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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Term 3 already?

Hi everyone!

You haven't heard from me for a while, have you? Why? I was preoccupied by Loud Feather, I guess.

Today, my teacher, Mr Murray, is showing my blog for the rest of the school to copy off. Is that cool, or what?

But also, can you believe that it's almost September? I can still remember vividly, and in detail, my birthday (January 23rd).

See you soon, and also on Loud Feather as well.

Bye,
Jack Mac

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Hunger Games

Hi! I just have one word- two words, actually, for you- HUNGER GAMES.

The book trilogy by Suzanne Collins is really cool. Also, the movie's at the cinemas, but I'm not allowed to watch it.

It's about North America in the future, a country called Panem, where there is a capitol which rules over 13 districts, but around 74 years earlier, the districts rebelled. The capitol won and demolished District Thirteen. (Or did they?) So that the districts never try again, every year one boy and one girl age 12-18 from each district have to enter the hunger games, but this isn't an ordinary game show- they fight to the DEATH.

There are only two rules- kill or be killed, and only one tribute can survive. Harsh rules. Anyway, there's this girl named Katniss, and her twelve year old sister Primrose gets called out to enter. Katniss volunteers, and a boy named Peeta is called out from her district. Turns out he has a crush on her. I won't spoil the ending for you, but you get the gist.

SEE YOU LATER...

My Short Term Goals Reflection

This is a reflection of my short term goals I set earlier this year. It shows what they are, what would help, and what could stop me.

Short Term Goals
I would like to finish the Tongariro Crossing. I could get fitter by running walking, climbing, etc. I get lazy, bored etc.
I would like to ride a bike by week 5. I need to find the time and get on one. There being no time, me lazy etc.
I would like to sell 3 boxes of chocolate. I could see which flavours sell fastest and sell those. Stupid people on diets, me not handling the money right, I get hungry!

NUMBER ONE: Yes! I did the Tongariro Crossing!
NUMBER TWO: No. It's sad and lame, I know, but I failed. I seriously failed that one. I definitely need to a) get a bike... and b) keep trying!
NUMBER THREE: No. I sold 1 and a half. DUH... Maybe I should have sold in other places besides my CHURCH.

1/3 so far- but what about my mid-term goals? You'll just have to wait until Term 3.

As for my new goals:

NUMBER ONE: Learn to cook! This was in my mid-term goals, so probably I should have a slight advantage...

NUMBER TWO: Number two of my short-term goals. It "seriously failed". So I'll do that.

NUMBER THREE: They may be in my long-term goals, but I'll use them. Win Mathsmatters and get in the final of the Spelling Bee. If not win. >:)


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Loud Feather launch

Hello! I haven't talked to you in a while! But now I'm back in the habit and hope to produce a lot more posts in the future! :)

But today is a milestone for McJacky-World! I am starting a new blog as well called The Antics Of Loud Feather as well! This will be about Poptropica and other gaming websites with pics of PRINT SCREENs. (Just so you know, Loud Feather is my Poptropican Name in Poptropica.)

That means that today- that's right, today- I will have two blogs! YAY!!! So make sure you check out that blog as well. This one is now more a formal thing, and Loud Feather a more casual thing.

Also, I'm thinking of adding A HEAP of new apps...

Monday, April 2, 2012

Term 1 Reflections and Learning

Wow! What an eventful term! So much has happened, and it's whizzed past!

Some challenges have been hard, and they were things like the Tongariro Crossing, learning and all that. I never thought I could walk 19.4 km in mountainous terrain!

My scope of life has changed. I used to think I was unfit and exercise was horrible, but now I think I'm fitter than I used to be, and exercise can be fun!

About myself, I learned that what I thought I could do, I an do way more. Never in a million years would I think I could do half the stuff I can do now!

