YYYEEEAAAA

I know every single one of you band members have posted this, but I have to say it too.


WE'RE GOING TO STATE!!!!

It's so AWESOME!! We get to ride in a charter bus and stay in a hotel and work our butts off the rest of the week! YEA! Forget homework!! WE'RE GOING TO STATE!

Heeeyy Band! How do we feel?
We feel GOOD!
Oooo, we feel so good! Uh!
Double Uh!
Uh, Uh!
Triple Uh!
Uh, Uh, Uh!!

This is Elroy

Today was the halloween party. The movie was pretty good (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). As for my costume, I know many of you did not understand it. I was supposed to be Elroy the tax collector and Stephen was Boris the enforcer. So, now you know. I tried to be the scariest thing I could think of (besides me). So, I have a band essay to write, a chapter assesment for Speech, proofs for Geometry, paragraphs for English (not including my book to read), and numerous workbook pages for Biology. I am going to take my leave, but before I go, ponder this song:

"Can't Repeat"
By The Offspring

I woke the other day
And saw my world has changed
The past is over but tomorrow's wishful thinking
I can't hold onto what's been done (woah)
I can't grab onto what's to come (woah)
And I'm just wishing I could stop, but

Life goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page

Time rolls on
Wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow cries

Memories are bittersweet
The good times we can't repeat
Those days are gone and we can never get them back
Now we must move ahead (woah)
Despite our fear and dread (woah)
We're all just wishing we could stop, but

Life goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page

Time rolls on
Wipe your eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow cries

With all our joys and fears
Wrapped in forgotten years
The past is laughing as today just slips away
Time tears down what we've made (woah)
And sets another stage (woah)
And I'm just wishing we could stop

Life goes on
Come of age
Can't hold on
Turn the page

Time rolls on
Wipe these eyes
Yesterday laughs
Tomorrow cries

Time rolls on

I'm sorry, but I could not resist saying at least one thing. Remember, we only get one chance guys. We eventually have to "turn the page." We keep letting each rehearsal slip by and yesterday is going to laugh at us. Time does not stop. We have one chance...just one to go to San Antonio. I believe we can do it if we try. But we have to want it. That's all I have to say. So long and good night.

In case anybody knew...

Would somebody enlighten me? What is the meaning of life? Just figured you all needed a philisophical question to answer. It helps every now and then.

Robotics *ugh*

Wow. I'm surprised Brian has not posted about the robotics competition. I am really not in the mood to talk about it. Let's just say that they screwed up at mall day, causing us to have to hack six inches off the robot, we forgot to thread-lock the screw, causing the claw to fall off, and we our belt slipped. Also, we missed the cut by .83 points so I am a little #*$&! right now. So, I'm sure Brian will post on it later and you can get further details from him. I am WAY to tired. (oh, and Keyes is pretty mad too, so try not to bring up the subject in front of him)

A one

To distract you all from the grammatical horrors of the post below, I will tell you how we did at region (since you already know anyway)...drum roll please................ A ONE! YEA!! Ok, enough of that. Anyway, our teachers are so much more supportive of the band then they were in Junior High. Last year it was like, "we won first place at the world championships!"
"huh? Did you say something? I thought I heard the word 'band'. That's blasphemy, only football in this here school."
"Never mind."
Coach Worrel let us watch TV (channel 11 news to be precise) for the band getting sweepstakes! How is THAT Junior High?! Huh?? Yea, that's what I thought!

Robotics essay

For those of you who have a little extra time, you can read the robotics essay (the funny version). Tara, Josh, and I worked on it but Catherine and Brian said no. So, we kept it and sent it to multiple emails before we "boreifyed" it and made it monotonous. For those of you who don't have so much time, I suggest watching "Canon Rock", the link to which you can find on the post below this one.

There is a word coming into headlines today: "robots", more specifically, robots in space. NASA, ESA, and others are sending robots into space to do things that humans normally do. This raises a major question though, should robots replace humans in space? First, what are robots doing out in the galaxy? Should they continue to replace jobs in on a shuttle or station? What gives them the advantage over us? Last, what advantage do humans have that robots do not?

Despite this recent controversy, robots have already been sent to space. For example, one of the most recent major launches was the launch of twin Martian landers, Spirit and Opportunity in 2003 and landed in 2004. The main purpose of this expedition was to gather data on life, geology, and the atmosphere to prepare for human exploration on Mars.

More directly related to the theme, there are robots in space used for general maintenance and tasks. For example, the arm on the space shuttle is entirely composed of robotic technology and manipulated by humans (for now ). This arm is used for many different tasks, from repairing satellites to changing batteries on telescopes (*cough*).

Other robots are satellites themselves: the Hubble, the ISS, GOES, Chandra, and your favorite TV station. They give us images of the Earth, other planets, other galaxies, and on a smaller scale…us. They also protect us from other countries by tracking different operations around the world.

Besides these mentioned, other robots are in production, on paper, in the ideas, and dreams of many different people. For example, SEI is creating a robot that is to protect us from a little known, but a possibly major threat: asteroids. Their robot is called MADMEN (Modular Asteroid Deflection Mission Ejector Node). In summary, it lands on and drill into the asteroid and flings its pieces into space, thereby altering the initial course of the asteroid.

