Besties

In life, there are always those special people who, either, one has known for a very long time or has a real strong connection with. There are always stories to tell other people of what they’ve done, and they always mean a whole lot. Their actions and responses are very predictable. Someone could right a whole book on what was done with any spare time. Especially when growing up with this person, one could write a list of pranks done or tried out. Along with the pranks comes the adventure story of how they were done. Also, one knows all the things their bestie likes and dislikes at first, but when one grows older they begin to forget. Sometimes, one remembers by instinct. Otherwise, the best advice would be to either write it down or just keep asking that person what their “favorite so and so” is. One of the greatest things which come from these kinds of relationships is being able to share any information with the bestie. No matter how confidential it is, one can count on them to keep it secret and having someone like that is always a relief. Letting something out helps relieve any stress and frustration one feels at the time. Overall, having someone one can count on is very great and helpful in life. No matter what, they will always be there and tend to be amazing people. Through the good and bad, they are there no matter how far away.

Propaganda

More and more people out there are becoming less enthusiastic and think we are all going to hell. Nowadays, I don’t blame them for feeling this way but there is a lot of depressing information presented to us which may or may not be true. Whenever some show is talking about the current future (meaning the next five years or so) , it usually brings out all the doom and gloom the future holds for us. Some of these predictions may be or become true but I believe some of them are propaganda. For what, I do not know but I think there are a lot of scare tactics out there. For example, one of them is the world ending in 2012. Even if it is going to end in that year, should we constantly be thinking and worrying about it? If we all die, what is the point to be constantly thinking about this ending? I know it is scary but might as well not panic and cause more stress. Anyway, we don’t know for sure the world is going to end in 2012 so what if it doesn’t and one was prepared to die? I know I would feel stupid but that’s just me. Another example is the whole “human-caused” global warming. Yes, the earth is warming up but what is causing it to? Some people think it is caused by humans. But, these people tend to blow the warming rate way out of proportion. Al Gore stated many times in his “An Inconvenient Truth” how the earth is warming at an “incontrollable” rate, yet it can be “controllable.” I think people and politicians, like Al Gore, are being spokespeople for global warming because of three things: they actually believe it, they are doing it for their own glory or by bringing a cause to the table they are favored and get elected. Whatever it is, they surely convinced some of America. Overall, no matter what happens in the future we all should just live our lives and not worry too much because some of these stories may just be stories.

Sunny California

I don’t see why some people love California. SOME scenery can be beautiful but who would want to live with a bunch of crazy idiots? Not everyone in California an idiot. There are some perfectly normal and wonderful people who live there but they still don’t beat out the psycho buttholes. Anyway, most of it is desert and isn’t that great of land. First of all, I don’t see why California is so glorified to where just the name itself invokes one to think of “fun” and “adventure.” It is an adventure, alright. Driving through 6 lane freeways packed with cars can definitely be an adventure. When the blood is running and it is a matter of life or death, it can surely be a true one too. Otherwise, it is not at all hyped up to be what it is. Second of all, there are way too many people who live there. The fact some interstates highways have 6 lanes in them is ridiculous. I don’t see how those people can leave with that many people but it is probably because they are crazy or drove each other crazy. Third of all, it is because of Hollywood. This is the center with most of the crazies. There are either wacked out celebrities or their psychotic fans who live their (or near there). Out of any town or city, the one I’d be least sad about being bombed or ransacked is Hollywood. Neither do I think I’m the only one with this opinion. A good amount of America probably has a similar opinion. A lot of people are tired of listening or hearing about what this celebrity did the other day. Truly, most of America doesn’t care. And the symbol or center where all this gossip and craze comes from is Hollywood. Unfortunately, the rest of California isn’t any better, besides some pretty scenery.