So, as you can see, Term 1 has completely changed my thinking. I'm happy and proud of myself, and can only say one thing-
BRING ON TERM 2!!!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

New Clothes

Yeah, new clothes! I've got a brand new outfit that one of my friends (a 13-year-old) bought but it was slightly too small. I've got a good feeling that I'm gonna wear it for School Social this year. It looks really nice, and here's my chance to give you a pic of myself (I haven't had a haircut since before Jan 23 and now it's Mar 29.) Yeah.

Here's my new suit (dress top and pants, OH YEAH!):

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Maximum Ride Quiz: Book 6: Fang

Hi! Maximum Ride is a cool book series for teens by James Patterson about six kids: Max, 14/15, Fang, 14/15, Iggy, 14/15, Nudge, 11/12, Gazzy, 8/9, and Angel, 6/7. They have wings! They were grown up in a lab named the School and then escaped with Jeb Batchedler, one of the whitecoats from the School. He disappeared two years later, because he turned bad again (described by Max in Book 7: Angel as a turncoat that reacts like, "Oh, today's Tuesday, and evil day." or "Friday again, time to wear a white hat!"

You can either read Maximum Ride, or you can follow James Patterson on facebook. See if you can answer this quiz about Book 6: Fang!

Maximum Ride Quiz: Book 6: Fang

1: Dylan is _ months old.
a:3 b:27 c:8 d:433

2: What age does Nudge turn?
a:9 b:11 c:12 d:10

3: What is Max's gift from Fang?
a:a ring b:a ball c:a gun d:a bouquet

4: Max is cautious with Fang because:
a:he's sick b:Angel said he would die c:she's all lovey dovey d: His wings snapped

5: Fang _ Max.
a:hates b:loathes c:kills d:loves

6: Dylan has _ hair.
a:dark strawberry blond b:pitch black c:orangey chestnut brown d:blood red

Answers:
0-2 right: You're a mutant freak!
3-4 right: Get ready to fly away!
5-6 right: You're Fangalicious!

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nearly, you aren't cheating are you?












































1c 2c 3a 4b 5d 6a

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Day I Dreaded- the latest in camp info

THE DAY I DREADED
BY JACK 19.3.12

I wake up at a ridiculously early time. I’m extremely tired- I went to sleep late last night! I pack my bag and hop onto the bus. There’s no delaying or making excuses now- the day is here. The day I dreaded.

The Tongariro National Park is a large area of land just south of Lake Taupo. It features quite a few mountains, including Ruapehu, Tongariro, Pihanga and Ngauruhoe. Tongariro is a 1967 metre tall mountain that is somewhat active, with craters erupting five or six times every thousand years.

Out of the bus and onwards through the Mangatepopo Valley. We walk for an hour then come to a stop at the bottom of the Devil’s Staircase. To the left is a tiny waterfall called Soda Springs. It smells kind of like soda!

Soda Springs is the first checkpoint in the 19.4 km long Tongariro Alpine Crossing. It gets its name from the carbon dioxide in the water, used to fizz soda. It, however, is undrinkable due to the large quantities of sulphate.

I feel like I’m going to die. I’m not very far up the mountain, and the huge Devil’s Staircase proves why. Can’t they have a ski lift? I suppose not.

The Devil’s Staircase is a huge staircase, so horrible it seems like the Devil made it, hence the name. It’s really manmade to allow you to climb the treacherous slope.

Finally, the top! Relief! There’s the second checkpoint, a hill leading to a large crater. Oh no! Mt Ngauruhoe comes into view, and it’s a brilliant red. Red Crater is to the left and a head is another large gravelly hill, leading to yet another large, you guessed it, red crater. Whoever created this part must have run out of ideas!
The huge crater is South Crater, which once erupted. Mt Ngauruhoe   is actually a 2287 metre tall vent of Tongariro. The red colour is formed by volcanic rock. It erupts once every 25 years and is overdue… uh oh! The gravelly stuff is called scree.

