Uzipping .zip files(Also, a cheburashka)

Analysis: Batman and Our Psyche

Batman and Our Psyche is a persuasive article written by Lucas R. for Teen Ink Magazine. The article is a bit unclear of its point at first, but as the article progresses, it reveals its thesis to be "Fictional characters like Batman represent our own need to overcome fear". While the opening paragraph did not make his thesis clear, it caused a fair bit of interest when it began talking about "The Dark Knight" instead of the human psyche, as one would expect. Each of the ten paragraphs indirectly tied into his thesis, using the evolution of Batman's character to show that as the world changes and becomes more gritty and evil, the heroes must become more deep, more involved, and more invincible in their will, their morals, and their physical beings. Although the article is somewhat one-sided, the presentation of the writer's point and the facts that support his opinions lead me to believe that a competent counter argument could not be produced. His inclusion of the fact that there was a large number of superhero focused movies produced after 9/11 convinced me of his point. The devastation of the attack left the American people feeling helpless and weak, creating a huge demand for something strong; i.e. superheros and vigilantes. This convinced me of his point. I felt that the support for his argument was extremely well done and more than sufficient to prove his point. The conclusion of the piece was very clear and easy to understand. He simplified everything that the last 9 paragraphs had told the reader, and stated his thesis. This article was very well written with no grammar mistakes and deserved to be published in Teen Ink's magazine.

Fatkat Animation

The first thing that I learned about Fatkat from their website and blog was that they have worked on many well known television shows. I was surprised to find out that a studio from Miramichi played a role in Family Guy, as well as Happy Tree Friends. It was interesting to see the variety of the shows that they have worked on, for example, Three Delivery seems to be directed toward a younger audience, while Happy Tree Friends is obviously meant for a more mature audience. Another thing I didn't know is that they also did some work for brand names, like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and Microsoft.
I liked the way that the blog was laid out, with several videos and posters for the shows that they work on, and occasionally funny pictures as well, for example:



















A couple of questions that I would like to ask Fatkat Animation Studios:
1) Do you also work on CGI animation?
2) Why did you go into animation instead of other types of media?
3) Is there any particular show that you've worked on that is your favorite?

How to decipher leetspeak.

Are you tired of having your forums trolled, your blog posts assaulted by 1337 h4xx0rz? Do you have no idea what's going when you are confronted by the sentence "u r teh n00Bz lolololol"? This how-to will give you an idea what this raving madness is all about.

This confusing language has been masterfully crafted by a crack group of genius computer programmers, geeks and online gaming crybabies. They've created a language that's even more difficult to read than it is to type, and this article is here to help you figure it out.

Most importantly, you need to understand basic leetspeak, the foundation for other, more complex forms of 1337speak(of which there are many). 1=L, 3=E, 4=A, 7=T, and 0=O. This is the very basic level of leetspeak that you need to understand. With this you can decode low level leetspeak, the type typically used by online gaming crybabies and people who have nothing constructive to offer to society. This number system is why leetspeak is sometimes spelled 1337sp34k, or just 1337speak. An important thing to remember is that people who use 1337speak have no grammatical skills whatsoever. Here is an example of a typical sentence written in 1337speak. "u r a t0t4l n00b n0 ski11z ur just a h4kk3r." Decoded, the sentence is "You are a total noob no skills you're just a hacker." Or in normal English, "You are an inexperienced gamer with no skill. You are cheating in some way." You will most likely recieve this message after soundly defeating someone in an online video game.

So, now you should be able to understand basic 1337speak. Simple, isn't it? An important note; the phrase "h4kk3r" is an insult. The phrase "1337 h4xx0r" is a compliment. There are many more subtleties of this nature within 1337speak, but these are learned through experience.