Basics to Health

Out of all the ridiculous diets, the best way to lose weight and/or stay healthy is exercise and eating what is right for one’s self. There are many crazy diets and diet pills or medicine of some sort that don’t work out well in the long run. We all know most work only in the short run. To lose weight, the thing that really works is exercise. It burns calories, but also keeps one’s metabolism up. The high metabolism is what works for weight loss in the long run. To also lose weight but stay healthy, eating right for one’s self is the way to go. Someone can eat right but if they are allergic or their body isn’t agreeing with some type of food then it can be just as bad for them as junk. For example, if someone is drinking milk but it makes them sick, obviously their body is telling them something. Switching over to some other healthy form of calcium is best for them. Also, getting all the right nutrients is always the most important thing to do. There are many necessary elements we need, of which, sometimes we don’t get. Some health foods claim to be really healthy for everyone, but actually they aren’t’ “really healthy.” They certainly aren’t bad for one but it is not like they are very nutritious. The reason why some “health” foods are labeled “healthy” is because they are low in calories and fat. Otherwise, they also lack nutrients like A, B, C, D, E, (etc.) Vitamins, the many different minerals, and the basics, like iron and protein. In other words, they aren’t bad for one but they aren’t as great as they claim to be. Overall, exercise and eating what is right are the two basics. Also, labels on the foods we eat should be looked at more often so one can know what they are really getting out of that product.

The Joys of Babysitting

There is nothing that can finish one’s day off better than watching over a bunch of rambunctious little brats. The ages usually range from about 2 years old to about 6, and they all are either little hyped up midgets or wailing sirens. At first, it doesn’t seem too bad, but when the minutes come rolling along one begins to wonder why they ever chose to do this. After about thirty or so minutes, one is about ready to lock the little midgets up and let them deal with each other. Maybe, they will annoy each other so much they will realize it and stop being annoying. This isn’t probable so, therefore, the unfortunate babysitter is stuck with them the rest of the night. Fortunately, not all of them are bad. There is usually a couple who won’t cock off but the ones who do make up for the ones who don’t. And the little cocky ones sometimes feel brave enough to put up some resistance. Always, one must lay the smack-down and rule with an iron mouth. Finally when the kid is silenced, one of the wailers usually goes off. This is the best part of the night because they want a parent but they can’t get one of them. The wailer will realize this but it will just make things worse. Suddenly, their voice becomes a siren and continues on until something, like a rattle, distracts them for a few seconds. When their done thinking about an object, the wailer will resort back into siren mode until he or she becomes bored with crying. By now any atheist would have found god and be praying for mercy. After the longest couple of hours anyone could barely live through, the parents come through the doors and the kids suddenly jerk into an obedient state-of-mind. Finally, the babysitter is so anxious to get out he or she will even say they “were well behaved” to leave as fast as possible. When the babysitter walks out, an overwhelming sense of freedom takes over and thinks never again.

War

War is never a good thing. They bring about great destruction and cost the lives of many innocent people. Also, there are wars that have happened which were unnecessary, but sometimes they are necessary to fight for one’s rights. For example, there is another country who is trying to dominate other countries and/or the world and impose their way of life on everyone else. If anyone doesn’t follow the orders, then they or their family ends up dead or they “disappear.” One should always try talking to the other side, but when it clearly doesn’t work then what is one to do? And is it best to just sit there and watch while the other side takes over other countries and suppresses everyone? I understand some things aren’t anyone’s business, but it is wrong to just sit there and do nothing when one can do something about it. One way or another, it ends up affecting everyone somehow so why not fight for everyone’s rights? War is a very nasty thing and just about everyone doesn’t like it, but some people are willing to start one. It is worth a chance to them because, if they win, they get the whole world under their control. They can impose whatever rules they want, wherever. If they are willing to start one or just start taking other countries into their hands, then who is going to be there to stop them? History has proven that negotiations hardly work because it is just a joke to rulers who want all the power they can get. After all, they are just written words. Truly, freedom is something one has to fight for to keep it. Everyone is free but it is not true when some haven’t realized it. It is especially hard to believe there can be happiness and freedom when there are greedy dictators trying to ruin everyone else’s lives but it is there and always has been. One just has to realize it and be willing to fight for it. Otherwise, life begins to have no purpose when one is controlled and there is no happiness and free thinking.

Halloween

Out of all the holidays, Halloween is the best one. Nothing beats the eerie creepiness one feels when under its time frame in the year. Also, nothing beats the loads of candy obtained for free. Candy is Halloween’s best friend and this is one reason why I love this season. Another reason would be the fun one can have on this night. Haunted houses, being chased with chainsaws, and performing “séances” are a few other reasons. Scary “true” ghost or freaky stories are told and when that is over one, with their little posy of friends, can go scare the kids still trick or treating. Or one can even go steal their candy if the parents aren’t around. Whatever suits one well can relieve some boredom, but usually there is something awesome to do. As I mentioned, Haunted Houses are fun and entertaining. They are very delightful and anyone can obtain great exercise from them. Also, Halloween can be healthy. Being chased by chainsaws and walking for miles while trick or treating is a very good workout. One can burn hundreds of calories on Halloween night. As long as too much candy isn’t eaten, Halloween can prove to be beneficial health wise. Halloween also creates great memories. Most normal people can look back and say Halloween was one of their favorite holidays. All the candy and costumes is one thing, but being able to hang out with their family and friends is another. Just about every kids loves Halloween and the yearly tradition of knocking on their neighbor’s door for candy. It fills them with excitement and satisfaction, knowing what comes out of those big bowls decorated with classic Halloween characters. Overall, Halloween is a great American tradition and I hope it sticks around for as long as it can.