There we go; I climbed up a gravelly hill! Oh no, there’s another one, going down. I can see a huge crater and the beautiful but deadly Emerald Lakes. I slowly, carefully slide down the gravel. Don’t fall in the acid!

The Emerald Lakes are three pathetic-looking lakes that actually aren’t that pathetic. They get their green colour (one of them blue) from acid! You can put your finger in, but you can’t stay in for more than ten minutes! You can guess what would happen! Ouch…

It’s past lunch at the ‘Lakes and now it’s a downhill stretch. The terrain is changing from rock to tussock to forest. It’s been two hours since lunch. Are we there yet? Keitetahi Hut looms ahead- the first toilet in four hours! Sheesh! I can’t control my bladder that well!

Six hours down and two to go, Keitetahi Hut is the final checkpoint before Keitetahi Car Park and the end! Keitetahi Springs are a mineral induced selection of streams that cure rheumatic diseases. The walk used to wind through, but now the Maori have bought the land, so Keitetahi Hut has changed place. There’s a tally-counter tripwire hung in between two manmade rocks, and apparently 600 on good days get that far!

Some people are fit! One of the adults told their group to run to the bush line, and we’re there 3 hours later! How? The stream starts winding, my heart starts pounding, my blisters keep growing, and- the end! I’ll never complain about heavy packs or a 1 hour walk again!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Camp Overview

Okay, okay, I admit that the last post was mostly zip about camp and too much about mountains of New Zealand. This post, though, is my overview of camp.

Camp was really fun. There were lots of pros, but also lots of cons. I mean, yes it was cool to see nature, but GETTING THERE... you know what I mean.

On Tuesday we departed from school around quarter to ten. It took ninety LONG minutes to drive there! I have to say, though, it was worth it when we neared the finish of our first tramp... we had lunch at the Taranaki falls, then actually walked under them, to be greeted by a yummy roast dinner. Mmm...

On Wednesday we woke up, at 6! It's WAY earlier than normal, plus we'd gone to sleep later than usual. I couldn't believe it! We set off for an eight hour walk, and it seemed longer. You might think Mt Ngauruhoe and the Emerald Lakes (which are only ten minutes away, okay) are pretty in calendars, but up close? Heaven. We came back to a movie, a shower and well-deserved fish and chicken bites.

On Thursday we went to the visitors centre, and watched two 20 minute long movies. we then had to write about what we saw and heard. Later we went to the possibly scariest thing- the caves! Imagine my fear at the mouth of a tiny, dark, underground, WETA-FILLED cave. EEK! I faced my fear and came back feeling not-so-scared.

On Friday we went for a walk round Lake Rotopanamu. Then, driving back, I felt completely awesome.

Monday, March 12, 2012

The Crossing and other NZ mountains

Well, there you go. I've climbed Mt Tauhara and crossed Mt Tongariro. Phew! I'm so proud of myself, and, faithful readers, I hope you are too. There was a hard stretch of rock, bush, and gravel. 

Did you know that there are lots more mountains in New Zealand? So far I've climbed Tongariro, Tauhara and Pureora.
Other mountains in New Zealand, between 3754 and 107 metres are:

