"Very few people..."

"Very few people see with their eyes and think with their mind."

-Albert Einstein.

You know, I'm not even going to discuss this one. I'm just going to leave it here. Think for yourself.

"Need some silence from the loud"

"Need some silence from the loud,
Them noisy crowds."

-Imogen Heap

I just got back from a walk down to the salt marsh. It's a beautiful evening.
I walked along the boardwalk, then around the lake. I found a beautiful spot on a small peninsula of dirt and stuff that was jutting out into the lake. (See map above)
So I sat there...
I listened.
I could hear the pukekos across the lake from me pulling up roots to eat. I could hear their footsteps and their wings flapping. I could hear the birds singing in the trees, the swish of water as some ducks took off and the quacking of a couple who drifted lazily past me. The sky was so unbelievably blue, and the few clouds so unbelievably white. The trees were so many shades of green and the cold air cleansed all smells.
Then I actually listened.
I could hear cars on the road behind the trees. I could hear a baby crying, a phone ringing, and some idiotic kids screaming as their mother told them they could not buy an ice cream on the way home. I could hear the dogs (not a native NZ species) barking. I could hear an aeroplane going by. If I looked north instead of east, I could see a house. If I looked west, I could see houses on the hill, and if I stood, I could see houses to the east and the south over the trees and I could see the noisy road with cars swishing by. There was a Snickers bar wrapper embedded in the dirt about a metre south of my right foot.
All of those noises, I am so used to that I didn't notice them for several minutes.
I wish I could walk through the salt marsh and have it be completely isolated of human noise. I like the paths to walk on, but I wish it could at least be silent from what I am so trained to ignore.
I felt almost angry when I noticed these things. Now I feel a little sad, but calmer and less braindead than I did before I went out walking. Maybe I will visit that spot again; take a camera and a notebook next time.

"WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones."

"I know not with what weapons WWIII will be fought, but WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones."

- Albert Einstein

Have you ever thought how amazing technology is? We have so many things now. Today when I entered my Chemistry room (where I originally drafted this), a bright red fluffy feather was sitting on my desk. We are now able to produce a modified replica of a rare biological occurrence. We can get to the other side of the planet in a day (excluding stop-offs). 6000 years ago, that would have been only enough to walk 72km (assuming the human walking pace is 3km/h, ish). I mean, you are able to read this. Hell, most people reading this wouldn't even know me if it weren't for technology (♥ mah interwebz buds).

And I guess I don't even need to go into that much detail about the quote, but I will anyway. We all know about how technology has bought us guns, bombs, nuclear weapons. Sure, there is the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, but treaties are mere paper. You can bet that if any one country/group fired their nukes, the rest would follow suit. (See End Of The World animation for a humourous take on this.)
Thus, nuclear winter, therefore, humanz go bewm (quite literally). Not only humans, but pretty much all life on Earth. Even if we survived, we'd be set back to the stone age.
Technology is still developing though. And it's pretty sure that WWIII will be big...
"War in our blood, some things never change." - Avenged Sevenfold

My conclusion can best be expressed by a quote from Arnold J Rimmer (Season 1, Ep 2): "Old Albo and I happen to agree on this one..."
WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones.

"It takes one to know one"

"It takes one to know one"

- Common saying
For the first time, I am actually disagreeing with the quote...
If you are one, then you will be able to see the similarities in another person who is also one. But, you will also be able to see the differences in what you are, and what the other person is.
For example: I am pretty sure that anyone reading my blog will not be a goth. But you know what a goth is, right? You do? Takes one to know one, therefore you are a goth.
Another cliché that people repeat without thinking about it.

I wrote the above in Geography. Another thought below:
Gays are environmentally friendly. Logically thinking... The world has an overpopulation problem. Gay couples cannot reproduce, so they may adopt an orphan. Not reproducing prevents adding to the overpopulation problem and adopting is almost like recycling a child.
Just a random thought... :3

"He who makes a beast out of himself..."

"He who makes a beast out of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man."

