Ashley's Philosophy Corner

   This is a quote from Les Miserables the unabridged. This is one of many beautiful and poeticly inspirational sayings that can be encountered upon reading the book. It is from someone who has seen The Gutter's Cry, and he deserves to be heard.
 
     "But if so, what does it matter? What difference does it make if they go barefoot? They cannot read; never mind. Would you abandon them for that? Would you make their misfortunes their curse? Can't the light penetrate these masses? Let us return to that cry: Light! And let us persist in it! Light! Light! Who knows but that these opacities will become transparent? Are revolutions not transfigurations? Go on philosophers- teach, enlighten, kindle, think aloud, speak up, run joyfully toward braod daylight, fraternize in the public squares, announce the glad tidings, lavish your alphabets, proclaim human rights, sing your Marseillaises, sow enthusiasims, tear off green branches from the oak trees. Make thought a whirlwind. This multitude can be sublimated. Let us learn to avail ourselves of this vast conflagaration of principles and virtues, which occasionally sparkles, bursts, and shudders. These bare feet, these naked arms, these rags, these shades of ignorance, depths of despair, the gloom can be used for the conquest of the ideal. Look through the medium of the people, and you will discern the truth. This lowly sand that you trample underfoot, if you throw it into the furnace and let it melt and seethe, will become sparkling crystal; and thanks to such as this a Galileo and a Newton will discover the stars."

Austin's Funnies Corner

    When I asked Austin for  joke, he said, "No. Make up your own joke." (And, actually, our ever contributing Anna told me to write that, so there it is, plain and simple. Austin don't wanna say no joke.)

Alex's Awesome Random Corner

 Well, yet here's a warning. This is not for the faint of heart, nor the exceedingly sophisticated. If not, don't worry, you'll want to laugh. (That doesn't mean you will.)

Validation. You should try it.

    Okay, so somebody showed me this video, and it is the cutest, most entertaining, and inspiring video IN THE WORLD! It made my mom's day, and it certainly put a smile on my face when I watched it. So if you have any sort of sense in you, you have got to see it! You will probably end up loving it. End of story.

(I really love this video. :)

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

To all those who are afraid of dying...

    Death is something that has troubled the human mind since time began, there's no question about it. What happens when you're dead? Does it hurt a lot? Do you just float in forever blackness? Well, as you know, this is kind of a touchy subject,  because it's very easy to get religious about this topic, but for once, I am going to try and steer away from that as much as possible to remain relatable.
    Anyway, what is death really? The two aspects of it are possible pain, and possible nothingness once you are dead.  Putting it right down to that basic structure, doesn't it seem kind of ridiculous? After all, think about all the pain you've had in your life. Every time you've stubbed your toe or broken your arm or bonked your head or scraped your knee or hit your elbow on something or got bitten by a dog or gotten stung by a bee or got burned on a hot stove...the list is endless. I mean, come on, let's face it, you've had a whole lot of pain in your life! And you've gotten over it. So why should death pain be any different? Because it's the end of your existence. Like I said, I'm not going to get religious, but at least allow me this. I know without a doubt in my heart, that after you die, you will live again. I'm not going to say where you go or why, but people haven't been talking about the concepts of heaven since the beginning of time for nothing. It's for a reason. If humans can be so complex, so brilliant, so full of purpose and heart and progression at the end of their lives, doesn't that at least mean that when they leave this world they can go somewhere that means as much as they do? I promise you with every morsel in my being that death is not the end. It couldn't be the end. It is merely stepping into the next stage of life.        
      And, equally as important, don't worry about dying at the wrong time. Of course it doesn't seem right for a baby to be stillborn, or a child should die of Cancer, or a teen should be killed in a car accident. Of course it hurts to know a relative committed suicide or got hit by a train. But surely the cruelty of it couldn't be real. Surely they were meant to depart at that time for a reason. You may die before the championship game, or you may die before you finish your masterpiece, or you may die before you get married or have see your grandchildren of retire from your difficult job, whatever it is. It's okay.  It was meant to be. Even if it's not in God you trust, if you are ever to feel peace within yourself, you must sooner or later learn to trust in something bigger than yourself. Think of space and its vast galaxies...isn't that bigger than yourself? It had to have gotten there somehow. The whole of it -the whole of everything means you have a purpose. And death is just part of that. So, do not be afraid of death. That's all there is to it.

Austin's Funnies Corner

"Doctor, doctor! I only have a few seconds to live!"
"Just a minute!"

What she teaches:
2 + 2 = 4
What the assignment is:
2 X 4 = 8
What the homework is:
2(4a + -4,782)9 X 45

Alex's Awesome Random Corner

     Here's some random advice from the unpublished A Guide To Surviving Middle School. These are known from experience. Unfortunately for some of them... :)

• Avoid clapping weirdos.
• Prepare for the worst when you enter the hallways.
• Expect anything and everything. Don't rule possible things because they're unlikely. (Trust me, very few things in life will appear as extraordinary once you've walked out those doors.)
• Plan, organize, and prioritize. Otherwise, everything will fall flat in your face. (Grades, relationships, reputations, everything, etc.)
• Don't date. Life's just simpler, happier, and talk about skipping the drama! Plus, it ruins relationships. A boy and girl could be great friends, having a good time, doing what they love, just being a kid and having fun, but no. They have to have those stupid labels of "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" attached to their heads, making things awkward and dramatic, and so many other things! Besides, what are you going to do as a "couple"? Have your mom take you to the park to share a Popsicle? I mean, come on! Lame! So, DON'T DATE!
• Don't swear either. It may sound like I'm trying to preach to you how to be a goody goody, but there's a way not to be uncool, but not have to follow all the silly trends like saying the f word or other things. Find them. Don't resort to sinking to that level, because trust me, it's NOT worth it.

Ah! Sweet Romance!

My half sister and my half brother-in-law were happily wed for all time and eternity in the Seattle Temple. They really are a beautiful couple...

                                                

Two Of the World's Unsuspecting Heroes

She's smiling? I guess some people get it. 

Cross Country is a truly a sport of endurance. I think I'll stick with reading and writing, thank you anyway. :)