False Information

These days, it is hard to trust whatever anyone says on the news. Most of it is true, but there is some information either blown out of proportion or only half true. When a few hot topics end up having information gone wrong, it can totally lead a person to believe a false idea or statement. Sometimes facts are accidently mixed up and falsely given, but I highly doubt this happens consistently. Also, one news channel will say one thing and then another will say the total opposite or something different. It makes one wonder if everything a channel says is true. Most of the time, the false information is only partly false, but this makes it even sneakier. An anonymous person once said, “The truth but only part of the truth is the biggest lie there ever is.” Part truths can blind a person even more than a flat out lie can. For example, “the earth is warming up” is a truth, but by saying we as humans are causing it isn’t really a truth. Some may think so, but one can’t suddenly jump to the fact it is man-made. One has to factor in the thousands of other possibilities before jumping to this conclusion. The fact people are buying it out so fast without questioning what is really going on is kind of depressing. This is one way in which people are more blinded by part truths than lies. Now, news channels do provide updated information on what is happening, but this is about the only thing one can trust. Otherwise, the more opinionated information is something someone has to watch out for. It can wash and dry one’s brain out until they turn into one of those robots screaming for biodiesel and world peace. (Seriously, who doesn’t want peace?)

Cats

Living with five cats has been a very interesting experience. Cats are naturally independent loners and very quiet. They have a tendency to sneak up on one and scare them half to death. A good majority of domestic cats are very nice to humans, but not so much to each other. Cats do not travel in packs and hate it when another cat is “too close” to them. A dominant cat especially hates this. She or he will hiss and almost strike another when they go into their bubble. It is very entertaining when two pre-madonnas have a face-off. They will both stare and growl at each other for hours, neither willing to back down. After a while, one of them tends to walk away though because it does become boring when all one is doing is staring and growling. Sometimes, one will lunge at the other and then the defendant will run off and hide. Cats aren’t confrontational but they hate each other enough to do it. There are some cats that will get along and even play with each other. They will lick and pounce on each other until one has had enough. Also, cats do get jealous when one is getting more attention than the other. They will sit there and stare until they do get some. Cats love to be petted for hours upon hours until something like hunger over takes them. Then they gently prance over to their food bowl and slowly eat as if they had human manners. Unfortunately, they aren’t always so glamorous sounding. Cats can be annoying sometimes, especially when one is in heat. That cat will meow and meow until one is about ready to feed it to the neighbor’s dog. But overall, cats are bearable animals. All one has to do is change the litter boxes, feed them, and water them.

Thunderstorms

There is nothing that can make a day better than a thunderstorm. They are wonderful happenings in nature bringing nutrition to plants and animals. Thunderstorms make the day more eventful and can bring excitement to the air. The dark clouds add an effect to the air too. When they roll into the sky, one can see the darkness start to cover everything. The clouds begin off in the far distance and slowly sneak up on everyone. Sometimes, one might notice the lightening and thunder off in the horizon. Then as they gradually creep in, everything begins to plan for this storm. All the plants and animals will prepare and go into hiding. One can hear the crickets and many other noise-making bugs singing their warnings as they prepare for the storm. Suddenly when the clouds have pulled in, there is a deadly silence. Some know it as the “silence before the storm.” This silence takes over the air, and, for a moment, there is no wind and no sound. It is very eerie and can make someone’s hair stand up on their arms. Right after this, the winds begin to pick up. The thunder and lightning roll in to demolish the silence, and big crackles and booms fill the air. Then the rain begins to pour and drench the earth with its nutritional goodness. The tree and plant roots open up and take in this wonderful, basic necessity. As the storm begins to disintegrate, the rain turns into a drizzle and slowly comes to a halt. Not long after, the clouds continue one their journey, and the sun begins to poke through the clouds. The roots close up and prepare for the sunshine. Animals and all kinds of organisms come out from their hiding spots and revert back to their normal mode of survival.

