Sunday 15 June 2014

Six Word Memoirs - Love



One of the most universal things in this world is "Love" everyone loves something wether it be people or things they enjoy. Something that I've loved since childhood to adulthood is video games. They are the one thing that I always enjoy and they've been with me my entire life and my love for them won't stop anytime soon. The image is of my favourite video game series that I began playing when I was little to now it's a franchise that I will always like every time a new game comes out I will be ready to enjoy every minute of it.

Six Word Memoirs - Me



I lack motivation to do things which is a big problem. Every time I come across something I believe I'll enjoy I end up giving up doing it or don't take enough time to get invested in whatever it is. I'm using this memoir as a reminder that I have to keep trying otherwise I'll always be stuck in this rut. The image relates because at one point or another i've tried to play an instrument but end up stopping because I find it difficult and don't take time enough to learn it.

Six Word Memoirs - Hate



I'm not a very hatful person but the one thing I absolutely hate is when other people always try to act or be someone they're not. The most common case is people looking through magazines and then trying to copy what they see. I will never understand why people can just be themselves they would be better off that way. The image I've taken is of a magazine which is one of the most common ways people get the idea that they need to change the way they are or be more like someone famous.

Six Word Memoirs - Growing up



Growing up is something everyone in the world does it's natural to do. You start off care free with no worries at all, everything is great but as you start to age you become more mature and realize that you can't be so care free. You're put into a position where you have to understand that you have responsibilities and by not handling them you can ruin yourself or people around you which brings a heavy weight upon yourself. This image I chose is of The Punisher fighting off bad guys using his power to protect the innocent which relates to responsibilities because you have to work hard the best you can in order to over come hard challenges and succeed in life.

Six Word Memoirs - Past



A lot of people tend to hold on to the past wish they could re-live it and i'm one of those people. The past is behind you and no matter how bad you keep holding on to it it's not going to come back you have to move forward and create new memories that will help you let go of the past. The image I have is showing myself looking out a window in deep thought reminiscing about old times for one last time.

Six Word Memoirs - Future



I'm still undecided with what I want to do with myself when i'm out of high school. I'm not the type of person that makes decisions easily so it's tough for myself. I have slight ideas of what career path I want to take in the future but then I always think maybe something else could be better. I feel as though there is always too many choices to make so I never know how to approach the situations I face. The image I chose is of a maze showing that you can choose multiple paths to go down but you'll never really now where it will lead unless you take the chance and move down a path.

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Rise Against - I don't want to be here anymore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqQsZ8g8KHQ
Rise Against is my favourite band and they just released their first single today off of their upcoming album "The Black Market" which comes out July 15th. Thought I would share this song for everyone to check out.

Jack White - Lazaretto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI-95cTMeLM
Jack white is one of my favourite musicians and seeing as how he just released his new album "Lazaretto" today I though i'd share his new single off of it.

Mark Taylor's Buried life project

Link to Animoto video:
Mark Taylor's Buried life project

Author's Note -
      My name is Mark Taylor and this is my Bucket list with some things I want to do in my life. I found coming up with ideas or things that I want to do in my life very difficult. I could barely come up with 25 ideas and it dawned on me that I'm either completely satisfied with my life as it is and don't want to do much or I'm a very boring person and just lack that factor that makes me want to be adventurous and try and see new and unique things in the world. The things that I put on my bucket list so far are the things that really interest me as of now and I hope to complete them all at some point or another i'm sure as I grow older I will continue to find and add more things to my bucket list.

What now -
       While most of the things on my bucket list are easy to accomplish and I will most likely complete most of them the one thing i'm closest to accomplishing at the moment is learning to drive. I've already taken lessons and got my beginners which is a good step towards my goal. All that is left is booking my date for my road test and passing and i'll officially have my drivers license! Once i'm done that I will have completed probably the most important thing in my bucket list that will help me in the long run.

Monday 9 June 2014

Bucket list

1. Make a short film
2. Learn to draw
3. Make an animation
4. Make my own comic book
5. Expand my DVD collection
6. Expand my CD collection 
7. Get a dog
8. Own my own place
9. Learn to play an instrument 
10. Meet Clint Eastwood 
11. See Jack White perform live
12. See Rise Against live again
13. Get motivated 
14. Stop procrastinating 
15. Marathon through my Sonic the hedgehog games 
16. Buy a good PC
17. Learn a new language 
18. Marathon through the Back to the Future trilogy 
19. Travel around the world in 80 days
20. Be someones hero
21. Travel to Hollywood 
22. Go to college 
23. Learn to drive (now what)
24. Watch the good the bad and the ugly in theaters 
25. Meet Stan Lee