The 30 highest mountains[1] are all within the Southern Alps, a chain that forms the backbone of the South Island. Mountain heights and names are as shown on Land Information New Zealand's Topo50 topographic maps.[2] The high, middle and low peaks of Aoraki/Mount Cook are not listed separately, and unnamed peaks are not listed.
  1. Aoraki/Mount Cook - 3,754 metres (12,316 ft)
  2. Mount Tasman - 3,497 metres (11,473 ft)
  3. Mount Dampier - 3,440 metres (11,290 ft)
  4. Mount Vancouver - 3,309 metres (10,856 ft)
  5. Silberhorn - 3,300 metres (10,800 ft)
  6. Malte Brun - 3,198 metres (10,492 ft)
  7. Mount Hicks - 3,198 metres (10,492 ft)
  8. Mount Lendenfeld - 3,194 metres (10,479 ft)
  9. Mount Graham - 3,184 metres (10,446 ft)
  10. Torres Peak - 3,160 metres (10,370 ft)
  11. Mount Sefton - 3,151 metres (10,338 ft)
  12. Mount Teichelmann - 3,144 metres (10,315 ft)
  13. Mount Haast - 3,114 metres (10,217 ft)
  14. Mount Elie de Beaumont - 3,109 metres (10,200 ft)
  15. La Perouse - 3,078 metres (10,098 ft)
  16. Douglas Peak - 3,077 metres (10,095 ft)
  17. Mount Haidinger - 3,070 metres (10,070 ft)
  18. Magellan - 3,049 metres (10,003 ft)
  19. Malaspina - 3,042 metres (9,980 ft)
  20. The Minarets - 3,040 metres (9,970 ft)
  21. Mount Aspiring/Tititea - 3,033 metres (9,951 ft)
  22. Mount Hamilton - 3,025 metres (9,925 ft)
  23. Mount Dixon - 3,004 metres (9,856 ft)
  24. Glacier Peak - 3,002 metres (9,849 ft)
  25. Mount Chudleigh - 2,966 metres (9,731 ft)
  26. Haeckel Peak - 2,965 metres (9,728 ft)
  27. Drake - 2,960 metres (9,710 ft)
  28. Mount Darwin - 2,952 metres (9,685 ft)
  29. Aiguilles Rouges - 2,950 metres (9,680 ft)
  30. Mount De La Beche - 2,950 metres (9,680 ft)

[edit] Other notable mountains and hills

[edit] Over 2,000 metres

[edit] 1,000 to 2,000 metres

[edit] Under 1,000 metres

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

VAK Dominance Test

This test looks to be true. So I can now sy I am psycho with the psychologists.

V stands for Visual
A stands for Auditory
K stands for Kinaesthetic

I am an Auditory learner, meaning that I learn from sound, music, discussions and lectures.

But Visual is not far behind. On both tests, I only got one less point each. The same happened at the end: Visual got the last word twice. It means I like photography, TV, reading and computer games, not just music and talking.

Kinaesthetic? Out of the question. 11 out of 49 is nowhere near 20 out of 49 or 18 out of 49. True, it isn't very far away but 22.5% and 40.8%? Yeah.

It didn't surprise me much- a tossup between Visual and Auditory- pretty obvious. But 22.5% Kinaesthetic is freaky! Maybe I'm a smidge more sporty than I thought! :O 

 Well, maybe th psychologists and some smarty pills on the day they made this test, or I'm just getting dumber and dumber. What a thought- me getting dumber! And no, it's not cause I'm already dumb (and I'm not, jerk! >:O

Right and Left Brain Dominance Test

The test is rubbish! It is really stupid and does not apply to me. Apparently I am a right hand brain, but I'm left hand! I am of the right:
Prefers sound/music background while studying

And of the left:
Verbal
Responds to word meaning
Sequential
Processes information linearly
Responds to logic
Plans ahead
Recalls people's names
Speaks with few gestures
Punctual
Prefers bright lights while studying

So you can see that I am one of the rare people that the test does not apply to.

Plus, a word to the psychologists who created this test: Now I know why 'psycho's in your name. Shame.

So, I am a left hand learner meaning I lesrn better talking than looking at it.
I plan ahead, not sy, I'll go to the spelling bee the day before it starts.
I'm more of a 123456789 person than a 681439257 peron.
I'm a 11+33= 44 so 11+66=77 learner than a 11+66=77 learner.

-Jack out

Monday, February 13, 2012

My Goals of 2012

Format: Goal, How to achieve it, What would stop me.

Short Term Goals
I would like to finish the Tongariro Crossing. I could get fitter by running walking, climbing, etc. I get lazy, bored etc.
I would like to ride a bike by week 5. I need to find the time and get on one. There being no time, me lazy etc.
I would like to sell 3 boxes of chocolate. I could see which flavours sell fastest and sell those. Stupid people on diets, me not handling the money right, I get hungry!

