Wow, 4 straight days of no classes, if you include the weekend! The rain has given me time to relax and unwind from many of my usual stresses, namely school,  debate, family and friends. I should probably be doing my Religion project right now, though I'm feeling extra lethagic and a bit under the weather. The rain will have exhausted itself by tonight, I presume, and there will be classes tomorrow. I just want to get things over with. With a Bigkwis now two days delayed and God knows what else in Filipino, this means that they'll rush the curriculum to try and catch up. 
   On other news, it seems a new conflict has sprung up. I can feel its fiery tendrils already, slowly weaving their way towards their intended victim. Only time will tell how it will all end, who will be affected and what will be destroyed. I hope sincerly for a proper resolition.

current mood: blah

   It's been a while again, yes. School's simply been too much of a hassle over the past three weeks. Long tests were given, some were easy, some were difficult but all nonetheless expected. Then there was the Music Rap Presentation which didn't go too well, if at all, and another Music performance test, the Mozart Excerpt. Currently we have a piece to perform on the keyboard some time next week, thank God though, it's incredibly easy. I've also got the English Major Project due in 2 weeks and a Religion Project in 1. Add to that nearly 12 chapters of Noli and a Bigkwis and you've got yourself a very toxic academic cocktail.
   On other news, debate has been relatively good, with the two debates over the past weeks. The IDEA Lite tournament has been moved until 2nd to 3rd week of August, giving the rookies and the veterans a lot of time to train. Already they show glimmers of brilliance, on the part of the veterans perhaps a rediscovery, and on the part of the rookies, simply a discovery. I wish them well in their future endeavors in and out of debate.
   Right now, the rain is falling outside my window, erratic in its strength yet constant in its presence. I can't help but think how quickly nearly two months have passed. A lot of developments have occurred in A and its subsequent issues, of which I am not at liberty to talk about. I only hope that whatever happens, may these developments never destroy a friendship, nor muddle it with mudslinging. I also hope that whatever these developments may be, that they occur with full knowledge of possible consequences; simply put, know what you're doing.

"The melody spoke of the sweet promise of spring's life after winter's death, of boundless joy after intense grief, of an eternity after a lifetime comparable to a blink in the eyes of gods..."

current mood: apathetic

     Over one week has passed and a lot has happened in between. Amidst all the suffering, joy and stress of high school life, I find myself having increasingly less time for myself. School is eating up more and more and more time and I absolutley hate it. And a lot of things that would normally capture much of my attention are now suffering as a direct consequence of this lack of time. Hence the title of this entry. Let's get less morbid and move on now, shall we? Yes, I think that's for the better.
     As for the future, I've got 5 long tests just around the corner. Math as usual will be my Waterloo. Then next week are mid-term marks which I hope are as good as I want them to be. Overall, it's gonna be one helluva academic ride. Wheeeee! Hope I don't fall off. (Wow, the quality of my posts are really deteriorating....)
 

current mood: apathetic

     Yes, it's been quite a while. Two weeks to be exact. Two weeks of hard work, stress and all sorts of school-related stuff have kept me from posting to my lj. And now, I find myself in a bubble of idle time. I know it can't possibly last, as reality will come along and prick the bubble of my own little world. Really though, a lack of time hasn't kept me from posting because I've had a lot of free time scattered about during the past two school weeks. Rather, I've been reserving my creative juices for school because inspiration, for me anyway, has become increasingly hard to come by. I know that school will get ever harder and the premium on inspiration will get even higher. I'll still post on lj, albeit less frequently then I did during summer.
     Like I said, a lot has happened in two weeks. There was the salu-salo just last night and the reading of honors one week ago. In between those two events, now and the gap between the reading of honors and my last entry the standard fare of academics took their toll. My grades aren't as good as I want them to be, I've got a Filipino long test next week (gasp!) and the stirrings of a new personal conflict are making their presence felt. Ah, the joys of second year. Still, I can't possibly ask for a better class.
     The recollection, as Dexter has said, was quite an eye-opener. Amid the laughs, the teasing and the fun a sincere and guilty side of A showed its face, a side I never thought would ever be dragged out into the light. Amazing what a little initiative can do. Thanks to that particular event, I now see people in a different light. However, the reformation begs the question; How long will it last?
Well, I'm going away now. Off to do more stuff.

