What does the fox say?

Hey everyone, in regards to my title what does a fox actually say? Try to envision what you would want it say instead of what it actually does for those that know. And so we are back to the routine:

     

 Obscure title     [X]           check

     

 Lengthy wall of text [   ]       just wait a bit

     

 So what's new you ask? Things are getting progressively optimistic these days, but in the neutral sense. Progress doesn't necessarily have to be positive, does it? I'm gonna be asking a lot of questions tonight so prepare yourself. That's just how I've been feeling lately, very neutral and dismissive in a way of some things I guess. Then again I'm not allowed to judge my character, obvious bias! Oh and I'll include some quotes today as well, they'll be starters for topics. Maybe you've heard of them or maybe not, either way I'll bring them to a hopefully new light today.
   

      Sad excuse for an intro [X]    checkarooni
   

      Let's get started then? So there's this quote I read yesterday, it got me thinking a lot and might do the same for you. Here it is:

"Successful people don't do what makes them happy, they do what is necessary."

That made me question a lot of things. One being, is it worth being miserable and unhappy for those years that it takes to be successful? I haven't experience a rush of success and so I wouldn't know. What does it mean to be successful? It can't simply be one definition or can it? I'm sure you can arrive to some sort of conclusion through the Socratic method. At which point does it become too much to bear that it's not worth it? What if doing what you have to gets you further away from being successful? I feel that the more I think about it the more unnecessary it is to do so. Simply because it seems like this "advice" should be trusted wholeheartedly and not questioned. There are some things in this world that exist for the simple reason of existing. They serve no further purpose than for us to examine and arrive at a meaning, everyone ends up with a different one at the end of course. The advice actually helps, but only if you let it. If I find myself straying from my task I just remind myself of the quote and get back to work. It takes some will power of course and plenty of repitition. Hell, I still don't listen sometimes but it's a work in progress as always. Onto the next quote?

Here's a Chinese proverb I found:

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

The best time to do anything was probably several years or months ago for all of us. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you shouldn't do it now. Hell, I could've been a volleyball prodigy by now. You could've been the youngest to graduate Oxford by now. We all could be somewhere right now, Bahamas preferrably. I could be on a train halfway to Ottawa right now for all you know. But I'm not, my cat wouldn't let me do such a thing. Wherever you could be right now, forget it. In the words of Daft Punk "The present has no limit, your gift keeps on giving. What is this I'm feeling? If you want to leave I'm with it. We've come too far to give up who we are, so let's raise the bar." Man I could go on forever about that song. So mesmerizing that it's been on repeat for the last half hour or so. Man I should really finish up quickly, getting late.

Ok so this post isn't for me specifically, it's for you guys to think about. The proverbs, fox, getting lucky, etc. Just get a sheet of paper and write down what comes first right after you read this. Don't let the pen lift from your paper. It's a great freewriting exercise I picked up recently. Don't stop, dont cross out, write whatever you want in silence. Oh and I'm happy to announce that I'll be writing for Graffiti this year as well as being on the photography team. Yeah and uh, Fashion Show Hip Hop scene is gonna have +1 guy this year :)

Cheers, MarkL

                           

                      

