Hooray for Hollywood - Anthony Tamasi

I watched two comedies, both written, at least in part, by Seth Rogen. The first of these movies, Superbad, was about two outcast high school guys who get an invite to a party, and have a goal to 1. lose their virginity and 2. Acquire alcohol for the party.

The second movie, The Interview, was about two guys who are a part of a TV show that reports "news". News like TMZ, not "actual news" as another man in the movie points out to them. They somehow get an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and help the CIA in killing Kim. 

There are similarities between these two movies in that in both, the main characters are a little odd, and deemed lesser than their peers. In The Interview, the characters are told that they do not report real news; In Superbad, the main characters are portrayed as weird and outcasts through their actions, how they act around others, and how their peers treat them (not very nicely). 

Both movies were very funny, but it shows how comedies seem to follow an equation these days, and I think that's a shame. I do however still appreciate the comedy, and love the laugh they give you. 

Will Mathews- Buckets for buckets

Before I finish High School-

 Before I graduate I would like achieve one semester with all A’s. This is something my parents have always expected since my sister had a 4.0, but it is something I have never achieved due to lack of effort and the more rigorous courses I took. It will probably have to be next year since I am unsure whether I can get an A in AP physics.

Before I finish college-

I would like to simply know what I want to do with my life. As of right now I have some basic ideas, but nothing that I can say “yes this is what I want to do with the rest of my life.” So hopefully college will help me decided what I want to do.

Before I die-

Well I would hope that before I die I would see my grandkids at least graduate college if not watch them get married, so I guess one goal is get married and have kids. I have a few other fun type goals, I would like to go to every baseball stadium in the country and watch a game. As well as backpack my way through Europe or at least a lot of the western America because hiking is one of my favorite things to do.

Anne Russell-Hooray for Hollywood

I'm having trouble figuring out what link to put from my Rotten Tomatoes review so I'll just copy and paste my review here.

(Into the Woods) I actually had not heard of this production before I went to go see it and was surprised to find out that it was a highly acclaimed Broadway musical. I didn't even know it was a musical until right before I went to see it! While it is over two hours, it doesn't ever drag because new characters, stories, twists, and plot points are constantly being introduced. Since I had never seen it before, I was fascinated by the interweaving of many well known fairy tales, watching all the different worlds collide. Despite the common knowledge of the plots of these fairy tales, I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. The casting was flawless. Acting and singing both were spot on. Either they used autotune or just picked some dang good singers because I never heard a foul note, which is very impressive considering the intricate and unique melodies. The ending (no spoilers) was quite a surprise, though. I didn’t feel entirely satisfied by the unexpected turn of events, but at the same time I don’t believe I would have felt satisfied with the happily ever afters of the original tales after they had all impacted each other. Either way, it is a very creative tale with beautiful music to aid in the telling and I definitely recommend it!

Buckets and Buckets - Anthony Tamasi

High School-

The number one item on my high school bucket list is to reach 14 feet in pole vault. I just started pole vaulting last year, but it is something I really enjoy doing. I have committed a lot of time and energy to pole vault, and I hope that before these next two years are over, I can add a few more feet on to my PR. I did not like it at first but it is something I have grown to enjoy, and being the competitive person I am, I want to do the best that I can.

 

College-

The number one item on my bucket list for college is to try out fraternity life on campus. I have not participated much in social events during high school, and instead dedicated most of my time to school and sports. I want to be more social in college, through being in a frat. Even if just for a little while.

Life-

The number one item on my bucket list for the rest of my life is to travel. I do not want to live the rest of my life, only seeing Lexington, and some other parts of the United States. I want to go out in the world, and experience the vast array of cultures and their traditions. I believe that it would be a great learning experience.

   

Buckets and buckets- Mckenna Elliott

Before I finish high school: 

1. Read 50 books

This is the most important one on this list because I have so much to learn, and I'm only a junior so I have so much time to enrich my mind to the fullest with information. I have a newfound interest in books because they give me feelings that the real world cannot and help me discover new things about myself. When I read, it seems as though I have no stresses or worries or cares in the world. Due to the fact that I have been, and will be, reading many types and genres of books, they will teach me how to deal with many situations in the real world. It is one of my coping techniques. Therefore, reading 50 books before next May when I graduate will be beneficial to my mind, body, and soul. 

2. Visit nursing homes and learn about ailments 

3. Do hot yoga

4. Go to a Buddhist or Jewish church or ceremony to learn about the religion firsthand

5. Meditate

6. Get in touch with my soul

7. Go camping at the Gorge

8. Road trip with my friends 

9. Do something nice for someone I don't know 

10. Clear 9'0" in pole vault

Before I finish college: 

1. Figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life!!!!!!!!

This is the priority of this list because every day I get stressed out because within the next 2-3 years, I need to know what I want to do for the rest of my life. This scares me because I am only 16 and I am being faced with decisions that could affect the course of the rest of my life. I want to be able to painlessly choose my profession, and I hope that once the time comes, I won't have to choose, but I will just know what I want to do.  

2. Test out sorority life (even if it were just for a little while)

3. Discover all genres of books and read them so that maybe I will be able to find who I am in college

Life bucket list:

1. Visit at least 10 famous historic sites around the world.

This is the most important thing on my life bucket list because I love learning about 20th century American history, as well as world history at that time. By the time I am old enough and have enough funds to do this, there will be even more historic sites around the world to be visited. It would be awesome if I were able to do this because I would be able to travel and see the world, as well as enrichm my mind. 

2. Figure out a way to repay my parents for all they've done

3. Live in Florida 

4. Go on a cruise around the world

5. Visit every European country

Hooray for Hollywood- Mckenna Elliott

I watched two romance movies, both books by Nicholas Sparks that were turned into movies. The first one, "The Notebook", was the story of an old couple and how they met and fell in love. The movie is narrated by the man because now that they are old and grey, his lover has Alzheimer's and cannot remember so he is, so he reads her the story to help her remember them together. 

The second movie I watched was "The Vow", the story of a young couple who fall in love and are engaged, until one day they get in a horrible car crash and the girl can't remember who the guy was, but can only remember her previous fiancé before him. 

There were many similarities in these two stories, and the common pattern that they followed seemed to be the story of young love that is interrupted by one life-changing event. Both movies depicted both the hardships and the euphorias experience by a young couple who are madly in love. Yes, these movies were intriguing and engaging, but they were way too similar and I wish that not all love stories in movies were the same. 

Assignment 18: Buckets and Buckets

Welcome to your first blog prompt for 2015! Yay!

A bucket list is a list of everything you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket. That doesn't mean you can't have such a list for specific aspects of your life as well.

To begin the year, generate your own bucket lists - one for high school, one for college, and one for life. Then, write about the priority on each list.

1. What is the number one item on your bucket list before you finish high school?
2. What is the number one item on your bucket list before you finish college?
3. What is the number one item on your bucket list before you finish living?

(This blog is inspired by Axel Liimatta - former academy teacher - my friend and former colleague that inspires me to live every day more fully)

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, January 18th  at 11:59 pm