I'm still alive. Oh yeah and year 12 sucks. Well, it's not too bad, but it's so time consuming. Might post more later.

Was the unlucky day unlucky? I don't know.

The wind had changed down here so it is blowing all the smoke from the fires directly into the suburbs of Melbourne.  As a consequence it is really smoky here and has been all day. It smells like smoke outside and doing excercise outside is a bit harder. It's not very good. I can't imagine what it would be like if I was close to the fires. It would be impossible to breath. My heart really goes out to the people who have been suffering. On the upside, Australia has raised 80 million dollars, and the money and donations are still rolling in. For a population of only 20 million, we really look out for each other.

The sky at sunset was really weird. The sun was shining though the smoke and the whole sky seemed like it was red. Kind of freaky.

At school, I only had one class where the teacher was actully there (History and English had subs), so it was fairly relaxed. We had orchestra tonight and I was on food, so I walked down to the shops and bought icey-poles (cos I had 5th period spare and I forgot to bring food to school). Needless to say, people were happy with that. We then had sectionals and the first violins got to go off my ourselves. The peice is kinda rediculous and goes pretty much all the way up the E string into about 7th position (translation- very high and difficult). It was heaps of fun though, sectionals is always good.

In other news school is over for another week and I have heaps of homework. However, my mother made me PROMISE that I would go formal dress shopping with her tomorrow. NOT like I have a date or anything. Oh wells.

I had a good chat to Phia tonight. *hugs Phia* we are pretty much going though the same sort of things at the moment, so it is great to talk to someone. *hugs Phia again*

Also chapter 10 of my story was vaildated too. :)

Today and yesterday afternoon was good. I've been feeling heaps more motivated and such. I think I'm coming over the better side now.

On the down side, I didn't do my history homework and got a lunch time detention. When I'm meant to have a music rehurseal. Gah.

I also realised that Phia made a very similar post to be BEFORE I did. I was kind of being blind and not reading other peoples messages cos I was feeling bummed. It just goes to prove many people are feeling the same way. *hugs Phia*

On the plus side, our school donated over $9000 to the bushfire appeal.

*Hugs everyone*

I feel like doing some reviewing. So here are some movies I have seen lately.

 

Name: Across the Universe (2007)

Staring: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess and Joe Anderson

Rating: 10 / 10

Points Given For: Amazing singing, outstanding plotline, the interwoven history, humour and tearjerker moments, the emotions of the characters, great effects, the hotness of Jim and Joe, ERW’s singing voice, great acting, everything about this moive...

Points Taken Off For: N/A

Favourite moment: ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ comes first. Closely followed by ‘Across the Universe’ and ‘Happiness is a Warm Gun.’ Man it’s hard to choose.

Other: This would have to be my favourite movie of all time. Enough said.

 

Name: Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Staring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, Simon Woods

Rating: 9 / 10

Points Given For: Great music, acting, costumes and screen play. The whole side romance between Mr. Bingly and Jane, plus that scene where Mr. Darcy smiles. *melts*

Favourite moment: When Mr. Bingly is practising talking to Jane on Mr. Darcy, near the end of the movie. Also, as I said above, that whole scene where Mr. Darcy smiles. (With Elizabeth, Georgiana and Mr. Darcy J)   

Points Taken Off For: At times it dragged a little with the long sweeping scenic shots.

Other: This was a really, really good movie. I am defiantly considering buying it on DVD.

 

Name: Twilight

Staring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson  

Rating: 7.5 / 10

Points Given For: Sticking pretty close to the book, adding bits of humour, the baseball scene and the way they did the voiceover. Kristen was a good actress. I really enjoyed the film from the point where they go to Edward's house to the end of the hospital scene.

Points Taken Off For: Edwards Eyebrows and Jaspers hair!!! Honestly though, Robert at the start of the movie, it took a while for him to warm up. Plus the supposed sparkling of Edward’s skin and the whole Prom scene just didn’t do it for me.

Favourite moment: The baseball scene (finally, Jasper was wearing a hat and he looked awesome flipping that bat) and “Are you sure she’s Italian?” “Duh her name is Isabella.” Hehe.

Other: I actually saw this movie twice and it was much better the second time around. Maybe because I didn’t have all the expectations and I could just watch it for the movie that it was.

 

 

Name: Mamma Mia!

Rating: 6 / 10

Staring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried

Points Given For: The opening song, beautiful scenery Colin Firth being gay (nice change), the hotness of the main guy and the main chick’s wedding dress, the songs were really catchy.

Points Taken Off For: Pierce Brosnan’s singing and some of the supporting cast’s acting and singing. Often I felt as though the songs didn’t fit into the plot, which I felt was patchy at times anyway.

