Come In

So my Writers Craft course has gotten around to ending it's unit on prose. A sad day to say the least. Now we've moved on to the poetry unit, which is both a blessing and a curse. It's proven a sizable pain to try and come up with such grand chains of words without any natural moment of "Oooooo that's a good idea!" On the bright side at least people won't be sure what's so confusing about my work.

One of the things my instructor is making us do is pick a poem out a collection of books she had laid out for us and write about the author and what intrigues us about it among other things. I picked a poem by Robert Frost, because of course I did.

Come In

By Robert Frost

Poetry I by Robert Corbin

Robert Frost was born in San Francisco on March 26th, 1874. After his father died of tuberculosis when he was eleven, he moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts where he discovered his love of poetry, and though he would attend both attend Dartmouth College and Harvard University, he would never gain a formal degree. 

Frost's poems typically involve lots of soul searching and rather dark thoughts on universal themes and though he was a poet of traditional verse, he adhered to using language the way it was spoken to explain his thoughts clearly and effectively.

His poem, Come In, is an intriguing piece because it appears to try and send a message in the least obvious manner possible. The message, in my mind at least, is about how easily we can be distracted from our objectives when we find something new and I find the way he goes about this extremely interesting.

He opens with the following;

"As I came to the edge of the woods,

Thrush music-hark!

Now if it was dusk outside,

It was dark inside."

In the span of a single stanza he's created an interesting environment the hooks the reader. From here he goes on to describe the interior of the forest and the bird's music until he shells out his final stanza;

"But no, I was out for the stars:

I would not come in.

I meant not even if asked,

And I hadn't been.'

Frost really hits it home with right here! He portrays a moment of snapping out of a daydream and returning to the original objective. This is my favorite part of the piece, because he so eloquently presents a common feeling. The feeling of getting lost in what's around us and by our imaginations, and as a small tie in; how we also need to be able to return to reality and stay our course.

And that is why we call him "The American Bard"

Elector at 16

So as I am sure many of you are aware that Canada; yes the snow covered, hockey loving paradise, where even the criminals are nice. Held an election quite recently, in which our newest Prime Minister (and our 2nd Trudeau) was elected to office with a majority of the country holding him aloft.

Now as much as I would loooooove to talk about Canadian politics and the parties and the like. That job has been more than taken care of countless other people and organizations; my absolute favorite being Last Week Tonight's delightful coverage.

So instead I will sate my urges (and spare your time) by allow this following chart to do it for me:

Now with that out of the way, I can move onto the real reason behind this posting. As it so happens, I also received a question from a certain someone, asking my opinion whether the voting age in Canada should be reduced to 16 years of age or not.

I'm gonna start this by being very frank: NO

Now I am going to tell you a story as to why. You see, every day I ride a school bus to and from my high school everyday. On said bus, we have a modicum of different students; from the city, the countryside and the suburbs. All of different educational levels from the scholars who strive for academia and those who for lack of a better phrase; could give a *.

Just ahead of where I sit, is where all of the of Gr.11 and 10 students also sit. Now from what I've seen of them (consider this my bias disclaimer), if these kids were knives I doubt they would be able to cut fish. For the most part what I hear out them is in someway or another discussing parties, sports, and smookin' dat sweeet ganja man.

"But wait..." I can hear you saying "...you don't really know them, everybody is somewhat like that when they're young". To which I agree and think is more than true and needs to be taken into account. But here is where I pull something out of my hat that might trip you up.

For you see, while I do hear them (at fairly audible tones) talking about the above. They also talk about more (I can hear your suprise). You see they also, especially in the few weeks leading up to the election, they discussed a number of different topics. Least to say I was intrigued and set up to watch
Early on I was quite hopeful, they were bringing up topics like wellfare, the Syrian conflict, immigration and other issues and just like that I wished I could get back the brain cells I lost by listening to them.

While I won't go through the specifics of what they said, but I will say that it is more than comparable to Bush-era ideaologies. They talk about these issues with seemingly no background and with a gung-ho; PATRIOT (or headstrong) attitude that has in the past has caused a multitude of problems, out of a sheer lack of empathy.

It's because of this that I don't think that people under 18 years of age should be able to vote. People do a surprising amount of growing in a very short time; becoming informed, developing their own opinions as well as building their sense of empathy and compassion. These are things I believe is very important to being a decision maker and before you can make a decision like electing someone into power, you must posses those qualities for foresight. That is why I believe that the voting age shouldn't be lowered to 16.

