Something I Feel Strongly About

There are many things I feel strongly about which range somewhere on my care meter between my undying love for chocolate and Short Stack and my I-couldn't-care-less attitude about Justin Bieber. That was probably one of the lamest opening sentences I've ever written, but I'm not changing it because I can't think of anything more normal- sorry. Anyway, one thing I feel really strongly about is bullying. It basically covers a whole bunch of things I'm opinionated about, but I'm going to tackle them all in one.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, obviously. I think it's great to share your opinions with someone if they're in need of some guidance as to what shoes to buy or if getting drunk on Saturday night is really a good idea. If I didn't believe in that, I wouldn't be lying on my bed with my laptop open typing this, now would I? In my mind, opinion is a really good thing and it's a requirement of life so you can make good judgments and stay alive. It's common sense, really.

What I have a problem with, however, is when people go an unload their negative opinion on someone with the intention to hurt them. There is no way in the world that I see that as okay. And I don't mean if it involves someone's safety. Telling someone that smoking a cigarette will not make them look cool or that it's a stupid idea to get in a car with their intoxicated friend is completely called for. It's necessary. I mean, when someone tells someone they look ugly or fat or they're stupid. That is not okay.

How would you feel if someone told you that you'd never make friends because they were fat and stupid? How about if someone constantly made fun of you because of the person you liked? Or if they humiliated you in front of that person because of some tiny mistake you made years ago? What if they did the same thing every day? Doesn't it sound awful? Because that's the effect bullying has on people.

That's just one form of bullying. I've seen a lot of it and been through it myself. I know it made me a very unhappy person, to say the very least. It's happened to my friends. And it sucks. A lot. It hurts badly for a really long time. Even if you forget what exactly was said, the feeling stays with you. It scars your mind, angry and red and raw, and it doesn't go away. 

If you're there, if you're one of those people who are hurting...be strong. You're already stronger than they are if you're living through this horrible thing and they can't be strong enough to resist. If it's about your sexuality- you're so brave for being able to admit it to yourself as well as other people. Be proud of yourself for that. If it's because you're smart- remember they'll be working for you one day. If it's because you're ugly- who are they kidding. There's no such thing as ugly. Being pretty is about what people can see, and it's relative. Some people see blonde hair and a tan as pretty; others see black hair and pale skin as beautiful. If you have glasses- what is everyone wearing these days? 

They're in style!! And braces? Pshh, they'll want teeth like yours when they come off!

If you're someone who gets some kind of satisfaction from hurting people- THINK. Don't speak to hurt someone; your mouth isn't a weapon. If you're hurting, don't hurt someone else. Love fixes everything. Love yourself, love someone else, and the hurt will leave you alone. Trust me.

With that thought, I shall leave you to ponder my *perhaps* wise words. I hope it helped anyone who's hurting:)

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

30 Day Challenge: Five Ways to Win My Heart

Yeah, I know. My posting habits SUCK.

And that's why I've decided to do another 30 day challenge- to give myself some kind of incentive to not suck. Because right now, I do. Rather badly.

So the challenge this time is not themed; just random rants about a certain topic. This is it:

1. Five ways to win my heart
2. Something I feel strongly about
3. A book I love
4. Bullet my whole day
5. Things I want to say to an ex
6. My views on mainstream music
7. Five pet peeves
8. What I ate today
9. How important I think education is
10. Song shuffle
11. My family
12. Five guys I find attractive
13. My opinion on my body
14. What I wore today
15. My zodiac sign
16. Something I always think 'what if' about
17. Something I'm proud of 
18. A problem I've had
19. Five items I want
20. My fears
21. Hopes for my future
22. Academics
23. Something I miss
24. Five words/phrases that make me laugh
25. Something I'm currently worrying about
26. Things I like and dislike about myself
27. A quote I live by
28. Somewhere I want to visit or move to
29. Five weird things I like
30. Something I'm excited for

Let's start where everything starts.. Day One. Five ways to win my heart.