Three Little Pigs. (Bonus)

Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. There was Curly. He was the oldest. There was Wurly. He was the smartest. And then there was Flo. She was the favorite pig. Their mother loved Flo the best. Curly, Wurly and Flo lived with their mother in a high-rise apartment building in New York City. Their apartment was on the 75th floor. The pigs didn’t mind this because there was an elevator that opened right in front of their apartment door. It was on the days that their elevator wasn’t working, that the pigs suffered. Their little hoofs would be aching by the time they reached their apartment. Their mother would have to have little hoof baths waiting for her three little pigs when they finally reached the top. Of course, Flo always got the warmest hoof bath because she was their mother’s favorite. One day, Mama Pig sent the three pigs to the store to buy apples for their dinner. She gave them a list of items that she needed. She also gave them their allowance, and she told them that they could buy their favorite candy which they would eat for their dessert. The three pigs put on their jackets (it was winter).They put on their gloves and scarves. Next, it was time to put on their boots. Curly slipped on his bright red leather boots over his red and yellow polka dot socks. Wurly, being the most intelligent, slipped on his waterproof, fully lined boots over his white socks. Curly and Wurly were ready and waiting for their sister. She could not find her boots. "Curly and Wurly," she said, "have you seen my boots?" Curly and Wurly looked at each other and then they looked at their sister. "I’ll tell you where they are," said Wurly, "if you’ll give us your allowance to hold while you go and get them." "Okay," agreed Flo as she handed the boys her allowance. "There are your boots, over there," said Curly. "Where?" asked Flo suspiciously. "Over there!" squealed the boys as they pointed to the window in their living room. "They’re over they’re behind that curtain." Flo slowly walked toward the window. The boys followed closely behind their sister. Just as she reached the window, Curly opened the window and Wurly pushed Flo through. Curly and Wurly squealed with delight as their sister fell 75 floors. Curly and Wurly were thrilled that their plan worked. They were rid of Flo and they had her money! Luckily for Flo, she landed on a huge snow pile and was not hurt. Her brothers were not so fortunate. Mama Pig heard the commotion, ran into the living room and, when she realized what they had done, sent the boys to live with there Uncle Oscar Mayer. Uncle Oscar always knew what to do with bad little pigs. The boys protested. They were just doing Floa favor by helping her find her boots; it wasn’t they’re fault that she was clumsy. But Mama would not listen to there excuses and off they went to Uncle Oscar’s. Flo and Mama Pig still live on the 75th floor of the apartment building in New York City, and they’re very happy there. Now Flo gets her brothers’ allowance since they’re not there.

(Bonus) How I Picture Hell

Writing 110

How I picture Hell.

It is an endless plain, filled with the souls of the damned. Every inch of ground is coated with spikes and thorns, so that every step is agony. No eyes, no ears, no tongues. You cannot hear your own screams; you cannot hear any comforting words, only the hissing and cackling of demons inside your own head. You cannot see anyone or anything else. The only senses left are touch and smell. And all you feel is pain. All you smell is rotting flesh, burning skin, fire and sulfur. The demons inside your disembodied soul remind of what you lost, what you could have had, what you took from yourself because of your disobedience. “It’s your fault. We tempted you, but all you had to do was resist. You were weak! And your weakness put you here, with us!” You scream, but no one can hear you. You cry, but no one cares. You burn, but you are never consumed.

Grammar Quiz 2 Results

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/interactive/quiz/quiz.cgi

Question 1: Correct
Question 2: Incorrect
Question 3: Correct
Question 4: Correct
Question 5: Correct
Question 6: Correct
Question 7: Incorrect
Question 8: Correct
Question 9: Correct
Question 10: Correct
Question 11: Correct
Question 12: Incorrect
Question 13: Correct
Question 14: Correct
Question 15: Correct
Question 16: Correct

13 out of 16

Grammar Quiz 1 Results

http://www.quia.com/quiz/224360.html?AP_rand=923912873
Score Summary

Question 1
correct
Question 2
correct
Question 3
correct
Question 4
correct
Question 5
incorrect
Question 6
correct
Question 7
correct
Question 8
correct
Question 9
correct
Question 10
correct
Question 11
correct
Question 12
correct
Question 13
correct
Question 14
correct
Question 15
correct
Score: (93%)

Grammar Activity 2

1- The team won (its) (it's) game. Did you win (yours) (your's), (to)(too) (two)?
1 – The team won its game. Did you win yours too?

2- They left (their) (there) books (there) (their) (they're).
2- They left their books there.

3- I hear (your) (you're) about to graduate.
3- I hear you’re about to graduate.

4- (Its) (It's) nice that (there) (their) (they're) friendly.
4- It’s nice that they’re friendly.

5- Although I get (alot) (a lot) of colds, I feel (all right)(alright)
5- Although I get a lot of colds, I feel alright.

6- (Whose) (Who's) prettier (then) (than) you?
6- Who’s prettier than you?

