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Nothing official here; just come chill! |
Welcome! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Welcome to my little Den! Here you'll find all sorts of things- mostly blog challenges, but mixed in, you'll notice: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
What if fairytales began "Twice Below a Place" instead of 'once upon a time'? Okay, I'm just going to advocate against this "Twice Below a Place" introduction for fairytales, here. ![]() ![]() Also, imagine if everyone did everything twice in the fairytales. Snow White took two bites from the poisoned apple. Cinderella lost her shoe twice. Or, better, she lost both shoes. ![]() ![]() ![]() "Below a Place"- why would you want to be underneath somewhere? ![]() ![]() ![]() Not to mention, princes and princesses live in castles. Large, ornate, elaborate castles. Those aren't going to fit underground. And, practically speaking, what happens if they get attacked? There's nowhere to run, and you can't see up as well as you can see down. The higher up you are, the more you can see. When you're underground, in the dark, how would you know if there's someone right above you, waiting for you to come out so they can do away with you? Would you want to live in constant fear your whole life? No? Then let's live above the ground, instead of below. ![]() Yeah, so "Once Upon a Time" is a much better beginning, than "Twice Below a Place". Maybe it's the fairytale notion already embedded to it, but "Once Upon a Time" feels dreamy. "Twice Below a Place" sounds like the beginning of a Brothers Grimm tale. ![]() |
War Chest Wednesday! From a previous challenger... What's your opinion on children starting school at age two or three? Before I start, let me just say, this is my thing. Like, you know how everyone’s a semi-expert at something or another? I took Early Childhood Education (ECE) last quarter so everything is fresh in my mind. This was also the class I got an A+ in. Just sayin’. So yeah, I’m excited about this prompt! ![]() Whoever submitted this prompt, three is typically the earliest a child will start school. Unless it’s a private school or something that does toddler/infant classes in addition to preschool. As for actually starting school at 3 years old, it’s not as terrible an idea as it seems. Preschool isn’t actually real school, where you’re sitting in a classroom all day and listening to a teacher drone on and on. At leas, in theory, it shouldn’t be. As my ECE professor told us, “if your kid comes home just as clean as you left them, something is wrong!” ![]() ![]() You know how sometimes in school, there were those classes where you kinda knew the kids in there weren’t as smart as you or your class? That’s tracking. They put the kid on a certain path, based on their academic achievement, and sometimes, SES. That’s why, when you reach high school, sometimes those kids you saw in the not-as-smart classes way back when, either don’t end up in the “good” classes, or are placed on a path where they fulfill the minimum requirements for graduation. Scary how you perform at 6 can affect how you do when you’re 18, isn’t it? Granted, Pre-K is not for everyone. I did it at 3 1/2 years and cried every day after drop-off. ![]() ![]() That's another reason for preschool- it gives kids structure. The schedule is/should be the same every day, so it's predictable, and the kids will feel safe. As said before, it's an introduction to elementary school. Teaches kids how to be in the classroom, and then some. Like, the schedule- recess time, you go out to play, but once the bell rings, or the teacher rings the bell, it's time to line up and go back inside. You can't get that from playing with Grandma or Grandpa. So yeah. Preschool. It's definitely beneficial for kids to attend. I mean, it's almost literally playing to learn. ![]() [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] Hey, I said sensory play, right? ![]() ![]() ![]() I like this song- it's catchy, it's educational, it's preschool! As said, preschool is far from boring. This song, I'd say, targets fine and gross motor skills/development through the choreography. It also teaches body parts. And the 5 senses, obviously. ![]() It's a very active song. Instead of sitting there and listening, kids can get up, sing, and dance along to the song. The peppiness of it is helpful, too. Makes you want to get up and dance along. I still do. Well, yeah, I like to dance and sing and such, but I really think it can apply to anyone. I mean, when I was in Texas, I showed Baby Hi-5 and she loved it. At one point she started following along to "Ready or Not," which I found really cool. ![]() ![]() Plus, I mean, Hi-5 UK and HI-5 USA redid the song. And they redid it in season 13 as well. It's a Hi-5 classic, essentially. A few others as well, but 5 senses is definitely one of the songs you'd think of, aside from their awesome Christmas ones (I'm sure you've heard me go on about them as well, before ![]() ![]() |
