Trip With A Stranger

        This weekend I went back to Moose Jaw for a little breather and to see my friends to try and relieve a little bit of stress that I have been feeling lately from school.  Today I woke up and saw my mom and sister for lunch where we talked about school and the future.  The two stresses that have been flooding my mind lately.  I left Moose Jaw and about 5 minutes out I passed by a hitchhiker standing on the side of the road thumb up.  I drove by mindlessly thinking about school and the stresses I have for the next couple weeks.  As I drove by I thought, “I should have picked that guy up.”  So the next pass over I hit I made a U turn and I went back and picked him up.
When I pulled over you could tell on his face he was relieved and grateful that I had pulled over which instantly made me feel good.  He got in the car said thanks and announced his name to me, “Chris”. At first I just said I’m heading to Regina and I hope that is fine and he was appreciative and said yeah man any little way helps.
We begin talking and I find out he decided 4 days ago to go across Canada and try and make it to the east coast.  Friends and Family don’t know what he is doing.  The only one who knows is his girlfriend of 7 years who is supporting him 100% in his journey.  He was in Canmore, Alberta hiking and snowshoeing, but due to avalanches and bears coming out of hibernation he said it just didn’t seem worth it right now and he’ll go back in July.  For now he is just living for the moment as he has nothing but a backpack and an optimistic attitude.  He filled me in that he travelled 250km last night and rewarded himself by sleeping in a motel. 
After I picked him up the stress about school melted away due to his positive attitude towards life.  He asked me about my dreams for travel and when I told them he really encouraged me to go through.  He told me about the 8 people that picked me up before him and that this was his life experience before applying for his dreams to become an RCMP.
  This guy was a positive energy that I think I needed at this stressful point in my life.  He was grateful and his stories just restored my faith that there is goodness in the world still.  I enjoyed this guy’s company and drove him all the way Balgonie.  He is doing a great thing for his life and when I dropped him off at the side of the highway we took a picture exchange information, but I couldn’t help but be jealous of his carefree attitude and the experience he was gonna have over the next month or two. 

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Video Games in Life

As a child who grew up with video games I always heard the same things, “Get off your game and do something else.”  For years my gaming habits were not supported by anyone in my household.  I use to cut grass and do little chores to try and get enough money just for the next game.  For my birthday I would ask for gift cards to Blockbuster and I was always looking for used games to be able to get for way cheaper.  When I was growing up I wouldn’t say that it consumed my life at all because I was still active in sports and maintained a good average in school.  It was just something I would do before bed and when there was nothing else to do.  My logic always was, why would I stare at a television and watch a television and be totally disengaged?  When I could control what happens on the television and be having fun.  

When I was younger the type of games I always played were sports games.  NHL being my favourite, but I also had NBA and Madden games.  I would enjoy taking my favourite teams through seasons as the general manager.  I won’t deny a few hours were wasted playing the games, but always for personal enjoyment.  Something I was also learning while I played these sports games was money management and fairness of a deal.  The way money management was learnt was the salary cap that was set out by a team.  Even though you had a ton of money to work with I had to be conscience of the players I wanted on the team and what they wanted.  Throughout the year I had to take into consideration the contracts coming to an end and having to project the backlash I would get in the off season trying to re-sign players who I know would want more money.  Fairness of a deal was learned through trades and free-agent negotiation.  You had to look at the players they have and then compare what a fair deal is to try and get that player.  Free agents is giving them money you think they are worth based on their overalls.  When I was younger I would always want the best team and had to realize that I couldn’t have it.  In that sense the games also taught me not to be greedy.

Other things that were taught to me through gaming was hand eye coordination, decision making, and teamwork.  I use to play this game Starcraft on the computer being the youngest sibling at the time that Starcraft came out my ability to click around the screen with ease was mocked because my hand eye coordination “sucked”.  After playing this game for a little bit each week I could tell it was easier to click and navigate around the screen.  Then after playing it for a couple of months it was very easy to click around and I started to win against other players online.  At a young age my hand eye coordination was strong because of computer games.  Having the stress of playing against other players around the world as well helped me to problem solve in what I thought at the time were stressful situations.  Setting up base coordinating with other players on your team was all part of the strategy as well.  Starcraft was one of the first games I ever played online with other people I did not know and the only communication was through text on the screen.  Reading and typing were another skill that developed while playing games.

Gaming can be a negative in people’s lives unless it comes in moderation.  While young I still was outside every day riding my bike, hanging out with friends, or tobogganing.  This was just something I did in my spare time for fun, not saying it didn’t take over a day or two while growing up, but for the most part it was just for fun when I had nothing else to do.  I would say video games were a crucial part to the development of simple skills early on that have only strengthened in time and help me in my life today.  There is a blog posting that speaks about video games and how they are being used for good in modern society.  I believe it is something that can help relieve stress and help strengthen skills in our young children.  This is a new world and playing the right types of games can be a great tool to help kids succeed.  

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Voki

This resources would be a fun way for students to learn.  It starts off with being able to make an avatar that you can type in words to make them actually talk what you are typing.  The students would get into it because they get to personalize their avatar. 

How would I use this tool in a classroom?

I would find/create lesson plans for the students to go through and complete.  It would trial and error for them to see how to use and complete the assignments correctly.   

Why would I use this tool in a classroom?

Because it would be a new way for the students to learn.  I think it is an innovative way that could hold students attention if it wasn’t over used in a classroom.  

Recent Observations

Recently there has been a ton of buzz on the internet regarding homeless people.  I have seen many “RAK nominations” (Random Acts of Kindness) where people go out and do something nice for people that are less fortunate.  They are followed around with a camera or have one hidden to show off their good behaviour and post it to youtube.  The fact that they are doing nice things for others who are less fortunate than themselves is great.  If you need the camera to work up the courage then it is whatever because in the end it is being generous and helping others in need.  

Other things I see on the internet are just disappointing.  I don’t know how many people have seen this trend, but it happened to be spam that popped up on my Facebook labeled “This New Selfie Trend is Disgusting!” Curious I clicked on it and there were 9 photos that really left me speechless.  With text reading “Shirtless Homeless Bum Selfie”  “Quick selfie with a homeless guy sleeping in the lobby”  And the pictures themselves.  Smiling, thumbs up, exploiting and harassing these individuals.  It absolutely boggles my mind to where people get this sense of higher self worth over others.

My friend Lane Sentes had a very strong Facebook post a couple weeks ago that he linked with a video of a homeless man receiving $1000.  I took a few quotes from his post, the whole post was powerful but these quotes are what really stood out to me.  

“Not everybody chooses, or wants to be homeless, and this guys gratitude afterwards made me tear up a bit. And it's not cause I feel sorry for him, but because it restored some faith in humanity for him; as he pointed out that no one has ever done something this significant for him in his life.”

“We shouldn't just label people as homeless or "they're too lazy, or inadequate"... rather have some understanding as to why they may be homeless: He could have went through some serious hardships that none of us even know the slightest bit about, (or perhaps he realizes how corrupt our society has gotten, and has lost hope)”

“I just wish we'd all come together in solidarity and help one another out, or try to understand one another instead of tossing out labels”

I then viewed a video of a youtuber by the fouseyTube who posted a youtube video labeled “THE HOMELESS CHILD EXPERIMENT!” This particular youtuber is known for pulling off pranks in society and seeing how people react so this being a more serious title I watched it out of curiosity.  People walking by and looking at this child’s sign and not helping this young boy who is posing as homeless.  The part that got me was when the little boy was made to feel bad from a citizen on the street and as they are walking away fousey asks him, “Is there anything you want to say?”  The little boy responds, “Just what happened to this world?”  The reaction on camera from fousey was the same reaction that I had which was speechless.  Here is this young boy who at such a young age can already identify with a crumbling society and it is heart breaking.  

 
This is an emotional blog post about real world issues but also I hope a blog post to get people thinking about being decent human beings to each other.  There is one Earth that we all share, why not be allies rather than enemies.  All the troubles in the world, all the problems are too much to handle.  When you look internationally, nationally, and even in your own backyard.  The hate is everywhere and my question is why?  I have the same wish that Lane does which is, “I just wish we'd all come together in solidarity and help one another out, or try to understand one another.”  The challenge now is to go out and be a better person in society.  If it takes a “RAK nomination” to do that then I nominate all of you who are reading this.  "Be the change you want to see in the world." -Gandhi

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5 Card Story

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Five Card Story: Zombies in San Francisco

a Five Card Flickr story created by Durston

flickr photo by cogdogblog
Upon arriving in San Fran. for a small vacation for myself I was excited to do all the "touristy" adventures that San Fran. had to offer. Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and ride the trolley. It would have to wait till tomorrow because I am so tired from my flight and plan to check into my hotel and sleep.



flickr photo by bionicteaching

The next day I woke up and noticed a strange ambience that seemed to over take the hotel. I could not find a staff member of the hotel and could not see many people walking the street as I looked out my window. Thinking it was just a coincidence I decided to have a shower and get ready nothing was going to hold me back from seeing what San Francisco had to offer. When I got out front of the hotel I noticed a man covered in blood. I called out to him, "Sir, are you ok?" When he turned to me I could tell he wasn't himself and he looked at me like I was next. He began to run after me so I took off running through alleys and hopping fences until I lost him.



flickr photo by bionicteaching

When I made my way back to a street there was chaos everywhere. Car accidents, and more people covered in blood. I'd seen this in a movie before, but it couldn't be, could it? Now paranoid with the idea of a zombie outbreak I began run back to my hotel where I seemed to be the safest. When I arrived back at my hotel it was already infested and I couldn't even get close to the front door.



flickr photo by Serenae

I ran into the park and was able to find a spot under a bridge where I felt safe for the time being. It was dark with only one way in and I had to think what my next move was in this crazy epidemic. My heart was racing and I couldn't believe that this was happening.



flickr photo by bionicteaching
After 20 minutes under the bridge I could hear some footsteps so I looked out hoping it was another non-infected person that I could ban together with and have a higher chance of making it out alive. The reality was it was an infected and I had to run from him again. The same characteristics as the first zombie I had come into contact with, covered in blood and staring at me like I was his next meal. This man was in better shape and it was a longer chase he was persistent and wanted my blood. After a marathon I reached the Golden Gate Bridge where there was military with it blocked off and I knew I was safe.

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Try it yourself

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Door Scene

This week we had the task of putting together a scene that was suppose to give you the effect of being scared.  I always find it very interesting what music can do to your nerves and feelings. Enjoy!

Acting credit: Cassandra and Taylor 

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Depression and Loneliness on Social Media

      Lately I’ve been finding myself spending more time on social media when I am bored.  When sitting by myself and bored of watching Netflix I decide to browse Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  My first thought when I sign on is that I will find someone to chat with and make plans.  The reality is that, that rarely happens to me.  I go on and see people are online probably doing the same thing I am which is brainlessly look at their news feed, which is always spammed with things that I tend to click on out of boredom.  Someone is always arguing with the world which I do find amusing, but still does not tend to my want of social interaction.  Then on to twitter where I can see my friends tweeting “1m ago” so I know they are again doing the same thing as me checking twitter and wondering if they have something worthwhile to tweet.  The rare time I feel I have something I want to publish to the internet, but it will not get any favourites or retweets so it was most likely not as brilliant as I thought.  Instagram is a place where people post pictures of them and their friends in the most exciting points of their lives which makes me feel as if I do not have enough friends, or do not do enough fun things that are “picture worthy.” 

      While viewing social media and being aware of how I feel with this sense of “useless hope” before entering these platforms made me wonder how students must feel all of the time.  Growing up in an era where social media was not a norm I can identify these feelings that I have recently started experincing while on social media.  But what about children who this is all they know and they don’t know a world without Facebook and Twitter?  Especially at that age they will not have the development necessary to recognize these feelings are due to social media and those are scary thoughts.  With all this in mind I started to look up articles and tidbits about “social media and loneliness/depression.”  I found many shocking articles that have made me fear for future children’s sanity.  This sense of dependency on social media that people seem to have in this society.

      There was a time in November I was not feeling quite myself and was feeling very lonely and one of my friends told me that social media was probably having an impact on that.  Going on and seeing friends’ pictures having fun was effecting how I felt about my own self.  He spoke of articles he has read about how we can no longer be alone because of cell phones, social media platforms, and this sense of always being and wanting to be connected.  What he said really changed my outlook on social media and my cellphone phone Ion the way it was negatively effecting me mentally. 

      This is my second blog post bashing social media and the negative effects it has on our society.  With that being said I do think social media is great and does keep us connected in long distance situations with family, friends, and connecting with others of the same interest.  I just think as a society and as yourself you need to be aware of the feelings that can fester up around social media.

Further readings:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margiewarrell/social-media-lonely_b_4034744.html

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/is-facebook-making-us-lonely/308930/

Photo Credit: mkhmarketing via Compfight cc
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Coding

        This semester I am enrolled in a computer science 100 class to explore different options that I may be able to stem out to in life later on.  I have always enjoyed computers and I knew coding was a focus in that class.  The first time I came into contact with coding was in grade 11 in a high school class.  We had to design a website for the class using HTML format and I enjoyed it.  I liked learning the tags and using W3schools I knew there was always more to learn.  In Computer Science 100 I came into contact with both Javascript and Cascade Style Sheets as well.

        When we discussed CodeAcademy in class I was already aware of it, but find it to be a simple and effective method for helping people learn code if they desire to.  It starts very basic and you have the ability to get as advanced as you would like to.  I have tried several things in CodeAcademy just to further my knowledge and hopefully help me in the future in my CS100 class.  

 

     The first thing they have you due is create your name which is separated by when you place your mouse over a specific area.  It was a fun and enjoy able way to start off because you see instant results. Though it doesn't explain the relationship between Javascript and HTML it would still be a way to get the students engaged.  I created my name and instead of using the circles they suggested I decided to use squares instead.  My recommendation would be to check out CodeAcademy on your free time and see what you can learn.  There is a video of the top coding gurus speaking out about the importance of coding that is also worth a watch and could potentially get students involved.

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