And as the year draws to an end, so will this blog.

This year has definitely been interesting; from the courses I took to the places I’ve gone. It seems that with every year in high school, I learn new things and gain new insight on different aspects of my life. Of all the courses I took, I must say that Comm Tech was the one that I had a love/hate relationship with. It was an extremely fun course where I learned new things and expanded my knowledge of the use of different programs to create art in a digital form. Photoshop, Illustrator and Movie Maker were great programs to learn about. This course was a way of introducing myself to the WACT department, and has kept me in there for at least another year.

Photoshop is nothing new to me. I work with Photoshop all the time, so I knew most of the tools and the different areas of the workspace. Although I do minor photo editing, the different projects introduced in the Photoshop strand were extremely amusing. Using the magnetic lasso tool to extract objects to make multiple exposures was excruciatingly time-consuming, yet the rendered results were amazing. What bothered me the most was the fact that after cropping myself out of different images, there were no shadows to go along with them. My inner-perfectionist kicked in and I decided to also add in the shadows. This took a lot of time, but I liked the results. Either way, it was a good project that kept me adapting to different photos and different Photoshop tools.

The circus collage was something that I also enjoyed, although I was not thrilled with my results. To be honest, I don’t like photos or videos of me. At all. So making a collage centred around me wasn’t the best thing for me to be doing. Which is why I wasn’t that motivated to finishing it. I took a bunch of photos of stuff that I like, scanned a few papers or book covers and found an image online. I put it all together, but found that it wasn’t amazing. So again, my perfectionism found me sitting in front of a computer for 3 or 4 periods trying to rearrange everything for submission. In the end, I just gave up on it, and submitted it as what was already deemed fine by Ms. Arturi. I didn’t really like this, because I don’t think I exemplified my personality as a juggler since it ended up being a collage. This was probably the project I liked the least.

The Illustrator pattern was the most fun I had in this course. Once the idea of vectorizing images was introduced, I thought it would’ve been extremely hard and a waste of time. I wasn’t looking forward to the project. But when I started, I found it was extremely fun. Three random objects to vectorize? For some reason, all of mine ended up being food related (it was a long stretch, but I got it). So I made my pattern. The normal geometric patterns of being horizontal and vertical were boring, so I decided to make mine some weird swirly-diamond thingy. It was fun to make, even though the computers down in the Comm Tech department were kind of screwing up. My favourite part of this project was my vectorized cookie. I spend so much time on it, and it turned out amazingly well. It was my favourite project of this year, even though I took a really long time on it.

The Eccentrick Inspiration project was the most challenging project to me, being an extreme perfectionist. I chose Bill Gates as my inspiration, for the many things that he has done with his life. After vectorizing his face, it just didn’t look right. So I tried again. And again. And again. I’m pretty sure that I have at least 5 drafts, most of which are completely different. After a consultation, I ended up vectorizing his entire face, and showing the different parts of his hands and his face. This project was really fun, but I spent the most time on it. It was pretty bad in the sense that I spent so much time on it, but I liked the end result. Especially because it incorporated my pattern, even though it was really hard to see.

Finally, the WeCcEnTrIcK video using Movie Maker. The most controversial project of this course. It was fun to imagine, plan, and create. It was NOT fun to actually film and go through the editing process. But maybe that’s because we spent a lot of time on it. We planned to make a musical about our life at school and in general, and randomness. We also decided to compare and contrast our personalities, but in the end, show that we share similarities. I would like to say that at the end of the year, especially after not going to school for two weeks, a group project doesn’t help with the finishing of other courses. In the end, we finished, and I liked making the cover. As of this moment though, I am not sure if my partner has the movie done, as it was her responsibility to burn the DVD and put it in the case, but I haven’t seen her as I write this. Hopefully she’ll bring it in, as this is my last unit of my Grade 10 year!

All in all, this course was enjoyable, except for a few minor problems (one of which was the rate at which units were being put out). To be honest, I liked the Eccentrick theme, but wasn’t too fond of the Grade 10 Circus theme. It seemed too imposed on our work, like our collage, and made it seem less enjoyable as compared to doing the same thing without a theme. The course was time-consuming, taxing, and stressful (especially with the unreliable computers) but had a certain charm that kept me in the course the entire time. With this course in mind, I also decided to take a WACT course next year. So next year I will be embarking on a new journey into Grade 11 Photography. I’m sure that I’ll enjoy that course too. Especially since almost all my other courses are boring notebook work units. So in the end, this course was fun, except for a few things, but showed me that more can be done on a computer than just using Facebook or playing games. This course was fun and I would definitely recommend it to others, as long as they have the time to do a few projects, learn new things, and enjoy a year with the WACT department and teachers.

Eccentrick(ities) In Our Lives

The art show was amazing as always,with many beautiful pieces of art displayed throughout the many rooms that make our Art Department. I remember being in the Art and Comm Tech rooms before everything was put up. Everything was in disarray, with paint left open and computers being stowed carefully under tables. It looked like a mess. But seeing this helps me picture the process that ends up being something so awesome.

