Christmas

*This is what I have so far, you can let me know what you think.... (: | )

The Christmas Story

There are many classic and modern day Christmas stories told through both the written word and screenplays. Some of the stories are romantic or dramatic while others are lighthearted or comical. Write your own Christmas Story. If you were to write a Christmas story, what would it include? Remember, it is a story, so give consideration to characterization, theme (moral and/or message), setting and conflict. It can be a true story or make-believe. Or it can be a story "inspired by true events."

Your entry should include the following:

• Five or six paragraphs with a solid introduction and conclusion
• Include elements of characterization, theme (moral and/or message), setting and conflict.
• The elements are well developed and the story has a clear message/theme.
• Fewer than three spelling mistakes
• Fewer than three grammar or sentence structure issues

-Grandson and Grandfather,
-Toymaker
-wants something to commemorate the season, remember his grandfather. 
-build the first snow globe together
-How do I know all of this, you ask?

THE FIRST SNOW GLOBE

  Haven't you heard the story of the Christmas Globe?  Have you ever wondered how the age-old Christmas tradition came into being?  Well, there comes a legend from long ago, an ancient tale at that, that speaks of how one grandfather and his grandson, invented something that would change the way we decorate for the holidays forever.  And it all starts in a little Dutch village, just out side of Germany in the Alps. 

  There once was a toymaker, Alfred was his name, who owned a little shop on main street Stechpalme Stadt.  Now Stechpalme Stadt was a joyous place to live, especial around Christmas time when the Alps wore hats of snow.  The streets were always filled with carolers, praising songs of the a baby born in Bethlehem, and rosy-cheeked men and women running errands and tipping their hats to all they meet.  There were children donning mitts and scarfs, playing in the alleyways and making snow angles on the sidewalks, and horse-drawn carriages pulling merry couples all around town.  The place was also well know for their many holly trees that seemed to grow miraculously in abundance on hillsides encircling the town.  For that reason, the village was named "Holly Town" as many flocked to the area during winter to take in the sites and sounds of the season. 

  Now, you would think that everyone living in such a pleasant town would be delighted to join in walking the streets, sampling roasted chestnuts and dancing to the "boom-pah-pah" of a German accordion, but not poor Alfred, instead, we find him tinkering away in his shop, piled waist-high in unfinished toys and ones he has yet to make.  All the carving, the gluing, the hammering, the painting; it's enough to drive a grown man mad, and Alfred was of no age to exert himself with so much work. 

  Alfred was sixty-five, a ripe old soul, he was.  Toys were his specialty, his pation, his love!  But, when it came time for christmas, he was always very stumped.  Toy soldiers, dalls, whistles, drums, he'd done them all before!  He made them all out by hand, and like snowflakes, no two were exactly alike.  Being the only toymaker in all of Stechpalme Stadt, he was always swamped with ancsious parents looking for the perfect toy for little Juily and Jim.  The would pick him out and pick him dry untill there wasn't a single toy left, and then leave without even a single regret.  Did they not care? Could they not see? Were they so blinded the light of the season to even notice how deeply depressed poor Alfred must have been?  He would spend many nights alone in his shop making toys by candle-light and wondering just how he could lift himself out of his anual perdicament and mood.  He thought, just maby, that if he could just find the perfect toy, he would make it once and make no more, and leave his customers satisfide.  That was his dream, his only hope in life, to invent a toy that every child, young or old, would be delighted to find in their stocking on Christmas morning... but, no matter how hard he tried, he never could seem to find it. 

  Arnold, Alfreds grandson, saw how upset his grandfather was and asked him what was the matter.  Alfred replied saying, "Son, no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to find the one gift everyone wants to buy." Arnold, who was sixteen at the time and had spent his intire life with his grandfather after his father died, knew Alfred very well. 
  "Grandpa, don't talk such noncene!" Alfred replied. "Chear up! Everyone in all of town knows what kind of quality the toys you make are. Why, just look at your shelve. They're picked clean, infact, their absolutly spotless! Not a single toy around!" 
  "That is exactly what I am trying to tell you..." Alfred said *Scornfully.  "I'm afraid that I am far too old for the upkeep of my establishment here in Stachpalme Stadt, and can no longer keep up with the list of toys the people here are demanding me to make. As much as I love working in the toy industry, I find it hard to give the children what they want... I hate to say this but, I think it is time I gave it rest. I must retire Arnold, there's no place in the toy market now." 
  "But, Grandpa!" Arnold sputtered.
  "No buts! You must come to understand that it is for the best of things that I throw in the towle. You wouldn't want to see me take this to the grave, now would you." Alfred paused for a moment in though, trying to think of what to say before continuing. "There comes a time when we must learn that all good things come to an end, and it's best for you and safest for me if you learn that now." 

-son thinks, there is a pause, he agrees to help him make that perfect toy. something to represent his grandfather and to commemarate the village. 

  Arnold could do nothing but stair at the dusty floorbords of his granfathers shop.  A thousand thought swirled through his head,
  "Throw in the towle? How could he? And with all the children... no, no, he couldn't!..."
   There was a moment of uncertainty expressed between the two of them, Alfred and his grandson, both of them trying to sort out what the other one must be feeling, and when they both stopped muttering and both stopped pacing, they looked up, and met each other in the eyes. 
  "Grandpa," Arnold said quietly. "I want to help you find that toy. Me and you, we can build it together. I mean, I recon I know just about as much as you about toy making; all those years of watching you paint the eyes of wooden dolls from over your sholder must be worth something!" Which was true, Arnold was getting to be very skillful in the art of toy making. Why, you might even say he was a chip off the old block! Alfred knew he was right and nodded his head slightly.
  "What do you say Grandpa? Are you with me on this?" Arnold hung on his words impationtly, as though they would fly away on him if he wasn't careful to watch where he breathed.  Alfred slowly began to speak,
  "Alfred,... I started this business on a strong note, sure footing, and great ambitions, and I want to leave it on the same... Let us build that toy! Let it be nown throughout the land just how good of a team we really are. I want to be rememberred when I come to die, I always wanted some place in history and I think this is the only chance I have to get it... Of cource I'm with you son!" 

