Wow, I haven't posted in a long time. Sorry...
It's been a relatively normal summer for me. I went to Europe to visit relatives in the middle of the summer, which was awesome, and visited friends in South Carolina recently, but mostly stayed around here.
The past couple of days have been a whirlwind for me, between repainting and decorating my room, to anxiously ordering and waiting for various posters and t-shirts I ordered online to arrive, and my friends realizing the time left in summer is waning and taking advantage of these last few days with mall trips and such...and wow, back to school orientations and sleepovers for the rest of the week. More whirlwind.
My single best accomplishment this summer (in my opinion) was spending hours at the basement computer watching not only the entire Star Trek original series, but also the Animated Series and four of the original series cast movies. Yes, I realize that's something that not everyone would be proud of, but I am. :)
I have mixed feelings about starting school again, like everyone else. I want to see my old friends and make new ones. I'm going to a new school where I will only know maybe a dozen or so people, so lots of new friends, hopefully. But I also don't want to leave the happy-go-lucky summer aura that's been around me for the past two and a half months. But new school means new opportunities, and that's the philosophy that I want to start school with.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
World Cup
The Netherlands lost...
This was the third time they have made it to the World Cup Final, and they lost again. The other times were in the 1970s.
I know that well over three quarters of the 16 and a half million people who live in the Netherlands watched the semifinal match against Uruguay, so I can only imagine that almost the entire population must have watched the final match.
The game was, as says my family, exciting and boring to watch. It was boring because NO ONE scored a goal until 116 minutes into play, which was well into overtime. But it was exciting and tense because winning meant so much to both of those countries, and neither had one it before.
Well, I guess the Netherlands retains its title of "Best Team Never to Win the World Cup."
Paul, you are one smart octopus.
This was the third time they have made it to the World Cup Final, and they lost again. The other times were in the 1970s.
I know that well over three quarters of the 16 and a half million people who live in the Netherlands watched the semifinal match against Uruguay, so I can only imagine that almost the entire population must have watched the final match.
The game was, as says my family, exciting and boring to watch. It was boring because NO ONE scored a goal until 116 minutes into play, which was well into overtime. But it was exciting and tense because winning meant so much to both of those countries, and neither had one it before.
Well, I guess the Netherlands retains its title of "Best Team Never to Win the World Cup."
Paul, you are one smart octopus.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Gifted and Talented
Well, Gifted and Talented. Often shortened to GT, it is basically faster-paced classes and working above grade level. At a very early age, tests are administered to students, and those who score at or above a certain level are given the option of attending a GT center.
I have the somewhat unique perspective of being able to view this situation from both sides. When I first took the test, I didn't know that it would determine where I went to school the next year. I didn't know anything about GT. I just knew I was happy with my life and my friends at the elementary school I attended, and I treated it the way I would treat any test: seriously. A few weeks later, two of my best friends approached me on the playground, excitedly shouting that they had "made it" into the GT center school. They asked me if I had, as well. At this point I still had absolutely no idea what they were talking about, and I informed them that I hadn't. They went off to the new school in the fall, and I made new friends, because I am pretty adaptable to change. I did feel a little left behind though.
The next year, I had the option to retake the test, and I did, and again didn't make it. My parents did a parental referral that eventually got me into GT by showing them some of my work. Some parents are the kind who will push and shove until they get what they want for their kid, even if their kid is unwilling -- not so my parents. They really did think it was the right place for me, as did I. I was very excited, and it certainly did end up being where I belonged -- I have had very good grades all my years of school.
I LOVED GT. Sure we had tougher projects, but they involved more creativity too. I wrote a diary on coffee stained paper from the point of view of a young girl in colonial Williamsburg for a Social Studies project -- that option isn't available to every 4th grade student. My only issue with it was standardized testing, but that is an issue everywhere you look these days. It limits teacher's creativity and forces students to simply memorize facts without looking deeper and learning application. And that's the type of learning I prefer: application.
