Vices & Virtues

Recently I bought the new Panic! At the Disco album called, "Vices and Virtues." This is going to be a random post about this CD so if you want to click away and go to Facebook, go right ahead; nobody would blame you. This album is amazing. I always sing every single song that is on the album, I am personally training my voice to sing ridiculously high like the singer from Panic! At the Disco. I've been addicted to learning different music and also learning it on my guitar. I was not in the greatest of moods a couple weeks ago and I needed some sort of escape. My music ended up being that escape and this new album seems to lift my mood. Now I'm not in that depressed mood anymore and I would give some of the credit to that album. I really enjoyed their first album, it had a unique sound that I really wanted more of. They seem to make songs that deal with dancing and a techno mix, but they still sing and have a rocker kinda sound. They are simply amazing. They are able to manipulate some of the best sounds and make great music out of it. My voice is getting dangerously close to being exactly like the lead singer of Panic! At the Disco. I love their music and I really hope I will be able to sing like him. There has to be a crap load of God given talent in that guy. When he sings, it gives you goosebumps. He sings so ridiculously high! I'm hoping by next years Follies I will be able to sing one of their songs.
I have always been a fan of Indie Music and any music that doesn't make you want to kill someone while you listen to it. Panic! At the Disco's newest album usually just talks about relationships which is something that doesn't make me want to kill someone or myself. The skill it takes to make music that really speaks to people is huge. You have to have a lot of skill to make music that common people, like me, that can relate to it. I hope when I am older, I will be able to serenade people with my great music. I get plenty of enjoyment out of music, so why shouldn't I write my own music? I feel I could sing music in front of people. I tend to sing better when I am in front of people. I guess it's my bodies way of telling me to sing in front of people!

A Point of the Finger

Recently I was blamed for running a section of risers into a table; that is totally false. The person guiding the risers was not slowing down when I told him to. He just kept pushing the risers. Not to mention, he always blames me for the tenors being flat. I'm not trying to point the blame on anyone else, but the person that points the blame at me doesn't make the choir awesome. I just really needed to vent about this, because our choir sounds amazing. I told this person that we should sing a little more quiet so we don't stand out as much. He asked if I was serious and I quickly told him yes. I don't think he believed me, but when Madrigal performed I sang really quiet and I think he followed. Choir is supposed to be a team effort, and pointing the blame at everyone else instead of accepting the criticism and trying to make yourself better is not what teams do. I love choir or singing in general. The judge that was critiquing us asked the choir who they thought was the happiest up there and who was enjoying them self. Most of the people simultaneously said it was me. The judge agreed, something that simple made my day. I really am happy to be there and if someone is going to point the blame at me, then I am going to get upset. I take choir seriously because I feel music is my passion. Everything that deals with music is automatically understood when I attempt it. I've recently been working on my guitar and I feel that I am progressing really quick, I am able to play full songs and I have only been playing for four months. I really enjoy music and if I ever get married my wife must love music, be able to play an instrument, or be able to sing. My mind is already made up and nothing will change it.

Music is a way to express myself and if anyone ever blames me for their musical problems; well they can go suck at singing somewhere else. Now, this guy is my friend so I'm not saying I hate him, but I wish he would just take my advice into consideration. You don't have to be loud to be good. A group is only as good as their weakest link. We just have to take the advice of the judge and make the tenor section a little more non-existent and more on pitch.

U of I, not for I

So for the longest time, I have said that I wanted to go to the University of Iowa. Well, with some of the problems that have happened in the last few weeks, it seems my chances of going to Iowa are diminishing everyday. I recently found that I will have to pay for College and other big expenses before then, by myself. That is two choir trips and possibly a spanish trip. So odds are I am going to have to go to NIACC. Which is really depressing. I'm going to have work really hard to even try and get into a good college. Now I haven't ruled out the service yet. My entire family is against me going into the service, but if I don't get help for college I really have no other option. My aunt is in the Air Force, that would be my choice if I chose a military branch. Who knows? Maybe my music career will take off! (That is me being optimistic) This topic really does depress me. When I talk to me padres about it, they sit and look at their computer screens, filtering every word I say. Only hearing what they want to hear. Now some people don't believe you need a college degree. I personally would like to do something in the scientific career. I don't believe the service can help me when it comes to science. It really just upsets me on how poor my parent's planning was. You would think that they would help their children succeed in life, because of this, I will not be given a good chance. My sister is barely able to pay off her loans at the moment and I will probably be struggling as well. So Mallory wanted me to put that she rocks because she helped me with the idea, although I thought of it myself. She wants credit. So, go Mallory, I guess.

