Everyone needs to "put the world away for a minute" and the song "Knee Deep" by the Zac Brown Band helps anybody do exactly that. This song is a cheery country tune which exemplifies how the speaker found his "own kind of paradise". The artist uses personification: "Sunshine gonna wash my blues away", "mind on a permanent vacation", "the ocean is my only medication"; It shows how everything is surreal in his paradise. He uses parallel structure in the chorus of the song saying "never been so happy never felt so high" which really sets the tone of the poem. Metaphor is used to describe the sun as a "fire in the sky" which explains how perfect everything is and why he never wants to leave. Alliteration is evident in the line "It's a sweet sweet life livin' by the salty sea" which depicts where everyone should take themselves to relax even if they are just escaping from their own mind. The mood of the song is light and delighted as the speaker is in paradise for a while. The theme of this poem is to take some time to relax and escape the stresses of the world "for a minute". The Zac Brown Band uses many forms of poetic devices to illustrate the need for escape and to take a mental or physical vacation.
Gonna put the world away for a minute
Pretend I don't live in it
Sunshine gonna wash my blues away
Had sweet love but I lost it
Got too close so I fought it
Now I'm lost in the world tryin to find me a better place
Wishin' I was
Knee deep in the water somewhere
got the blue sky, breeze and it don't seem fair
the only worry in the world
is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise, there's a fire in the sky
never been so happy
never felt so high
and I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise
Wrote a note, said "Be back in a minute"
Bought a boat and I sailed off in it
Don't think anybody's gonna miss me anyway
Mind on a permanent vacation
The ocean is my only medication
Wishin' my condition ain't ever gonna go away
Now I'm knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze blowin' wind through my hair
Only worry in the world
is the tide gonna reach my hair
Sunrise, there's a fire in the sky
never been so happy
never felt so high
and I think I might have found my own kind of paradise
This champagne shore washin' over me
It's a sweet sweet life livin' by the salty sea
One day you can be as lost as me
Change your geography and maybe you might be
Knee deep in the water somewhere
got the blue sky breeze blowin' wind through my hair
only worry in the world
is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise, there's a fire in the sky
never been so happy
never felt so high
and I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise
Come on in
the waters nice
find yourself a little slice
grab a backpack
otherwise you'll never know until you try
when you lose yourself
you find a key to paradise
Monday, June 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Letter of Concern
321 Green Street
Awesomeville, British Columbia,
B4A 8N9
May 25, 2011
123 Main Street
Sportsville, British Columbia,
V2A 1W3
Dear Mr. Kleats:
My name is Jenny Douglas. Sarah, my daughter, is a player on your U13 soccer team. I would like to express my concerns regarding your coaching tactics.
I understand you are a busy man with a family of your own, but with the high price of fees parents have to pay for hours of practice and a tournament each week, punctuality is necessary from their coach. If you arrive early or on time to practice and games, the kids will have the time to get a good warm up in before starting drills or games. Also, practices seem quite disorganized. For young kids, discipline in drills is needed to learn how to perform well under pressure. If you could please be more serious with the kids while running drills they will improve at a quicker pace.
I would also like to address the issue of playing time. Though a competitive behavior from a coach can be a good coaching style, and it is hard coming from a professional background, these kids are still at a young age and need to be treated as equals. All the parents are paying the same amount for their kids to be a part of this team, and each kid needs a chance to improve just as much as the stronger players. As these kids are under the age of thirteen, there is no good reason for the coach to be yelling at the players, a more positive attitude towards the players would keep the kids wanting to come back.
I hope you will take my suggestions into consideration. You are a very strong coach and I look forward to seeing you at the next game. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Jenny Douglas
Awesomeville, British Columbia,
B4A 8N9
May 25, 2011
123 Main Street
Sportsville, British Columbia,
V2A 1W3
Dear Mr. Kleats:
My name is Jenny Douglas. Sarah, my daughter, is a player on your U13 soccer team. I would like to express my concerns regarding your coaching tactics.
I understand you are a busy man with a family of your own, but with the high price of fees parents have to pay for hours of practice and a tournament each week, punctuality is necessary from their coach. If you arrive early or on time to practice and games, the kids will have the time to get a good warm up in before starting drills or games. Also, practices seem quite disorganized. For young kids, discipline in drills is needed to learn how to perform well under pressure. If you could please be more serious with the kids while running drills they will improve at a quicker pace.
I would also like to address the issue of playing time. Though a competitive behavior from a coach can be a good coaching style, and it is hard coming from a professional background, these kids are still at a young age and need to be treated as equals. All the parents are paying the same amount for their kids to be a part of this team, and each kid needs a chance to improve just as much as the stronger players. As these kids are under the age of thirteen, there is no good reason for the coach to be yelling at the players, a more positive attitude towards the players would keep the kids wanting to come back.