Favourite Moment: Probably that mother/daughter song. I thought that was well done.

Other: Worth a watch, but I doubt I’ll see it again. Even if is my sister’s favourite movie ever. Do not see this if you don’t like ABBA.

Lol, regardless of my last post, Christmas was rather awesome. I'll write a longer post later, but for now, I should probably go to bed, because I have to work tomorrow (well, technically later today.) 

It's all good though, because I get double pay.

I hope everyone had a great day. For those many people where Christmas is not over yet, I hope you are having a fantastic day with your families, friends, pets and others. Best wishes, Christmas cheer and love to all :)

Oh my god....

There are seven minutes of Christmas left, and I have realised this is my last one as a child...

A bear walks 10km south, 10km east and 10km north and arrives back where he started. What colour is the bear?

( A Clue... )
Okay I changed my mind, I had the answer here, but I know I would cheat and where is the fun in that?

If you really want to know the answer, PM me and telling me you have given up.

If you have the answer PM me or comment here and I will send you a prize. It's not that crash hot... just a banner, but its a prize none the less.

I'm sorry everyone, I can't help myself. Here goes another History ramble...

I listen to music often.

 

Music allows me to think, to space out or to focus on something. As readers of this blog may know, I often find myself delving into history. Many know the song Willie Macbride, by Eric Bogle, (also known as No Mans Land and Green Fields of France) a song about the pointlessness of war. Some people I know recorded an awesome version of this song. Anyway, today when I was listening to this song on the trampoline, I really started to think. I am now seventeen and a half, in sixth months I am old enough to be sent to war. In fact, I am older then many people who went to war and died. Anyway here are the lyrics.

 

( Lyrics.... )

 

The lyrics of the song really stick with me. Especially the last verse. It reminds me when I was reading my history text book (yes I actually read it in my spare time)  I came across three sources in a text book that went as thus:

 

( Sources... )

 

 

Such was the waste of the First World War. Young men pumped full of propaganda were sent out to be slaughtered like flies. On both sides it was the same, no-one really knew what they were fighting for. When war broke out, the countries were actually enthusastic. They had no idea that they were entering into a four year war that would see the deaths of 8,556,315 people and the wounding of 21,219,452. 

 

Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame
The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain,
For Willie McBride, it all happened again,
And again, and again, and again, and again.

Such is the tragedy of War itself.

Thinking on the pointlessness of war.

*Cry*

My favourite marauder video has been deleted from youtube :(

Anyway, so I have gone to find new ones that I like. Here are some good ones that I found.

I warn you most/all are teary.

Through the years ==> this one was one of the best. Follows all the way from 1971 - 1993. Really well done. Do stick it out to the end even though it is pretty long.

Empty Chairs ==> Such a beautiful song from Les Mis. Really well put together. Remus copes with the fact that he is all alone.

4 A.M Forever ==> I love this song so much. Sirius deals with James' death.

The Marauders ==> Great fake trailer.

Memoires ==> Ok, so technically NOT marauder. But I love a bit of Andromeda angst.

Ladies of Black ==> While this was odd at times, the Bellatrix in this was perfect.

Ok, I still miss my faviourtie video, but I'm feeling a little bit happier now.

FREEDOM!

I am now on holidays for two months.

Awesome :)

I have decided, due to internet safety, to do something I should have done a long time ago.

Anyway, this blog has now become semi-private. About half of all my journal entries have now been set to friends only.

Anyone who wishes to be added to my friends list, just comment and I'd be happy to oblige. :)

Four are over and two left to go.

When exams are over I'll post something worthwhile.

Today is the 90th anniversary the end of the First World War.

As someone who studies history, this day means a lot to me. For hours on end, I have studied the First World War. We often here about numbers, one million people died, two million people died. The conditions were horrible, blah blah blah. It is not until you put a name to these people and these lives lost that it really starts to grow in your mind. Yes these people lived through this, they lived through seeing their friends die millions of miles from home, the lived through the horrible conditions, they lived through the constant gun-fire, the mustard and chlorine gas, the bombs and the tanks.

Sadly, many people did not live through this at all.

I have two relatives who went to the First World War. My Grandfather's father, and my Grandmother's uncle. The first returned to get married, but my grandmother's uncle never came back.

Anyway, at this moment to try and understand more, I am reading there war records over the internet. I won't mention there full last names, just their initials (they were both called George)

My Grandfathers father. George G. signed up to the war in 1915. It's strange really, his writing is almost exactly the same as my Grandfathers. He states on his appliacation that he is "20 years and 9/12" but we know he could have only been 17 or 18 at the time.

He ended up serving in France, were he was admitted to hospital a few times for "Trench Foot" which I learnt is a foot disease that is caused by standing around in fithy water all day.

