Grievances of a Part-Time Cellist

1. 
   The weight of the cello. It’s not that bad if you have a soft case (in which case it’s the unwieldiness that gets you), but if you have a hard (read: bulletproof) case, it’s serious weightlifting.
2. Stairs (or any type of obstruction). Read above.
3. Having to play the accompaniment all the time in orchestra
4. Music in orchestra. For example, the violins get all the fast fun stuff while we get to do the boring drones, or god forbid, 35 measure rests. I guess it's just in the fine print.
5. Forgetting your bow
6. Having your endpin slip
7. Having your endpin loosen. It happened to me in 2nd grade, in the middle of a school performance. I’m playing, and my cello starts to sink… Let’s not relive that.
8. Cold weather. It screws up the tuning and the strings lose their tension and the tuning pegs slip a ton. It sucks.
9. Most people think it is a guitar (hint: it isn’t!)

Well, I guess it could be worse. Case in point:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plpqb4jqHkU

There’s one thing that a cello has above a violin (which would do away with 7 of the above annoyances):

It sounds better!

Basketball, More Than Just a Game

James Naismith

James Naismith is the man who, in 1891, started the incredible game of basketball. All of the plays, from perfect pick 'n' rolls, to breathtaking crosscourt passes, to blocks and posterizing dunks that leave the crowd with chills down their spine, it all started from a single peach basket. The NBA (National Basketball Association), now has 30 official teams, a sixteen team playoff, and seven game series. This was not the case in years past. 

 January 20th, 1892. The first official basketball game is played in Albany, New York, with an end score of 1-0. February 14, 2017. Cavaliers 116, Timberwolves 108. How did this happen, might ask. How did 125 years and 23 days change the sport of basketball? That is what I'm gonna tell you about. The first recorded college game was in 18953 Hamline University played Minnesota A&M. Minnesota won 9-3. The following are some of the major rule changes and other events that affected basketball. 

• 1954-54 season. The 24-second shot clock is introduced
• 1979-80 season. Three-point line is established
• 1947-48 season. Foul out limit is increased from 5 to 6. Roster size reduced from 12-10
• 1972-73 season. The bonus, double bonus is invented
• 1977-78 season. During the last two minutes of regulation or overtime, if teams call a timeout right after getting possession of the ball, they get the choice of where they inbound the ball, midcourt of spot of possession. 
• 1980-81 season. Coach on opposing team chooses who shoots free throw after flagrant. 

Basketball means a lot to me. I went from the kid who couldn't make a layup, who was worst on his b team, to leading the B team as the youngest kid, to being on the A team as a young kid. It isn't great, but that improvement has meant a lot to me. I went from not knowing who Lebron James was, to taking NBA quizzes for fun to test my knowledge. When I needed someplace to go, outside to my basketball hoop is where I go. Playing basketball at lunch. Basketball after school. Watching the Blazers in the evening. Basketball has become a daily routine that I love. This year I've been trying to focus on my defense and physicality, getting one foot in front of the ball handler and stopping his drive. I've been known as the sharpshooter, the guy who is great at threes. While I like that, I want to be more. This season I worked on ramming into the defender in the key, right after I make a sweet shot fake and drive in. I want to get rebounds, and that has worked given that my leading stat is in fact rebounds. Basketball has become part of me, and I love it in every different way. 

CJ McCollum is my favorite player. Shooting Gaurd, just like me. Not the tallest guy, just like me. I admire his athleticism, going from averaging 5 points a game, to Most Improved Player, averaging over twenty points. He's extremely physical, and is also a sharpshooter, like me. He goes to the small name schools. Catlin Gabel. Lehigh. He is what I'd love to be. Basketball player, yet part-time journalist. I would love to be a sports writer. It is my dream job, going to major sports events, front row seats, writing about sports. Perfect for me. If I ever meet CJ, I'd be incredibly honored, knowing that he is my living dream.

I don't know if I could live without basketball. What would I do? How would I procrastinate :)? Going outside to shoot a sphere into the 18-inch diameter circle, going straight through the orange lining and creating the perfect "swoosh" sound as it ripples through the net. My favorite part about basketball though, is away games. I love away games. They are way better than home. The crowd cheering loudly fuels me, players who's faces I just look at and I want to cross up and drain a three in their face, they fuel me. Team's pregame chants and loud clapping, the rowdy parents who yell at the ref, that used to scare me. Now it just brings a smile to my face, thinking, 'wow, this is gonna be a fun night'. 

Symbols of the Revolution

During the state of nationalism in Europe the countries wanted a symbol, object or language that would truly represent their country. They wanted something that would hold the people together when they face horrific wars, like the war started between the government and the nationalist. The nationalist fought for the independence of their countries, they believed that each country should have its own government instead of having the entire country be ruled by one king.