Drama Queens

Every once in a while, we all bump into some over dramatic bastard who thinks everyone is trying to hurt him or her. They always “have a broken heart” because of some lame ex-lover and will try to sweet talk anyone into feeling sorry for them. Unfortunately, they have way too much emotion and not enough logic. There are idiotic situations they will wrap themselves in when all they had to do was think and say “hmmm, maybe this isn’t a good idea.” For example, when someone already is in a relationship and they start talking and hanging with someone they are attracted to, it is probably not a good idea. No matter how bad that person claims their relationship to be, the fact is they are still in a relationship and should get their issues sorted out. But no they are “hurt” and want someone to “love them” so they go after someone else. It is sad when someone will put their morals aside because they are too emotional. This is when one can tell this person has some real bad issues. Whether they are faking or not, it is out right ridiculous anyone has to deal with a person like this. Ultimately, they are selfish and want attention. All they think about is how “bad they are hurt” and never about how must stress they put into everyone else’s life when they dramatize about their problems. I can sympathize for them when they are hurt emotionally but when they are constantly making situations complicated with their drama, this is when I say I’ve had enough. If anyone lets a drama queen get to them, then it can only cause even more stress in one’s life.

Colliding or Exploding Galaxies

Out of the many places or things out in space, galaxies are by far the most interesting. How they came to be is one mind boggling question. There are many different theories on how they are formed and what keeps them spiraling. First of all, there are many different shapes and sizes. Some are more balled up and denser than others, and some have more layers coming out of the center. More importantly, some think black holes are in the center. Others think there are neutron stars traveling at very high speeds. Whatever it is at the center, the whole galaxy rotates around it. Galaxies are everywhere in the night sky. The galaxy closest to us is Andromeda, and it is actually creeping up on us. It is estimated in the very far off future (several million years or so) we might collide with Andromeda. Until then, anything can happen. Our own galaxy could blow up somehow, so one can never know what will happen in the future. It can be very unpredictable with millions of outcomes waiting to be picked. No one knows when something can happen to our galaxy. Why should anyone worry too much anyway? It is a scary thought, but there are more important things in life. As long as one lives their life to the fullest, they can truly find meaning and purpose. In the end, no one should worry about colliding or exploding galaxies. There are worse things that can happen in life, and, if one spends most of their life worrying about stuff like this then their life is wasted. Even if this traumatic thing happened, wouldn’t death be an adventure? Wouldn’t one like to see where they go when their body is rotting or toasted by burning hydrogen?

The Art of Shopping

If there is one thing in the world able to make anyone happy again, then it would be shopping. Shopping for clothes can easily distract someone from the daily stresses of life. The reason why is because both shopping and fashion are an art. When one is painting something, all their concentration is on that one canvas and nothing else matters. With shopping, this is the same concept, but just a different form of art. While shopping, one has to pick out different items and piece it together perfectly so their outfit compliments them but gives them a unique and artistic look. After all, an individual’s fashion is a reflection of who they are. Different clothes give different auras. Some clothes give a sophisticated look while others give a relaxed look. It all depends on the materials used, the style, and how it is put together. First of all, the materials or type of fabric will add certain dimensions to the outfit. If a dress is made out of soft, knitted cotton then tends to look less formal. But if a dress is made out of silk or some sort of man-made fiber, it tends to look more formal. Second of all, the style or how the clothing is designed is what emphasizes the outfit. Third of all, how an outfit is put together adds the perfect touch. For example, if a polo is worn under a sweater and with some jeans, then a preppy but relaxed look is given. There are many ways in which anyone can create certain looks. All anyone has to do is use some of their left brain and they can have the perfect look. After all, shopping and fashion are both an art.