-son thinks, there is a pause, he agrees to help him make that perfect toy. something to represent his grandfather and to commemarate the village. 

  And with that, they both began their work.  Alfred had the idea of making something that would represent the the village of Stechpalme Stadt; something with mountains and hollyand and little wooden chalets.  Arnold questioned him on how you could possably place so many fiqueriens into a single toy, but Alfred said not to worry, and that they would find a way.  And so they carved each mountain and made each hut, and when they were finished they glued them together onto a single bord and stuck little branches of holly in it.  Then, after the last twig of holly was set in place, they stood-up and look at their creation from affar saying how it just looked like a minerature Stechpalme Stadt.  But then their was the question,
  "But grandpa, how can a little girl or boy possibly play with that? Why, with all the little wooden pieces and the tiny sticks of holly, it won't even last a day, let alone make it to new years? It'll be broke even before your customer gets it home." Once again, Arnold was right. Yet, Alfred said not to worry and that they would find a way to make it work, he had another idea. 
  Alfred slipped into the back room of his shop and didn't return untill sevral hours had passed.  Arnold decided to use that time to add a couple of finishing touches to the village's model. 
  Alfred came back carrying a large glass dome in his hand in which he placed very gently onto the table next to where Arnold was sitting. 
  "Well now, what's that for?" Arnold asked *interigaitively.
  "Why, what else? Our village, boy!"
  "But,... Where'd you get it?!" Arnold sounded surprised; He had never seen a glass bowle like that before.  It was sphere-shaped, with a wide opening and had no flat bottem on it to stop it from rolling about upon the tables surface.  Alfred had to steady it with his hands so that it wouldn't fall off. 
  "Ran out and got it from the local glass blower, I did. T'Only to a minute or two to cool." Arond stated beamfully.  His cheeks were rossy and red from his walk down town. 
  "Well, no wonder you took so long! I was begining to think that the old man of the Alpes had had you for supper." Arnold was reffering to an old foke ledgend that his granfather had told him all throught his childhood, of a long-bearded elderly man with yellowed teeth and long nails, that used to eat lost children who wandered at night.  If you weren't carefull enough to watch where you were going, he would surely hear your cries for help, come find you, and gobble you up whole. 
  "You do know that I was only joking with you when I told you that story. I couldn't of had you go wandering off on me with your mother away, now could I?" Alfred said to Arnold with a smile. 
  "Oh grandpa,..." Arnold shook his head and chuckled to himself silently. "Come now, help me mount this onto our village." 
  Together, both of them hoisted the glass bubble over their village and sealed the base of it with glue. *When they had done that, the two of them stepped away from thier creation with a smiles on their faces.  Those smiles soon faded to puzzlement, and then to frowns.  Nither of them seemed happy with what they saw...

-Arnold gets angry, says it's hopeless, how is a child possibly going to have fun with that. All they can do is sit and look at it ...(or something like it)
-Alfred said it was a good try, but not quite good enough and the two of them look at the clock and head to bed. 
-Arnold gets an idea in the middle of the night (it dons on him), runs to Alfreds bedside, shakes him awake and inquiers about the whereabouts of the glassblowers shop.  He tells him, says nothing but why and hey where are you going, waves his hand in disaproval and falls back to sleep.

Archetype

1.Often in fiction, there is a heroic figure, or archetype. Discuss the characteristics of an archetype, using specific examples from literature, TV shows and/or films.

What makes a hero a hero; An archetype or role model that all can look up to?  In any sense, what is a hero?  Is it someone you can always depend on?

Archetype "Hero"

There have always been the "Classic" heroes.  You know, the ones you find that star in television series and comic books, such as superman, batman and wonder woman.  (And you already know where I stand with Spider Man.) But, are those truly an accurate portrayal of what a hero should be?  Those directors lead us to believe that heroes are people "of fiction" who walk around in tights and preform good deeds out of their own free will.  Yet, that is not so.  Look around you, their are plenty of people that qualify for heroic material rate in your own hometown.  People need to open their eyes and realise that you don't need to have x-ray vision or fly to be hero for someone.  You just need to have a good head about your shoulders to spot them out. 

Like I said before, you probably already know someone who displays heroic characteristics, maybe not within the person themselves, but in the actions they do for others.  Take for example, your local neighborhood firefighters.  They put the lives of others ahead of their own.  When they jump into the inferno of a flaming Building.  A good portion of the people on the team are volunteers, as well!  This may be an extreme of the example given above, but it certainly is an act of heroism.  Though, it does not have to be as obvious as this.  Believe it or not, you can find a hero in the most cowardly of people. 

Do you not love or have ever loved your parents?  Do you not respect them in all they do for you?  A good man, now departed once said "Honor thy mother and thy father."  If you haven't already done so, then you'd best do it today!  Take a moment to stop and think about all the things that your parents have done for you.  They raised you from the time you were born.  They fed you, cleaned you, changed all of your dirty diapers, and just when they think you've had enough, you do it all over again!  Whine and cry, sleep and poop, you've worn your parents to the break of total exhaustion!  You have probably taken several years off their life from all of the work you have put them through.  When they begin to contemplate putting you up for adoption, you finally tucker-out and fall asleep.  What a relief!  They could of best left you outside to live with the stray cats, but no, they walk you through your first years of life, raising you into adulthood.  Does that not qualify as a an act of heroism? I would hope so!