On the Liberal Arts

There are several ways to go about constructing a fitting education in any time period. Simple following the standards set by professionals may not be enough. This isn't a mere biased rant, it's simply a part of our human nature. We are curious and knowledge thirsty creatures, how else could we have gone from the wheel to smart phones? No matter how big this thirst may be, nonetheless it is insatiable. According to Peter Vergerio there are 3 main components to the beginning of an education. 3 fundamental areas of study that cannot and should not be dismissed, all of which combine to form "The Liberal Arts" The first imagery I think of when I hear that is an artist hunch-backed over his endlessly mind-numbing remake of an ancient painting. Shaped and changed by historical events, he adds his own flare to the masterpiece. But the Liberal Arts go beyond that, for according to Vergerio they are the fundamental makeup of a competent human being. "We come now to the consideration of the various subjects which may rightly be included under the name of Liberal Studies. Among these I accord the first place to History." I'd have to agree with that, on the grounds that I'd rather not repeat the mistake of almost causing a global nuclear holocaust let alone living in a time where that would worry me. All qualities of history appeal to people whichever it may be: Local, American, Canadian, European, Global, Civilizational, etc. "Next in importance ranks moral Philosophy...in that its purpose is to teach men the secret of true freedom." History dictates what men have done/said, and philosophy dictates what men should do. Both very useful in the sense that it aids our understanding of past mistakes, as well as when to ask the right questions and how to do so. "The thurd main branch of study, Eloquence." By philosophy we learn the essential truth of things, which by eloquence we so exhibit in orderly adornment as to bring conviction to differing minds, and history provides the light of experience. Eloquence not of the royal kind, but of the expressionist kind. The only way to communicate to any audience is to make them understand and relate. What better way to learn than to experience for oneself? All in all these are only 3 areas of study in which there is an endless amount. At the time that the letter I was referencing was written in, those were the 3 main needs that needed to be satisfied. But alas, all of this is simply food for though. So go ahead and question, think, respond.

Cheers, MarkL

Effort: Part Deux

What I don't seem to understand lately, is the mentality of certain people. Let me get more detailed here, people that give up at the first sight of failure. There's something very familiar about that, whether it's the fact that I've been in that position before or that I see it every day. Either way it's simply frustrating, just like watching an oncoming trainwreck. I'm not here to preach a certain choice or lifestyle or anything else pseudo-inspirational. But what I am here to say is that we are all idiots for giving up too early, and that's ok. Not because "we're human" that excuse is overused, it is because we MUST give up early in order to know what it's like to keep going. The majority of this post won't focus on that though, instead it'll focus on the things we lose because we face a wall and decide to walk away from it. Here's a great example, last year I wanted to desperately drop all 3 of my sciences if possible. Mand what a load off that would've been huh?! Imagine a morning spare or even an afternoon spare, right after lunch you get to go home. How amazing is that? Yeah now take that idea and burn it to the ground mercilessly. You're sadly mistaken if a spare is a great idea. I'm not saying that to call any of you idiots, most of you are probably smarter than me anyways. But my point is, you're not kidding anyone but yourself when you take that spare. What are you going to do? Finish the homework you should have finished last night but didn't because you decided to go on YouTube? I just hope you guys realize that I'm one of the most imperfect beings on here, trust me when it comes to procrastination I have it down to a sport. But I'm working on it, immensely actually. Back to spares, they're useless, that's the whole argument. It's simply extra time you have that you can waste. The only reason that you would ever need one is if you're running an immense personal project or have a part time job to go to. Laugh at me all you want, but I'm not wrong in everything that I say. And I can back that up with at LEAST two decades worth of life experience, coming from my brother at least. What he told me last year wasn't some magical enchantment that you'd need to travel to Micronesia for. Which shocks me even more how people don't understand the uselessness of a spare. All he told me was "You have 2 years left in your free education, and then you gotta pay well into the thousands for University. I suggest you get the most out of it as you can. You can drop all you want and run away from your problems with disorganization, but it'll catch up eventually." I have no hate towards people that take spares, don't get me wrong. Also I don't hate, it's too strong of a connotation in one word. But what I do find completely dumbfounding is how after I tell people this they just shrug it off. I've been in that spot before, I know how it works trust me. You think to yourself "How is Chemistry ever going to help me?" Well for starters, you chose the course. And not only that, but how much you want to get out of the course will determine the end results. By all means, drop all your courses and do whatever. It makes no difference to me. But what does, is if you do that with a sound mind knowing what I have just told you. It's not that I don't understand how people drop courses, it's that I don't know why they would if they know they'll be wasting time. This came very close to a rant, the closest I've been in ages. Ms. Wolfe tells us to write about what angers us because it shows true emotion. But I guess I'll have to differentiate from anger and complaining at one point or another, the sooner the better.

Cheers, MarkL

Effort

This is a blurb that I wrote out for my Writer's Craft class, you'll see more of my assignments in the days to come because we always have some form of creative writing for homework. So here it is, enjoy.

