The York School Student Blogs

In shanghai, there is a factory called Foxconn. They are known for supplying Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell.

But why are they in the news?

Well, last week the workers were fed up. About 150 of them threatened to throw themselves off the roof of the building at which they work. This was especially stressful to the company, because there had been instances before where suicide occurred at this particular factory. The workers protested because Foxconn had a deal with the workers that in a nutshell, offered them a month’s wages if they decided to quit. However, a day after this deal was done, everyone who had quit found out that the bosses at Foxconn changed their mind, and they were left without a job or pay.

There are currently 1.2 million people that work for Foxconn, however, the company is moving towards automation and using robots. Robots would be better since they don’t have monthly wages, and they can carry out about half the jobs related to the company.

In my opinion, there is no argument whether the people were cheated or not – they clearly were. I don’t think a mass suicide would have helped them in any way, but threatening to do so put them on the news, and on the map. I don’t think Foxconn organized their change of heart well enough, and should have given the people back their jobs.

In other news, 2 Israeli websites were hacked today – the Tel Aviv stock exchange, and the website of Israel’s most popular airline. The group that claimed this attack is a Saudi Arabian group who call themselves nightmare, and one of their members contacted the Jerusalem Post via e-mail to send them what they will do.

“We decided to release (the) first part of our data about Israel.”

Earlier this month, Israeli credit card numbers were posted online, prompting an investigation. In my opinion, this could be a very big threat to Israel, and I don’t understand how it could’ve happened. Israel is known for being pretty technologically advanced, and if an important website gets hacked, especially if it’s government owned, I honestly don’t know how far the Israeli government will go to stop this hacking.

Last night, the 69^th annual Golden Globe Awards were presented to some of the most famous, accomplished actors and filmmakers in the world. It took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The film The Descendants won the award for the best drama motion picture, and the film The Artist won the award for best motion picture – musical or comedy. I am glad that The Artist was given the highest honour at the awards. I loved the movie – it’s a French silent film set during the Great Depression. I thought it was funny, but also helped people understand how tough the Depression was on the film industry, particularly as silent films were declining in popularity, and “talkies” were rising in popularity.

I thought The Descendants was good – it starred George Clooney, and followed a man’s journey to come to terms with the inevitable death of his wife (who’d been put in a coma in a boating accident) whilst rebuilding shaky relationships with his unruly daughters. However, I didn’t think it was amazing, or necessarily worthy of winning best film at the Golden Globes. I think the characters were a little bit static and stereotyped. I also don’t think George Clooney’s performance was worthy of an award, which he won at last night’s ceremony; from what I hear, Leonardo Dicaprio’s performance in J. Edgar and Michael Fassbender’s performance in Shame were amazing, and maybe they were more worthy of winning.

My favourite moment from the Golden Globes last night was when Meryl Streep won the Best Actress – Drama award for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in the British biopic The Iron Lady (this was her 26^th Golden Globe nomination and 8^th win – she has won more Golden Globes for acting than anyone in history). When her name was called, and she went onstage to give her acceptance speech, she forgot her reading glasses and couldn’t read what she prepared. She got really frazzled and confused and flustered, and it was cool seeing her so different – so much more normal and human – than the characters she plays in her films.

Before I say anything, I’m just going to let you know this is mostly going to be about Community and The Walking Dead. If you don’t like either of those shows (which is pretty much impossible to do), I suggest that you don’t listen to this blog because you won’t like it. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s begin.

In case you guys haven’t heard yet, it looks at the moment as though Community might be cancelled. NBC is saying that they’re just trying to find better playing times, and that they’re “renewing” the show, but it looks to me like they’re cancelling it. Apparently only 3 million people are watching one of the funniest shows ever to be played on TV. Everyone saw this a few months ago when NBC announced it’s mid season lineup. It looks like it might get replaced by a new show from Chelsea Handler called “Are you there Vodka?“. I think that joke pretty much tells itself. Parks and Recreation and Rock Center with Brian Williams have pretty much the same ratings, but unfortunately they’ve decided to cut the rope on Community.

I also want to talk about another fantastic show called The Walking Dead. It’s a fantastic shows about a zombie apocalypse in which a man wakes up from a coma and sets out to find his family etc. They then have to fight off zombies and use tactics other zombie movies/shows haven’t used before them to evade and/or kill the zombies, and they actually show that people would contemplate suicide in a situation like a zombie apocalypse, which I thought was really interesting. I also really like how the show doesn’t just focus on guns and explosions, but actually has good actors and not huge guys that run around with assault rifles mowing down millions of zombies with 5 bullets.

That was my 10 cents on shows.

The Stop Online Piracy Act, is an American bill that allows the US department of justice and copyright holders to fight against copyrighted intellectual material online.

SOPA is a highly controversial bill, many people believe that SOPA prohibits freedom of speech through the internet, and they believe that SOPA is the end to the internet.  The bill would require internet service companies block websites that stream tv shows, music, and other copyrighted material. And using IP tracking if you vist these websites 10 times in a 6 month period, it would be considered a crime, with a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.

I think that SOPA would start in the US, but continue to spread throughout many countries, including Canada. I believe that SOPA is a bad idea, not only would SOPA prohibit free speech, but also SOPA would prohibit access the information, and it would violate the First Amendment.

SOPA would also outlaw the use of proxy servers, like those used during the Arab Spring (to bypass government blocks), for the US government to pass this bill would be ridiculous, it would be counter-productive when the US wants to help these countries come to a democratic solution.

SOPA would also have a negative effect of user-based sites, such as Youtube. SOPA would prohibit any material that is copyrighted to be shared, whether that is a tiny clip, or a full song.

Some opponents to the law think that SOPA could become like China’s great Firewall. The bill would also prohibit linking to banned sites.

SOPA is overall a bad idea, even though the US government states that it’s protected US copyrighted material, I believe the internet should be free, and stay free. The bill is also highly impractical, how would the US come to monitor all of these sites and the users of the sites, it’s ridiculous. As I previously stated it is violated the First Amendment and SOPA would suppress Free Speech and Access to Free information.

Anyways the bill is still in Congress, and is confronting massive backlash from multiple communities on the internet.

Here’s a video on SOPA, and the rap is pretty awesome.

Happy Blogging,

Noah Powers

Sometimes, you have to choose between what is right and what is easy. Tonight is one of those times.

But first, lets rewind. Back to mid grade seven, when I had recently put my second rat Skittles to sleep. Not long after, we were in the pet store again, buying food for our dog Jo. And that’s when I saw Toffee.

So, we took her home, and we cleaned her crate; with a hose. In the back yard. For an hour. And that set the president for how we would look after her for the rest of her life. Always over-thinking, and always doing more than was necessary, and the reason for doing so was clear; we loved her. But it wasn’t in the way that you’d think one might love a rat, or in a way that a rat would love you. You could tell how much she cared about you, and you could tell that she knew how much you cared about her.

