Week Nine Article

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/1123407--drought-continues-for-canada-against-top-ranked-american-powerhouse

Posted: January 29^th, 2012                                                    Viewed: January 30^th, 2012

Article Summary:
This article is about Sunday’s soccer game between the United States of America and Canada. This match was the final game of the CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying tournament. It was Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan who scored two goals apiece that lead the United States to a 4 - 0 victory. With those two goals, Wambach moved up to 131 goals in her international career, making her sole possessor of second place in all-time scoring. Another key player was the U.S. goal keeper, Hope Solo, who was on fire, stopping Christina Julien on a promising breakaway in the first half and then again in the second half. The United States is now ranked number one in the world and claimed the CONCACAF championship. Despite the crushing defeat Canada faced, both teams will be headed to this year’s summer Olympics in hopes of bringing home that gold.  

Word 1: eluded
a) Morgan took a long pass from Lauren Cheney and eluded McLeod and Canadian defenders before putting in a turnaround shot.
b) Eluded: To evade or escape from, as by daring, cleverness, or skill (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) The students eluded the monkeys by not making eye contact and throwing rocks.

Word 2: point-blank
a) In the 44th minute, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo stopped Christina Julien on a breakaway from point-blank range.
b) Point-blank: Close enough so that missing the target is unlikely or impossible (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) Mr. Miller tossed his empty bottle to the bin at point-blank range and still missed!

Word 3: outright
a) Four minutes later, Wambach gained outright possession of second in all-time scoring as she put in Morgan’s short pass following a rebound off the post.
b) Outright: Completely and entirely; wholly (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) The whole school was outright supportive of David and Ryley and their half marathon mishap by resending Mr. Jay’s email.     

Response:
This article directly relates to one of my favourite hobbies, soccer. I’ve been playing the sport since I was four years old and have been in rep since I was nine. So soccer has been a huge part of my life for basically my entire existence. It is a lot of fun, a good workout and you meet great people. Like the Canadian defender Candace Chapman, I’m a defender. I can totally relate to the point in the game when Chapman was knocked to the turf and then scored on. Being the last man back, there is a lot of pressure and guilt when a goal is scored on you, so I totally know how Chapman felt at that point in the game. Like last summer it was just me and another girl racing down the field after a ball when I tripped and fell letting her get and easy goal. It was terrible so, like every time I make a mistake, I bent down and `tied my shoes.’

The Dream Summer

Q#174: If money and family obligations left you entirely free, how and where would you spend the summer before college?

The summer before college is the last time to see your friends before you head your separate ways, on your own paths. Who knows when or if you will see them again, or remain best friends forever like you promised each other you would as little kids? You meet new people and grow and you never know what can happen. If money and family obligations left me entirely free, I would make the most of my last summer with my best friends. For all I know, it could be my last one to just be carefree kid with them. I would make it a summer that I would remember forever and fantasize about during those long, cold Canadian winters.  I would spend the first part of my last summer before college road tripping across the United States with my best friends. We have always talked about how awesome it would be to rent an RV and just go. It doesn’t really matter where to, as long as we’re all together enjoying ourselves and just loving life. We would have to get back to Canada though by the last week of July to keep the tradition of going to Bronny’s cottage every summer alive! I mean tubing, race car driving, bumper carts, endless days on the beach, working at the soup kitchen, etc. We would never miss that for the world! And Bronwen, Krysta and I would finally go on the ride at Canada’s Wonderland that you have to sign a death waiver before going! Every time we go to Wonderland we always say we’ll do it, wait in line and then chicken out. But in my dream summer we would finally go for it. So, basically, my dream summer is spending every free second I’ve got with my best friends, squeezing as much adventure and fun as possible into every second of it.  

Week Eight Article

http://basementrug.com/5949

Posted:  October 11^th, 2011                                                 Viewed: January 23^rd, 2012

Article Summary:
This article is in memory of George “Mojo” Buford, a modern blues harmonica player, who died of a heart failure at 81 on Tuesday July 4^th, 2011. The article recounts his life and how he made a profession out of his lifelong hobby. “He was doing what he loved to do right up until the end,” his son Abe said proudly. Buford moved to Chicago around 1953 where he ended up joining Muddy Waters’ band. He was out in the street drinking wine with his band when his pianist said, “Come on, Muddy Waters is just a man like you and me.” So he brought Buford in and told Waters that Buford was a harmonica player. Muddy Waters said, “You don’t say,” and Buford played with Waters off and on until his death in 1983. In 1963 Buford tried his hand at a solo career and issued several records of his own. “He’s the real deal. He is one of the last guys carrying this music on,” said the Fabulous Thunderbirds leader Kim Wilson.

