coming to conclusions
DESCRIPTION
A composition of my journalism pieces for the school year of 2013-2014. Feel free to read regardless of your attendance, or lack of there of, of INMS during this school year. Just understand it may seem bizarre and alien to those that are unfamiliar to the classTRANSCRIPT
Coming to Conclusions, Ours is not to reason why: Ours is but to do or die
The First and apparent Final Issue of the Eccentric inquisitor
Editor and Chief: Emrys Golden
Article of Self, a List of the Saluted
“You’re crazy” Ruffin joked.
With a wicked grin more commonly associated with hobgoblins I re formulated the
counter that I had envisioned long in advance “Oh, I prefer the term eccentric genius.”
INMS isn't just a time or a place, it’s a function. For me it took a nervous whiny sixth
grader, and turned him into the person I am today. An evolution that started the day I walked
into INMS.
I began as an overly cheerful, childish, and eleven year old with a vast array of exciting
role models to choose from. I personally couldn't find a single eighth grader not to look up to, so
I formulated a system of trying t make myself as agreeable as possible, and hope I would be
aloud to admire the spectacular specimens that had been placed before me, and not only was I
tolerated, but the eighth graders genuinely and completely seemed to enjoy, my company. And
from this I developed the brilliant ideal of socializing with more intelligent, social, hilarious
people than me in hopes that I would rise to their level. And it was through a series of role
models that I grew. Each one with their own strengths, own faults, and own abilities.
Parker Anderson was a pillar of hilarity and fabulousness in the community. He was
obscenely candid, claiming “Waldport people are boring and ugly” letting his true opinions shine
regardless of the social expectation to not discuss pressing political issues with a sarcastic tone,
and the defiant norm not to insult people based on some small factor. The truth was that people
accepted is ever honest demeanor because first and foremost, it was hilarious, and secondly it
was reliable. We could trust his disdain to be obvious as his admiration.
Emily Gaberino was somewhat a social butterfly, able to enjoy many moments with a
broad smile, and from her I discovered meaningless conversation as a pass time and life as the
primary purpose. She was always pleasant, polite, and accepting. Showing that you do not need
to steal the show to be assented to it. Sometimes others need to shine, and I can live with that.
There were, admittedly dozens others, showing compassion in the oddest fashion,
knowledge in the subtlest forms, and creativity in the smallest favors. But honestly besides the
overall masses of memories that fade in distinction, the information that I keep is very scattered.
I retain the moment when Kendra cried after learnig Brooke had injured herself, I remeber
“frolickking int the grass” with the aforementioned Parker and Emily, but slowly, dozens of
moments I wished to preserve, slipped through my memories, until in a sudden jump I skip to
the end of the year.
The tragedy of summer’s arrival was caused partially by the dozens of acquaintances
and pairs of friends whose time had come, but also the half of the core teachers also
vacationing INMS. Regardless I was able to restrain the tears, and present my eighth grade
memory to Emily. I remember it was about four short lines and finished “with someone like you,
a perfect best friend” which drew a lot of awes from the crowd. Still, through the action, which I
heftily benefited from, leaving with not one but both dancing stuffed hamsters, my mind fluttered
with thoughts of what life would be like without Koiki and Almasi.
Marry Koike could have been a standup comedian. Frequently having to censor her
thoughts, she typically spent half of the period laughing with us, and the other half assigning
homework. Although I then thought she was pushing us ferociously, Koiki represented a trade-
off. She showed the sacrifice of the majority of your time in devotion to academics, and a few
moments of genuine, pleasant, in-the-moment life. The ultimate deals that the majority of people
I know with exceptional grades be them in college, high school, or middle school, have already
accepted this. Koiki taught me more than anything to spend all of your time either living to the
maximum enthusiasm, or getting all the unpleasantries out of those moments way. There is a
time for play and a time for work, and you decide the time for some work, but you have less
control over the play aspect.
Seventh grade was equally spectacular because, although completely oblivious to it
then, I now comprehend that life is a perpetual state of getting better for everyone of us
including my new group of friends. Due to the shear numeracy of them, I shall try to condense
their influence on me.
Laura Mcrum: was one of many who showed that you can be both immature in every day
actions, and yet incredible mature when need be.
Aurora Pavilish-Carpender: exemplified a casual and semi sarcastic state of excepting even the
hardships with humor. She was persistent and durable.
Kendra Hannah: commanded me never to repress your emotions. To take pride in tears,
because they make you more human.