Motivational Monday! Lloyd Bridges ![]() Ah, yes. “Fake it ‘til you make it” ![]() Plus, there’s spelling and grammar and all those mechanics that, usually, are either right or wrong. Sure, there’s spellcheck, but even that can only do so much. It can tell you “you’re” was supposed to be “your,” or that your sentence is in a passive state, but it can’t fix that passive sentence for you. When you act, you’re already being fake. Lloyd Bridges had the right idea. You’re portraying someone you’re not, but writing.... I don’t think so. ![]() [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] I told you I was a Swiftie, didn’t I? ![]() ![]() I suppose you could say the idea behind this song is the complete opposite from the prompt- be yourself, because there’s always going to be that one (or those few) people who call you out on what you’re doing- and put things in a negative light. And I’m probably not one to talk, but it’s usually a good idea to ignore those people. Sis had a scandal at one point, actually, while writing for her school newspaper- some white activists and men’s rights groups started calling her out online about something she’d written, and it got so far that the dean of her school or something had to call her in because she went from being a private citizen to a public figure overnight. ![]() ![]() From that, I would like to say “be yourself, but not to the extent where you’re getting in trouble,” but that’s kinda hypocritical, isn’t it? ![]() ![]() |
Creation Saturday! So, what's happening here? ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** They say there's a place where the forgotten lie, waiting for a second chance at life. Owners sort through memories, trying to find what they left behind- only to realize it's gone. This room of the forgotten, where songs and shadows lie, bring up to the surface remnants of days gone by. Sifting through melodies and getting lost in the thoughts- notes drifting through space and settling on dust. You can get lost here, and while people mostly don't, those who do, seldom come out, and are left there, forgotten as well. [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] Today/tonight's definitely a quiet, recharging night for me. I'm just realizing, as I type this, that as much as I love school (the social aspect- my classmates), I see some of them every day, because Desires is a Tuesday/Thursday class, and Classical Chinese is M/W/F. I'm very much an introvert, in case you didn't know that... online may be a bit different, because it's not face-to-face, but even recently, I haven't had much time for that either. Just look how behind I am on blogging! Anyways, this song... I was looking through Spotify and was thinking about posting "Almost Here" instead, because of the poem and the nagging "I've almost got it" feeling, but given my current mood, this felt more right. I was/am working on a knotting pattern right now- well, was, because I knotted as I wrote the poem, and now I'm doing the blog post, but the pattern's not done yet, so it's still am. ![]() ![]() This still doesn't explain the song. And I'm not too sure I can, either, besides it's peaceful and the lyrics ![]() Maybe you can, maybe you can't. I can, and while it might not be angels, it's peaceful, and for me, tonight, that's good enough. |
Fun Fact Friday! On this day in 1998, 19 European nations agreed to prohibit human cloning. What are your thoughts on cloning? Would you consider doing it, if you were guaranteed the results would be used for ethical purposes? Or would you and your clone decide a life of shenanigans was more fun? I’m so behind on this blogging thing, that I’ve read a few people’s responses already. And I’d have to agree- there really isn’t a legitimate, good reason to attempt cloning. The world is already overpopulated, so getting cloned... that’d double the population, wouldn’t it? ![]() As for myself, I don't need a clone. I already have my sister. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Yeah, so people told us apart through trial and error- get up close and personal to the kid, try your luck, and if they cry, that's Dragon! If not, that's her sister. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Back to the prompt... Yeah, what kind of "ethical" purposes would there be for cloning? Research? But then if they're research subjects, does that make them somehow "less" than the non-clones? *shrugs* I'm not convinced sorry. Speaking of not convinced: [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] Education is not convinced I can take on 27 units this quarter. ![]() Didn't go well. ![]() I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think I could do it. I made the Dean's Honors list last quarter, and I intend to do it again this quarter. And she's not going to stop me by not letting me tap. ![]() Anyways, yeah I chose this song because I'm in a "don't think you can tell me what I can or can't do" mood right now. The academic counselor should help, guide, and advise, yes. But they need to be supportive, too, don't they? ![]() ![]() This is also one of those songs where I can just listen to it when I'm in one of those quietly seething moods. Like now. It's very easily directable at people, which I like. ![]() |
