A good day.

I woke up twenty five minutes later than usual, didn't rush in the shower, and got a legitimate breakfast.  

It really does so far seem like a really good day.

We then talked about a narrative about George Bernard Shaw's piece on how he was rather amused by his mother's cremation in addition to a twenty minute free time in first period.

It continues to be a really good day.

Second period, we warmed up with one problem, got some help on the test (I needed a good score, and some help, and definitely used it to my advantage).  Then yeah, besides Elliott dicking with my calculator...

It still was a good day.

Third period, we watched President Obama's press conference from two days ago.  I almost fell asleep (I really dont ahve a thing for Press Conferences...), but we didn't do anything else... Therefore...

It still was a good day.

Then fourth period, exhibition match against Narbonne.  I was pretty sure we had this on the bag, but then Amir lost.  Alex and James as a team lost.  Oliver and Allan as a team won their match.  We seemed down.  Then the next batch of matches came.  Patrick loses.  Leandrew wins, Jonas wins in a third setter.  Meaning... It came down to me and Josh, and long story short, we won, 4-3 as a team. Me and Josh took it home today, even though it was an exhibition.  It really felt good.

Yeah, you get my message.  It is a good day.

I'm now here typing this blog with no worry in the world except for one.  Will my day be better tomorrow?  

I sure hope so.

'

Youth Movement

Today, I handed over "my car keys" to my mom, simply saying that I refuse to drive, or accept it, since it's only a symbol of her giving me the middle finger. Either that, or I'm actually finally starting to feel the economic strain that this country is experiencing.

It's not so much that I refuse to drive, it's something called an Insurance Policy that prevents me from doing it. My mom says that my stepdad hasn't paid his bills, but she's willing to pay for it if either I am enthused by the idea of church, and its affiliates (Youth Group, etc.).

As we were having this discussion in the car, I gave reasons to my mother such as:

1. People who have religious beliefs think they are far more superior, since they have something that is called "God" with them.
2. Church is boring, and it doesn't really entertain me these days. I mean, it's simply a man on stage preaching the practical thing. Common sense, more like. And does it really take some sort of place to learn such values of common sense? (I know, the concept itself is rather broad).

I forgot what other reasons I have, but those two are my main ones.

I also know that by writing this, I am not creating friends, and I hope I'm not creating enemies either (your opinions are however, accepted. Fire away).

The main reason why I don't trust my mom on things is that her logic is based on a religious mindset, and it really upsets me to think that whatever she says is always credible, and I just want practical advice, none of that "godly bs" that she feeds me from time to time.

I really do hate the fact that she's trying to convince me to join another Youth group. I've experienced it before, and I didn't have as much fun as I wanted to, and because of that, why should I give it another chance? Why should I meet people who I believe are far more superior than me, because they have that "godly bs" knowledge.

Really, why should I give this another shot?

So that I could make that woman called my mother make me happy?
So that I could drive again?
So that I could have more friends?
Because I have nothing better to do?

Everytime I think about it, I am simply a male version of my mother, and I hate it so much.

The sound of her voice is so annoying, that I don't want to be near her as much as possible.
Her logic is so stupid that I don't even want to take advice from her.
Her way of life is so unorthodox that it deprives me of some better opportunities out there.

I don't even know. All this, simply because one wanted me to go to some Youth Group that I never want to experience again.

As much as I believe that there is no reason for me to go back, as being told that my "faith is drifting away", I'm gonna go back and give this another shot. The reasons, I will not state publicly, but here's one thing.

I'm not out there to make my mother happy.
I'm out there for myself.

One Shining Moment

I remember sitting at Westchester’s annual Youth and Government (YnG) End of The Year Banquet as the advisors were getting ready to present this year’s awards.  First up was the Outstanding Senior of the Year.  As my lead advisor announced this, I remember a voice in the back yelling “It’s D-Man!, It’s D-Man!” (D-Man is my nickname).  After a brief description of the winner, there were drum rolls, then a moment of silence.  It was me.  I got up, the cameras are flashing, and people are yelling “Speech! Speech!”.  If I would have given one that night, it would have been too long or it wouldn’t come out right so I took a couple pictures and a bow and proceeded on with the night cheering and congratulating my other friends as they got their awards and as they were elected into office.  Every person has a shining moment in his life, and this was mine… so far.

Joining the Youth and Government Program is one of the best choices that I made in my life along with the decision to go here in the States about eight years ago.  But the real question is:  What is Youth and Government’s correlation to C-CAP? 

Youth and Government is the Sauvignon Blanc to my Bouillabaisse of a culinary career.  Before Youth and Government I thought I was a hot shot: one with a certain swagger that with my intelligence and charm I could be on the top of the world or be the world itself.  But I was wrong.  I remember my first Youth and Government experience in Spring Conference having to debate a proposal where nothing can make up for the lack of my intelligence in such a subject.  I remembered having to convince a room of fifty or more people why a proposal (which I knew nothing about) was worth passing, and it took only one Con Speaker (a person against the proposal) to shoot it down completely.  After that, I remembered asking myself: “This is only Spring Conference, a preview of the YnG year with five hundred or so people and I’m easily beaten?  How would I do during at Sacramento, the real deal, when 2400 people are there?  How many people are better than me? ALL 2399 of them?”. That weekend, I simply lived with that thought in mind, went home, and waited for Camp Roberts and Sacramento.

In my first year in Youth and Government coming into the gym in Camp Roberts, I was simply amazed by the surroundings, with the hundreds of people cheering their hearts out in battles of “We have spirit yes we do, we got spirit, how about you” chants and other delegation cheers such as “CPY what time is it?” along with the campaign posters going around, with people in suits on a hot day walking around asking for my vote.  After the gym experience, we were now in sessions and every time someone walked up in front to speak, I felt like that person was always better than me in everything I thought I am good at such as debating, or making new friends.  It was irritating. I knew I had the fight left in me but I simply gave up thinking that if someone is better than me, then I have no realistic chance of beating them.  This feeling lasted in all the major conferences in Youth and Government, and I didn’t have fun all outside the inner circle that is the Westchester Delegation.

During the summer (YnG only goes on during the school year), I realized that I was inside looking out as I wanted to be someone else that I wasn’t.  I wanted to be in the same league as the Youth Governor where everyone knew his name and his voice, where everyone wanted his opinions on certain issues as well as his acquaintance.  I forgot what Westchester was all about:  it was simply all about having fun while being practical.  Our advisors didn’t care if we were being stupid in debating for a bill as long as it was relevant. Our advisors didn’t care as much with our camp pranks as long as it didn’t harm anyone.  This was the inspiration for the promise that I made prior to my senior year: to go all out, have fun and leave nothing on the table.  As the events in the Youth and Government year went by, I did what I said and I became a part of Westchester as a part of last year’s officer team as Delegation Secretary. Through this position, I met people, learned all their names and their personalities by making conversation past the “Hi” and “How are you doing?” stage.  I went to Camp Roberts and wore my “I HAVE A CULINARY BONER” shirt and became known for it.  I spoke my thoughts with passion, with knowledge, with a swagger that I never thought I would ever have. With these deeds, plus more, not only did I make friendships inside my delegation, but I also outside of it. I never felt better in my life than this Youth and Government year despite having its share of patches.  These moments, these deeds are much like stars, little sparkling stars that if clustered together creates one big shine of light, creating one shining moment.