Freedom

Out of the many different aspects in life, freedom is the most important. When a person isn’t controlled by something or someone else, he or she is a much happier and healthier being. That person is more well-rounded and passionate. Freedom is what causes most people to live their lives to the fullest and can inspire people to look for the purpose in life. Also, it is the main determiner of a nation’s greatness. When people are free to think and try new ideas, different inventions and scientific breakthroughs improving living standards are created. In a good way, freedom escalates a society upwards. Ultimately, it is the key ingredient to a good life and a desire for all. No one wants to be told what to do even if someone is “trying” to help out. Even worse, nobody should be under someone’s constant control. Nothing in life is ever learned, and, after a while, one becomes use to being controlled. An individual like this will become too dependent on whatever is controlling him or her and may never question anything or fight back. Unfortunately, one can see this in the world today. For some people, the aspect of power and control over other people’s lives may never go away. One can debate that a certain group of people are trying to have more control over everyone’s lives in the U.S. With whatever is happening, some people shouldn’t assume just because we are in America, we are safe from control freaks. They are still going to pop up randomly in political/ governmental world. What does everyone expect? It is not like power hungry people are going to become an engineer or something else. Obviously, leadership positions are going to be the stuff they are attracted to. Overall, freedom is good and important, but we always have to watch our back and make sure someone isn’t going to take it away.

Mother Nature's Accident

If there is one thing I can prove, it is men are pointless and stupid. First of all, women really don’t need 99.9% of men to reproduce anymore. All they would need is a few men kept alive and bred in cages. When a female would want a baby, she’d go to a clinic where they kept their sperm in a tube, take it, and leave. Also, the baby doesn’t necessarily need a male “father” figure; another female can do just as great and maybe even better. It may be sort of like a lesbian couple, but without the attraction part. In fact, the two females don’t necessarily have to live together. All the “daddy” female needs to do is to be there for the child. Another reason why men are pointless is because all they think about is food and sex. It is pathetic how they think they are smarter. How can that be when their brain is trained to respond to only two things? And it would be hard to change this otherwise. I’m sorry, but you can’t teach stupid. Well, with any other living thing it would be possible, but men are stupid and ignorant. Sadly, this creates a big problem for their gushy, air-filled brain. For them, it is like being stuck between an immovable object and an unstoppable force. Their own ignorance is the main problem though. It is sad, but true. Even with many different things and ways for them to improve themselves, men always seem to revert to their natural state. Unfortunately, females and all other living creatures have to share this planet with them. Maybe one day, everyone will decide to kick them out. Until then, men will continue to roam around like aimless zombies with only two things on their mind: food and sex.

How to have fun at a camp

Camping is fun but it is even better with a bunch of girls who are about the same age. A whole bunch of young, creative, and rambunctious minds can cause a very interesting scene on a campsite. For them, there a many possible ideas and plans for their own entertainment. Of course, most of these things are done at night. The majority of their leaders probably would never approve of these “plans” and there comes the sneaking out at night part. Sometimes, they will sneak out as a pack, but this only enhances the chances of getting caught. To really do something memorable, it is better to go with a few loyal friends. A good example of a “plan” is rolling the main bathroom/shower area. For this to successfully be done, it is better off to go with only one or two other people. The first obstacle is to get out of the cabin without waking up the leader. Second is running from point A to point B without being spotted. When right outside the bathroom area, someone needs to sneak in and make sure the area is clear, while the rest of the group guards the outside. Then, when everything is clear, everyone runs into the stalls, grabs the toilet paper, and does as much damage as they can. Quickly, the whole group runs back out and back to the cabins before something or someone notices. Even if a leader does come out and yells at the group, an excuse can be made and the project can be saved. If succeeding, the first group of girls will wake up and go take their showers, but only to find toilet paper everywhere. Then everyone will wonder who the culprits are. In the end, it is worth all the risk it may take.

Reality Shows

Though reality shows may be entertaining, they are pathetically stupid. Sadly, they have no point for their existence and the only information anyone can obtain from them is how much brain matter some people really have. Now, some of the stuff is scripted so I don’t think they are totally stupid, but reality shows and the people in them are ridiculous. The sad part is some people act that way in real life. It is unfortunate how dramatic and childish they can become. Actually, it is pretty funny to watch. Out of nowhere, one person will accuse the other of stealing or talking about them and then will start screaming and throwing objects at each other. Sometimes, they will even get into a physical fight. Unfortunately, their fight is usually over something they could have talked to each other about instead of automatically assuming the other person is out to get them. It is really pathetic what some of these people do, whether scripted or not. Many reality shows are basically full of dramatic scenes. They are disappointingly part of modern TV viewing and an addiction to many. If someone wanted to do some serious brainwashing, a reality show would be the perfect way to do it. There are many people lured and captured when watching a reality show. It becomes their one and only addiction, and they annoyingly tend to talk about it all the time. Though it goes against my beliefs, I wouldn’t complain too much if reality shows were banned by the government. Then, there would be no more annoying conversations about what happened last night when someone told their friend that they are horribly angry at them. All in all, reality shows are equivalent to the most annoying nails-on-a-chalkboard sound one can make.