War Chest Wednesday! From a previous challenger... There comes a time when every life goes off-course. In this desperate moment, you must choose your direction. Will you fight to stay on path? Will others tell you who you are? Or will you label yourself? Will you be haunted by your choice? This sounds like my whole college career so far. ![]() Regardless. I tried declaring a third major before going to study abroad. The Honors Program needed an updated course plan as proof that I had room in my schedule to both study abroad and finish all the Honors classes they impose on students. The school of Humanities got finicky, saying I had to use their course plan, so I went "Forget you." and studied abroad without declaring that Chinese major. But I still intended to do it- triple major and minor in Linguistics. My theory? If I'm going to die from school, at least I'll look impressive. ![]() Some time in, oh, maybe September or October of 2016, I figured out in Melbourne that Psychology is not for me. There went that major. And good riddance to it too. ![]() To answer the question, I can't say I was labelled, but at the same time, I may be one of very few, if not the only, student(s) with a Chinese/Education Sciences double major and Linguistics minor. Lots of students do an Education Sciences/Cognitive Sciences-Psychology double major and a minor in whatever they may find interesting. I couldn't do that. If I had continued in psychology, I do think my grades would've suffered. I just don't have the interest. Now, whether or not it'll haunt me later in life is something we'll have to find out, isn't it? ![]() As for today's Soundtrackers: [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] I don't remember where I heard this first, but I do remember hearing it at the beginning of last quarter and going ![]() ![]() As for my mom, well, she dealt with it her own way. ![]() ![]() I also think last quarter solidified my decision- early education is the path for me, not elementary, and Chinese is a great add-on, even if it may seem like it's not extremely high in demand right now. We'll see. |
Talk Tuesday! In Sally ![]() ![]() Writing Kit? Geez, Sally ![]() ![]() So if that didn't answer the question, no I don't have any sort of writing kit. I write when I can and when the mood strikes. And usually, that means when I'm not sick. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sometimes I play music when I'm writing, but only if it's not an essay or something, because I find the words way too distracting- I pay more attention to the ones I'm listening to than the ones I'm supposed to be writing. I've currently got music on, though, since I'm sitting in a hallway and busting this out before my meeting with the Honors Program. ![]() ![]() I don't have candles- as a student, I need to write on the go, so if I needed a full set of tools just to write, it'd take me forever to set-up and pack up. ![]() ![]() I DO, though, have a certain pencil I'll always use. Irony of that is, my pencil pouch is ginormous. And in reality, I really only use one pencil. And when it breaks, or if something happens, I use another one, but it takes some getting used to. I use the pencil for everything- writing, drawing, doodling, notes... doesn't matter. And, they almost always have to be mechanical pencils. I'm actually not a big fan of regular pencils- I think my issue with them is they're too thin, and that makes it harder for me to grip and such. ![]() ![]() ![]() The same goes for erasers, actually. I only use one eraser, though I might have 2-3 in my pencil pouch. ![]() ![]() ![]() As for pens.... I don't use them unless I absolutely have to. I like the erasability of pencils. Ink is too permanent for me. ![]() ![]() Notebooks... I don't have a specific "writing notebook" though I have a doodle book and sketchbook. The first I bring in my backpack because it's nice and small and portable... my sketchbook I keep in my room, for bigger drawings (I tend to draw small). As for today's soundtrackers, it's very random. ![]() [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] I told warned you, didn't I? ![]() I was hanging with shadowfanglerz last week and I put this song on, with the disclaimer that "it's a bit weird for me." I couldn't quite pinpoint the right way to describe the song, but then we figured it out: it's not something you'd think I'd listen to, is it? ![]() ![]() I've also mentioned that Mom got a Google Home for Christmas- two, actually. ![]() ![]() ![]() "No, it's not country!" Far from it, actually.... ![]() The song kept playing, and the drums started, and then she goes " ![]() Except, you need to say "Hey, Google..." in order for Google to register your request. So the song kept playing. ![]() She asked me who the artist was, and I told her "Slash! And some Myles guy whose last name I can't remember." "Because he's not famous enough!" ![]() ![]() She eventually stopped the music. ![]() As for why I like it, I'm not even sure myself. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Motivational Monday! Musician David Bowie, born on this day in 1947, once said "All my big mistakes are when I try to second-guess or please an audience. My work is always stronger when I get very selfish about it." How true (or false) is this about your own writing? What's more important: pleasing yourself, or your audience? I'm gonna be selfish here and say myself. ![]() Kit ![]() ![]() I think, alot of times, people conform so that they don't get excluded. For me, at least, that is very much the case. There's been times where I try to be myself, do what I want to do, not what others want me to do, and most of the time, it fails dramatically. I don't have the backbone, I suppose. ![]() ![]() That's why writing.com's been great in this whole "growing up" process, I think. A little corner of my world to myself, that my family can't touch. A place to figure things out and rant/vent/discuss about my life and other, random miscellaneous stuff that would probably people in real life scratching their heads, wondering where on earth