Sophie Goodwin-Rice: enlightened me in the art of flaunting pride in your political beliefs, yet
tolerating all that had no representation at the moment. To be restrained yet powerful in the
words you chose.
Danell would commend things often as epic, but she also was part of showing me not to over
condem. Give a reasonable chance reliably, and see what you might love.
Grace Burns: was younger than me, yet, still managing to positive role model for me, she
showed me a positive attitude is always achievable. And of course I learned to regulary dose
myself with Doctor who.
Allie Selfridge: allowed me to see that if you are unsatisfied, you don't have to be afraid to show
it. You can be skeptical, be critical, and be yourself.
Brooke Foiles is to date my best friend. A relationship that will always be equally about
what she can teach me and what I can interoperate and evolve her philosophies into then, in
turn, teach her. Much of our affiliation is protected under a vow of secrecy, but I will say this, she
unveiled for me in one way or another, the majority of what I know about life.
I was less than ecstatic about eighth grade. Again my closest associates had once again
been torn away in the massive heist known as graduation. It is in this year that I contend, more
than anybody else, teachers made my day.
Zahn Russell: taught me to specifically pick and choose when to contribute. Value is
rooted deeply within scarcity, and so I, accounting for the overwhelming scarcity of opportunities
one has in life to improve things, share only the valuable thoughts.
Chloe Ruffin: Made it very clear that everyone is equal, and no one is more equal than
others. Even teachers where just people, Custodians where people, I am a person. Where the
demented image that due to the simplicity of when teachers assist it is there define declaration.
Thank teachers for their sacrifice , but never expect it.
Kathleen Sard: Showed that a great scientist can be anyone, and anyone can be a great
scientist. She gave me understanding of everyone’s importance in society. She stated once that
she was a teacher because she thought she could influence people for a higher net positive
effect on science. Meaning that you need not work in a lab to be a great scientist. She was great
by the act of teaching students, and improving education.
Amber Sprauge: was a great life teacher, but more importantly she opened the door to
self-teaching. To create the medium, not oppose it. Allow art to create you, and not create it.
Simply, in the most cliché way possible way possible, let it go.
Amber Houck: opened my eyes to a consecutive and simultaneous state of fanatical
political awareness while you loathe around like a lab puppy. You can save your enlightenment
for the perfect moments, and spend the rest with bliss often mistaken for ignorance.
Too many people helped me find myself for me to include them all in this. John Green
taught me many lessons, from how love fits into life, to how to love the complexity of life. And
much as I apologize for not only misspelling but not including, realistically I believe this is an
almost complete account. My life couldn't be perfectly reflected in the complete volumes of the
Encyclopedia Petanita. But in a nutshell, my autobiography is everything that has inflicted upon
me becoming the person I am today. And as much as INMS has been a blast, like a pair of
shoes I have simply outgrown. As sophisticated as is may look I just can't be part of it anymore,
It has changed me for the better, and so my stay is done. Alanzi.
Entertainment Reviews
Prologue: for those of us that don't know, magic is basically an intellectual alternative to chess,
which is played with trading cards. The massive audience it attracts best represent the massive
variety between a friendly Saturday game and a world championship with thousands of dollars on
the line. The cards themselves vary from 1 cent to 1 hundred grand. And the game has been
popular longer than the internet has existed in civilian hands. And as any of its products will be
certain to argue it is “the world’s most premium card game”
Review
But all these complements say nothing about the most recent set, or block. “Born of Gods” was
released February 14th. Although I can't deny that in the artwork, backstories, and flavor text are
still spectacular, the game itself is not as fortunate. Once a player gets serious about magic, they will
usually want to one up there magic friends and they will do so with the best cards combined in a
custom deck. Again, hundreds of dollars or 20 dollars can be spent on custom decks, and once
there created, people won't stop improving their masterpiece. People will pay 20 dollars for a land,
the most basic card, if they believe it will give them a slight edge. And the most efficient way to
create a deck is on amazon or eBay, by ordering each individual component. This market is
complicated enough that it will literally fluctuate. But for many years this post of scalping cards has
been held exclusively by online sales people and collectors. After the monopoly grew enough the
company that had long produced four levels of cards, common, uncommon, rare, and mythic rare,
figured out they could increase profit by diverting to a more common or mythic rare oriented
system, and satisfying collectors and professionals, rather than hobbyist and pastimers. I remember
going to the store and watching my friend purchase 20$ of cards, and having very little to show
from the five random packs. A certain number of cards are promised, the value or usefulness isn't.