Incredible how simple planks of wood, dabs of glue, and shears of metal come together. Some go as far as to produce their own types, carving them out incessantly in their own image.  Every stroke enforcing more reasons to wipe the sweat off your brow, but you keep going because this product has to be made to last. And then the packaging slips off, the screwing can begin. It curves, swerves, turns, anything but churns.  You ARE the vehicle, it can go nowhere without you. It cracks and bends under your weight, all it takes is a little push. But not just one, several series of them in fact. Every push bringing you closer and closer to the next, they never seem to end. Your feet scraping the sidewalk, shocking your ankles to their very core. Bending and twisting under your will, it takes you where you desire no matter the consequence. If you’re lucky enough the road will be forgiving that day, and your feet may rest as you glide down that hill. Each carve producing an edge in the road, leaving your mark as you jostle from every direction. You bend real low and graze the ground with your fingertips, bouncing off the gravel with every inch. And you get up, satisfied with your product, clothes tangling around you as the wind forces you to slow down. Peace and quiet, the ride is complete.

Cheers, MarkL

P.S. For those wondering, yes it's about a longboard. To be specific, MY longboard. The assignment was to write about a vehicle/action and the process it goes through when moving without using any adverbs.

Board Meeting

Oh right, I forgot to write about this one event that happened during the weekend. By the title you might've guessed that it was a board meeting of some sort, you're not wrong in assuming that. But at this meeting the closest thing to boards were the long ones we were riding down Yonge street. Imagine, 1100+ people riding down 1 street. We stopped traffick, TTC, and pissed off plenty of drivers in the process. It was unlike anything else, simply because longboarding is unique to this type of event. Bikers don't have this, neither do skaters. Imagine riding a bike, but 6 inches away from you was another biker. Now multiply that by 1000 and you've got yourself a board meeting. Everyone dressed in business attire, zooming past downtown and converging in city hall. Don't get me wrong, people weren't as reckless/stupid as you may think. During the event everyone looked out for each other. Several first aid officers were there, if someone fell off their board the first instinct was for everyone behind to stop immediately and wait for the person to get back on again. This was just a glimpse into what kind of a family longboarding introduces you to. Even occasionally when I see a fellow rider, we exchange looks with a simple nod to show mutual respect. It's as if you're a part of some secret club that really isn't that secret. For my first board meeting, it was overwhelming to see the amount of support that gathered on the streets. For a good 5 minutes we sat in the middle of St. Clair and Yonge. Just enjoying the atmoshpere and vibes all around was enough for me. Years ago it was simply 300 people showing up, now the amount has more than tripled. I don't know what will happen next year, but I can tell you this much. I can't wait to liberate the streets again.

Creative titles are getting harder to come up with.

Man, what a crazy 1.5 weeks huh? And what better way to end it all of with some red red wine? For those familiar with UB40 will understand. What have I been up to for the past 10 days you may ask? Been living the good life: alone. And man, it's been everything I ever dreamed of and more. I'll go into a bit of detail later on so don't fret. Other than that, well the school year started and I'd say with a damned good start to it all. More writing will be added as this post goes on, that's usually how these things work right? Not much of an eye opener for those reading, I find this introduction quite bland actually. No swearing, hmmm so far so good.

