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AKA: Playing with a match and water droplets on a mirror.

I could never get the focus right on the match though.

We’ve had the past two days off of school on account of the flooding.

There are rumors that because F-Hall was flooded with a foot of water and the ceiling in C-Hall collapsed, school will be canceled again. I, for one, hope that it’s not true. We’re going to have a lot to catch up on, and we won’t be making these missed days up until next semester… when the current curriculum will no longer be relevant.

Yesterday was a bit of an adventure. The power kept going out, and it was cool to watch the rain. Today it was just hot, humid, overcast, and an overall gloomy day. So I’ve been experimenting with Photoshop using some of our own photos or random photos taken from the internet.

It was pretty neat. Here’s one of the things I did:

I got the quote from Claude Chabrol. The pictures used for this were video stills from a short film I shot entirely in mirrors.

This year I’m thinking about entering reflections with a video project, and I have an idea of what I want to do. I’m not going to put all the details on here just in case there are snoops Googling ideas for their own project.

The theme is “Beauty is…”

I’m just trying to figure out what’s beautiful to different people for now, so maybe you guys could comment what you think is beautiful? Thank you.

I’ll post more later 😀

There are many dangers when it comes to using the Internet. With social networking these issues have become more prevalent. The amount of information now accessible to us is astounding. The only real tool needed for a stalker is Google. If a person has failed to keep their personal information private, you can find out anything you need to know. Facebook and MySpace make it so people can actually contact you. With a little conversation, a stranger whose intent is malicious can trick you into giving away personal information. Simply revealing your first name, the weather, and what activities you enjoy can allow for a person with enough determination to find you.

Some of the most ubiquitous offenders include: cyber bullies, stalkers, and sexual predators. More often than not, victims of the listed culprits will have some relation with the above prior to meeting online, but the danger is nonetheless present. The following are news stories I found on the consequences of reckless behavior online:

[NOTE: I named the social network that was used. The hyperlink is to the actual stories, not the social websites themselves.]

Justin.tv: A 19 year old boy who suffered from clinical depression and bipolar disorder had threatened many times to commit suicide. When the remarks were discounted, he turned on his webcam and began to swallow pills. Meanwhile many viewers egged him on and threw insults at him. The police were not called until viewers realized that he was not moving anymore.

Teen Chat Rooms: Chat rooms made specifically for teens and preteens are exactly where pedophiles go first. A reporter went in multiple chat rooms acting as a 14 year old girl and was immediately bombarded with vulgar messages. Many of these chat rooms did not even require an account making them a hot spot for online predators to lurk until finding a person willing to give them means of further contact.

MySpace: Heather Kane was upset at another woman for contacting her boyfriend on myspace and sending him pictures. Using the information and pictures from this girl, Heather plotted to murder the woman through a hit man. This uncovers the danger of revealing information about yourself though public comments and posts.

Facebook: George Appleton from Greater Manchester used Facebook as a tool to stalk his ex-girlfriend and a mean contact for girls he met through dating websites; this led to the murder of his girlfriend as well as sexual assaults on at least 4 women. He has yet to be caught, but his Facebook reveals that he very much enjoys horror films. .

Yahoo:

Alicia Kozakiewicz met Tyree in a Yahoo online chat. She was later convinced to meet him when he kidnapped her and took her to his apartment where he tortured her. It was only by luck that she was found 5 days later. Alicia was tricked into thinking that Tyree loved her because she did not fit in with people at school.

While all of these situations may seem very scary, there are ways to stay safe on the Internet, like keeping your profile on social networking websites private, adding only your friends who you have met in real life. It’s recommended that you do not post your pictures online unless they are on private websites. In naming your pictures, its best you don’t use words but a bunch of numbers as well so people will not be able to search things like “teenage girl” and use them inappropriately.

Remember to act suspiciously if meeting a person online. Especially if there’s no way for them to prove to be who they say they are.

Don’t forget that people’s accounts can be hacked as well. If a friend is acting strangely or sending you suspicious links don’t interact with them online. Ask them about it in person or over the phone. People are easily deceived this way.

Keeping all this in mind, your Internet use should be safer.

This week is homecoming week…

Every day is a different themed day that you get to dress up for.

Monday: Cartoon Day

Tuesday: Toga Tuesday

Wednesday: Superhero Day

Thursday: Nerd Day

Friday: Spirit Wear

So today was “Toga Tuesday”. I was actually pretty excited to have a Roman spirited day, but sadly, my hopes were forsaken when I walked into hallways full of blockheads wearing their “togas” WRONG! I don’t know what some of these people were wearing because they were definitely not togas, more like shapeless white frocks.

Some people’s togas went just to their knees or above.

Others had it draped over their right shoulders.

Then other people just had it tied up or pinned at the top instead of wrapped properly.

I even saw people who should have been dress-coded for wearing YELLOW togas which- for those of you who are up to date on your Roman history- meant you had a very inappropriate occupation.

What a mockery. The lack of authenticity made me have a pretty bad day. I had to channel my anger in to a hate note to all the toga misusers. I stuffed it in the locker of one girl wearing a disgraceful little yellow number.

It was almost as bad as when we had to read “Julius Caesar” by Shakespeare last year, I almost cried at the scene where Caesar was stabbed 33 times. As if my historical crush being stabbed 23 times wasn’t enough… Shakespeare just HAD to add an additional 10 stabs.

I asked the people on student government to please not support the Toga Tuesday idea next year unless they provide pamphlets on the proper wear next year on the account that some people were offended…

Historical inaccuracies don’t go by well with me.

Especially when it comes to Rome.

Like a memory I’m slowly fading.

Before you know it I’m gone.

In your dreams I’ll appear to you,

And you’ll know I was there all along.

When the breeze brushes you arm,

When the sun kisses your cheek,

Or when a rainbow smiles your way.

When the summer grass hugs you,

The autumn air fills you,

Or Winter’s first snow tucks you in.

When Spring comes ’round

there’s new life everywhere.

And you’ll know…I was there.

Today we got up early, ate pancakes and bacon, then left to Chastain Park for MLK day.

It was a productive 4 hours of raking leaves and snow.

Less than half of the people who had signed up to volunteer actually came. It was pretty tough, but we actually wound up finishing earlier than planned. Despite the hard work that comes with breaking up ice and clawing at wet leaves, I had fun. Wish it hadn’t been so, cold though. The chill bit me though 5 layers of clothing.

I suppose I should write more entries, but there’s not much to talk about.

I just thought I would inform everybody that it has been made official: St. Augustine will now be my confirmation Saint. I really admire his transformation, it brings me a good deal of hope. Additionally, his writing is superb.

“Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.”