            The answer to the question earlier “What is Youth and Government’s correlation to C-CAP?”  is this:  There are some events from the past that we can connect through our experiences now, and there are some people from other places that inspire us to do something.  For example, I remember coming in C-CAP for the first time last year, having the same confidence as I did much like being in my first YnG experience in Spring Conference.  I went to the training session last year and thought that I would dominate  when it turned out that I had no clue as to how to tournée a potato or make a thin crepe, with a chef judge telling me that I could not go anywhere else but up.  This proved to be true as I was one, and only guy of the four juniors selected for an opportunity for a weekend in New York, but did not get it.

            Both the Youth and Government and C-CAP programs have humbled me as it presented a message that all beginnings are humble, that I cannot be a teenage prodigy or a Hollywood Hotshot without paying my dues.  The past is the past, the present is now, and the future can only be better.  My simple blueprint for the future is to experience the college life, serve my time and pay my debts.  Depending on where the future takes me, I want to have at least two restaurants: Eversoul (The proposed name for Westchester High’s Cooking Club) and Sacramento (Youth and Government), and/or be on either Iron Chef, Top Chef, or The Next Food Network Star.  Some people might not take me seriously and say these dreams are childish, but I’m willing to tell my friend to put “To be an Iron Chef” under my plans for the future, then it will happen.  I do not believe in having a timeline, but I believe that if I do what I am supposed to be doing with quality and passion while doing it on a reasonably fast pace, then everything would come to me from the restaurants, money, fame, or any other accolades that a chef can gather during his lifetime.

            Joining C-CAP last year as a junior has given me the chance to share my story as to why I wanted to be a chef through being a religious follower of Food Network and any other culinary show that is currently in existence.  I believe that it is time for me to be a slave to society where I pay back my debt of happiness and the support that they have been providing me by integrating the values that I learned in experiences past whether it be from Youth and Government, Westchester High School, or at home.  To those who support me in this journey are already my family, and to those who doubt, I want them to be a part of my family by proving them wrong.  These people will be my fuel to success, and dousing it on a spark of opportunity creates a new shining moment, one that I can savor much like a meal of bouillabaisse and white wine.

Life Goes On

I thought blogging was supposed to bring me up somewhere in life.

Now, it just seems to be my undoing.

There have been rumors flying around that I was going to do something that related to a blog before. I swear, I thought no one ever read these things despite my attempts in the past to advertise such product, but what the hell.

I simply deleted the blog, for a couple of reasons:

1. I wanted to silence a rumor
2. It was too much, even for myself to handle.

I wanted to silence a rumor, simply because I wanted this "project" lowkey. As in the past, I never dealt well with rumors and such going around, and I didn't want this one to be like that either (for my sanity at least).

I would also say that even though the deleted blog is one of my better blogs yet with a perfectly nailed allusion, I would say that the code itself is easy to break (that, and along with my writing style, it seems to be really obvious and blunt)

Ironic how I deleted a blog to silence a rumor, and yet here I am writing one, and it's definitely not helping my cause.

But whatever. I could really care less at this point, since my emotions are rock bottom, that while I'm at it, I might as well kill two birds with one stone.

Yeah, I'll leave it as that because if some people have heard the rumor, and can put two and two together, then you probably know what happened.

The Last Supper

Yesterday was Westchester's annual End-Of-Year banquet and Lock-In.

I don't even know where to start, simply because it has so many amazing points to begin with... I guess I'll just go chronologically.

First off, we had food provided by Vinny's - We had Alfredo, Mixed Greens, and a Spicy Tomato/Mushroom/Cheese Angel Hair Pasta Mixture with Rigatoni with Marinara Sauce.  I can't describe food for my life, but at least I'm trying.

My tablemates are amazing, as always.  It's fun to hear Timmy quoting Step-Brothers(I might watch that movie again just for the hell of it,  Max recounting Spencer's election speech on how he saw a tall giraffe, took it and now is his wallpaper, but endorsing Scott anyway to win the position because well, he doesn't have a camera and Joey and Tarrin stuff-facing themselves.

And then came the awards.  To the best of my memory, here are the people who got them:

Delegate of The Year - Alex Soelter

Advisors Award - Oliver Adams

Outstanding Senior - Daniel Castro 

Rookie of The Year - Brandon Kim

Forum - Spencer London

Court - Nik Soelter

Legislature - Robert Espinoza

Page/Media - Elena Ioudina

NIC - Jeff Day

Advisor - Stephanie Foster

SIP - Tommy Skahill

I would write a piece about each person, but I guess that's another blog.

And now, for next year's officers

Activities Chair - Aubrey Van De Wetering

Elections Manager - Tatiana August-Schmidt

Parliamentarian - Christian Collins

Historian - Scott Tolton

Chaplain - Elena Ioudina

Sergeant at Arms - Robert Espinoza

Treasurer - Bita Minaravesh

Clerk - Bianca De La Vega

Vice President - Marisa Mito

President - Chris Adams

In the behalf of last year's officer team, we give you our blessing and our trust to bring our delegation into greater heights, with more people winning statewide positions, more people going to CONA, getting Premier Delegation, and a stronger bond than before.  With this bond stronger than ever, you are no longer a force to be reckoned with.  You will be at the top, and sit there for a long time.

I also want to give a shoutout for those other people who ran: Patrick Bennett, Alex August-Schmidt, Eileen Cheng, Timmy McKinley, Max Ramey, Joey Breese, India Purnell, Spencer London, Drew Hancock, Jacklynn Morris, Brandon Kim, Tanner Webb, Nina Benton and Natalie Friedricks.

There is no harm in losing, especially with the turnout for the elections this year.  Be a part of a force.  Every single delegate, including the officers themselves are the force that makes this delegation powerful.  Always remember that you have the choice to lead.  You took the path, and I want to applaud, hug, or shake your hand for that.  In the words of Chuck Noll (not sure really), you learn a page when you win, and a book if you lose.  In short, you gain just as much as those who won.

Moving on...

Beyond the food, the slideshow, the chocolates, the helium and the awards, we now go to the better part of the night:  

Lock In.

Lock In, in a simple definition is pure amazement.  We get locked in the YMCA until seven in the morning, do whatever the heck we can do (as long as it is Y-Rated, of course).

I was pretty psyched about this lock-in because there is this tradition that goes on for the seniors: Diddy Rieses.  The deal about this place is that they sell Ice Cream Sandwiches.  Sounds simplistic, right?  Wrong.

First off, this place is in Westwood.  I actually got to see UCLA from the outside(which was really cool, for the lack of a better word, and I didn't even know it was THAT near).  That, and the line was so long that it was worse than Tito's - no hyperbole there, but it was worth the wait, I got 3 dozen cookies for 11.75.  Not bad.  But I don't think the dude gave me thirty six...

However, here are some of my highlights at Diddy Rieses:

1. Indian Boner Jamz - Nik needs to burn me that CD.  That, and the annoying German Song that if Chris White heard it again, he would kill himself.