Traveling Anywhere

When one wants to open up their minds, traveling is the perfect thing for them to do. Traveling gets anyone to see new things, and it is always a good thing for someone to take a break every once in a while. Going to new places is exciting, but also can relax an individual who needs to calm down from long, stressful days of work. It changes one’s focus onto something else. Traveling also creates adventures and stories to tell for family and friends at home. As always, people want to hear stories of what happened, or what someone, did while they were away and exploring somewhere else. Sometimes, when staying in a place for a while, new people come into one’s life and can change or influence them in certain ways. There are also new and different foods to try. When traveling to a different place, there is always some new concoction special to that area. The best thing to do is always be open-minded and try something new. In the end, it might be the best thing in the world even if it is lizard brains. If someone isn’t having fun, then they can at least pretend they are. Usually while pretending to have fun, one starts to actually have fun. It is just all psychological. Overall, traveling is a very fun thing once someone opens up, wants to relax, and have fun. Even if bad stuff does happen, like ending up stranded in a jungle with a bunch of unfamiliar people, at least try to make the best out of it. In the end, new things are learned and new experiences are gained.

Fall Time

Out of the four seasons, fall is my favorite. In my opinion, there are many great qualities about the fall time. First of all, fall has the best holiday ever imbedded in it, which is Halloween. But fall is, also, a very beautiful season, especially because of its colors. Who would ever think trees could have such a beautiful and glorious death? Literally, trees don’t actually die in the fall time but their leaves do. The vibrant reds, burnt oranges, mustard yellows, and earthy browns all create a magnificent scene for everyone to see. When these colors are all blended together, it creates a gorgeous, Monet-like painting. Especially from afar, the scene fall time can create is truly wonderful. Even when gravity overtakes the leaves, the bare trees have a creepy but artistic look to them. Another good quality of fall is the weather. The air has a cool and crisp feel to it, especially when the wind blows. As colder weather sets in, the outdoors is cleaner and more open. One last reason for fall’s amazingness is apple picking. During fall, the apples are perfectly ripe and just waiting for someone to come pick them. It is a great yearly tradition, creates great memories, and fall is the only season one can do this in. Picking a whole bucketful for the keeping is fun and delicious once different apple recipes are being pulled out. Apple picking creates a great form of entertainment and enjoyment for anyone interested in it, and it coincides with the best season ever. Overall, apple picking, the perfect temperature, and beauty are all what makes this season fabulous and great. The only thing needed is people willing to appreciate and enjoy it.

Charity

Helping people out when they need it is one of the most important things a person can do. Charity is certainly a very good thing for any society. It causes an individual to think more of what they can do to help someone out and less of what they can do to further themselves. Also, charity can cause a person to open up their eyes to life and what is really around them. There is a much bigger world out in existence with many other ways of life. One can learn all of these things when they reach out to another person’s life. Now when it comes to charity duty, there are many different things and ways someone can help other people out. It is fun being able to work and serve in different ways than just throwing a bunch of money in a needy person’s face. If giving money out is the only way one can help out other people, than it is understandable. But if they just do it to make themselves look good, then the purpose is totally defeated. Unfortunately, this is what some people do, but I find there are plenty of willing human beings who are doing it because they really want to help someone’s life out. Through charity organizations or simple every day deeds, these people really help others out. They are the backbone to any great society. If any society is as good as they may make themselves look, then they will help the needy because they want to and not because they are forced to or to booster their image. Overall, charity will not only cause comfort and happiness to the individual in need, but a feeling of self-being to the helping hand.

