Clinton vs. the O-Factor

I am not writing this to endorse anyone or to persuade people to go one way or another (and I'm not really writing this to support one candidte over the other) but to just give my take on this 'historic' democratic race. Yes, this is the first time a woman and a black man (one who actually has a chance of winning anyway) has run for this candidacy. But this election race has been going on for quite some time and frankly its becoming quite tiresome. Everyday there is some 'new' coverage on it but not really, if no one has won the whole thing then don't report. At the end when whomever has won whatever, then comment on what state was won and what not.

Now on to the bigger picture, the real underlying problem area, the ultimate question. Why is Clinton still running? That is something that I'm sure that even Clinton's delegates are still wondering. Why, Hillary Rodham Clinton, why are you still here? Why not give up already and leave it to the big boys? Why starts a lot of these kind of questions. But really, why is she still running, it's so obvious that so many people who are active voters don't want her as anything. A teacher here, to be remained nameless, even said that if the presidential election were between Clinton and McCain they would vote for McCain (and to coincide with my point they did say if it was between McCain and Obama they would vote for Obama). Interesting and harsh, but that seems to be reality. I was once a Clinton supporter (mainly because I liked Bill) but with recent situations I regret my decision. She seems to be a whiner, quick to accuse anyone, and just overall annoying lately.

She seems to be not much of a match for Obama who is still (and has always I believe) in the lead of the delegate count. He has 1,907 delegates while Clinton still trails with her 1,718. It has been said many times before by other political analysts that she should drop out but Clinton is very stubborn. There are no real primaries worth anything left in the race (not enough for anyone to win, much less her). And she is steadily losing super delegates everyday to Obama. Get a clue Clinton, I admire your determination but enough is enough.

Also the point of Clinton telling herself that she’s winning the big states means she’s going to win the whole election is amusing. Yes, she might have a point but Obama has come quite close in those 'big' states and people actually like him. He’s a down to earth man while Clinton shows almost no emotion and no real personality. Yes she cried, but so what? That got her a state or two, end of story, should have been end of her campaign. Although I did like her comment that “It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush and it’s going to take another one to clean up after this one”. But overall get over yourself Ms. Clinton, its apparent that there is no more hope for you, quit while you're still behind.

Why?

I don’t mean to catch on to this ‘seniortis’ but I have to say I’m tired of doing work. I have worked too hard for too long for teachers to still be giving work - namely these huge projects - during our last two weeks of school. I know the school year is supposedly not over yet but for the most part it is. Why are we still getting work knowing that the teachers themselves don’t want to grade them and we sure don’t want to do them. Why bother having finals? Personally I think that finals should be optional for seniors who actually need the grade boost. Why have I worked hard all year long and still have to look forward to a final but someone else who barely comes to class yet this final is really for them to boost their grade. Extra work only benefits those who need it, why make all of us suffer? Basically, if it seems like half your seniors are failing therefore needing that extra assignment or whatever or any student for that matter, give them that final. Stop making it hard on yourself and us when it’s not necessary.

"Anyone Can Cook"

Now I know that I may be late but with having just seen Ratatouille recently I had to comment. I’m not the biggest fan of Disney Movies, (although I did like Finding Nemo and The Incredibles), but this one is up there on my ‘see-again’ movies. Also when I first saw trailers for this film I wasn’t convinced but now I’m hooked. I fell in love with this heart-warming, funny, animated film.

Ratatouille has the story plot that involves a rat and a garbage boy turned chef. The formula here sounds like it would only appear to child minds but this film is for all age groups. To continue, the rat - Remy’s the name - is a ‘wannabe’ chef leafing through cookbooks at the beginning of the film. He is not like regular rats either where he doesn’t like the food choice of garbage. The story begins like it would seem every Disney movie, with sorrow, he gets separated from his family. However his sorrow does not last long because a figment of his imagination or conscious, takes the shape of his idol chef - Chef Auguste Gusteau. Gusteau appears throughout the film for Remy to guide him to what he really desires, to cook. So Remy’s first guided trip leads him to none other than the streets of Paris to Gusteau’s restaurant where he meets the garbage boy Linguini.

