R3. Huh?

Is Mr. Currin a big deal or not? Honestly what is this? Why on Earth are we typing this blog. I mean honestly, clearly our opinions do not matter to Mr. Currin our awesome Online Publishing teacher. He obviously thinks he's a big deal anyways if he's trying to force us to answer this question. How conceited could a man possibly be? Clearly there is no one who is a match for how much he is. But you know what it's all good and I'll play along with his game by saying, yes, Mr. Currin is a big deal everyone. And all of you who disagree have been basically living in a shell for the past 50 years. He likes to laugh at people when they trip and fall to the ground instead of helping them out. It just goes to show you how cruel the world has become to one another. And the stranger part is, he trips every day it seems like. I've seen him trip at least once a week trying to get to the printer or try and get around snooping on everyone's work, which is a big conversation that we could drag out forever for another day. Nevertheless, Mr. Currin, from Angola, NY, the home of many famous people throughout the days is a big deal. I hope one day I can be as important as him in my life. I wonder what it is like, everyone wanting to be around you and using you as their role model and such, it must be nice. I'm glad he has such a high dose of self-esteem it seems to get everyone in a good mood when they're around him but good for him.  I’m glad he’s gotten everything he’s wanted.

R2. Sports

What I love writing about is really anything.  But usually, I'd prefer to write about sports.  Like I don't know what it is I guess I just feel more comfortable writing about them, because I know a ton about almost every sport.  Like last year for example, I wrote about the Varsity Golf team, the JV Girls Basketball team, and the Varsity Baseball team.  The only sports I guess I don't really know much about are swimming, and rifle.  But I mean if those were the only options I had left; I probably would, because quite frankly, I wouldn’t know what else to write about.  When I write I need some sort of topic or something because I just can't pop up with some idea or something.  For our April fools article I couldn't write about sports since we had to come up with something fake you know.  So guess what I wrote about, I wrote about an ocelot breaking out of a zoo and roaming around town.  I mean even though ocelots are the bomb and they are beasts, and one day I am going to own an ocelot one day just because they are so cute and little and I mean if you don't know what they are or what they look like I suggest looking them up, or better yet go to the zoo and see so for yourself.  But anyways sports will always be like my only top option to write about.  I don't think I'll ever be able to have a better topic to write about.  I love sports and I always will love to write about them.  Hopefully that's what I can continue to write about for the future classes.  Next year in OP I look to be one of the top sports writers in the class.

R1. Summer

The best part about the end of the school year is the great weather, and baseball season.  School near the end of the year gets to be really tough on the students.  I mean they are always day dreaming about how they can't wait to get outside and they're thinking about what they are going to do with all their friends later.  And it ruins their concentration in the classroom.  But nevertheless no matter who you are, or how smart you are, everyone gets into this mode, I mean how can't you.  Lately it's been like 80's and beautiful out.  But, more importantly, the best part about the end of the school year is the fact that summer is not too far away.  There is only 13 days left of school here at Alden High School, and the students cannot wait, I know I'm one of them.  And also at the end of the school season, is the spring sports season.  Baseball is probably my most favorite sport of all the different ones that I play.  And it is also the one that I have the most talent in.  I love getting out there in the nice weather, and I don't know what it is but for some reason I just love the sport and everything about it.  Summer may be the best time of the year by far, and even though it is a very busy time for me, the weather is just perfect for me.  I love warm weather and playing out in the sun so much better than the cold and playing outside in the snow.  Even though the snow does have its moments.  I cannot wait for this summer and I am very excited.  I just hope it doesn’t fly by like all the other summers do.  I just want it for once to feel like it lasts forever and I can do everything I want to do during my couple months off of school.  Hopefully its everything it lives up to be.

Q5. The Heat

For my choice blog I am going to write about the NBA playoffs that began about over two weeks ago. The playoffs consist of 3 rounds in your conference and a fourth round that features the two best teams in each conference. This year the Eastern Conference featured the Chicago Bulls who were the number one seed but due to a knee injury to their star point guard Derrick Rose who won the MVP the previous year. The Bulls were knocked out by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. But the Miami Heat led by star forward LeBron James who was the winner of the MVP this season. The Heat are led by their big three, James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The three all came together last season and the team was filled with high expectations. Last season they lost in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks, but this year they already have made it into the second round cruising through the New York Knicks. They now trail the Pacers 2-1 in the second round series. In a series that they lost Bosh due to an injury. In the West, the Thunder are the team to beat. Led by scoring leader Kevin Durant, and guard Russell Westbrook they are the young team and arguably the best team. But, the Thunder have a lot of competition with the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs, are a team that does have a lot of age but with age comes experience and they have been here before and they have a championship. They are looking for multiple rings and are also looking to take down the Thunder. I think that the playoffs this year will be very entertaining. Hopefully, my team, the Heat, will get their first ring with the big three.

Q4. #2

I have many icons in the world or figures that really inspire me to do my best or take my game to the next level.  Derek Jeter is probably one of my favorites in all sports.  He is a baseball for the New York Yankees, my favorite team in Major League Baseball.  He plays shortstop for them, and has been for the past 16 years.  He started his rookie season when I was born, and the amazing thing is, he's been with the Yankees for every single one of those years.  Last season he achieved a very difficult milestone to achieve that not many people have gotten to before.  Last season in a game at home against the Tampa Bay Rays.  Derek Jeter stepped into the box looking for his 3,000 hit.  He would have to get that off of James Shields the, starting pitcher for the Rays on this day.  And Jeter took a hard fastball he got, and he drove it out of the stands.  An amazing accomplishment that will live in his legacy forever.  I know it will in my memory.  And he also is having his best year of his career yet this season.  He bats leadoff for the Yankees and is batting over .315 with a power surge from him.  He already has more home runs this year than he did at the all-star break last year.  Jeter also helps out in the community, he is as real and as genuine of a person as you can get.  I wish one day I could be like him, and he is the best role model anyone could ever have.  Hopefully he can lead the team to another championship this season.  And another all-star appearance for him.  I wish all professional athletes could be like him and not unprofessional.