There is another problem that arises when deciding what makes a true hero, and that is: "Once a hero, always a hero?"  Hmm... Let me see. Let's say, on Tuesday, Boris Swatsningson, your topical "everyday Joe" preforms "mouth to mouth" on a drowning boy while on summer vacation at his favourite campground.  The child lives to see another day, and in gratitude for having saved her son's life, the mother decides to take her story to the town's newspaper and have an article written-up about this fine man.  The town hosts a party for the man in celebration of his heroic success in saving the child; everything is looking up for Boris. 
{Now, I want you to keep in mind your thoughts on Boris and his actions of the present. Do you think of him as a hero?} 
It is now Friday, the parties are over and the news about the man in who saved a drowning boy's life is beginning to wane, soon everyone will forget that the whole thing ever happened as it slips into the back of their mind.  Now that Boris' life is beginning to return to normal, and everything is slowing to its usual pace, Boris is becoming board.  His life is dull, so he goes out in search for more action.  In a desperate attempt to lighten his mood, Boris gets drunk, steals a police car and robs a bank, all in one night.  Now it is Saturday morning, and where do find Boris?  No, not at a banquet party, not parading around town with his head held high, we find Boris at none of those events.  Instead, there he sits, locked away in a jail cell with no one to sulk with over his life's mistakes but him self. 
{Having compared with what you thought about Boris on last Tuesday, to what you thought about now, have your views on Boris changed? Do you think that the boy thinks of Boris as a hero, as someone that he can look-up to?  How about you? ...}
I believe that heroes are only a thing to beheld by the moment.  A person can only be portrayed as being heroic for the exact second that he/she preforms his/her heroic act.  If they can't continue to uphold their heroic status, then they must revert to being a "normal" human being once again. 

Looking at this, I think that a hero, by definition, should be "a person that acts upon a particular instance using their instinct or through sheer and unbound courage to do a good dead and react to it in the appropriate manner to the given task that they must overcome."  It can be smaller yet; the little things that you say or do can add-up and have such an impact on your life and the lives of others around you.  Sometimes being a hero can just mean knowing the right thing to say to brighten someones day.  Anyone can be a hero. 

Poetry Assignment

Activity #1

Who I am in Eight Lines Scott Coughlan

Scott .....

Creative, Mysterious, Observant, Shy

Brother of Grace

Who loves Literature, Art (of all kinds, but particulary Manga) and Learning New Languages

Who is afraid of death, the apocalypse and the sight of blood

Who wants to see all of Japan, some of Europe and the day I publish my first Comic book

Resident of New Brunswick, Canada

..... Coughlan.

Activity #2
Product: Nintendo Wii

New

Interactive

Nastalgic

Transitioning

Epic

Nonstrenuous

Devine

Original

Welcoming

Intuitive

Insipring

NINTENDO Wii !!

Activity #3

Cheer up! It's Christmas!~
Feeling under the weather,

As the snow is tumbling down?
Trying to decide whatever,

To do to turn yourself around?

No need to be a scrooge,

For that only leads to fear.

Though you despise the yuletide mood,

Christmas comes only once a year!

 

So, go out and decorate,

Hang your stockings by the fire.

Go out and celebrate,

This season will expire!

Don't waste time being dismal,

Spend it with all of your friends. 

Don't wait until tomorrow,
For it soon comes to an end!

Wrap up all of your presents,

And send them out the door. 

Won't everyone seem so pleasant!

It's a feeling not a chore. 

Now that your spirit has been lifted,

And your heart is where it should.

It's time to open your gift, Ted.

I asure you it's something good!

~MERRY CHRISTMAS~

How to Choose the Right Kind of Origami Paper for You

Choosing what kind of paper best suits your folding needs:
Have you ever started to try and fold origami, but had no idea where to begin or to what kind of paper you should be using.  Well, in that case, you are in luck!  For today's "how to" will be explaining the do's and don't's of this ancient paper folding art, and should help you get out of that rut you find yourself in upon choosing the right type of paper to use.  It is highly important when folding origami that you use the paper you have to its full advantage, because when it comes down to it, your model will depend mainly on the kind of fabric you are using for its overall look and appeal.  By the end of this post, you should have a much better understanding of which paper will be most optimal for you and your model, as you learn how your materials come to reflect upon your folding needs. 

Here are some kinds of paper that you may want to consider using:

Construction Paper

Construction paper is extremely durable and long-lasting, but is very difficult to crease and is not good for inexperienced folders to use.  However, if you feel confident in your origami skills, then you may want to consider graduating onto using construction paper for your models, the choice is totally up to you.  Most people will tend not to use construction paper even after they become more experienced in the art, as it is only good for the most simplistic of models (such as the pirate hat, sail boat, or the ever-popular swan.)

Tissue Paper

Gift wrap and tissue paper are light weight, easy to fold, but do not stand the test of time (especial if you plan to be giving your model to children to play with.)  Although fragile, tissue paper and other decorative fabrics can create a gorgeous end product when done in the correct matter.  I suggest that you first practice folding your model on a separate piece of scrap paper just to get the feel of the model before moving on to the higher quality (and higher cost) paper.  It is also important that you 'crease lightly' when using the tissue paper as it may rip or tear on your folding lines.  A gentle hand is always needed when folding Origami.