I found such stuff, or what kind of person I am. ![]() ![]() Which, I suppose, leads me to the soundtrackers: [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] I checked. This came out in '98, and I was born in '96. ![]() ![]() Naturally, it didn't affect me that much when it first came out, but there was a time when I was really, really into country music, in high school and the beginning of uni, and I'd just add artist-loads of songs to my Spotify. The Dixie Chicks were one of the artists where I just added all their songs. ![]() ![]() Anyways, I'm still trying to figure out who I am, but WDC and the internet is a great place for me to explore that. I suppose the song resonates with me because there have been times when I wish I could just run off and start new- and be and do what I want. I would, if I had a job, and somewhere to run to. ![]() And at our school in particular, since most kids saw it as the "slacker school" (just to keep things ASR) you were either a really good student, or really bad student. Not much in-between. Most of the popular kids were the football players and cheerleaders. And the volleyball girls. *shrugs* A very small amount of students were smart and popular, and it really made you wonder, how or why the smart ones would hang around the not-so-smart ones. I did, at least. ![]() |
The Sunday News! Ok, I know some of you don't like this day...and some of you don't care about sports. Sorry then that you're stuck with me ![]() Buffalonians have donated over 300k to Cincinnati charities this week ![]() ![]() (Disclaimer: I am a lifelong Bills fan, a #BillsMafia supporter, and will likely start drinking by tomorrow's 1pm kickoff because I haven't cared about football in January in a whole long time. Most of us won't slam you into tables or light you on fire. But if you say so much as one bad word about sports or news or Buffalo in your entries, I will banish you to somewhere that sucks more than where you are, and probably wish a 17-year pox of some sort on you, your family, and the house you live in. Be a good friggin' sport! ![]() I would've said yay, too. ![]() As for the sportsmanship, I'm not sure that the winning team sending chicken wings to the losing team (even as an act of charity) qualifies as being a good sport. I mean, yes, it's nice, but no, I don't see this as sportsmanship. Had the Bills lost (knocking on wood, because who knows what might happen if that happens after I write this! ![]() ![]() Moving on to Soundtrackers: [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] Mwahaha.... You knew it was coming. You should've known. ![]() This is the very first song they performed. Song 1, Episode 1, Season 1. I have fond memories of dancing and singing along to Hi-5 (not necessarily to this song, but to another one which will hopefully come later....) though I still love this song. I remember learning how to cross and uncross my feet while jumping, because of this video. (Pretty sure it’s during “Simon says, ‘move faster now!’ If he sees you stop you’re out!”) I went into Mom’s bedroom all proud and I’m pretty sure Grandfather was there because I was all, “look, Mommy!” And Grandfather saw and said “那么厉害!” which made me all proud. ![]() ![]() Another thing about Hi-5- as I’m sure I’ve said so many times before, they were my childhood. And sis’s, though more for me than her because she grew out of it quickly. Meanwhile, I had my dreams of stardom and Hi-5, and becoming a cast member, which, as I grew up, meant I never actually “grew out” of Hi-5. Not to mention that I made them the focus of my personal statement for Jumpstart. ![]() Finally, not to get petty here, but hey, Stevie, if you’re out there reading this blog entry, take THAT for fandom. ![]() ![]() |
Fun Fact Friday! So, I can't choose which "fun fact" to use today...but here's where I usually get them from: Pick one ![]() ![]() Okay, well, I'm not even sure why this is considered historic, BUT: A 15 year-old student pilot, Charles Bishop, crashed a small plane into a building in Tampa, FL. Bishop was about to begin a flying lesson when he took off without permission and without an instructor. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Today's song- "Encore" from Delta Goodrem: [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] I was actually looking for "Feline" and then this one started playing in my head, so I chose this instead. I've currently got a massive headache, which I plan to cure by sleeping way early- I'm meeting shadowfanglerz tomorrow too, so that will be a nice kid-unfriendly excursion. ![]() Somehow this song relates to the news, as well, the opening stanza: Can you hear the sound of the silence (Hush hush now) The spotlight's fading away Like a serenade of the quiet (Drown it out) The choir leaving the stage I mean, you (well, I?) can imagine it- the silence after a show, which, in this case, would be the accident and all the initial pandemonium it causes. "The spotlight's fading away," - slowly the news is no longer news, and people start to not talk about it (the serenade of the quiet) and move on with their lives (the choir leaving the stage). On a happier note about the song, though, Delta did sing this during her encore at the concert I went to last November (2016). Even though it's not the nicest message/lyrics, there is a way to rewrite this from a fan's point of view and make it so you do want an encore. No, I won't include it here. ![]() |