Q3. English Reading

Every year since about 6th grade we've read a book in class.  To be honest, I don't remember most of the books that we had to read.  In 8th grade, the only book I really remember is "The Outsiders."  Last year in 9th grade I remember reading "My Darling, My Hamburger" and "The Odyssey" and "Romeo and Juliet."  So far this year in 10th grade we have read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I know that it is a classic and it is pretty good.  "The Outsiders" is about all the different clicks and groups in high school back in the old days.  The greasers vs. the jocks is the major battle in this story and it is a very inspiring and moving book.  What Pony Boy does is remarkable.  "My Darling, My Hamburger" was probably my favorite of all the books and stories we read during my freshman year.  It's about these teenagers in high school and the trouble that they get it in and the things they do.  It really is a perfect story for high school kids and the things that they shouldn't do.  It gets into depth of the situations that can help you get out of hard times.  It also realizes what the true meaning of friendship is and how you don't need to do something you don't want to be doing or shouldn't be doing.  I recommend this to everyone.  "To Kill a Mockingbird" is the book we are reading in English now and we are about halfway done with it.  I enjoy the book and it is very interesting to what happened racism wise back in the day.  It is a very educational book that I like and I think people of all ages should read it.  I know most kids my age don't really like reading, but I do sometimes, even though I rarely have the time to do it.  That's why I like it when we read in school, and it helps prepare myself for big tests and such.

Q2. Another Busy Summer

This summer is going to be very busy for me, and it is actually going to be the same deal it was with last year.  I will be traveling all over the north eastern part of the states going to all these different baseball tournaments with my summer travel team.  We are going to the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Boston, and either Maryland or New Jersey pending on how our team is, and how we do in the year.  We start right after school baseball and right when school is about to end.  Right around the first week or so in June, is when we have our first tournament, we start locally, the first tournament or so in Batavia, then we go all over.  We have a tournament every weekend from like the first week in June, all the way up until the first week in August.  I really enjoy it and I get to spend a lot of time with my teammates.  Other than this, there's a summer basketball league through the school which I'll be at, and football starts in July and then starts back up again in the middle of August as we get ready for what should be an excellent season.  We have an awesome team and we are looking to make a run towards the State Championship this year.  I'm going to be going to a football camp in July and some baseball camps for colleges.  Somehow someway I am going to make time for all my friends in there too.  I am looking forward to what should be a very busy summer for me and for my family as well.  I hope everything goes smoothly and everything goes as planned, so I can achieve my goals as planned for my life.

Q1. Rain, Rain, Go Away

You know, the weather this entire Spring season has been absolutley atrosious.  I mean honestly, why does it always have to rain every single baseball season, it's awful.  And boring and annoying.  Like I don't get it.  Esoecially since there was literally no snow all Winter for the most part.  AND the fact that for like a week or two period in March, there were days it was pretty much 80 degrees and beautiful out.  All in a row, it's rediculous, and then like always baseball season rolls around and we get in the same situation were always in.  The rain backs us up or whatever and we end up trying to cram games in the end of the season.  Like the season is supposed to end next week and our team still has six games to play, SIX!  That's hoping every game gets played as scheduled.  And I know there isn't anything anyone can do about it but it's dumb.  But, this isn't really why I;m writing this blog.  I'm really writing it because of the disappointment I had on this past Monday.  We were scheduled to host JFK, a team that we had already lost to earlier in the season.  Coach gave me the opportunity to start the game on the mound, and I was seriously so excited for this game and could not wait at all.  But to suprise all of you, the game got cancelled due to rain.  I was very angry at this, even though I know there wasn't anything I could do, I was still really mad about it.  But, it doesn;t matter today I get to start against Lackawanna, hopefully I do good and our team gets a win.

P5. BCS System

And for my final blog of the week, I am going to write about the possibility of a playoff system in division one College Football.  Now a lot of people hate the BCS system and how it works today.  They feel like it isn't fair to some of the teams that only had one loss in the season that year.  And it doesn't give them a chance to prove themselves or how good the team can be.  I mean like, what if a team loses its first game of the season and won the rest of their games, but two other teams were in front of them because they went undefeated.  Like take the Oregon Ducks of last season.  This team was in the championship game the year before but lost to Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers.  But anyways, there were obviously some huge expectations from this team and they were in the top 10 of the preseason poll.  And in their first game of the season they took on the LSU Tigers who also had big expectations, and were also in the preseason top 10 poll.  It was a very intense game, but there could only be one winner.  And so Oregon came out of the game with a loss, and so they started off with a loss of course.  And even though they didn't win the rest of their games, if they did they may not have been in the championship if there were two other teams who went undefeated.  But anyways, it has been reported that college football may be coming out with a 4 team playoff system, and even though that isn't the best, it is much better than how it is.  I really hope they get this a done deal, it would make everyone much more into it.

P4. The New York Yankees

For my first choice blog of the week I am going to do like an update on the New York Yankees 2012 baseball season.  So far they've been like p and down all year.  I mean the first three games were in Tampa Bay to take on the Rays in the opening series of the year and we got swept in a poor effort right off the beginning if you ask me.  But then, we win four in a row and were looking good.  But overall it has been and up and down year through the first month of the season.  The pitching has been a little iffy at times and the hitting has been iffy at times, you never know what you'll get yet.  CC Sabathia is 3 and 0 so far this year so he's looking good.  Hiroki Kuroda who they brought in this year has been on and off.  One day he looks perfect and then the next he's awful.  And the sad thing is he leads the team with an ERA of 3.69.  That isn't very good if you'd ask me or anyone in that clubhouse.  He and the rest of that pitching staff needs to improve.  We lost Michael Pineda for the season which is a bad blow, and Freddy Garcia had to go to the bullpen because he is so bad.  David Phelps, long reliever for the Yankees has looked sharp and will make his first start tonight against the Orioles.  And Andy Pettitte will be coming to the Big leagues once again very soon hopefully.  But anyways were sitting 4th in the AL East, 3.5 games back.  That isn't that good enough but, I know it is still early and I'm looking forward to being in first at the end of the season.