I hope you will take my suggestions into consideration. You are a very strong coach and I look forward to seeing you at the next game. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Jenny Douglas
Monday, May 9, 2011
Parking Lot Learning
Drivers need to learn to maneuver their vehicles in small spaces at an early age. Princess Margaret Secondary School has taken it into their own hands to make sure students learn precisely this. Looking at the school's parking lot, one would see cars parked almost on top of each other and kids racing to the only open spot. This is what it takes to make today's student population, tomorrow's aggressive drivers.
When a student leaves on a break for a snack, they come back to see that their spot, and every other one are taken, leaving them on the hunt to attack the next open spot. Some kids, still patient, circle the parking lot until another unfortunate driver leaves. These kids need to learn aggression. Once kids are exposed to this long enough, they will begin to fend for themselves, creating new spots in places inconvenient for others. This teaches students its alright to live by their own rules, and they have to make their own success in life.
When the final bell rings and the day is at its end, students are faced with a new challenge. Everyone is leaving at the same time. This creates an environment where only the strongest survive. A small tracker, for instance, can squeeze through small openings, dodge traffic, and make it out of the jungle of the parking lot quite easily. For a monstrous truck, however, red with fury, this task isn't so simple. Trying to maneuver a truck which takes up multiple parking stalls, is a task on its own. Not hitting any cars, is a rare occasion. In this chaos, students learn to speak out, honking horns at each other and standing up for themselves.
The school parking lot is a place where the strong survive, and the weak are crushed. Kids' passion and intensity comes out to get themselves out of the tough situation. The bright use their minds to figure out the jigsaw puzzle of cars, and the dumb sit stuck in the mess of chaos. The school has made sure students at Princess Margaret Secondary School learn these important life skills.
When a student leaves on a break for a snack, they come back to see that their spot, and every other one are taken, leaving them on the hunt to attack the next open spot. Some kids, still patient, circle the parking lot until another unfortunate driver leaves. These kids need to learn aggression. Once kids are exposed to this long enough, they will begin to fend for themselves, creating new spots in places inconvenient for others. This teaches students its alright to live by their own rules, and they have to make their own success in life.
When the final bell rings and the day is at its end, students are faced with a new challenge. Everyone is leaving at the same time. This creates an environment where only the strongest survive. A small tracker, for instance, can squeeze through small openings, dodge traffic, and make it out of the jungle of the parking lot quite easily. For a monstrous truck, however, red with fury, this task isn't so simple. Trying to maneuver a truck which takes up multiple parking stalls, is a task on its own. Not hitting any cars, is a rare occasion. In this chaos, students learn to speak out, honking horns at each other and standing up for themselves.
The school parking lot is a place where the strong survive, and the weak are crushed. Kids' passion and intensity comes out to get themselves out of the tough situation. The bright use their minds to figure out the jigsaw puzzle of cars, and the dumb sit stuck in the mess of chaos. The school has made sure students at Princess Margaret Secondary School learn these important life skills.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Breaking Point
"Why were you home so late last night?" interrogated Margaret, her husband left with a startled expression on his face.
"Well dear," Paul nervously explained, "I was at the casino."
"I thought you were going to stop gambling!"
"I know, I know, it was just some blackjack," he stated reassuringly.
"How much," she began to stutter, "How much did you blow this time?"
Paul looked at her, ashamed and claimed, "Just a thousand."
"Just a thousand!"
"Margaret honey, it'll be alright," he tried to settle her, "I'll work some overtime this week."
Margaret began to yell, "This is not alright Paul! I can't believe you would do something so selfish!"
"I'm so sorry," Paul declared, knowing it wouldn't make a difference.
"Well Paul I have news for you too, I got laid off yesterday. I hope your happy!"
"Well dear," Paul nervously explained, "I was at the casino."
"I thought you were going to stop gambling!"
"I know, I know, it was just some blackjack," he stated reassuringly.
"How much," she began to stutter, "How much did you blow this time?"
Paul looked at her, ashamed and claimed, "Just a thousand."
"Just a thousand!"
"Margaret honey, it'll be alright," he tried to settle her, "I'll work some overtime this week."
Margaret began to yell, "This is not alright Paul! I can't believe you would do something so selfish!"
"I'm so sorry," Paul declared, knowing it wouldn't make a difference.
"Well Paul I have news for you too, I got laid off yesterday. I hope your happy!"
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Speak Out Against Bullying
What is bullying? Bullying is the act of repeated aggressive behavior enforcing an individuals authority over another person creating an imbalance of power. There is emotional, physical or verbal, or cyber bullying. Some people are calling this time a "bullying epidemic" but is this reality or merely an overexaggeration caused by the media?
A school in Penticton, British Columbia, holds the truth of this matter. Princess Margaret has about 700 students, mostly caucasian, with some minorities mostly being aboriginal or East Indian. Princess Margaret Secondary has a "friendly, spirited atmosphere," says one student, who will remain nameless, "Bullying isn't' a major issue in our school. We all seem to respect each other." According to the media bullying has become such a huge problem now because of the use of Internet. Rachel Knoll, a grade twelve student tells us, "The other high school in Penticton, Penticton High School has way more bullying than our school. We're all family here."