Well, let's see. Firstly, you have to be nice. Sounds obvious, but I mean, really nice. I don't care if you're (apparently) very physically attractive and have hundreds of girls chasing after you. I really do not care at all. Because if you're not a nice person, there is no way on earth that I am going to fall for you. I'm not telling anyone who wants to win my heart (AHAHAH who am I kidding?!) to give up their entire weekend to feed the homeless. I'm talking the simple stuff first. Manners. Actual listening skills. For them to be used. Being nice is not rocket science. If you can't do that, then goodbye.

Secondly, a sense of humour. If you can't laugh at yourself, you'll never last with someone like me- or, for that matter, my family. I love to laugh, joke around and be silly. I like to poke fun at myself with a big long stick, especially about sport and cooking (because, let's face it, I could never have a career in either of those fields because I suck more there than I do at posting. Yeah. THAT much). I love it when someone will jokingly (note, in a JOKING WAY!) tease me and make me laugh. It makes me feel loved in some kind of random, round-about way. 

Next, is creativity, particularly musical talent. Music is a big part of my life, and I love talking about it, so people who share that are amazing. Someone who can play an instrument or paint a masterpiece is instantly a lot more attractive. If you play me something on piano that isn't Mary Had A Little Lamb or Hot Cross Buns, I will be forever yours. Just ask my lovely boyfriend;)

Something else I love is romance and spontaneity. I'm the sort of girl who cries over The Notebook, loves just holding hands and being with someone and believes strongly in soulmates. Yeah, one of Them. I'm not hard to please though (I don't think)- all it takes is opening doors, cute messages (especially in the form of some kind of poem) and slow dances to love songs. Hopelessly romantic is very much me.

The fifth and final way to my heart is by using the English language correctly. It's a very strange request, I suppose, but it's true. I'm what many people refer to (fondly, I'm sure) as a grammar Nazi. Put it this way:

My friend's mum posted this on Facebook. I commented "fragment (consider revising). *slow applause*. I hate it when trying to talk to someone on Facebook and they TyPe LyK Di$$.. DO YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH GRAMMAR CONVENTIONS AT ALL?! If you write in proper English, you appear intelligent and a lot more attractive. If you type like that brief example noted above- goodbye.

Anyway, I'm getting a headache from thinking about these things in such detail and trying to make it sound intelligent and witty. Brain strain. Think I will go to bed. Goodnight world.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

The Good, The Bad, And The Really, Really Depressing.

I know. I suck. But I have many things to say that I can't even comprehend. So, brace yourselves, people of the internet, for the good, the bad and the ugly a quarter of the way through 2012.

The Good: I've had some amazing things happen so far. The most exciting thing ever has happened, and after two weeks, it still hasn't hit me. But it will. What is it? Three names. And they are Simple Plan, We The Kings and The Never Ever. 

Oh my God.

I've started catching the bus home lately, which is so much better than waiting around in town for mum to pick me up. And the best part is, my best friend in the whole wide world, PJ, moved to the school just down the road from me, and she lives next door, so we catch the bus together every afternoon. It's a lot of fun. Anyway, she started telling me about this ad on the radio about Simple Plan and We The Kings playing at the local RSL. 

And I nearly died. 

But then, at her birthday party that night, she had The Electro Kid- remember the first Underground Experience? Yeah, those awesome guys- play and it was amazing. We were talking with them afterwards and turns out Giles is going too. And we found out that The Never Ever were playing as well. 

And then I died again.

I basically typed up a Powerpoint on my computer and had it all ready to present to my parents about why I should go. But I didn't even need it. I was allowed, we bought the tickets, and we're going on June 10 with some other friends. It hasn't hit me yet, but come June, it will.

I feel sorry for my friends.

The Bad: It's not so bad anymore, because it's DONE, FINALLY THIS MORNING HALLELUJAH!! It was exam week this week. Which is basically a week off school, so long as you turn up at the times you have your exams. The endless study for Maths was insane. Every waking minute it seemed I was spending studying Maths. I usually don't mind Maths too much, but I don't love it by any means, and doing statistics again after our assignment last year made me want to cry. The assignment was to count the number of letters in words on the page of a book. There were three pages. Of a novel. In small print. Yeah. It sucked. 