Thursday 5 June 2014

Short story - El Pulpo

   El Pulpo    
written by: Xavier Chacon and Mark Taylor 

It was a hot quiet night, much warmer than usual. Agnes's family was sitting in their small wooden shack that looked as if it would collapse any second, they sat eating but the father looked worried, no one said a word. Suddenly her father got up, went outside and closed the door without saying a word as if he sensed something. Moments later there was a loud noise like someone had fired a gun, shorty after the noise everything fell dead silent as if the world had stopped. All though it felt like hours had gone by only a few seconds had passed.Agnes and her mother looked at one another and then they heard faint foot steps and turned towards the door. Her heartbeat started racing faster and faster as the footsteps progressively got louder and then "CRASH" the front door explodes into pieces and a tall mysterious stranger appears standing in the door way. The stranger wore a orange poncho that covered his upper body, along with torn tattered jeans and old combat boots. Covering his face was a brown cowboy hat and a red bandana that fluttered back and forth with the wind. In a blink of an eye he whipped out his revolvers, it happened so fast it seemed like he had been holding six guns and with pin point accuracy he started firing. before Agnes knew what had happened, her mother and father had been slain and the mysterious stranger was gone. 

--Twenty Years Later-- 

"We have to get rid of those Mexicans in order to rule the west" shouted lawman Paul. " How do you suppose we do that? there are way to many of em" Eastwood replied. Just then Agnes butts in " We can trick em, we'll say we are giving them something and then gun em down. That'll be sure to rid of a lot of them". Suddenly a deputy of Agnes rushes in " Madame! Law officer Wayne has just been shot down!". " What do you mean he has been shot down? Who killed him?!" Agnes screamed. " I aint sure who but the killer seems to only be targeting us lawmen". " Eastwood, Paul, go and hire some guns.. we need to protect ourselves" She yelled. Once they leave she talks with a few other officers "Now we need to secure a fort, I aint dying to no lousy outlaw" Agnes said angrily. 
 Lawman Eastwood and Lawman Paul leave to search for some of the fastest guns in the west just as commanded. Lawman Eastwood walks into a saloon trying to fulfill his duty. Eastwood sits down and starts looking around the saloon. Across the room he notices a man drinking  some whiskey wearing a orange poncho and red bandana over his face. As he continued to watch a large drunk man spills his drink on the poncho wearing cowboy. The Poncho wearing mans eyes squint as he straightens up his back and in an instant he blasts the man to pieces so fast it looked as if the drunk had been torn apart by wild beasts. Eastwood was stunned, at that moment he knew this was the man to hire. Eastwood got up and walked over to the mysterious man. "You gotta help us out, we'll pay you well." pleaded Eastwood. The mysterious man stares blankly at him. " I'm a law officer so pay would be well" exclaimed Eastwood. The mans eyes widened and he shook his head nodding yes. A few Hours later Eastwood and the poncho wearing man arrive at the fort containing all the lawmen and all the hired guns lawman Paul had gathered. Then suddenly a loud gunshot is heard and Eastwood Drops to the ground. The mysterious poncho stranger steps over Eastwoods body and enters the fort. Everyone inside was stunned and realized that this was the man who was killing the lawmen. Agnes then comes out from a building she waiting in and she recognizes that this is the man who had killed her family when she was young. "Don’t just stand there, shoot him dead!!" Agnes roared. Everyone in the fort reached down for their guns, focused on the poncho wearing man. Surrounded and out numbered, the poncho wearing man flew his poncho off into the air revealing his body.. the strange man was an Octopus! He was a lanky terrifying creature who wields six guns using six of his tentacles. Everyone in the fort was shocked and terrified, and in mere seconds the octopus started  gunning down everyone, his arms flailing in all directions, men falling dead left and right of him.  After he had stopped firing it looked as if a tornado had just blown through the fortress as everything was in rubble and bodies laid motionless everywhere. Agnes was the only survivor being hit in the arm but still able to wield her weapon. She shouts " You're a Monster and now this time I will kill you for what you've..." but midway through her sentence the octopus had shot a single bullet in her brain, It was over. The west was no longer trying to be ruled by corrupt lawmen, the Mexicans were now safe. The Octopus put his poncho back on, dusted off and walked off into the setting sun forever being honored by the Mexicans as "El Pulpo". 