Gymnastics in Reality

Often, people think of gymnasts as little girls who flip around in pretty pink leos. In reality, this is not the case at all. Gymnastics, in my opinion, is the hardest sport out there. It takes a lot of time, energy, muscle, and broken bones for someone to become a decent gymnast. Also, gymnastics can be very mentally draining. Imagine someone having to practice back hand springs over and over again on a four inch wide beam, knowing the next back hand spring might be their last. Sometimes, gymnasts will get something called mental blocks. This is when an individual will suddenly get scared and not do something they intended to do. It takes a lot of mental concentration when someone is in practice mode. Another major thing with being a gymnast is the conditioning. Conditioning is required if one wants to become a good gymnast. Usually, this takes up a good chunk of practice. The conditioning itself consists of running for a few miles every day, crunches, push-ups, pull-ups, various stomach exercises, and so on. There are gymnastic exercises someone may have never heard or thought of. Sometimes the coaches will make up exercises when they think it will benefit the team. No matter what, the best part of conditioning is waking up the next few mornings after the first few practices to an immovable, sore body. It is even better having to practice the same day when one’s body is already stiff and unbendable. After a while the soreness will go away, but soon to follow are bruises all over the body and the rips on the hands from practicing on the bars. The rips are like the jewelry to an outfit. After being bruised and tired, the rips are what top of the practice. When practicing on bars for a while, an individual may notice painfully torn up skin on their hand. This is called a rip. If the coach is a real coach, she or he will tell the gymnast to just tape up their hand and keep going until the rip begins to bleed; then they can stop. One may ask if all of this is worth it in the end. As for me, I say yes because gymnasts learn a lot more than how to do tricks on a beam. Not only can gymnasts beat football players at push-up contests, they figure out how to overcome their fears, gain endurance and persistence, work as a team, and much more. Overall these are the important things one can learn in life.

Chocolate is Good

There is one thing that can make me happier than anything and it is chocolate. In my opinion, it is one of the most important things found when the conquistadors went into Central America. Chocolate is the best cure when craving for something rich and delicious. It is a yummy treat from heaven and can even give a little bit of a caffeine kick to anyone willing to try it. Unlike what some old fashion parents may believe, chocolate or cocoa actually isn’t a bad food at all. Often, this wonderful delicacy is misrepresented as being “unhealthy.” It is not by any means. Actually, this wonderful treat is a good and nutritious food. First of all, it comes from a big bean and beans are usually healthy. What can make it unhealthy is when tons of sugar and milk fat are dumped into it. Sadly, certain candies that claim to have chocolate in them really just have a small amount of it and a large amount of sugar. When chocolate is by itself, it is very healthy. Even with some sugar added, it still is loaded with helpful antioxidants. Also, there have been studies on the chocolate showing it does have health benefits. Chocolate really is a wonderful thing, and, fortunately, its reputation is getting better. The only problem with is it tends to get overdosed with sugar all of the time, and sugar is addicting. As long as the sugar gets used less, chocolate is perfectly fine to eat. Unfortunately, people like their sugar too much. It is one of those ingredients which receives too much love. Even when chocolate is so overdone with sugar and milk fat it starts burning the throat, people still like it. Until this will change, chocolate may always be stuck next to sugar.

Music

Magically, music can take an individual to a different world. There are many great things about music. It can create new emotions one has never felt before and emphasize the ones everyone already knows. Music can calm a human’s senses or excite him/her, but it can also change their mood. If one is sad, all they have to do is sing a happy song and they usually feel better. Music is also like a different dimension. To understand it, an individual has to feel it.
There is something about music which brings wonder to our brains. All different kinds of studies have been done on music and how it affects humans. This very ancient human tradition is still very much a huge part of our lives. We are constantly engulfed into music. Everywhere anyone goes, it follows. It is and will always be a part of any human culture on earth. Music itself is never ending. There are many different styles and an infinite amount of rhythms out there. The possibilities are endless with more waiting to be found. Truly, music is really a wonderful thing. It can also be very inspirational too. This explains why music is a big part in the church/religion area. By being able to change anyone’s mood, it ultimately is uplifting and can make one “joyous.” Music is amazing with what it can do. Overall, one will sometimes wonder how and why it is this way. When did humans first find music, or did music find them?

Sarah Palin

Out of the many government or political individuals, Sarah Palin stands out as an honest, hard-working, and enthusiastic individual. She is very intelligent and really does know what she is doing. From taking on tough issues to taking care of her kids, Sarah is able to somehow manage it all. Besides the fact that she is the youngest and the first female governor of Alaska, Sarah is continuing to make history. Sarah was already a vice presidential running mate, but unfortunately didn’t make it to the big office. She is a potential presidential nominee for 2012 and could also be a vice presidential candidate again. It is amazing how much potential she has, and Sarah does it all with a baby on her hips.Growing up in Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah came from a humble background. She has slowly worked her way up to her governor position, starting off as a Wasilla city council member. Sarah has ended up where she is because of her willingness to stand up and fight for the general welfare of people. I find it inspiring how she is concerned for the people and does what is best for them, unlike some political figures. An individual may not agree with her political views, but at least she is standing up for what she believes in. For certain, Sarah is a great asset to the Republican Party because of who she is. She certainly wouldn’t try to work out shady deals, like selling senate seats. Unlike some people, Sarah isn’t going to sell certain positions that will probably end up going to some crooked individual who works out money deals with even more people. Sarah has integrity and only wants what is best for Alaska and America. As long as she continues to be herself, she will always be an amazing person.