The Really Really Depressing: I'm pretty sure the universe knows of my undying love for Short Stack ever since I saw them play for the first time on Rove back in 2008 I think. I have loved them for a really long time anyway, I pre-ordered every single one of their releases and stayed up 'till midnight one night when they released their tour dates for 2011. And then I cried because it was a week after I flew to New Zealand.

Now, it's all over. They've made their last release, SOUL, and that's it. Short Stack have "decided to call it a day," as they put it in the tear-jerking email I received two hours ago. No more concerts, so I will never go to one, and no more albums. No more music videos. No more posters on my bedroom wall than I already have (Trust me, that's a lot, but still nowhere near enough). 

What gets me the most about it is that in their movie, the one I went to the premiere of, sat in the middle of the back of the theatre with two of my dearest Stackette friends, and laughed 99.9% of the time and cried when it ended. The live broadcasting crapped itself at the end, and we were just sitting in the theatre for what felt like ages afterwards. In that movie, they had a future. There was Art Vandelay, there was a track listing, there were sneak peeks of tracks that I was dying to add to my (now full) iPod. I waited and waited and waited, we'd seen them in the recording studio, and then it ended. It almost feel like there was no goodbye. 

The last we hear of them is SOUL, a song which I fell in love with the second I pressed play. The video, the lyrics-  "we're keeping the faith alive" is exactly what will continue to happen. I may never be able to sing loudly in my room to a brand spankin' new Short Stack CD, but I will keep singing loudly to both the ones I have. This morning, Back Of My Head, my favourite Short Stack song in the world, ever, came on through my earphones on shuffle. And the lyrics relate to the way I feel now that one of the biggest parts of my life is coming to an end. 

SOUL- Short Stack:

You're saying goodbye just like in my nightmare. We're keeping the faith alive, I'll keep it all here in the back of my head.

We'll miss you, Short Stack. 2005-2012

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Into The Unknown

Hi guys!

So it's that post-Christmas, dreaded time of year- the last week of the holidays. I have one more week before I'm back to spending six hours a day in a uniform with a bunch of other people my age. In other words, school.

I don't really know what to expect from this year. I know I'll have a lot more homework, exams and assignments and the dreaded practice exams for next year (GULP), but it feels weird, like it's not really time to go back to school.

Do you ever think back in time to when you first started kindergarten? The whole school thing was completely left field and new and you basically had no idea what you were doing or where you were going? Did you ever look up at the kids on the brink of going to high school and think, gosh, they're so grown up and mature? And then you start high school and you think the same thing all over again and think the year twelves are so grown up.

Now, all of a sudden, I'm nearly there. I have two years left of school, then it's off to uni. Everything's happening so fast; I don't know where to look! But that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to it.

After three years, I'm finally cutting down my subjects from ten to five, and they're subjects I want to do. I'm taking OP English, Maths B, Studies of Religion, Legal Studies and Music. And all the while I'm starting my bachelor of arts in Indonesian at the local uni. I'm actually pretty excited about it. I'm wanting to do a degree in arts and journalism.

Then, a few years from now, I'll be looking back at this post and thinking about how young I was when I wrote this. Who knows, maybe I'll have a completely different thought process to what I do now...

Anyway, I have a million and one posters to put up (mostly of My Chemical Romance) and I'm hungry, so I'm going to go eat and call PJ.

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Your Latest YouTube Playlist

Hey everyone!

So tonight, I was sitting with my sister and we were looking through YouTube as I was showing her some of the funniest/best people I know of. As we are related (THANK YOU FOR THE ULTIMATE REVELATION, CAPTAIN OBVIOUS!), we have a very similar sense of humour, meaning she thought they were just as entertaining as I did. I was thinking that since you guys actually bothered to click on the follow button (if you haven't and don't know what on earth I'm talking about, IT'S RIGHT THERE ---->) maybe you would find them hilariously entertaining and all-round brilliant as well.

Here is a list of my top ten all time favourite YouTubers, most of whom I only know of thanks to my delightful PJ:

1. DanIsNotOnFire:

English accent. Countless llama references. Many reasons to laugh. Yes please. And even better is that he actually knows how to speak human! I think my favourite videos on his channel are the one above; College Dropout and Would You Rather. And if you take my advice and watch, I imagine you'd be surprised to discover that he is twenty. Rather hard to believe when he and Phil act like fifteen year old Australian girls (in simpler terms, like me and PJ on a Saturday afternoon left in a room together). Love it!