current mood: confused

     Ever left the school week tired and annoyed because you have a ton of homework waiting for you during the weekend? Of course, as everyone who's ever attended or is attending high school will tell you. Alas, homework is an inexorable part of life in high school, along with quizzes everyday and a congested cafeteria during recess. Sure, not all homework is terribly difficult, others are merely intellectual chicken fodder especially for people in the semi-honors and honors program. And then there are the homeworks that make you want to burn it, pour acid all over it, then bury the biologically hazardous ashes in the backyard. However, no matter which way you look at it, some of a student's weekend will be spent, willingly or otherwise, on doing homework.
     However, I have a strange peculiarity when it comes to that. Somehow, almost unfailingly, I overestimate the weight and burden that homework will have on my weekend. Even as I speak, I've finished all but one assignment, having done everything in one day. And considering there are no classes on Monday, I've once again overestimated my workload. However, this oddity is experienced only by people like me and Dom, who are paranoid when it comes to schoolwork. Yes, there are people who actually care about their grades, if for a variety of reasons. And homework, with all the burdens attached to it, is a means to academic triumph. 
     Although I do care about homework and grades, I never overestimate when it comes to academic performance. Yes, I may care more than the average person but I am not a book-thumping fanatic who has the social life of a tree. I know when to stop and have fun, unlike some people I know. But in the end, wherever on the spectrum you sit, from couldn't care less about his grades to book-thumping fanatic, one thing is clear to all; homework and academics are as much a part of life as dawn and dusk. To all that say homework sucks, I say deal with it.

current mood: amused

     After the first week of school, I can more or less say I've adjusted to the new school year. It feels weird to go up two flights of stairs just to get to my classroom, and all the new teachers will take getting used to, but overall my transition from summer to school has been relatively painless, only with the occasional bump in the road. Right now, I'm relaxing and readying myself for the annoyingly busy weekend to come. Homework in English, Math, Science and Filipino not to mention AP and Music. 
     Actually, I'm quite resigned to the fact of homework now, at least compared to last year. If at this time last year a pile of homework like this were to be dumped on me, I'd have probably throw my hands up in desperation and given up. But one year has changed all that, and I know it's only going to get harder as the year progresses. 
     My teachers are all fine, albeit theirs is an interesting group. I've got laid back teachers, bubbly teachers, fire and brimstone teachers and even a few, dare I say it, push over ones. Well, at least based on first impressions. The school year has only begun, but from what I've seen and experienced, I'd have to say that if the teachers were to be considered a measure of the year ahead, then it will be just fine for me. Beyond the increased load, new teachers and the addition of a new student to our class, I'd have to say that this year will bear a semblance to first year in much about every way.
     So, I'm off to relax today and do tons of homework for the rest of the weekend. Ah yes, an interesting year indeed. And the banner-grabbing hasn't even started yet. :)

current mood: Wheee... The sun's morphing!

     Finally, the day has come. It's officially the last day of summer, and tomorrow, school starts once again. I'll admit, this has not been a productive summer, actually, this is one of the least productive ever. I didn't busy myself with anything, not even going out with friends. Sure, there have been a few shining moments, a few memories I'll treasure, but mostly everything has been one big blur of time. Even though this summer went by quickly, I am content with what happened. And tomorrow, I'll be thrust into the world of high school again, one potpourri of life so profuse with activity, where I'll contend with academics, social concerns and a whole bunch of other things, foremost among them debate. And as I say goodbye to a summer made memorable by the fact that it was NOT memorable (does that make sense?), I have some people I'd like to thank whom I've never really expressed my appreciation of before.

