Nick's One Stop Blog Shop

The HSC, plus Forgetfulness, plus the PUNCast

2007-10-20T22:04:00.000+10:00

WEll, again I have been lax in posting. Again, I have forsaken the written record of my life (well, at least parts of it). I had even forgotten my username and password (but I remembered them, after much trial and error.)

But I have returned.

First off, the HSC. I'm smack bang in the middle of it. I've done English 1, and have only 5 more exams left to go. But, I finish on the last day (arghh. Drama! Why do you hate me so). But, I guess its nearly over. OR so they say. Woo

And finally, our church youthgroup has produced a podcast, in a sorta chat show style, except less organised. Indeed, after listening to episode 1, it was, well, rather disorganised. The running sheet went who knows where. BUT, it was still funny, and still had a worthwhile look at the Bible, and we now know what things to improve on :)
Check it out at http://puncast.podomatic.com and drop us a line, with your thoughts or whatever.

Signing off

The Socceroos and the Asian Cup

2007-07-10T21:16:00.000+10:00

Well, I have to say, the recent socceroos matches have been disappointing, to say the least (that is, if you were able to see them, seeing as you either had to go to Thailand or its nearby neighbours, or have CABLE!!)

To beat Singapore 3-0 is one thing (even that match was very "leave it till the last minute") but to draw 1-1 with Oman is totally another, and that doesn't match Australia's potential cup-winners billing. Now, you can go on about weather conditions and playing away, and I can sympathise with that to an extent. But some of the defending I saw in highlights against Oman was atrocious. The defenders were all over the place, and failed to mark the forward players, which is where the first goal came from. While Schwarzer could well have saved it, Oman's Badar Mubarak should never have gotten into that sort of position.

The sad thing is is that we know these guys can play good football, football that has earned them a spot amongst the favourites for the Asian Cup. I don't know whether its Arnold (who I don't think is as bad as everyone says he is) or the conditions, or the pressure, but I do know that we need to play a stack better if we want to win silverware. Maybe it was a freak accident, but in truth, we were at times OUTPLAYED by an Omani side much lower in the world rankings, and devoid of international talent the likes of which we had

The only concellation is that the rest of the group drew, as well as potential quarter final rivals Japan. Maybe something in the water...

Simon Cowell actually being nice

2007-06-17T11:07:00.000+10:00

Check this out. This 6 year old girl comes out onto Britain's Got Talent, and sings incredibly well: actually, pretty much flawlessly, and Simon actually is nice to her, and then says how she is prime pick to win the thing.

Good stuff

Yeats.....

2007-06-14T14:26:00.000+10:00

We just had an assesment task today on the poetry of William Butler Yeats. The guy is a pessimist. I don't know if I would call him an emo, but he still has a rather depressing outlook on life. Possibly because people have told him he's ugly. Maybe also because he got rejected by a lday several times over the course of his life.

His poetry reflects this. He spends a lot of time contemplating old age, and a desire for immortality. He also has a bit of a go at everyone else. In one of his poems, The Second Coming, he seems to have a bit of a dig at Christians, saying that they are apathetic, that "the best of us lack all conviction", while waiting for 'someone' to save the world.

I don't think most Christians would agree with this. While we certainly wait for the day when Jesus will return, I don't think we're apathetic. We are called to go out, and share the news that we are already saved, not by anything we can do, but what Jesus has done on the cross. We are called to live lives that honour God, and while we by no means always manage to do this, we sure try.

Mind you, Yeats won a Nobel Prize for his writing. He must have been doing something right!

History Quiz: Weimar Germany

2007-06-04T18:52:00.000+10:00

1. Name the mutiny that occured at the start of the November Revolution

2. What was the november Revolution and when did it occur?

3. Which Democratic Party was the most important at the time of the November Revolution

4. Name the Article of the Weimar Constitution that allowed the German President extensive emergency powers.

5. Who was the first president of the Weimar Republic and which party did he come from?

One star for each correct answer, with each person able to earn a maximum of 3 stars (I'm not expecting a rush of posts, but if you read this... TELL THE WORLD!!! WORD OF MOUTH!!!