P3. Teaching Problems

I can see how people have different opinions towards this article and I don't really understand this system.  I mean I know why they are doing these ratings, and I know what they are rating, but I don't feel like this is fair at all.  I mean the people don't know the situation at the school, or with the students.  I mean, what if there isn't a whole lot of resources for the teachers to use, maybe their budget at school is a whole lot worse as compared to some of the other schools out here in Western New York.  I don't know I think I just feel bad for those who aren't getting high ratings and may have to suffer some severe consequences.  It isn't fair to them at all, I mean especially to the woman who even though her students’ grades were not that good, most of them passed the exam.  It's pretty sad that academics has come to this in the first place.  I'm sure that the teachers that have low ratings is because the students they have are not putting any effort into it at all.  It really is not fair at all and I feel really bad for all these people.  Hopefully nothing really bad will happen to them like losing their job and everything.  That would be terrible, I hope this all gets sorts out and they change the rating system.  My mom is a teacher and even though she teaches younger kids, I know that if she were to teach older kids that she wouldn't appreciate the system if her students weren't the best.  And I know that it wouldn't be fair to lose a job or take a pay cut due to that.  It is a very important issue that seems to be over looked and I think we need to fix it.

P2. A Success

Approximately seven months ago, I typed a blog that had to do with all of my goals for the 2011-2012 school/athletic season for me.  And you'll be glad to hear that I have accomplished almost every goal that I have set for myself.  Academically, my goal for this year was to continue my success, and keep on the honor roll.  Last year I was able to get on it all eight times, hoping to continue my streak, so far I have been on it the first three out of three times and I will complete this challenge pending the final quarter of the school year which we are currently in now.  In basketball, I was able to become a captain of the JV team, along with Nick Kibler.  We really did have a solid season as well; we went 14 and 4, even though we had some heartbreaking losses.  One in particular, a loss to Cleve-Hill, in which we missed a shot at the buzzer down by two.  A very disappointing loss that made me 0 and 8 against them in basketball in my career.  On the bright side, I was called up to Varsity for the playoffs and I really am looking forward to next season and for that first win against Cleve--Hill.  Now into the Baseball season.  Well I did get onto Varsity right from the beginning, and I am having a decent amount of success.  Although the weather of recent late has been horrible I've been having fun, and have taken advantage of every opportunity I've had, whether it's pitching or fielding.  I'm looking forward to completing all my goals after the school year, and am even more eager for next school year, which will be the biggest school year for academics and athletics of my life.

P1. Television

I usually watch a couple hours of television a night.  Usually from the time I get home, which varies from 5 to 6 each night.  I'll watch for an hour do some homework, eat some dinner, and then go back to the television or play some Xbox.   Play some MLB on box preferably, or once in a while play some Madden in my online franchise.  But, when I do decide to watch TV I have at least one show that is on per day.  Sunday used to have The Walking Dead on, but now that season has ended.  It also has Desperate Housewives which hasn't been on in a couple weeks for some reason.  Mondays, and majority of Tuesdays are comedy days.  How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, New Girl, and Cougar Town are all half hour shows that are on these two days.  I always find myself laughing hysterically most of the time watching all these shows, and they are very entertaining.  New Girl is probably my most favorite of these, and is also the newest, which could be the reason for it to be my favorite.  Tuesday now recently has also moved Private Practice over to this day from Thursday.  Thursday Night features Grey's Anatomy, The Office, and once in a while Rules of Engagement.  Although The Office is on my list, I don't really watch it that often for some reason.  Ever Since Michael left the show I haven't had as much of an interest as I usually would.  When I'm not watching these shows though it is usually sports all the time, once in a while some movies but mostly sports.  We have 4 working televisions in my house, one in the living room, the kitchen, my parents’ bedroom, and the basement.  There is also one in my room but that only has the ability to play Xbox on.  Television is a great thing as long as you don't get too much of it, and hopefully most kids don't so they can stay healthy.

O4. My Parents

My mother is a school teacher in the Sweet Home School District. She teaches in the 4th grade and is very beloved person in her school. My mom is also on the school board for Alden Education. She was just recently elected to the board within the last year or so. My mom once went to school here in Alden and graduated in the year of 1986. She is a very supportive and awesome mom, and I don't' think I could ever have any other mom that is better than her. Even though im sure most people would say that about theirs, it is the truth no matter what. And the same can be said for my father. My father was an electrician who had his own business but then gave it up once I was born. Now he works at Apple Rubber Products. He is one of the top people in his branch of his company and is a very important person in what goes on in his facility. My dad was once my coach in all three sports I play. He has coached me within the recreational programs for baseball, football, and basketball. The most important of those sports is baseball though because he is basically the sole reason for my love and interest of the game. All I try and do is make him proud each and everyday of my life, even though I don't always do the right thing or say the right thing, or always obey each and every order. I think the relationship between my parents and I are very good. I love them and they love me. I only have a couple more years in the house and my goal is to be the best son I can be and make the most of everything.

O3. Procrastinating

For my choice blog I am going to write about procrastinating. Procrastinating is basically when you put something off until the very last minute pretty much. And so the reason that I am going to write about this is basically because I had to write three blogs by midnight tonight on a day we didn't even have class. And I am not enjoying myself right not due to that. I have approximately an hour and a half to finish this blog and one more. Talk about waiting to the last minute huh? Usually I get my work done in class and this is the first time that I've had to do something for Online Publishing outside of class. In class, I do my work for the most part and have yet to miss a deadline on anything so far in this year. But it seems as though every due date, especially for blogs, I am racing to get them done all the way up until 2:25 when that bell rings. I don't really know why this happens to me like it feels like class and the class days go so much faster than they really should. Either way, doing my blogs isn't really the only thing I wait until the last second with. Like, for all my projects and homework, they don't really get done until the last second. I mean, I'm like up until 10:30, 11 o'clock at night so many times throughout the years. I really would like to start getting things done earlier. Maybe I wouldn't be so tired all the time and I wouldn't be struggling to get up in the morning all the time. Hopefully I will be able to get past this at some point in my life.

O2. Schooling

I think this is a very interesting article and topic. Most people wouldn't expect this going through their high school years not looking to go to college. Kids usually choose the road of not going to college for multiple reasons. Either they don't have the grades, they're parents own a business and they're looking to take over one day, or they don't know what they want to do yet and it's too late. I am going to go to college to pursue my dreams and try and get a good job and live a good and successful life. I would like to go to school to become either a journalist or a broadcaster, which is what I would like to major in. I'd like to become a sports anchor one day or maybe a commentator for a sport. Or even a journalist in the sports column of a big time newspaper or magazine. Or even get the chance to follow a team around and cover them. Hopefully the rest of my life will be good to me. I know I sure am looking forward to it. I have my life planned out, I even have some back-up plans if the first couple don't work. Schooling is one of the most important things that a person needs in life. You can't really do much without it. I feel almost every kid should get into school and pay attention to what is happening. I hope everyone gets everything they’ve wanted out of life. I know that the chances of that aren’t very high but if you put your best efforts into everything you do, there’s a good chance you will get something positive out of it. Good luck to everyone and hope you are successful in life.

