One Time For Your Mind

"The mind of a man is capable of anything - because everything is in it, all the past and all the future"
- Joseph Conrad

       Joseph Conrad was a British writer, who has written the novels "Lord Jim"and "Heart Of Darkness". Conrad was born on December 3rd, 1857, in Berdychev, Ukraine. He lived at sea while he was employed in the French and British Merchant Marines. After 16 years of being in the in the British Merchant Marines, he left the sea and decided to move onto land. That is when he began to write his short stories, and later become a highly successful author. Joseph Conrad's written work combines many experiences he faced while traveling the world in the marines, and focuses on the dark sides of human nature. Joseph Conrad died in England on August 3rd, 1924.


   Joseph Conrad is saying that our minds are everything. Everything we feel and everything we do, it all comes from our minds. Our minds allow us to interpret and understand different things and create new and unique things. Our minds are the past, and all the future. We, as people, are all connected to the past, and we will all account for what happens in the future. Our minds will always be the same, even if we do get smarter in the future, we will still hold an image and think about the past to deal with what we might face in the future. We hope for the future to be good to us, every single person on this earth has. 100 years ago we hoped for a better future, and today we still hope for one. Our minds will never change, it is just how they are, and how we are. This quote to me, makes it seem like the future is meaningless, whatever happens, happens type feel. What happened was always going to happen. It also makes me feel hopeful for the future that if our minds are all the past and all the future, then we can carve a pathway to a good future. We create our future so that we can be more comfortable, but when that future becomes present, we always think about what's next.

Ape Shall Not Kill Ape

The quote "Ape shall not kill ape" was popularized by the clothing brand "A Bathing Ape," as well as science fiction media franchise "The Planet of the Apes." It may seem like the quote has nothing to do with Remembrance Day, but I believe it has to do with the subject of war among human beings. At the beginning of the film "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," the main character, Caesar, is the leader of an incredibilly intelligent group of apes. Caesar is very wise, and throughout the movie he repeats a line over and over again, "Ape shall not kill Ape." Caesar doesn't believe in solving problems with his own kind by using violence. The apes work together to provide a better life for all, and when problems come up they usually solve them in a peaceful way. I don't know why humans can't do the same. Humans should not kill other humans, especially over unimportant things like oil, money, and land. We need to get our priorities straight and worry about the things that really matter. I believe that when a war starts and the people that are involved in it say that they need to be there to make it safer and solve the problem, they end up making the problem go from zero to one hundred real quick. I believe that trying to solve problems with violence doesn't do anything but make more problems. I don't want to say that the young men and women who joined the armies around the world died for nothing. They are all honourable men and women and they deserved better than having to go to war. They believed they were fighting for peace, but the wars have never stopped. You cannot fight for peace. It doesn't make any sense to fight to stop fighting. Going to war is an old-fashioned way to solve problems. It has been proven that it doesn't work because we keep having to go to war, so people need to find other ways to solve these problems. It is time as a planet to start making better decisions that will benefit all countries and all the people. The only problem I have with Remembrance Day is how we don't pay our respects to all the other people from different countries that died in these wars. All around the world people have lost fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends. We should remember that we have caused just as many deaths or even more than what we have experienced against us during these wars. We are not the only ones that have lost close ones. The whole world has been negatively affected by all of these wars, and it is time for us to respect one another and change the world for the better. Humans should never kill other humans.


Rest In Peace to all people from all around the world who died because of these awful wars. Peace and love to all of the families who have lost their beloved ones.

The True Spooks

I personally feel that Halloween is an enjoyable little holiday. Despite being very dark and ghoulish, everyone that participates seems to have a great time. I have always been a fan of Halloween. Even if it was snowing outside you would find me out on the streets knocking on everyone's doors. I don't know why some people think it is so bad to celebrate Halloween. They probably were never allowed to dress up with their friends and experience the fun of getting free candy. Everyone has their own unique opinion however, and I can't disrespect those people just because I believe something else. Halloween brings people together. Whether it be little kids trick-or-treating with each other or adults having spooky house parties. It is a great way to meet people that you never knew lived on your street. I feel Halloween brings a unique connection to people and it makes people feel happier and kinder to those around them. For example, Christmas is very private. People only celebrate it mostly with family members. While on Halloween people get to celebrate with almost everyone! Everyone is involved and it becomes one big party. For the people that think Halloween is a problem that needs to be stopped, in my opinion, has their priorities all wrong. Halloween is meant to be fun, it's only not fun when you have a negative attitude towards it. My point is that there are bigger problems around the world that need to solved rather than some little holiday that happens one night per year.