She trusted everyone, always gave people the benefit of the doubt. Immediately after we cleaned her cage for the first time, I sat on the couch and she fell asleep, right then and there. She didn’t consider me the one that took her away from her family; she trusted that I wouldn’t hurt her, though she didn’t really know for sure. Toffee loved and was loved-is loved- and is most definitely sorely missed.

Toffee was…infectious. She just had a magical little way of spreading joy, and making you think in ways you’d never imagine. She had a spirit that could just brighten a room, and even in the quietest moments, you could understand her complete and utter contentment. She had that special way of just completely making your day. You could spill your heart out to her and know that she was listening, feeling for you in every way possible. Even if she didn’t quite grasp the full extent of the situation, she could very well sense that there was something wrong. Always empathetic, she was. Precious, precious little Toffee. No matter how you knew her, Toffee impacted you. Changed you for the better, helped you in some way.

There’s so much that I could say, so many moments that I could share. But it really all boils down to the fact that she loved, and was loved, and will continue to be loved. And though the emptiness that grief comes with is virtually unbearable, she is worth every second of it. So thank you, Toffee. For every kiss, every snuggle, every late night movie, and every moment spent together. No regrets.

Cheers,

Julie

Hi! Hope everybody had a nice and restful break! I spent an entire break sleeping in, so mine was definitely that.

I also got a chance to read The Hunger Games, the first part of Suzanne’s Collins post-apocalyptic trilogy. The book is set in the dystopian society of Panem, which emerged from “the ashes of North America” after either a nuclear winter or severe climate change, and is controlled by the Capitol, a huge and glittering city in the Rocky Mountains. The Capitol is surrounded by 12 districts, each with a specific good or industry to better serve The Capitol, and many of the 12 districts are very difficult places to live in. In punishment for a rebellion 75 years previous to the book, there is an annual event called the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death . Every district must offer in tribute 1 boy and 1 girl between the ages of 12-18. 24 so called tributes enter the games, and only one emerges as the victor.

The novel’s protagonist is 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, a skilled hunter who lives with her mother and sister (her father being deceased) in one of the poorest districts, District 12. When Katniss’s 12 year old sister Primrose is selected to compete in the games, Katniss steps forwards to take her place. It is from there the story takes off.

Unlike many other teen novels, The Hunger Games does not make romance the central focus of the novel, rather it focuses on survival and what we are willing to do not only for the survival of ourselves, but the ones that we care about. This is mostly exemplified in the love that Katniss has for her younger sister, as she is willing to compete in the games and risk dying for her. That is not to say there is no romance, as we are introduced to Peeta Mellark, the male tribute of district 12 who is turns out, has had a long running crush on Katniss. Collins weaves a complicated relationship between the two, as in her fight to stay alive Katniss begins a relationship with Peeta in order to gain popularity with the viewers of the games.

All in all this book is a good read, as the protagonist is a strong yet real character, the world she lives in is an intriguing one, and just like the Hunger Games themselves, the plot keeps you on your toes.

Whenever I am not supposed to be in school, my family and I return to the United States to see our family and friends. We always go to Connecticut and New York, my two favorite places in the world. I spend a large portion of my year in New York; I felt like I had gotten the full experience of the city, knowing where to go, what to do, and especially where to eat. However one day it struck me that there was more to the full experience than just Manhattan…It is a placed that is so underestimated and ignored far too much. Of course i’m talking about Brooklyn…

Being the food fanatic that I am, and constantly looking for a new place to try, I along with my Dad and a friend(who also loved food and adventure), decided that we would go on a food crawl across the borough. We took the subway across the water, and ended up in a completely new surrounding. We spent the whole day walking around trying restaurants and cafe’s that had been raved about on the Internet. We tried everything from french Cafes to a classic Brooklyn Pizza joint. It was truly one of the most interesting and exciting experiences of my life!

I wish I could say more but other forces are telling me to wrap it up!

Happy Eating!

In the last few months I have been able to see quite a few concerts that were all very great. After meeting The Drums at Sonic Boom, there was another in-store later that month with Blitzen Trapper. I also got the chance to see Jeff Beck, The Sheepdogs, and The National.

Blitzen Trapper are a band from Portland Oregon and I had never heard of them before but decided to go to the in-store anyways since it seemed like a good opportunity. The band turned out to be very good and I was happy I went. Before this though in October I went to see Jeff Beck at Massey Hall. He also put on a great show, performing his classics and fusion material. The backing band touring with him and were all very talented. His opening act which he had personally chosen to tour with him was a young guitar prodigy who was also greatly talented. Jeff Beck’s concert turned out to be a great show!

Later I went to see one of my favourite bands The Sheepdogs, a Canadian group from Saskatchewan. They have a very 70s rock sound, somewhat similar to The Grateful Dead. They were the winners of a Rolling Stone cover contest back in August, which has led to the recently gained popularity. The show had originally been 19+ at a smaller venue but due to how fast the initial show sold out it was bumped up to bigger venue, making it all ages. They put on a great show which was very much like a concert from a few decades ago. Their opening acts were also superb, being two bands from Hamilton, Young Rival and Monster Truck. Monster Truck had an old school hard rock sound, whereas Young Rival a more modern indie rock sound which was a bit odd for the line up. Their guitar sound is actually very similar to that of The Drums.

Finally, I had the chance to see The National on tour. They put on a great and unique show, somewhat similar to that of Gorillaz. The lead singer had great stage presence and interacted a lot with the audience. Their opening acts were also great. Wye Oak, a folk rock indie duo from Baltimore were the first opening act and they were very talented, the drummer playing keyboards and singing harmonies as well while playing his initial instrument. Sadly there was only about thirty people in the crowd which was less than what they probably play in a club. Neko Case was also very talented, with unique vocals.

All in all, the concerts I saw towards the end of 2011 were all very great and I don’t believe I would be able to choose a favourite.

Unfortunately, the winter  break is finally over. For me, my winter break is best described by the word winter, not as much by a break. I traveled two hours to Collingwood to take a four day ski instructor certification course with some of my peers. This course was not easy. The days began at 8:30, and went as late as 4:30. During this time, temperatures plummeted as low as -16, and despite a student in the course having frostbite, we were not aloud to take any breaks aside from lunch. Luckily, me and all my peers passed this course, and are now level 1 certified ski instructors. Wheeww!!

But the work was not over. The very next day we began ski instructing, and it was anything but easy. One of my friends was almost fired and hour into his first day for allowing one of the kids to fall off of the chairlift just as everyone was about to get off. I was stuck with two three year old girls who needed help walking, let alone skiing. There is nothing more stressful then trying to lift two three year old kids onto a moving chair, and making sure they don’t fall thirty feet.