O1. Guillen Makes a Big Mistake

I read over an article from espn.com regarding the issue of Ozzie Guillen, the Manager of the Miami Marlins.  The article was titled "Ozzie Guillen returns, changed?"  A week or so ago Guillen made a comment about Fidel Castro the former Prime Minister and President of Cuba.  A dictator who put the Cuban people in misery.  Anyways, Ozzie told made a statement to reporters that would change his life, and what people thought of him.  "I love Fidel Castro."  Those words put the people in Miami in a huge state of shock.  They couldn't believe it and turned against Ozzie.  A lot of angry people wanted him out, and angry mobs formed outside of the new stadium.  Guillen apologized a couple days later and felt terrible.  He felt as if he betrayed the entire city, and the entire Latino race.  Ozzie had a 50 minute long press conference to show how sorry he was.  His apology truly did come from the bottom of his heart as you could see the remorse in his face and in his eyes.  Major League Baseball gave him a 5-game suspension that Ozzie has already served.  He returned to the diamond earlier this week, and surprisingly things were normal around.  The cops didn't have any mad men looking for trouble with him.  Just a usual day at the ballpark.  Only thing different was the attendance of the, which was expected though especially as it was a weeknight game.  Ozzie Guillen has always been a head case and is known to do dumb things, but this is by far his worst.  He has put himself on his own probation and is looking to gain the trust back from the fans and the people within the organization.  Guillen will have to do everything to keep quiet for a while.

N4. The Tragedy

The incident that occurred with Trayvon Martin is an absolute tragedy without question.  I feel really bad for the entire Martin family and am really sorry for their loss.  I think there is something wrong with this case and something doesn't seem right with what George Zimmerman did to him.  Like the anchorman said to Mr. Martin in their interview on CNN, I wear a hoodie, a pair of jeans, and white sneakers every day.  I do not think that there is anything suspicious about that or what happened.  It doesn't matter what time in the night it was.  I feel like this was a huge mistake and I believe it may have had something to do with race.  I do not believe George's claim in that he supposedly was attacked by Trayvon and him shooting him was basically just self-defense.  Also, why was George even carrying a gun in the first place?  Even if he was on so called neighborhood patrol, does he really need a gun for that?  It must be a very a tough neighborhood then I guess.  Also I think that the cops could've done a much better job of getting to the scene and stopping George.  I understand that you can't really get to the scene right at that moment but, still.  And it also seemed to me as if the dispatcher on the other end of the phone didn't really care or showed no urgency to the caller in both of the phone calls.  Something is up here and I think some investigating needs to be done.  It all falls back on the issue of race though.  In this whole case it seems as if everyone is against Trayvon and no one will give George Zimmerman what he deserves.  It is a sad case.

N1. Five Questions with Laura Slojkowski

For these blogs, Mr. Currin set us up with another member of this class to you know, get a little information on this person.  We were to ask them five questions and then write a blog about what you learned and stuff like this.  Well I had the nice opportunity of interviewing Laura Slojkowski, a senior in this class.  Laura is going to attend Hilbert College next year where she will be majoring in Paralegal Studies.  Hilbert College is located approximately a half hour from Alden and is in Hamburg, New York.  It is a Division III school, and also a private school, a phenomenal school that will hopefully be good to Laura.  Hopefully this will lead her to becoming a court demographer, what she would like to be when she's older.  Or even a learner’s assistant which is another path she would consider taking after college is.  On another note, Laura loves to play soccer, and although she isn't playing in college she has played in school and an indoor soccer league.  She also loves to cook and bake on her free time.  She enjoys making vegetarian food due to the fact that she doesn't like meat.  Maybe this is why she loves the TV Show Man vs. Food.  She likes to see all the different foods and it makes her more and more excited to cook the next thing she wants.  Her favorite animal is a lizard.  Although she hasn't owned one before, she has always just liked them and thinks that they are cool.  I wish Laura the best of luck in college for her and I hope it all goes well.  And that all her career dreams come true.  Hopefully I will be able to get to know Laura some more at one point, I look forward to learning more and more about it. 

N3. My Future

I do not really have an official job as to date, but for the past few years I have done some recreational work.  I have refereed, and umpired recreation soccer, basketball, and baseball.  I think this upcoming year will be my third or fourth year.  My 16th birthday was this past January and so when your 16 that's usually the time for you to get a job.  You start to drive and stuff and you basically start to become more mature and start to do things on your own.  So I decided to apply for a job.  I applied at the Alden Pharmacy in town.  I applied here because this is where my Mom worked when she was younger, and I know the boss a little bit, he's the father of Andy Smith, the Varsity Basketball and JV Baseball Coach, who I'm good friends with.  And last night I received a voicemail while I was at training and it was the Pharmacy looking to see if I was still interested in working there, hopefully I will be able to get an interview and eventually a job that I will have to fit in my busy schedule.  When I'm older though I kind of know what I would like to do.  I really want to go to a Division 1 school even if it isn't for sports.  I just would like to go for the amazing atmospheres in all the sports stadiums and I feel as though it would be a phenomenal experience and would prepare me for the future, a good and exciting future.  I cannot wait till I am older so I can do different things and have fun while being serious in what I am going to do.  Hopefully I am going to be a successful person and be happy with myself.

N2. The Best Spring Ever

Spring to me is like my second favorite season of the year behind summer.  Mainly because of the fact that spring is when baseball season rolls around.  And since baseball is my favorite and best sport spring has to be a good season.  Although it isn't like summer with the weather and everything else, spring still has its moments.  Like for now for instance.  The weather is beautiful out there and has been sunny and high temperatures for about the last week or two.  And tomorrow it's supposed to be 80 and sunny! It is only March 20th! We have been having record temperatures for the last week and it has been beautiful out.  I love everything that is going on with the weather.  It has even affected baseball.  Usually in the past we aren't able to even step on a baseball field until like April.  This year though we we're able to get outside within like the first week!  Even though this year has been amazing with the weather and all, sometimes Spring can be one of the most boring seasons of the year, especially when all it is, is rain and snow or just muddy all the time, just overall crappy weather.  But, that isn't the point because this year is perfect.  I've also been able to get a lot more done than usual.  Football workouts have also started and our road to a State Championship in the 2012 Alden Football season has begun.  It feels really good to get back out there and it makes me excited.  I cannot wait for the actual practices begin.  Spring is in the air, and we are only a couple months away from the best season of all time, summer.  I’m excited especially to go all over the place for many baseball tournaments.