The Elephant Song

2007-06-01T17:00:00.001+10:00

Essays

2007-05-31T19:06:00.000+10:00

Arghh. Who can say 4 essays in one week. I know I can.... And the best bit is, none of it actually goes towards anything. But we still have to do them, or we get letters home and the like. Its basically 'compulsory homework.'

Oh well. Only two more to go...

Driving is only getting harder....

2007-05-11T17:22:00.000+10:00

Now, you may call me biased just because I'm on my L's, but I think some of these laws that are being brought in in NSW are pretty dumb. The 'enhanced' test, which they'll probably have to dumb down anyway, I can deal with, and I'll probably have to sit it, but the 120 requisite hours is ridculous. I don't think I need to do 120, that being the component that doesnt work retrospectively, but its still a major nuisance for new learners. They are more than doubling the number of hours you have to complete.

In the end, all I think this will do is either deter people from learning to drive in the first place, or worse, prompt people to forge their logs, which are basically unpoliceable anyway, unless you get a licencesed officer to sign off each entry, which would be absolutely ridiculous. If I'm lucky, I won't have to sit the enhanced test if I sit for my P's before July, but that may be pushing it.

Oh yeah. And no mobile phones. At all.

The Cadbury Easter Bunny......Day 2

2007-04-12T12:03:00.000+10:00

The Cadbury Easter Bunny...... Day 1

2007-04-11T17:09:00.000+10:00

Easter...... Creeping Up Slowly

2007-04-05T13:37:00.000+10:00

I find it exceptionally interesting how little attention people in general pay to Easter. With Christmas there's all this hype for up to two months before, with plenty of sales and things at store. The realm of presents during Christmas is along the vein of 'anything goes' . Heck, they even have Santa plastered all over Coke bottles!!

With Easter, any 'presents' are limited to chocolate. Store sales are limited to choclate. Everything essentially revolves around chocolate shaped into the vague likeness of eggs or rabbits. Easter just doesn't hold the same place in peoples hearts and minds as Christmas.

If you look at the religous significance of the two days, however, it would seem that Easter should be ranked higher. Sure, the birth of Christ as a human is pretty up there, but his death and resurrection you think would be the most important, it being kinda the reason he came in the first place. I suppose this is just another example of commercialism coming along and ruining everything for everyone.

Have a Good Friday.

END OF HALF YEARLIES

2007-04-03T12:34:00.000+10:00

WOOOOOO!!! END OF HALF YEARLIES!!!

Well, not quite. I have a drama prac on Thursday that it is impossible to prepare for seeing as we get the topic on the day, but stilll......

END OF HALF YEARLIES!!!!

(As you can probably tell, I'm really happy!)

Tsunami

2007-04-02T15:56:00.000+10:00

Well, we think Tsunami are things that can only happen overseas. It turns out that we could have had one here. After an 8.1 earthquake to the West of the Solomon Islands, and an accompanying tsunami resulted in at least 10 deaths in Gizo, it was feared that we fight get something similar. Thankfully, we only had raises in something like 10 cms, so in the end we weren't in any danger, unlike those guys in the Solomon islands, but it still serves to make us think that maybe we're not immune to this sort of stuff. Whether you think that these tidal waves are a result of global warming or not, perhaps it pays to be careful.

I was just driving down the road...

2007-04-02T15:02:00.000+10:00

Learning to drive is such a wonderdull thing. I've been doing really well recently. Haven't stall, haven't hit anything, no kangaroo hopping. nothing. Then, sunday arvo I was driving to church. I went the longer way, and cam up to this nasty intersection where I have to cross to lanes of traffic going one way, then two the other. As i started to move across the two lanes, I stalled. I did this not once, not twice, but three times. Yes three. The car immeadiately was driven by a guy I knew, and they just had a good laugh at my expense, but behind THEM was a p-plater. They were honking and being all round nasty. P-platers, of all people, should know what its like to be a learner. In any case, I know I won't be like when I get my p's. Well, maybe a little.

Well....

2007-03-29T16:40:00.000+10:00

Another day, another exam. Today's was maths. Its probably also the first maths exam I've actually put some real hard study into. Of course, I probably still didn't do as much as I should, and so probably won't get as high marks as I would like, but....meh.