See ya,

Mitchell

Hey guys. Over the break I went to Bangladesh, as usual. The weather was quiet nice in the beginning with an average of around 18 degrees, but after a week it started hitting the high 20s. The only two things I did was eat and play sports with my cousins/friends. (Won’t let me finish)

Hello world! It seems like everything is back to normal as we resume our lives. I have several interesting stories from my winter break. Firstly, I began by going into a 4 day level 1 instructor’s course in Collingwood. If I managed to pass, I would become a certified ski instructor and could get a job almost anywhere in Ontario! The course was very tiring and grueling, but I learned a lot about my own skiing abilities as well as how to teach skiing to a person that has never been skiing before. In the end, I was able to pass the course, which is very exciting. I then was able to get a job teaching little kids (3-5 years old) for a 9 week program.

The very next day, I hopped on a 8 hour plane ride to Rome, Italy. If you have never been to Rome, I would highly recommend it. There are beautiful buildings at every corner, and fountains in every plaza. If we could get even one of these fountains, it would instantly be the best piece of art in Toronto by far. Next is the food, which is by far the best I have ever had on a trip. The pizzas are on a completely other level than Toronto “authentic” pizza. The thin crust is awesome, and the toppings are delicious. The pasta dishes were also very strong, but I think the reputation has gotten a bit over the top. Every day was a new adventure, and I saw things such as the Forum, Ostia Antica, The Coliseum and several art galleries. The amount of sculptures I saw in those 5 days was more than I will see in the rest of my lifetime. Overall, this was a trip to remember that I will think fondly of in the future.

Hi readers,

My peers and I just returned to school from winter break. It is great to see my friends however I am still half asleep, coming down with a cold and jet lagged. Everything i did over the break was completely worth the week of having the sniffles/soar throat and the hole bit. I started off my break with the annual North Toronto Christmas Tournament. After 7 years of not winning our own tournament, we pulled off a 3-2 victory. When I was in Toronto over the course of this tournament, there were 4 days in which i didn’t have a game. The solution to no organized hockey: shinny! For those of you who don’t know, shinny is basically pick up hockey in which two teams are selected after sticks are thrown in the middle ice and are sorted. There are usually 5 players on the ice at a time, and the rest sit on the bench. There are no goalies. “Won’t it be easy to score?” some say. No, if there is no goalie, you have to either hit the post or the crossbar. Anyways, I probably played 10 hours in total of shinny hockey over the break. Over the last week of this fortnight break, my family traveled to Vancouver. We had lunch, and watched the winter classic in the meantime between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers. It only turned to be an entertaining game once Michael Rupp, (former Pittsburgh Penguins) scored, and gave “the salute” celebration made famous by Jaromir Jagr (of the Flyers). Jagr’s response to this was very classy explaining that anyone is entitled to do that celebration. Rupp was later interviewed on his thoughts of Jagr, and was shown scratching his head with his middle finger sticking out. Coincidence? I think not. Anyways, after this game, my family traveled to Whistler to ski. I was incredibly excited for several reasons, however one stood out. Whistler has the biggest base of any ski resort in all of North America. I had a great time. One night, 16 inches fell on to the entirety of the mountain. I skied from when the lifts opened, to when they closed for all of 4 days. If I were to pick any run that was my favorite, I would pick Jersey Cream bowl. I love bowls, because you feel so free with no trees surrounding you, just a lot of powder! The great part of this run was that there was a big drop leading into it. I was surprised the first time I did this run, but for the next 3 times, I took it with speed. There was no problem if I fell, because there was powder to break my fall. That day, It was sunny and hardly any wind. However, I truly did get the “Whistler Experience.” It was raining every other day, and I was wet! Oh well, i laid my pants and jacket next to the fireplace, and they were ready for the next day. Whistler is now my favorite place to ski. I have been skiing at other big places such as Vail, Lake Louise, Big White, Keystone and Stowe, but if I were given the opportunity to ski anywhere in North America tomorrow, I would chose Whistler without any hesitation.

Anyways, I loved whistler and I had an incredible break.

Thanks for reading!

Aaron

Whats in the daily news? I’ll tell you whats in the daily news; a scandal involving a fake Radiohead song that drove fans crazy. I don’t believe fake is the correct word to use actually. A song was leaked to the internet that was said to be an old song by Radiohead that was never released. Many people agreed it was one of their best work and people were raving about it. I only wish I could see the faces of these bloggers when they found it that it was not written by the band, but by a Canadian baker who had recorded this song and didn’t make it so gave up the music business. I found this article that will pretty much sum up exactly what happened and the song itself, which I, a big Radiohead fan, thought was a song by them myself.

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/music/2011/12/30/toronto-singer-christopher-stopa-discovered-cnn-through-radiohead-youtube-mix

Well that’s all I have to say for now! I hope you enjoy the song!

Fifth business is essentially a well written book, but the main character really bugs me. I don’t hate the book, it has good character development, it features realistic, and interesting characters, good imagery, and flow, but the main character never seems to even attempt to get rid of the driving problem with him, GUILT. His whole life he is a guilt-driven character who gives himself the job of caring everyone else’s burden, and he never changes. He takes Mrs. Dempster’s problems, he takes boy Staunton’s problems, he takes on Leola’s problems. You could say he is a really good person and is simply trying to help, because he knows he can, but that’s what destroys him, he never cuts loose or becomes a happier person, nope even at the end of the book it seems he is going to take on the problems of Paul Demspter, because he ‘killed’ boy, a womanizer, selfish, and rather dis-likable person. He tortures himself by staying around old traumatic memories, rather than trying to get on with his life. This of course made the book hard to read when your way of thinking is so different from the character’s.

“[Fifth Business] stands alone as the story of a rational man who discovers that the marvelous is only another aspect of the real”

The story starts out with an incident where Dunstable Ramsay, the main character, dodges a snowball intended to hit him. This snowball ends up hitting Mary Dempster, who goes into premature labour that night. Dunstable bears the full guilt of this incident, although it was not directly his fault, throughout the book as his friend Percy denies owning up to what he did. Later, he goes on to befriend Mrs. Dempster because of his overwhelming guilt, and strict religious approach to the world around him.

To be continued…

During my holidays I went skiing in B.C. I went skiing on a mountain called Panorama. It is the third largest skiing mountain in Canada for height but it has a very narrow width. The reason that me and my family ski here rather than in a more popular mountain, like Whistler, is because Panorama has a third of the content with a thenth of the lines. When we go to Panorama we consider a 30 second line to be normal, a 2minute line to be long and a ten minute long to be unimaginable.