Riddle Me This!

Recently, I have been addicted to tons of riddles. Speaking of a riddle with tons, here is one.
What weighs more? A ton of Feathers or a ton of Bricks?
Well obviously they weigh the same.
Riddles just seem to be a good brain teaser, and the feeling of getting a brain teaser right is pretty awesome. I've been looking up random riddles just to challenge myself and I believe that I can get most of them right. You just have to think like a riddle. Here is one of my favorites,
"A man is captured by Goblins, he is allowed to say one statement that will decide his death. If it is a false statement, he will be boiled in water. If it is a true statement, he will be fried in oil. The man said a statement that made the goblins release him. What did he say?"
This made me think, really hard. I'll tell you the answer at the end of the blog. Force you to read it.
Now a good riddle will make you think for a creative solution; bad riddles make you think for like a second and then you found out it is a stupid answer. They really annoy me, an example would be:
"How many bricks does it take to make a building of bricks?"
The answer is one.
Now, if you can explain to me how a person can live in a brick building containing only one brick, you are worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. Riddles are amazing! I can tell riddles for years and years and not get bored. They are simply amazing. Once you find a good riddle, you tell everyone that will listen until everyone knows the answer.

By the way, the man captured by Goblins said, "You will boil me in water." If it is a true statement and he will be boiled in water, he should have been fried in oil because it was a true statement. If they said it was false and they ended up boiling him in water, he should have been fried in oil because it was true. Confusing, yes.

Watson the Wizard

So, recently I was watching Jeopardy. I seen that they had a robot going against two of the best Jeopardy contestants of ALL TIME. Now, Jeopardy is sweet and I love watching it. I feel smart whenever I get an answer right, that feeling of accomplishment. Currently there is a Teen tournament, now I feel that I could compete with some of these teens and I feel I could beat them down with my knowledge.

See, during the first round, I sit and listen to the questions, answering them with lightening speed. If I had a button, I would press it faster than any of them. My money total would be gigantic. They would have to multiply their own total by fourty in order to equal my massive amount of money. Watson and I. One on one,  a fight to the finish.

I would win, obviously. My brain power surpasses Watson's processors by at least 3.24. That is the exact number I found when calculating this problem. Which I happened to in less than 2 seconds. Now Watson is a great computer and he would make a fantastic desktop computer. Watson is a great computer, but it's flaws are so obvious. The scientists that made Watson, (Work at IBM) need to fine tune him. One of Jeopardy's questions had to deal with an airport in the United States. Watson answered with, "What is Toronto?" Well, Toronto is not a State in the United States. Just a small flaw in Watson.

So in reality Watson is no where close to becoming our robotic overlord. He is just a machine capable of doing some activity that our brain can do everyday. IBM will have to do a lot more to take over humanity,  than a computer that can answer question in the form of a question. Honestly, I was impressed by this random robot, and I am hoping that the technology used for this robot will be used in an appropriate way.

Watson could possibly change the whole outlook on Artificial Intelligence. Doctors can look up what disease a patient may be suffering from, they use Watson and they are finding out what's wrong in a matter of seconds. The technology is really outstanding. It surprises me that this technology even exists, it simply is interesting how advanced this is.

Well, my main point is that Watson is amazing, and I believe he will change the face of the world.

Weather.... Nature is cruel.

I'm looking out my window, watching as ice literally falls from the sky. It depresses me that four days ago we were pushing sixty degrees, and now we're barely hitting 30 degrees. Now I live to play basketball, and playing it inside is just bland and boring to me, I prefer shooting baskets outside with a steady breeze keeping me for dying of heat stroke. I only like to be outside if it is less than 80 degrees. Heat never really reacts well with me, I always seem to be really tired or dizzy whenever I'm in heat for a long period of time. That's why when I lived in Nevada I couldn't be outside for very long. Made me feel really sick. Okay, back to the subject of Iowa weather. It seems we cannot have a normal month of weather. Now I know the groundhog saw it's shadow, so that means spring six weeks early, but to get our hopes up only to crush them with freezing rain is pretty cold. I have been waiting for great weather ever since the first snow. I knew it was going to be very cold, but everyone was more excited for the first snow. I knew everyone would be excited, and I knew that everyone was over looking the doom that was coming to Mason City. If you ask anyone if they're still excited about the snow, all of them would say no. Plus, we had over 4  or 5 feet of snow before it hit 55 degrees last Thursday. I'm surprised that some of the rivers didn't start flooding from all the snow being melted. A couple years ago after we had a downpour, East Park ended up flooding. Now I don't know when exactly that was, but I am pretty sure it was towards the beginning of spring after all the snow had melted. Plus I was in Iowa City a few years back when the whole place ended up flooding, our hotel we stayed at was underwater. Earlier that day I was fighting a stomach bug and was trying to decide if I should go to The University for a "Freshman Preview." I ended up going with. While waiting to leave Iowa City we saw the news, our hotel was underwater. I smart decision for me to go with. 