The meeting between Linguini and Remy isn’t exactly one of merely bumping into one another on the street and exchanging hello’s or sitting at dinner but one much more symbolic. While peeking into Gusteau’s restaurant, Remy sees Linguini making a horrid mess of one the kitchen’s soups and drops in literally to fix it. Remy becomes entangled in an interpreted dance of spices and other ingredients when Linguini spots him. Commotion starts after this but Linguini decides to hold on to the little guy and cuts a deal with him to team up and cook. They both get want they want - Remy the chance to show his talent of cooking and Linguini his forever desired success. But this isn’t the end, watch the movie to find out the rest…

There is so much character development in this film with the back and forth between the main characters. We of course know what is going to happen but there always seems to be that fleeting moment where the character might go the other way. There is always the balance of exciting and tear dropper moments and the film never seems to fail. It keeps you intrigued throughout and as Disney always does leads you to that familiar yet deserved happy ending.

Many critics have agreed with me and have fell in love with this awe-inspiring film. Roger Ebert said “This is clearly one of the best of the year's films”. The director Brad Bird has had other films like The Incredibles, as I have mentioned before that I liked so much and The Iron Giant. Ratatouille has won many awards such as the Critics Choice, Golden Globe, Hollywood Film Festival, Chicago Film Critics Association, and the high ranking Academy Award for Best Animated Film. This film can do no wrong and is great for everyone and anyone, whenever and anywhere. You will love this film for its originality and spunk as so many people already have. I’m already set-up in the living this weekend with the popcorn ready…

Farewell. . .

It seemed like this weekend nothing would inspire me, nothing would come to mind. Chicago’s uprising violence, college, the democratic nomination race, R. Kelly , nothing sparked. So how was I going to do this blog assignment? But then it hit me - I’m tired of school. This school year is still not over no matter how much people say it is. It is not June, much less June 9. But instead of taking the negative route of this idea, I’m going to put a positive twist on it. What are the seniors going to miss about Kenwood? As much as students say that they hate Kenwood and they’re never coming back and everything else, the truth is we are bound to miss something. Whether it was something from freshman year when we first fell in love with Kenwood, or that one teacher/guy/girl, whatever, we are going to miss something or someone somewhere. So off to memory lane...

I’m personally going to miss my friends whether they have already graduated or going to soon in the future. Of my teachers (starting from seventh grade, yes I’ve been here a long time): Ms. Bennett, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Saurdi, Ms. Mason, Mr. Scheidler, and Mr. Rhodes (and this is not a suck-up). I will also miss the counseling of Ms. Parker, Mr. Hatcher and Ms. Hill. My most fond memory will be my first pep rally in 2005 (probably the best one ever) and all the annual fashion shows. I’m also thankful for my experiences with Concert Choir. But that’s enough about me, how about the rest of the seniors? What will they remember/miss and hold dear and close to their hearts? Robin Johnson's most fond memory is the "Fashion Show of '07 and the help and motivation from teachers" continuing on to say that she is doubtful that she will get that in college. The Brotherhood "made Kenwood more like home...more fun rather than just being business oriented" for what Charles Merrick was going to miss most of all. Concert Choir member Ashely Hatcher said that "I'll miss the great times I've had with Concert Choir". Most students said that they were going to miss their friends overall, but Elesha Mallett probably said it best, "being a child; the lack of responsibility".

Now enough about what seniors will miss, more importantly what kind of mark will we leave? What will teachers miss about us? Ms. Celesk, one of the math teachers, said about our class that we were "very energetic, a group that has a positive outlook". And Mr. Rhodes, the journalism teacher, said he was going to miss our "exuberance". Thanks guys, I'm sure you'll be missed.

Wow, graduation will be pretty emotional. We’ve had good times and bad times ‘08 but I don’t think we would change them for the world. These people and memories have made us who we are and as the saying goes, “What don’t kill you makes you stronger.” Looking back on this, I probably should have made this my last blog as a farewell. But anyway I’ll leave with this, as I said before, good luck Class of 2008, whether you’re in eighth grade, senior in high school or college. Best of luck to you in all your future endeavors. Much love.