M4. Uh Oh

For my choice blog this week I'm writing about the upcoming NCAA Tournament, and the tragic news I received around 2:30 pm Tuesday afternoon.  As some of you know, I love Syracuse Basketball; I live and die by it.  And so as you would expect for all the college basketball followers out there, I was really excited for the Tournament as the Orangemen went an outstanding 31 and 2 throughout the regular season, good enough to be the #2 ranked team for the last month and a half of the season.  They also were able to receive a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament that started two days ago.  But anyway, about the news I discovered the other day.  Fab Melo the center for the Syracuse Orange was declared ineligible for the entire tournament.  Now, Melo may not be the best player on the team, but he is by far the most important player on the team, and anchors that famous Boeheim 2-3 zone.  There is no one on the team who plays as big of a role as he does.  He blocks shots, gets the majority of the rebounds, and even takes a charge which is a very unique quality for him that not many other big men have.  All in all, Melo gets the Orange more stops and more possessions.  He has had this issue earlier in the year and missed three games because of it.  In those three games, 'Cuse went 2-1 and their lone regular season loss happened as well.  With him the team averages a 16 point margin of victory, without him they are even.  Now they have a much steeper hill to climb and have to prove all the doubters wrong.  I’m pulling for them but it will not be easy.  Their run begins today at 3:10 pm.

M3. Thank You Mex

I have had a lot of embarrassing moments in my life, but the one I am going to tell you about a recent one, and strange one at that.  A moment that occurred in this class in fact.  That involved myself of course, and Zachary Mex Miner, who I have the pleasure of sitting next to here in Online Publishing.  So around the month of October, we were sitting here, and I had a question or a favor to ask of Mr. Currin.  I honestly couldn't even tell you what it was because it was so long ago and probably not that important.  Anyways, Mex just wanted to be extra close to me on that day.  I don't know if he was cold or just wanted some or something but I couldn't tell you, ask him.  So our chairs were basically on top of each other.  As I got up my right foot was caught in between the two chairs, my left foot was free though and was out.  So I was trying to take little steps with my left foot, you know trying to break free my right foot, no more than what most people would do in this situation.  I was up there for about a minute just doing my best to get out of there.  And then, everyone started to see what was going on and they started staring at me.  But the best has yet to come.  Ten seconds later I couldn't break free and it was very strange, and I slowly just fell to the ground.  Everyone started laughing hysterically at me and I was so embarrassed and I turned red, and I still receive some comments about it, and/or references to it when other people are have trouble.  Oh well, hopefully one day people will get over it.

M2. My Greatest Idea Ever

Texting and driving is an awful thing that quite frankly, no matter how big the consequences are whether it's death or major injuries or just a big fine, isn't going to end.  People text and drive or take a call or even just look at their phone, are putting their life and other lives at stake.  I can almost guarantee you there is someone using their cellular device as I type this right now.  Two years ago, in 2010 33,788 lives were lost in the United States alone from just getting in an accident while being distracted.  Over 8,000 crashes occur daily due to distracted driving according to AAA.  Common Sense Media says that 80% of teenage girls admit to texting behind the wheel, compared to only 58% of teenage boys.  Every 1 in 4 police reported crash is traced back to a driver being distracted.  The problem is more towards teenagers and young adults from the ages of 16 to mid-20’s.  I honestly don't know what to do or what anyone can do to stop the madness that is going in the world of driving.  Well you know what would be cool and a way to stop this? Put a chip inside of the phone and it can read when you’re in the driver's seat.  Like when the car is on and in motion and you pull your phone out for something, what if the phone had the ability to automatically shut off the car.  Like think of how awesome that would be if it had that power.  Think about it, you decrease the risk of an accident or a death; you decrease the chance of being pulled over and being fined.  That is a great idea that I just came up with.  I'm very proud of myself and someone should look into this.

M1. The First Celebration

St. Patrick's Day is honestly pretty dumb to me.  First of all it isn't even a holiday, so it really doesn't even make sense as to why some people make such a big deal out of it and love it so much.  But it really isn't my place to judge them or whatever so I mean if they think it’s cool well then good for them.  This year though St. Patrick’s Day is special.  My girlfriend Brittany Ferron a freshman here at Alden High School was born on this day so unfortunately I do have to celebrate it this year and it does have a little more of importance.  I don't know for sure what we’re going to be doing yet but, I do know that I am going out on a nice dinner with her whole family and then there is a parade downtown that we may be going to.  So although this is happening I don't have much more to write about for St. Patty's Day so I will finish this by doing some family traditions.  Usually for every holiday we go to my grandmothers and my grandma and grandpa’s house.  There really isn’t anything unusual about what we do or what do.  Although lately for the 4^th of July my Uncle who now lives in South Carolina in a beautiful home that everyone on my mom’s side visited for Christmas usually brings a ton of fireworks up here and we have some fun times.  And as I said earlier for Christmas we went to South Carolina, everyone did.  It was a little crazy at times but, overall it was pretty fun.  I wouldn’t want to do it again though, well at least not every year, I’d rather stay home and enjoy Christmas here.  Hopefully we start some traditions and hopefully St Patrick’s Day is a good time this year.

L4. 2012 Baseball

This upcoming spring sports season is going to be a very good and exciting season.  I am really looking forward to this and it is also a very important season.  This year I am looking to be back up on Varsity Baseball after I ended last season with the team.  Hopefully I am able to get the opportunity to get back up there and maybe even start the season with the team.  This year is very important for me in the baseball world because this is the year before colleges are able to start talking to me.  I need to get better and better with each practice and game so that I will be able to have more opportunities when I start looking at schools.  Baseball tryouts start next Monday the 6th and I am really looking forward to this.  I have been playing baseball pretty much all year and there is no break because I am on a travel team that goes all over the place in the summer and then starts practice back up in October.  We also should have a pretty decent team this year with more experience compared to last year.  Although we have lost some very good ballplayers we do have some quality guys returning and it should be a lot of fun.  I also am going to be able to write for the JV Baseball team coached by Andy Smith.  Maybe I’ll even be able to continue putting those articles in the Alden Advertiser.  I get to play under Coach Zccardo who I have gotten better to know and have gotten a chance to become closer with over the past few years.  Overall it should be a good sports season all around, and I am really looking forward to it and am excited for.