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Happy creeping field trip

1) We walked around the halls and found a group of people. We sat down near them pretending to do something else and copied down what they were saying. 
- we went by a window on the 2nd floor facing the front of the school
- we listened to them talk for a solid 14 or so minutes
- the conversation was between a boy and girl in grade 12
- it felt weird listening in on people I found it mostly hilarious and I was laughing at times

2)the insights I gained about the way people speak is people get distracted or off topic very easily and end up making their conversations random and pointless

3) I can apply this to my writing by having my characters or dialogue make sense rather be completely random like the conversation I was listening to was 

4)personality was revealed through their conversation because they were speaking to each other like they were good friends and always seemed focused on the other person when they were talking. Laughing when something was funny ect...

5)I'm not sure but I can only imagine it could either be a conversation that stays on topic or becomes a mess of random garbage

6) most surprising thing I found was conversations end instantly because they we attached to their phones more than holding a conversation with their friend

7)differences between the two are in written you can take time to think about how you want people to interact and speak while spoken if mainly off the top of your head. Similarities between the two both require people to display their emotions or feelings on the topic being talked about

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Visual So What


I feel the message of this image is about how people never sit still people are moving all the time so their home changes. No matter how many times you move throughout your life you still always feel at home. That is why I feel the house has crab legs showing how it isn't grounded.


Tuesday 6 May 2014

The Raconteurs - Carolina Drama


This is my favourite song from The Raconteurs. This is sung by Jack White who is one of my favourite musicians which makes me enjoy this song that much more. I think this song does a great job of storytelling and I enjoy this song so much due to the story that is being told throughout the song.

Ted Talk - Apollo Robbins


This Ted Talk is about misdirection and how we don't notice things that are right in front of us but we believe we are aware of them. This Ted talk stuck out to me because it really makes you stop and realize how much we aren't aware of even though we see it in our day to day lives. This Ted talk does are really well job of demonstrating how he is able to change peoples focus with out them noticing what he is doing. During this Ted talk he demonstrates how he can use misdirection to change someones focus and easily pickpockets him without him noticing what has happened until he is told. This really makes you want to pay more attention to detail with things around you after seeing how easily he was able to misdirect people. This demonstrates how attention is an important thing that people don't take into consideration. At the end of this talk he asks what you would do with the power to control someones attention which I believe is a very interesting question. I honestly don't know what I would do with the power to control someones attention but I am curious as too what other people would do with that power.

Austin Kleon - Newspaper Blackout


A newspaper blackout by Austin Kleon. I enjoy this one because I feel it's about how everyone shares one thing in common throughout their lives which is dreams. They're something everyone has from when they're young to when they're old.

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Quick write - Worst meal

The worst meal has an unbearable smell so terrible it gives off an odor not even a pig would want to be around. It smells like someone just vomited all over you and you are stuck in a small room unable to move away. The taste is like dirty socks that have never been cleaned. Every bite you take makes you gag. Just a small touch to your tounge you feel as if a skunk has just sprayed right into your mouth.

Quick write - Eden

My Eden is like the wild west where everyone is free to do what they please. It is a open plain with loads of sand and nice vibrant grass where you can see far for miles and it has scorching hot weather and frigid winters. The buildings that are there are made of wood giving off a comforting feeling where you can relax. 

Monday 28 April 2014

Bill Elm & Woody Jackson - Triggernometry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg-yC0xcI9s
My favourite track from the game Red Dead Redemption. This song is awesome and it never gets boring to listen too.

Skype Reflection 2

1) What went well
I felt the presentations in today's skype session went well having different groups present procedural writing that we learned from the previous skype session. I feel the presentations had a good response from the grade 3 class.

2) What is the value in collaborating
The value in collaborating with the grade 3 class is it gives both them and us a new type of experience and helps both classes learn new things in a new and unique way.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Procedural Writing - How to build Railroad system

Step 1: Gathering Supplies
First you need to gather Wood, Gold Ore, red stone and Iron Ore in order to build the items we need.






Step 2: Making the power rails
To create power rails you will need to place 3 Gold Ingots on both sides one stick in the middle and 51 Red stone underneath it.





Step 3: Making normal rails
To make building the railroad faster build normal rails to place in between your power rails. To build normal rails you need 3 pieces of Iron Ingots on each side and on stick in the middle.




Step 4: Making Red Stone Torches
You will need Red Stone torches to power your power rails. In order to make a Red Stone torch you will need 1 piece of Red Stone in the middle and a stick right underneath it.



Step 5: Laying down the tracks
Now you're ready to lay down the tracks. First place a power rail and put a red stone torch next to it now place your regular tracks after the power rail keep placing power rails with red stone torches every now and then to keep your railroad running.



Step 6: Making a kart
Now time to make a cart to ride on your railroad! To make a cart you need 5 Iron Ingots and place them in a "U" shape.



Now you've made a Railroad in Minecraft!