Senior Year. . .

Prom. Graduation. Probation. Stupidity. These are the words that come to mind when I think of senior year. Not particularly in that order but you get the picture. The problem here is mainly stupidity. And this blog is not to point anyone out or ridicule anyone, if you have reevaluated yourself knowing that you’ve done wrong, good for you, I applaud you. But this is just an overall general statement on what I’ve observed, sorry if I offend.

To get to the point, what I have observed is with the whole probation thing, complaints. And these complaints come from the people who have actually already done these things. Meaning they have been stuck in what is known as ‘the wrong’ for so long and when there comes severe consequences they want to complain and give every reason why whatever. And some people will agree that people in these situations are always the first to complain but that makes sense though right? Why wouldn’t I complain about something being based on me? The sensible person who’s done everything should have no say right, but that’s beside the point (or is it. . .?). But anyway here is the solution, now this may seem like common sense to some people but who knows – get your act together. Plain and simple. If you were going to class, on time for it, passing your classes, or whatever it was/is that got you on probation in the first place you wouldn’t have anything to complain about. Do what your suppose to do so you can get where you want to go. People who are claiming all these colleges but don’t have not one requirement to get there, stop. You’re the first one who wants to graduate and be grown and what not, but the last one in your class. And somehow you think you should go to prom, luncheon, graduation, or any other special activity. You came to that conclusion how? But then so and so has to be dumb, called out their name, and everything else because you didn’t take care of your business.

So a simple solution seniors (or would have had you started earlier. . .) was to have started getting your stuff together freshman year. Go to class, pass them, be on time, form a good habit. That way you won’t complain about you not being able to go to prom four years down the line because of 67 absences in English 4. So class of 2012, good luck.

Or you can read these tips to success for college.

the draft. . .embarassing

The NFL draft. . .well, my thoughts on this mainly has to do with a particular player who didn't get drafted. J Leman (this is the coolest name ever might I add - his first name). He did not get drafted in the 2008 NFL draft recently which kind of surprised me. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (woo hoo!!!!!!!!) He seemed like a good player but then again, he may not have been the best to overall teams, but Oakland could have did something with him. They have the second worst defense, believe me, they could not get any worse had they added him (well, maybe first worst, but come on, with J Leman on your team. . .). But anyway, what really blew me away was that Rashad Mendenhall, a pulled out junior from the same college as Leman had gotten drafted before him. It would have been already embarrassing for Mendenhall to get drafted first but for him to get picked before you and you weren't even picked? You got nothing my brother, not even a last round pity pick, you got no love. That is down right embarrassing. But never the less, he did get signed as the free agent he was by the Vikings (just couldn't make the pick in front of the whole world huh Minnesota. . .shameful).

But even if he didn't make it he could fall back on his communications degree right?

(if you want more details, read about it here)

Money. . .

Well, what comes to mind today, or what inspires me as my blog concept says, is education - getting money. It seems the only way anyone can get money is by being extremely poor or having an impossibly high ACT score. Two highly unlikelies. Now mind you that these are great reasons to have a basis on, but the average person does not have these qualities. The average person is just that, average. No average person is going to come up with a 32 ACT score or less than a $20,000 income (legally that is). But that aggravates me as seeing how as I don't have either. Grades don't mean diddly squat. Grades/GPA are about as good to get you into a college and that's about it.
Then there's scholarships, you can apply for them but more than likely they have a financial quota too. And if there is that tiny possibly that you do qualify for a scholarship, you have like a one out of a million chance to get it because fifty million other kids are going for the same exact one. And if you do get some kind of scholarship by the grace of God, it'll probably be some extremely small amount (like $250, come on now, that'll pay for a what, a book or two). Then the fact that some kids just walk through life and get these stupid high ACT scores and their college is paid for. I'm sorry, but what? So the only other option is having loan debt up to your eyeballs after college. I've worked hard my whole high school career just to get loans. But you know what, I'm going to keep hope alive, so it's whatever.