2. Just Dood It - Lynora gave me the suggestion for this shirt.  And I will do it.

3. Nik's Ice Cream Sandwich - I remember it was a snickerdoodle with some ice cream in the middle.  Gave me a culinary boner, nonetheless.

But seriously, I'm going to go back there someday and get an ice cream sandwich for myself...

At the actual lock in, I put my cookies down by my bag (you know where this is going).  I played some hoops with Patrick and Timmy, then decided to go on the pool, swim, and play some kinda "monkey-in-the-middle" kind of game, just tossing around water polo balls, and wrestling our asses off, I guess (obviously Lifeguards had to stop us there).  

When I got at the pool, I saw John (I hope Logan doesn't read blogs).  He said that he might not make it, so I was kind of upset, for a lack of a better word.  To come back from a sweet place (literally) to see him (yeah, he's extra special to a degree, no homo), I literally just took my shirt off, put my towel and shirt to the side and jumped in, only to tell me that I should have showered first.

Oops.

I could tell that the time lasted shorter than I thought, as it was already one in the morning (after all, you can only soak yourself in water for so long, or there's a time restriction for it to clean the filth of 85 delegates).  After playing in water, a lot of us dispersed into different places.  Some people were listening to Jason Butler's philosophies in life, some of us were playing HORSE, playing half court basketball shirts vs. skins, watching the half basketball game, racketballing, volleyball in the racketball room, basking in relaxation or hoarding a lot of food.

I'm pretty sure that people can attest to whichever statement as they know what they did after one in the morning.

After that, nothing happened, except this one event:

Me and Nina were walking together in the kitchen, as she wanted some cake.  She gets some for herself, and I playfully get some frosting, and put it in her face, and she goes on to say: "You did not just cake me".  I walk away to check the poker game that I was on (apparently, I went out too early).

I came back once again, and I asked her where she's been.  She said she's been walking around.  (I mean, really, what are better things to do than walk around?  Watch Slumdog Millionaire? Perhaps.).  She said that she wanted cake again.  And so we go to the kitchen, but this time, I distance myself away from her because I didn't want to get frosting on my face.  It's a terrible feeling.

She then asks me to come next to her, and I said no, since I'm paranoid of being caked and nothing else, to be quite honest.  She insisted that I was paranoid about something else (but I really wasn't - I tried to prove my point, but epically failed).  She said that if I didn't tell her what I was paranoid about, she would stop the conversation.  It happened.

I walked to the room, and saw Brandon's note lying around, and below that was a piece of paper and a pen.  It could only mean one thing:  Catharsis.

I don't exactly know what I wrote, but all I knew is that I was paranoid about what my life would be after Youth and Government.  Would I live a life of mediocrity once again, with a routine life of homework, sleep and tennis?  Would I meet people just as amazing as these people?

Ladies and Gentlemen, as I was writing this blog, I felt Peter Pan's presence around me as I never wanted to grow up.  I wanted to be a delegate forever.  Then I remember Case's voice:  Everything must come to an end.  Even if I want to avoid the inevitable and say "Should it?", I don't want to say it anymore as it is merely consolation, something that stimulates in my opinion a further cause for depression as it only stops the damage, and not repairs it.

In this lock-in, I finally accepted the fact that nothing lasts forever, as we have to move on, and keep writing chapters in our life.  Jamie told me as she hugged me tightly, that to take what I learned from here and apply it somewhere else, as I can do great things with it.  For people to have that much faith in me is truly amazing, powerful, and belongs to one of my memories that I can remember despite being shitfaced (referring to my last blog).

After writing this blog, I literally looked around the Y for Nina, only to give, and read it to her, saying that "If you want an answer, then this is your answer".  I read it with a tired and rather crappy accent, but it was well worth it.  That note, as she told me is now up in her wall (which is why I don't remember it word per word, but the concept of it I remember), and I almost killed three birds with one stone: My own satisfaction, to answer a question, and to make Jamie Buckley almost cry (unintentional however, but I was close, as she told me).

I got home, slept, and been uploading pictures for three hours now as well as composing this blog.  No grammatical edits, therefore full of errors, but try to stay with me when you read it.  

Tomorrow, I live my life once again.  But this time, I'm not alone.  I have 84 delegates in my heart, plus a couple statewide, ten advisors, and friends that are not in YnG lingering in my heart.  The thought of you guys makes me happy, and inspire me to do great things.  If it weren't for you all, I don't know what I would be doing today, or who my inspiration for every tennis game I play, or every meal that I cook.

The power of thinking without thinking - SAT Essay

"People usually assume that the quality of a decision is directly related to the time and effort that went into making it.  We believe that we are always better off gathering as much information as possible and then spending as much time as possible analyzing that information.  But there are times when making a quick judgment is the best thing to do.  Decisions made quickly can be as good without decisions made slowly and cautiously"

- Adapted from Malcolm Gladwell

(The content below is my SAT essay... cut off in thought, just straight up thirty minutes of bullshit.)

Picture it, a tennis match between the two greatest tennis players of all time:  Pete Sampras, and Roger Federe.  Flashes of elegance through movement by Federer and Herculean strength through his serve and volley game that Sampras exemplifies.  Rallies back and forth and one or the other could not break each other for neither is comfortable with their opponent's style.  The message that is being conveyed is is that a decision made quickly (Serve and Volley), or Federer's fluidity in court gives him more chances to win through the rally (which is usually longer than a serve and volley point), represents the slowly and carefully thought out decision, is just as good as the other depending on the player who makes them in the tennis court of life.

An example of a quick decision is the future.  I am a college peer counselor at my school, and I get to hear a lot of futures (prospective) by these people.  They mention the fact that they want to go to certain schools (USC, UCLA and such), but show uncertainty in the process of doing so, without the awareness of their performance in school or what their future is.  With uncertainty comes failure, but if one says at a childhood age that he or she pursues to be a doctor, works hard consistently, graduating valedictorian in middle, high school and college, then he or she is on the path to success.

A perfect example for a well thought out decision is an Iron Chef dish.  Given the fact that the Iron Chef nor his opponent know what the secret ingredient is, along wit with the fact that they have to make five dishes in a span of an hour will drive them bananas (no food pun intended - but definitely obvious).  Even though they are only given fifteen minutes to make a "quick" decision, it might as well be thought out for these chefs have vast knowledge of food unlike the kids I peer counseled who have no awareness of their future, their major, or what their breakfast is tomorrow.  However, a well thought out decision is a double edged sword.  I remember watching Top Chef and a judge asked if the contestant if he or she had a solid plan coming to the finale and said now, to which her explanation was: "If I planned to cook a certain dish for the finale and the ingredients were not there, then I'm screwed".  This shows that sometimes.....

Time's Up.

Stupid time limits.