-Samuel Johnson

So, I would like to start by saying "Ohai Blog-la, long teim no see :3 :3", and then continue on a more serious note.
Firstly; leave whatever spiteful anonymous comment you like, I don't care, this is my little corner of the internet and I am who I am and Mr Farthing said they would never change the teacher because of this anyway. What a beast, finally speaking my mind...

Now, on with the quote:
Humans have far more standards than animals. Silly moral codes like not wearing a hat indoors. We are no longer creatures of instinct, and those who are, like the rapists and the murderers, are behind bars. Makes things safer, right? And they should stay there (: But logically...
Once upon a time, there was a monkey called Priscilla. Priscilla lived a happy life, swinging around in the ruins of an ancient South American civilisation. Life was good for the monkeys of her tribe. Food was plentiful, and as the alpha female, she could have nearly whatever she wanted. Sure, it may have sucked for Verionica when Priscilla took her lovely juicey fruit that she'd just found for her baby Jim, but that's the way things worked. The squabbling was for survival, and none of the monkeys were hurt in the long term. Then one day, it was mating season; all of the monkeys loved this time of year. Priscilla was walking along the top of the ruins, staring at the other monkeys below. Priscilla was about to jump down, when suddenly another monkey pounced on her from behind. This male was a stranger! He didn't belong to her tribe, he smelt wrong! He couldn't just take the alpha female like that! D: Priscilla screeched and struggled, but all of the other monkeys ignored her. 6 months later, Priscilla gave birth to a baby Bob, who she loved and cared for, despite the unwanted seed from the unwanted male. They all grew up and lived happily ever after.

Now, let's translate this to a human society:

Once upon a time, there was a girl called Priscilla. Priscilla lived a happy life, working in a clothing shop with her college roommate. Life was good for her and her roommate. They could buy nearly any luxury items they needed, and attend parties every weekend. Sure, it may have sucked for her roommate when Priscilla took her lovely juicey fruit that she'd just bought for her dietary needs, but that's the way things worked. The squabbling was like it was between all roommates, and neither of them were hurt in the long term. Then one day, Priscilla was at a party; she loved parties. Priscilla was standing near the edge of the party, staring at the other partygoers. Priscilla was about to walk over and join them, when suddenly someone grabbed her from behind. This male was a stranger! He smelt like alcohol! He couldn't just do that to her like that! D: Priscilla screeched and struggled, but he was too strong and nobody heard her above the music. 6 months later, after her abortion, Priscilla testified against her attacker in court, and he was given a $200,000 fine and sent to prison for 18 months.

Aren't humans strange? If someone acts on their basic instincts, they are declared a danger to others. Monkeys? Fact of life. "He who makes a beast out of himself..." Most "wrongdoers" are generally classed as insane: "There has to be something wrong with them to act that way"; "Who in their right mind would do that?"; "That poor girl!". Don't you think it must be easier, somewhat, to actually be clinically insane? Everyone is so tied to their morals, everyone is so hurt by what others think and what others do and what they should do, that it's almost painful to belong to this species. But those who are clinically insane are comparable to beasts... Thus, the quote holds true: "He who makes a beast out of himself, gets rid of the pain of being a man". While, this may have been originally talking about gambling in Las Vegas, I think it applies in my context too.

So... This is a really long rambling blog. I'm not justifying the acts of these beastly individuals, by any means, but there are undeniable similarities between those people and between animals. There is another quote from Scream, by Avenged Sevenfold; "It's the way we're built, don't point the blame on me". But... Yeah... All I am really trying to say is that the theme quote holds true...
Another point: Celine once said that humans aren't allowed to be close like animals anymore. You ever seen two pets, (perhaps mice :3), curled up together, fast asleep? If anyone did that in our society, there'd have to be a romantic relationship going on between them. They couldn't be just friends, ohhh no... >.> Celine has a double bed and we'll bloody well snug if it's cold and I sleep over, damnit! :P

And on that note, goodnight. Sorry for the half ramble, can't really get my head together. But now, we're at least back on my irregular blogging schedule, instead of abstaining for... For... For no good reason.
Goodnight ^u^

"I may not be worthy in your eyes..."