I find it interesting, though, how much importance the people around me put on getting high marks. Sure, you should try your best, but there is a point where such work starts to consume you (the exact opposite problem to what I have!). There are more important things in life, the most important being God, who, again, I probably don't spend as much time with as I should. But if you don't at least check out God, you're leaving yourself short. Asking questions is fine. Those people who I know, feel free to hunt me at school or whatever and grill me (not too much though). And, any others, just comment here, or wherever.

At the very least, don't burn your brain out with exams. Its pretty painful.

My Dream PC

2007-03-26T12:27:00.000+10:00

My Dream PC would have....

1. Windows XP for starters (I'm currently stuck with ME)
2. A Core 2 Duo (double the power..well not quite, but anyway)
3. An Nvidia GeForce 8800GTX(Who needs SLI?....)
4. 2GB of DDR2 Ram
5. A really mad flat screen monitor of some sort (I don't know anything about monitors)
5. Various extras (DVD drives, keyboard, speakers)
6. A cordless mouse

Oh, and it would be cool if it was an Alienware PC. , cause they have to be one of the best looking PCs on the market today!

And cause its a dream PC, I wouldn't have to pay for it, so there!

Sydney Vs Asia

2007-03-25T14:32:00.000+10:00

Well, we all know how awesome Sydney FC are, and how they are the greatest team in the world. They had beaten China's Shanghai Shenua 2-1, and then came up to play against the Urawa Red Diamonds. Of course, no one was suprised when Sydney went 1-0 up through Super Dave in the first minute, then 2-0 through Talay. The only shock was that Sydney allowed the Japanese champs back into the game, to draw 2-2.

Okay, maybe 2-2 was actually not a disappointing result for sydney in only its second Asian outing, and this was against one of the comp's stronger teams. I think we can safely say that the lads are doing not only Sydney, but also Australia proud. Here's to hoping we can get to the next round!!

I'm Back!!

2007-03-23T17:17:00.000+11:00

You know, I almost forgot i had this blog. Blogging is one of those things where, if you don't get into the habit of doing it regularly, then you won't be bothered to post about 50% of the time. I also always seem to start blogging again around exam time....

Anyway, I have returned again, and greet all 3 of you (if that) who check this place from time to timel. If you are reading this, please, please, PLEASE keep reading! I swear i'll remember to post semi-regularly..... maybe.

Have a good one

Angie vs Fozzie

2006-11-15T19:13:00.000+11:00

Wow! I can't believe this is professional television. Now, for those who don't know, Craig Foster is a leading 'reporter/analyser' on TWG on SBS, while Ange Postecoglou is the Joeys head coach. Ange was being interviewed on his teams latest international showing, and his been under fire from the FFA. Fozzie was basically griling him, and Les Murray didn't really do a thing. It makes you wonder how many more FFA staff will be willing to come on the show. My opinion of Craig dropped several notches after this 'interview' (read interrogation)...

Belated!

2006-11-11T16:54:00.000+11:00

Well, again, i haven't posted in a while, but that's because i had my chemistry HSC on Friday. I'm in year 11 but i do accelerated chem, so i did it a year earlier (NERD!!!). Anywho, that turned out okay, I think. There wasn't too much I didn't know.
Oh yeah, and, as I write this, I am surfing my brand new ADSL broadband connection. Wooo!!!!
Now I can surf in style. And do English homework......
Someone give me some texts that I can use to talk about imaginative journeys!!!

Arrivederci, bambino!

Generic

2006-10-23T16:54:00.001+10:00

Wow! I've been getting really slack at posting lately. The holiday program at my church on the first 3 days of the second week of the hols, Holiday Happening, was pretty good. We had a smallish number of kids on any one day, but they were different kids each day, I think, so in the end we had quite a few kids who came to 'Narnia', sing some songs, eat some food and, most importantly, hear about the Lord who saves.
The rest of the holidays was spent in recuperation (kinda). Now, we're back at school, working, plus studying for my chem HSC(i got accelerated a year) and that's on the 10th of November. Classes are more or less the same except for maths, in a new class with a new teacher.
In soccer, I'm glad Arsenal are doing so well in the EPL, keeping pace with Man U and Chelsea (Woo!), however, Sydney FC have been fairly substandard. Beaten by Melbourne twice(!), and, dare I say, the MAriners 3-1, they are looking fairly shaky for a playoff spot at the moment, let alone the minor premiership, which the Victory are running away with. However, there is a game between Australia and Ghana in November sometime, so that's something to look for. Anywho, see you cats later. I got work to do....