The NHL winter classic is now over, ending in a victory for the New York Rangers in Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia. It was a hard fought battle for both teams but the Rangers came out on top. The winter classic is a great event for the hockey world, bringing the game of hockey back to where it started, outdoors. One of the best aspects of the winter classic is the HBO coverage of the two teams involved leading up to the final outdoor game. The show is called 24/7, and it aired on HBO every Wednesday night for weeks leading up to the game. The show goes behind the scenes of each of the teams and its players, following the teams through struggles and success. I found the show very interesting this year, as it was interesting to see each of the teams behind the scenes, see what the coaches actually say to the players, and how they react to events on the ice. The show really displays the true personalities of some of the hockey players, through interviews and behind the scenes footage. My favorite part of the show was in episode 1, when the audience is introduced to the Flyer’s starting goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryzgalov has an interesting personality, and that is shown through one of his first interviews with HBO. In this interview, Bryzgalov is fascinated by the universe, and goes into an indepth talk about the universe.

This is just one example of the shows behind the scene footage of the players on the Rangers and Flyers. If you are a hockey fan, i would highly recommend that you watch this show, as you will be interested to see behind the scenes of the rink, and humored by some of  the players comedic personalities.

Hello all!

It has been a very busy past few months. Back in November, I went to New York City and I saw two musicals – How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying with Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter – that was the main reason I went!) and Wicked. Wicked was fantastic, as expected! If you don’t know much about Wicked, it is the story of two friends (Glinda and Elphaba – the good witch, and the bad witch), and basically their stories, but really, the best thing about the musical is obviously the music. There are some really great songs (all of them are amazing), and I really loved the over the top belt-y ones such as Defying Gravity and No Good Deed!

Anyways, my friend Maddie and I are obsessed with the song “What Is this Feeling?” and we always are singing it which drives people a little bit crazy, but it’s a really fun song! We are also going to Europe in February for a music trip – we will be going to London, Ypres and Paris. In London, of course we are going to be seeing some musicals in the West End, which is sooo exciting for me because all of my favorite theater people live in London!! However, I’m pretty sad that we have to see “Thriller” the musical (?) instead of something amazing like Les Miserables (which is my dream to see), or Wicked.

Wicked in London would be so amazing – probably even better than the Broadway version for many reasons. One, they have English accents…I think that it would be great to hear all the songs with accents! Two, my favorite theater person ever Rachel Tucker plays Elphaba, and she is great! Anyways, I really hope that I get to see the musical somehow. I HAVE to!

Thanks for reading!

- Hana

my christmas holidays were fun. it was also a chance for me to take a break and start feeling better. My cousins came over including the ones that i only see once or twice a year so that was great.

On boxing day, we went to this Chinese restaurant that is far away in Markham. It is supposed to be really good and I had been there a couple of times before and it was good but this time, it was not good. I played badminton with my uncle before, so when we got home, most of the people had already left for this restaurant. Some people went long before us to get a table, some people went shortly before us, and a few people went with me last. We got there before some of my family who left before us though because they got lost! I tried to give them directions but due to a poor quality phone conversation, it didn’t really work out. Someone was finally able to get them there after a while and my aunt was ticked at me since I couldn’t get the job done.

Even once everyone was there, the service was terrible. It took forever to get food and some of the things we ordered never even showed up. The food wasn’t great either. Now everyone has decided that we are never going back there again.

It’s probably something that we’ll think about in 5 years and laugh but at the time, it was pretty bad.

If you know who Tom Waits is, you’ve probably already heard of (if not actually heard), his latest album. If you have no idea who Tom Waits is, then this is as good a place to learn as any. Tom Waits is a musician. I wouldn’t call him a singer, because some of what he does can’t really be called singing. His voice, at times is a gravelly howl, and at times a tender crooked croon. On “Bad As Me”, we get to hear both.

A lot of Tom Waits fans are a bit disappointed with this album because there is nothing really new about it. It is probably worth mentioning that just like his voice can’t really be pinned down, neither can his style. Waits likes to play with genres. On some albums we get an industrial stomp, sometimes we get a slow burning cabaret. Waits can do jazz and rock and everything in between. His brand of music defies categorization. This album is not so much a change as a meditation and a summary of what he’s done. The pieces are reminiscent of others, but it serves as a monument to his career thus far, and as a great introduction to his work for newcomers.

Track Listing:

1. Chicago– Rhythmic saxophones and his trademark growl, sputter through this chugging number like trains on a track. Waits spits (and you can almost hear the saliva flying) “Maybe things will be better in Chicago”. It opens this album with bluesy clang.

2. Raised Right Men– Continuing the so-far trend of rhythmic punches, Tom Waits laments the lack of “raised-right men”. His growl seems ancient here, full of bitterness and soul. It feels like an old wise woman should sing this one, but Waits delivers.

3. Talking At The Same Time– Here at the beginning, you can easily mistake the singer for a woman. After the stomp of “Chicago” and “Raised Right Men”, this feels almost like a tender, morning after ode to hard times. “Everybody knows umbrella’s cost more in the rain” croons Waits over sultry horns and a tinkling piano that feels like it crawled out of a burlesque torch song and is staggering down a rainy cobblestone street. It’s difficult to believe that the same man can do this piece and “Chicago”, but about halfway through this sleepy number, you stop caring.

4. Get Lost– This is the newest track on the album. It’s like Tom’s doing Elvis Presley. Well, it’s the way Tom Waits would do Elvis. He puts on yet another voice, this one neither the plaintive shout, nor the slinky moan of earlier tracks. It’s almost a whiny sigh, full of breath and something else. “Get Lost” takes place over a track that comes straight out of the Kings more rock’n'roll bits. Waits even references Wolfman Jack, before pleading with whoever he’s talking to “please, please, love me tender”. It swings like a dance hall–synchronized hand claps and all– with a very Lennon-McCartney guitar solo right in the middle.  It’s pure fun.

5. Face To The Highway– And we’re back to the morose Tom Waits, who sounds like he’s beautifully regretful on this. The lyrics are phenomenal, but the song works in such a way that you can’t single out any particular line. This is a song that walks alongside you with all its belongings in a carpet bag, and a pleading look in its eye. As he yowls “I’m going away”, he’s really begging you to ask him inside and offer him a cup of coffee.

6. Pay Me– The opening line of this song is “they pay me not to come home” and the way it’s sung is devastating. This is one of my favourite tracks off the album. It’s all about sacrificing everything for the stage, at least that’s what I think. The lyrics make it a little unclear. Waits is meditative here, and it feels like he’s writing the will of an aging showgirl, who has nothing to leave. The accordion in this song is glorious. The guitar is ephemeral, just like Waits’ performance. He references the end of the world twice and claims “the only way down from the gallows is to swing”, sounding like he’s standing on the gallows steps.

7. Back In The Crowd– It’s clean and polished; Waits sounds very unlike himself. He begs a woman to either chose him or “put me back in the crowd”. It’s sweet, and simple, but it feels like a filler. It’s too acquiescent. There are some pretty lines but the best thing about it is the rhythm section with a melodic Spanish-sounding guitar, and softly played percussion.