Princess Margaret may just an exception to the stereotypical epidemic of bullying. We hear in the media about the unfortunate events of students committing suicide because of bullying which is not to be taken lightly, but could the media be exposing kids to the idea of suicide when being bullied?
Princess Margaret may not be the worst for bullying, but a few students admitted that some verbal bullying does take place. The question is if bullying will continue to get worse or if it has always been the same, maybe more emphasized by the media now. Bullying is wrong and will not be accepted, speak out against bullying.
A school in Penticton, British Columbia, holds the truth of this matter. Princess Margaret has about 700 students, mostly caucasian, with some minorities mostly being aboriginal or East Indian. Princess Margaret Secondary has a "friendly, spirited atmosphere," says one student, who will remain nameless, "Bullying isn't' a major issue in our school. We all seem to respect each other." According to the media bullying has become such a huge problem now because of the use of Internet. Rachel Knoll, a grade twelve student tells us, "The other high school in Penticton, Penticton High School has way more bullying than our school. We're all family here."
Princess Margaret may just an exception to the stereotypical epidemic of bullying. We hear in the media about the unfortunate events of students committing suicide because of bullying which is not to be taken lightly, but could the media be exposing kids to the idea of suicide when being bullied?
Princess Margaret may not be the worst for bullying, but a few students admitted that some verbal bullying does take place. The question is if bullying will continue to get worse or if it has always been the same, maybe more emphasized by the media now. Bullying is wrong and will not be accepted, speak out against bullying.
Monday, February 7, 2011
My Perfect College Application
I am perfect. My alarm clock whispers the sweet melodies of Vivaldi and I awake with my dreams fresh in my memory as inspiration my day. I start my day off with the ultimate breakfast: pancakes, bacon, sausage, waffles, eggs and of course fresh fruit, all handpicked, prepared and served by me. With only enough food on my plate to fulfill the required calorie and nutrient intake to sustain a healthy diet, I begin eating, cutting my food into heart shape pieces and chewing each bite exactly 27 times before swallowing without a sound. I take a sip of herbal tea between each bite and dab the food that wasn't left behind off my mouth.
I proceed to put on an outfit inspired by my Vogue magazine. I beautifully curl my luscious golden locks and apply precisely enough makeup to accentuate my features. Once my outside appearance is as perfect as I am on the inside it is time to go to school.
School is my kingdom. I am involved in every activity possible including the chess team, the cheer leading squad and clown class. I am a straight A student. I am a volunteer to over ten charities. I am a superhero. I am a teacher's pet. My life consists of nothing but hard work.
I spend my nights as a legendary superhero. Not the kind of superhero that wears a cape and a mask. The kind that candy stripes the night shift at the hospital and various care homes where elderly need my assistance. The kind that works at a soup kitchen and homeless shelters so everyone can have a good nights rest. The kind that uses my everlasting energy to better the world for other people. All while maintaining my A average and good looks.
This is why you should accept me to your college.
I proceed to put on an outfit inspired by my Vogue magazine. I beautifully curl my luscious golden locks and apply precisely enough makeup to accentuate my features. Once my outside appearance is as perfect as I am on the inside it is time to go to school.
School is my kingdom. I am involved in every activity possible including the chess team, the cheer leading squad and clown class. I am a straight A student. I am a volunteer to over ten charities. I am a superhero. I am a teacher's pet. My life consists of nothing but hard work.
I spend my nights as a legendary superhero. Not the kind of superhero that wears a cape and a mask. The kind that candy stripes the night shift at the hospital and various care homes where elderly need my assistance. The kind that works at a soup kitchen and homeless shelters so everyone can have a good nights rest. The kind that uses my everlasting energy to better the world for other people. All while maintaining my A average and good looks.
This is why you should accept me to your college.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
A Day in the Life
I'm twirling and spinning and being flipped around as my owner is furiously trying to scribble down notes displayed faintly on the chalkboard. "Solve for 'x'," is what the messy handwriting seems to think is a math question. What's that supposed to mean? This student doesn't seem to know either, as I scratch out question marks around the statement. A pop quiz? Great, nerves have never been my favorite. I'm now being chewed like gum, and not to mention the sweaty palms that have me tight in their grasp, only letting me breathe when the teacher says, "Times up class." "DING!" and suddenly I get thrown into a dark, smelly place and shaken about for the next thirteen minutes, until "ZIP!" I'm put back to work. Paper usually means more notes, but not this time. I am forced to be part of the misbehavior of passing notes, but worst of all, it's a love note. I can't stand it anymore, so I decide to take a break, and break is exactly what I do. How inconvenient for this unfortunate teenager who hasn't figured out that love and highschool are not the best mix. The only time I get distracted, is when I see Bic sitting across from me. Now that is a beautiful writing utensil.
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