Iowa weather just bothers me anymore. It could be 70 degrees out, with 100% humidity and it basically ruins any plans you had for going outside during the day. If you have one great day with weather, then by all means, take advantage of it. Iowa weather is so unpredictable that if you don't take advantage of it, it could change in a matter of minutes. If this ice keeps up tonight and it keeps going into tomorrow, we could possibly not have school. I wouldn't doubt it, but I am not expecting it. The school district is freaking out after those two days we had off a couple weeks ago. If we can't even get delayed for -40 weather, we have no chance of getting delayed for a half inch of ice.

Follies!

There comes a time where the emotion of Follies is flowing through the air, the magical feeling of music flowing. This years theme is Broadway! I am sucker when it comes to Broadway and I love Broadway music. Although this should be a happy time, it seems almost every relationship is crumbling to the pressure of Follies and it makes me sad. Another thing that upsets me is that I didn't do a solo! I knew I should have sang a song, and it kills me everytime I hear someone else do a solo. It is really fun though, the feeling of being on stage is just, indescribable. Some people are nervous, other people freak out, and very little people are excited and love the stage. I love the feeling of being on stage, it just excites me.

Now that Follies is over, I have no idea what to do. Show Choir alone was so fun, next year when I do a song/duet it will be even more fun. I'll be able to sing my own song, show off my own range. Not to mention, the choir is losing so many great singers next year. Varsity Choir members have to step up so we don't sound terrible. I just love singing, the feeling of expressing yourself through your singing is amazing, and if I am able to show off my "talent" during Follies then that will just help me get used to the feeling of being on stage singing by myself. I've heard I have the "Golden Voice," not like that homeless man that got a job announcing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but as soon as he gets really good he's going to take his talents to South Beach. Follies is just a big tradition for Mason City High School. I swear I have been to the last six or seven Follies, my sister was in it for all four years she was there, and the on year she wasn't there I went for the eighth grade preview. I do love Follies though, being a part of it just makes it so much better. Don't get me wrong, sitting in the crowd watching it is also great, but I love being part of the show! Being backstage and being behind the scenes is really fun!

My weekends are now empty, and I no longer have an excuse to dance. I never danced anyway, but I ended up getting good. Felt good being right in the middle of it all. Well, thanks for reading my blog, I feel I have reached over 300 words. I can't be sure, but I am going to talk for a couple more sentences to make sure I get my limit. I never usually have anything to blog about, it's just whatever I am thinking about at the moment. Knowing I just got back from Follies it explains the reason why.

The Big Game

Some people watch for the commercials, some people watch for the big hits, but the true fans watch the game for the game itself. Now, I will be the first to admit that I do not really care for this year's Super Bowl. I still feel cheated from the Chicago Bears terrible loss in the NFC Championship game. I think Cutler is just a wuss that gave up in the middle of the game, media say that he tried to get back in the game. Well, if I didn't want to be booed at I would try to get back into the game. Although he "tried" to get back into the game, a week after the game he ended up being filmed shoveling his driveway from the recent snowstorm that hit his home in Chicago. Now, I won't be hung up about this for too long, and honestly I could care less for whoever wins the Super Bowl. My team is out, and I hate both teams that are in the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers irritates me with his "Championship Belt" taunt and because I am a Bear fan, Ben Roethlisberger is a rapist and the Steelers are always in the Super Bowl, they have won the last 4 or 5 Super Bowls they have been in. I'll watch the Super Bowl because I would love to see both Quarterbacks get the crap beat out of them. I think both teams are equally matched, both teams are number 1-2 for defense. My Super Bowl Prediction, Steelers 27-13.

I live for the parties during Super Bowl weekend. The experience of the Super Bowl is way better lived with all your friends. I am "expecting" to go to my friends for the Super Bowl, and also might head to Godfathers right before to get an awesome pizza to last us for the game. There is something about pizza on gameday that feels right, whether that is the millions of advertisements promoting their pizza or if it's just a tradition in my house. Football has been passed down through my family, My grandfather is a Viking Fan, almost my entire family consists of Viking Fans, except for me. Which broke the mold of being a Viking Fan and decided to cheer for the Bears. It makes some games more interesting than cheering for one team.