The Adaptable Mind and The Human Economy

So recently, we had an assembly at my school. I went into it expecting to hear the long drawn out speech and standard conduct rhetoric that we have all come to expect in Western schools. Instead something different happened instead he talked for 2 minutes until chatter inevitably began and than challenged anyone in the room who wanted to go to go, which least to say shut people right up. Once he'd regained control of the room, he played one little ten minute video and that was all. Least to say it was probably the best assembly ever, now that's what I call satisdiction (it's a real word I'm not kidding. It means to get ones point across with few words. It's cool :D ).

The video in question is "The Adaptable Mind" talks about the future of our world and our role in it as technology grows and grows and takes up more of the physical work. It specifically talks about how our human traits; Curiosity, Creativity, Initiative, Multi-disciplinary Thinking and Empathy, will be what we build our economy around. A "Human Economy" if you will, based around peoples ability to think outside of the box. Now as much I'd like to talk about the idea of that, we aren't going to be talking about it. Instead (as per my orders), you get to hear

In the context of those five things at least.


Out of those five things I would have to say that I am very good with curiosity, creativity and empathy. I love exploring things, wrenching them open and looking around and generally thinking about possibilities. As a student of the arts I feel like I am quite apt at being creative, coming up with new ideas and solutions to problems. As for Empathy I do my very best to always try and get into someone else head space when trying to work with them.

As for future development I feel like I really need to focus on my initiative, as I am terrible at getting things going that I am not especially interested in. Also I am terrible with procrastination and making excuses, this namely being my favorite excuse:

And as for multi-disciplinary thinking, I feel that it wouldn't be very hard for me, as I enjoy interacting with others and developing projects. My biggest struggle is that I need to put myself out there and actually find the other disciplines to work with and talk to. Really more of an initiative problem, but I digress.

I think to continual to grow and develop, I really just need to focus on getting myself motivated and if I can get that part of my life worked out than I should be able to do very well in life.

I Want To Be Single - But With You

Okay, so this post is in no way shape or from related to anything from my Writers Craft course. However I found a thing forty-two minutes ago (it is 10:42PM at the time of writing) and I feel like sharing, because after all this is a blog gosh darn it. To hell with conformity.... most of the time.

So you may be pondering; "What on god's green earth could he possibly be so gosh darned excited about.... also how excited could he possibly." Well this should somewhat explain the latter.

As for the main question; it revolves around an essay I recently heard about in an article from Psychology Today magazine. The article by Bella DePaulo (Ph.D), was discussing an essay from the Huffington Post entitled "I Want To Be Single -- But With You". The essay itself discusses (presumably from the author's point of view) the desire to be close to someone as if they were in a full-on relationship with them (i.e: affection, mutual empathy, a sense of love and security, loyalty.... sex, etc). while still being able to go about their life simultaneously as if they were single. With no commitments or obligations to the other person (i.e: bringing them with you all the time, have to work around there schedule, etc.)

The article by Dr.DePaulo proceeds to talk about the Psychology behind this, and seeing as how I cannot do it real justice, I would entreat you to read both pieces (in the order of PT article, then the essay itself) as I found them both very intriguing.

What I really want to discuss though, is the article itself, and the idea that it discusses. I'm sure there will be people who are going to be very quick to assume that this is simply some more moderate version of polygamy, I would ask you hold judgement and be willing to look a little deeper at what is being talked about.

Now the author Isabelle Tessier's idea is not that, you have one person you go to for comfort, and just do whatever the hell you'd like with other members of your prefer sex. What Ms.Tessier is trying to talk about is having that primary person that you have a connection with, enjoy spending time and can find solace in, while at the same time not being (to put it bluntly) restricted like you would normally be in a standard relation ship. Due to the fact that you continue leading a single life. To spin an old saying, "You can look at the stuff at the fruit at the market.... but you can also inquire about, touch it, taste it, buy a bunch of them," it is entirely up to you.

What love the most about this philosophy (or lifestyle if that is a better term), is that it's not just about being in an open relationship, for the sake of having numerous sexual partners, as a matter of fact the author never once talk about their fictional partner engaging in relations with someone else (though it could be argued that it would be expected). It's more about being able to fulfill our needs in way that mutually benefit both people involved. Under this idea, people would be able to have the benefits of a relationship; a source of affection, someone to talk to, someone to experience life with, someone who "gets" you. While at the same time, preventing the typically infidelity problems that follow standard relationships, and allow each party specifically more freedom.