Racism? - By Ryan Hoffman, Special Guest Blogger

As many of you know, to day, for halloween, I dressed up as my friend Nathan Epps. Nate happens to be black. So what I did was wear my usual cloths I would any other day, then I painted my face with a brown face paint, to match Nates pigment. Then because my hair is nothing like his, I bought a fake afro to wear. Nothing else, no chains, no "bling", no "pimp" attire, just me, as Nate. I got many odd looks, I looked like I could have been an African American, so most of the looks were a double-take type look. I got a bunch of really positive responses, such as, "man thats soo cool," "you totally look like Nate," and my favorite, "your my hero man." But apparently there was a lot of talk behind my back, by people I thought were my friends. Some people called me racist. I didnt understand this, because I'm not being racist. The dictionary defines racist as, "hatred or intolerance of another race or other races." This is not me, not today, not ever. I do not have a hatred or intolerance for any race, and if I was racist against black people, I would most certainly not have been one for halloween. And I would most certainly not have from moment of getting on campus sought out my "fellow" black students. 

My history teacher Mrs. Brown asked me if I had gotten any negative feedback, like being called racist, I sayed no, because at the time, i was unaware of the back talk about me. She was surprised, then she asked me if I knew who the "black faces" were. I did, but I hadnt thought about it earlier, she then went on to explain how back in the 1920 through 40s white people would paint their selves black and would mock black people. I thought about this for a while. I'm not mocking anyone, I'm not doing anything of a mocking fashion to offend African Americans. Then later, my friend say, "copying is the highest form of flattering" then went on to explain how me being black is equal to me loving or praising them. Then I thought more about it. And came to the conclusion that there are 3 reasons for copying: to mock, to annoy, or to show love. And I most certainly was not mocking anyone. I'm sure I annoyed a few people, but that was by complete accident, plus, if I annoy you, DONT BE AROUND ME! It doesnt help you to be annoyed and it sure doesnt help me, because, I can tell when your annoyed, for the most part. So the last option left is to show love. And unless you think that showing love to someone is racist, then I am not racist. Im quite the opposite.

One last thing I thought was very interesting about all of this, was the only people who said anything about me being racist were... WHITE! woah! All the black people I saw that day thought what I did was awesome, but for some reason the white people got offended. Would a white person be offended if a black person painted his or her skin paler and did something if his or her hair, nothing else, wore their normal cloths and acted the same as usual? Dave Chapple does it all the time, the one difference is he is there to mock, but we dont find that offensive. I dont get offended when I think about Michael Jackson's skin color change.

So really, am I racist, or is it you who is far far over sensitive about things like this, because you live in "Serrano" of "El Dorado Hills," the whitest place on earth. I'm sorry I grew up in Milwaukee were nobody was racist because everyone lived together peacefully. So shut up and suck it!

Extended Bliss - Spring Conference

"There are two events this year that are not in YnG season... Spring Conference...  Incoming freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors are welcome to it"

Of course, there is something wrong with that sentence!

COLLEGE FRESHMEN.

Yes, this year's seniors are given a chance to go to spring conference, only our hopes to fizzle away in the hopes of recruitment.

Yes, recruitment.

I know how ironic it is, considering that my first session ever is spring conference, but really, I already made the decision to join YnG beforehand, Spring Conference or none.  I don't know if from the previous years that people were set to join YnG without Spring Conference or not.

I don't really know how recruiting fits into spring conference considering some of the people from Westchester who have gone there, are mostly returnees, and those who we are supposedly recruiting either didn't feel like it, or joined then quit.

Then again, I am only looking at one delegation's perspective.  Like a statistics concept, there is something called sampling variability where one is greater than the other, and the usual, less than the norm given.  So, I don't really know as I don't have any evidence to back this up outside Westchester's grounds.

Whether it is Governor Blumenfeld's work or not, he (or not possibly him -> continuing to emphasize the point) has opened the doors for those who want to do something earlier, and those who want to leave later.  With that said, if a freshman gets to savor YnG for the first time, then a senior who is leaving for college gets to savor YnG for the last time, even though it was supposed to happen at Sacramento.

To me, it is really heartbreaking to see jaws drop out of Westchester Delegation seniors when they heard this, since some of them were so excited to hang a hammock on the same spot that they have been hanging it on for three or four years, and the melted ice cream on the grass, or the idea of the slide and a pool on a hot day.  

If Spring Conference is truly a recruiting ploy, then it has not worked.  Finally came up with my evidence:  Most (yes, MOST) of Westchester's new delegates did not attend Spring Conference.

Names?  Sure.

Elizabeth Kaczor? Nope.

Drew Hancock? Nope.

Laira Martin, Nope.

Jacklynn Morris, Nope.

Tanner Webb, Nope.

Ellie Hernandez, Nope

Nina Benton, Nope.

Natalie Friedricks, Nope.

Rebecca Rosen, Nope.

Christian Collins, Bob Heutmaker, Jimmy Cipiti -> Nope, Nope, and Nope.

The list eventually ends, and most of them did not experience spring conference (which I personally hope they do this year)

This simply proves that Spring Conference is, for seniors at least, an extension of a goodbye, and for freshmen, it's simply a new beginning.  For the people in the middle (including the people with the new beginning and the extension of a goodbye), it's simply a party.

A party that we can't miss.

Lost In Translation.

Let's face it, people have to express themselves from time to time.

Much like food, the execution of a speech, a sentence, a phrase, or anything (pun intended) LIT(lost in translation)erary, matters, or else, it comes out not exactly the way you want it to be meant.

Take for instance, someone who's really friendly trying to get to know someone through forms of communication, whatever it maybe for the obvious reasons that they don't hang out too much (excuses flow everywhere, etc., but I simply refuse to list them).  This type of personality turns off someone, especially for a rather quick assumption that this friendly person has taken a liking to the other person.

Shit happens.  That's all I have to say.

I'll admit that I'm one of those people who don't really think about what they say, since, well, it's pointless to a degree.  I believe that whatever I say has some relevance to the conversation, and IT. JUST. COMES. OUT. WRONG.

That's like, someone wanting fried chicken when you gave them a grilled one... It's chicken, but it's not the texture that they wanted it to be.

Okay, I'm just going around my points.

It's simply saying that even the most eloquent men have their own mistakes.  Hey, President Obama messed up the oath.  

With that, I think I could sleep happy and move on to a new day tomorrow.  I still got to remember myself to do the statistics homework.  Yay, Statistics.

The Dream That Had To End - YnG Experiences

A couple days before I went to Sacramento on Wednesday, I had a dream (or a nightmare) that I missed my flight to Sacramento... on Thursday (note that I had to leave on Wednesday because I was a Commission Chair).   I was running, running, heaving, huffing, puffing (or whatever else the wolf did to try and blow down the pig's house).  In all seriousness, I woke up, four in the morning, teary-eyed, watching my dog sleeping beside me, and whispered "God, fuck".

I believe that something won't happen, if one thing didn't happen.  It's like having a domino link lined up, with no catalyst for that domino link:  The hand that plunks that domino effect itself.

Think about it.  The hand is the decisions that we make in life, where the dominoes are events . Our decisions create a chain of events, creating an image, a memory that will last forever in our minds, only for one to be simply amazed by it, or for someone to criticize it (after all, everyone's a critic to a degree)

I wouldn't have known about the Youth and Government Program itself, if Nathan or Nik didn't tell me about it.  I would not have known Nathan or Nik, if I didn't come here.  See what I mean?  It's a domino effect.