So, how's home alone been? Terrific, thanks for asking. These past 10 days have taught me plenty, much of what I'll need in the coming years. Including but not limited to: Independence, Will Power, Communication, Budgeting, and Time Management. Side effects include: increase in amount of bubble baths, random nude strides around the house, and frequent snacking. Honestly if you set a schedule for yourself for the first few days, the rest of the days to come will be a breeze just as long as you follow and play around with it. Being self sufficient is one of the most valuable skills you'll need in the coming years. Even those few hours your parents leave you for, try to use them productively in any way. It's definitely been a blast living alone, indescribable joy. Going home and not explaining why you were late that 20 minutes, or even going grocery shopping at 10pm. There's just something about the night that I find so mystifying and intriguing. And of course I made sure to exploit that passion as much as humanly possible. The brisk air slamming your face as you push along on your board (bike, scooter, whatever you ride just fill in the blank. Running counts too) Always looking around and just being aware of your surroundings is quite intriguing, wondering endlessly about what others are doing in those dimly lit windows. Maybe not everyone experiences the night like me but I try to make the most of it. Starting off by simply calling it an "experience" and not a walk to the grocery store. It can be an adventure if you choose to make it so. But that's simply one aspect of being home alone. The ability to walk in and say ANYTHING you want? Priceless I tell ya. Well that and just saying anything at any point whenever you want. Let me add to that, playing music at an ungodly hour is also quite satisfying. I'm not talking about blasting screamo at 3AM. I'm saying going to sleep to the hymns of The XX. It's little things like this that make you enjoy (for lack of a better word) "loneliness" THAT much more. Hmm what else did I do? Oh yeah, plenty of dishes and cooking and laundry. Well I don't know about you guys but I couldn't care less about when I do the dishes. And by that I mean, I don't have the pet peeve where right after I eat it's a do or die situation with the cutlery. If I don't wash it right now, I'll wash it before I go sleep. Same thing for laundry really. I saw all of that as remedial tasks when I lived alone, essentially things I could do later because they weren't necessary. Or at least as necessary as the other tasks at hand. I did struggle with living alone for the first couple of days, simply because I had to come up with a schedule somewhat on the fly. My morning routine wasn't changed too much, the added task of some simple house chores and making lunch of course were added. But thankfully I already had some food made for me beforehand so that all I had to do was warm it up. Don't get me wrong, I know my way around a piece of meat, anything but steak though (that's for the big leagues). But it just saves me a whole lot of time having it done beforehand. What I'm trying to say is, making Kraft Dinner is not cooking. Neither is cereal or putting anything in an oven/microwave. Want to learn what it's like to live alone? Trying your hand at the following things will give you a slight idea:

-Cooking
-Grocery Shopping
-Making your own lunch
-Discipline (I mean shutting off your phone and mailing it to Uganda when you do your homework)
-Feel free to add a bunch of other shit as you learn
-The people just scrolling through this think I'm writing something intelligent so I'll keep going
-Shrek is life, Shrek is love
-Applying lemon juice onto freckles fades them and can even make them disappear.
-A half a lime pressed to your forehead will reduce if not remove headaches.
-If you see shoes hanging off a telephone wire, it likely means that somebody is selling drugs nearby.
-Want to stop a sneeze? Press your tongue up against the roof of your mouth.
-One of those facts is false, it's your job to find out which one.

And so that ends that, let's move onto the next topic. Well the year has started, and so far it's actually pretty great. I've already got into the swing of things with my studying, made the volleyball team, signed up for hip-hop auditions for Fashion Show, and hopefully I'll become the co-head of the Art Club at my school in the coming week. And I actually have an idea of where I want to go next year, OttawaU! The campus is a beauty, the city is extravagant (I haven't seen half of it and I haven't seen half of it!) and the English classes are sized at 70-90 people. Which leads to more discussion related classes and "labs" where students co-operate more. I discussed with my English teachers about their recommendations and all have said to go to a University with a small faculty so that professors have more time for one on one and smaller classes! Those are just some things I have figured out right this moment, now it's a matter of time and work. I'm really excited for volleyball this year, as I am every year actually. Often I get comments during practice on why I'm so pumped up if I land a hit in the court or ace a serve. Well you know how you feel you're on the top of the world when you score a goal, land a slam dunk, tackle the quarter back, and another sports term used to describe a goal/point? Well that's Volleyball for me, as hard as that may be it really is true. Just the fact that anything can happen at any given moment is a thrill in a way. Not much room for plays, but man the miraculous saves that happen sometimes just makes it all worth it. Either way I'm really excited for this year, looking to try out plenty of new things and improve in everything that I can before it all ends. I'm hoping for more micro posts in the coming weeks seeing as how much creative writing we do in Writer's Craft. Anyways: Read it, Learn it, Live it, Love it, and Post it!

Cheers, MarkL