WE WON!

Welcome back to the second "The Week that Was" segment on Daily Lukey. For those of you who do not know, this is the segment where I go through some of the events of the week. These can come from my life or from the wider world but all have had some significance in the past week. I begin today by elaborating on the title. Yesterday our school had our school Swimming Carnival which was a lot of fun. I did not swim but I did marshal for the first half of the day which earned house points to go towards winning. In the end, the best team did win (that means my team by the way) and as I am still Deputy House Captain until the new ones are elected it was a great feeling. As my school is only four years old there has only been four swimming carnivals yet my house has never lost a single swimming carnival. In fact, we have only ever lost one sporting competition which was the house Athletics Carnival last year but we did come second. It was great though but still, not unexpected. I mean, "we are the red team, the mighty red team. We are the strongest, we are the best. We'll stick together, in any weather. And we will win the sports today." That is actually our house "chant" which is sung to the tune of "you are my sunshine". Again, it is the best.

Source: http://www.aquaforceswimmingclub.com.au/Club_Races.php

In other news, I have to think of something else to talk about. A big issue in the media this week is the impending release of Julian Knight who was the perpetrator of the infamous Hoddle Street Massacre which killed 7 people and injured another 19. Through his time in prison, Mr Knight has shown none of the remorse he should and so the Government is not convinced of his rehabilitation. As a result, they are drafting new legislation which will allow Julian Knight to remain in prison indefinitely. This has raised a lot of debate as to whether this infringes on Mr Knight's basic human rights. He has done the time he was assigned for the crime he committed and the big issue is whether this should mean that he is set free. Mr Knight has completed a law degree while in jail and so he is actually a pretty smart man who might be able to contest this. However, this is not the first time that the Government has passed such legislation. Back in 1990, there was another issue over the impending release of Garry David who had committed some more heinous crimes and had threatened to recommit again when he got out. Even while in jail he still sent a lot of threats out to the community as he had a big issue with authority in general and, in particular, the police. As a result, the Victorian Government faced a similar issue to Julian Knight. In the end they passed legislation that would mean that Mr David would remain in prison indefinitely until his life was put in danger at which point he would be moved somewhere else (such as a hospital for instance if he was terminally ill). It is quite possible that the same thing will occur again for Julian Knight who is a person who many never want to see from this side of a jail cell. Something I neglected to mention last week was the release of Schapelle Corby from an Indonesian prison after serving a nine year prison sentence for drug trafficking after a large bag of marijuana was found in her boogy-board case. The worst part is that the public will never know the truth as to whether she is innocent or not as all we have to go by is her word. An issue that has arisen over this is whether Schapelle Corby should be allowed a television interview to tell her story. If she is to do this she will be set to receive a lot of money. In Australia, this would be illegal as there is legislation to prevent criminals profiting from a crime. However, if all the payments were to be done while she was serving her parole period in Indonesia (she cannot leave until her parole period finishes in 2017) Corby would be allowed to keep her payment. However, her parole officer has warned her not to do it as she is on strict parole conditions and an interview like that could land her back in a Bali prison. Schapelle Corby is lucky to be alive however as in Indonesia, they take drugs a lot more seriously and so the death penalty still applies to drug-related offences. Before I finish, I just want to say that there will most likely be no post tomorrow as I am out literally all day except for some very short breaks. I leave for training at 7:45am before returning home by around 1pm before having to leave again and go to a party shortly after. From this party I need to go to my father's party straight afterwards and so I am not set to return home until pretty late tomorrow night. For this reason, please forgive me for the lack of post tomorrow. I have also been sick the past few days with a very sore throat so this weekend will be my chance to catch up on the sleep that will help me feel back to normal by Monday. So I guess I will see you all Sunday.

Those were the big items of the week, join me next week for some more. See you tomorrow!

Weird News Tuesday: Friday Edition!

As I missed out on making a Weird News Tuesday post this week due to extenuating circumstances I have decided to write this week's on a Friday. Next week, this segment should be back to its original Tuesday slot but if I get side-tracked it might become a Wednesday because I am seeing King Kong (again :) ) on Tuesday night. Sometimes I know I should write the posts earlier but I do get side-tracked and there might be something I am doing during the day that could delay my writing. Also, if you missed the announcement, the "Random Thought Friday" segment has been moved to a Saturday and renamed "Random Thought Saturday" (for obvious reasons). Before I go on with this post I also want to dedicate it to the wonderful man that was Nelson Mandela who recently passed away, may he rest in eternal peace. Today's stories come from Sky News Australia.