I'm not sure if I am willing to 100% subscribe to this set idea, but I would also be lying if I said I wouldn't be interested in trying it. Though as I watch more and more statistics say that traditional marriages are not working like the used to, I can't help but wonder if this will be a viable alternative.

Is Education the Key?

So, I've received another question from my supremely benevolent leader.

After watching Darryll Amoako, or as he is better known, Suli Breaks' controversial video "Why I Hate School But Love Education". We were asked to write "...a brief and insightful post..." on the subject, which I am obligated to write as a pupil, but also as someone who will soon be entering that system.

(We all know it's not going to be brief)

So the question is:

 Does a Post Secondary Education = a Positive Successful Existence?

Does a BA mean you are Benefactor of Altruism?

Does a B.Sc make you a Bringer of Social Change?

And does a Master or a Doctorate bring you Misery or does it Disillusion you?

I like to think that I have an interesting outlook on things. You see back in the late 90s early 2000's Canada's economy was slowing down (I should point out this is largely based off of an article on Vice News that I cannot find for the love me of me.), so the lovely talking heads began debating about what they were going to do about the loss of jobs. So they come up with the idea of a, knowledge-based economy, the idea being that people would go through post-secondary education and create businesses. Effectively trying to turn the workforce into a giant "Think Tank" if you will.

Now I shouldn't have to tell you why that didn't work, given the fact that; unemployed, indebted, financially inept and most of all tired students, are not gonna be in the mood (or have the credit) to start those businesses. Which has pseudo left us here (I say this because in all likelihood hood it isn't the only one).

This has left senior secondary students at there own Shibuya Crosswalk, with many ways to go and plenty of people to go with. 

I find that through out all the time I have been in school, I've learned things sure. I could explain to you the forces on an object as it flies through the air, how water is the single most important molecule in your body. I could even explain to you why The Wars, by Timothy Findley is an incredibly powerful novel even in this day in age. Even so I have I really learned anything? I couldn't tell you how a mortgage works (properly), or how to create a perfect budget or how to help people.

I think Mark Twain put it the best:

It's a very interesting idea, to separate one's Education from one's Schooling. This in essence, my feeling on the subject.  Schooling has really become nothing more but a membership card that gives you the chance for more opportunities. Education meanwhile has become more and more about life experience, and being able to formulate your own opinions.

To give a definite answer (we all know this has gone on long enough). I think that education is key to success, but that there is a distinct difference between education and schooling. Schooling what we pull out of textbook, and study to that we can preform and succeed at a profession, however education is the knowledge that we gain about life, how to be a person, how to deal with and communicate with others and find happiness. Those are certainly things necessary to succeed at anything, and that is something that you don't need to go to school for.






And as a man wiser than I said:
"It is the mark of an educated man,
who can entertain a thought,
without accepting it."
-Aristole

The Inaugral Post (Not much eh?)

 **WARNING REQUIRED NONSENSICAL BLOG PREAMBLE**

            So today I started my first day of Grade 12+, and as fate would have it I was lucky enough to be able to end off my day with the Writers Craft course. And as fate would have (albeit was not entirely unexpected) our lovely teacher Mrs. Reidel asked, after the creation of our personal blogs for the course, to check our the Course blog where she left us some day one questions. And here I was thinking I was going to get away from this scot-free.


            But like all homework it poses an age old question, so I guess I'll see to answering it (jokes of course, I am far too big a goody-two shoes for that). The question itself isn't all that difficult either. It's simply wondering "What is your intention for this course" and "What do you think writing skills could offer you". Not hard questions to say the least; you'd actually have to try and screw it up do get it wrong.

Actual answers:
             As for the answers: My intentions for the course are to firstly to work through some of the expanse of the ideas I have in my head and actually put them onto paper. Rather than simply run through them for the umpteenth time in my head so that I don't forget them. As well as to try and expand the tools I have in my writing tool kit, for personal and official/academic/generally prim and proper writing. When it comes to what writing skills could offer, that's a pile of possibility. On account of how necessary English and writing are related to the most basic parts of human interaction. So other than the typical improved grammar and quality of essay and things in that vein. I believe that writing skills could help me with communication skills, by working with different styles of writing with different nuances, I think that it could improve my ability to communicate verbally with peers and others.

Till next time,
Chris Nesbitt [Your Humble Scribe]