The debate over whether robots should replace humans in space can now be further examined. The side some people take in this ongoing debate is influenced by the many advantages robots have over humans in space. First, robots are cheaper to put into space. When putting a human in space one has to consider all the necessities of a living being: food, water, shelter, and…I know there’s something else…hold on…wait…I got it…AIR! A robot only needs to be capable of surviving the harsh conditions of space. Second, putting a robot in space is safer than putting a human in space (will you imagine that don’t tell Catherine I said that) because, there is no moral conflict in the loss of equipment as opposed to the loss of human life. This brings up the next reason, robots are replaceable. One cannot build another human if one is destroyed.

On the other hand, humans have many advantages in space over robots. First, robots cannot think on their feet if a crisis arises. A human can make decisions and solve problems (well, some can anyway) whereas a robot has to wait for a human command. Robots also cannot make moral decisions. If someone gives a command to a robot, it is going to implement it (wish the band could do that). However, a human can see that a decision is wrong and rebel, possibly saving lies. Last, robots only take in information they are programmed to collect. Humans, on the other hand, take in all the data they are around (some just can’t use it). For example, should a robot pass a Martian civilization, it would take no notice of it. A human, though, would certainly notice it (if they don’t they’re just retarded).

Thus, robots have replaced humans in many fields of astronomy and space exploration. Should they continue to do so? After all, robots are replaceable, safer, and all around easier to send into space. However, humans have the innate advantage of a human mind, which can think, consider consequences, and make decisions based on moral judgement and instincts. Therefore one must consider what is more important to a job well done in space and what one is willing to risk for the sake of discovery.

Canon Rock

Well...I was extremely bored and was going through different blogs with the "next blog" button. I found some very interesting things (even saddening). I say saddening because there was one and his post was about his last wishes before he commited suicide. I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I did come across one from this guy in Malaysia who has a video of him playing Pachabel's Canon in D Major on an electric guitar. It's actually quite interesting. You can see it here. I don't know if he's posted more things, so you might have to scroll down...it's quite amazing.

Okay

Okay. I'm sorry for my ranting in the previous post and I am withdrawing it because of it. I have been doing some thinking and yelling and screaming and tearing each other's throats out is not going to help us. Remember Mr. Ferrito when he said, "Process is more important then the results. What good is state if we all hate each other in the end?" I realize that some people do need to work harder, but I shouldn't have acted the way I did, especially since I am a freshman. I believe that the naming of people was uncalled for and not needed...but I will not say anymore on that subject. Again I am sorry for the way I acted and I will try from now on to have a little more patience in the future. Yes, UIL is in a week, but I believe that if we just try hard and be patient, then we will do fine...at least enough to get ready for Area (Upperclassmen please correct me if I'm wrong).
Anyway, homework calls...

What did I tell you?

For those of you in Coach Moore's Geometry class, see if you notice something familiar in this story (especially Parris). For the rest of you, I think it's kind of interesting.

"Crunk" — the American hybrid for crazy and drunk — is an example of how words evolve from popular culture, according to Susie Dent, author of "Fanboys and Overdogs: The Language Report."
"Crunk is generating all sorts of offshoot terms in the U.S. — crunk 'n' b, crunk rock, crunkster — and looks set to catch on in Britain, too," Dent said. "New words travel from one variety of English to another and at a rapidly increasing rate, thanks to the way language is exchanged today over e-mail, chat-rooms, TV, etc."
Dent's new book also discusses the tendency "big up" our language. Nothing is ever good or even great anymore — instead, we opt for "ova-wicked" and "uberbuff." Government appointees are tsars, and experts are meisters.
Job titles also reflect this kind of inflation. The head of verbal communications is really just a receptionist, while stockboys have been promoted to stock replenishment executives, she said.
As for the "fanboys" in the book's title, Dent said they're guys who are absorbed by a passion for comic books or computer games.
The book also looks at vocabulary shifts from the past century. The year 1905 saw the introduction of "peace economy." With the next year came "tyrannosaurus." Many words on the list are related to events — 1940 introduced "Jim Crow" and 1980 brought "Reaganomics."
"Podcasting" was last year's word. The frontrunner for the 2005 word of the year is "sudoku," the logic puzzle that has replaced crosswords as a favorite way to kill time over lunch break.
"Fanboys" is Dent's third annual language review book, publicist Sarah Kidd said. Dent is a resident word expert on London's Channel 4's "Countdown" program.

Did you notice it? If not keep looking...


If you still haven't noticed it look towards the bottom...





Ok, for you nonobservant people, second to last paragraph, fifth word of the second line.

Reflections

Not much to post about today. I'm just sitting here reflecting. On what you ask? I don't really know, I guess about everything. I saw some pictures of myself from a few years ago and I couldn't believe how far I've come since then. It's actually kind of relaxing to reflect. And then you can smile at all the good times you had. And laugh at your embarrassing moments. O well, it's time to go to bed. Big day tomorrow. I think I'll keep reflecting as I fall asleep.

A good song to listen to if you want to reflect is "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter

A word of advice

Just a little advice from a freshman...DON'T DROP AN AMP ON YOUR FINGERS!!!

IT HURTS!!!!!