Packs are filled with common cards to create a system which is basically slowly choking the middle
class of magic, forcing players to either be unprepared, or to fuel green paper into a machine that
outputs cardstock with art on it. They continue to create interlacing lore, with incredible art, and
card concepts that play with the rules, the most recent series is sure to spark your interest. But still
they have sold their soul to the card scalpers, taking a positive and fun gaming system, and creating
a corrupt manipulative system from it.
Regardless, I still recommend purchasing magic cards at local hobby stores, Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, and
an abundance of other possible locations.
A Few of My Favorite Things
It was a cold dry day when enduring a “Skyrim” conversation, which
I found both meritless and meaningless; I heard the reference and gross
misuse of the term “role playing” game. Being a religious fanatic of the
actual innovative and original combination of equal parts improv and
literature, I did what my family could not: objecting out of hand. And
regardless of their continued ignorance to esteemed and acclaimed role
playing games, I shall never cease to marvel at how 3-6 ordinary yet
intelligent individuals can immerse themselves into an organic
sophisticated group story telling session.
The concept it stems from is really quite simple. You create a
character who in turn interacts with the characters of your
family/friends.. For example, the most recent character I created was a
Samurai Squirrel named Jack. After indulging in the hilarity of the tedious
and obscure list of abilities, I chose to be a fighter, a mental combatant
or sorcerer, and a manipulator of energy, or thaumaturge. This part is
relatively entertaining but more importantly, is the character
development. In this case I decided to make Jack a crazy noble of the
acorn clan, who follows the honorable teachings of Bushitail* and carries
bottles of water, sake, and deadly poison, unable to distinguish between
the three. Many have ventured the path of an actual rpg, including Venn
Diesel and Steven Colbert.
The Game play is the improv portion of the game, because even the
best of stats can't compensate for a lack of player ingenuity. The
difference between this time of session and the more popular computer
games lies here. Computer games are just an idealized version of yourself
running around being awesome. Although the proper amount of actual
dice rolls is guaranteed, the game would be nothing without the quirky
moments that compose a symphony of laughter. Moments captured in
these sessions often remain after the plots and stories, scaffolding used
to construct these monuments, have faded into time.
The truth is that the greatness in roleplaying games comes from a
mass appeal that encompasses your social circle. For the apples to apples
crowd, it offers the versatile socialization, for the drama club, feel free
to act. And in the most beautiful of ways it brings together the strategy
gamers, the lawyers, and manipulators to one table, playing one game. I
can guarantee anyone willing to try a roleplaying game can find there
place at the table top. From hours of painting miniatures, to the hours
spent playing the characters, role playing games is part of my culture. A
culture that although I concede natives are usually a group of teenagers,
finding innovative ways to consolidate not being invited to a social, it’s
still accepting and inclusive of the athletes, the extracurricular, and the
journalist. And I am proud to be a part of it.
Politics
The Game of Life, the unveiling of corruption
What can destroy the fabric of United States.
Is it gambling, sex, alcohol and sin,
Or is it Sheldon G Adelson who with 98 million dollars
embarked on frolikingly shopping for lobbyist.
People who are renowned for the drop of our community:
For Business Leaders it’s a gaming industry.
Players roll the dice with people’s lives,
Creating one big national strategist monopoly.
Note that although
Dungeons and Dragons
is not the only system,
nor is arguably the best,
it is the most popular
and easiest to come by
A game with 20 million people buffeted by forces
external and internal for 1 person who wins.
People will undertake an exceedingly rare effort when desperate,
Causing gambling, sex, alchohal, and sin.
Dominance leads to lobbyist, leading to reinvention of how the game is played.
United States is overeager to run through and kill monsters:
Yet shows venerable devotion to those who fractured our base.
Found Poetry is a form of poetry in which one rearranges words to send a completely different message
in a poetic fashion, this poem’s platform is two New York Times articles.
Career Profile, what qualifies those who run our nation?
Looking to ensure vast amounts of power and free healthcare for life, sign up today to be a politician.
You get to make the rules, cause government shutdowns, and inflict your religion upon the country. And
once you’ve been elected, you have a 90% guarantee of reelection no matter what you do. And if that’s
not enough than the United States will throw in a complete and other disregards for your expertise,
political awareness, and complete lack of understanding of complicated systems such as the economy,
education, mass incarceration, and the environment. You can add to any bill in committee completely
anonymously, that’s even less traceability than an internet comment. All you need is a metric ton of cash
and a metric ton of friends with more cash. And if that’s not enough, then you will be able to throw
massive temper tantrums that cost Americans billions of dollars.