I have the somewhat unique perspective of being able to view this situation from both sides. When I first took the test, I didn't know that it would determine where I went to school the next year. I didn't know anything about GT. I just knew I was happy with my life and my friends at the elementary school I attended, and I treated it the way I would treat any test: seriously. A few weeks later, two of my best friends approached me on the playground, excitedly shouting that they had "made it" into the GT center school. They asked me if I had, as well. At this point I still had absolutely no idea what they were talking about, and I informed them that I hadn't. They went off to the new school in the fall, and I made new friends, because I am pretty adaptable to change. I did feel a little left behind though.
The next year, I had the option to retake the test, and I did, and again didn't make it. My parents did a parental referral that eventually got me into GT by showing them some of my work. Some parents are the kind who will push and shove until they get what they want for their kid, even if their kid is unwilling -- not so my parents. They really did think it was the right place for me, as did I. I was very excited, and it certainly did end up being where I belonged -- I have had very good grades all my years of school.
I LOVED GT. Sure we had tougher projects, but they involved more creativity too. I wrote a diary on coffee stained paper from the point of view of a young girl in colonial Williamsburg for a Social Studies project -- that option isn't available to every 4th grade student. My only issue with it was standardized testing, but that is an issue everywhere you look these days. It limits teacher's creativity and forces students to simply memorize facts without looking deeper and learning application. And that's the type of learning I prefer: application.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Blogs and World Cup
Well, now all of my friends officialy have blogs. Yay! Usually I'm one of the last to get something techie like a blog, but this time I was the second!
Update on Hayabusa: When they opened the capsule, the scientists found some vaporized materials -- possibly from the asteroid. They are now testing to see if they are from the asteroid.
Well, tomorrow is the World Cup final. My family and I are firmly rooting for the Dutch to win, but according to a certain German octopus, they won't. Apparently an octopus named Paul who lives in a German aquarium has correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of Germany's World Cup games thus far, including its win against Uruguay today. Paul's caretakers place two different food containers in his tank, each with a different country's flag on it, and whichever container he eats from will win. Hopefully he will be wrong tomorrow....GO NETHERLANDS!
Update on Hayabusa: When they opened the capsule, the scientists found some vaporized materials -- possibly from the asteroid. They are now testing to see if they are from the asteroid.
Well, tomorrow is the World Cup final. My family and I are firmly rooting for the Dutch to win, but according to a certain German octopus, they won't. Apparently an octopus named Paul who lives in a German aquarium has correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of Germany's World Cup games thus far, including its win against Uruguay today. Paul's caretakers place two different food containers in his tank, each with a different country's flag on it, and whichever container he eats from will win. Hopefully he will be wrong tomorrow....GO NETHERLANDS!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Hayabusa
Time for a little update in space news:
Ever heard of Hayabusa? Well, this little Japanese spacecraft has been through a LOT in the past couple of years. It traveled 1.25 billion miles, visited an asteroid, had major tech failures, lost all contact with Earth for seven weeks, stayed in space 3 years longer than planned, and STILL managed to make it home, thanks to some ingenuity on the part of the mission control.
Even with the major success of landing the probe in the Australian outback recently, scientists are still unsure of whether or not the probe actually succeeded in collecting dust from the asteroid, which was the main part of its mission. The probe was supposed to fire pellets at the asteroid, chipping off some rocks to collect, but this part of the mission was unsuccessful. We can only hope that the spacecraft managed to take in some dust instead. Scientists will know within the next couple of weeks whether dust was collected.
Even so, the sheer accomplishment of landing a probe on an asteroid and returning it to Earth will earn Hayabusa a permanent slot in space lore. As the Washington Post puts it, this mission falls somewhere between the return of the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft to Earth and the fact that the Mars Rovers, built to last 90 days, are still returning information to us about Mars six years later. This is a major accomplishment. Congratulations, Japan! Sorry about your World Cup loss though...
Ever heard of Hayabusa? Well, this little Japanese spacecraft has been through a LOT in the past couple of years. It traveled 1.25 billion miles, visited an asteroid, had major tech failures, lost all contact with Earth for seven weeks, stayed in space 3 years longer than planned, and STILL managed to make it home, thanks to some ingenuity on the part of the mission control.