Source: http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/nelson-mandela-59.php

Apparently there are four chimpanzees in New York who are fighting (or rather, are been fought for) equal rights as humans. Apparently, the Nonhuman Rights Project is behind the move so that they could live out the remainder of their days in freedom. Well, the day has come. A feral "beer-guzzling" pig could get a plaque at a rest-stop in Western Australia to commemorate the pig's rather unusual life. The "infamous" [I have never heard of it] pig died two months ago and people are pushing for this plaque to be created. I knew they lived on the other side of Australia, but I never realised that people from Western Australia were that different. The "Red Dog" statue I can understand but this pig I can not. Have you heard of girl-friends trashing ex-partner's homes and belongings? What about selling them? Those things are pretty common-place these days so now some Chilean entrepreneurs have created a website on which people can sell their ex's belongings so they can "move on" with their lives. Pretty smart idea. Next we have my favourite Lady Gaga. This time her pee has been made into a perfume and, guess what, it was not Gaga's doing this time. Apparently she peed in a bin in her dressing room before an interview because she could not get to the bin. The people who she was doing the interview for did not care and instead kept her pee and turned into a perfume and kept it in a jar. No word on whether they are going to sell it but if they do, I bet some weird person is going to buy it for a lot of money just because it is Lady Gaga's pee and it is going to be worth something someday. Back to some silly things people do in America. The police donated drugs to a school. Yeah, you read that right. Some American Cops did donate Marijuana to a school. Granted, it was more of an issue of poor inventorying (that is a word) as it was found to have accidentally gone through with some of the other items they donated to the school. I suppose the police have just given up in America, drugs for all. Apparently it was important to Sky News to say that the school plans to make tomato plants out of the remaining materials. Well, that was my one question about this whole article answered. Glad they cleared that up or I could have looked like a right fool. This is an article I think that my school friends would like. Click here for the article that is full of too many puns. The article is about a cow who got its head stuck in a plastic chair. You want to know the worst part? The story for it is the longest I have read today. Apparently, a cow stuck in a chair was more important (or surprising) then police supplying drugs to students, or Chimpanzee's human rights! Come on people, we want the important things! That means more cows in chairs. Someone really should look into that market. There is a lot of weird stuff going on in our world these days.

The odd is everywhere, see you tomorrow!

What Songs Really Mean

Have you ever been listening to a song and thought "What is this person trying to say?" Of course, I am not talking about some of Miley Cyrus' new songs but instead some of the other popular songs you hear on the radio. Well, in today's post, I am going to talk to you all about what songs actually mean. Before we continue on I just want to apologise for yet another lack-of-post yesterday but my brother's Valedictory dinner went later than expected and all you would have got from me anyway was a hastily written "Sorry I am so late right now but I am writing this on my phone.." and the rest you can just guess. I was sleeping most of the way home anyway so was in no state to share my views with the world because, most likely, the world would have rejected them. So, on with the show!

1. Do What U Want by Lady Gaga (Ft. R. Kelly)

Source: http://www.celebuzz.com/2013-07-30/here-is-everything-we-know-about-lady-gagas-artpop-so-far/

Looking in on this song it just sounds like Lady Gaga asking you to do literally anything to her. However, if you actually look at the lyrics you get a whole different perspective. The first verse is all about how she puts herself out there and yet is judged by other people who do not know her and it makes her "want to scream". Then she goes onto say that you can do what you want with her body and you can say what you want about her but you can never take her heart and her mind. It is basically her fighting back at her critics saying that they can say whatever they want about her because she does not care. It really is a great message from a song that, from the outset, looks to be all about sex. That is merely one interpretation and the beauty of this is that it is open to all these interpretations and so how I read it is going to be entirely different to how someone else reads it. It really is quite fantastic.

2. Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus

Source: http://globalgrind.com/2013/10/16/acoustic-version-miley-cyrus-wrecking-ball-new-music/

This song is again one that people come into with a lot of prejudice. If you take away all your prejudices you actually realise that this is a very emotional and from-the-heart song that is just Miley trying to be sincere. Even the nudity is artistic in this context as it is intended to show her raw emotions and what she is going through. The song is about Miley Cyrus putting herself out there only to be heart-broken just when she let her guard down. It is all about her struggles with giving the person her all only to be shut-down. At some points she blames herself for coming in too hard (the wrecking ball being a metaphor for her love) and trying to get through to the other person. Even without the lyrics you can tell that this song is more than just Miley Cyrus trying to get some more attention, it is nothing like that. For all we know, it could be about her break up with fiance (sorry, it will not allow me accents on blogger) Liam Hemsworth.