Tin Foil/ Foiled Paper

It is surprising to me how many people don't think of using tin foil as a valid material for folding origami.  Tin foil, believe it or not, does come in an assortment of colours (colours other than gray.)  Although you could have a hard time trying to find coloured foil at your local Wallmart, you may have better luck finding the right shade at a store that specializes in either scrapbooking or crafts.  If you have searched high and low for your precious coloured tin foil, and yet turn up empty, fear not, plain old silver will do quite nicely.  Just double your foil up by overlaying in with a fresh sheat of tissue paper.  In doing that, you can still view the sparkly, eye-catching foil that lays underneath, but it also gives a lovely burst of colour to it as well.  Not only is tinfoil pretty to look at, but it is cheap and abundant.  One purchase of tinfoil can last you a year, when used occasionally to make origami!  Seeing as it is often times thinner, tin foil can by folded way more times than your average sheet of printer paper, so it preforms much better when used on the more challenging designs.  Foil paper also seems to have a more broadened usage as we enter into the more festive season of the year.  It's iridescent glow can add a lot of beauty to a room when hung on a Christmas tree, or placed next to a menorah.  Reflective decor is very chic.~

"Pre-Cut"/ Store-Bought Oriami Paper (kami paper)

I have to say that this is my personal favorite choice of material to use when making origami art at the present.  If all else fails, nothing can beat the simplicity of the kami paper.  This paper is widely available as it is sold at almost any "dollar store" you can find, and usually comes in sets that are presorted into a wide range of colours and sizes containing traditional Japanese-stylised prints.  This paper is light-weight and creases neatly, but be warned as the pages can tear when too many folds are applied to one small section of the page!  Another thing that is very important to note is that this paper only has only one coloured side, so if you wish for your end result to be coloured in one area and not the other, then you should start with either the coloured side facing up, or the coloured side facing down, depended on what the diagram tells you to do. 

Others:
Duo Paper -This paper houses the exact same properties as the kami paper but is coloured on both sides of the sheet.  It works brilliantly for the diagrams that specifically require you to use the "white side" of the paper in your designs. 
Petal Paper -This paper is specially designed for "flower" origami models as it has colour on both sides, but looks similar to tie-die for its seprat splotches of colour that line the tips and center of the page. 
Washi Paper -has a cottony texture to it, and is made up of individual fibers that are glued together and laminated to form a sheet. 
Chiyogami Paper -is very similar to "washi" paper, but thinner and without the cottony feel.  It is best used with the more intricate models where a more traditional feel is desired.  But, be careful with your money and set yourself a budget before you go shopping, as this paper is dangerously addictive to use! Very Lovely~
Photocopying Paper -comes in reams of 500 rectangular sheets, is fairly smooth and durrable, and is cheeper when you buy it in bulk.  Although it is plain and white, it doesn't have to be so dull.  Many origami designs actually look better when done on photocopying paper.  They are great to practice on as you don't have to worry about wasting all your favourite colours and patterns. 
Napkins -Yes, napkins!  Don't look at me like that?  Napkins can be a great choice of origami paper to use for the most simplistic models.  It folds in ways that no other fabric can, so it is essential for some designs.  It is great to use when you have company coming as it adds a lovely center piece to your table when done correctly.  They can be desposable and made of paper, or they can be reusable and made of cotton, both with their own set of properties.  Many resturants use origami napkins to add atmostphere to the room.  In fact, it can make the whole dining experiance seem that much better.  It is a very fashonable and cheap way for resturant owners to add apeal to their meal.  It's like eating sliced apples, verces whole apples... see what I mean? So much better! 
Money -Medium weight, excellent durability, holds creases well, and is only worth the dollar you used to make it, the folded dollar has its own denomination of origami designs dedicated to it.  Unfortunatly this ownly really works with American money, along with a couple of other curancies.  (I don't know of many Canadians that would use a five dollar bill just for the sake of folding origami... Pluse, Canadian money does not crease that well for its stip of barcode that lies ot the lefthand side of the bill.) 
Scrap Paper -can be anything from old newspapers and magazines, to christmas cards and packaging.  It does not cost you anything to buy as you can find scrap paper lying in just about any room of your house (Depending on how neat or messy your home is.  For me, there is always at least one sheet of it within arms reach.)  Making origami matterials out of pieces of paper you were going to throw away is not only good for the environment, but is fun too!  Most people don't even think about using scrap paper for there designs, but when you begin to make models out of fabics lying around the house, strange things start to happen.  (First of all, you begin to notice just how descracefully dirty your home is...Secondly) Once you begin to play around with it for a while, you will find that sometimes the heads of famouse people on your magizen will become the heads of the figures in your origami models!  I once folded a turtle that had Edward Cullen's head on its shell, weird hun?  It lets you become aware of how your square sheet of paper changes from start to finish, and gives you a better understanding of how origami works.  It's educational, it's cheap, it's good for the planet and it will suprise you from time to time, so use scrap paper!

How to Form a Square:
Now that you have found the type of paper you wish to use, it is time for you to begin cutting and shaping the paper you are using into a perfect square if you haven't already done so.  Not to worry! Most paper that you buy comes in rectangles instead of squares, so to get to that nice and even squared shape, all you need to do is (holding the sheet lengthwise: short end on bottom, long end on top) grab the top right hand corner of the sheet, and pull it diagonally across until meets the left side of the page.  Now, before you go to crease the paper, make sure that the top-left corner of the page is in the form of a triangle (90 degrees/half a square) now pinch it, forming a crease and making the triangular shape permanent. 
Without opening the the small fold you made on the top-left corner of the rectangle, run your hand down the left edge of the paper to make sure that the two edges (the top edge that now rests on to of the left edge) line-up perfectly with one another.  Holding the two aligned edges together, extend your original fold you made in the top-left corner of the sheet down to the right edge of the paper.  your paper should now look something like this:

*Folded Sheet Music*

Still having trouble in trying to decide which paper to use?  I know, all of this can be a little overwhelming at first, but don't fret!  Whenever you get stumped in deciding which origami paper to use, just ask yourself these following four questions:

1. To whome are you making this origami model for?  It is always good to keep in mind who your audience is and what their prefrances may be.  If you are folding something for your little sister, then it is best to use pinks.  If you are folding something for an art gallery, then you should better not be stingy.  But, if you are just folding something for your own pleasure or just to impress some friends, then use whatever kind of paper you like best.
2. What is your purpose for folding?  If you you are planning to build a sailboat or something that could potentially get wet, then using solliable fabric may not be your best plan of action.  Instead, try using water-resistant or nonpenitratable materials such as tinfoil or plastics.  "Don't use tissue paper unless you intend for your ship to sink!" 
3. Which kind of fabric will best benifit your overall design?  What looks best on your model?  It is good practice to visually picture what you want your end product to be.  If you picture it as being colourful and vibrant, then I would sugest you try using paper that best reflects that desire for colour, such as kami, duo, or pettal paper with lots of bright pastel colours.  In doing this, you adventually become awair as to which paper works best for each design, and will adimatically know which type you want to use. 
4. What is your budget?  If you don't feel comfortable spending big bucks on origami paper, then don't!  As I mentioned before, some origami fabrics such as "Chiyogami paper" can be dangerously addictive (and exspencive!) So, to save yourself from having some guilt, set yourself a maximum budget when shopping for origami matterials, and do not go past that set price.  If you know you are paying to much money for something as simple as origami, or you have a gut feeling that somebody is making a fortune off of you, then trust your instincts by not buying into it.  When it's a bad deal, then its a bad deal, regarless of how pretty the paper looks.  Don't fall for origami scams! 

There, now that you know just what kind of origami paper you want to use, it is time to begin folding! I wish you good luck on your future models, and I hope that you walk away today feeling all that much more informed about the many different kinds of origami paper that you have at your desposale. So, what are you waiting for? Go out there and fold! 

Assesment of a "how to" article

http://www.ehow.com/how_5912712_learn-new-language-own-time.html
-How to Learn a New Language on Your Own Time

5-All the time
4-Most of the time
3-Just over half of the time
2-Below half of the time
1-Rarely
0-Never

There are no more than three grammatical or spelling errors in the article. 5
The article has a catchy headline that makes you want to read it. 3.5
The article has a purpose, explaining benefits to the reader. 5
The steps in the article are clear and easy to understand. 4

  I found this article to be very useful as it gave great insight on to how to approach the challenge of learning a foreign language on your own.  It covered everything from how to set goals for yourself to how you should go about conducting your lesson sessions.  The author states that everybody learns at their own pace, so their studies should cater to the lifestyle of the individual and the urgency of their language needs.  If you plan to learn a language casually, then set aside one to two hours a week for your language studies, but if you plan to be able to speak the language functionally, say within three months time of scheduled trip to France, then the author explains that you need to commit yourself to practicing your language one hour each day.  He/She then concludes his 'how to' by stating "The key to learning a foreign language is immersion, determination, and a lot of willpower."

It is important to know that Practice makes Perfect too~ ('::')/ !!        Total Score: 17.5/20

Are Parents Too Protective? -draft

-Run a spell check:  "There is one lonely, sad, little boy somewhere, buried deep within several feet of snow.  His muffled cries to his passing neighbors go unheard, for his wails do not penetrate the the thick, white sheet of new fallen powder that now rests above his head.  Though he lay there for only but an hour, the swiftness of the morning storm took only a few seconds to settle-in and go from bad to worse.  Upon that hour, there were only a few flakes drifting silently through the air as he was making his way towards his neighborhood bus stop, but he soon became bombarded by a wall of wet, sticky whiteness, that even a man of perfect vision would have trouble seeing through.  This morning had been no different than any other morning, only for the fact that his mother had given him a new supper industrialised jacket.  A jacket capable of withstanding fifty degree below zero temperatures, and was pattend with a seal of approval by the "Mother's Working For The Safety Of All Future Children's" association; a jacket that would make any safety-fetish mother proud to place on her son(regardless of the $199.99 jaw-dropping price tag.)  If only she had of known the dangers she was inflicting upon her poor, innocent child, then maybe she would have reconsidered strapping him into such a thick amount of fabric, thus trapping where is now.  He was bound so tightly by that wretched thing, that he could hardly stand on his own two feet, let alone walk out to catch the bus.  He had no other choice but to waddle his way towards the end of his driveway, down the street, and on to the yellow bench that sat next to the bus stop sign.  He would have made it too, if it wasn't for that sudden gust of wind that knocked him off his feet, and sent him tumbling down the edge of the road.  That salty sidewalk met him in the face ten times over before he finally came to a  rolling stop.  And now, there he lays, helpless as a turtle turned over onto it's shell, destined not to be found for yet another four hours, unable to move or to so much as shift his legs from side to side.  Such is the life of an over protected child." 

  This may seem like an over-dramatized event, but in today's world it is not uncommon for parents to got to such measure when preparing their children for the day ahead.  There seem to be a rising trend of overprotective parents appearing in society; bundling there children in absurd amounts of supper durable, hypoallergenic, reflective-tape clothing; holding them by the hands has they cautiously make their way through playground equipment; lathering them by the bottle in 100 SPF sunscreen, etc.  Going to such trouble appears to be totally obnoxious, yet, despite their neighbor's remarks, they continue to pursue in their obsession with protection.  For when it comes to their young's "personal health and safety", they are hypnotised into believing that "one can never be too careful." There are so many over-protective adults around these days, that it feels as though the entire population has somehow become dulled to the notion that all of this really isn't necessary, and that humanity as a whole, is completely oblivious to the fact that we are taking the safety of our youth way too seriously! 
Which brings us to the question: Are today's parents too protective for their own good?

  "Although you may not want to hear this, it's about time that you should.  Being over-Protective, is cross-contradictory, and dose more harm than good."  Basically, it defeats the purpose of teaching your child right from wrong, and showing them what hurts and what doesn't.  Children need to know that "if you play with fire, you are libel to get burned", and the only way they can possible learn that is through self exploration.  You see, as far as telling your child "Stove's hot, don't touch it!", they are never going to take your word for it, and every time you turn your back, you are going to find them reaching for that burner no matter what you tell them.  People, regardless of age or level of maturity, naturally learn through their mistakes, and as far as children go, they have a lot of learning to do and a lot of mistakes to be made before they can enter adulthood. 