8. Bad As Me– Here we are. This is the track the album is named after, so expectations (at least mine) were high. Boy does Tom Waits deliver. The percussion sounds more like pots and pans than drums, the baritone saxophone sounds more like a henchman or a bodyguard than an instrument. Overtop of that, Tom wails in a voice that sounds almost possessed: “you’re the same kind of bad as me”. It’s intimidating, and it only gets more so when he growls in his low, low voice “no good you say? Heh. That’s good enough for me”. It’s like a nightmarish tango in a demonic abandoned fairground. It’s so good.

9. Kiss Me– I won’t lie, I’m not a huge fan of this particular track. If you’re at all familiar with Tom Wait’s older work, you’d know what I mean when I say that it sounds like “Blue Valentines”, but drearier. It feels worn out, like a dried wedding bouquet. Just when you think he’s veering into original territory, it turns into the jazz standard “Autumn Leaves”, but again, more tired. “Kiss me like a stranger” croons Tom brokenly, and frankly, I don’t care. It’s not that this is a bad song, it’s just that after the stomp and hustle of “Bad As Me”, almost anything sounds underwhelming, particularly if it already feels like a reheated older song.

10. Satisfied– Another track that I don’t care for especially. Waits rants on and on about how he will have satisfaction and it doesn’t have anything to it. The organization of the track is repetitive and the instrumentals are just not exciting at this point in the album. The best thing is the wordplay and the moment where he calls  ”Mr. Jagger and Mr. Richards, I will scratch but I’ve been itching”. I have no real idea what that means, but it sounds great.

11. Last Leaf– Speaking of Mr. Richards, here he is, singing with Tom Waits on this song about being old and alone– “the last leaf on the tree”. Keith Richard’s voice is not of the same calibre as Tom Waits’, but it adds a certain ghostly charm to this song, like maybe you’re not all alone. It’s accompanied by only guitar, and the sweet simplicity of that guitar melds wonderfully with the grizzly weariness of the words and the voices. Another favourite.

12. Hell Broke Luce– Oh man, is this one scary. It’s like a march across hell. Tom Waits shouts and screams about the horror of being a soldier, over smashing rhythms and what feels like the pounding footsteps of the armies of the apocalypse. Addiction, fear, death, and war are all torn apart in this track in which Waits assumes the character of a soldier. It’s almost  too frightening, but still, it’s masterfully done.

13. New Year’s Eve– One of Tom Wait’s favourite subjects is nostalgia; and on “New Year’s Eve” he sings about it over the mournful strains of an accordion that hums with empathy. At the very end, when he breaks into “Old Lang Syne”, you want to sing along, while cradling an imaginary beer that you’ve spent all evening crying into.

Because I got the edition with the bonus tracks, I will write about them too.

14. She Stole The Blush– This is alright. I’m fairly apathetic, because after the colossal grandeur and relief of “New Year’s Eve”, this understated industrial piece feels unnecessary. The handclaps over the line “cheaters never prosper, cheaters never win” are great, as are the sax shots and the bass, but I could go without.

15. Tell Me– Harmonically conservative, but lyrically rich, this track features another very Beatles/Elvish instrumental arrangement. Tom Waits doesn’t ask the big questions, but instead asks the simple ones like “why does a wedding ring have a heart of stone?” And that’s even more deadly.

16. After You Die– It’s another song like “Face To The Highway”. He rambles through, and it’s nice, but it isn’t as sumptuous an ending to the album as “New Year’s Eve”. It feels like a bonus track, something that doesn’t entirely go with the album, but is still worth hearing.

Today, Africa’s oldest and most famous liberation movement celebrates its 100^th birthday.   Founded as the South African Native National Congress by John Dube in Bloemfontein, the SAANC fought against the injustice of black South Africans.  In 1923, the name became the African National Congress as the movement had begun to fight against the injustice of the non-white people in South Africa.  In 1948, the government of South Africa implanted the Apartheid system, which classified South Africans in four racial groups: white, coloured, Asian, and black.  The four groups were separated based on colour and were forced to live in segregated communities.  The system favoured the whites and gave them full rights while oppressing the other three racial groups, especially the blacks. After the system was implemented, the ANC began military attacks for the rights of South Africans and called for both national and international strikes, boycotts, and defiance.  Eventually, the government would ban the ANC and began to arrest many prominent members, such as Nelson Mandela who spent 27 years in prison, including the infamous Robben Island.  In 2008, I visited Robben Island on my vacation and was astounded when I saw the cell which Nelson Mandela was forced to live in for many years.  It was barely larger than a bathroom stall and was covered with paper thin blankets and a bucket.  On the island, we also saw the quarry where prisoners laboured during the day.  In the quarry was the “University” for the prisoners where in secret they taught each other to read and write.

Towards the end of the apartheid era, the white government continued to feel pressure from the ANC and other anti-apartheid groups, however the international pressure was mounting more and more. Consequently, the new President, F.W. de Klerk realized that, in order to end international boycotts on the country and end the political stalemate, he would have to bring the apartheid era to an end.  President de Klerk lifted bans on many anti-apartheid groups including the ANC and on February 11^th 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison. Over the next few years, Mandela and de Klerk brought official oppression in South Africa to an end and finally in 1994,  the whole of South Africa went to the polls.  This was when Nelson Mandela and the ANC were elected for the first universal government in South Africa.  Until then, the ANC has been continuously reelected to govern the nation, although they have recently been facing criticism from all angles.  Many believe that the party has not been able to deliver on its promises, including those from 1994.

Despite the parties complicated history, it has reached its centenary against all odds and thousands have taken the streets to celebrate.  The rally in Bloemfontein – where the ANC was founded – has attracted tens of thousands including President Zuma and many other prominent ANC members.  At midnight, President Zuma lit a flame, which will burn for one year to mark the 100^th anniversary.  Unfortunately, frail health is preventing Nelson Mandela from attending celebrations.

With a large part of my family being South African, this is a milestone to which my family can relate.  My mother and her family, along with many other South Africans, immigrated here to Canada to escape the oppression of apartheid.  For my family, the end of apartheid was possibly the most important moment of their lives and today, getting to see the liberation group that spearheaded many motions against the system and has led the country ever since achieve the centenary is incredible.  It is a very emotional moment for millions of South Africans, including my family.

However, despite the achievement, the ANC still have a country to run.

Today, many people turn their eye to the future to see how the ANC will deal with current issues like unemployment and violence which still plague the nation.

2011 was an incredibly eventful year with many unexpected things happening throughout.  In this blog, I will cover the top 9 world events of 2011.

Top 9 World Events:

9. NBA and NFL Lockouts – Although both leagues ended up playing after all, fans across the globe panicked as lockouts in both leagues seemed imminent.  The NBA lockout became the 2nd most tweeted topic of 2011.