Word 1: reputable
a) One of the most reputable harp blowers in modern blues, Fabulous Thunderbirds leader Kim Wilson, remembered the thrill of standing in Buford’s shoes when the T-Birds backed Waters at several mid-’70s gigs at Antone’s in Austin, Texas.
b) Reputable: having a good reputation; honoured, trustworthy, or respectable (www.thefreedictionary.com) c) Mr. Plonka is one of the most reputable English teachers around.

Word 2: recruitment
a) Buford spent the past decade living at a senior care center in north Minneapolis, where he gave this account in 2002 of his recruitment into Waters’ band, whom he always referred to as “Muddy Waters.”
b) Recruitment: the act of getting recruits; enlisting people for the army or for a job or a cause etc. (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) Recruitment goes on at Woodstock School for the C.A.R.E. projects.

Word 3: issuing
a) After a Waters gig in 1963 at the Loon nightclub in south Minneapolis, the harp blower decided to make the Twin Cities his home and tried his hand at a solo career from here, issuing several of his own records.
b) Issue: To be circulated or published (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) Woodstock issued videos of their school play, Brigadoon.

Response:
This article I found relates to one of my newest hobby and/or interest, playing the harmonica. A week or so ago I finally started to learn the harmonica, something I have always wanted to do since grade 8 when we were forced to watch this movie called ‘Perfect Harmony’ in music class. In the movie there is this southerner that plays the harmonica and I fell in love with the harmonica’s sound and, right then and there, I decided that someday I would learn how to play the harmonica. I probably won’t go on to make a career out of it like George “Mojo” Buford, but am enjoying it. So far I’ve learned how to play Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’ and ‘When the Saints go Marching In.’ Anyways, I can totally relate to Buford’s love of playing the harmonica.

I HATE CATS !

Q#250: If animals could talk, what would your pet say about you?

It honestly depends on which pet of mine you're asking. You see, if you were to ask my dog, she would automatically be like, "Megan is number one, the tops, love her! always walking me, feeding me, letting me on the couch even though I’m not allowed, giving me pieces of kolbassa or whatever she's eating, plays race to snow mountain with me, she’s got my back in hating on the cats ...." and so on. On the other hand, the cats would have a totally different answer. I’m a dog person; I hate everything there is about cats. They are always in the way causing me to trip/ fall/ destroy something. Like this past Christmas I’m casually walking to dining room with the turkey when out of nowhere bolts the little troublemakers causing me to trip up and smash “the fine china!!" screams my mom. And every night the two cats race around the house chasing one another causing so much raucous it’s ridiculous. So naturally, I hate them and they I hate me. I rarely pet the little buggers and certainly did not feel bad when I kicked one of them across the room, by accident of course. My friend texted me and my phone was touching my foot, I’m extremely ticklish on my feet by the way, and I kicked my foot sending the cat far, far away. Don't worry, cats always land on their feet. Also, since I use spray bottles to keep them away from me and used to dress them up, they have had it in for me since day one. So if you were to ask my pet cats about me, you would probably hear so much swearing you would wash your own mouth out with soap!

Mobstacle Course

 

Q#231: Invent a game and explain the rules.

The name of the game is Mobsticle Course. This is a game I invented when I was about ten and my family and friends love it. First of all, everyone participating must have on a really baggy shirt. Note that it must be baggy enough to can fit a blown up exercise ball into it. There is no limit on the number of people that can play, as long as the lines are equal. The people must split up so there is two groups of four or three groups of one or whatever is best for the amount of people you have. Then, in your own groups, decide who will go first, second, and so on. In short, this game is like an epic, contact obstacle course.  When you hear “GO!” you put the exercise ball in the baggy shirt you already have on. Then you head out to the obstacle course while purposely body slamming opponents with your enormous belly.  There is no specific way to set up your obstacle course, just be as creative as possible. A suggestion is to involve a section where you carry an egg on the spoon because it’s a lot of fun trying to keep it balanced as you all bump into each other. Another suggestion is to make a point in the obstacle course where there is only one path for all the people. This causes tons of pushing and bumping which is a lot of fun. One of the rules is that you don’t have to be on the same section of the obstacle course to tackle them. Like if someone is ahead you can run to where they are at and keep pushing them back to where you are. There no other rules except have fun and be safe!