Black Holes

Black holes, technically, are still not proven to exist but there is an exploding amount of evidence that they do. They were first calculated mathematically in the late 1700s and, since then, are still being studied. Even though we can’t see them, we know that they do exist. In fact, they were first named “invisible stars,” since these calculations showed that they have an exceedingly massive and therefore light can’t escape from it. Black holes are formed from very large, old stars that explode into a supernova and then collapse. When they collapse, all that hydrogen and helium gas compresses back inward so forcefully that it forms a really massive “hole” of which nothing can escape.
Usually, we think that the bigger something is, the more powerful it will be, and this proves itself right in some situations. But that is not always not true and especially with black holes. Actually, the smaller the black hole is, the more massive and powerful they are. It is theorized that some black holes, which suck up whole galaxies and stars 10,000 times our own star’s size, are no bigger than the size of a potato chip. Black holes maybe very small but are certainly very influential. These are one of the qualities that build a person’s curiosity about these super massive holes. It leaves us all in awe how something so small can be so powerful that not even light can escape from it. It will guzzle up anything that comes near it. In the end, it leaves you to wonder where all that material ends up. Is it lost forever in a dimension or hole, or does it end up somewhere else in the universe?

Genealogy

I have always been interested in my own genealogy. For as long as I can remember, I have had a natural curiosity about history and the people in it. Genealogy is a great way to learn about both. It is even better knowing that you are related to those people that you find out about. I find that once you get started, it is hard to stop because you want to learn more and more about your family’s roots. Also, there are a lot of surprises and unknown facts to be found when studying your own genealogy.
Even though it may take a while, an individual always begins to unravel something about their past. With some ancestors, it may take days or months to find something other than their name, but with others, it may take no more than typing their name into a search engine and pressing enter. When you go deeper into the past, most of the time you only find their name, birthday, death date, and time of marriage. Sometimes you will get lucky and find a newspaper article of some sort on the person. Other times, you might find someone in your family who was famous or of “importance” when they were alive. Usually, it gets harder to find anyone beyond the 1600 or 1700 hundreds unless there was an influential individual in your family, or if one of your bloodlines is descended from royalty. But as it gets harder and harder to find more ancestors, the interest level builds more and more. There does come a time when you can no longer find anything on the internet. Once this happens, you have to travel to that country of your origins and rely on rumors or people to help you find cemetery sites that might contain your ancestors. Also, there might be churches that contain records of your ancestors. Overall, it is worth it because when you figure out who your greatest grandparents were, and what countries they came from, you begin to have a sense of well-being.

Maya Angelou and the "Caged Bird"

There is one author, in particular, who I find is inspirational. Her name is Maya Angelou, and I think she is inspirational because of a poem she wrote called “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” For a little background information, Maya was abused and raped when she was a little girl. This incident is what inspired her to write this poem.
The title alone has a lot of sadness built into it. In the poem, there is a free bird that gets to enjoy the basics in life and roam wherever it wants to. But also, there is a caged bird that is locked in a cage all the time and has clipped wings. All that bird does is sing and it sings for freedom. It is pretty obvious why the caged bird sings for freedom, but the fact that it sings is a sign of its sorrow and loneliness. Singing may also make the caged bird happier by releasing some of its emotion. The free bird is already happy so it doesn’t think much of singing to make it even happier. It could sing and maybe does sometimes but never in a meaningful way. Anyway, the free bird doesn’t need to sing to show off its happiness. Unlike the caged bird, it can ride through the wind or soak in the sun if it wanted to. Now, all the caged bird can do is sing. When that bird is locked in, it is usually limited to the things it can do, but it still dreams of being able to do more. Singing about its dream helps the caged bird and is what keeps it alive. It give the bird a kind of hope that maybe somewhere in the future things will work out and it will be free. Otherwise, without singing it would probably be physically and mentally dead.