"I may not be perfect,
But I've always been true.
I may not be worthy in your eyes.
Climb up from the bottom
For the last time."

-Avenged Sevenfold

My name is Bec and I like fruit and yogurt and metal that doesn't scream, and I love my mouse and I like black and I like to write and I'm sorry for having an opinion. My name is Bec and I have friends on the internet who I love just as dearly as my few friends not on the internet. I type really quickly and my head buzzes too much and sometimes I wish I could stop thinking. My name is Bec and this blog is going undercover and fish tastes bad but I guess that might just be my opinion again 'cause I ate fish just before I got really sick when I was three, so I might just be crazy and have psychological problems with it. My name is Bec and this is over for now.

Terminated.

"For the sake of peace and quiet..."

"Never, 'for the sake of peace and quiet,' deny your own experience or convictions."

-Dag Hammarskjold
So, it all got resolved :)
Celine and I got pulled out of second period today to talk to Mr Farthing, and he said that we are not going to get a new teacher *cheer!* but that he will talk to Mr Simpson about his teaching methods. I think this is a reasonable solution, so I am happy :)
Mr Farthing is funny though... Just so oblivious... "Now, Celine I thi- Celine! I always loved that name! If I had had a fifth daughter, I would have named her Celine. I was getting a bit creative when we got to the fourth, she is actually called Irena, but I just love Celine as a name!" He says 'actually' a lot. And gushes. Lol... "Oh! A finer arts degree in glass, well that is unusual! Actually, I have always loved... Blah blah blah Ololwut?" "An architect! You know, my two regrets in life are actually, one, not learning to fly (Oh thank God he didn't!) and actually, two, not taking Graphics when I was at school. Graphics wasn't even offered to me but I have always loved interior design! Not just art, I just love designing rooms! If I could live my life again, I would have been an interior designer... Blah blah blah Ololwut?"
Mr Farthing means well, but he's a bit oblivious and gets a bit off-track. Hehe. By the way, Mr Farthing is the Deputy Principal for our year. Just to clear things up.
Anyway, revision time now, I have practice exams in three weeks. Have a lovely evening, everyone! :3

"In war, truth is the first casualty."

"In war, truth is the first casualty."

-Aeschylus

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a letter in response to my classmates’ petition regarding Mr Simpson’s continuation as our 11SCALC teacher. I strongly object to this petition and believe that many of the points they make are mere rebuttals for arguments supporting Mr Simpson or simply down to their own perception of various events. I do not think that this petition has been executed in the manner in which it should have been done and they have failed to take into account the impact a change of teacher could have on our learning.

My first issue with this petition is the manner in which it is executed. Although the founding group first consulted Mr Farthing about the planning of such a document, they did not handle the actual signing of it as professionally as they should have. Even though the document was handed around at an appropriate time, and prepared legitimately beforehand, I feel that they should have asked more people for opinions rather than springing it onto us, mostly unannounced during our Physics lesson in Period 3 on the 13th of May. In presenting it in this manner, they did not give people the proper time to form opinions on the issue. Another thing I object to is the peer pressure involved in signing it. Despite the document being handed innocently around the class at first, they persistently took it around to people who had not signed, and the overall atmosphere of the thing made it feel as if signing was not optional. I am fairly sure that many people signed just because they felt pressured to by the rest of the class. I am not overly certain as to whether or not Celine and I will become outcasts from the group after taking an opposite side on the argument.

However, the main problem I have with this is the points that they have prepared against Mr Simpson, which are (basically) as follows:
· They are accustomed to getting Merit or Excellence and are now getting lower marks.
· There is little structure to the lessons and reasons behind their learning.
· Limited notes.
· They feel as if anything they passed was using last year’s knowledge.
· “Personal comments belittle [them]”.
· The test results and mistakes are not “walked through” afterward.
· Need to be taught the basics.
· Spend weeks covering material they already know.
· He does not consult them on their progress.