7- Are you tired? I'm out of (breathe) (breath), (too) (to) (two).
7- Are you tired? I’m out of breath too.

8- Run back and (fourth) (forth) from (hear) (here) to (their) (there).
8- Run back and forth from here to there.

9- (Your) (You're) about to (loose) (lose) (your) (you're) book.
9- You’re about to lose your book.

10- Everyone will (accept) (except) the prize (accept) (except) you.
10- Everyone will accept the prize except you.

11- Do you know (weather) (whether) or not he will give me the prize.
11- Do you know whether or not he will give me the prize?

12- Many people (choose) (chose) to live in large cities.
12- Many people choose to live in large cities.

13- Is the doctor (through) (thorough) (threw) with my exam?
13- Is the doctor through with my exam?

14- What (affect) (effect) does the school (principle)(principal) have on you?
14- What effect does the school principle have on you?

15- What did he (advice) (advise) you to do? Did you take his (advice)(advise)?
15- What did he advise you to do? Did you take his advice?

16- (There) (Their) (They're) are (alot) (a lot) of (your) (you're) friends in the boat.
16- There are a lot of your friends in the boat.

17- I will (buy) (by) a book (buy) (by) Ray Bradbury.
17- I will buy a book by Ray Bradbury.

1st Grammar Activity

1. Some radio stations have powerful signals, they can be heard in nearby cities.
1. Some radio stations have powerful signals; they can be heard in nearby cities.

2. One disc jockey reads letters, he also jokes with callers.
2. One disc jockey reads letters, and he also jokes with callers.

3. Several stations hold contests, prizes are often albums.
3. Several stations hold contests, and prizes are often albums.

4. Tanya won one contest, she named a song correctly.
4. Tanya won one contest; she named a song correctly.

5. The sound system is complex, few people could operate it.
5. Since the sound system is complex, few people could operate it.

6. The Reds won the pennant they will play in the World Series.
6. The Reds won the pennant, so they will play in the World Series.

7. Last summer we camped, it was the best vacation ever.
7. Last summer we camped, and it was the best vacation ever.

8. Tony has a set of barbells, he lifts weights every day.
8. Tony has a set of barbells, and he lifts weights every day.

9. We saw an old Hitchcock film, it was a classic thriller.
9. We saw an old Hitchcock film; it was a classic thriller.

10. A raccoon visits our back porch every evening, we call him the Lone Ranger.
10. A raccoon visits our back porch every evening; we call him the Lone Ranger.

Family Circus Walk Home

My walk home was really fun today. I went all over the neighborhood, and did a lot of fun stuff and saw a lot of cool things. The first thing I did was run over to the neighbor’s house for a few minutes, but he was mowing the lawn and I couldn’t talk to him because it was so loud, so I just climbed his tree and made faces at his dog.

Then I climbed down onto his fence, which I thought looked more like a wall to keep out the neighbors next door. I played up on top of that for a while, but I almost fell off and so I decided to stop. I hopped down into the next yard. I got yelled at for pulling a couple of flowers out of their garden to take to Mom, which made me feel pretty bad, but I got to use their wheelbarrow to take the weeds out to their back yard, where I got to watch Mr. Johnson burn them.

After that, I walked over to the fire hydrant in front of the McAdams house, and Jimmy and I pretended that his house was on fire and that we were firemen. I told him I was jealous because he had a fire hydrant right in front of his house, so he could he be a fireman all the time. But then he said that I was lucky because Dad bought me a teepee, so I could play Cowboys and Indians a lot better than he could. I thought about that and decided that we were both lucky, and said that if the Indians had fire hydrants then they could have had a lot more fun than the cowboys. After me and Jimmy had put out the fire at his house, we went over to the teepee and played Cowboys and Indians for a while. At first, we both wanted to be Indians, because neither of us had our cap guns, but Jimmy found a stick that sort of looked like a gun, so we had a small battle that ended with a peace treaty. He gave me his stick-gun and I gave him a chieftain’s feather that was really just a pigeon feather. Then we decided to play with my wagon, and we pretended to be a cowboy who was driving a stagecoach and was being attacked by robbers, but luckily, we had Jimmy’s stick-gun so we beat the robbers and got the gold to the town successfully.