- God, for giving me such a restful summer, even though there were times it was not so restful...
- Dex, for being there and giving me a few laughs when I needed them
- AJ, for all the wonderful conversation and clever insights
- James, for his excellent, thought-provoking and witty entries on his LJ
- My family, for being there and helping me through some tough times
- Dom, again for being a truly wonderful friend
- And last but not the least all the people whom I went out with this summer, thanks for giving me much needed boredom relief

     Quite a short list actually, but my gratitude to them, to YOU, is heartfelt and sincere. Perhaps the only regret I have with this summer is that it was bit too lethargic, even for me. But all of that is in the past now, and tomorrow, another battle begins.

current mood: relaxed

     Everybody not born inherently rich has wanted a little more money for some purpose. Whether it be for a noble cause, such as helping out in the family or raising money for a charity, or for more personal reasons, like buying that something you want, a cell, a tv, a game, whatever, everybody has at some point in their lives wanted more money. And although money is only good up to a certain extent, for some things in life simply cannot be bought, it is undeniable that money is useful, wherever you go, money always serves a purpose.  Sadly, some people still make the pursuit of money the sole purpose of their lives, even when they know that a life lived for money is a life simply wasted. However, the question of money raises some intriguing possibilities. Let us assume that we were born into a huge pile of money.
     Not the kind of opulence mind you, that has a limit. No, I'm talking about having so much money that you could get anything and everything you want for your entire life, and still not be able to spend all of it. The kind of affluence that people like Bill Gates and the Royal House of Windsor enjoy, the kind of wealth many of us can only dream of.  Quite literally, that kind of money is almost limitless in the possibilities it offers.
     Now, imagine. Imagine that you are someone who buys everything and anything they want at a whim, with no care for limits. The word limit itself is meaningless to you, and no matter what you do, there will always be more money. Now, imagine that for your entire life, you didn't have to work at all, didn't have to earn a living. Life is simply one endless vacation, where there is no such thing as work, or struggle or sweat. All you do is continually seek adventure, some sort of enjoyment to fight the increasing mountain of boredom that looms on your golden horizon. Life is not only an endless vacation, it is also an endless pursuit of happiness. Happiness that always eludes you, always just beyond your grasp. Yes, many rich people still find happiness. But for you, there is no such thing as happiness.
     Yet many rich people do not sit on their piles of cash. Instead, they become philanthropists, donating their money to noble causes. And yet, they do no have to. They seemingly have no obligation to share their wealth. But in reality, they do. As the saying goes, to much is given, much is expected in return. Because these people, after their impossibly comfortable life is over and done with, after years of spending money and never running out of it, will stand before God in judgment and He will ask one simple question; What did you do with your life? And there, the pursuit of money becomes hollow. When we strive for something which we cannot take with us to eternity, like money or material possessions, we ignore all that life offers us. Chances and opportunities to help others are wasted.  And then God asks another question, What did you do with the money I gave you? And when a person freezes up, terrible consequences are in store.
     So next time you wish you were rich, think how much responsibility is on their shoulders.

current mood: amused

     The summer is now truly drawing to a close. The inevitable fact of life looms once again on the horizon, not quite there yet, but visible nonetheless. Already, people do some last minute preparations, a haircut here perhaps, or some last minute shopping there. And as we race towards the school year, time flows inexorably on, even if we want to just say STOP or even SLOW DOWN. No, that cannot be. Honestly though, I'm going to savor the last few hours of summer. Whether through chatting on the internet or on the phone, playing video games or watching tv, I am determined to make the most of what remains. Tomorrow, I'll make my farewell summer entry, for those of you who care. :)

current mood: amused

     Let me start off by congratulating Mikee om his second place finish on PBB. I was rooting for you, but alas, Kim won... Anyway, you did a wonderful job of representing not only Ateneo, but the youth as a whole. You are indeed a good role model for everyone, at the very least. And last night, as I was held breathless and spellbound by the results, not to mention the superb facade that the finale had, I remembered why people like reality tv shows so much, in fact all forms of entertainment. It gives us a chance to immerse ourselves, even if only temporarily, in an ideal world, peaceful and placid, free from all our problems. And although care must be taken not to drown ourselves in entertainment, overall it's a good way to pass the time.
     Next up, school is finally going to start. I've only got two days left, and I'm not even done covering my books, let alone fixing my bag. Wow, school is stressing me even before it begins.O___o What I'm really looking forward to though, is not the work or the stress, but the people. I'll be seeing old friends, old classmates and some fresh new faces around. And trust me, there will be issues, but whether or not they pass smoothly, it's up to the neophyte to decide. 
     Cheers to Mikee and his wonderful showing! Cheers to the new school year! And cheers to you, my trusted friend...

