Thursday, September 24, 2009

2012: An Inconvenient Truth.

Let me assure you now that this isn't going to be a post about how the world is going to end in the year 2012. In fact, it's the complete opposite. And that's why the title is "2012: An Inconvenient Truth" - because it's inconvenient to the people that believe the world is going to end.

With the aid of Google, I found myself a list of "220 Dates for the End of the World."

I'm not impressed.

Frankly, the world was supposed to end in 44 B.C. Prophecies of fires, earthquakes that will rattle the world and the return of Jesus Christ have been told to occur sometimes more than three times a year.

Who the hell started this nonsense, anyways? He or she is probably laughing in their grave as I speak.

As most people are aware of the controversy ("Is the world really going to end in 2012?) that is now sweeping the nation - let alone the Earth - what should really be acknowledged is that the world is allegedly going to "end" in 2036.

Seriously people, let's make up our minds: 1988, 1992, 2000, 2012, 2036? Or how about "The world really isn't going to end on a predicted date."?

What else should be considered is that the world could abruptly implode or spontaneously combust before you even finishing reading this "rant blog".

The Mayan calendar came to an abrupt halt on December 22, 2012. Most people want to know: Why? And this is where the conspiracies have started. But has anyone really thought that, "hey, you know what? Maybe the Mayans became lazy. Maybe they were sick and tired of writing up a calendar, doing all the math and considering those leap years that in reality, nobody can really comprehend." Or perhaps, "It has been said that the Mayan's marked the end of each era - every 26,000 years. Maybe this is the end of an era? The era of technology?" Or, "The era of the beginning of Global Warming!" But that's a rant for another day.

You're probably wondering where this rant is going, and I can assure you that if I continue, it'll probably go off the deep end. You might hear of how I blame the Bible, because a decent size of the predictions I have stumbled across mention the Bible. "Hell hath no fury," but Heaven appears to have a bit of a "fury". I won't go any farther from there, because - like the global warming (which, in all truth, I do believe is something that is threatening the Earth) it is a rant for another day.

All in all, let me sum up this rant politely and liberally:

My thoughts on the "The world is ending in 2012" is that it's not going to happen. The world was going to end in 2000, but seeing as how the Earth has held it's weight for a good nine years, I'm not entirely concerned. If our planet ceases to exist after a series of fires, tsunamis, and other disasters, I will embrace my demise with open and accepting arms, admitting that I, and this tirade, was wrong.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Top 3 TV Shows




The subject I chose for my "Top 3" is Television Shows.
Original, right?
I'm judging three TV shows that I have watched regularily based on: level of entertainment (storyline, drama, suspense, holds interest, etc.), characters (are they well-rounded characters that the audience can relate to? Appealing? Are creative in the sense of their biographies?) and overall what you learn or can take from the show.

First, the ratings:

1. House MD
2. Surviving Disasters
3. Heroes

1. House MD:


Is House a form of entertainment? Certainly; it isn't a show just for doctors. An 'Average Joe' such as a high school student could follow the series, then talk about it with their friends with confidence.

The storyline is captivating: while it is always changing with each episode (when a new patient is taken into the hospital) the plot with the main character, Gregory House, is easy to follow and interesting. Looking past the list of diseases, medicines and crazy hospital tools that are listed off, the show provides suspense, drama, and even romance. The show does an amazing job of building up the suspense during the few minutes of show time you get, then leading to a peak just as commercials hit. This leaves the audience on the 'edge of their seat', waiting for the two minutes of screeching commercials to end and for the show to come back on.

Character-wise, there are many people in the series that the audience can take a liking to. Each character has their own unique personality, allowing a bit of head-on-head clash every now and then. Not only does this add drama, but it also adds into the romance category. On the topic of characters, each has their own interesting past that can connect with not only the audience, but others in the show. Gregory House's plotline that was mentioned before is about him, a genius doctor, struggling with an addiction that he is having difficulties overcoming while treating patients to the best of his ability.

So what can an 'Average Joe' walk away with, in the sense of knowledge, after watching an episode of House MD?

A lot.

The show is educational, describing many forms of diseases and what they do, as well as listing off (as mentioned before) hospital tools. House allows the audience's mind to get active, and guess what disease or illness the patient may have.

House MD is rated my number one in the top three for its suspense, drama, characters, and amazing plotline.

2. Surviving Disasters:

Suspensful, full of action, and a plotline that always changing, Surviving Disasters takes the audience through many different scenarios that are - sadly - very much possible. This show is second in my top three for the amount of suspense and knowledge that is given to the audience. There is only one character that you see in every episode, and that is the Host, who was once in the military. The fact that the Host was in the military is reassuring, and it's obvious that he knows what he's talking about.

Moving into more details on characters, there is always a small group of 'survivors' or 'victims' that are taken with the Host through the show. However, the Host will always turn to the camera and address you, speaking as if you were in the situation as well. This makes the show fun to watch.

What can be taken from this show are many tips of how to survive a plane hijaking, or an office building that is in flames. You learn how to treat a victim of burn wounds, how to break through walls to avoid a fire in the hall, and how to land a 747 aircrafts.

Because of the fact that I may be in a dangerous situation one day in my life, and I have learnt extensive knowledge from the show, Surviving Disasters is rated number two.

3. Heroes:

My third favourite TV show is Heroes. Though the show has an interesting plotline and characters, it isn't very educational. However, there is romance, action, comedy and suspense, and each character has their own 'past' that, a bit further into the show, connects up with one or more characters in either a good or bad way.

Back on the subject of education, the only real form that the audience gets is about the character. There isn't much information that someone could take and apply to the outside world, where people can't fly, control elements, or absorb other's powers and chop half their head's off during the process.

For the lack of education in the show, Heroes is my number three.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Superpower

One superpower in the world that I would like to have would be the ability to heal.

Why?

Well, for starters, Sam already wrote about the ability to fly. That was the one I wanted to write about, but I thought, "Hey, it would be stupid if I wrote about that, too." So I decided to go with the ability to heal, because it is another power that I would want to have.

Just think about it this way for a minute: You get shot in the chest, the guy is walking away like, "Ohoho, she's dead, all power to me!" and then you stand up and you're like, "Think again, buddy!" and shoot him while he has his back turned. You could also fake your death and start a new life. Not that, you know, I was planning on wanting to rob a bank or murder anyone and have to start a new life, but it's something that could be considered.

I wouldn't want to be able to heal just myself, though. I'd want to be able to heal my friends, too. Then I wouldn't be completely useless, would I? It would be unfair if my friends and I were in a battle, we all get injured, and the only person who is able to get away safely is me.

To conclude this blog, the reason why I chose the ability to heal is so I could help my friends, my family, others and myself. To be the "Healer" in a super hero team would mean being an important member, and I have to admit: I'd like the challenge of being constantly relied on.

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P.S. Even though I wasn't able to write about being able to fly before Sam did, I would just mooch a ride off her to Europe, or teleport somewhere with Allison.

Remember: It is always O.K. to mooch a ride.