Oh, and Mach die augun zu und kiss mich.
Cher Cuzez!

PS the Photo is of some random guy on the Internet I don't know.

My Holiday

2006-10-09T16:26:00.000+10:00

Well, i have not blogged in ages, mainly because i've been with my family to visit rellies in Parkes. We got back on Fridaay, though, i've just been really lazy. It was quite a week. After the 4-5 hour trip, (i can't remember), we mainly hung out with them, and not doing a whole lot. In Parkes itself there wasn't too much going on, but they do have this whopping great radio telescope, which has even had a movie made about it. Beat that. Apart from that, there wasn't a whole lot around, apart from the releatively recent Big W with its speacial experimental layout, and what i am sure is one of the last Pizza Hut buffets in Australia. The rest of the time we spent just hanging out with family, and watching movies. As i remember, me and my uber-cool cousin and i watched Ace Ventura, Dodge ball, Napoleon Dynamite and SWAT, all fun movies. We also went to Western Plains Zoo in (kinda) nearby Dubbo. Actualy, it was more like an hour or two to get there. One thing you notice on these country roads is the huge amount of road-kill lying around. Anyway, the zoo was pretty cool, except it is MASSIVE, and is was extortionately hot, so it was hard going. that was about as far as it got in terms of physical exhaustion. speaking of which, today we started a kids holiday thing at our church. I can't really be bothered blogging a whole different event right now, i'll probably do that Friday arvo, which is the last day of the thing. Anywho....

A bientot!

(PS photos soonish)

END OF EXAMS!!!

2006-09-29T18:13:00.000+10:00

Yes!! Today was my last exam (french writing) but by this stage i was thoroughly sick of them all, so i took it easy the night before. The exam was only 2 hours long, so after i went over to my friend Conan's place. This will probably be my last entry for a week, because my family and I are going west to Parkes for a week to visit my uncle and his family. We saw them not too long ago, but its been ages since WE have actually gone to see THEM (they originalyl lived in Dubbo). Anywho, i'll be gone for a while. So, enjoy your holidays, those who now have them and, if you don't....HAHA!!!

Bonne vacances. Amusez-vous bien!!!

Woops Again

2006-09-25T09:36:00.000+10:00

Haven't blogged in a while again, this weekend was hectic. We had confirmation at our church on Sunday morning. I've already been done, but it was nice seeing other young guys publicly declaring their faith. Sunday evening service was pretty empty, heaps of people didn't turn up, that is, until a load of people from a Pressy church down the road came up, having just returned from a house party or something; anyway it was pretty cool to talk with other Christians from other churches.
Friday at school was insane, what with a two-hour Modern History exam requiring us to write two long essays, and two sligtly(!) shorter essays. As if that is even possible. If exams are supposed to be a way for us to demonstrate our knowledge of the subject, this is not the way to do it...
Anyway, no more exams until thursday, except accompanying two people in their Music pracs tomorrow. Fun, fun, Fun.

Tu es moche
A bientot!

Exams Part III: The Reckoning

2006-09-19T18:27:00.000+10:00

Woops. Today: Maths. My archnemesis. Full of functions and geometry and trig and calculus...
I don't think I did too well. Geo and trig and some of functions and calculus was reasonable, but mostly I think I died. When I go into MAths exams, it all becomes so much harder than in class, cause you by and large have to work out when to use what stuff in which questions. I'd give some examples, but I both can't, and don't want to remember any. Actually, I don't think I really failed, just didn't do too well. Anyway, It's out of the way now. Most of the hard stuff is done with. No more exams until Friday, which is Modern History, one of my better subjects. Should have a better time of it then.

Jusque-la, au revoir!

Exams Part II

2006-09-18T20:56:00.000+10:00

YAY!!!! Today was most certainly the most ridiculously stressful day of the two weeks, with a 3 hour English paper, full of the most ridiculous questions, to which you could give the most ridiculous answers, followed almost immediately (seriously, there was less than an hour between exams) by a two hour Drama practical exam, where we did a group piece, and individual monlogues. Almost zero break time, didn't finish till three. I need no further proof that the HSC is from the devil(techincally prelim, but same diff). Anyway, I'm glad that's out of the way. Maths tomorrow, then a two day break.