These two weeks have been emotionally draining for me, from coming in Sacramento really excited, to living out this weekend wishing I was still at Sacramento.  It is so bad that when Nathan said "Peace, Love, and Statistics", I thought of Sarah Colgate, who is in the NCDM delegation.

Speaking of which, before I continue, a happy birthday to Sarah, in case I forget (I probably won't, but there's Murphy's law... damn you, Murphy).

A lot has happened to me since joining Youth and Government.  I remember Spring Conference, where I had absolutely no clue what to do, I was stuck on NIC, not knowing what it is, wanting to be in Senate or Assembly because it was the social norm.  I remember that spring conference where I had to defend this proposal regarding Uranium, not knowing what it is, what argument to come up with it, etc.  I got through second round, and this dude named Justin McKone(or at least, that's what his name was) shot down my proposal, and me as a whole (then again, I lacked confidence at the time).  It sucked.  Trend went on Sacramento (This time, I tried taking my shots against McKone, but as usual, I was unsuccessful).  That was the end of me and him (like lowkey).

Ironically, I became an NIC brat.  NIC in Sacramento last year, NIC in Sacramento this year.  Spring conference doesn't count.  This moron (me) confused my s's with my t's... therefore, I was a committee chair, instead of a commission chair.  Still legit though, as I witnessed what I would love to call a Westchester dominated Senate session, where useless statistics were used, and pecs were moved, and the best speakers discouraged.  Yes, I'm talking about you, Arielle Pardes. <3

Being an NIC chair truly has been a privilege and an honor.  It was a privilege to chair a crop of people who I know are now my friends.  I met amazing people, who I know I can always share memories with such as Ryan Hoffman and I doing our best drive thru impressions, or me and Jen Francis having to retake a couple pictures because I looked shitty on one of them.  

Also, a song quote comes to mind, when thinking about YnG:  "Unsinkable ships sink, Unbreakable Walls Break" -> I said that every delegation, even those who are considered premier, or mighty have their own flaws.  I will stick to that statement, but I totally missed my whole point.  During the friendship service, guys who I never thought would see cry cried.  People such as Nathan, Dakota, Robert, Tanner, Charles, or even Hassan, who I usually see in school who act so badass, that I thought never see them break down.  But they did.  Some of them gave their testimonies as to how this program helped their grades improve, or stay away from drugs.  During these friendship services, people are always humbled, where they are often reminded that these guys are our friends; people who have emotions like the rest of us who store it, and live life their way until given their chance to show or tell those who they trust, or like as to how they really feel about something specific.  

Straying away from the metaphor, it is also amazing what a friendship service does to all of us.  It bonds us, makes us cry, makes us realize, makes us want to do certain things, with an assurance that those people have our support.  It bonds us in a way, where if you haven't cried, and see two siblings cry together, as one is leaving for college and both know that they'll miss each other despite their brotherly  moments.  It makes us realize that we all have each other's backs, and it makes us realize that the investment and the sacrifices that our parents made for us to get here is so worth the money.

Despite my low points in Sacramento such as not being called in General Assembly or missing my turn for karaoke (one song short!), there is no amount of sadness that can surmount the amount of happiness that is Sacramento or Youth and Government feeling in general, the feeling of making new friends, the feeling of debating about something you are passionate about, the feeling of the raindrops in your head, the feeling in your legs for those miles that you walked (or those that you ran to catch the bus if the stop was near you).

There is a quote that goes "All great things must come to an end". Grayson Phillips, Triunfo President, and fellow Commission Chair told me, that this was his last Sacramento and he has done everything that he wanted to do, and he had nothing else to prove.  It is like anyone having their last supper, where if they find it to be satisfactory, or way above standard, they will die happy.

But seriously, I want you to give this a thought.  If you are passionate about something, it will never end.  It will pester you to a degree.  Always remember that something is always there for you, no matter what your distance is.  I want you to think about that IHOP commercial, where the dude who ate the pancakes was open-eyed when he saw that the slice of the pancake that he took regenerated.  YnG is like that.  You can always come back as an intern, or as an advisor, or even a staff member.  I know that at one point, some of our advisors were just like us delegates, as they had to face the reality of them leaving YnG, only to come back as advisors creating new memories AND reliving the past.

With that, I end with a rhyme.

It is a known fact that there is always a start and an end

Therefore, make your entrances and exits both grand

For Seniors, let's be proud with our heads held high walking away

For the rest of you, don't take for granted of your continued on YnG Stay

Don't ever say never

Because YnG only sets you up for forever.

I know I don't have flow and rhyme

But I figured out that this is the proper time

To give it a go 

and let my emotion flow.

Seriously, If I don't end this,

This blog won't cease to increase.

Therefore I bid you goodnight,

and don't let any bed bugs bite.

The Road To Greatness - My CONA Essay

(Why the hell is this formatted?)  I simply believe that a really good piece of writing should not be kept away from others who will potentially appreciate it.   Therefore, I put this essay out, as I probably will have a good use for it in the future... or something like that.

---------------------------------------

An unknown author once said that “seeing yourself as you want to be is the key to personal growth”, and I couldn’t agree more.  It is my dream to be "The Next Iron Chef", as having this title signifies that I am one of the best in the culinary world, much like a CONA delegate is when representing one of the twenty five best delegates in California’s Youth and Government program. These worlds are parallel to each other in their base concepts, but they become perpendicular when one examines the means to the end of greatness.

The road to greatness begins with speed and artistry: butchering.  To me, breaking down a piece of meat and a proposal share many similarities; they are both complex chunks of material that, to the inexperienced eye, look like a mound of odds and ends. A more experienced individual, like myself, sees not the collective whole as much as the individual parts, parts that I cannot help but scrutinize, one by one.  As a speaker, not only am I very comfortable on the podium, but I am willing to raise my hand and speak on a topic, even when no one else chooses to. This helps showcase the beauty of Youth and Government, the idea that my opinion matters, that even when my opinion gets lost in translation, others opinions and questions can clarify, be their intention to support me or oppose me I believe that my opinionated and talkative personality stimulate my hunger to be in CONA even more, since I know that if my opinions already matter to California, then they should also in forty-nine other states.

The next challenge is dubbed Simplicity, where chefs make six "one bite" dishes, and Innovation, where molecular gastronomy (the use of advanced chemical and physical processes within cooking) is involved, where both challenges require their style of cooking to be applied. I find my life similar to food, where the topic is so broad that there are many variations of it. Since there are many variations of food, it takes something innovative, something unique, to make this a certain variation of a certain dish unique. Variety is the spice of life, and I took my chances seven years ago in coming here to the U.S, to spice things up, and that it did. Despite cultural shocks at certain events, my life has been nothing short of desirable. If variety is the spice of life, I don't want to be stuck in California, or the Phillipines alone:  I want to move around the world, and discover the wonders of the world.  It's what a chef does:  Go to other countries to apply those concepts that they have learned into their style of cooking.  Given that CONA gives it's delegates to travel to a new place, and testimonies from other people that it was the best time of their life, I want to experience it as well.

