During my vacation to California for gymnastics, we did many things. One of which was visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific, which is located in Long Beach. This Aquarium is home to more than 12,500 ocean animals, and it represents nearly 500 species. Since there was so much to see and do down there, the main gallery we focused on was the Southern California/Baja Gallery.
The Southern California/Baja Gallery represents the diverse marine environments which are mainly found within the California and Baja California waters. Part of this gallery features a large bed of giant swaying Kelp, some colorful garibaldi (which is actually California’s state fish), giant spined sea stars, California Scorpionfish, and many other examples of local Southern California Ocean life. Examining this was really cool because of the diversity, and numbers of all the ocean creatures. There was a ton of fish! Also in this gallery is where we found the Seal and Sea Lion Habitat. This was one of my favorite parts of our adventure through the aquarium. The Seals and sea lions were really interesting to watch move around and swim. It was really cool to see how they could adapt from water to land and from land to water. We also got to visit the touch pool area in this gallery. They had many things available for us to feel, but the most common was the sting ray. They had sting rays ranging from very small to GIGANTIC. They were literally huge. Feeling them was really cool because of the texture of their smooth, almost slimy feeling skin. It grossed me out, I have to admit, but it was worth it to be able to examine them up close.
All in all, this trip was really fun and I definitely learned a lot about ocean life. I learned how many different kinds of fish there are, and that there’s still a ton more out there for us to discover. I learned that there are so many different types of one creature or fish, and that none of them are alike. Each type has their own characteristics that make them unique and interesting to learn about.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Internet Connection
Do you know somebody who just thinks that they can do anything? No matter how hard the task? Well, I do...he's my older brother. He once took apart one of our old TV sets just to see if he could put it back together. I don't think its worked properly ever since. My brother's just one of those kids who is up for any challenge, no matter what it is, even if it's not for him. And if he doesn't get it right the first time, he'll keep at it until it works, or until it's impossible to fix anymore. (Like the TV set). Well, for the past week my internet connection has been all messed up, and normally I don't really mind because most of the time it gets fixed within the same day. Not this time. It's been a while since i've been able to do anything on the internet at home. (This is why i'm having to make up the last two blogs before this weeks). And it's all be cause of a 18 year old's passion for video games. My brother has this game that he likes to play online. Him and his friends are so into it that when they come over to hang out with him, that's all they do. They all huddle around the computer area to play. I don't understand how they could be entertained by a game for that long, I mean is it really that fun? But I guess I have no say in what I think about it until I've actually played the game for myself. But still? Anyway. This game of his. For some reason or another, to play the game with all of it's special features you have to connect it to something to make it work. (This would be a lot easier to explain if I knew all the technical terms, but I don't...sorry). It has to do with the internet connection, I know that much. Well, when he found out he had to connect it to whatever it is he had to connect it to, he decided he'd do it himself. Because that's the kind of kid he is, he likes to do things himself. So he went downstairs to the "connection box" (I wish I knew the name for it, but that's what we'll call it) to try to switch it so that his game would work. But he found that he needed a password. So without my parents permission, he secretly logged onto their computer and searched until he found what he needed. Once he got the password, he went back downstairs and started fittling around with things until he thought it worked. Once he realized that he had done something wrong he just decided to go put everything back where it was before. Well, when he switched everything the first time, he had messed up the internet connection somehow. When he tried to put everything back in order, he couldn't figure out how to get the internet working again. So he tried, and tried, and tried some more. It never worked, he was stumped. So when it was sunday afternoon, my time on the computer to get all my homework done -- the internet wasn't working. So I told my mom, and she told me she'd fix it in a minute. Well, she was preoccupied but when she finally went and fixed it later that night. We all realized something was wrong. We ended up somehow blaming my brother for it, and that's when he confessed. "I couldn't get it to work again, I was just trying to play my game." he said. This made my parents mad, especially when they found out he went searching on their computer for the password. Boy, was he is in trouble. I was mad at him because none of my homework got done that day, but i'm over it now. It's back and I'm liking it. So, my moral of this story is don't do things that you think you can do, it doesn't always work out in the end. Ü
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Dinosaur Park
On April 11th, a couple of my friends and I decided to go visit the Dinosaur Park down in Ogden as part of our term project. We were able to see many dinosaur findings, some of which are the most recent found in Utah and all around the world. We were able to examine the bones and such of full-sized dinosaurs, watch robotic dinosaurs in their habitat, and actually dig up some dinosaur fossils of our own.