L3. My Potential

I guess that I could say that there are a lot of things that make me angry, but there really isn't anything major or terrible that makes me have a bad day or puts me in a bad mood.  I think that also has to do with the fact that it takes a lot to make me angry.  If there's one thing that I'm pretty good at, it's keeping my composure.  Although it is a good quality to have in life, it is really dragging me down in sports.  I feel as though if I could keep my anger on the field and court, and still be the nice and friendly person that I usually am.  I feel as though I can do much more in all three sports to reach my full potential.  Coaches and other people are always telling me to be meaner outside of school, meaning sports.  They feel like that if I can be able to do this that I would be better off and would be able to improve as a player.  And what they always tell me is that it starts with practice.  And I know that I have to do these things and I want to do, I think it's that I just don't know how.  With that being said, being angry isn't really my thing, I mean I get angry over stupid little things that aren't important but everybody does at some point.  I want to be able to get angry for sports but I really don’t know how or don't have a reason to, although I do feel like I've been doing a much better job with it this year.  I think that in football I started to get in on tackling more and on the basketball court I started to drive more and take it to the basket; hopefully I can do even better with it in baseball.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

L2. The Incident

There is one thing and one thing only that I am deeply scared of and fear the most, snakes.  All snakes any snake of any size and shape, they creep me out.  I honestly couldn't even tell you what has possessed me to fear them or why I am so scared of them.  I think something must have happened or I must have seen something or had some awful dream.  But like even when little tiny garter snake came in our lawn I would still run away.  One time this past summer I was playing in a baseball game at Batavia High School, and it was before the game and I had to go to the bathroom, now this field in Batavia is pretty much just an open area and there really isn't any little setup like concession stands or bathrooms or even portable bathrooms.  So I wandered off looking for woods and I found a place and right when I got there, I saw a snake.  A pretty large if you ask me.  I mean this was about three feet long, and for being in New York this was a pretty solid snake.  I was so scared when I got there and saw it that I ran away from there and headed back to the bench.  I still had to go to the bathroom at that point, but I was just too scared to go back out.  It was pretty embarrassing but luckily, nobody saw me.  Hopefully I will never have to go through another situation like this.  This is just another reason and officially the biggest reason of why I am so frightened of these deathly reptiles.  Hopefully one day my fear of snakes will come to an end, but I honestly can’t tell you what it will take.

L1. Super Bowl XLII

My greatest Super Bowl memory, or favorite Super Bowl of all time, is Super Bowl XLII.  Mostly because this is also the game that I really watched and was interested in for the first time.  Super Bowl 42 featured the 18-0 New England Patriots, and the 13-6 New York Giants.  The Giants had one job and one job only to do, to stop Tom Brady and the Patriots from perfection.  The task was not easy, and the only way they could do this was to stop the high powered offense led by Tom Brady and Randy Moss, more importantly, to get pressure on Brady.  The Giants completed this task and there were able to get him out of his rhythm.  Led by veterans Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, New York was able to sack him 5 times, especially late when they were needed the most.  Oh and don't forget, ‘The Catch,' the catch by David Tyree of the Giants.  A miracle play where Eli Manning escaped the entire Patriot defensive line, and chucked the ball 30 yards downfield to Tyree who had Patriots Safety Rodney Harrison draped all over him.  Tyree caught the ball on his helmet and had control throughout his entire way down and did not let it touch the ground.  A crazy play that I, and most football fans will remember for the rest of their lives, just a few plays later Manning to Plaxico Burress for the touchdown with just 42 seconds left on the clock.  Manning began this drive with 2:42 left on the clock and went 83 yards to take the 17-14 lead.  Super Bowl 42 is by far the greatest Super Bowl, for a couple reasons.  For one, because I got to see Tom Brady go down on the brightest stage, and their perfect season be ruined.

K4. The End

The wallpaper in the background with the doves are located in Justin's room, and are representing the peace and love that he is now showing.  Ever since that night of Justin's dream this is what his life has become.  He even made this change to the wallpaper to make his room a much more peaceful and loving place to be in.  Before this his room had a scary and hazardous feel to it.  He had some awful and disturbing photos and posters in his room.  But after that night when he had the amazing dream that changed his life, he changed everything.  He even left his window open to let in the nice warm summer breeze.  One day while he was at school and he left the window open, a dove appeared on his window sill.  The dove saw all of the others on the wallpaper and wanted to join and was very interested in what was going on.  And so the dove tried to fit in with the rest of the others and that basically tells the story of Justin's life.  Instead of being the bad guy in his life and in his social life he decided he just wants to be better and fit in.  But yet, he doesn't want to act like everyone else, he just wants to be his own person, a good person.  As Justin grew older he became just that, and matured with it.  He went to college, got a good education, and became a sports analyst for ESPN.  He found the perfect girl and lived a good life with his wife and 2 children.  And Justin would always remember that night, and that dream that changed his life for the better.  Justin died happily of old age and could not have lived a better life.

K3. The Reasons

This picture sort of reminds of New York City back in the old days.  I mean you have a kid and his father looking out on a river or lake or any kind of body of water.  Plus, there is the city background and the bridge.  This scene has a little bit of an emotional reaction to me, but it can feel like this to everyone not just me.  The kid in the photo is the same kid in the picture before this, except in his younger years.  This is what Justin was dreaming about.  The good times he had with his father when he was younger.  Now his father is gone, he was killed in a tragic car accident.  Justin was just 8 years old at the time of the accident and has trouble remembering what happened, but he still knows the big picture.  Justin's father was killed on a snowy night in December, coming home after going out with some friends for dinner.  When coming home, he was hit by a drunk driver late that night and Justin and his mother received the news around 11 pm that night.  Justin was devasted and this basically ruined his life.  He became a bad kid, his grades went down, and he started to get in more and more trouble at school.  His mother was really concerned with him and honestly didn’t even know what to do with him.  She tried everything, moved him to different schools and everything.  One night she just couldn't handle it and was done with the stress she just cried and cried all night long.  That is when Justin had his dream and realized what he has been doing and felt awful.  This night changed his life for the worse, but after a while it got a little better.