He returned home. He refused to speak of the war. He got married and had only one son (Also named George G.) When world War Two rolled around, he told my Grandfather (his son) that he was under no circumstances not to sign up. He didn't want his son to have to experience anything like that.

My Grandmothers uncle, George A. was a different story. He signed up in 1916, travelling to the sign up area with his brother (my G-Grandfather). Together they owned and ran a farm and were very close. Upon arriving Thomas A. (My G-Grandfather) was turned away, being informed he had an "enlarged heart." He lived until he was 81 and fathered 4 children. George did not live very long.

According to his records, George signed up on the 29th of June, but by the time he left, trained and travelled to France, it was January. In February 1917, he reached the fighting.

By the 26th of March he was dead.

According to the record, he died of "Gunshot Wounds to Both Legs" or in other words, he most likely died of shock bled to death. He been in combat for barely two months.

According to my Grandmother, her father Thomas, "never got over" his brother's death. His first son and only son is named 'George.' (Lots of Georges)

Reading the War records is quite sad, but none the less moving. Especially the list of possesions George A, had with him when he died. It makes everything seem so much more real. I have also been to the farm that George and Thomas planned to build, which Thomas raised his family on. It is strange to walk around the place and think, "What would Thomas have been feeling when he received the letter? How did he feel that he had been left behind?" It is a rather sad thought.


That's probably enough for now. If any Australians are interested in looking up their ancestors click here for a search.

Ok I must go to bed now....


But before I go.

( More Info )


Apparently that is how Nerdy I am. Which kinda makes sense.

I know this is not about the American election, but in Australia it is actually compulsory to vote. As everyone has to vote, there are many more places available for voting, so lines tend to be shorter then those pictured in America. If you don't vote, it is not a capital offence or anything and you only get fined, but you do get in trouble. If you are going away you can vote by post prior to the election.

Everyone must register to vote, preferably before they turn 18. We have an election every three years, in which we vote for the Lower House, as well as the Senate. In the Senate, the seats are determined by percentage vote. Eg. Labour wins 42 % of votes so they get 42 % of seats. In the Lower house, it is party preferential and each seat is voted for and each seat is won by majority.

Most people vote either Labour or Liberal. Our current Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is from labour. Our previous Prime Minister was John Howard.

A Prime Minister can stay in office as long as they are voted in each election. Party leadership can be passed over during the term to another member of the party in power.

However, there are minor parties including The Greens, People Power and Independents. I, as my parents are, am a supporter of the Greens. Senetor Bob Brown would have to be one of my idols. I deeply respect him, not only has he spent his life campaigning for the environment and leading the greens party, he is also strong enough to be openly gay.

For more information on the Greens clicky here. To watch $20 bucks in 20 seconds with Bob Brown click here

Firstly I would like to say in this post that I am so glad Obama won. He is about change in America and that is what I am for. I suppose I am the equivellent of a Democrat, as most of there poilcies I support, especially considering human rights and the like.

However, I would also like to say that Macain's concession speech was rather classy. He acknowledged the history that have been made on the day and encouraged America to get behind Obama. I must say, I didn't really disagree with Macain as much as I disagreed with Palin. Maybe it was her outlandish inability to see past her own views on Abortion and Gay rights. I'm not sure, but she really bugged me.

I really hope Obama pulls through on his policies about abortion rights and gay marridge rights. I don't really know enough about the War in Iraq to comment, but I am fairly sure whatever happens next he can not particualry help. The problem runs too deep to fix. As for the ecomony, I really hope he is able to pull through and get America out of the recession. If not, at least make it managable. After all, whatever affects America effects us greatly.

Whatever the future holds, I wish Obama luck. After all, he will need it.

My sister has recently started a livejournal. She has come up with a interesting new concept, the concept of "Rock Love"


Rock love is they type of love that you never lose. You love someone, so deeply and secretly (or you think that it is secret) and forever. When it is unrequited (or you think it is) you become friends with them in an effort not to lose them.

This is the way it always works, and yet this approach never works for the person that has Rock love. In becoming friends with your rock you are cementing your feelings deeper. The feelings become so deep and have been there for so long that you think you can ignore them. And for periods of time you can, you have other crushes, some people that have rock love even have other relationships because they have convinced themselves they are not in love with their rock anymore.

But they are, and when the crush or the relationship ended they are right back on the rock again.

I have a rock love.

Yet, recently, after having a crush on my rock for so long, I am finding I have a new crush and moving away from the rock. It is a strange feeling. I feel very odd and no longer know how to act around this person, half my time I am avoiding them, the other half going out of my way to talk to them. Yet, it feels so good to like someone else - almost a giddy feeling. I know this will lead nowhere, but I'm going to enjoy the ride of having a crush that no-one would ever guess, even if they were given a hundred chances. I don't want anything to spoil this, so I resolve to tell no-one and have fun.