The American revolution was the first revolution deflecting the European monarchy system. The American revolution was a hard fought battle, full of war and politics. The journey to finding America's independence was such a great battle that it lasted eighteen years. Once the hard fought journey had ended the new country created a seal in honor of their winning their battle. The seal was named The Great Seal because of the honor it holds. The seal represents America's freedom and their courage. The flag in the eagle's mouth says “one out of many” in Latin. The olive branch in the the eagle's left talon stands for peace. The thirteen arrows in his right talon stand for war. The number of arrows, thirteen, stand for the thirteen colonies, at the time. For more information on symbols during the American revolution visit this presentation: https://prezi.com/hp0f6bpft15b/iconic-symbols-of-the-american-revolution/

France took on nationalism. They were one of the first countries to fight, inspiring many other countries to follow in their wake. After the French won their war there was hope for the other countries. During the French nationalism period a symbol of a rooster was made, and is now very important and symbolic to the French culture. The rooster had been used before nationalism in art and furniture but it wasn't truly famous until it was used in the revolution. The French decided to use a rooster because of the play on the Latin words gallus meaning gaul and the French word gallus meaning rooster. If you would like to fing out more about the rooster, or the other French sybols you can visit this cite: http://www.consulfrance-jhb.org/Symbols-of-the-French-Republic

 

Catlin Gabel, the school I attend, has a original logo of three trees. The three trees stand for lots of things. In my opinion the three trees represent the unity of the people on our campus. You will always have somebody by your side, you just have to look. We dig our roots deep, so we will always stand by. We are tall trees that just keep growing taller and taller, with stronger roots. There is also a more literal meaning of our three tree symbol. We have lots of trees and nature around our campus. To find out more about Catlin Gabel visit: http://www.catlin.edu/page.cfm?p=498

                                                         

"A pair of skis are the ultimate transformation to freedom." (~Warren Miller) The evolution of skis

"Skiing is a dance and the mountain always leads"~unknown. Skiing is a sport that I am very passionate about. The wind blowing in your face, racing down the hill is an action that I crave. Skiing has evolved so much over hundreds of years, from the from early skies made of wood, to the carbon fiber skies today, there are many differences.

The physics of skiing are not to complicated. Skiing relies mostly on gravity as gravity pulls everything around us to the center of the Earth. The gravity that pulls everything to the center of the Earth pulls skiers down the hill as well. It causes skiers to increase their speed.  A skier's increase of speed is also affected by friction. Manipulating that friction gives a skier control. The types and styles as well as the materials used to make skies can help to have all these factors to make skier’s faster.

At the very beginning when skies were used, they were all custom made  from single planks of wood. There were special ski makers who knew how to make the ski nicely and well. Other skies could be made by family members or neighbors.

In 1850 the cambered ski was invented. The cambered ski was invented by woodcarvers in the province of Telemark, Norway. After the bow shaped cambered ski the first Telemark ski was demonstrated. After a few more skies being invented and tweaked, in 1932 the first successful laminated skies with three layers were invented. They were invented by Bjorn Ullevoldsaeter in Norway.

Many, many skies have been developed over many years. All these skies made and designed all led to the skies today, the skies I ski on. At races, on the mountain I see hundreds of types of skies by themselves. I don’t know if I will ever see every type, but skiing is my passion and the physics and the materials used for skies all affect me. I hope to be skiing my whole life, the wind in my face, the feeling of the cold white snow. I don’t want to ever give that feeling up.

 Watch these cool videos!!

Freestyle Skiing

Ski Jumping Olympics

Top female Racer

Personal Ski Run

Works Cited

“Elan RCG Waveflex Plate Junior Race Skis.” skis.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.

“let’s laugh at old gear.” New schoolers. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.

“A Short History of Skis.” International Skiing History. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016. <https://www.skiinghistory.org/history/short-history-skis-0>.

“Skis.” On the snow. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.

“Vintage Ski Decor.” Vintage Winter. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016. <http://www.vintagewinter.com/collections/vintage-winter-antiques-and-home-decor?page=11>.

Take your mark.......Go!

"Swimmers to the block", said the referee. I made my way onto the starting block with my adrenaline rushing and energy pumping through my body. I bent down in the diving position, awaiting the referee's command. "Take your mark......(and after what seems like eternity)BEEP!

Soccer Is Life

I love playing soccer. Soccer is my life. I have so much fun going to travel tournaments with my team in California, Seattle, and Denver. I am flying to a tournament in Las Vegas for Spring Break and playing in the National Premier League Finals in Indianapolis this summer.

The Mind Game

    Chess is a sport, and don’t even think about arguing with me. Chess is about thinking in a placid place and thinking about each move you’re going to make. Chess is can be like meditation or it can be like torture. Patience is the key to winning a game, and if you totally lose it when you lose a game you’re gonna lose all the games you play for the rest of the day.