  I have seen parents who have developed so much of a phobia of  letting their child participating in physical activities of any kind, in which their son or daughter may or may not have the the slightest chance of getting hurt, that they have gone to the length of having them dress in full body armor.  How much running around can you do in that?... Absolutely nothing!  The poor dears are sweating from head to tow in those things.  I could see you making your child wear elbow and knee pads, say, when rollerblading, but to make them where wear a helmet when... sliding?  What is becoming of the world?!  (A world where kids have to carry cellphones with them just to go visit a friends house, and be supervised by their parents when they go to play outdoors) any more than that and I'd expect a pig baring wings to be nestled at the edge of my windowsill, and staring me in the face when I wake up next morning.  But in all seriousness, if you want your little tike to be healthy and fit, then you need to let them have freedom to move around a little.  Let your child go play ball in the park, let them go walking to their friends house; children need physical activity in their lives (at least thirty minuets of it each day) and a great way for them to get that, is through exploration in the great outdoors.  Sports are another great way to have your child become physically active, and seeing as they are made readily available to you and your child through the school system, there are really no excuses when it comes to having your child be involved in after school actives such as organised sports.  With all the of the studies that have been done on the growing problem of childhood obesity, then you would think that there would be more parents take action to this unhealthy trend.  You may say that you are, but in actuality, your sense of safety for your child over rides the fact that he/she is morbidly obese, and therefore you yourself are contributing to the problem, go figure.

  Most kids' favourite pass time when at school has shifted from running around at recess and climbing on playground equipment, to sitting and talking with friends.  Many people are finding that younger children (girls in particular) are becoming very over dramatic and "teen-like", well no wonder?  If you let little girls sit and talk about whatever is on their minds, day in and day out, it won't be long before their conversations begin to mimic that of their parents.  Our constant reminder of how we are expecting them to act like little ladies, is actually turning them into little ladies.  Girls having relationships with guys at the age of eight and fantasizing over famous celebrities such as "Justin Bieber"? What ever happened to the "cooties"?  Did all the little boys get their "cootie shots" without us realising?  Girls in elementary should not have to know the feeling of a brake-up, yet that is the world that they have become accustom to and are living every day of their lives.  Teen Pregnancy likely steams from this, and who to thank but,... the parents?  Makes you wonder, doesn't it?  Now do you reconsider letting your take part in activities other than "sitting and talking?"  Children and teens who exhibit such traits are often referred to as "Proto Teens" or "Proto Adults", which means that through high-expectancy/highly protective parenting, they have somehow over their child skipped years and have become absorbed into teen and adult mainstream cultures.  Which, again, resorts to further physiological issues issues later on in life.  Children grow up way too fast as it is, and now they are "maturing" even faster. 

  Most parents are correct in saying that there are precautions that need to be taken in almost of every you go to do, and that is true.  I could ramble on far longer about adults that neglect their young one's needs, more than I could about parents that do to much catering for little saplings, but that is not the point.  You see, it is understandable to believe that your child will get hurt if you are not tentative to them all of the time, that's just the way kids work, but it is unreasonable to think that you can be with them through all of their endeavors.  In doing that, you are putting way to much stress on you and your family.  As much as you would like to, you can't be there to fight all their battles for them.  I know, it truly is heartbreaking to picture your child being picked-on by somebody else without you there to put a stop to them, but sooner or later there comes a time when they will have to stand up for themselves and take action in one way or another.  As a parent, you feel the helplessness of your offspring tugging at your sleeves when you are not with them, but the worst possible thing that you could do for them is to react to that calling. What you need to do is prepare them; arm them for for future battles in their life.  Give them the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in winning a fight, in overcoming a challenge.  Maybe you can't be their with them in body, but you can be with them them in spirit.  Support them, give them advice, but don't step in the ring for them (It is understandable in some situations, but in others, the help of mother/father is unneeded and can actually do more harm than good.) There arises other problems latter on in life that come from parents stepping-in for young all the time.  Mother and father can't always be there for them in the adult world.  Health problems (both mental and physical), Social issues, stress, problems in upholding relationships, all of those things come from the "false shield" that parents hold over there kids when they are growing up.  You can't lead your child through life carrying that shield over their heads, because in the real world, there is no holding back.  You have to let your child know from an early stage that "life is not easy", and that "trillions of people before you have come to live through it and see the light at the end of the tunnel, an so can you."  Don't feel scared to lower your guard a little, your children need to learn that life is no all fun and games and the only way that they can possibly know that is through experiencing it first hand, for themselves. 

VI. Conclusion:
1. Summary of main points or reasons
2. Restate thesis statement.
3. Personal comment or a call to action.

When babies are first born, they seem to be so delicate and fragile.  One false move feels as though it could cost them their life, and who's to say it wouldn't.  Children at such age are subject to so many dangers that it is really our most defining part of our lives, healthwise that is.  We need to feel our mother and father's love and protection in order to survive.  But, their comes a time later on in life

