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.