It was amazing to be walking down the hall, in slight darkness, anticipating what I would see in each area. The movies, constructions, and art were all waiting behind each set of doors. The experience itself was amazing. The way everything was set up gave the show a very interesting feel. The art showed me how diverse this department is. With different styles and themes, it made me see the truth behind the Art/Tech Department.

This year's grade 10 theme was 'The Circus', which was showed amazingly well in my favourite display, the grade 10 AVI train carts. Each student was given materials to make a cart, and was supposed to design a cart having something to do with the circus. There were many innovative ideas, from painting the Mary Ward entrance to resemble a circus tent entrance, and a ballerina in a studio. These carts were well made and painted, and tied in very well with the theme "Eccentrick".

Although that is all true, that is not the real reason that I loved this display. With this assignment, students were allowed to tie in the circus into everyday life. It allowed the students to tie their lives into someone of the circus. I saw a cart with a plate-spinner, spinning a few plates at the same time. On these plates were symbols of things that were probably in the person's life. There were books, and music and a soccer ball, which were more likely than not tied into their life. This assignment allowed the students to delve deep within themselves to find a more profound meaning to their lives as a circus.

The Eccentrick Art show properly showed off the talent of students of various Art and Tech courses. It made me smile when I saw students from other schools visiting to see something that makes us as a school community proud and happy. It makes me happy to think that even at the end of the year, when June Rush is happening, we have time to put something like this together, and have it be a great success.

Cell Phone Etiquette 101

I personally think that cell phones are a nuisance in today's society. We pay large bills each month to support our cell phone usage that includes texting, talking, and to some extent video calls to people that we see everyday. What makes it worse is people using cell phones at times when they should be concentrating on something else. Earlier this month, a woman was run over in downtown Toronto because she was crossing while speaking on her cell phone. She failed to hear the truck coming. Not only are cell phones annoying, but they're extreme safety hazards.

Nowadays, the cell phone is a symbol of status. The cooler the phone, the cooler you are. And currently, the king of all phones seems to be the iPhone. At $199 for the 8 GB iPhone on a 3-year contract, with plans costing about $40 a month for data transfer and web surfing, phones get expensive. Do we need something so expensive for things like calling each other and texting? Do we even need to call or text people that we see everyday? It would seem that we love to stay connected, with things like Facebook and MSN, it seems obvious that we would want to take something portable around with us. But when cell phones are causing deaths and wreaking havoc on our daily lives, something needs to be done.

When we purchase a phone, we aren't given a rulebook. Maybe we should. The government and cell phone companies and providers aren't putting much effort into making sure everyone stays safe while using these products. The provincial government of Ontario had mentioned a ban on cell phones and other electronics while driving. This was a few months ago. No other news of this ban has come forward, so it is safe to assume that it's not going to happen. Maybe there are unwritten rules for all cell phone users, that should be respected no matter where you are. If so, then these have to be part of them.

Five Rules of Cell Phone Use:

1. Do not use a cell phone while operating potentially hazardous machinery. This includes vehicles. Yes, that includes all those drivers we see weaving in and out of traffic or nearly hitting someone while making a lane change. It also includes those bus drivers who are texting while driving, putting everyone in the bus at harm.
2. Do not speak loudly on your cell phone in a confined area, forcing others to listen to half of a (probably uninteresting) conversation. Nobody wants to hear half a conversation while taking public transportation about what you did at school after eating your lunch, or what you did Friday night late week.
   
3. Please know your ringtone. Nothing is more annoying than having your phone ring for a long time as you wonder whether or not it's yours. Also, if you know your phone is ringing, pick it up. Don't dance as it plays a Jonas Brothers song. That's pretty annoying too.
4. Do not use your cell phone where you're not supposed to. A little glowing screen a few rows down in a movie theatre can completely ruin the movie. Someone talking in a library is also distracting, especially when you need to finish an essay.
   
5. Do not suddenly answer your phone while talking to someone else. Not only is this rude, but it kills all conversation you were having with that person. It doesn't help if you laugh the conversation with the person on your phone. That just makes your friend feel left out and unimportant.

Cell phones seem to be an increasingly invasive piece of technology in modern society. They interrupt conversations, make having conversations useless, and are being used at the wrong times because they're so darn distracting. With the average canadian having about one and a half phones, one would hope that we know how to use them politely and properly. But it seems that we don't and that everyone should be forced to take a mandatory seminar on how to use their cell phone. Maybe then we wouldn't have unanswered phone calls or annoying ringtones blaring on busses. Maybe as more cell phones are developped, we'll have a better sense of how to use them. But as they continue to evolve, chances are that we still won't be up to date on the latest news. You could always ask someone to text you the new rules. I'm sure they wouldn't mind as they're in class or driving a car.

Hi, my name is Anthony and I'm addicted to technology.