Giving audolecents their space,
prevokes maturity/ bread into you, holding your child by the hand/ babies seem so...delicate and fragile, one false move feels as though it could cost them their life, and who's to say it wouldn't.  When we are at such a younge age, we are so very subseptable to... are parents are a sheild/ their comes a time when you have to let that hand go, but many parents imidiat reaction is to retaliate saying "oh, its too soon" but you can't hold on forever, you have t oknow when to let go.  There is no need to worry if you will do it to soon, for you should know when the time is right, you just will, and if not, then your children will be the ones to tell you/ when your called upon, you have to let go.  I understand that it can be a very emotional time during your adult life, but you have to be able to breath in and except all the sign that you are recieving from your child when it is time to do so. / "Its, alright momy, I can do it./mummy, can I go to a friends house?" That is an indicator, and if you don't react, it brakes that scence of confidence held within them, and has major consiquences later in life.  You will develope a more stronger trust in your child thought time, it just takes a while for you to get used to them being off on their own, that's all.  When you come/stop to think about it, do you really want your child to be stuck living in your basment for the rest of their life, because in doing things like not letting them go to a friends house to spend the night and have a sleep over or something like that, you are leading them, hand in hand, down that path into a pit of darkness.  Your child needs to be able to beleive in themself, no child is born unconfident, but if you continue to shorten their leash, then they can never florish into that selfasured, loving person that you can trust.  Alowing yourself to cut them off from the rest of the world is not what you want to do, children need to be able to play and interact with other children their age, and if you don't let them be a part of that, then you are unknowingly, slowly crushing that inner feeling of "I can do that." They can never acheive their dreams or perserver in any way through you holding them back.

1. Do this through writer's instinct:
2. Are parents too protective, it depends on how you look at the situation/ Yes, they are!
3. *State how I will implemt this piece of knowledge with my future children.

Five of Ten

The perfect mode of transportation.
  If I had a choice, that is, for mode of transportation in general, I would choose to ride on a bullet train.  Not only is it environmentally friendly (or at lest I think it is, for it uses electricity to power its engines in stead of burning coal to make steam), but it also is fast and convenient.  It is the public transportation service of the future!  There are some hold-backs/restraints/down-falls/draw-backs to the bullet train, though.  Not all cities can afford to support it as a mode of transportation.  The maintenance can be expensive, and it can be hard to run during the middle of winter.  You would have to be constantly deicing the tracks and pushing back the snow in order for the train to go through.  Oh, well.  One can only hope that somewhere in the near future,  I can have the bullet train as a reliable mode of transportation.  I could see myself using it as an option for going to work, and hopping from city to city in matter of minutes.  Maybe it's wishful thinking, but one can dream, right?  (`0_0')?... ('.')---*
If I had to choose a personal mode of transportation, then it would hare to be a smart car, or at least something small, inexpensive, and uses little to no gas.  I don't even have my licence yet, so buying a car is something I don't tend to think about.  let's worry about graduating and going to collage/university first, shall we?  Then I can work my way towards buying a smart car. 
For a joy ride though, I would have to say ether a Triburon or Miata would be nice.  Only that I would be forced into driving it for three months out of the year, for I'm certainly not taking it out in winter. 

Yeah, driving in Canada can be tough, but I love living here, so I can't complain.  (-.-)

Winter- Love it or hate it?
  Although some people would rather brake down and cry upon the arrival of the first snow of winter, I tend to take more of an optimistic approach to the new fallen whites.  Not that I begin to jump up and down and giggle like a litter girl at Christmas time when I see the first snow, but I do welcome it contently.  The first few flakes, even if they only dust the ground, are a staple mark for me.  It represents a change in seasons, and gives me something to refer to when I gaze pack in time. "Ah, yes... that was around the time of that years first big snowstorm." I often say.  I always remember where I was when the first flakes began to fall, upon each passing year.  It certainly isn't any matter that should cause you any loss of sleep, nor should it thrill you to the of going into hysterics.  It's just part of nature, so don't get upset!  Snow is bound to fall sometime, especially here in Canada!  You know that it's going to come knocking on your door, weather you choose to answer it or not.  And if try to forget about it, its not going to go away anytime soon.  So, just crawl out of bed with your box of tissues, take a few deep breaths, dry your eyes, bundle up, and most importantly, go outside and enjoy all that winter has to offer!  Besides, winter only comes once a year, so you might as well use it for what its worth!  (Even though you live it for eight out of the twelve months in the year.) 

Oh, well... As one famous Canadian once said
"Here, we only know two seasons, winter and not winter (which usually lasts two-three months)"
[only I forgot the persons name... ^.^ For all I know it could have been anyone.]

Or was it "Almost winter, still winter, somewhat winter, and construction." 
Oh, wait! That's four `-`~  Haha... O(^.^ )o

What is your mood today?
  Well, now that you ask, not so good.  If you really want to know, I have pneumonia... No, no! Don't panic! I'm not dying!  I just have a little cough, that's all.  In all honesty though, whenever someone hears the word pneumonia, they look at me as though I just said it was the plague!  I had to learn the hard way not to yell the word out loud in public.  When I left school on Monday, a teacher asked me how I was feeling while I was sitting on the bench waiting for my grandfather to come pick me up.  I said "No, I'm not feeling that well." I should have really ended it there, but no, I had to add to it (rate as she was turning to walk away) saying "They say I have pneumonia."  She stopped while talking half a step, and froze on the spot as if someone had hit the pause button on the remote.  Even with all the congestion in the office during the middle of high school lunch-hour, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked me rate in the eyes.  After that brief moment of silence, everyone looked away pretending that they didn't hear me.  The teach spun on her high heal from the mid-step she was taking and turned to face me.  "Well, I guess your going to be out for a while then!" she said quite seriously in a tone of voice that struck me into a state of momentary nausea, then she turned and clopped away.  What followed that was a couple of minutes of comforting; people telling me that they hoped that I would get better and that I should have a good day, get plenty of rest, etc, etc, etc, until I left the building. ... Never again shall I breath a word/exhale a sentence that mentions anything about me having pneumonia.  From now on, if anyone asks, I have a cold, not pneumonia, a cold.  That's what it started-out as anyway.  It seemed to work it's way from my head to my chest, according to my doctor.  So, don't worry.  Everything is fine! I'm just a little sleepy from the medication that's all.  Well, I am a little sick, and it's still pneumonia!  But, its nothing a few days of rest won't fix!  So, it's back to school again tomorrow, same as today.  But please, don't try to give me an onslaught of "day-cheering" complements.  A few every now and again are greatly appreciated, but don't try to act like I've been told I have one week to live (which I haven't.  Accommodate me accordingly, just what ever you do, don't overdue it. (,'~',) Thank you for hearing me out!  ^-^