Week Seven Article

http://www.teenspot.com/spotlight/female-high-school-wrestler-breaks-boundaries-causes-controversy/

Posted: February 25^th, 2011                                   Viewed: January 16^th, 2011

Summary:
This article is about the controversy that happened in February of 2011 when a co-ed wrestling tournament took place Iowa. Freshmen Cassy Herkleman of Cedar Falls became the first girl to win a match at the Iowa state wrestling tournament in the 86 year history of their long tradition of fantastic wrestling. Her grand victory came with even grander controversy and she was awarded the win by default because her opponent, Joel Northrup of Linn Mar refused to wrestle her. Northrup was a very dominant, ranked wrestler and, although quick to congratulate her on her success, he voluntarily forfeited as he felt the situation compromised his values. He had great respect for her accomplishments, but felt that as a matter of his conscience faith, it was not appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. This incident lead to a national debate on whether wrestling should be co-ed or not.   

Word 1: infusion
a) As a result, one of the latest infusions of female talent has been on the national wrestling scene.
b) Infusion: the act of introducing a certain modifying element or quality (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) There is no infusion going on at Woodstock that I know of.

Word 2: groundbreaking
a) Although groundbreaking in the state of Iowa, Alaska has had two girls in state titles and most of the country allows co-ed participants with the exception of Hawaii, California and Texas.
b) Groundbreaking: being or producing something like nothing done or experienced or created before (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) Plonka’s English class blog was a groundbreaking assignment.

Word 3: compromise
a) Northrup, a dominant, ranked wrestler with a 35-4 regular season record – although quick to congratulate Herkleman on her success – voluntary forfeited because he felt that the situation would compromise his values.
b) Compromise: an exposure of one's good name, reputation (www.thefreedictionary.com)

Response:
Being a wrestler myself, I understand where this guy is coming from. I am all for female equality but wrestling is one sport that should never be co-ed. It’s great for girls to want to be “challenging the norm” and “girl power” and all, but we need to get real here. If you see a wrestling match between two boys and then a match between two girls you will immediately understand why girls should stick to wrestling girls and boys likewise.  Boys wrestle a lot quicker and a lot more aggressively. It is one thing for girls to wrestle boys in practice; I mean a wrestling team is like family and it is great practice for the girls because the guys are, for the most part, better. And this article didn’t even mention the other girl that doubled out, getting pinned in under a minute in both rounds. Men are just stronger and quicker than women in this sport and women need to learn to accept that.

Week Six Article

http://www.mississauga.com/community/article/913529--students-build-bunk-beds-for-first-nations

Posted: December 7^th, 2010                                    Viewed: January 9^th, 2012

Summary:
This is an article written about the students at Meadowvale Secondary School and their neighbouring school West Credit that have been building bunk beds for First Nations families in northern Ontario.  About 20 students in West Credit’s shop program and Meadowvale’s High Skills program joined FTC Canada’s first Nations Bunk Bed program which helps get the children of the floor and into comfy beds. The students will build 10 bunk bed frames a year for the next three years. FTC Canada is a non -profit organization and for several years now they have worked in First Nations communities and found that many children live in desperate conditions and suffer from poor health. Sleep conditions on the reserves are terrible and contribute to their inability to learn and their obvious health. The bunk bed program is important because a good night’s sleep will help improve their learning, memory, attention and overall health.

Word 1: deprivation
a) "Sleeping conditions are very poor there (on First Nations reserves) and that contributes to the inability to learn, and there are obvious health issues like sleep deprivation," he said.
b) Deprivation: The act or an instance of depriving; loss (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) Woodstock’s exams cause sleep deprivation for its students.

Word 2: relief
a) FTC Canada is a non-profit relief organization that helps children and their families around the world by providing food, medicine and education.
b) Relief: The easing of a burden or distress, such as pain, anxiety, or oppression (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) Woodstock provides relief by donating clothes.

Word 3: desperate
a) For several years, the group has worked in First Nations communities and found that most children live in desperate conditions and suffer from higher rates of poor health.
b) Desperate: Nearly hopeless; critical (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) Some families in the bazaar live in very desperate conditions.

Response:
This article strongly relates to me, in fact it is about me! Although I am not one of the original twenty students that signed up to participate in FTC Canada’s First Nations Bunk Ned Program, I did help in building the bunk bed frames. I joined in their second year of participating in the Bunk Bed program. After taking shop in grade nine and doing the voluntary afterschool courses they offered at Meadowvale Secondary School when I was in grade eight, Mr. Rogers, one of the shop teachers, said I was quite good and asked me if I would like to help out even though I’m not in the High Skills program. I agreed in a heartbeat and had tons of fun working on the bunks for the First Nations children. Unfortunately I couldn’t be too much help this school year being halfway across the world, but it was a fantastic opportunity I got to partake in.       

