Jack

Jack's Top Three Netflix Originals

1/27/2019

Netflix is an amazing place! I use it all the time. There are such a variety of shows that sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to find something to watch, especially if you are brand new to the platform. There are tons of shows and movies to choose from, some have been in theaters and some previously on network TV, but I'm going to recommend three Netflix originals.

The first one I want to share is a documentary series. It is called Abstract: The Art of Design. It covers eight different topics: shoe design, stage design, architecture, automotive design, graphic design, photography, interior design, and illustration. I personally really enjoy this, because I really like design of all aspects. This really covers a bunch of different aspects and interesting people. I would highly recommend, this is a very chill and informative show to watch.

The second thing I would like to recommend is a movie called Kodachrome. This movie is about a journey of a record company executive who goes on a road trip with his dying dad who is famous for photography. They work out old personal problems on a journey to the last lab that still develops Kodachrome film. I was initially only interested because of the old camera aspect, but it turned out to be a heartwarming story between a dad, a son, and a girl. I would highly recommend this easy going but emotional road trip movie.

The last show that can only be found on Netflix that I recommend would be Somebody Feed Phil. This show follows a guy named Phil around the world. Phil eats delicious cuisine from all cultures. I enjoy this food because of the beautiful places Phil visits, the delicious looking food, but mostly Phil is so funny and becomes BFF's with everyone he meets. This show is very good to watch if you want to chill out, or get some inspiration for places to visit in the world.

P.S. The Office is also very good, but it doesn't qualify for this list because it was originally produced by NBC. It is not a Netflix original.

-JACK

Vandalism Creates Problems at WHS and in our Community

11/10/2018

Vandalism in our school and community can create big problems for businesses and individuals. A little graffiti may be nothing to you, but if that graffiti was on the front window of a business, it could cost them hundreds of dollars to remove it. If the vandalism is profane, it could ruin the owner's business for a while.

Vandalism is not only paint. It can be any deliberate action causing damage to property. I know some people have been tearing our school bathrooms apart or clogging the toilets on purpose. This is just really annoying because it forces students to walk far to an open bathroom. It also means a lot of frustration for our janitors who get stuck fixing the mess.

Did you know that if the vandalism causes more than $500 in damage, it can be considered a felony? That's right! You can be charged criminally for harming property that isn't your own. Places like schools, churches, and parks can be the spot that you get your first felony because of something you thought of as "harmless fun."

Vandalism creates unneeded and unwanted expenses. Overall, I would be comfortable making the claim that vandalism is bad, because who wants their hard-earned money going towards fixing messes created by others? Not me, and I am willing to bet not you either.

Now, there are situations where “vandalism” could be looked at as art. One case would be graffiti, but a different kind of graffiti than I mentioned before. If the graffiti is positive and in a spot that could be brightened up, I don't see why it would be a problem. Public art can bring about happiness in the community. We have several murals and examples of artwork that makes WHS a nicer place. I am all for that.

But in our school and community, true vandalism is not a good thing. If you have permission from whoever you need permission from, then do art in the school or other public places. If you don’t have permission, you shouldn’t do anything.

What Makes Me... Me!

9/30/2018

I am a two-sport athlete. Being an athlete helps keep me physically and mentally fit. I have been playing baseball and basketball for as long as I can remember. Some people may say I am good at these sports. All I know is that I try hard and have fun. A lot of my friends also play sports, so I get to spend time with them. I also like the strategy involved.

I don't know how other people view me, but some people may only know me from sports, but I am much more than that.

I like to think of myself as a creative person. I also believe I am pretty ingenious (meaning clever and inventive. I'm not just calling myself a genius). I try to look at things from different perspectives, so I can fully understand situations. I also try to understand why people make certain decisions.

I also like tons of things besides sports. I really like music. Tyler, the Creator, Playboi Carti, Kanye West, Amine, and Vince Staples are some of my favorite current artists. I am also pretty fond of old songs, none in particular, but sometimes I run across a song and I think, "Wow! This is a pretty cool song." I also like art of all sorts: paintings, photography, graffiti, music, sculptures, and more.

I am also interested in design. Designing things such as clothing, furniture, and buildings/structures fascninates me.

Engineering has also been a very interesting subject to me. It may be because my dad is one. I love the idea of creating a economical solution to a problem, while also making the design look nice. Something a bit more related to engineering is programming. I am just amazed at how lines of code can control very complicated things and machines.

Hopefully, some day I will devote enough time to each of these things to become pretty good at each, if I am not able to simultaneously become good at all these things at once!

Some people may be surprised by all these things about me because all they know more for is my athletic abilities. But, this is just who I am and what I have learned to like. I think that having interest in all of these things is good because it can open doors to new opportunities and friends. It also makes me pretty well-rounded as an individual.

Can't Find Me? Just Look in my Room!

7/29/2018

Whenever I think about my favorite place in my house, I think about one place - my room. My room has been my personal project for a year now. Around a year ago, I painted my room all white so I could have a blank canvas. Since then, I have put up pictures, drawings, album covers, and lots of other nick-nacks up on the walls.

Beyond the walls, there are other great things about my room. I have a desk which I like to use for a lot of things like drawing, painting, taking things apart, and such. There is also a small metal shelf in my room, which holds many different books and magazines. On top of the shelf is a record player, and next to it is a bright red Nike shoe box where I keep all my records. I bought some of the records at the thrift store, some at a record store, and others I ordered online.

The comfiest place in my room is my bed. It's super cozy with the softest blankets and the best stuffed animals. Yes, my favorite stuffed animals cover most of my bed. I like to relax there, and do things like watch Netflix and sleep.

If you ask my mom or dad, they would probably back me up on the statement that if I’m not doing anything, I am probably in my room. My room makes me feel happy, creative, and safe. It is filled with my favorite things, including music, pictures, magazine cutouts, and my stuffed animals.

Ultimately, my room is a reflection of me and I am glad that I have the resources and support to be able to do that, *cough cough* awesome parents!

I Cannot Live Without...

7/2/2018

There are a lot of things that people may say they can’t live without. Some may say they could not live without their favorite food. I think that most people would choose physical objects as something they couldn’t live without. My choice is a little bit different. I could not live without summer.

Truly if there was no summer I might go crazy. Each summer is a chance for me to discover new things that I don’t learn in school and also to relax.

During the summer, I get this feeling throughout my body. The feeling is indescribable. Each day I wake up and it is a chance to do something new.

Summertime is great because I don't have a big portion of my day taken away by school. I can go on adventures and hang out with friends all day, everyday.

I love summer because I can spend all day trying to do things that I would never do in school. Summer gives me the break I need to continue functioning.