Fencing a Big Part of Me

How Does Fencing Affect My School Work

By Li 

I am a fencer. You know the sport people have swords and they try to hit each other. Fencing is a big part of my life. If you do sports you know how I feel. Every week I go and fence at the Northwest Fencing Center for 1-3 hours. Fencing takes a toll. Many days I come home at 7 o'clock and I have to do all my homework, have dinner,and play piano for 30 minutes. Fencing is a lot of fun, but sometimes a spend so much time on fencing I can’t do my homework or I am rushed to do my homework. Sometimes I will have a fencing tournament on the weekends that takes up my whole saturday or sunday. During these fencing tournaments I have to do all my homework in one day and that can be very stressful.  

                      

Fencing also helps me in my school work. In fencing I learned about cooperation skills. I learn to work with my other teammates and help each other in difficult situations such as in a bout when my teammate needs help and I help him. I also feel that fencing helps me with my concentration skills. I have to concentrate in a fencing bout on my opponent and it helps me in school when I am taking a test or listening to the teacher.

The History of Allergies

  What is an allergy? How do we get them? When allergies were first discovered by Clemson von Pirquet, they weren’t very common, but the amount of people that have allergies now are growing rapidly every year. There are two main hypothesis that people have proposed for why this is happening. One is that humans now are so clean that children’s environments are germ free and their immune systems don’t fully develop and become strong. The second is that chemicals from truck exhaust, rubber, pesticides or cleaning compounds are making our immune system go haywire.

The idea of an "allergy" was introduced in 1906 by the Austrian pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet. He came to this discovery after he said that some of his patients were reacting in abnormal ways to innocuous entities such as pollen, certain foods, or dust. He named this reaction in a person’s immune system an allergy.

Today, one out of every 13 kids in the US has an allergy and I happen to be one of them. Sometimes being allergic to the weirdest thing, sesame, can be embarrassing when explaining to others. “It’s a life threatening allergy”, I find myself saying. But I have had many allergic reactions and I’m still alive, so maybe its not that bad. Having allergies have taught me how to take care of myself and become independent. One summer, two years ago, I decided I would take a risk and try to out grow my allergy. Everyday I would have a bite of an sesame cracker and everyday I would take a little bit bigger piece. My immune system was growing stronger and stronger, but eventually, I stopped. I didn’t really care for the taste of the cracker and I had assumed that my immune system wouldn’t get worse. I was wrong, I hadn’t fully gotten rid of the allergy and it came back after a while.

Many scientist are doing experiments on allergies and how to help children outgrow them. I recently read an article in the Oregonian about how scientist are giving children with peanut allergies small amounts of peanut protein powder everyday and eventually their reactions are going away. Hopefully, someday this form of testing will be very common and less people will have allergies.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17136331

Reading Is For Awesome People

          “Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.” Written by Charles Dickens in his famous book, Great Expectations, this quote has such depth, such a great moral. It was written in the 1860’s, over one hundred years ago, in a book about a young orphan coming of age. It was published as a serial in the newspaper All the Year Round from December of 1860 to August of 1861. The book, although apparently unimaginably difficult to plan week to week, kept fans extremely excited to read what came next, keeping them in suspense and leaving them wanting more like popular weekly television shows today. Published in the same way that the famous Sherlock Holmes installments by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were released, the All The Year Round earned Dickens and the paper lots of money and buyers in the year that book was distributed. Here is another quote by a hugely popular author today. “Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business. Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. I, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git. Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor. Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball.”
Now this, written by J.K. Rowling, author of the equally, if not not more famous Harry Potter series, is magically written on a piece of paper to offend a teacher of the namesake of the series. This boy is also a young orphan who is coming of age, but the way his story is told is much more modern, and more magical, than that of books written in the 1800’s. As you can see, it is not as deep as the previous quote, and definitely does not have the same moral. Although these are just examples of quotes in literature from long ago to now, it seems pretty obvious that way back when, literature and writing was taken a little more seriously than it is today. Now I’m not saying that today there are no serious books with important messages that old college professors make their students read, because there definitely are. I am just saying that today, more so than in the 1800’s, there are more books that all ages enjoy, some created for children, like picture books, and others made for young adults, like the ever popular Hunger Games series. Books and stories have come a long way, from being spoken and memorized, to being written over and over again by hand, to being printed in mass production companies. Now, most people have even started reading of things on a screen, computer, phone,or tablet, like you might even be doing now! From the first pieces of literature, like the Epic of Gilgamesh, to the works of Shakespeare, to the Brothers Grimm, to Twilight, stories haven’t stopped coming yet, and hopefully will keep on coming until the last pencil breaks.

Sources:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZOOsSq1sjx68uJQKUH0x23WWe6xBS_CPqHxI04Pws4VJueHIF0bWGBHk8azMvNVKVAWkEB_lxmQXYyzf6vgeStb74lx3VIFcFE_r05EndUbBKXej49PAIdk8OhvADM07V6qzq4Mf1YCs/s1600/great_expectations_by_charles_dickens.jpg

http://whatanerdgirlsays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/harry-potter-books-LARGE.jpg
http://www.feistees.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rdsxy.jpg

http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2612809-great-expectations
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/harry-potter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Expectations#In_periodicals
Paul
my parents


Here is the link to my Table of Contents