Favourite Quotation

Q#104: What is your favorite quotation and why? (Princeton)

My all-time favourite quote has to be “life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” The author is unknown but it really is a great quote. It basically says that life is full of difficulties and disappoints that aren’t always expected, like a storm, and you have to go on with your life and enjoy it,  like by dancing in the rain, even when there are great hardships to overcome. You can’t just throw you’re your life and have yourself a little pity party and just hope things will get better, you have to deal with it, move on and make the best of a bad situation. I think the main reason I like this quote so much is that this is how I choose to go about my life. I guess you could say this quote is my philosophy on life. Life is not about being problem-free; it's about having a great time no matter what happens. So, in a way, this quote represents my personality and views. You see, when life throws a curveball at me and I strike out, I come back swinging. I like to take life for what it is and be optimistic, make the best of a bad situation. Even what seems to be a dull moment can be a happy moment if you think positively. "If you change your thoughts, you can change your world."

Week Five Article

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/gadget-guide-2011-mini-pie-cupcake-maker-bakes/story?id=15147143

Posted: December 14^th, 2011                                 Viewed: January 2^nd, 2011

Summary:
This article is all about a very versatile kitchen appliance known as the Mini Pie and Cupcake Maker. This machine is perfect for making quiches, mini pies, teeny cakes and cupcakes. With it you can make four different types of quiche at once and a personal cherry pie in the amount of time it takes to brew a cup of coffee! You can even make cupcakes and chicken pot pie at the same time! All the foods are delicious and evenly heated throughout and take only 10 minutes maximum to make. Cleanup is very quick and easy. With its non-stick coating there’s no need for soaking or scratchy sponges. You can prepare, bake, eat and cleanup in under 45 minutes. It makes controlling your portion size very easy and is truly a perfect gift for the (lazy) aspiring chef in your life. Find it at The Sharper Image for $59.99.  

Word 1: decadent
a) At first glance, it may seem an appliance built specifically for cupcake-making is a bit decadent.
b) Decadent: Being in a state of decline or decay (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) Compared to the boys’ dorm, Midlands is decadent.

Word 2: versatile
a) I was in luck -- the Mini Pie and Cupcake Maker is actually very versatile.
b) Versatile: Capable of doing many things competently (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) The students of Woodstock are very versatile.

Word 3: aspiring
a) Truly a perfect gift for the (lazy) aspiring chef in your life.
b) Aspiring: Desiring or striving for recognition or advancement (www.thefreedictionary.com)
c) At Woodstock there are many aspiring scholars.

Response:
Jackie Jesko’s article related to my newly found interest of decorating cupcakes. During the winter break I made these cupcakes that look like cookie monsters and, despite my original expectation, they actually turned out really well. I’m actually thinking of maybe even doing that for a living. Anyways, the point is that this Mini Pie and Cupcake Maker would be a great for making my cupcakes that I could later decorate as it takes like no time and makes smaller portions easy. The smaller portions would be perfect as I always end up with too many. Also, cleanup is a breeze with the Mini Pie and Cupcake Maker which is probably its best feature. The cleanup is the only downside of cooking and if I had this appliance there would be no downside. So, all in all, the Mini Pie and Cupcake Maker sounds like a great investment for me.



http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/gadget-guide-2011-mini-pie-cupcake-maker-bakes/story?id=15147143

How to Save Ants

Q#99: Using a piece of wire, a car window sticker, an egg carton, and any inexpensive hardware store item, create something that would solve a problem. Tell us about your creation, but don't worry: we won't require proof that it works. (Johns Hopkins)

First you take the piece of wire and twist around itself, making tight circles at first and then gradually wider and wider. Then pull the last wire circle from the first couple of wire circles to form a cone like structure. Once you have completed that you move on to the egg carton. Rip the roof of the egg carton off of the base of the egg carton. Then you rip off the long, flat edge of the egg carton’s roof, the part with no holes or bends in it. Use that piece and coil it around the wire structure you have formed. Use the car window sticker to secure the carton piece to the wire structure. Now, it is time for the secret hardware store item: multi-surface waterproofer. Paint this onto the egg carton wire structure you have created to make it water resistant. I’m sure you are now looking at your masterpiece and wondering, “What on earth is this?” Well, it is an object you put on the peak of an ant hill when it is raining. It will kind of look like where the snow is on top a snow peaked mountain. So, when the rain falls it will slide down the sides of your structure instead of going into the ant hill, thus solving the problem of flooding ant hills.