But wait, feel free to get away from your family for months at a time, and pay is up to 174,000 a month.
Worried about out deadlines, don’t, you won’t need to have an actual economic plan until 10 years after
the election. All you need is no original ideas, a complete lack of compromise, incredibly charisma, and a
high school diploma. And if you’re a wealthy elderly Caucasian male, your chances skyrocket. So if
you’re feeling the filibuster and you can’t wait to show off your pocket constitution, don’t wait, sign up
now for an election in 2016, and start your campaign touring today.
You may also enjoy Caged, a photo-journalism article on feed lots.
And Finally, pertaining to the why…
Personally, I have had one major academic obstacle
for as long as I remember. Contrary to actual belief, I
am not incredibly convicted to my grades. I simply
cannot control my need to maximize quality in what I
do. When I was taking the smarter balance, I believe I
failed the essay do to not using any of these sources
for evidence, and instead using every statistic I could
call on in my hour of need, and I created something
convincing for either argument. Therefore I do not
think of myself as a journalist, I simply take every
task as it is, and try to engrave excellency into it.
In short I am not in fact a journalist, I just am
creating journalism.
Writing is hard to describe. It holds different
sentiment to all of us. But to me it is, in the words
of the journalistic words of Brooke Foiles, all about
“complex phrases those pin-point precise feelings”. And
regardless of my love affair with art, It has never
captured my feelings to the same level as writing. We
are on the dawn of a new age, an age of not only the
immortality writing has long blessed humanity’s ideas
with, but also the a way to vanquish temporaryism.
People like John Green, Jane Austen, and William
Shakespeare are equally important to Bacon, Einstein,
Michelangelo, and Galileo. As a race we progress
through our adolescence, a ageing that is equally
prioritized between scientific and emotional
epiphanies.
Writing is a way for people like Maklmore, to “Help
people through their struggle too”. As Jamie Brindle
discovered the change of our hearts, or Shakespeare
uncovered the madness encompassed in love, they
preserved it for fools like us. Using nothing but
language, they taught the next generation how to live.
To me writing is what separates us from the apes we
rose from. Instead of simply bumping around and
scraping the surface of innovation, then letting this
knowledge die, we can pass on our enlightenment to the
next generation.
How could Bruno know the Universe to be infinite,
if Copernicus hadn’t contemplated it on paper. How
could John Green present his theory of unpredictability
being one of the best parts of life, is Jane Austen had
not proposed love as an uncontrollable force. To me
writing is the gateway to transcendence. A true
liberty, that although we can’t achieve in this
lifetime, we can bring our children one step closer.
Writing is how the entire human species gets better.
As a journalist I try my hardest, not to create an
essay that follows the assignment, but to spread that
flame to all within reach, and then I hope with all of
my heart that one of them can carry it farther. If
scientific discoveries can happen every day, I reason
epiphanies can. And that is what writing means to me,
what I intend to do with my work, to improve people,
myself included, to the greatest of my ability.
Journalism is important to me because even outside of
poetry, it is how I can attempt to make things ever so
slightly brighter. If every article I revise has the
spark of originality, maybe my comment can reach out to
the author. I don’t write to raise my grade, I write to
raise my humanity.
Special thanks to
Emrys Golden; Editor and chief, Writer, page designer, and researcher
Amber Rose Houck; Primary Editor
Koa Smith; Primary Secondary Editor
Jam Gonzales; Secondary Editor
Ben Pieras; Secondary Editor
Chloe Price; Secondary Editor
And the rest of journalism class as tertiary editors
As well as everyone on the list for carrying me so far, all of my sources, the inventor of the keyboard, John Green,
Google, Haiku Deck, Poster my wall, the New York Times And the school for approving journalism as a class
Semi-Redundant Index, redundant as in unnecessary, seriously, just read the whole thing
Front… 1
Personal Bio… 2-4
Magic the Gathering Review… 5
Role Playing Game Review… 6-7
Game of Life… 8
Politician Satirical… 9
Photojournalism… 10-11
Why I Write… 12
Special Thanks and Index… 13
Back Page… 14
The First and apparent Final issue of the
Eccentric inquisitor
Emrys Golden