A bientot!!

Gaghh!!!

2006-09-15T16:56:00.000+10:00

Well, i apologise for my inablity to post recently, but I have been busy. We have yearly exams going for the next two weeks, starting on monday, and i have been trying to get ready. The first two days will be the hardest, with 3 hour english and maths exams, and a drama group-and-monologue exam, which we aren't, as of yet, really ready for. Anyway, most of the posts i make in the next fortnight will probably be me reflecting, and trying to remain sane. Keep reading!

Salut

Peter Brock

2006-09-08T17:09:00.000+10:00

Well, if having Steve Irwin kick the bucket wasn't enough, now Peter Brock, another familiar face, has died as well. He too, died doing what he loved, rally racing, but I don't think anyone would want to go the way he did, in a freak crash during a one car rally. I'm not a big car racing fan, but I definitely remember seeing him on TV, doing various things, like a bit of advertising or whatever. If someone knows exactly what, fill me in. Anyway, another reminder how suddenly our lives can end, and another reason why the world needs to know God. If you are a non-christian and are reading this, ask me about it. I think my blog is due for a discussion already...

Salut!!

Insults

2006-09-06T11:01:00.000+10:00

Today, i was in maths, and someone called someone else a toolshed. I thought that was rather funny? Cause some people call each other tools, and a toolshed is like, lots of tools. What's next? "you're a Bunnings!"? Where did the tool insult come from? Is it really insulting? There are some other really strange words/phrases in the English language. If you find any, let me know.

Salut, mes amies!

ON THE PODDY!!!

2006-09-05T14:44:00.000+10:00

Forgive the screaming title, but this is simply one of the greatest podcasts of all time!! (I would know. ... ...) Anywho, Dan & Dave (trust me, it's better that way) talk about all sorts of stuff. They also have a massively cool serial show think called Captain Boaz. He's a Time Traveller. They also talk about the most important thing you can here, which is about Christ. All you non-Christian friends of mine (I know you are out there) check it out at http://ccecyouth.podomatic.com. They are up to 29 (?) episodes.

So....CHECKITOUTCHECKITOUTCHECKITOUTCHECKITOUT CHECKITOUTCHECKITOUTCHECKITOUTCHECKITOUTCHECKITOUT. (I love StrongBad too) Oh yes, and spread the word about my blog, too (it's kinda short on people actually viewing it.

Sydney 2 Melbourne 3

2006-09-03T10:32:00.000+10:00

Well, we lost the game, but we certainly weren't embarrassed. 2 goals down, (one scored when Middleby was one the ground with a broken collarbone, the other a contoversial penalty) plus what was a reasonable sending off of Mark Rudan: all of which happened in the first 15 minutes. However, for the rest of the game, 10 man Sydney at least equaled Melbourne, and probably deserved more than a 3-2 loss out of it. I hope Fred (hehe, Fred) and Cacaeras get suspended or something, for some off the ball elbowing. Massive crowd of 39 000 at Melbourne. Entertaining game, great for the league.

MAD 06

2006-09-01T17:33:00.000+10:00

Woo!! Well, that was MAD (formely riverside) for another year. For the uninitiated, MAD (short for Music Art Drama) is a showcase of our schools creativeness. Over the last two nights, at the Q Theatre, Penrith, we blew peoples minds away with our awesomeness. This year, it was bigger, with more audience, and more stage to work with. And, we were literally 3 seconds for Westfield. You get bored during rehearsal, you go to KFC or something. This year, I was only in 5 acts total (2 one night, 3 the other) on keys all of them with the stage band (and completely shredding may I add), so I had plenty of time to compose. Me and My friend Matt fiddled with this song I'd made, b ut didn't have lyrics for. At the moment, they're not much better, but it's getting there. My guitar definitely got a workout, too. Anywho, i'll post some photos here once someone gives them to me (including the 'good' ones of Mr Ropa, if i can find them).