Another challenge was named “Lead and Inspire”, where the chefs are flown to Paris to create a meal for a party being thrown by the United States Ambassador to France. Each potential Iron chef got a Sous chef, and were forced to simulatenously delegate responsibility while trusting a stranger to be responsible. I know that responsibility increases exponentially with power. As Westchester’s Tennis Team Varsity Captain, I feel a responsibility to be both a strict mentor and a gentle friend with them, going from enforcing drills to telling stories of the multiple mishaps the team has experienced.  By doing this, I inspire these rookies to be more sociable to us veterans, as we were once like them, and can understand what we are going through. By being this brotherly figure, I earn the intangible and irreplacable virtues of respect and trust, which helps creates a powerful bond.  This is the kind of bond that I want to achieve with whoever I meet at CONA, knowing that me and a certain group of people will not be stuck in the past, but will be stuck in a lifetime: the past, the present, and the future.

If an Iron Chef is much like a CONA delegate, then I am the Iron Chef, my heart is the kitchen, and I cannot wait to show off the world what I have to offer: my skills, my flair, and my product.  With these three, I believe that I am a force to be reckoned with as I am ready for anything that comes in my way.

Just For Kicks.

Why did you turn into something that I'd hate so much?

Even though that's the case,

Never did I give up hope in you finding your old personality.

Did you?  

Yeah, I think you did.

Hell hath no fury for

An Arab Scorned

See him rap

See him troll

At a rapid pace

Never mess with a menace

Jams he, on a guitar

Oh boy, he's hyper on chocolate bars

Help, Help, this boy needs an ambulance

Nah, he just needs to dance.

Mark is his name

Arrogant, or assholish he can be.

Really.

Karat gold necklace he wears, can't you see?  

Chill out, 

Heaven is a place without you.

Eh..

Right?

Yeah...

Like really... yeah.

For Everyone's Eyes Only

The fewer rules a coach has, the fewer rules there are for players to break.

- John Madden

I am speaking in behalf of about half of us, mostly the veterans on the team when I say this.

I am talking about the behavior of this team.

It's despicable.  It's embarrassing.

It's one thing to joke around.  I understand that the idea of this team is much like a fraternity, brothers who have fun, while looking out for each other.

But this is something else.

When we are given the simple instruction to be quiet, we should be quiet.

When we are given the simple instruction to line up, line up.

When we are given the simple instruction to run two laps, do it.

While we do understand that some of the guys in fourth period tennis have been really tired, I understand.  I've been there, I've done it, and I've had to practice after school.  So has Patrick, so has Allan, or so has whoever I have forgotten whoever has been on the team for more than a year now.

While I do understand that we want to have fun, as it is the main concept of this game, we also have to maintain a sense of professionalism.  

Let me be serious about a couple of things here.

1.  I'm pretty sure that ANYONE here doesn't want to be perceived as a jackass, as to how they act on the court in an immature way.  You act up, and your opponent is going to eat you up.

2.  We want to support our teammates and not distract them.

I know what most people are thinking, but this speech is not aimed to bully people, but instead to demand more.  To demand more, not necessarily in skill, as we have two coaches that can help us out with that, but to demand more in maturity.  Think about it this way.  If you were to meet somebody and they are offering you a million dollars, do you really want to act like a jackass at this time?

I didn't think so.

There are a couple of simple rules that Ms. Chain asks of you, rookies and veterans.

1. Get your end on time

2. Play your ass off until it falls to the ground.

3. Have a good time.

Do all of these three stated above, and I'm damn sure that not only will you gain respect of those around this team, but you will also gain the respect of those of who you play.  And with respect, comes with a great amount of friends. 

Bent On Emotion

There are so many things to say,  There was a lot of room and time to say it. 

But, why this way?

I don't like secrets at all.  We are not five years old here.

I don't even know what to say, what to type, or hell, what to feel.

I don't even know if I felt this much for a friend before, but god-damn it, I do.

Look, I've said it once, and I'll say it again,  we are not five years old, and I think, that there is a much better way to resolve things.

Like, telling me straight.

I'm not going to disclose any names here, out of due respect, but let God help you if you figure it out.

I know that one of my goals in Youth and Government is to learn about the process of government itself, although it's really a HUGE state-wide party.

The reason how I knew you to begin with was I simply added you on Facebook, and I thought that was that.

Then, we strike a friendship, and like the many other relationships that I had with people, I pretty much kept it straight and normal.

Okay, except for that one when I lied about the relationship thing, but that's a joke that usually slips easily.

Like friendships, I believe that friends should communicate for the sake of friendship, keeping up, or whatever friends do, like hang out, etc. etc. etc, list goes on, yadda squared.

I am simply writing this because I felt like I've been cold shouldered at the time when it's not supposed to happen.  It's the holidays, it should be full of joy, and other variations of happiness that comes with it.

Yeah, every time I tried to talk to you in every form possible outside of YnG, nothing really happens, and I kind of wanted that to change, but I guess that didn't happen either.

Whatever this thing that is going us between then and now, and I don't know what I did then, this sucks.  

I at least want to talk, and even if you tell me that you don't want to talk to me anymore I'd still appreciate it more than just not talking to me straight and having to find out from someone else.

A Basket of Apples.

This is a bit premature for me to write, but I don't think the content of this blog will change soon.

----

Anyone familiar with these lines? :

"This is the true story of seven strangers picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real"

That one ought to be easy. It's pop culture.

With that fact at hand, let me twist it a bit.

"This is the story of many strangers, who chose to go to the same school, work together, but not have their lives taped. However, they will find out what happens when the school fucks up, and start getting real.

High school is one of those many things that can be chained to many comparisons, such as The Real World (quote above), or shopping for apples.
Yes, Shopping for apples

Before I go on, I must thank a friend for inspiring me for this one.

The beginning years are pretty much seeing inside the box. It's just a simple stack with a bunch of apples, and you have no idea whether or not these apples are actually good or not. And this is when judgement comes in.

Sometimes, a person or two would come along to influence your decisions. In this case with the apples, I would say the vendor itself. The vendor tries to tell you what to get and what not to get, because it might be out of season, or it sees a flaw somewhere.

To shorten this one up a bit, In the end, you pick out the apples that you like and don't like, whether it had flaws on them or not because you see that these flaws can be easily fixed. Flaws included are brown spots on the skin. Anyone can remove that with a paring knife. Too sour? Cook it with sugar. Hell, anyone can have a liking to sour things.

As for the title, here are the apples on my basket.

1. This apple, I picked right out of the top of the box, and I'm happy I made this pick. I met this person in summer school, way before freshman year started, and writing about him would simply make this a daunting task.

2. This apple, I also met at summer school, freshman year. First person beat him by a couple days. I would call this apple tight, since he likes those kind of things. Apparel, space in his car, and a house. And did I mention his personality?

3. This apple, I recently picked out at the end of the box. He never thought that I'd be friends with him, but I guess things happen for a reason. This apple loves to party, as evidenced by his excitement on throwing the Roscoe's party. Which now reminds me to wear my Roscoe's shirt one of these days. Then again, it's too cold.

4. This apple, I swear, I made a really wrong first impression of. However, as time went by, We became close, although our bond is slowly going gone by the minute, if it weren't for practice. This reminds me again to just talk to him.