current mood: satisfied

     Right now, I'm stuck in this weird twilight zone between summer and the school year. Yes, I want summer to last longer but then again I want the school year to start too. Basically, I've no qualms either way, though I kinda lean to summer more just because there's no responsibility. And now, that everyone is on the verge of a decidedly new era, a few things are worth remembering, refreshing or learning just before the school year begins.
     One of the greatest dangers of being extremely gifted and/or skilled is becoming complacent. Wherein a person feels that he is the greatest ever, that he doesn't need to improve himself, let alone expand his horizons. He feels like he's on the top of the world, sitting on his own golden throne with his head in the clouds and his feet never touching the ground. And so, he is caught up in his own unsustainable world where he is lord and master. And that is where much of the danger also lies. When we begin to think that we don't need anyone anymore, we risk alienating all the people that helped us reach that high, our friends, family and competitors. And as we all know, a person needs other people.  By nature, we are social animals and thus, a world without social interaction is imcomplete.
     Sometimes, everyone needs a little reminder of who and WHAT we really are. And so, somebody pushes us off our throne, screaming as we fall into an endless dark abyss. Then all of a sudden, you find yourself alone in the dark, broken and scarred, with no one to talk to or no one who even cares. You suddenly wish that you hadn't done all those things to all those people, hadn't said a thousand hateful things that still ring harshly in their mind. Alone in the darkness, you begin to feel something that you thought you couldn't anymore; WEAK. You feel weak and vulnerable, something that didn't even cross your mind back atop the throne. And so, you begin to reach out once more.
     Of course, true friends wil be the first to help you. Yes, even when you shunned them or hurt them with your harsh, arrogant words, they still come back to help you. Friends are wonderful that way. Then slowly, you build yourself up again, making peace with all those people you stepped on on your way to the top. Soon, with the backing of your friends and family, you reach your old level once more, maybe even surpassing it. But care must be taken lest you want to fall again.
     Weakness, when you think about it, actually brings out something totally opposite to it, strength. Just like how jewellers contrast their diamonds with black velvet, weakness and darkness shows you how beautiful life truly is. Humanity, in its darkest moments, have done some of the greatest things ever on this earth, unleashing a side no one knew existed. When we are down and out, conered and our backs to the wall, that's whne we fight hardest. 
     So that's why complacency is such a dangerous thing. It deadens us to so many beautiful things happening around us, because we think they are beneath us. Everyone needs a little reminder every once in a while, so that even if just for a moment, we may see what is truly valuable in life. Friends, family, faith and morality are all but part of the myriad things that make up the infinte web of life. And thus, the world goes on.