8. South Sudan gains independence – After years of civil war in Sudan, the freedom movement in the south finally prevailed.  They became the new country of South Sudan on July 9th, 2011.  Although they still share many things, like oil revenue with Sudan, they finally are able to govern themselves and this will hopefully lead to an end in violence

7.  The London Riots – After the shooting of a peaceful protester, Mark Duggan, London and many other English Cities faced days of riots which were characterized by senseless looting and arson.  Over 3,000 people were charged and England’s civilized reputation was tarnished.

6. The Occupy Movement – Occupy Wall Street began on September 17, 2011.  The movement, which first got media coverage in New York City, is directed against economic and social inequality.  Since the beginning of the movement, protests have been ongoing in more than 95 cities and 82 countries.  The international movement continuously the slogan, “We are the 99%,” a statement which refers to the concentration of abundant wealth among the top 1% of income earners, CEO’s for example, in comparison to the other 99% of citizens which cover everyone from the middle class to the unemployed.

5. Death of Steve Jobs – The Apple co-founder passed away on October 5, 2011.  Steve Jobs was a visionary leader who developed many products which changed millions of peoples daily habits.  Some of his revolutionary products include the iPod, iPhone and iPad.  Even Barack Obama released a statement, “The world lost a visionary.  And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.”

4. Death of Kim Jong Il – On December 17, North Korea lost that 2nd leader and dictator, Kim Jong Il to a heart attack.  In his time as dictator, the country suffered devastating famine, developed a massive army and became the world’s 8th nuclear power.  The leadership of North Korea now falls to his son, Kim Jong Un.  For now, South Korea’s military has been put on high alert.

3.  Japan Earthquake -  This horrendous disaster occurred on Friday March, 11 2011.  It occurred just off the coast of Japan and measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, sending a massive Tsunami and 1,235 other strong aftershocks following the original quake.  The Tsunami had waves over 40 metres high.  Furthermore, it resulted in meltdowns at multiple nuclear reactors and almost caused “another Chernobyl” disaster.  In total, there were almost 25,000 casualties, most of whom perished or went missing.

2. Death of Osama Bin Laden – On May the 2^nd, President Barack Obama announced the death of the head of the terrorist group al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden.  Bin Laden’s death came at the hands of a raid by America’s special forces, SEAL team six in Abbottabad, Pakistan.  Bin Laden toped the FBI’s list of Most Wanted for his involvements in many terrorist attacks and deaths of innocent people, including the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings and the 9/11 attacks.

Millions of people around the globe rejoiced at the news of the criminal masterminds death, however, many still fear a possible retaliation and increased threat from terrorist groups hoping to avenge Bin Laden.  Additionally, the Pakistani officials condemned the U.S. for not informing them of an offensive inside their borders.  Many wonder how detrimental this attack may have actually been to U.S.-Pakistani Relations.

1. Arab Spring – The Arab Spring was a revolutionary wave of protests which occurred throughout the Arab World.  It began in Tunisia at the end of 2010 after Mohamed Bouazizi set fire to himself in protest of corruption and ill treatment.  The success of protests in Tunisia sparked a wave of unrest in Algeria, Jordan, Egypt, and Yemen.  As of this year, three governments have been overthrown and protests continue in many other countries as many people want to see revolutionary reform in the area.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

it was just the new year a few days ago and I was very exited to begin 2012. One of the things that i always enjoy on most holidays that are world wide celebrations like new years is the great fire works. Sadly this year I was not able to see any fire works on new years night. Thats why i have posted this video witch I think is the best fire works dispplay I have seen in my whole life. They shot the fire works of at big ben and the feris wheel , located in london englang.

enjoy and have a great new year time for 2012 hope fully we will all make it

The best, most amazing, spectacular and ultimately wonderful part of my year was going on exchange to New Zealand.  It was last November when I applied for this opportunity, not knowing what it would lead me to; by the end of that week I had been selected along with one of my friends, Quinn.  I went from feelings of mixed terror to complete bliss every day.  On one hand, I was going across the world to live with a family I had never met, in a society that was completely foreign, but then again, I would be halfway across the world, in an awesome and beautiful country and possibly meet friends I would have for life.

In April, my Kiwi exchanged arrived at the Pearson Airport at 1am; her name was Hannah and she would be living with me for the next five weeks.  The first few days were a little nerve-racking yet extremely exciting.  Hannah quickly told me about life in New Zealand and I was amazed at all the differences between Canada and New Zealand, and mostly laughed at all the weird quirks Kiwis had.  Gum boots are rain boots, togs are bathing suits, and she always got my attention by saying, “Oi!”  In retrospect, she found life in Canada completely exotic and often referred to it like an “American movie.”  I did my best to show her around Toronto and took her to Niagara Falls, the highlight of Hannah’s trip – I know, only a non-Canadian could find Niagara to be the coolest place around.  The five weeks went by in a blur and before I knew it, I was right back at the airport, this time waving good-bye.  Hannah and I had become close in the last weeks and so I had more confidence when thinking about my own travels.

There was the end of the school, beginning of the summer, months at the cottage and traveling on vacation; fall arrived and so did school, and the ICE program.  Then before I knew it, it was the night before I was meant to leave for New Zealand and I hadn’t even packed.  My last day in Toronto was seriously jam-packed between trying to get an adapter, buying gifts for my host family, and figuring out how I could get my phone to work when I was on the other side of the world (which it never did, by the way).  There was a lot driving, and yelling, and good-bying, and suddenly I was at the same airport as I had been five months before and now it was my time to leave.

Quinn and I were really excited and also a little terrified as we waited to board, and we honestly did not know what to expect.  There were some tears, some confiscation of liquids, some too heavy baggage that wasn’t allowed on the plane and lots of nervous laughter.  We were about to make the longest journey we had ever been on: a 26 hour plane ride to the opposite side of the world where we would spend a hopefully very memorable four weeks.  On the flight from Toronto to Vancouver, we sat beside a woman by the name of Lydia.  She looked to be about 19 years old and told us that she was flying to Sydney where she would be attending university for four years.  We told her about our trip and it was very apparent that all parties had a case of nerves: the three of us sat there laughing hysterically about travelling across the world and were all thinking “what the heck did we just sign up for.”  Clearly, Lydia did not enjoy our company as we enjoyed hers for, on the continuing flight to Sydney, she changed her seat.  That was a little harsh.

Still, we travelled on through the airports of Vancouver, Sydney (where we met a little trouble when we were told that Quinn had no returning flight home – more tears) and finally Auckland.  But before we could meet our friends who waited patiently outside the security area, Quinn and I got in a wee bit of trouble.  To leave the airport in Auckland, you have to go through security once more – around sixth time in that 26 hour period.  We filled out a form demanding of what we were bringing to the Kiwi country and went through those beeping – scanners.  And what do you know; they started beeping at me and Quinn.  He opened my ginormous suitcase first (the one that I had to previously rid of 10 pounds before it could be accepted on any plane) and started his search.  In minutes he had found a jar of Ontario honey which was to be a gift for my host family.