2. AmazingPhil:

Wipe that horrified expression off your face; the thumbnail is no indication of the actual video. Dan's friend Phil is just as funny, random and cute as he is! Once you watch a few videos, there is no turning back, even if it's just because of Phil's stuffed toy alter-ego, Lion! Also worth checking out is the radio show Dan and Phil did on Christmas Day! Hilarious and a great taste in music...for the most part.

3. SuperAmazingProject:

Finally, Dan and Phil have a collab channel! Once a week (every Monday) they post a video of what they call the Super Amazing Project- it makes every Monday so much better!

4. AhoyNateo:

I think Nathan is the first person on the internet to make me laugh harder than I have in a really long time. Any video made with photobooth is bound to be funny just to look at, but team that with a guy making a mock up video diary as a girl who can't even remember [her?] own name and it's going to be even better. This one's a favourite, but you also have to check out the randomest video on the internet if you want to end up in tears on the ground from pure laughter!

5. CapnDesDes:

So as you may have guessed, awesome YouTubers tend to have friends who are just as awesome as they are. Dan is to Phil as Destery is to Nathan. Very very funny and random! This video is just one of a four part series of videos from Orlando, Florida.. there are some that are much, much funnier but I figured I'd keep it clean here... but if you're game, check out some of the other videos!

6. DesAndNate:

Aaand another collab channel; this time (very obviously) it's Nate and Destery's. I think they may even be funnier together than they are on their own!

7. JennaMarbles:

I can't deny it; most of my favourite YouTubers are attractive guys. But that's not the only thing that makes someone awesome. Take Jenna for example. Brain power, sarcasm and a very sharp wit makes for some great entertainment. There are also things you can incorporate into your daily life, such as The Face (above) and other techniques to avoid talking to people. Also, be sure to check out another interesting and informative video about tricking people into thinking you're good looking.

8. ShaneDawsonTV

I gotta say- if you haven't heard of Shane Dawson, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!!! He's only been nominated for best web star for the Kid's Choice Awards two years in a row! His videos are funny but often have a message at the end of them... sometimes. There's also heaps of hilarious recurring characters, like Shanaynay, Ned the Nerd, Aunt Hilda, mum and S. Deezy. And that's without mentioning the Paris Hilton impersonations! Check out the 2011 Christmas special for some of Shanaynay's unrivalled *almost* charm...

9. TheComputerNerd01

Parodies, recited lyrics, vlogs... this channel seems to have it all! Meet Josh, aka TheComputerNerd01. His videos are definitely for you if you like regular posts with humour and music combined!

10. HaiLedaBear

Yes, I did say awesomeness can be done by the ladies as well! Leda is definitely the most cheerful, bubbly and positive person I've seen on YouTube. As well as regular vlogs about life, she does really awesome and easy-to-understand make-up and hair tutorials! Definitely worth checking out.

So hopefully that made you smile and gave you something to do on a rainy day.... I'll be back another day to tell you about a bunch of other fun and/or stupid things!!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Reflections and Resolutions

Hey everyone!

No, I have not entirely disappeared off the face of the planet... I have joined the workforce as I think I mentioned and it is insane, especially around Christmas. For those of you who don't work yet... enjoy it!

So, 2011 has seen me actually start this blog... one year coming up very quickly! This year I've been overseas without my family for the first time... well, it was the first time I've ever been away from my family for any more than a week. It was completely life changing, and I think anyone who's reading this should consider seeing more than just your corner of the world. Who knows... you may even fall in love with somewhere different... and that's without mentioning the people you meet! I've also gone through two jobs... hard to believe for a fifteen year old, I guess, but very much true.

Luckily for me, 2012 looks just as bright. I start my first of my two senior years at high school, a course at uni and I turn sixteen... which means I can finally get my L's! I got a scholarship to study Indonesian at the local university, so instead of taking six subjects at school I only have to take five. But it does mean lectures and tutorials once a week, so maybe a little less blogging than I would like... I'm still looking forward to it!