I found the video clip extremely funny. Louis C.K. is an extremely talented comedian who used his humour to get an important message across. Anyways, to the point of the matter...

I'm one of those people. The kind who hate it when the internet goes down, when my cell phone doesn't get connection, or when my satellite isn't working because it's raining outside. I'll admit that I'm guilty. After watching this video clip, I wonder why. Is it because we're so used to having everything working? Or maybe we're just too impatient? Either way, technology has come a long way and it seems with each technological advance, we take a step backwards in our composure and patience.

I remember when my parents would let me watch Disney movies on a VCR using a VHS. And then afterwards, we'd have to rewind it all the way to the beginning so that we could watch it again later. Or when cell phones were those huge rectangles of plastic with the antenna and the black-and-white-one-row-of-display screens (I found one of those in my house a couple of years ago). It seems that as technology advances, we automatically see it as better than what preceded it. After, we always look to see what can out-perform it. We're never just happy with what we have; we always need to continue on with the improvements. We're a society based on always improving on something, whether or not it's perfectly functional. But that's how industries perform. They can't make profit if they don't make new products. Yesterday on the radio, I was listening to a professor talking about how they’ve developed a ‘quantum computer’, which is supposed to operate several times faster than anything we have now. Do we need it? Not really. Why are they making it then? Because it gives them something to do, and eventually, market and sell.

Could we live without technology? I know I couldn't. Think about how often we use a piece of technology. Computers, video games, MP3 players and even the internet are continually evolving pieces of technology that we use daily. I know that I use my laptop at least 20 hours a week, my iPod about 10 hours a week, and play video games most of the 20 hours I'm using my computer. But what do all those numbers mean? Basically, that I'm addicted to technology. Even as I write this, I'm instant messaging, and listening to music. It just illustrates how addicted I am to technology. I could always try to take a step away from using technology, but then I’d need to find something else to do. I’m sure with a lot of encouragement, I could stop this addiction to technology, but it seems everyone else is addicted to it too. All the people on the street listening to music, or constantly on their Blackberrys it seems quite obvious that we as a society are addicted.

I think the problem we have with society is that we’re continually trying to earn a profit by developing newer and better things that are faster or more stable than their predecessors. A good example is the iPod. From the first iPod to the current iPhone and iPod Touch, it seems that technology has progressed so well that we should all be happy. But we’re not. They just keep improving and improving, and everyone chases after the newest thing. Maybe it’s a problem with society. But what can we do? Not much, other than hitch a ride along the technological wave and hope that the new things we just bought stay in style for more than a year. Because that would make us really unhappy.

Gaming Obsession: More Than Just Small Talk

I play video games on an almost-daily basis. I play when I get home, until dinner-ish, and then I either continue playing or start my units. It seems to me that it's true: the majority of the youth population is playing video games on a regular basis. But why? It seems obvious, doesn't it? It's an escape into another world, where you can be whatever you want; make a new personality, a new history and become something you can't be in real life. Best of all? It's entertaining, as I'm quite sure most people will agree.

Obviously there are better things for adolescents to do. Play sports, hang out with friends, and even do better in school. I myself am an avid gamer, but I do other things too. I have a job, and I like to think I do quite well in school. I would hang out with friends more if they did something that didn't involve going halfway across the city to walk around in a mall. Life is constantly a juggling act, in which you need to balance all the different aspects that make you unique. Letting some things slip out of your hands makes life unbalanced, and obviously unhealthy. Brandon Crisp was a 15 year old boy who ran away from home because his parents took away is XBox. That is going too far. At 15, one would assume you have the common sense to ignore a small dispute like that. There was no reason to run away. In my opinion, he either was dependant on the games (like an alcoholic) or was raised incorrectly and had issues with punishment. Either way, what's done is done, and the past can't be changed.

Although games in general are fun, there are games that teach habits and send negative messages to gamers everywhere. An example would be street racing, where a young man was found dead after a car collision with the game Grand Theft Auto in his backseat. Coincidence? It's hard to tell. There are many video games that influence gamers in bad ways, with this case being just one example. It seems to me that kids, let alone parents, don't respect the ratings for games. I was at a store once, when a child about 10 year-old boy was buying a Grand Theft Auto game. At the register, the cashier asked if the father if the ESRB rating was fine. He didn't even look at the game again, he just said it was fine. Obviously, something has gone wrong if the parents are disregarding the ratings for video games. Although games are very fun, it seems that the gaming industries need to treat their followers more like people, and not just sources for money.

Although video games are normally seen as bad influences on society, I see them as a great way to relieve stress. Nothing makes me happy after a school day then to unwind by playing video games. I personally think the video game developpers need to design more games like "Professor Layton and the Curious Village", which is a game full of brainteasers and puzzles to solve. I'm not saying that we should banish video games from society, but there is obviously something that needs to be changed. Whether or not it needs to be done by the government, the video game companies, or parents, a line needs to be drawn between real life and obsessive gaming.