I'll probably end up back on the rock, but for now I'm going to swim in the ocean.

In more relation to Macbeth and Harry Potter, Johan left me a rather interesting comment.

"Oh another thing where Macbeth has ties to the dark lord. You know how superstitious theatre people (like myself) is afraid of saying the name Macbeth out loud, and instead refers to it like the Scottish Play. Well that is very similar to people being afraid of saying Voldemort and referring to him with other names instead."

Further intrigued I decided to do some further research on this topic. It is completely fascinating. Regarding the curse, two sources quote:

"The curse attached to this play is, beyond doubt, the most widely observed and best-documented theater superstition in the English-speaking world."

"The history of the Scottish play doesn't merely include property damage, of course; you read of careers ruined, theaters burned down, and even deaths among cast, crew and families."

Macbeth is considered to be an unlucky play. In order to help counteract this curse a few rituals have been developed including.

• Not using the names of the Characters of the play, instead referring to the play as "The Scottish Play," "That Play" or "The unmentionable." Macbeth's death is often referred to as "the death" and Lady Macbeth is often just referred to as "The Queen"
• Actors do not ever quote the lines off stage.
• Actors often refuse to use props that have previously been used in productions of Macbeth.

Breaking these rules can result in disastrous consequences, so actors have a ritual to follow if these rules are broken to stop the chain of events beginning:

• Leave the dressing room, turn around three times
• Spit
• Knock on the door three times
• Beg to be re-admitted.

Alternatively the offender can quote other Shakespeare plays, commonly "Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you!" (Merchent of Venice) or "Angels and ministers of grace defend us," (Hamlet) and "If we shadows have offended," (Midsummer Night's Dream).

Throughout the history there has been "Evidence of the Curse" this was really interesting, but I can't type them all here. The most interesting was the one where the actor who played Macbeth held a grudge against the actor who played Duncan and replaced the prop daggers with fake ones, thus killing him live on stage. You can find more stories here and here.

I have just completed a practise biology exam, so to give myself a break, I am going to post on live journal.

 

So at the moment in English we are studying Macbeth. As a complete and utter nerd, I couldn’t help but compare it to Harry Potter. Why, you ask me, I have no idea, but I shall share with you what I come up with.

 

Self-fulfilling prophecies:

 

At the start of the play, Macbeth hears the prophecy that he will become king. It is only after he hears the prophecy that he takes the steps that cause him to become king. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy- the same as in Harry Potter. Voldemort hears the prophecy that a child will be born with the “Power to vanquish the dark lord.” So he goes and tries to kill Harry, and in effect hands him the power. So the prophecy is self fulfilling.

 

Believing you are invincible:

 

Both Voldemort and Macbeth believe that they are “invincible” and that no mortal can kill them. They then taunt the person they are duelling with, and end up eating their words when they end up dead minutes later.

 

Creating your own enemy:

 

When Macbeth returns to the witches for answers, they give him three more prophecies. “None that are women born shall harm Macbeth” and “Beware Macduff,” are two of the three. So silly Macbeth sends some murderers to kill Macduff and his family, just as a precaution. However, Macduff is out of town, so only his family is killed. When Macduff hears of what has happened to his family, he resolves to kill Macbeth – something he would not have done if Macbeth hadn’t killed his family. (Just like dear old Harry). Macbeth – who is not of women born – has the power to kill Macbeth, but wouldn’t have used it without the motivation. So Macbeth, like Voldemort, created his own enemy.

 

 

I’m actually enjoying Macbeth. :)

 

All hail Macbeth, who shalt be king herefore after.

Philosophising over Macbeth and HP in the corner.

I love cross culture - it is great to speak with people from America and other countries all the time. There are however a few things that confuse me, which seem general knowledge to people who live in the USA.

1) What are the rating systems in America? Over here "R' rated means only people over eighteen are allowed to watch them and they are most likely full of violence, sex and adult themes ect. I'm sensing that its different in America though, and its difficult for some reason to find these things on the internet, if you type in "American Movie Ratings" it comes up with movies that are out.

2) How old are you when you go to High School? When do you go to Elementory school? What about middle school?

3) How come you get accepted into collage before school finishes? Do you have some sort of final exam?

4) How do you register to Vote in America? Where do you vote? (In Australia we vote  Who votes - because some people don't. (Unlike Australia where it is compulsary to vote)

So if any Americans read this, can you answer some of my questions? You can post as anonymous, so you don't even have to be my friend :)