"That Is So Facebook Worthy."

Facebook, oh where do I begin. We recently read an article in Composition talking about how technology is distracting us from our school work, I completely agree. I'm listening to music as I type this post. Facebook is just a mindless pit for everyone's empty thoughts to be thrown into. Sadly, a majority of the time no one cares about what you are saying. Somebody will post a "I just got home, text me!" Umm, I don't want to. You should stop crying for attention. Okay, I'll be honest. I go on Facebook, mostly because I have nothing better to do. It gives me a way to talk to people that I am sometimes not able to talk to. There are both positive and negative aspects of Facebook. A negative is all the Facebook "Stalkers." No one knows who they are, but yet they still talk to you. It's also possible that they could be pedophiles. Able to find little kids at a click away. It's crazy how people can find anyone they have ever met at any point of their life. Facebook is a way of gratifying people that really have no effort to do something. As in people sitting on their couch, watching TV.

Temptation.

Honestly the temptation to open up Facebook is huge, I literally just had to catch myself from opening it up. People that want to get a project or an assignment done should be as far way as possible from Facebook. They will not hesitate to open up Facebook and stare at their computer screen for an hour or so trying to figure it out what to do. Your mind literally freezes, you forget what you are focusing on and go on Facebook. I subject I haven't mentioned is Farmville, I can't even begin to talk about my hatred for Farmville. There was a news story that a lady strangled her child because it was interrupting Farmville. Now if that was me, I would be the one to "Strangle my computer for interrupting my time with my kid." I' have many arguments that I will continue to portray at my own will. So keep posted!

Sleep Deprived Students

The feeling of waking up, never got anyone out of bed. Looking at the clock, only to realize it is too early even for the sun. Students waking up this early usually do poorly in school, their grades show the effect. As I write this blog post, my eyes are becoming heavier, my body is telling me that I should stop, sleep and reflect. My mind constantly tells me that I either; one need sleep, or I'm thirsty. It's very weird, my body tells me odd things when I am tired. As I type this paper, my body is fighting every single motion I make with my fingers. Now I will admit, this is my fault. I sometimes refuse to go to bed, because I will be texting someone or I will just be into the show I am watching. I usually watch the Colbert Report and the Daily Show before I go to bed, depending on how well the show is going or if I like the guest. The show is the only way I can keep up with news anymore, all the good talkshows are during afternoon hours, or while I am in school. These issues are impossible to keep track of, the only source I have is the CBS Evening News with Kate Couric. Really? The CBS Evening News? My parents hate politics and they only watch the terrible KIMT news! I hate KIMT. Speaking of which, what happened to that Dave Hansen, the weird stone jaw guys that did the news before? Did he get fired? Or did he quit? I really have no idea. It makes me upset that KIMT wouldn't even tell me. So in a sense, the CBS Evening News is better than KIMT. Nothing interesting happens in this town, except for the Barack Obama, Hitler sign. That seems to be the only time we have been on national news, I just wish it was positive.

Triple Platinum

Music. We all have music, whether it be show choir, or singing in the shower. It's rages inside of us. Whether you listen to Jazz, Rock or Rap. It is there. The music is inside of you. The power to release it exists in everyone, I cannot say how many times I wanted to speak out about music. I also believe in listening in whatever you want, without the fear of ridicule. People get upset if you listen to screamo or listen to rap, but I believe you may listen to whatever you want. I listen to The Lonely Island, which is barely music, more like rhyming random profanitites and calling it music. I love listening about random profanities, I would speak of their music but I will probably get in trouble. The topic of music really speaks to me, I feel like I can talk about music for hours and hours, music is one of my favorite topics. They're just so many different varieties. As I type this Blog, I'm singing to my music, I have been recently re-discovering the band Linkin Park, a pretty sweet band which I knew since I was about seven.
Now this is my first Blog and I cannot say I expected you to stay awake during my blog post. My topic was probably not the best to talk about the first times, but as I discover more topics to talk about I will, most likely, venture away from from the topic of music. Throwing in Politics or Science, maybe even some topics that other people may be afraid to talk about. The whole point of a blog is to talk about issues that matter to you. In this case, it will be about politics, I cannot say that everyone will agree with what I say, but that does not matter to me. What matters to me is that my voice will be heard, whether people want me to speak or not. I honestly cannot think of what else to say, so I am rambling for the last couple sentences. The feeling of being able to speak my mind actually helps relieve a bit of stress, I can discuss what happens with teachers during my school day, and I reflect on how well I am doing in school. Well I'm about done with my first Blog, I'm hoping to gain some followers so I can discuss more topics. Happy Blogging!