A Connection Stronger Than WI-FI

          As a young boy song lyrics/poetry were very important to me. I was never good with words. I never wanted to talk to people it seemed, and if anyone tried to talk to me they would probably only get a one word answer. Conversations with other kids never lasted longer than five minutes. I couldn't talk at all. After a while nobody even tried to talk to me because I just didn't know what to say. I couldn't find the right words to say to them so, I didn't say anything. The songs I listened to helped me to speak. I started to look up the lyrics from my favourite songs and see how the artists used those words, and how they made people feel a certain way by just painting a picture with them. I find it amazing how lyrics can make people feel angry, happy, sad, or any of the other emotions. I also find it interesting what sort of music people listen to while they are happy or sad. Poetry to me is just expressing an emotion through writing and trying to connect with other writers or people reading your words. When people write poems or lyrics they try to make the reader feel a certain way, or think about a certain situation that has happened to them. Connection is what is so powerful behind the words in music and poetry. Poetry is important for all people because without that connection with others, it is hard to understand the world. I have learned so much from listening to music 24/7 and reading the lyrics to songs, as well as writing my own poems. It has taught me that the most important tool we have in life is the ability to speak, connect, and just be ourselves. Write the words that you feel inside you, whether it be one or one million. As long as it's true to you and what you believe, you will find a connection that is hard to ignore (and stronger than any WI-FI connection). I believe everyone can be a poet because everyone has a story that can be told in a unique way only to the person telling it. For me, I still find it hard finding the right words to use for poems, or blog posts, but I write down what I feel and what I believe. I believe that any written works that people have done that bring connection to people around the world is poetry. It doesn't have to be a poem, or a song. Just words that bring feelings to you and others.

This May or May Not Be My Best Work

This quote is very inspirational for me. I believe happiness is extremely important in everything, including work and assignments we have to complete in life. If you aren't happy with what you are doing, it is not going to be your best work regardless of what the instructor's expectations are. It's the instructor's goal to keep you motivated and inspire you to do better, not just teach the curriculum and then disappear from the students. For example, if I am not motivated in a class like Math, I probably won't do homework or listen that much. With a class that motivates me, like Writer's Craft, I will get assignments in on time, and be happy with what I have done. I believe there are ways to be happy with assignments while following the instructor's expectations. You have to look forward to the instructor reading or marking your work. Just be happy with the work you have done, and if you get a lot of criticism that's alright. You can't learn anything from compliments. For me, criticism is kind of bitter sweet. I like when people tell me what I can do better to improve something, but I don't like when people tell me my ideas are wrong or dumb. I think that's a problem with school systems today. There is too much stuff that is considered "wrong" nowadays in school. So many ideas just go to waste because people criticize in the wrong way. That's just me though.

Jack London Told Me To

         Jack London, born John Griffith Chaney,  was an American author, journalist, and social activist. London began writing in 1893, when he was only 17. That same year he ventured on a sealing voyage, and had almost been killed by a typhoon. When he got home, his mom pushed him into writing his story and submitting it into a writing contest. London won first prize, beating out university students from Berkeley and Stanford. He wanted to dedicate his life to writing, but had troubled finding publishers. London began to find fame and fortune when he was 27 with his novel Call of the Wild (1903). A story about a dog which became a sled dog in the Yukon. London was always writing, and made it a practice to write 1000 words a day or more. He had substance abuse problems with alcohol and often wrote about his lifelong battle. However, he kept pursuing his dream. London had quite a bit of health issues, which included Kidney Disease. This disease ended up taking his life in 1916, at the age of 40. 