Your personal hell and heaven. 
  Hmm... Lets see.  Well, I might as well start off thinking about what my "personal hell" would be like, because I certainly don't want to end-off on that horribly negative thought, and would much rather leave myself on a more positive note when thinking about my "personal heaven."  I have often pondered about this question when day-dreaming, but never really gave it much thought.  I mean, if hell was the same for everyone, then some people would find it less torching than others.  But, if it was more personalised, then every one's treatment that they deserved would have more equality.  The same would be said for if you died and went to heaven.  There would still have to be some guidelines as to what you would reserve in either place, though.  I am sure that all of us has been told at some point in our lives that there is no place for dogs in heaven, and that may be true.  Yet, all of us still keep hoping that upon the day that we ascend into our holly resting place, that good, old sparky will be there to greet us, along with all the other pets we ever had.  No one truly knows if there are animals in heaven or not, but we often wonder what it would be like if there were.  No matter where we end-up, heaven or hell, one things for sure; that we will never no until we get there.  Whether we're baring a halo and angle wings, or a barbed tail and horns, I am sure that it will be an experience we wont soon forget, until we are born again in another life. 

  In my personal heaven, I would be trapped in rush-hour traffic in a car full of spiders, flies and annoying people, along with the rest of the embodiments of my pet-peeves, all in the middle of a thunderstorm.  My hand would be handcuffed to the back of my car seat and my eyes would be duct-taped open.  As I am stuck listen to one radio station, and one radio station only, that plays country music twenty four/seven.  While I am forced to watch on a giant televising screen: reruns of old western movies, "Wind at my Back", "Road to Avon lee", and "The Walton's". 

  In my personally heaven, there are no annoying people, only peace and quiet as I listen to piano and jazz music.  I am locked in a book store overnight, with all the manga books and art supplies imaginable.  All of my closest friends would be there too.  We would talk, play "spot light tag" in the dark, and have the ultimate video game showdown until dawn.  Or maybe I would be in an alternate Disney, Nintendo, and manga world; going on adventures with Link, Zelda, and Mickymouse in a comic book reality.  If not that, then I would be on voyage through all of Japan's islands, dining at fancy restaurants, walking through downtown Shibuya in Tokyo at night, and visiting some of the worlds best hot springs in Nagano, during the middle of winter when the waters are at their best.

  Regardless if heaven is personalised for me or not, I'm sure that it would defiantly be favoured by me over hell. 

Super hero.
  When I was toddler, Spider Man was always my favourite super hero.  I don't exactly know why I took a such a liking to him, I just did.  Maybe it was because the old cartoon show from the 60's and 70's was shown on Television on Saturday mornings when I was four years old.  I distinctly remember an image of me eating cereal (or maybe an ego waffle) while listening to the ever popular theme song that played in the background during the ending credits of the animated series.  It also might have been the Spider Man costume that I wore on Halloween when I was six.  It was probably a combination all those things and more that made me choose spider man as my childhood super hero.  It wasn't like I had an obsession with him or anything (although I did own several action figures and a bin full of toys of him in my room.  Not to mention my Spider Man squirt gun, "Silly String", flashlight, colouring book, bubble bath, toothpaste and pajamas)... okay, so, maybe just a little.  Alright, alright, I was in love with the guy!  But, who could blame me for fantasizing over one of the greatest superheros of all time.  I mean, it was every little boys dream to one day travel beside Spider Man as his one and only sidekick, fighting crime and bringing justice to cities all over the world!  Everyone had a superhero or someone that they could look up to.  For my sister, it was Sailor Moon and Barbey, for my cousin, it was Scooby Doo.  I think that every child searches for that one person that gives them something to look forward to when becoming an adult. 
  After a while though, Spider Man had lost it's magic for me, and I began to gain interests in different subjects other than comic book superstars.  I played video games, did sports, and began to take-up hobbies like drawing and writing while in my spare time.  I had more freedoms, as my parents trusted me to be able to stay at home by myself, go for walks with my dog, and stay up later than my normal bedtime.  The fantasy world of adulthood became more of a reality.  I had realised that there is a much bigger world out there than what I had expected and that I was part of it.  There were so many options to be explored, so many things I could be, so many things I could do!  It wasn't the swinging from webs, climbing on walls kind of reality I had hoped for, but this one seemed to be even better!  In some ways, I am my own super hero.  I still have people that I look up to, but I know that they were once just like me.  They were all little children who grew-up admiring somebody they loved, created dreams for themselves, and chose to follow them.  They stayed persistent and never lost sight of the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how far away it seemed to be.  That's why I want to do the same as them; that is the answer to how I can be successful in life. 
  Everyone one that's ever lived was human.  All the people you see on television, all of the greatest inventors, all of the worlds best doctors and scientists, every single person I have ever looked up to, is and was no different than you or me.  That's what watching Spider Man had made me realise; that everyone is created equal, and that we can all achieve grate things,  as long as we keep our mind to it.

o(o|0)e~~~%( X_x) SlAt!  *{SPIDER-MAN!!!}* 
...
♪~o(^|^)0[_$_]0-(=^_^=; )o   [meow}#,=,~     "(._.)Zzzz...

Oh, by the way.  If you want to know what the collection of signs above are, then you should look at reading this blog post here.  It is Spider Man spiting a web at a badguy.  Then it is an elderly lady handing money to Spider Man and thanking him for saving her cat, while the badguy sits over to the right in dispare with Zs by his head.  ...I just thought that it would be creative to but it at the end of my post.