Firstly, these points are contradictory. They claim that he spends weeks on things they already know, but does not teach them the basics.
Secondly, these “personal comments” are not things to be taken seriously. Mr Simpson does not seem to be the malicious kind of person who would deliberately make “belittling” comments. This point is more to do with these people’s perception of the events. For example; he once said, “You cannot say in your evaluation that it did not work ‘because Piers is a dick’.” However, it was obvious that he did not mean this as a personal insult to Piers or anyone else, and he followed up with the statement “Not Piers, of course, but someone once wrote something along those lines and failed.”

But their main point of argument seems to be that the lessons do not have as much structure as they would like. Apparently, we are not told what we are going to learn each lesson; but we had a yearly plan given to us at the start of Term One and the main points for each lesson are usually written up on the whiteboard for us to see and take down. The point about our lessons having little structure is true: Mr Simpson is so passionate about his subject that he sometimes goes off on a tangent and starts talking about some other area of Physics. However, when it comes to really important or basic things, he will tell us to copy it down – He will write the basic formulas up on the board, and he will tell us enough for us to create our own set of notes. He gives us enough worksheets and activities for us to become certain on how things work, and the fact that he is “unapproachable” is merely down to people’s perception, help is there if the task is not understood. If the unit requires a specific set of notes, they will be provided, and any other notes we need, we could easily make ourselves from our worksheets or his lecture.

I feel that the problem my classmates have with Mr Simpson is that he does not teach in the way that they are accustomed to; instead he teaches in a way that requires intelligence and initiative, almost in the style of a university lecturer. One of the main reasons that we have made it into the Otumoetai College Advanced Learners Program is because we are supposedly independent and adaptive learners; a point which has become clear over the past three years. If these people are unable to adapt now when they still have the structure and support of high school around them, how will they possibly adapt to the university environment when they are on their own, and quite possibly from home? In Mr Simpson’s classes, you are required to pay attention and to work: If you are too distracted by your friends to be learning to the best of your ability, you will receive several warnings and then be moved away from the distraction. The founders of the petition mostly seem to be from the group of friends that is often warned about not paying attention in class.

Lastly, the main problem I have is not even with some of the points on the petition being contradictive or invalid; it is about the change we, as a class will go through. After this petition, things will never be the same again. It is quite possible that objectors to the petition will be outcast, which is a risk I am willing to take for standing up for what I believe is right. If we change teachers now, at this late point in the year, right before our first set of practice assessments, our learning will be greatly impacted. Another thing: Replacing Mr Simpson is a huge gamble. Mr Simpson has obviously been selected for this job for a reason, and what is to say that any other teacher available to replace him is capable of doing a better job? If this petition goes through, all that may happen is a very spoilt, self-righteous class who still isn’t learning! Mrs Lee teaches us Biology and Chemistry in much the same manner, and although we may have to take less initiative in class, her treatment of us is much the same. If we are replacing Mr Simpson because he is not perfect, why don’t we replace every other teacher we dislike as well? We should be grateful to have the opportunities offered by the AL program and not always be looking for more. There is also Mr Simpson himself to think about. A change like this could have a huge negative impact on his career.

In summary, I disagree with this petition because I feel the arguments being made against Mr Simpson are unjustified and the petition was not executed in the professional manner in which it should have been done. I feel that this difference in the style in which we are being taught will do us good in the long run and it is up to the individual to overcome any difficulties they may be having. We cannot always have perfect teachers, and it is almost selfish to replace a teacher, especially because of the negative impact it could have on their career. Mr Simpson is a good man with a passion for Physics and its teachings. Let us allow it to remain that way.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Hurford.



It's war... *sigh* ._.

"I like the word 'indolence...'"

"I like the word 'indolence.' It makes my laziness seem classy".