Mid Term Goals
I would like to ride 10km by Term 3. Regularly riding by bike would help.No time, me lazy etc.
I would like to have signed up and regularly complete a paper run by Term 3. I could sign up (duh) and allocate time for it. Forgetting to sign up, getting kicked out etc.
I would like to regularly cook dinner by Term 3. Learn how to cook and also allocate time for it. No time, mum does it etc.

Long Term Goals
I would like to win the Waikato Spelling Bee. Learn my spelling words precisely and carefully. No time, car breaks down on the way.
I would like to win Mathsmatters AGAIN! Learn maths by doing previous Mathsmatters quizzes. I stuff up.
I would like to complete 20 km by Term 1 next year. Regularly ride my bike and find time for it. No time and I get lazy etc. 

That Was Summer

The following story is a story we did in writing in the last week.

I can feel the sun beating down on my chest. Standing up, I slowly tiptoe across the sandy shore of Lake Taupo. My feet hurt as the sand scorches my heels. Then, relief! The waves lap against my feet. Instantly I cool down. Slowly I shuffle through the rocky waters.

Submerged, I catch sight of dozens of tiny trout. They swim past me through the translucent, blue, clear water. My mates swarm in after me.

We swim over (me paddle over, more like) and silently scan the rocks for kura. At last, we catch one! The quantity grows to two, and then when we put the kura in a bucket, strangely, they fight each other. When they decided it was even, they stopped.

The aroma of fish'n'chips floats through the air. I can smell the salt settling in my nostrils, or at least it seems like it. As soon as I take a bite the salty delicious taste settles on my tongue. It is then served up with sweet delectable pine-mango fruit juice. Mmmm...

Swimming back into the lake, we gape at the beautiful sunset, then lie back on the sand. The sun beats down on my chest again, calmer this time. All that's left to do is to go to my mates' house and have a nice hot drink.

Ah... that was summer.

Friday, February 10, 2012

HoverHero 1

I've been thinking about, if I had a proper website builder, and the money to run it, what website would I create? I've recently thought about an idea, that being:
HoverHero
It would be like moshi monsters, where you're a character who gets pets, buys stuff, saves the city... and so on and so forth. What if you were a flying superhero who gets money from saving the city, and then that can be used to buy food for your hero, and the stars of the show...
THE MINIONS!

You would buy tasks to set up in your backyard, and 3 hours later, Voila! You have a MINION, like a moshling. Cool! Anyway, about them, there are 8 tasks that can be placed in your backyard, 3 at a time. You can have any mixture including several of the same one. There are:

Sort the pellets
Blow the roof
Light a match
Catch a fish
Make a potion
Glue together a box
Write a story
and Save a paper stickman.

This minion is named Fireball. He looks like this:


The question is this: which three do you think you could use to get him?
Should be pretty easy- just comment saying what you think.
When someone answers right I will share details.

See you then,
Jack

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

School

Well last Thursday was school again, and believe me, I was relieved. Now there would be something to do, instead of sitting around blobbing, wondering what would be something I could do.

Last year the teachers said our classes, and I'm so glad I got Mr Murray! He's one of the best teachers ever, and between him and Mrs Klue of the last two years, I think it's a bit of a competition. I guess I could say Mr Murray's the best teacher in my year group, but then again, it's my first year.

School today was kind of cool, kind of not. We had running (which was like OMG when will I ever finish), maths (in the top group), reading laboratory (finding mistakes in the answer cards!) and freaking my classmates out by saying the longest world in the English language, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. (That means you have microscopic silica dust in your lungs and now your lungs feel like they're on fire).

Crazy, huh?

Anyway, I want to give a random shout out to the Masons and Packwoods, for being such great friends in the summer.