“Is this honey?” he stared at me questioningly.

I looked up at the walls that surrounded to see posters describing illegal actions in New Zealand.  That’s when I saw the walls covered with picture of honey with big, red X’s over them and the number $4,000 underneath.

“Uh, yeah…”

“You’re going to need to come with me ma’am.”

Yeah.  Apparently honey is a big deal in New Zealand since their unique bees are endangered or something like that.  When I told my host family and other Kiwi friends that, they stared at me with shock like I said that I had brought a bomb onto the plane.  Apparently, all Kiwis know from even when their little kids that honey is a HUGE NO NO at the airport.  Oops…  While the security officer was explaining to me the “dangers of honey” and how lying on your declaration form – I had forgotten to check that I had honey – could have cost $14,000 in total (since I was under 18 they couldn’t charge me; Yahoo!), another security officer came over with Quinn who was in tears after they had given her the same spiel about bringing muddy shoes.  We cleared up by promising we would never do such terrible things again and left security after half an hour.

Gathering ourselves, we approached the doors that we lead us to our hosts that we hadn’t seen in six months.  It was seriously like a movie scene – I ran through the doors, saw Hannah, dropped my entire luggage in the middle of the floor, screamed and ran into her arms.

The next four weeks were seriously the best of my life.  My host family was amazing and did so much with me.  We went jet-boating, free flying, bungee-swinging, on a bike tour across parts of the North Island, hiking on the beautiful mountains of New Zealand and so much more.  We visited Sheep World (yes, it’s a real place) and went into a Maori village where we experienced their song and dance and had their unique food.  I learned all about the Maori culture (Kia Ora!) and the culture of Kiwis.  It was so interesting to learn all of their sayings (Sweet as bro; Ratch; Oi) and funny to be considered foreign.  Everyday, people would ask me to say something in “Canadian,”  asked if I liked moose, wondered if I though they had an accent, laughed and called me “so American,” and always said that they loved Canada!   Although, also a very economically advanced country, New Zealand is more laid-back yet old-fashioned than we are here in Canada.  The school was completely different: all the classrooms were in different buildings that you would walk to, all lockers were outside, there were no lunch tables, you would just sit on the field outside, and classes included Soft Tech (like Home Economics) and Hard Tech (like wood-working).   Every day was an adventure in New Zealand and I learned so many things.

The best part, though, would have to be the people who I met.  Everyone was so amazing and kind and friendly.  This experience taught me so much about adapting to differently lifestyle, always trying new things and having more confidence when meeting new people.  I plan on definitely going back to New Zealand in the near future to relive some of this incredible experience, see my family on the other side of the world (my host family) and to meet my new friends once more.  I encourage anyone and everyone to apply for exchange because I can promise that it will be a truly unforgettable experience (and apply for New Zealand!!!).

That was my highlight of 2011 – can’t wait to see what 2012 brings!!!!!

For winter break I went to the Marival Resort in Puerto Vallarta. I went with my massive family and in total there was 29 of us. I spent most of my time with my sixteen cousins. Our days usually consists of us tanning, playing bocchi, beach volleyball, body surfing, boogie boarding and kayaking. The ocean was very warm and the waves were big so it made boogie boarding and kayaking really fun, some times i would get pulled under by the under toe but it wasn’t strong enough to drown me. On the 4th day there most of my family went on a Catamaran cruise to some island. The waves were so rough that we weren’t allowed to snorkel so they dropped us off at an island. The waves at the Island were massive and the undertow was really really strong so we weren’t allowed to swim. Instead I found a hammock in the shade and slept their for the whole time and woke up just before the monkey petting was over. The monkey were really small and cute and I got to hold one for 10 seconds but it was still worth it. I was glad when we arrived back at the hotel because I was getting a little sea sick. We spent the next couple of days just doing the usual tanning and boogie boarding. When Christmas came it was very weird because usually it’s cold out during Christmas but it was very hot and sunny, I didn’t get my presents until we came back to Toronto but I did get some cash from my aunts and uncles and grandparents so I was very happy. On our 7th day in Puerto Vallarta we went to Sayulita which was a small town and it was another beach. I tried surfing for the first time there and it was really fun but I kept falling down a lot. Dinner at the resort was always really good especially the steak and there deep fried oreos. On the 9th day (which was the day we leave) I was very sad to leave this resort and to see my cousins leave. Hopefully in March I will go to Vancouver because that’s where all my family is located and I could see them again. Overall I think this is the best Christmas Vacation I have ever been on.

In 2011 the world had a lot of bad memories and in the same time we had a lot of bad things happened in 2011 for example the earthquake and revolutions. 2011 was one of the years that the world barley have most of the years, for example every 100 years we have a date like 11-11-11. This year taught us how much life has struggles but sometime life also may be happy. We went through revolutions we showed each other how much we are strong in the rough time for example in revolution and in protesting. Some of us lost some people we love and we learned that life goes on even thought we lost a person we really love. Some of us moved to a new place, a new planets are discovered, babies got born, people we love died, earthquakes and many other  things happened in 2011 but this year also taught us that life goes on.It is hard to write about only on thing that happened in 2011, because this year is the most memorable year we might ever have and may be 2012 will be the same as 2011 and may be 2012 will be better.

 Sometime i wonder and think about the countries that had the revolution and i ask my self  did those countries like Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya  decided their fate and luck because they started the revolution and if people will decide their fate in the future as they did or not. I was also wondering why did a country like Japan have the earthquake but not America or Russia or any other country, and why in Japan there were 15,842 people who died, 5890 people we injured and 3485 people were missing because of the earthquake and tsunami ? it is because the Japanese government didn’t warn the people early enough or the people didn’t take it seriously? Another question 2011 left us without is why do things happen for no reason? 2011 left us with a lot of question, a lot of thoughts, a lot of hopes, a lot of improvement to make  and many other things and may be it is so late now to answer those questions, but we have nothing to do now.

No one knows their fate and what life is hiding for them and we don’t know the things we have to face in the future. May be we are not ready to face anything hard in the future but now it is our job to be sure to be ready for the challenges and the struggles we may face in the future. 2011 was not the best year ever to us but it was a year of strength and a year to remember that will enter history. We have nothing to do to make 2011 better now because it is almost over but we only can hope and wish that 2012 and the next years will be better in many different ways.We only can hope and wish that 2012 and the nest years will be better than 2011 and we should hope and try to make the world better. Happy New Year!!

Hello!

