Yes, you heard me right. Magic is based on math! So says my math teacher.

I know this is the third post in a row mentioning him, but there's always something or other happening in his class. xD Today we were having short class periods at school because we had an assembly. There's been a lot of anti-bullying activities going on at my school these days, and so we had an assembly. I believe I have been to them in the previous two years I've been at this school, too. This year the theme was Balance of Power. It was talking about how people pushed others down so they would tip the balance to their side, but in this way, the other person loses... And stuff like that.

I'd say the most meaningful part of that assembly (which was basically two woman coming and playing a premade video on a huge screen formed by three separate screens) was near the end, when a man who had no legs and arms was in the video. Even though he has no limbs, he can still do things like surf and play golf and he travels around and speaks to people. I thought it was amazing that you can do so much with yourself even with such difficulties as that. And there was something that he said...Not sure exactly, but I think it was something like this. "There's no point in being complete on the outside if you're broken on the inside." (I really wish I had clearly remembered his name so I could attribute it to him...All I remember is that it was Nick something... o_O;; )

Anyways, though, let me get back to the whole point of this post. Since the classes were so short, we didn't learn the next lesson in geometry today, but instead the teacher showed us a card trick which he was practicing for his next class. He would pick a card from his deck. Let me explain...If he got an 8, he would put two more cards on top of it. Then he'd make a second pile. Maybe if he picked a 3, he would put seven more on top. (If he picked a King, Jack, or Queen, then he'd just put it back or put it aside) He'd make, say, eight piles like that. Then he would take away five of the piles. And he would flip over the top card of two of the three remaining piles. If he got a 4 and a 9, then he would take 13 cards from the five piles that he'd take away. And then... Ack! I forget the rest! Now all I remember is that he flips over the the first card of the only pile he has not turned over the first card of, and he would get a number that he had already expected to get.

My teacher says that this works because of algebra, so if we want to figure it out, we can give it a try at home. He showed the trick twice, so it's not luck, anyhow.

Before I forget, I heard some good news on the announcements at school today. One of the counselors, Mrs. Brown, said that they had decided to make an exception and allow us to wear masks. (See previous post, about the guardian angel and such, for more info) Just so as long as I don't wear it in class - it might creep the teacher out - it's fine to bring it. Mrs. Brown also talked about some events going on tomorrow in celebration of Halloween. (In fact, the long run that was planned in PE class was moved to Monday so we can wear our costumes. They want to encourage school spirit, and all) She said to watch out for her husband, Mr. Brown, because he was good at bobbing for apples. Hmm. I've never actually bobbed for apples. I've only read about it in kids' books and stuff.

Labels: assembly, balance of power, bobbing for apples, bullying, card, classes, complete, good news, halloween, handicap, magic, mask, quote, school events, trick, useful, video, week

There was a similar quote to this, said by Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev. But I have adjusted it to suit my purposes. Recently, I heard the shocking news that the Calabazas branch of the San Jose Library is coming down. I don't even know if they plan to set up a "temporary library" in the meantime, since it was said on their website that we ought to go visit other branches. I guess my mom could just to go Alviso (a San Jose Library not far from her office) but I still find this to be terrible. I still remember a long time ago the old Cupertino library was going to be replaced by our current one, and they set up a temporary library. Maybe San Jose doesn't have as much money. When I was young, I would ride my bike with training wheels around the rectangular path...

But anyways, before I get caught up in the past (which happens often if I have free time), at least the Cupertino library is still here. I will probably have to rely on it for all my books from now on. I am pleased to see that they have their fountains up and running again. When it was newer, the fountains had been up a lot, but then for a long time I didn't see them anymore. But now it's back, and they took down that ugly fence they temporarily set up around it. Even if it does seem like a "waste of water", I like fountains. It'd be really cool if they had ones like the Bellagio fountains.

Speaking of fountains, I saw some indoors at the Crowne Casino in Melbourne, Australia. Inside were structures which water ran down and also jumped to and fro (bad grammar sentence, sorry). It sort of reminded me of Bellagio's fountains, even those these ones were quite different. (Well, maybe these are more like the ones you find in the indoor "garden" in Bellagio) Too bad we didn't stay at the Crowne's hotel... I bet my dad and his pals would have gambled away the money, and besides, unlike Las Vegas, you have to prove you're old enough to go into the casinos (in Las Vegas, it's just that people will catch you trying to use the machines if you look too young).

The STAR test results have arrived! At least, I received mine in the mail recently. I was pleased with my results this year. My math and language arts scores were pretty even. I won't say the specifics, but language arts has gone up a huge amount, so I'm glad! My math score went down, but then again, that probably is because I'm taking the advanced math STAR tests now, not the regular ones like last year and the years before. I hope I can do as well next year when it comes to the science and history sections... If I can, I think I'm set for life (nah, I know I shouldn't have that lazy attitude or I won't be going anywhere).

We bought a timer recently. Usually we use the digital sorts of cameras, so it was a little awkward having to use one of the mechanical white ones. But I think it is much cuter than getting one of those ones with the numbers on it.

Labels: bad news, bellagio, crowne, fountain, gambling, good news, las vegas, library, mechanical, mikhail gorbachev, repair, result, ronald reagan, score, STAR testing, tear down this wall, timer

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