While we were at the museum, we saw so many bones and fossils. It was crazy. They had things such as a dinosaur tooth and a footprint, to a full size built together model of the creature. It was really cool to be able to see what happened such a long time ago. It was also really cool to see everything up close. Some of the things they would actually let us touch and feel. It was interesting to feel the bones that were on display. They felt just like ‘bone’ but it was weird to think that it came from a creature from so long ago. It just felt a little weird. We were also able to observe as real dinosaur bones and teeth were being prepared to put on display. We were able to see the process that they put the fossils though before they are ready for our eyes out in the museum. Another really cool thing about the museum was the robotic dinosaurs, they honestly almost looked real. It was cool to see how scientists can display for us what they have discovered and researched. The robotic dinosaurs helped us see what kind environment they lived in, and especially how they moved about and sounded. It helped to put a picture in my head of how things could have really been back when dinosaurs did rome the earth.
I really learned a lot from this visit from observing fossils to uncovering some of my own. I was able to see how scientist work, and what they actually do. It was a cool experience to how life was a way, way long time ago!
While we were at the museum, we saw so many bones and fossils. It was crazy. They had things such as a dinosaur tooth and a footprint, to a full size built together model of the creature. It was really cool to be able to see what happened such a long time ago. It was also really cool to see everything up close. Some of the things they would actually let us touch and feel. It was interesting to feel the bones that were on display. They felt just like ‘bone’ but it was weird to think that it came from a creature from so long ago. It just felt a little weird. We were also able to observe as real dinosaur bones and teeth were being prepared to put on display. We were able to see the process that they put the fossils though before they are ready for our eyes out in the museum. Another really cool thing about the museum was the robotic dinosaurs, they honestly almost looked real. It was cool to see how scientists can display for us what they have discovered and researched. The robotic dinosaurs helped us see what kind environment they lived in, and especially how they moved about and sounded. It helped to put a picture in my head of how things could have really been back when dinosaurs did rome the earth.
I really learned a lot from this visit from observing fossils to uncovering some of my own. I was able to see how scientist work, and what they actually do. It was a cool experience to how life was a way, way long time ago!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
What's Wrong With TV?
What’s wrong with TV? Why is it that so many of us use the TV as if we couldn’t live without it? The TV is addictive. It really is. It draws us into watching things that really don’t even matter in life. Like game shows for instance, when is the last time you watched a game show? Was it really necessary for you to watch it? Could you of been doing something else? Something you needed to get done, something productive? But you had to see if the contestant won the million dollars, right? A lot of the time when we watch TV we do it just because. We don’t really have a reason. Maybe we’re just bored and want something to do, or are too lazy to do the things we’re supposed to be doing. Most of us could just sit on the couch and search through channels and channels just to see if there is anything on, even though we’ve already gone through the channels twice before and know that there’s nothing on that would be worth watching. But yet, we still search. The TV is honestly addicting, it pulls us into many shows and movies, and even commercials. It’s like chips or candy, you can’t eat just one. Once you’ve gotten a taste and liked it, you have to go back for more. Think about it. A lot of us have our TV shows that come on once a week, and we’d die if we missed a new episode. But lucky for us, technology invented Te-bo, which lets us record our favorites so that we don’t miss anything important. So many things and new technologies make it so easy for us to be lazy. When I come home at the end of the day and walk in the door, most of the time our TV is on and my family is gathered around watching. Whether it be educational shows, cartoons, comedy shows, investigation shows, or even just the news, it catches the attention of them all. And when I arrive I can’t help but join in on the watching, and try to figure out what’s happening. I hadn’t even been watching the TV show, but yet I became so interested, so fast. When my family watches TV, they watch TV. They don’t like talking during the show, especially when people ask questions to try to understand. They hate that, it annoys them so bad. They become so into the show that they don’t care about anything else in the world it seems like. You have to wait for commercials to even get a question in about reality. It’s crazy how the TV does this. Another example is my mom. If you’ve ever watched the lifetime channel, you know there are a lot of shows about drama on there. My mom loves that channel, and can be caught watching it a lot. She doesn’t care if the show has just begun or if it’s in its last 15 minutes, she’ll get drawn in by the movie, and watch it until it’s over. I’ve caught her crying when watching a movie that she’s only seen the end of. I mean talk about getting your attention. She hadn’t even seen the show before, let alone she was only watching the last ten minutes. But it drew her in enough to make her cry. Addictive, that’s what the TV is. We get so caught up in the action and drama of the television that it takes us out of reality and places us in place where we just sit and watch. It shows us things that we know we don’t really have to be watching, but for some reason it just seems like you can’t get away. You’re stuck in the show, and you can’t get out of it. That’s what’s wrong with TV— once you’ve started, you just can’t seem to get enough.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a novel written by Charles Dickens that tells about a young boy who strives to be greater in many ways, but ends up realizing a lot of what wished for wasn’t really what he wanted. Many themes are illustrated in this book, such determination, self-improvement, and friendship. During the book Pip experiences these, along with the other characters. But one theme in particular that Pip finds is that affection and loyalty are more important than social advancement and wealth.
“Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come.”
- Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. With Connections. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1990. Page 237-238
This passage is said by Joe to Pip as a farewell after their awkward meeting in London. Pip, now a gentleman, has been uncomfortably embarrassed by both Joe’s commonness and his own lifestyle. Becoming a gentleman changed Pip’s life and brought length to his relationship toward Joe. While at the same time, Joe feels like a fish out of water in Pip’s luxurious apartment. They have just become so different now because of Pip’s expectations that being in each others presence has become awkward.
In the passage Joe is telling Pip that he does not blame him for the awkwardness of their meeting, but he does blame the natural divisions of life. He creates a metaphor of metalsmithing to describe these natural divisions: some men are blacksmiths, such as himself, and some men are goldsmiths, such as Pip. In these terms, Joe arrives at a wise and resigned attitude toward the changes in Pip’s social class that have driven them apart, and he shows his inner goodness and loyalty by blaming the division not on Pip, but on the unchangeable nature of humanity.
When Joe tells this passage to Pip, he tells it in a way that most people wouldn’t. Although Pip acts annoyed and uncaring towards Pip, Joe doesn’t change his voice and actions to match the situation. In other words, Joe doesn’t react in ways that some of us might, when talking to someone who doesn’t seem to care. He doesn’t change his values and act annoyed back, or become stubborn towards Pip. He takes it in and tells pip part of reality. Joe explains that even though he might not notice, Pip’s new way of life, or great expectations, have changed him, and others as well. He doesn’t see people the same as he should. He sees where people stand, or what their worth according to the world instead of who or what they really are.
By the time Pip realized what Joe had really said, he was gone. He didn’t have time to adjust his behavior and prove to him right then that he understood and wanted to change. He realized that one’s social status is in no way connected to one’s real character, and that wealth and class are less important than affection, loyalty, and inner worth. Although Joe said to have forgiven him for his choices of becoming a gentleman, Pip felt guilty for leaving behind the most important things for things that didn’t gain him much at all. He had lost part of a close relationship because of his wants to be higher and greater.
There are many examples of this theme illustrated in Great Expectations. All throughout the book there are many little things that happened that should have stuck out to Pip in helping him to realize what he was leaving behind. But a lot of the time Pip was too focused on what he wanted to become. Not realizing until later that what he had of loyal friends and affection towards others was far greater than what his desperately wanted expectations turned out to be.
“Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come.”
- Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. With Connections. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1990. Page 237-238
This passage is said by Joe to Pip as a farewell after their awkward meeting in London. Pip, now a gentleman, has been uncomfortably embarrassed by both Joe’s commonness and his own lifestyle. Becoming a gentleman changed Pip’s life and brought length to his relationship toward Joe. While at the same time, Joe feels like a fish out of water in Pip’s luxurious apartment. They have just become so different now because of Pip’s expectations that being in each others presence has become awkward.
In the passage Joe is telling Pip that he does not blame him for the awkwardness of their meeting, but he does blame the natural divisions of life. He creates a metaphor of metalsmithing to describe these natural divisions: some men are blacksmiths, such as himself, and some men are goldsmiths, such as Pip. In these terms, Joe arrives at a wise and resigned attitude toward the changes in Pip’s social class that have driven them apart, and he shows his inner goodness and loyalty by blaming the division not on Pip, but on the unchangeable nature of humanity.