“You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” 

Jack London, 1903

- Jack London

          I can connect with this quote because I have a very hard time finding inspiration to write, and basically everything else in life. To get inspired you need to put yourself out there, and experience things out of your comfort zone. Just like Jack London did with his sealing voyage. I like being in my comfort zone though. I always wait for things to happen, and most of the time they never even happen. So, I just got to go after it with a club and do what I need to do. Even though I find it hard getting inspired to do things, I want to be inspired to do those things. It sounds crazy but it's the truth. I want, and need, to be pushed out of my comfort zone. Once that happens, I will get the inspiration to do anything. I also think inspiration is very important in life because without it we wouldn't advance in the world, we would be stuck. Inspiration makes things happen. Whenever you get inspired to do something, make it happen. Don't wait for a better idea to write down later, just write and you will achieve greatness. 

My Boy Zel Sauce

Renzel, my brother from another mother. I wish I could just copy and paste what you had written about me, and dedicate it to you instead because that's exactly what I think of you. You are such an amazing friend, and I hope to have you around for the rest of my life. I am thankful to call you my friend, my best friend, my brother, my "dawg,"and my homeboy. Just like you said in your post, "... Words are beyond explanation on how much I appreciate you as a friend." You have been there for me whenever I was not feeling like myself, and your sense of humour is brilliant. I'm surprised I'm the only one laughing sometimes! We have dreams of starting a clothing line together, and I really think we should take that seriously. Your style is crazy Renzel. I don't know if other people notice how unreal it is, but I do. You were the one to get me into the same style too. Ever since I saw what you wore on civies days, I knew that's what I wanted my style to be. You have the skills to do whatever you want in life, and I hope I can help you. Just like you have supported me, I will support you through tough times. You really are a brother to me, and I'll always be there for you whenever you need me. Everyone deserves a friend like you. I hope everyone gets a "Renzel" in their life. Thank you for everything, and I can't wait to see what the future has in hold for you and me. Whatever you do, I'll always be a fan and you'll always have a friend there for you. Much love brotha <3
#Blessedandbetrayforever #followyourdreams

Merno

Don't Be Afraid Of Different Stories

       In the YouTube video "Banned Books Week: 13 Authors Speak Out," all the featured authors discuss how the banning of books in schools is a stupid, ridiculous, and violent thing to do. They all believe that banning books should not be allowed. They explain that banning books is like banning thoughts, or even certain persons from a culture. Brian Garfield stated in the video clip, " If you don't want to read it, don't read it." I believe this statement, even though short and simple, is extremely precise and on point with the topic. If one person does not want to read a book because he/she doesn't think it's appropriate, they should not have the power to ban it from other people. Just simply, do not read the book. It doesn't make any sense to ban something from other people just because of your thoughts. In the film "Runaway" written and directed by Kanye West, there is a quote at the end of the movie that I believe fits beautifully with this topic. The quote from the film is, "Do you know what I hate most about your world? Anything that is different you try to change. You try to tear it down..." I believe when certain people ban books, that's what they are doing. They are trying to change things so that it will make them more comfortable, not everyone else. They try to tear it down, and try to ban it so that people won't try to read it. Books are doorways into another person's mind, and if we ban those books, it makes the authors feel like they have failed the people. Which indeed, is not how they should feel. We cannot be afraid of different stories and ideas, we need to embrace them. Embrace people to go beyond the norm, and tell stories that no one has ever told before. Be inspired by the fear of being average, and just because someone does not agree with what you have written, does not make it unacceptable. Banning books from schools and other public places will not stop anything, because we are exposed to much worse things everyday in our lives. We live in a social net-working age, and anything we wish to find, will always be easy to get to with the help of the internet. I believe that banning books should not be allowed because rather than making them illegal, why not just discuss them in class. Get everyone's opinion, an if no one likes it, don't read it. If most people believe it will benefit them and help them become better at reading and writing, let them read. Banning books is pointless and I can't stress that enough. Let people read what they want, and let them ignore the books they don't want to read. Don't ruin it for everyone else. Don't be afraid of different stories, because everyone has one.

The Key To Success: Everyone Has It

       In the YouTube video "The Key to Success, Grit: Ted Talk by Angela Lee Duckworth," Angela Lee Duckworth, a Psychologist, studies kids and adults in a variety of challenging settings. Duckworth had one major question in all of her studies "Who is successful here? Why?" Angela Lee Duckworth and her research team discovered that it was not social intelligence, good looks, or IQ that made people successful in the challenging settings. It was Grit.