-Bern Williams
That's pretty much summing up at the moment. I have a static image to do, but I am telling myself that I can't make a mess because of the open home on Sunday (Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.-Quentin Crisp)I have a whole chapter of chemistry to do, several exercises for maths and two reading logs. But meh.
On another note, I have been thinking about language... It's a crazy thing really... We press buttons that make scribbles that represent noises that represent ideas. I love writing with pen and paper, because it is magical how my wiggling hand makes my own personalised scribbles that represent my own personalised noises that represent ideas. It's kind of awesome when you think about it. When looking for the title quote, I found a few other ones that I quite liked too:
English is a funny language; that explains why we park our car on the driveway and drive our car on the parkway. ~Author Unknown
It's a strange world of language in which skating on thin ice can get you into hot water. ~Franklin P. Jones
At no time is freedom of speech more precious than when a man hits his thumb with a hammer. ~Marshall Lumsden
Language is the means of getting an idea from my brain into yours without surgery. ~Mark Amidon
Our language is funny - a fat chance and slim chance are the same thing. ~J. Gustav White
The word "good" has many meanings. For example, if a man were to shoot his grandmother at a range of five hundred yards, I should call him a good shot, but not necessarily a good man. ~G.K. Chesterton
Anyway, enough language quotes. I don't feel like going into anything deep today. I iz hazza indolence. Here is the link for the page I got the quotes from.
On another note, I recently lost my pencil after which this blog is named. And the headphones broke. I need to draw up a new banner.

"When you say nothing at all..."

"The smile on your face
Lets me know
That you need me
There's a truth
In your eyes
Saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says
You'll catch me
Whenever I fall
You say it best
When you say
Nothing at all"

~When You Say Nothing at All- Overstreet and Schlitz

I have little to say today. I haven't blogged in awhile. No dazzling new ideas for you.
I am typing this one-handed. Choco is sitting in the other. I think she might be dying. She is so cold and skinny. She is very very ill. She is 2 years and 5 months old. That is a long time for a mouse to live. She is in pain. I can't help her. I don't want her to be in pain any more, but I don't want her to leave me. I wish she could get better and live forever and ever and be happily ever after. But it isn't going to happen. Why is the fact that there are no happily ever afters so hard to accept? It is foolish even to hope.
I am going to go and see if Choc will eat or drink anything. I don't know when I'll blog again.

"A piece of a dream-world..."

"Love is an attempt to change a piece
of a dream-world into reality."

-Henry David Thoreau
Some people have a gossamer web of logic to put over the big black box of life. Others have just enough white paint to make the smallest, most beautiful picture on an unseen part of the box. The rest? They're not artists and cannot weave. Those people sit and wish, wish for the box to be white. Until they fall for another, one who teaches them to paint or to weave. And in return, the wisher teaches them to dream.

"In the sky..."

"In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true."

-Bhudda
MEDCs... LEDCs... More Economically Developed Countries... Less Economically developed countries... More or less than what? There is no average anymore. We don't even count those countries like China, who are on the verge of becoming MEDCs as AEDCs. Average Economically Developed Country is not even a term in human knowledge. We still call the AEDCs LEDCs because we refuse to admit that other places may be as good as us. Humans have to turn everything into a case of Us and Them. Why can't there be a middle? Why can't it just be Everyone, with a few common thoughts not shared by all?
---------------------------------------
If you look inside yourself too much, you don't see what's happening with others and can't protect yourself. If you look outside yourself too much, you forget yourself and can't keep control of your actions. Some people don't even look. I have seen all of those. Balance is best. But balance is like standing barefoot on a needle. Sometimes I'm so down-to-Earth, I can't even see the sky.

"A brief candle..."

A brief candle; both ends burning
An endless mile; a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it loud and let it ring
We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last.

-Charlie Daniels
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Every death creates an empty inside us where they used to be. After two, they clump together to make one big empty. When a new one comes, the shock of the new empty, on it's own hurts for awhile. But after time it moves into the big empty. It's still there, dully, it never goes away, but the hurt becomes less sharp and our minds can slip free for awhile. Inside the empty, there are these little dark wisps of doubt. The stray thoughts that speculate on who is to blame. They are gaseous, but when you get enough, the pressure causes them to condense into a horrible, corrosive tar in the bottom of the empty. It eats away at you, makes the empty bigger.
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Ziggy; wherever you go, may the higher powers smile on you. And if there is nothing, may the darkness be a blessed relief from the pain.
X ycph lcz... Qcjphj bsm gphj. Bygbln.