K2. Justin's New Life

This boy goes by the name of Justin.  Justin is a normal kid does normal things and is 13 years old.  Justin is an athlete and plays football and basketball.  Now even though he may not be the best he does put the effort in to do his best.  He does little mini work outs before he goes to bed every night.  He does his pushups and sit-ups just so he can get stronger and better.  He also has a height advantage over a lot of people, in his class he is in the top 5 of height.  But now, at this moment, Justin is in his own place and is having a dream, a good dream, and a dream that will change the way he looks at life and will make him a much better all-around person.  This dream is basically like a vision; well I guess it is a vision actually.  He sees the future.  He sees what will happen and how the world could possibly end, and when it could possibly end.  He experiences the whole world in destruction, and watches the fear and the panic of everyone, and is saddened.  When he wakes up he remembers everything, but for some odd reason he doesn't get the panic and the dream doesn't phase him.  He takes as an opportunity.  He realizes that anything can happen at any time so you need to live life one day at a time and take nothing for granted.  Justin decides he needs to be nicer to everyone and put forth all the effort he has all the time so if something were to go wrong, he would have no regrets.  Justin goes out and lives the dream eventually making it into the NBA, and is still living happily today with his wife and kids.

K1. Bye Bye Cat...

I'm not the most creative person, nor do I have the best imagination around, so clearly these four blogs are going to be quite difficult.  This man in the picture his name is John.  John is coming home from work at McDonald's where he finds this mysterious thing under his rug.  It is stray cat and so a lot of chaos is going on.  First of all, the cat snuck into his house through the little flap door for John's dog.  The dog chased the cat all over the house and that is how the cat found itself under the rug, however as you can see the huge mess in the background, things falling over and the mess that was created.  Well when John walks in the door he takes his visor off goes upstairs and that's when he hears the crying of the cat.  He comes downstairs and see's the lump and is freaking out and doesn’t know what to do.  He is scared so his first instinct is to grab a chair and hit the creature with it.  He is still currently unaware of what it is so he kills it.  He then looks under the rug and discovers what it is and feels awful.  He feels so terrible that he starts to cry.  He goes outside to bury it in the rain in his backyard and is still crying as this is going on.  It is maybe the worst day of his life and can't live on.  It does take him a very long time to get over the fact that he murdered a harmless animal.  He even goes to church and has to confess for him to get over it.  He does and after a week he moves on with his life and buys a new cat as well.

J4. A Tough One

For my choice blog, I am going to update you on my JV Basketball season, and tell you about the heartbreak that was against Cleve Hill for the second time.  On Friday January 20th we traveled to Cleve Hill to take on the Eagles.  Now if you reflect back to the blog I wrote about a month ago about our first meeting, it didn't go to well.  We lost by 12 at home and that made it seven straight losses in my career against Cleve Hill in basketball.  Heading on the road into their house the team and I would be looking for revenge and I would be looking for my first ever win against Cleve Hill.  At the beginning of the game both teams showed the hustle and showed the effort and showed that they would stop at nothing for a win.  After some quiet shooting by both teams in the first half, we were losing at the break.  Coming back out it was as if we were sleeping, we couldn't score, no help defense, and they tore us apart.  Heading into the last quarter we trailed by 10 and it was not looking good.  But, we came out of the huddle and dominated the fourth quarter.  We scored a season high 24 points in the quarter alone, more than half of our game total.  We came out and hit a three on our first three possessions and it looked as though we could not miss.  Getting back into the game we trailed by 5 with a minute left.  We hit a shot and fouled them so they would shoot free throws, they missed, and we made a layup to make it a one point game.  As they inbounded we got a perfect trap in the corner and got the ball back.  But, unfortunately we missed a shot at the buzzer and we would go down and drop our record to 9 and 3.  It was a very disappointing loss and maybe the toughest loss of my career.  It also made me 0 and 8 against the Eagles and I will have to wait another year for my win against them.

J3. Not Just One

To be honest, I don't really have a favorite band or musician.  I really only like different kinds of music, and listen to a big variety of music.  Sure I have few different favorites, and so I guess I'll just name a couple different people.  Near the top at least recently, is going to be Wiz Khalifa, Lil' Wayne, B.o.B., and maybe even a little LMFAO.  I really love Wiz Khalifa's music, I think he is at the top of my list because he just has so many quality songs.  I think that my favorite of his songs is either, When I'm Gone, or Roll Up.  Lil' Wayne is maybe one of the most popular artists in the world and is beloved by almost everyone.  Wayne just released his latest cd called Tha Carter IV.  This album has the most selling copies of his entire album and is phenomenal.  I have a copy of this album uploaded on my iPod and listen to most of his songs daily.  My top of his songs are: Blunt Blowin', John, and Nightmares on the Bottom.  B.o.B. just released one of my favorite songs of late which is Strange Clouds.  Lil' Wayne was also featured in this song and just made it even more amazing.  B.o.B. also released a hit called Nothin' on You a long time ago but is still played all around the music world.  LMFAO has been one of the most consistent bands of late.  They have released two big hits lately, one in Party Rock Anthem, and Sexy and I Know It.  LMFAO is probably the most popular band of late.  Since I do not have just one favorite band or musician, like I said I like a lot of different music and have a plethora of people I like.

J2. My Favorite Teachers

For my favorite school teachers in the primary and middle school I have decided to write about multiple teachers.  For the first one I have chosen Mr. Schutz.  Mr. Schutz was my first grade teacher, and has now been promoted to 3rd grade.  I really enjoyed my days with him and he made each and every single day of class fun for all of us.  Now since first grade was such a long time ago, I obviously cannot remember a lot from that time, but I do remember a few things.  Like some of the kids that were in his class as well that I became pretty good friends with in this year also.  Nick Kibler and Ed Hutschenreuter were both in my class and it did not take very long for us to all be pretty good friends.  Now since my schooling of K-5 was so good I have picked another teacher for my favorite and that is Mrs. Stoldt who was my 5th grade teacher.  I have known Mrs. Stoldt for a little while because I am very good friends with her son, and classmate, Brian Stoldt.  Since Brian and I are good friends, going into 5th grade I already had a good relationship with her which made it easier, and gave us some good times.  Every day I would walk into her class in the spring and we would talk about how the Yankees were doing and what happened in their game last night.  I really enjoyed this and made 5th grade so much easier and more fun.  I usually love most of my teachers every year, K-5 were all good just as any other year.  Hopefully in the rest of my schooling years, I will be having just as much fun if not more with the rest of my teachers.