Even with the major success of landing the probe in the Australian outback recently, scientists are still unsure of whether or not the probe actually succeeded in collecting dust from the asteroid, which was the main part of its mission. The probe was supposed to fire pellets at the asteroid, chipping off some rocks to collect, but this part of the mission was unsuccessful. We can only hope that the spacecraft managed to take in some dust instead. Scientists will know within the next couple of weeks whether dust was collected.
Even so, the sheer accomplishment of landing a probe on an asteroid and returning it to Earth will earn Hayabusa a permanent slot in space lore. As the Washington Post puts it, this mission falls somewhere between the return of the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft to Earth and the fact that the Mars Rovers, built to last 90 days, are still returning information to us about Mars six years later. This is a major accomplishment. Congratulations, Japan! Sorry about your World Cup loss though...
Monday, June 21, 2010
Finals and Saying Goodbye
Well, it's the end of the school year, and that means...what else?...finals. At my school they go in the order that you have your classes -- 1st, 2nd, 3rd period, etc. Except 6th is out of order, so it's 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.
Luckily enough, I got my math final over with early. I have it 1st Period. But let me tell you I am sick and tired of bubbling and ScanTron sheets and all that stuff. Ah well, I have only one more hard test left. Science. The others are just presenting projects and the easier stuff like that.
I know I should be happy, since summer is coming up, but I'm going to a different school than most of my friends next year and saying goodbye is going to be hard. I hope I can see them over the summer, but it won't be the same.
Sorry, this hasn't exactly been the most cheery post. I promise the next one will be.
Luckily enough, I got my math final over with early. I have it 1st Period. But let me tell you I am sick and tired of bubbling and ScanTron sheets and all that stuff. Ah well, I have only one more hard test left. Science. The others are just presenting projects and the easier stuff like that.
I know I should be happy, since summer is coming up, but I'm going to a different school than most of my friends next year and saying goodbye is going to be hard. I hope I can see them over the summer, but it won't be the same.
Sorry, this hasn't exactly been the most cheery post. I promise the next one will be.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Star Trek!!!!!!
Well, it was bound to happen someday -- a sci-fi lover like me, who had never seen Star Trek -- well, I've started watching it a LOT and now I've become -- a Trekkie.
I've seen some of The Next Generation and Enterprise on TV, and I've been working my way through The Original Series online -- fancast.com rules. And I've seen an episode of Deep Space Nine.
I'm going so absolutely insane that I bought Vulcan ears online.
Now I understand all those Star Trek pop culture references and everything, though -- and I get why it's such a phenomenon. What other show has spawned four spin-off series, almost a dozen movies, and numerous books and fan paraphernalia? So I ask my followers, go watch an episode today!
I've seen some of The Next Generation and Enterprise on TV, and I've been working my way through The Original Series online -- fancast.com rules. And I've seen an episode of Deep Space Nine.
I'm going so absolutely insane that I bought Vulcan ears online.
Now I understand all those Star Trek pop culture references and everything, though -- and I get why it's such a phenomenon. What other show has spawned four spin-off series, almost a dozen movies, and numerous books and fan paraphernalia? So I ask my followers, go watch an episode today!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Ecce Romani
Sorry, this is totally unrelated to space! But I wanted to post something on this.
For those who have never heard of Ecce Romani, it is a Latin textbook for beginning students which teaches the language chapter by chapter with a story taking place in Ancient Rome. I wish my math textbook was like that! It'd make math a LOT more interesting. Of course, I would probably end up thinking it was cheesy if I did have a textbook like that...
Anyway, a girl at my school is totally obsessed with her Ecce Romani book and all things Roman, and went so far as to write a play about the characters in Ecce Romani. It was performed last weekend, and I was in it! I had two minor roles, a slave and a robber. Being a robber was pretty fun, but hard for me since I tend to be a non-violent person. :) One of my best friends got a main role as Aurelia. She was awesome! "Davus, where is that lazy slave-girl Syra? (Ook, that's me!) She neglected to clean 1 square inch of this hallway! Now I'm going to go scold her." She got the best part. :)
We rocked the house at our first performance, but during the second, one of the actors (Uncle Titus) messed up his lines. Backstage we were freaking out, but the audience thought nothing of it. He's a great actor though.