When Joe tells this passage to Pip, he tells it in a way that most people wouldn’t. Although Pip acts annoyed and uncaring towards Pip, Joe doesn’t change his voice and actions to match the situation. In other words, Joe doesn’t react in ways that some of us might, when talking to someone who doesn’t seem to care. He doesn’t change his values and act annoyed back, or become stubborn towards Pip. He takes it in and tells pip part of reality. Joe explains that even though he might not notice, Pip’s new way of life, or great expectations, have changed him, and others as well. He doesn’t see people the same as he should. He sees where people stand, or what their worth according to the world instead of who or what they really are.
By the time Pip realized what Joe had really said, he was gone. He didn’t have time to adjust his behavior and prove to him right then that he understood and wanted to change. He realized that one’s social status is in no way connected to one’s real character, and that wealth and class are less important than affection, loyalty, and inner worth. Although Joe said to have forgiven him for his choices of becoming a gentleman, Pip felt guilty for leaving behind the most important things for things that didn’t gain him much at all. He had lost part of a close relationship because of his wants to be higher and greater.
There are many examples of this theme illustrated in Great Expectations. All throughout the book there are many little things that happened that should have stuck out to Pip in helping him to realize what he was leaving behind. But a lot of the time Pip was too focused on what he wanted to become. Not realizing until later that what he had of loyal friends and affection towards others was far greater than what his desperately wanted expectations turned out to be.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Great Grandma Nola
When’s the last time you spent four hours visiting with someone over the age of ninety? I know most of us don’t have many relatives or close ones that live to actually be that old, but there are some of us that are lucky. I happen to be one of those lucky ones. I’m the type of person who loves to be around older people. I love to hear what they have to say about their lives. Whether it be about when they were young and reckless, or gray and old, or even just the wise advice they have for everyone. I don’t know why but I really do find it interesting and entertaining to visit with the elderly. (So, if you ever need anybody to go visit some older ones, I would maybe go with you.)
This past weekend my family went up to visit my great grandmother. She is living in an assisted living home and is taken care of very well by her family, and the staff there. She has been in and out of the hospital escaping death many times, but has always seemed to make it through in the long run. She is doing a lot better now. She is on oxygen and medication, but not nearly as heavily as she was before. She is 92, and will be turning 93 during the summer.
Although she claims her life was “full of enjoyment and learning experiences,” she would prefer it if her life came to an end soon. Her relatives and close friends would love to have her stay around longer, but she feels the opposite way about life. “I hate being old,” she said, “It makes you feel… well, just old.” She told us this while visiting her almost every time we had to walk her somewhere. Whenever she takes a step her knees give her pain, causing her to take her time to get where she needed to go. She also is almost blind. She has special glasses that help a little, but for the most part she can only see figures and lot of purple dots. These add to her list of reasons to give up on life. She told us, “I’m knocking on heaven’s door, but no one’s answering.”
Well, I do have to say, thinking of her not being alive anymore really does make me sad. She is the most fun person to be around. She’s always making everyone smile with her funny jokes and stories. Even if they aren’t too funny themselves, the way she tells them, and the way she laughs and smiles will definitely crack a smile on anyone’s face. But out of all the stories and memories she tells, her dreams are the most interesting to listen to. Like one she told us about was while she was lying in a hospital bed. She had woken up to a purple room (that may of just been because of her eyes, but who knows?) that was filled will peaceful animals. She told us they were everywhere, all around her bed, just silently watching her. She called for her son to come in, but no one came. It was just her and the animals. But it was peaceful, she wasn’t frightened or scared, she was just amazed at what she was seeing. She said she saw a bright light, but then was woken up by her doctor for real. She told us she honestly thought she was dead, and then brought back to life again. Crazy story huh? That was just one of the many stories she’s told us about being “practically dead” as she calls it.
Although none of us would like to have her gone, I almost think that putting her out of her misery here on earth would be better for her. Not saying I’m going to kill her or anything. Just saying that if she were to die soon, I wouldn’t be able to get too upset over it because I know that she will be loving where she’s going a lot more. When she does go though, no one will ever forget the loving, thoughtful, and wonderful person she was while she was here. It’ll be hard to forget such an amazing lady like her.