       Grit is courage and resolve; strength of character. Grit is passion to start something, and continue doing it until it's done the way you want it, and you are satisfied with where you are, just like a marathon. Duckworth explains that just because you have a higher IQ, doesn't mean that you are going to get better marks than other people. Just like if someone is running a marathon, and they are in first place right now, doesn't mean they are going to win the whole race. You have to keep putting in the work and keep trying your hardest at all times. Nothing comes without hard, gut-wrenching work.


       I agree with Angela Lee Duckworth. I believe kids and adults need grit to accomplish what they want too. Without grit, you won't accomplish what you want, because if you don't have grit and somebody tells you that you are wrong or that they don't like what you have done and how you have done it, you will give up. Grit is the strength to keep going despite have being told you were wrong. Kanye West, a famous and successful rapper, singer, songwriter, music-producer, director and fashion designer said in an interview in 2010 " ... You cannot learn from a compliment." I believe this quote is extremely true because without criticism and being told you are wrong sometimes, you will not learn from your mistake. Don't be afraid to be wrong, because the people that have failed the most, have also succeeded the most. People need to learn from their mistakes, and also to learn to never give up. I also believe that these kids that have the talent to do great in school but don't, have grit, but not for school. Everyone has different interests, and have grit for different things. You can't say a kid doesn't have grit because he/she doesn't get good marks in school. They have lost interest in school because they haven't been inspired and motivated. Having a teacher that is passionate about teaching a certain subject, and that cares about their students, not just their marks, will motivate these kids.  Inspire the kids, motivate them and the results in the classroom will be amazing. Everyone has a different idea of success, so I believe it is unfair to say that a person does not have grit for something that another person does. Success isn't always about good marks at school, or money. It can be about anything. If you are happy with what you are doing, you are successful. Jim Carrey delivered a commencement speech at Maharishi University of Management earlier this year, and he said one quote that I have adored ever since I first heard it. He said, " You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love." What's beautiful about grit, is that it can make your dreams come true. It will not always be easy. Not everyone is going to agree with you. You might fail sometimes, but if you are passionate enough and you never quit, you have the potential to do anything.

Everyone has the potential to do everything.

Call Me What You Want

       My name is Maximilian Mernagh, but most people just call me Max. Feel free to call me whatever you want.  I was born in Fergus, Ontario, on June 3rd, 1997. I don't like talking about what I look like, how tall I am, or any of my physical features because, does it even matter? No, it doesn't. I will talk about my beliefs, views on things and what I enjoy in this world. I am very obsessed with the ideas of creating, as well as inspiring. Creation is very important in the world, because without it we wouldn't be where we are today. We would still be living in caves and still be thinking the world is flat. Creation isn't just in art, it is in everything we do. We create big things like medicine to help people in need. We create small things like comfier mattresses so that we sleep better. It is everywhere, and I believe it is one of the most important things in this world. Inspiration is also very important to me because without it how would we create? I want to be inspired by all the students in this Writer's Craft class, as well you, Mrs. Reidel. I want to be inspired to do the best I can do. I also want to inspire other students in my class in some way. That would be an amazing feeling to know that I inspired someone to do something better. I am not religious even though I attend Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic High-school, but I have nothing against the people who are. I believe in myself, and everyone else on this planet. I believe everyone has the potential to accomplish their dreams.

       I enjoy every genre of music, with the exception of Country music. I have my iPhone earbuds in 24/7, literally. I play many instruments like: drums, piano, guitar, and saxophone. I hope to learn more over the coarse of my life, but right now I'm too busy. I played saxophone with "The Boo Radley Project" at the Hillside Music Festival in Guelph last summer. I also play Hockey for Our Lady Of Lourdes, but don't play on a team out of school anymore. I took Writer's Craft because I want to be inspired to write what I feel, whenever I feel it. I want to learn who I am as a writer, what my strengths are, and how I can use them to improve my writing. I have a lot of ideas in my mind that I want to let out but I need to learn how to do that first, and I feel like this coarse will definitely help me.