One of the biggest highlights of this year would be the people I have met. And not just my New Zealand friends. I have met my favourite bands... The Never Ever and The Monster Goes Rawrr... and made some new favourites... think The Electro Kid and Nine Sons of Dan.

So that leads me to my next topic, though I'm not going to make this a complete essay... you know how before the fireworks on New Years Eve, channel nine (well, I don't know about the others) does a countdown of the 'greatest musical hits of 2011?' I was watching that and I was actually so disappointed. What has the music industry come to if the main music videos that are televised are basically all the same- alcohol and half naked girls? And where exactly are their instruments?

Personally, I don't think that's what music is about. For me, it's about telling a story that is catchy and that people can relate to. It's self expression. But pop music is becoming centered around being like everyone else. Why is that so important though? Here's some of the songs that I thought are worthy of a mention.

Geeks Will Inherit The Earth- I Fight Dragons (you cannot possibly say that you do not love this song. It's relatable and catchy!)

At Sixes And Sevens- The Never Ever (stay tuned with these guys- with a brand new band member, Pat Ortiz and the fine vocal magic of Dylan Nash, their brand new EP, Tipsy, is sure to be a win! It's going to be out very, very soon, hopefully this month even- cannot wait!)

The Eastern Sky- Adventure Land (I really like this one; it's something a bit different to the upbeat songs that are also grace Part One.)

Hero- New Empire (I think this would have to be one of my favourite songs of recent times. I know it didn't come out this year, but it's worth a shout out anyway!)

Wherever You Are- Short Stack (you didn't think I'd completely ignore them, did you? Art Vandelay, their new album should be coming out some time soon, and if their latest releases are anything to go by, I'd say it's worth checking out!)

For Yourself- The Electro Kid (just listen and let this song speak for itself. Enough said.)

Shut Up and Dance- The Monster Goes Rawrr (the latest piece of work from these four lovely people lives up to their standard of catchy and fun- I love it and you will too!)

Deer In The Headlights- Owl City (this provoked my new-found love for Owl City. Listen and you will understand.)

Somebody That I Used To Know- Gotye feat. Kimbra (very mainstream for my usual tastes but it's a really good song. It's finally something DIFFERENT yet it still made it's way onto the charts and did extremely well- we need music like this!)

She's So Fine- Nine Sons of Dan (very. Good. Song.)

And that is my top ten!

Question: what are your new year's resolutions, if you have them? Mine would have to be to take every opportunity that comes my way, post WAY more often (I've been absolutely terrible, I'm sorry!!) and to take a chance and let people know what they mean to me... maybe something magic will come out of it...

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Top Ten: Things To Do When You're Bored In Class

Hellooo!

I'm finally finished school for the year!! Yayy!! I have nothing much to do with my time except blog, eat, sleep, work, become morbidly obese and cry.

Yeah, I was joking about the last two.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a lesson of some description and a couple of my classmates found a rather amazing list of things to do in class when you're bored. It was rather entertaining to watch this one guy actually do half the things on the list. I've decided to shortlist the most brilliant things into a top ten that should keep you from being bored- until you get sick of them, anyway.

And away we go!

1. Ask your teacher if you can go to get a drink/go to your locker- it doesn't matter, just find some excuse to leave the classroom. On your way out, walk into the door. This is one of the ones we did and it was so ridiculous and over-the-top it was hilarious! You should've seen the looks he got from one teacher!! Extra points if the doors of your classroom aren't even made of glass.

2. Write a love letter. Leave it on the seat when your class finishes so the next person to sit in your seat ends up with a random letter. Lemur and I decided to do this one in maths a few weeks ago- it was brilliant. I can't remember what we actually wrote- I think it was something along the lines of:

"Dear person I have never met,

I have loved you since the first time I saw you.

I do not yet know your name yet, but I wish to meet with you and express my appreciation for you.

Meet me at *whatever obscure place we could think of* on Friday lunchtime and I will reveal my identity to you.

I love you."

Even better was the fact that when we walked into class later that week, we actually had a reply! When writing your own letter- the weirder the better!