This past weekend my family went up to visit my great grandmother. She is living in an assisted living home and is taken care of very well by her family, and the staff there. She has been in and out of the hospital escaping death many times, but has always seemed to make it through in the long run. She is doing a lot better now. She is on oxygen and medication, but not nearly as heavily as she was before. She is 92, and will be turning 93 during the summer.
Although she claims her life was “full of enjoyment and learning experiences,” she would prefer it if her life came to an end soon. Her relatives and close friends would love to have her stay around longer, but she feels the opposite way about life. “I hate being old,” she said, “It makes you feel… well, just old.” She told us this while visiting her almost every time we had to walk her somewhere. Whenever she takes a step her knees give her pain, causing her to take her time to get where she needed to go. She also is almost blind. She has special glasses that help a little, but for the most part she can only see figures and lot of purple dots. These add to her list of reasons to give up on life. She told us, “I’m knocking on heaven’s door, but no one’s answering.”
Well, I do have to say, thinking of her not being alive anymore really does make me sad. She is the most fun person to be around. She’s always making everyone smile with her funny jokes and stories. Even if they aren’t too funny themselves, the way she tells them, and the way she laughs and smiles will definitely crack a smile on anyone’s face. But out of all the stories and memories she tells, her dreams are the most interesting to listen to. Like one she told us about was while she was lying in a hospital bed. She had woken up to a purple room (that may of just been because of her eyes, but who knows?) that was filled will peaceful animals. She told us they were everywhere, all around her bed, just silently watching her. She called for her son to come in, but no one came. It was just her and the animals. But it was peaceful, she wasn’t frightened or scared, she was just amazed at what she was seeing. She said she saw a bright light, but then was woken up by her doctor for real. She told us she honestly thought she was dead, and then brought back to life again. Crazy story huh? That was just one of the many stories she’s told us about being “practically dead” as she calls it.
Although none of us would like to have her gone, I almost think that putting her out of her misery here on earth would be better for her. Not saying I’m going to kill her or anything. Just saying that if she were to die soon, I wouldn’t be able to get too upset over it because I know that she will be loving where she’s going a lot more. When she does go though, no one will ever forget the loving, thoughtful, and wonderful person she was while she was here. It’ll be hard to forget such an amazing lady like her.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Olympian
As i'm sure you all know by now, I'm really into gymnastics. Because of that, I like to compete myself, but I also like to watch others compete. Like all those really good people on TV, and the college teams - they're fun to watch. Well, anway. This past weekend I go to go down to the University of Utah with a couple of my teammates to watch a gymnastics meet. If you didn't know, The U of U is one of the best college gymnastics teams in the nation. I think they're ranked number 2 in the nation right now. That's how amazing they are. Well, at the meet my teammates and I were all naming the tricks and skills that we could do and telling each other how much we wish they could be as perfect as they do them. I mean, they seriously make everything look so easy. It's crazy. Anyway, we were just having a fun time hanging out watching the sport we all love. The scores were kind of close, but the U of U won the meet. As most of us had predicted, because there ranked number 2. Makes sense huh? Well, at the end of the meet when the stadium was pretty close to being empty, instead of heading out to beat the traffic, we decided to head in and get autographs. Yeah, may seem like we're kind of obsessed, but hey, they were really good. I didn't have anything to be autographed so instead I just got a couple pictures. Well, Ashley Postell, probably the best gymnast on the U of U team, let me take a picture with her and this other amazing gymnast. It's now on my phone, and I think it's gonna be worth something someday. Haha. I really think it will because Ashley Postell as I said is amazing and is pretty much close to being perfect. Well, I asked her if she was ever going to be in the Olympics, in a compliment kind of way just to imply how well she did that night. But she took me seriously and told me that she was really thinking about it. She had planned on trying out earlier, but ended up getting hurt or something, so she couldn't make the cuts for the 2004 games. But from what she told us, I really think she's going to go for it again this year. And if you knew what I was talking about when I say she is amazing, I really mean it. I don't doubt that if she does try out that she won't make it. I'd bet you she would make the team. So anyway, how cool is that? I have a picture on my phone with a future Olympian. I'm thinking that picture is going to be worth something someday. Haha. I don't really know, but I do have a picture with her. And I think that's pretty cool.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