3. Royals by Lorde

Source: http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5770722/lordes-royals-crowns-hot-100-for-fifth-week

It is hard to believe that this relatively new artistic sensation only just turned 17 this month but wow, he career has sky-rocketed. The song for which most people know her, Royals, is one that most people have listened to and liked so let us dissect the lyrics. She starts by saying that she is not rich and does not live in a rich-town. She then, correctly, says that every other song is about wealth, fame, drugs and sex and it is partly this true fact that makes the song so popular. People are finally getting something different and wholesome and have a new platform to support this view. Lorde than goes on to sing about how they will never be rich and famous but in their dreams they can be whoever they want to be. Lorde even says that she never did it for the money (here we can assume she is referencing her fame) while every other song is "like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom. Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room." It really is an honest song that takes a different perspective to all the other songs out there. It really is a great song.

Not all songs are as they initially appear, see you tomorrow!

Addictions

Addictions can vary from person to person. Throughout our lives we will all encounter some form of it, whether it be through ourselves or those around us. Addictions are often associated with drugs and alcohol but can also include gaming, school, work or socialising. All have their own issues which can be devastating to the person themselves and those around them. Addictions are serious and come in many shapes and forms.

The most common thing people think of when it comes to addiction is drugs and alcohol. These are the addictions that we learn about in school, they can affect our health and those around us. Some of these addictions can also get us mixed up with dangerous people and can get us into dangerous situations. Sometimes with addictions such as these it is essential that they receive help and some people actively seek this out while others don't. It is sometimes the responsibility of those around the person that should help them seek help. However, some people don't accept the help and won't even acknowledge they have a problem. People just need to be a bit more patient with these people but if they begin to affect the people who are helping then they need to get away before their lives become as much a mess as the person's who they are helping. So drugs and alcohol are commonly associated with addiction and can affect both the affected and those around them.

Addictions do not have to be related to drugs and alcohol. People can be addicted to movies (except for The Hunger Games, that's understandable. Right? Right?!), television shows (I'm looking at you Joshua [even though you don't read this and probably never will]), games (looking at you Mum) and sports (Matthew, need I say more?). These can have just as big an impact as drugs and alcohol as it can take over their lives and override their inhibitions. They may soon lose interest in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and could soon waste away. Their relationships would suffer as the addiction would come first every time and those around them would feel powerless to do something. These people need help just as much as the alcoholics and the drug addicts. They won't accept they have a problem and it is up to those around them to persuade them (or even trick them) into seeking professional help for their problems. Some addictions are not as severe as others and some won't affect a person's life. There is, however, a fine line between a healthy addiction (if there are any) and an unhealthy addiction and sometimes it is the people around us that can tell which sort of addiction it is as they sometimes feel the effects more than those who are addicted do.

Addictions come in many shapes and forms and the severity depends on the person themselves. Addictions should not be taken lightly and are very serious.

May the odds be ever in your favour, see you tomorrow!

These Damn Braces

So if you didn't realise it already, I wear braces (as in on the teeth, the person below is obviously not me). Most of the time they are not bad but when they are bad, they are REALLY bad. These bad times are mostly after Dentist checkups where they tighten it and your teeth hurt because they are moving around. Sometimes having braces is something you don't even notice and other times you just want to rip them out of your mouth, literally (and I mean literally).

My braces were actually supposed to come off yesterday but for some reason instead of the front two teeth becoming even closer together in the last month, something pulled them apart and I was left with a gap in my two front teeth. This gap had being growing for the past few days and so when I got to the Dentist the main dentist (who owns the place and does a lot of the work, though there are a lot of people there) who was preparing for the final check-up before de-banding (the process of removing the braces) decided straight away to cancel the de-banding because of it and instead tightened the braces on my top teeth (he left the bottom teeth untightened because they were perfect [of course they were, they're my teeth]) and then I went home. It wasn't until later that night when I was trying to sleep that my top teeth started hurting really badly (I know, great English) and I could not get to sleep at all until 5am in the morning when the pain finally eased. The worst part was we were out of Panadol so I had to just wait it out which meant a lot of tossing and turning. In the end I would have only being lucky to get 2 hours sleep all night and so throughout the day I really felt like doing this.

I don't want to scare people with braces or who are going to get braces because 95% of the time you don't realise the braces are there. It's only when you do notice them that you wish you hadn't because they can hurt. Thankfully the pain has eased off though it is still hard to eat anything hard because it still hurts to bite down with my top teeth. So braces are great most of the time but can hurt a lot when they want to.

May the odds be ever in your favour, see you tomorrow!