5. Like the fourth apple, I met this person through tennis. He's tall, he's cool, he plays the trumpet or the trombone, I don't know which. Either way, he has a certain swagger that I like, although I can't put my finger on it.

6. I don't ever think that a hairy apple would exist. If that were the case, that would be a lychee, and it would be out of it's league, even though it's freakishly sweet. I love lychees, btw. As for the reason why he's one of the apples is that he says the unexpected, and as much as I hate suprises or anything of the sort, I actually love his.

7. This person was a part of me and the second apple in Algebra 2, and got the three highest scores there. Funny thing is, we all got below averages on our STAR scores, and we were able to laugh about it. That, and I think he's the only one to hear me sing a cappella.

8. This person during the summertime can definitely entertain, as we have had conversations that lasted three hours, which... god knows what they are. This person was the inspiration for this, and I know that if I simply wanted to talk to someone and no one else was on, it would be this person.

9. This person, I frequently talk tennis with. I wish we can get out of it and talk about other things. Other than that, we pretty much have a shitload in common, I.E being a filipino and having a pomeranian as a pet. Because of him, sentences that were not meant to be by my accents became what they are now. 

10. This person I met in YnG. She made me change my perspective on how to debate, which is why I was freakin' amazing at BOB one during the debates. That, and I actually like to laugh at her videos whenever necessary.

11. This person, I also met in YnG. We don't talk too much, but the bond of friendship is totally there. Like apple number seven, I wish it can get beyond tuesdays, because it would be interesting as to what could happen.


Eleven Apples. That's fair enough. I remember the challenge in Top Chef, before entering the TC kitchen itself, they already brought out the heat and had people peeling, slicing apple to brunoise, and cooking the apples. Watch the episode yourself, since it was really out of whack.

I wonder what you can make with Eleven Apples. Any suggestions?

Maturing like wine. Fine Wine.

"A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably"

- Eleanor Roosevelt

--------------------

I believe that maturity is not a measure of age. Maturity is a measure of deeds done by people.

There is no one to be put up in the spot here, as all of us claim we are mature, and we as well have our tendencies to be immature.

Who doesn't?

I believed in the past that being eighteen is the real switch for maturity. Like a light, you flip the switch, it just stays on forever.

Apparently, it didn't turn that way.

I still acted the same seventeen year old that I was, saying things without thinking about it.

Now that I think about it, I really do think that it's better for my parents to correct me rather than my friends, or two of them for the matter.

My mother always told me to watch my mouth. I do, but there comes a time and a place for everything. Maybe one of the THREE (not two, realizing) said that there was a time and a place for me to talk, and maybe it's nowhere. This person, I'll partially believe, because some things that I say are totally irrelevant to the subject. The reason why I partially do not believe this person is because that I know I can talk anywhere I want to (which is a total given for anyone, considering it is a right and not a privilege), except I just have to find the right time to do so.

As I am typing this, I slowly am realizing things, and I'm actually happy that I am doing so, only because.

Okay, I'm losing focus.

The reason that I do things that I do is that I never know what impression I throw to people. Well, for the most part I don't, and this is where two of the three people who criticized me low-key for immaturity connect together.

One person said that I was a total idiot at spring conference. As much as I stand behind my delegation and some people that Spring Conference is a laid back version of YnG, it is also the VERY VERY first impression that people get from joining YnG. It's pretty much like an appetizer at your very first elegant restaurant, where appetizers can be as expensive as a main course at Chili's. With that said, what am I looking up there like an idiot, throwing legitimate, yet stupid allusions to Bob Ewell, or a bloodbath? Is this the impression that I want people to see? 

Apparently not.

With that said, I'll follow a thirty second rule that another friend has told me to do. Maybe it is a truly good advice to receive at this point of time before going to BOB 1, considering that it would be bigger than spring conference. With that advice, I probably could say a lot of things way better, and I wont be perceived as an idiot.

This would be my last words for now, as I am surrounded by noise, and that really does irk me.

A Crazy Bad Letter

I will be copying this word per word as I wrote it in English Class.

----------------------------------------------

What totally ticks me off these days is that people cannot be opinionated.  Sure, being opinionated might come off to some as being rude, but that is the hidden agenda of being such a person.

I personally do not know what kind of impression that I throw at people.  I don't try very hard to fit in, as I am just myself.  Being myself and knowing myself in the process in my four years of high school has found me the people that I truly want to hang out with.  Through these people, I learn various things, usually in the area of politics, or that of being an asshole.  If I do let out that first impression, then I let people lean with it and rock with it.  If people don't like me because of that sole impression, then you won't like me overall as a person, since you automatically judged me that way, not giving me a second or a third chance to at least redeem myself, or starting over with a clean slate.

Speaking of clean slates, I have moved on from the past.  Well, the bad part of my past at least.  With that said, I have been trying and trying to start a new one with you, but apparently I don not get that chance because you continually hang out with pricks like that moor, or that blonde who claims herself attractive, but can't hold a candle of dignity or self esteem to Lamont.

Yes, I said it, and go ahead and let her read this as well if you want to.  I'd rather know someone who has pride on his burnt chicken rather than knowing someone who has a pretty face, and no personality or self esteem to back it up with.

Speaking of rude once again, I don't know how the hell have I have been rude to you for this last week.  Hell, I have not had a connection with you for the longest time, but goddammit, whenever I make a joke, it should not make me rude (aside from the Jewish ones of course, but I know my limits).  As i said before, I am an opinionated kid who does not take sides.  If I ever picked between Hassan over you on a debate, it would be because has a better point than you did.  Besides, why would I be biased?  I've known the two of you for four years now and I know we as a cohesive unit could take over the school and start a revolution.  

Okay, I'm losing focus.

Continually speaking of rude, you are way more rude than I am, despite my tendencies to be immature.  Tell you this much: you do not have to avoid me at all, which apparently you have been doing for the past several years now.  You also come off as that, with the part of the crowd that you hang out with, along with your incessant complaints of your shitty life.  Your complaints in my world can be solved with a turn of a wrench.  You want a shitty problem?  Live the three years before I left the Philippines for the States.  That is a problem.

I'll end this note in a not so positive tone.  Once again, I am reiterating the fact that I regret as to what happened to the past between us, and some may know what it is.  HIgh school does not change or should not change people in a negative way, but sadly for you, it did.  With that, I'm going to say that I regret wasting my time knowing you, or for that matter, liking you.

Yahoo.

Those little fuckers called the SAT essays should have a longer duration for writing time more than 25 minutes. Yes, I am bitter because I was in the middle of writing a good essay, and there was no time limit warning that was provided. I simply thought that was bullshit, and my essay would look like this, if anything.

"Are quick decisions just as good as well thought out decisions?"

Picture it. A tennis match between the two greatest players of all time: Roger Federer, and Pete Sampras. Two mighty players with completely opposite styles: Federer relying on longer rallies through his fluid movenent, while Sampras blitzing his opponent with his serve-and-volley style of play. In the game of tennis, both of these styles, like decisions in the game of life are like double edged swords: beneficial at times, harmful at times.