3. Try and sneak into another classroom without the teacher noticing you. Get out of your class somehow and walk into another class, do a dance and leave before the teacher turns around if you can get away with it. A guy kept doing that in our history class. It was actually really hilarious because he got away with coming in, moonwalking from one side of the room to the other and back again, then leaving without being noticed at all. Our teacher didn't catch him until the last week of term. Everyone thought it was funny that she just caught him after about eight weeks of doing this.

4. Ask your teacher if they've seen your imaginary friend. Lemur, one of our other friends and I did this last year to prank a student teacher. We described our imaginary friends Bob, Frank and Geoffrey in great detail. We actually followed him to the staff room telling him all about what they looked like, their personalities and everything. Geoffrey was a sinister old guy; Bob was short and blue and Frank... I don't know. Then there was Steve, who was very upset. Our twisted storyline was: Frank and Geoffrey ran away together and Bob went with them as a chaperone. Steve loves Frank and Geoffrey and  was running around on the roof looking for them.

He didn't teach our class for very long after that.


5. Climb out a window. Obviously, if you're in an upstairs classroom, this isn't going to work. Unless you really want to die, or you're REALLY stupid. Someone actually managed to do this in New Zealand. Someone threw his pen out the window, so he climbed out to get it. The teacher turned around when he was standing outside the window and somehow didn't notice him standing, very obviously, on the other side of the glass. He then managed to get back in and at his desk without her even noticing he was gone.

What a ninja.

6. Go into the wrong class. Blondy and I did this by accident back in first term. Our science class was right next door to another year ten science class, and we followed the wrong class inside. We were pretty confused when we saw the teacher standing out the front, but we thought, "oh, he must just be relieving." Yeah, no. He called roll and there were a bunch of people definitely not in our class. So we went to leave and we got yelled at for trying to walk out of the classroom. He wouldn't let us explain. Once he stopped yelling, we just said quietly, "we're in the wrong class, sir." Everyone was wetting themselves laughing (including us) and we had to explain why we were late to our teacher (who probably thought we were really stupid.

7. Make an animal noise after every sentence, like a full stop. For example, Lemur and I decided to do this. We decided to 'meow' after every sentence in our music class. Our teacher, who is slightly crazy (but the healthy kind of crazy) thought this was absolutely hilarious. One of the guys decided that it would be funny to "woof" whenever we said "meow", which Mr. Music Teacher thought was even better. What made it even more amazing was the "who let the dogs out?" that followed the "woof." So whenever Lemur or I spoke, it was followed by a "meow", "woof", "who let the dogs out?". It was grand. It will probably annoy everyone near you when you speak, but if you know people with a good sense of humour, it will be great.


8. Fling elastic bands at people. Well, not at people. It requires a little planning as you have to actually have plenty of elastic bands at your disposal, but here's what you do as my dad used to do it. You aim at the ceiling directly above someone's head. It works best if it's a person who's actually concentrating really hard on what they're doing. That way, they'll have no idea what's going on. So once you've got your aim good, fling it. If you've done it properly, it will hit the ceiling and fall straight down onto the person's head (or, if your aim wasn't quite that good, right in front of them or on their arm or something. Fifty points to your Hogwarts house if it goes down the back of their dress/shirt/imaginary clothes).

9. Get everyone in your class outside in the middle of class without being caught doing it. My Kiwi "twin" actually lead this escapade. She was telling me about it. They had some teacher who said she had the eyes of a hawk; she could see everything. She actually managed, one by one, to get everyone out of the classroom bar like, one kid who didn't want to, without being noticed. When she actually turned around, apparently there was a massive "WHAT THE HELL!!!!" Would've been gold.

10. Swap names with people. This was another thing my "twin" was involved in. It only works if you have a new teacher or a relief teacher, or if it's first lesson of the start of the year- if no one knows who you are, though. When the teacher calls roll, say yes to someone else's name. Go by that name the whole lesson. It requires a bit of planning, because everyone else has to know what's going on, but the hilarity is worth it.


So there you have them! The top ten things to do when you're bored in class! For best results, try them on a teacher with a good sense of humour, and don't try when it's obvious that they're in a really bad mood. Have fun, and if you try any of these, let me know how it turned out! I will definitely post more often now that I have FREEDOM!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo