The Future

     Ideally I would become an author and make a great deal of money in the future. I plan to write and get a book published. Failing that I could become a librarian, teacher, or book critic.

Exile's Valor

     Exile's Valor is the title of the book I am currently reading. It is the second book in a two book side series. The author of the book is Mercedes Lackey. Mercedes Lackey writes a number of series set in the country of Valdemar. Exile's Valor is part of one of these series set in Valdemar.

     The main character in my book was brought to Valdemar from another country, Karse, by a Companion, an intelligent being that look like a white horse. The name of the main character is Alberich. Alberich was saved from religious persecution in Karse by his Companion. The name of Alberich's Companion is Kantor. Now in Valdemar, Alberich becomes the weaponsmaster for the Collegium, a school that teaches Bards, Healers, Heralds, and other various occupations. Alberich also becomes a Herald. A Herald is an agent for the Monarch of Valdemar. They settle disputes between people, inforce the law, and are royal messengers. Alberich later becomes the spymaster as well. In Exile's Valor Alberich learns of a plot to assassinate Queen Selenay and has to stop the stop their attempt.

   

Weekend (Free Write)

     I didn't do much this weekend. I read my book. I watched some anime. I also watched television.

     I played some games. Watched some YouTube videos. I watched videos I uploaded to YouTube.

     That was pretty nastalgic. I didn't do much else. I was lazy this weekend.

      

Food (Video)

     The documentary is about the process food goes through. The documentary views the food process as a bad thing. I think that the food process is far from perfect. Parts of the food process is necessary though.

My Favorite Food

     My favorite food is chicken and dumpling soup. It is warm and filling. The dumplings really complement the soup well. The chicken adds that last little touch. The ingredients go together to create a really good soup.

Social Anxiety (Story 15)

     I am an introvert and maybe a tad shy, so I understand not being able speak up. What stood out the most from the story was the help he got from medication and therapy. It was such a down to earth solution to his problem.

     I don't know if there is anything I can use from this story. If there was a clear lesson to be learned from the story, I think I missed it. Maybe the lesson is that social anxiety is a serious disorder and to get professional help. I could use that.

Spring Break (Free Write 3)

     My spring break was not overly exciting. It was not uneventful or boring either. I spent the majority of my time with my grandpa up in Michigan. I didn't do much while I was there because he was sick most of the time.

     I went to see my ill great-uncle who is in a nursing home while I was there. His condition has been all over the place. He didn't look to be in terrible condition when I was there.

     I checked out books at the library near my grandpa. I brought my PS3 to play while I was there. I watched som T.V. I relaxed and just spent time with him. That is how I spent my spring break.

Being Able Take Criticism (Story 11)

     Being able to take criticism is valuable ability. If you listen to someone's criticism you may learn something. Sometimes people mean to be helpful when the critize.

     My younger brother criticizes me quite a bit. If I actually listen to what he has to say I might actually learn to better myself. That would be a good thing.

Being Tolerant of Others (Story 10)

     Quite a few things get on my nerves. School work and my younger brother are two of them. Being able to tolerate them is a valuable tool.

     I will use this to not let my younger brother affect me as much. So, I am able to tolerate his behavior. Also, so that I can tolerate other things.

Thinking Unhappy Thoughts (Story 8)

     I think unhappy thoughts sometimes. I know how to get rid of these unhappy thoughts. I focus on something I enjoy.

     I can pass along this information to make someone's life better. To help them get rid of their unhappy thoughts. That is how I can make someone's life better.

Focusing on the Good (Story 7)

     The story says to focus on the good and not the bad. That people too often focus on the bad instead of the good. If you do focus on the good you will experience life better.

     I can use this to better experience life. So that my day is more enjoyable. That is how I can use it.

The Pseudonym Locke (Free Write 2)

     The pseudonym I use is a reference to John Locke the English philosopher. Essay on Human Understanding and Some Thoughts Concerning Education are a couple of his works. This pseudonym  is also used in Ender's Quintet by Orson Scott Card.

The Use of Wisdom (Story 6)

     I listened to another story today. It gave practical life advice. Having knowledge is great but wisdom is greater.

     I can and will use this info I gained from this story to better my life. I will use wisdom to solve my personal problems. It will help me better myself.

Children's Book Video

     The book did carry on for a while longer than necessary. It made its point three quarters of the way through. The point of the story might not be clear to the children listening or reading the book. The book didn't straight out say the moral of the story. So if it is not explained the children might not get it.

     The illustrations were not horrible, but they were not great either. The book also teaches us to say no sometimes. So the book has a dual lesson.

   

Being grateful (Story 5)

     I am grateful for things. I will be grateful for what I have whenever I have the chance. I am tired of these stories.

     Being grateful is important. It helps you be satisfied with what you have. This story was very insightful.

Autobiography Project

     The requierments for the project I am doing is to complete the fifty assignments using your best effort and following the guidelines. My grades are up to date with the project assignments. To finish this project I will have to minimize the time spent on editing. I plan for it to be an 'A' because that is a good grade to get.

Animal Friends (Video 1)

     I watched a video that showed uncommon relationships between animals. It argued that animals have deep emotions and form relationships. I learned that animals will form unlikely relationships under the right conditions. This opens my mind to possible relationships between animals.

     I think that the video was quite repetitive though. It doesn't try to explain why or how these relationships between animals exist except that the animals like each other. The video is basically just footage of unusual animals together or acting cutely. They did a good job of it. So if you were looking to learn anything from it you are going to be disappointed.

Being Compassionate (Story 4)

     I listened to a story about compassion. It was truthful and revealing. It is the most useful story I have heard yet.

     I will use what I learned to be compassionate to others. I know that everyone has their own problems. So with this knowledge I will show compassion with others.

Attentive Listening (Story 3)

     Listening attentively is hard for some people. I know it is for me. Sometimes it is a really valuable skill to have. To be able to listen to someone with one's full attention. To be able to pick up on subtle clues about what they think and feel from what they say.

     I am going to listen better to try to learn more from what people are saying and trying to teach. So that when I need to listen closely I can. So that I can understand people better by what they say.

The Use of Kindness (Story 2)

     Everybody can use kindness in their life. I can use kindness in my life as I already do. Small acts of kindness like holding a door open for someone. Or grabbing something someone dropped for them.

     The most significant thing about this passage is the idea that being kind is rewarding. That people should be kind to one another. That it is important to be kind and other stuff like that.

Pointless, Unintelligent Arguing (Story 1)

     I argue a lot with my younger brother. Most of the time the arguments are fairly pointless. I normally try to end the argument if it is wasting too much of my time and is unimportant. I also try to end the argument when it digresses to flinging insults at each other.

     I have decided to try to reduce the number of pointless and unimportant arguments I have with my brother. I will try to forgo these arguments altogether. I will not try to stop all arguments with him because I think that intelligent arguments help keep your wit sharp.

A Weekend

     I mostly relaxed this weekend. I watched some funny videos and played video games for a while. It wasn't a very exciting weekend, but I wasn't board either.

     I went out to eat Saturday with my family. I ordered some shrimp and a grilled chicken breast. The food was pretty good. I vegetated the rest of the weekend after that.

School Uniforms

     Some schools have uniforms and some don't. Having them has their benefits and downsides. School uniforms are good for some schools and not for others. It is good for military schools to have uniforms, but not for most public schools. Uniforms are mostly not needed.

     School uniforms cost the school money and funding that should go to the students' education. Sometimes the parents of the students or the students themselves have to pay a fee for the uniforms. It is an unnecessary use of money and that is what it boils down to.

A Current Event

     Five people were killed on the roads in northeastern U.S. after freezing rain and snow caused unsafe road conditions. Four people died in Pennsylvania and one in Maryland. I don't remember this many car crashes during winter before.

     This made me wonder what is the deadliest season of the year. Is it winter with the bitter cold and sheet of ice on ground? I believe there is flooding during spring and tornadoes during fall. Or is it summer with its intense heat.

The Meaning of Utlanning (Free Write 1)

      I figured that the first post should explain the title of this blog. The term utlanning comes from the science fiction book Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card. It is explained in Demosthenes' Hierarchy of Foreigness. It classifies how "alien" someone or something is.

     Utlanning is someone of the same species and are from a different region, city, or country. They have the same culture though. Framling is of the same species, but from another world. Their culture and manners may be different. Raman is sentient and is of another species, but communication with them is possible. Varelse is the alien that we think of. They are sentient and communication with them is not possible. Finally, djur is the wild beast that is not sentient.

Here is a link to another site explaining Demosthenes' Hierarchy of Foreignness.
ansible.wikia.com/wiki/Hierarchy_of_Foreignness