my Complete Works of Shakespeare/Rebecca/Sims 3. It cost me 14,900 seminary bucks. I also got some straws, gum, and cheddar popcorn. Exciting, I know. 

I'm working on this  new theory. About technology. It's consuming much of my thought at this moment. 

I'm excited to get Nationals done with. The thing I'm looking forward to the most is swimming in the pool and staying in the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. It looks nice and I really want to swim. I'm kind of lame....

I really like Norse mythology. It's not as complicated or bizarre as Greek mythology, in my opinion. 

Earth Footprint

Check it.

I took this in biology today.

Apparently, if everyone lived like me, we would need 3.6 earths to sustain all needs.

That seems like a lot...But I had the lowest number of needed earths. Everyone else was getting around 7 or 8 planet earths. 

I thought it was interesting though.

Fact of the Day

Fact of the Day: Geography Bee

In the last National Geographic Literacy Survey, about 11 percent of 18-to-24-year-old citizens of the U.S. could not even locate the U.S. on a map. The Pacific Ocean's location was a mystery to 29 percent; Japan, to 58 percent; France, to 65 percent; and the United Kingdom, to 69 percent. More young U.S. citizens in the study knew that the island featured in the TV show "Survivor" was in the South Pacific than could find Israel. Each year thousands of schools in the U.S. participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography.

Really?? 

Chicago Art Institute

I'm going to Chicago next week. On Saturday, when the quiz bowl matches are all done with, we have some free time. I really want to go to the art museum there. It's the second largest one in the U.S. behind MOMA. 

Its art collection=fabulous. It has Nighthawks, Time Transfixed, Water Lilies, American Gothic, and Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Eek! It's also heavy on the Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings. Impressionism is my favorite art style. 

But, alas, it closes at five p.m. 

This is very sad. If only, if only.

Time Transfixed, Rene Magritte

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Georges Seurat

Bedroom at Arles, Vincent van Gogh

Nighthawks, Edward Hopper

Water Lilies, Claude Monet

By the Water, Pierre-Auguste Renoir

American Gothic, Grant Wood

The Summer

I'm anticipating the summer, I'm not going to lie. I got a job as a lifeguard and I'm excited for it. I get to save people's lives, get a tan, and earn more than minimum wage for my first job. I'm looking forward to it. 

This summer I am going to...

• Test out of World History
• Do lots of reading
• Work. A lot.
• Create my own Quiz Bowl Camp for real this year. (Not like last year!)
• Go to Cedar Point with people who like roller coasters. 
• Go camping with my family
• Go on the trek and wear pioneer clothing. Oddly enough, I'm really excited for this. 
• I'm possibly going someplace that just might involve a passport. But it's still in the air. I'm trying to not get excited for it because I'm being realistic. But still, it's a possibility.

It's going to be pretty busy.

Before we get to the summer, I still have...four?-ish weeks of school left. 

I can do it. I just keep telling myself that. 

And I have Nationals to get through. I'm already getting tense about it and it's not for another week, plus a few days. Not a good sign. 

A Brief Conversation with Yunbo

The Fighting Temeraire, J.M.W. Turner

Thursday at quiz bowl, I sat by Yunbo. We were going to start a game and it was silent until he said:

"I hope you know your art well."

I replied, "I think I do...at least I hope I do."

"Art is so arbitrary."

"Yes, it is arbitrary."

"I mean, some guy paints whatever he wants and puts it in his cupboard. Three hundred years later, it's worth millions of dollars and the answer to some quiz bowl question that we can't answer!" 

I thought it was kind of funny and at the same time, kind of true.

But I like art. 

I think I should be studying even more art now. I kind of feel...inadequate to be on the varsity A team. At the same time I feel thrilled but I should know my art even better. It's intimidating. I'm just a little bit...scared that I won't live up to the expectations placed on me. 

I think it's these times that I can't rely on my own strength.

Musik Videos auf Deutsch!

Ok, so here are some music videos from German we've watched in class recently.

*Just because I posted it does NOT mean I like the song or video. Just thought I'd share. 

I really like Allein Allein though.

Irgendwas Bleibt-Silbermond 

Something Stays-Silvermouth

 

Allein Allein-Polarkreis 18

Alone Alone-Polar Circle 18

Tanz der Molukuel-Mia

The Molecules Dance-Mia

Ein Sturm-Madsen

A Storm-Madsen

Vielleicht-Madsen

Maybe-Madsen

Kuess Mich fuer Immer-Samba

Kiss me Always-Samba

Gewinner-Clueso

Winner-Clueso

We're voting on which song we want to be our next. 

We'll see what happens.