I'm sad it's over. Now my life is a lot less busy...who knew that could be a bad thing?
For those who have never heard of Ecce Romani, it is a Latin textbook for beginning students which teaches the language chapter by chapter with a story taking place in Ancient Rome. I wish my math textbook was like that! It'd make math a LOT more interesting. Of course, I would probably end up thinking it was cheesy if I did have a textbook like that...
Anyway, a girl at my school is totally obsessed with her Ecce Romani book and all things Roman, and went so far as to write a play about the characters in Ecce Romani. It was performed last weekend, and I was in it! I had two minor roles, a slave and a robber. Being a robber was pretty fun, but hard for me since I tend to be a non-violent person. :) One of my best friends got a main role as Aurelia. She was awesome! "Davus, where is that lazy slave-girl Syra? (Ook, that's me!) She neglected to clean 1 square inch of this hallway! Now I'm going to go scold her." She got the best part. :)
We rocked the house at our first performance, but during the second, one of the actors (Uncle Titus) messed up his lines. Backstage we were freaking out, but the audience thought nothing of it. He's a great actor though.
I'm sad it's over. Now my life is a lot less busy...who knew that could be a bad thing?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Space Art!
Space art is an amazingly awesome and unfortunately underappreciated field of art. (Like my alliteration? :) ) It is drawings of, well, space, that are purely fiction, but are based on science and what is actually possible. They inspire many about the wonders of the universe and get the imagination running on what could be out there...
I found a great site where you can look at tons of awesome space art: spacewallpapers.net
Just look under the space art section.
I made an attempt at drawing my own space art today, and it turned out pretty good. Not awesome, but better than I had expected. The drawing is from just outside the atmosphere of a moon of a large blue gas giant orbiting a red dwarf star. It shows the clouds and mountaintops of the moon, and another moon and a blue-white companion star in the background.
I found a great site where you can look at tons of awesome space art: spacewallpapers.net
Just look under the space art section.
I made an attempt at drawing my own space art today, and it turned out pretty good. Not awesome, but better than I had expected. The drawing is from just outside the atmosphere of a moon of a large blue gas giant orbiting a red dwarf star. It shows the clouds and mountaintops of the moon, and another moon and a blue-white companion star in the background.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Yay, I have a blog!
It seems all my friends have been getting blogs lately, and, since I have a G-mail account, I figured I should too. First, a little about me:
1. I'm a student.
2. I'm a girl.
3. I scuba dive.
4. I'm a space nut.
Hence the blog name. I became interested in space last October, and ever since I've been reading up on it. A LOT.
You know that feeling you get when you find out something new, something special, something amazing?
Well, that's how I feel when I find out something new about space.
I've been rambling to my mom about new "discoveries" (new to me, not to science) that I've made about space for ages, and she sometimes seems lost. Don't get me wrong, she's a very smart person, but it can get pretty complex and I KNOW I don't explain it well. So this is just another way to get it out of my system.
The rest of the postings will deal with life in general. Just random stuff I pick up. Anecdotes, pet peeves, I don't know what else!
Should be fun. :)
Here goes nothing!
1. I'm a student.
2. I'm a girl.
3. I scuba dive.
4. I'm a space nut.
Hence the blog name. I became interested in space last October, and ever since I've been reading up on it. A LOT.
You know that feeling you get when you find out something new, something special, something amazing?
Well, that's how I feel when I find out something new about space.
I've been rambling to my mom about new "discoveries" (new to me, not to science) that I've made about space for ages, and she sometimes seems lost. Don't get me wrong, she's a very smart person, but it can get pretty complex and I KNOW I don't explain it well. So this is just another way to get it out of my system.
The rest of the postings will deal with life in general. Just random stuff I pick up. Anecdotes, pet peeves, I don't know what else!
Should be fun. :)
Here goes nothing!
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