current mood: contemplative

     A certain book that I've read quite recently has given shape to certain thoughts that until recently, were nothing more than vague ideas floating around in my head. Suddenly, all these concepts and ideas were given a face, not quite human perhaps, but nevertheless sentient and able to feel emotion. The book is Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, a famous political advocate in his time.
I noticed that it reads somewhat like the history of the Soviet Union, and even the two main characters, or rather lead pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, are very much like Stalin and Trotsky respectively. However, I will not liken those characters to them but rather in a more abstract way, liken all the characters on Animal Farm to a certain type of person.
     In the beginning of the book, the animals on Manor Farm, later on to be called Animal Farm, live a terrible life. Underfed, unappreciated and overworked, they are treated badly by their human masters, in the book the ultimate symbol of tyranny and oppression. Soon enough, an old pig named Major gives something of a farewell speech which turns into something far greater in itself. He talks of a Rebellion, all across England and eventually the world, when all the cruelly oppressed animals, tired and fed up with the terrible life they live, overthrow their human masters and take control of their own destiny. The animals, roused by Major's speech, begin to formulate all sorts of ideas and plans to achieve this dream. Before he goes, Major teaches them a song, Beasts of England, which becomes the rallying cry of the animals on Animal Farm. The night ends when the animals, full of patriotic spirit, sing Beasts of England so loudly that Jones, the owner of the farm wakes up and fires his gun. 
     Needless to say, the book has a thousand other glorious moments, from the first battle between the animals and the humans, to the expulsion of Snowball and the flight for his life and the construction of the windmill, symbol of all the good that unity can achieve. However, I'd like at this point to concentrate on one particular animal, who throughout the book stands silently on the side, watching placidly even while the world around him begins to deteriorate into hell once more. His name is Benjamin, and he is a donkey. Comical, yes at first sight, but what he stands for is profound indeed.
     He is the caricatured image of an intellectual, silent and unassuming, perfectly aware of all that was happening around him. This is proven when the animals taught themselves how to read; although he never read anything in public, he could read anything that the smartest among them, the pigs, could read. And everytime someone asked him for his opinion, whether or not they really wanted it, he would just say that donkeys live for a long time. Then he would go on his quiet unassuming way, apathetically watching the world go by. But once, just once, the facade cracked and out came pouring all the anger and hatred he had for so long kept within him. The final straw was when the pigs, by this time greedy and pompous, sold Boxer the horse to a human to be turned into glue and bone-feed, even while the pigs said that he was being taken to a hospital. In his rage at having lost his only friend on the farm, he read for the first time in public, to announce to all the animals what was happening to Boxer. The pigs of course dismissed this as nothing more than a plot by Snowball, who by now was long gone anyway. After this, Benjamin sinks back into his own world, quiet but aware that something terrible was happening.
     That perhaps, was the failing of Benjamin. He never shared his views or told anyone what was happening to the pigs. No, he stood by, apathetic but more likely scared of what was occurring. In the final pages of the book, he is still there even while many of his contemporaries were long dead. In the end, he could have prevented Napoleon's terrible rise to power, but he lacked both the leadership skills and the courage to do what was right. Like so many people all across the world. 

current mood: satisfied

     In the rich diversity of people all over the world, there is one uniting factor among all of them. Each and every one of these seven billion inhabitants of earth have had, at one time or another, expectations, hopes, dreams or goals in life. No matter how trivial they may seem, or how important and far-reaching their effects, everyone has had a dream, a hope, a purpose. For some, this dream is never achieved, always just out of their reach, glittering on its golden pedestal high above their heads. For others, their purpose goes unfulfilled, empty and hollow. For a few, their life's work does fulfill their hopes and purpose, and they end their lives content and happy. But for everyone who has had a dream, failure and disappointment have visited them even if just once in their lives. An that is where will power comes in. 
     Freedom of choice is the unalienable right of every human being. It is part of who we are as people. Will power is also directly related to freedom of choice. Will power determines whether we are able to make the right choice, even if it is difficult and against the social norm, and stick to that choice, seeing it through to the end. Having a purpose in life, whether it be striving for a dream or achieving your goals or living up to expectations, gives us the necessary will power to make the right choices. Imagine if you had no purpose at all; you would have no incentive to continually improve yourself. You would be completely satisfied with the status quo, even if that means wallowing in depression or mediocrity. And the moment we give up on our dreams simply because they are too hard is the moment that someone truly fails.
     In fact, the only thing keeping some people going in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds is their will. However, there is a fine line between having the strength to continue fighting for a hope and having the stupidity to pursue an impossible task.  And there human limitation kicks in. No matter how hard we try, practice and train, some things are simply too much for a person. There will always be limit to what humanity can achieve, and there will always be somebody better than you. And where humans falter, there lies God, Who is infinite in His power.

current mood: pleased

     A few hours ago, I learned a very painful lesson. It had nothing to do whatsoever with philosophy, or morality or the profoundness of human life. No, it was much simpler and much more painful. I learned that if you accidentally press the Back button on your pc while typing an extremely long and winded LJ entry, the world will come to an end. Why? Because unfortunately, the Rich Text Editor doesn't save drafts. Ah well, an hour's worth of typing and thinking wasted in the blink of an eye. Great. Moving on, however painful it may be for me, I will try to reconstruct part of that entry.
     In the past few days, a lot has happened to effect a great change in my immediate future. A friend returned from his adventures abroad, a rumor born of a tale born of a theory came full circle, and the beginning of an entirely new chapter in my academic life I never would have thought possible. Vague perhaps, but for those of you who have any idea whatsoever about what I'm talking about understand why I must keep these words cryptic. Yes, in the fullest sense of the phrase, I've glimpsed the shape of things to come. Unfortunately, it is still very fragile, and anything can shatter it into a million pieces, never again to be witnessed, its glory forever hidden from the world. And I, along with another person, hold a great amount of power when it comes to the shape of things to come.
     