J1. My Hero

In a hero there are many great and different characteristics and qualities.  There are all different kinds of heroes in the world or people in the world that you could label a hero.  I mean there’s always the cops and the firefighters in the world who do some very important and special things to help our day go smoothly and our lives for that matter.  Plus you have the Army, National Guard, Navy, and the Marines.  All these people are probably the biggest heroes in our world today.  They fight for our country, our rights, and our freedom.  Without out them, who knows what America would be like, or even if we would be alive.  They are the definition of a hero.  Now with that being said, you have the pop culture heroes.  The sports figures, the famous musicians and artists.  Also some people could have their hero be a political figure, such as a President, or leader somewhere else around the world.  Now I have a ton of different heroes, for every different kind of hero that there is in the world.  I feel as though that since I am such a huge sports fan that it would be appropriate for my all-time favorite hero to be a sports figure.  Now I love almost every sport, and so I have multiple heroes.  But for this blog specifically I feel like I am going to choose LeBron James.  LeBron James is by far my favorite basketball player and arguably the best in the NBA.  He has been in the league for 8 years now and is still in his prime.  Only 27, James came straight out of high school as the number one draft pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Since then, LeBron has won 2 MVP's and has switched teams to the Miami Heat.  LeBron will be hoping to win his first NBA Title this season, something that could make him a little less criticized as a player.

I4. The One and Ony Bill Penny

For my last blog of the week we have been asked as a class to write a choice blog.  And as a request from Bill Penny, he is the topic this week.  Bill Penny is a senior here at Alden High School; I also have the privilege of sitting next to him here in Online Publishing.  Bill and I have some fun times and enjoy each other’s' presence, although if you have read his blogs lately you may not think so.  Bill decided it would be nice to bash me and the fact that I have been forced to change seats next him.  Even though he feels this way, I still have respect him and I'll get over it, and so will he.  Because deep down inside of him, we all know he was kidding, otherwise woe would never talk and our seating arrangement would be a problem but it's not.  Going into other topics, Bill loves to workout.  He is at the weight room pretty much every day and can put up a lot of weight in the bench press; he is probably one of the strongest in there.  When he is older, he wants to be an accountant, and is undecided of what to do when he gets out of school.  I don't know how much longer I will be sitting next to Bill, but I do know that I enjoy myself in this class whether I'm sitting next to Bill or not.  And I believe Bill either will or has gotten over the fact that I may be here for a little while.  I feel like our relationship is grow stronger and stronger each day, but we'll see what happens.  Also let’s wish for Bill to have phenomenal career after high school, because he does have potential.

I3. South Carolina

My holiday break was full of spending time with my family, and a little time with my friends.  My holiday break started off by playing a game in basketball against the Roy-Hart Rams, we won the game to improve our team to a quality 6 and 2.  From then on I had to do something I did not want to do, and that was to take a 14 hour drive to South Carolina and stay there with family for the holidays.  Now I love my family, but I did not want to stay with my entire Mom's side of the family in the same house for 5 days.  Surprisingly we all got along and honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Probably though because we stayed in my uncle's huge house where we all had our own rooms and were able to do our own thing.  Aside from when we all went out together, I was able to have my normal peaceful break.  The family and I got a chance to check out the University of Clemson which was pretty awesome.  I was able to get a look in the football stadium as well as get into the baseball diamond.  We drove around the humongous campus for a little while and eventually parked and walked down a shopping and food plaza street.  The rest of the week we pretty much just hung out, one day the weather was so nice that we were able to take his boat out on the lake that is off of his house.  So overall the family trip was decent, but I still don't think I would want to do the same thing again or for any other holiday, I like just staying home and enjoying myself along with my friends and some family time.

My Bucket List

There are a lot of things I'd love to do before the day I die, there's good chance that most of them won't happen but we can only hope.  Of the things on my bucket list, my top one is to going to championships of all major sports including college. To me this goes all together as one big item, and as a major sports fan, my ultimate dream is to go to championships of football, basketball, baseball, and even hockey.  Now what would be really awesome is for me to go when my teams are in the finals.  As a sports fan you can't ask for anything more for yourself and your team.  The second of my top three items on my bucket list is to take a trip to Africa.  I want to go on an adventure into the rain forests and out in the jungle.  Even though I would be completely terrified to go, I would love to go and explore and try to overcome my fears.  I'd like to go in peace with only a few people, close friends, and we'd go for a couple days and have fun.  Hopefully nothing bad would happen to us and we wouldn't have any disasters, like getting bitten by something or even just encountering a threat to our lives, just having a peaceful time.  For my last item on my list I want to go sky diving.  Sky diving is very dangerous, but if you really want to do something, the risks are worth it.  Sky diving can be dangerous, but I feel like it is really something I would want to do and there would be people there to help me if there's trouble.  My bucket list has some crazy, yet fun activities on it; hopefully I can stick to my list and get it done.

How Long Can I Keep This Up?

For 2012 I have told myself that I was going to do a couple different things for my resolution, or resolutions.  One of those has to do with school and being more responsible.  That resolution is waking up earlier and making my morning much easier so I do not have to rush.  It will put less stress on my entire family and myself.  Usually I try to wake up around quarter after 6 or maybe even 6:30, I will set my alarm off of my phone and I'll wake up to it, but I tend to not feel like waking up and I will just lay there, or I'll fall back asleep, this year and hopefully even longer than that I am able to achieve my goal.  This morning I think that I had failed my task.  I never want to wake up past 6:30, and this morning I didn't get up until 6:35.  So even though that isn't really a bad start I am going to try to do better.  Now for my other resolution it is for religion.  I would like to become a little more involved and to do this I feel it would be appropriate to pray every night before I go to bed.  Now usually I don't pray that often, but I would still go to church most of the time.  Now I don’t really go because of friends or sports or some other reason.  In the future at least I want to become closer to God by praying.  So far I'm doing pretty good, I have done it the first two days.  Hopefully I can continue this and will help me in the long run of the rest of my life.  People usually don’t follow through on their resolutions, mainly because they’re too busy or are just too lazy, but maybe this year will be different and better to people.