So. This will PROBABLY be my last post of 2011…

*GASP*

2011 has been a cool year, full of many people, both new and old, and dozens and dozens of new situations. As I look forwards into the future, I wish first to review the event this year that I think I will remember in years to come…

Most Memorable Event in 2011:

I realize that a lot has happened this year, some things more publicized than others, some things more frivolous than others, we have had everything from revolts in Egypt to Kim Kardashian’s wedding (and divorce!) It has been a busy year. Now, I realize how revolutionary the events of this year have been, but I must say that to me here in Canada, the most memorable event this year was the Royal Wedding. I am a bit of a history geek, and I must admit, that for me it was very touching to witness the event. To me, the wedding did not only represent the union of two people, but the continuation of an age old tradition of both marriage, and royal ceremony. Think, in that same church that William and Kate said their vows, Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV’s queen took refuge only 600 odd years ago, Henry VII, Elizabeth I, Bloody Mary, (Mary I), Mary Queen of Scots, and Edward the Confessor were all buried there, and since 1066, almost  every British Monarch has been crowned there. Think, If wall could talk, the stories those stone walls would say!

I do realize that there have been much more revolutionary and much more important events this year, but there is something about waking up earlier than I actually have to and being late for school (two things I almost never do or am) that made the royal wedding a very memorable event.

Hope/Resolutions for the New Year:

In the New Year, I hope to accomplish a couple of things. First, I want to up my grades. They are already pretty good, but I feel one can always do better. I wish to become a more confidant Horseback rider when jumping, I hope to become more patient with people, especially my brothers. Lastly, I wish to read, to write, and to finish my largest story, which is currently around 13000 words and counting, but nowhere near done! (I will also try to post more on this blog as well…)

Sincerely,

Hannah

Santa,

Its a 5 year olds dream to see him, to give him a huge hug, maybe even see his reindeer and his sleigh filled with millions of presents for all the good boys and girls. I for one obviously dont believe in this non existent, god-playing, creature. It’s actually quite scary what he can do, he see’s you when your sleeping and awake, he knows everything about you and when you have been bad or good. He is basically a stalker and a perv who tries to pass himself off as a ‘good guy’. If normal people did what Santa does that would be called stalking, trespassing,breaking and entering and just plain creepy.  What is so amazing about this guy,anyway ?Well other than the fact that he gives you anything you want.Christmas used to be a holiday for Jesus, now its a holiday modeled after a perv dressed in red and white, with rosy cheeks and a freakishly large, white, beard.

I love Christmas, and I love the idea of Santa, but the world is a weird place and we aren’t going to change.

Bye for Now.

Brownies and awesome.

P.S. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah.

By the end of a year, there’s lists popping up everywhere regarding just about anything. From lists of the top songs, movies, albums, to newly opened restaurants-Bottom line, these lists are all over the place and with the ending of 2011, I decided to make my own list-A lists about the top five news worthy events of 2011:

5. The Egyptian Revolution: At the beginning of 2011, the Egyptian people decided to begin protesting against their government, and eventually a revolution was born. As the protests grew bigger and bigger, they demanded that Hosni Mubarak (the tyrant ruler of Egypt since 1981) step down. Mubarak held strong, and refused to step down, yet with the determination of the Egyptian people he was forced to give up his 30 year reign of power. Mubarak handed power to the Egyptian military figure, and former head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Omar Suleiman. The Egyptian people finally got what they wanted, and deserved: a voice. All though the uprising has calmed a bit, the people are still displeased with the current ruler. What could be next for Egypt?

4. Japanese Earthquakes: On March 11th, 2011, a devastating 8.9 Magnitude earthquake shocked the Japan.  As a result of the huge quake, a tsunami came to follow, causing further destruction. Thousands of homes, buildings, offices, roads were destructed. A day after the quake struck, the Japanese government issued a broad evacuation of people living in the vicinity of two nuclear power plants, as their cooling systems were broken and small amounts of radiation could leak. All this amounted to the most devastating natural disaster in Japan’s history. 15,842 dead and  3,485 missing.

3. The Royal Wedding: On a lighter note, the much anticipated Royal Wedding took place on April 29th, 2011, between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Kate looked gorgeous in her Alexander McQeen dress, and Will looked dapper, sporting his formal military attire. The wedding was broadcasted all over world, as millions of people watcher the two icons wed. I have to say, indeed, I was one of the millions.

2. Steve Job’s Death: As one the most influential people in the world of technology,  Job’s death was devastating. Even though Job’s suffered from a long battle with cancer, the death was still a shock, on October 5th, 2011. Job’s invented Apple-one of the biggest company’s in the world. Apple’s is known for inventing some of the our society’s most popular gadgets, from the macbook, iPad or the iPod. All these things, has made Apple known for constantly challenging the status quot, pushing new ideas, and just being inventive. Not only has Job’s been the head of such a successful company, but he also was a motivator. He would go and visit schools, and university, sharing his message-that you can do whatever you want in life, even without a degree. In my view, Job’s has been one of the most influential and productive persons of our time.

1. Osama Bin Laden’s Assassination: Finally, I think, the most news worthy event of 2011 would have to be Osama Bin Laden’s assassination, estimated to be around May 2nd, 2011. The reason I picked this event to be the first is for one, distinct reason. This reason being, that Osama was the head of one of the most brutal, cut-throat terrorist groups, al-Qaeda. Osama being the mastermind behind the 911 terrorist attacks, the U.S. rejoiced over the death. All though I think it’s wrong to celebrate over a death, I can’t blame the American’s. The 911 attacks will live on in America’s history forever. 2,966 people were killed, and as a result air travel was changed forever. It’s such a hassle to fly anywhere on a plane now. Security could not be more tight, and the air lines not anymore controlling. Overall, Bin Laden has and will have an impact on society, regardless if he’s alive or dead.

The years has gone by quickly. It feels like the start of school in September. In less then 2 weeks the new year will be here.  I hope you all have a wonderful new year and a winter break. The new year will full of new goals and new challenges to overcome.

My new years resolutions are:

1. Improve my ability to draw humans.

I have an extremely hard time drawing humans. Every time I try to draw a human my attempts fail. Most of the time when I draw a person I can’t get their face right. Particularly their mouth. It gets really frustrating. There are occasional times where I am able to draw the face but then I always mess up on the limbs or the hands. I have noticed that I have improved though I still have a long way to go.

2. Improve my ability to draw animals.

I will admit that I am good at drawing animals however I almost always feel like there’s something wrong with my animals in terms of anatomy. I occasionally draw something that looks perfect but that is very rare.

I drew a picture of a wolf and everything looked fine and everyone said that it looked fine but I felt like there was something wrong. Either they didn’t notice any mistakes or I just thought it looked weird even though it did.

3. To improve my painting skills

In my opinion I am terrible at painting. I wouldn’t be able to paint if even if my life depended on it. I’m that bad.  I always do something that messes up my painting and then everything falls apart. I know what I’m doing wrong yet I keep on doing the same mistake over and over again.