    In the end, a group of 37 people stand at a crossroads in their future. Though it will definitely matter more to some people than others, there is no doubt that to all it does matter. It is for them to decide.

current mood: amused

        The smell of change is in the air. Already, the tides of time are shifting once again and the world is "moving on". And as the world turns and summer enters into the new school year, people can only do so much to cope and change. With the coming wind are the memories, hopes and dreams of each and every student that once again dives into the profuse activity of life that is the school year. Even the most stoic and detached of persons cannot deny that the era of fun known as summer is ending, and the beginning of the school year is nigh. Not that we cannot have fun in the school year, but that is of a different brand from summer fun.
         For some, summer has been truly a time to remember. In between the extravagant vacations and the outrageous gimmicks, a blessed number have been immersed in the golden river of life, emerging energized and enthusiastic, ready to take a crack at the coming challenges. For others, this summer has been like so many others. Unimpressive, yes, but nevertheless important. And for these people, summer is nothing more than a simple fact of life. But one thing remains universal for all; summer for students is a time for rejuvenation and exaltation, joy and wonder, rest and repast. And since time immemorial to infinity and forever, summer has been and will continue to be a period of rest and relaxation, a little r'n'r.
         And as the dream that is summer ends, the semi-ethereal stage before the start of any school year, reality once again takes over and renews the endless dance of life. Summer fun is replaced with work, and for those who fail to adjust accordingly, educational death is just around the corner. And to all I say, have a nice day back in reality. And good luck, you'll need it. 

current mood: amused

      I watched X³ last Thursday and I must say it was really good. (Yes, this is a bit late but bear with me.) The effects were superb, from the powers of the mutants and the disturbing dissolve-people-with-psychic-energy thing all the way to the lifting of the Golden Gate Bridge. The acting was good too; Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart and all the other actors gave great performances, bolstering the already superb storyline to even greater heights. Overall, I can say this movie was a spectacular achievement.
       This is in fact the third movie in the X-men series and there have been rumors of a fourth installment which, I believe, have been confirmed within the current movie itself. (WARNING SPOILER) In the movie, Mystique and a slew of lesser mutants all lose their powers because of  a drug a pharmaceutical company manufactures from the DNA of a mutant. Magneto, after being saved by Mystique by taking the bullet for him, dumps her and proceeds on his evil conquering ways. As was said in the movie, hell hath no fury like a woman's wrath, she completely turns around and tells the government where Magneto is hiding. Anyway, much latter on, Magneto loses his powers but at the very end of the movie, seemingly regains them again, albeit much weaker. Prof. X meanwhile, although destroyed by Jean Grey in their psychic duel, also seems to come back. This, of course is at the very end of the credits. SO STICK AROUND THE CINEMA! This two things, among other hints in the movie, practically spell out sequel. However, only time will tell.
        This makes me think and reevaluate my view of media, in all its forms. TV, radio, movies and popular culture, including literature, are all forms of media. Yet people take the power of media for granted. Media can create hype about a particular event and dispel hype in much the same way. Through the airing of only particular selected segments, media can also distort how people view something or someone. For example, in reality tv, how a person is portrayed in a show can be controlled simply by airing only particular things the person did. Suddenly, the average nice guy is turned into a roaring lion with big claws and a dirty mouth and vice versa. News is also something that certain people manipulate which is very dangerous. Although it is against morality and the ethics of providing unbiased information, it can still happen. And why do people go to such lengths in media for? Ratings. And ratings equal money.
        Now books are unique in this sense because they are immune to such ratings. However, the common denominator is still money. Everything from tv shows to movie blockbusters to magazines all want money. Yes, exceptions do exist, but the vast majority are still after money. And as history has shown, whenever something turns into a quest for money, then all hell breaks loose. When media becomes a virtual battleground where multinational corporations desperately try to bash in each others heads for money, no one suffers but the common people who are caught in the crossfire and duped and separated from their money. Money, money, money makes the world go round. Whee......
         Media is both a powerful tool and a destructive weapon. However, it all depends upon the people who use it; will they use media properly, with good moral judgment unburdened by the lust for profit? Or will they turn it into a weapon that can distort and destroy the truth, and inevitably, the world? It is for them to decide. The viewers, however, have the greatest power over them all. They can simply turn off the tv.