When we finished playing, Jimmy said that he had to go home, so I went and helped Tommy Stevens wash his new car. That was a little bit boring so I came back to the house and went through the garbage. There was really nothing in there, so I decided to tell you everything that I did today.

Freedom Writers: A "Film for Change"

Freedom Writers, starring Hillary Swank and directed by Richard LaGravenese is the true story of a class of students who grew up in the harsh streets of Long Beach, California. These students, almost all of whom are affiliated with gangs, are considered to be delinquents and are put into the class of Erin Gruwell. Erin, who is sadly unprepared for such students, is forced to create a bond with her students in order to break through a concrete wall of racism and intolerance.

I found this film to be of decent quality. It was well acted by the cast, especially Hillary Swank and April Lee Hernandez. The court scene in which Eva has to testify was very finely portrayed. Erin’s fights with her husband were very well acted out on her part. However, I was somewhat disappointed with Patrick Dempsey’s portrayal of his character. His acting seemed rather flat when compared to the emphatic performances of many of the other characters. The entire subplot with Erin’s marital problems seemed very undeveloped. While films of this genre do not usually attract me, this film proved itself to be very engaging. The fact that it was based off of a true story helped to draw me into the storyline, considering that the characters actually experienced the events of the film in real life.

I believe that the film was attempting to tell the audience that change is possible, even in the most unlikely of situations. This is an extremely optimistic theme, optimistic to the point of unrealism. In many cases an attitude such as this may have been effective, but if any of the children had been fully initiated into gangs, the result would have been very different. I highly doubt that a boy that has been hardened by gang violence would be willing to hold a fundraiser to go to The Museum of Tolerance.

In all aspects, Freedom Writers is an enjoyable movie, even if it is a bit over the top in terms of its message. The story is engaging, the characters are interesting and the acting is just dramatic enough to make it seem realistic. It stands out from other films of its genre, and despite some undeveloped plot, captures your attention from start to finish.

A Review of a Review

I read a movie review for the movie The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise. I enjoyed the review because it was very well written, and had a good description of the plot without giving away the important events of the movie.

I greatly enjoyed the attitude that the writer had toward the film. She was very unbiased and highlighted both the good and bad aspects of the film. She was extremely professional, and made clear her opinion of every aspect of the film. She covered everything from the soundtrack to the plot, and even the camera work of the cameramen, creating a very informative review.

I also thought very highly of her fair but firm criticism of Tom Cruise’s role, stating that perhaps he may have not been the best actor for the role. She also provides a very cleverly written description of the plot that does not necessarily create any spoilers. It was found on the site http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,550781,00.html.

Cover Letter

Nathaniel
Blackville, NB
NaMc00238@student.nbed.nb.ca

February 3, 2009

Dear Mr. Carter,
I noticed that the online newspaper, the Talon, had a section on entertainment. This interested me very much, because I love music and movies, but what captured my interest the most was the section on gaming. I would like to apply for a position on the Talon, especially the gaming section. Video games have been an interest of mine for a long time. I have been playing them since I was a child, and I play them for several hours every day. I have also made them a large part of my life, and may even make a career of them in the long run. I keep myself informed on current games and upcoming games and play them frequently. I feel that this and my abilities as a writer will make me a helpful asset to the gaming section of the Talon.


Sincerely,
Nathaniel McNair

Tour of Duty

As the soldiers plod along the street in their heavy gear, the merciless sun beats down from the cloudless sky in an incessant assault of heat. The light reflects off of the barbed wire and chain link fences that surround the area where they walk, shining brightly into their eyes. In the overwhelming heat, every breath is labored, every step is a mile, and every second is a thousand years. The sun bakes their heads from above, and the hard packed dirt bakes their feet from below.
The fact that it is only hot is a blessing for these men. These are the men that run into gunfire and explosions to retrieve a wounded comrade, to drag him out of the hail of bullets and the thundering explosions, only to return to that once the wounded man is safe. These are the men that are just as mortal as your or I, just as vulnerable to a bullet as anyone, and yet they cast that aside to protect the innocent. Every day might be the day that an insurgent emerges from an alleyway with a gun and blows a hole in one of them. Every day might be the day that a land mine or roadside bomb blows one of them to smithereens. Any day could be the last for these heroes.
But these soldiers ignore all these facts, because it is their job to step into the path of danger to protect others. It is their job to stare Death in the eyes, and spit in his face, each and every day that they serve.