A perfect example of a quick decision that has not worked out is the future . I am a college peer counselor for my school, and everytime I call someone up and ask what they are planning to do after this year, they say that they "just want to go to college" without any certainty as to colleges to go to, or awareness of the college application process, or the financial matters of the subject itself (that's why I am there for). People who make quick decisions such as those are usually based on emotion, where the person only desires to do what he or she wants, as long as he or she gets to do it, not aware of the consequences of the action that is desired to be done.

However, a good, quick decision has it's own benefits as well. For example, the SAT's. The SAT is a multiple choice test that can cause a lot of trouble for people due to it's frequent decision making process that sometimes makes them doubt. However, with a certain awareness of questions that are asked there, they should know as what they should answer, and what they shouldn't answer, since they know the consequences of a wrong answer, or four of them for that matter. This method often is a good quick decision, as to it might (not will) give people a better chance at getting the highest score possible, and if they do, these people would know that they have done something right (which I hope I have done it as well)

A well thought out decision is similar to that of an Iron Chef dish. Yes, it's true. A well thought out Iron Chef dish recieves accolades from the judges who are judging it, and might want the recipe later. Some people say that people on Iron Chef just "wing it" after they find out the secret ingredient, which is actually not true. These chefs, the Iron, and the competitor, gets ten minutes to think of five dishes that can possibly be done from the secret ingredient. Once again, one might say that this is "winging it", but it's not. The main difference between these chefs, and the kids that I peer counsel is that these chefs have a rather vast knowledge of food, that they can make out quick decisions, and in the end, it is plausible and well thought out as to the kids who have no knowledge at all whatsoever about the college that they want to go to, or where it is for that matter, and that already proves this point.

As previously mentioned, decisions, even well thought out ones are harmful. I remember watching the Top Chef finale once, and a judge asked a contestant as to if she had a solid plan coming into the finale, and said she did not for the reasons that if she did have a solid plan to make a certain dish for the finale, and the finale site did not have the ingredients that she desired for that certain dish, then she is screwed. She was smart for making that decision, and she eventually won the title of Top Chef: Stephanie Izard.

Overall, in the last at bat of the season for the Chicago Cubs, Alfonso Soriano "quickly" decided that he should swing the bat, and it was a slider. He check swings it, and screws the Cubs out of the World Series. If anything, I am going for the Dodgers in the playoffs, because i decided to like the color blue when I was a kid, but it doesn't stop me from being a bitter cardinals fan.

And with that, I say screw the SAT's once again, and like the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs, I am OUT.

The Worst Audible Ever.

A single death is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic.

- Joseph Stalin

-----

FIrst off, I would like to thank Mr. Mernin for having that quote in his room, or else I wouldn't be able to use it tonight.

This quote by Joseph Stalin is very true. The death of millions is a statistic. As I type this blog, today is the day that we remember the attacks on both the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and some empty lot in Philadelphia.

I remember the day that this happened. I came home from basketball practise, and my dad said "fucking terrorists". 

The news was buzzing about this story. CNN, NBC, ABC. All reporting names of the people who died, the number of people who died, the specific person who called 911 before she died. The possiblities of why this would happen and what would happen next.

On the other side of the quote, a single death is a tragedy. The people who were statistics to the many viewers of the news have realized that some members of their family were officially gone.

Dead. 

They knew that they were gone from this world. Nothing can bring them back.

Not even a prayer.

--------

Like 9-11 itself, I didn't see this one coming, and just by coincidence, it was about death.

This person has had his parents died in two Aprils, a year separate.

Not that I've had any of my parents die, but I'm pretty sure that when this happens, people tend to call a huge audible in their life.

It's like, making a shotgun play with an I formation play. with ten seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter. 

In the superbowl, no less

I know, what moron of a coach would call that kind of play?

The point of that analogy is that, it is definitely complicated, and it can make or break a career.

Some people tend to sink quicker than the Titanic and lean on the bad side making bad decisions themselves, thinking that without parents, there is no support system.

HOWEVER!

Some people tend to find strength in themselves to swim up, not get sucked in the metaphorical darkhole that is nothing but grief and sadness, adapt quickly, move on in their lives, knowing that they are going to have a good future at the end of the road.

However, again, it does not necessarily mean that this person has not had a rocky road in doing so.

According to this person, they believe that it was luck that helped them out. But that's only the part of it.

The latter, I believe is a desire to live longer, happier. 

This person believes that there's a hell lot going on around and this person does not want to miss out on it because of a very tragic event.

Basically, if this person wants to tell the story to other people and want something for people to not wallow in that memory, it would be this:

The memory lives, but there are a lot of memories to be made still

Not Now.

I first would like to mention that the Mincing project is temporarily postponed for the lack of quality in its blogs. Therefore, I will delete all the previous ones, as it's not to my standard, and some, I just don't want to read again.

But in recent news, Olympics started last Friday, and USA is leading in the medal count, even though China has more Golds than we do.

Oh well, I know USA will pwn the medal count, as well as the gold count itself.

As for the latter, here it is:

Recently, a friend of mine, I should say had his recent realizations in life, and I thought, it was about time I had a moment of silence with myself, and do the same thing as well. Like many other people, and some bedrooms, my life has a lot of stuff in it that needs to be fixed, and I just don't know where to begin either.

Besides my blog that specifically points of my problem not living my life to the fullest (you can check it out, it's called I've Never, and it's here for you in my Facebook Notes section to read), I have not pointed out every single one of my flaws through Facebook notes. And even if I did, I probably would have a ton of them, and Facebook probably would deprive me of my right to write (homonyms suck). 

I hate to point things out, because that's not the type of person that I am, but I believe in two things.

1. Most people are the root of the problem.
2. People have had the same problems as any other person you see everyday.

I believe that most people are the root of the problem because of Jealousy. A lot of people these days, I would say are more privileged than others, which results in some people getting what they want, and some people either having to wait for it, or gut it out if they wanted something.

I, unfortunately am one of those many people who have to gut it out if they wanted something. As much as I hate to say it, I AM jealous of what people have, because I think I've been doing what I've been doing lately, and I don't see anything coming out of it. It's not that I'm making excuses for myself for my inactivity, or whatnot, but I think this is the jealous part of me lashing out my grievances.

No, I'm not having a bad night, I just want to say what's on my mind, and somewhat procrastinate for my paper in AP Lit.

My second point, is that a lot of people have had the same problems as us, no matter how we look at it. Yes, even babies have had the same problems, and they don't even know about it either.

This is why, it sometimes irks me that we see shows like Maury, Jerry Springer, and Dr. Phil. These shows make other people look better, when they're not. I believe that the Jerry Springer audience, besides their desire to show their dicks and tits for Jerry beads, have been cheated on, or had a fucked up life at a point in a period of their lives (thus the base of the show itself). Therefore, the only thing that these TV shows do is that they get a time slot and money out of it, and making people lose their self respect. 

A lot of people do not want to admit that they have a problem, because they have a lot of self confidence. They think that they can get through something without help, and it's seriously biting them in the ass as we speak. 

I was this type of person before, but I realized that I will become what I want to be right now someday, but now is not the right time. 

On my jealousy problem, I'm somewhat over it now. I'll just do what I'm supposed to do tomorrow, and hopefully pull it off the way I want to.


One more thing.

GO USA.
(and Philippines.)