current mood: cheerful

        First off, I'd like to congratulate the winner of American Idol season 5, the soul patrol, Mr. Taylor Hicks. Formal, isn't it? He did a spectacular job and he deserved to win, though Katherine McPhee was also quite capable. In the end, I think the contest went right down to the wire and consistency won it for Taylor. Yes, Katherine has had her share of moments on the show, even displaying flashes of brilliance that Taylor could only dream of. Yet her great performances were dragged down by the less-than-perfect ones. Taylor however, though a bit too country for some, has been one of the most consistent contestants ever on the show, even improving as the weeks went by and everything led to the finale in the famous Kodak Theater. To both contestants, I say congrats once again.

         Even on its fifth season, American Idol is still going strong. Every year, it continues to draw the crowds and gather the votes, all while America watches on. I've eve noticed that the number of votes being cast on the show has been steadily improving, almost tripling from an average of 23 million votes in season three to an average of 60 million in season five. Yet one question lingers in the air; Why does American Idol succeed and flourish where dozens of reality shows have now failed? The answer is simple; the content of the show, the very essence of humanity, music. 

         Yes, music. One language they say is universal and can be understood by all the denizens of this world and beyond. In music, feelings and emotions are expressed in their simplest form, unhampered and unburdened. Where words and language fail, music is there to take over and foster communication. No matter who you are or where you're from, music will always affect a person in a profoundly significant way. Whether evoking emotions of joy and celebration or despair and uncertainty, music can express it all. And that is why American Idol has been so successful, it appeals to all types of people. Besides, free tunes are always great, right?

        

          What is the American Dream? They say that it is being able to reach for your dreams and grasping them, through the opportunities offered by America to you. Opportunities such as equality and freedom of speech, thought and expression. Often enough, immigrants and Americans reach for the American Dream in equal amounts. They say America is a country of immigrants and they are right.

          However, in relation to the triumph of Taylor Hicks on American Idol, he said that he was living the American Dream. In some ways, he is right. He strove for his hopes and dreams, unburdened by oppression or discrimination. The people around him even helped him to reach his goals, which he did in the end. Indeed, the image of Taylor singing his heart out in the middle of the grand stage of the American Idol finale, surrounded by screaming fans numbering in the thousands both inside the Kodak Theater and out, while white and silver confetti rained from the skies and golden fireworks were set off inside the theater will forever be etched on my mind. Just like the finales of seasons three and four which I've also watched. 

          In conclusion, I can only say that Taylor, no matter what people may say about him, truly triumphed in his endeavors.

current mood: cheerful

        Well, just for the sake of updating, here I go again. Nothing particular has happened in the past few days. A few gimmicks here, a few events there, although compared to the state I was in three weeks ago, this has been a spectacular week. Everything aside though, I'm quite open to the idea of school again. Sure, the homework and the projects and the quizzes and the long tests will take their wonderful toll again, but I've got a lot to look forward to.
        There's all the antics of my classmates in 2A. Yes, same-old, same-old classmates. Then I've got an entire new year of debate to face again. All the tournaments and experiences are waiting for me just around the corner. Truth be told, that's what I'm looking forward to the most; a clean slate to begin the debate experience with all over again. Of course, the academic challenges will pose their own kind of threat, which I don't see as threats per se but rather opportunities. I'm still angling for First Honors, just once is enough for me. And finally all the new people I'm bound to meet in my Sophomore Year, the old people whom I've already met quite obviously and those significant others I've yet to thank.
         Seems I'm looking too much into the future already, aren't I? Well,let's face the facts ; it's the THIRD WEEK of MAY. Summer is soon going to end. On a totally unrelated note: I've discovered the wonders of the rich text editor! :)