Buhbye

The Distractions of the Internets

2006-08-28T18:34:00.000+10:00

Well, here I am, supposed to be doing core homework (a rant for another time) as well as a modern history research task, on the internet, but failing dismally. It has increasingy become obvious to me that the Internet is where you go if you have nothing to do, as opposed to when you have something you need to do. The "Internet" is full of many distractions, such as MSN, On the Poddy (a shameless piece of viral marketing), Homestar Runner, to name but a few. I have done two lines of work since i started an hour ago. The Internet is completely and utterly useless for research, at least if you have as short an attention span as me.

Wait...blogging is a distraction too!!! (I seriously only just realised that.) So...ahh... parents? Don't listen to kids when they say they're going on the internet to work. IT ISN'T TRUE!!!!!

That is all.

Kudos to Jeremy for telling me to add an 's' to Internet, for added coolness :)

Sydney 1 Central Coast 0

2006-08-28T12:17:00.000+10:00

In all fairness, the Mariners played well, but could not combat the awesome might of Sydney. Well taken goal by DEFENDER Iain Fyfe settled the match, plus a couple of fine saves by Clint Bolton. A bit of a disappointing crowd of 19 000, though, but still a good game. The Mariners had chances, but its the goals that count:

'Nuff Said.

Those wacky french exchange people

2006-08-27T10:47:00.000+10:00

Well, another belated post. This is in commemoration of the french exchange students that we had at our school. They were there for two weeks, i think, but i was away for one, after being ill for like two weeks, with a virus, plus asthma flarage, plus my diabetes (for all you who don't know, i have type 1 diabetes). But they left on Friday. Anywho, it was fun having them around, as they were all pretty crazy. We had many insane conversations, and had fun making up nonsensical phrases in French to say to them. My French has improved greatly since having them around, but I gotted ripped into a lot with by bad grammammamr. Anywho, if any of you French guys, Estelle, Virginie, Louis, Imed, Pierre-Nicolas, Ludmilla or any of the others who i've forgotten the names of (Je suis tres desolee!!!!) randomly find my blog:
J'espere que vous avez amusé bien en Australie. Vous nous manquez. Et je sais que ma francais et mauvais.
Oh, et Estelle. Je pense que votre grenouille a mangé mon dejeuner.

Salut

A tribute to one of the truly greats

2006-08-26T17:54:00.000+10:00

This is a tribute to one of the greatest footballers of all time. The one the only.... DENNIS BERGKAMP!!!!!!!!!!!

He started off as a product of the great Youth Academy of the dutch football club, Ajax Amsterdam. After several prolific seasons there, he moved to Serie A club, Inter Milan. However, he failed to blossom there after two seasons, and so was transferred to London club Arsenal on the 20th of June, 1995 for 7 500 000 pounds. It was here that he started to fulfill his talent. While he never equaled the goal scoring hights of some of his fellows, notably Thierry Henry, he was an integral part of the
Arsenal first team for the duration of his tenure. He has been often labelled not as a great goal scorer, but a scorer of great goals. However, he still scored a respectable 120 goals from 411 games, over the course of11 seasons for the Gunners.
He has 3 Premiership medals, 3 FA cup medals, and was voted FWA footballer of the year, and PFA player of the year. He also won the UEFA cup once eachwith ajax and inter, as well as winning 79 caps for Holland, scoring 37 times. He will be rememberd for a fantastic solo effort against Newcastle in the EPL, where he flicked the ball over the top of a defender, before nonchalantly volleying it with his other foot into the top corner of the net. He will also be remembered for his extreme fear of flying, which lead to his affectionately being labeled as "The Non-flying Dutchman".
His final ever game was at his testimonial at the newly constructed Emirates Stadium, which was graced by names such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Ian Wright, David Seaman and many others. He retired at the age of 38 , scoring 271 goals in 700 games for club and country, but most importantly, creating at least as many. As Thierry Henry said, "I have always said Dennis Bergkamp will remain the best partner I have ever had. He is a dream for a striker."

He was a dream for a football fan too.

My First Post ver2

2006-08-26T17:44:00.000+10:00

Wow. Blogging. Never thought I would be here again. Tried it before, then realised i had to little in terms of a social life to record. But now, i am well equipped to start again. Hello all you peeps. Feel free to post and say hi. I will think of things to post shortly...