Monday 21 April 2014

Ennio Morricone - The Ecstacy of Gold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV0wPBYDQ6Y
This is probably my favourite orchestrated song of all time. A perfect song to go along with my favourite movie The Good The Bad and The Ugly. This song definitely captures the awesome western feel for the movie and it never gets old. 

Jim Croce - I've Got A Name

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHVBzLGAIbU
A song I have been listening to a lot lately. A classic Folk rock song that I really enojy! This song was also used in soundtrack for the movie Django Unchained which is a movie I also really enjoy.

Mid Semester Reflection

1) Six Word Memoirs - Incomplete
What went well for my six word memoirs is coming up with the memoirs themselves I found that part straight forward and easy to complete. What needed work was my ability to get pictures for the memoirs which is a big part of the assignment and my time management to finish the assignment on time and not way late. What I learnt about myself as a creator is I have a difficult time coming up with solid visuals to go with the topic displayed.

2) Ignite presentation - Grade B
What I think went well with my Ignite presentation was that I was able to talk about something that I really enjoy. I feel that my presentation in front of the class went well although my presentation was a few seconds too short. Things that I felt could have used some work were my pictures I feel I could have matched them up better with the parts of my speech I was at. I could have managed my time better to of been able to get it done on the day I was suppose to present and not the day after. What I learnt about myself as a thinker is I have a hard time coming up with an idea that I find interesting enough to talk about for five minute.

3) Blogging - Grade B
I tend to post assignments on my blog in a timely manner although at times I end up posting assignments to my blog after school where I find it easier to post them. I have posted a few personal additions to my blog but not as much as I should. I definitely need to start adding more personal additions to it. I feel I do a fairly good job visiting other peoples blogs and commenting on their posts.

4) Connecting and Engaging - Grade B
I usually participate in online discussions although I wouldn't say I am on top of it all the time. Commenting on posts and such I could be better at. I always attend class on a regular basis. I am never late and I haven't missed as class so far this semester.

5) Three course related goals to set by the end of the semester are manage my time better so I finish assignments on time and not take longer than it should take, Update my blog more often with personal additions and making sure to finish all assignments when they're due.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Skype Reflection

(1) What topics did you present?  How did you go about making in "stick" with your audience?
- We presented the Six Word Story with growing up as our overall theme and it was used with a question. We went about making it stick by making it easily understandable for why the image we used works well with our six word story and we presented it in a friendly manner.

(2) How do you feel your mini lesson went? Strengths? Weaknesses?
- I feel our mini lesson went pretty well. Weaknesses with our mini lesson was it may not have been relatable with the grade 3 class because they are still young and may not look at getting older in that way. Strength with out mini lesson was it was to the point making it easy to understand.

(3) What did you learn about the process of teaching and learning?

- I learnt that it is important to have your topic completely ready to go otherwise you wont feel confident when teaching. When you  prepare in advance for teaching you will have an idea of how you should teach it rather than thinking on the spot and not getting across the medium when you're trying to help someone learn. The key to good teaching is to be clear and engaging to let people really want to learn and understand what it is you're trying to teach.  

(4) What should we do next?

- Since we just taught the grade 3 class about six word stories and punctuation to go along with them I think it would be a good idea if they present to us what they've learned at school and after having that skype call with us.

Sunday 16 March 2014

Comments On Blogs

http://johnshavoc.blogspot.ca/

- I think that is a solid way of describing life as a video game. Especially having your overall experiences used as points when you die/gameover being used a highscore style system. But what style of game would it be? Or would it be different for each person ?

http://ianprestonwritesstuff.blogspot.ca/

- I think it looks good from a distance and would sell well. But once you start zooming in that's when you realize that the model just has the face of insanity.

http://tomsmovietalk.blogspot.ca/

- I enjoy it when protagonists are nameless it gives the character an overall mysterious feel. I personally look up to the nameless quieter style characters. I don't think it takes away the ability to relate to the character because it's just a lack of a name and not the personality of the character which is usually how I relate to characters.

Steve Earle - Meet Me In The Alleyway


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQmUgKaeYr0
This song is in a show I just recently I started watching which is True Detectives. I'm just over halfway through the show now. The show is about two detectives on a 17-year hunt trying to track down a serial killer. The show is great so far and as soon as I heard this song play during an episode I had to find out the name of it. I really dig this song!

Monday 3 March 2014

Reading Assignment #4

The Twilight Zone (Back There)

Thrilled to have been accepted into the Potomac Club #excited

New change of clothing, I look fantastic #feelingstylish

Discussing the possibilities of Time Travel which is complete garbage #LogicProvesItWrong

Bumped my head falling down the stairs but I don't feel that much pain #fail

The rain has finally ended #GoodRiddance

Outstanding! I've gone back in time! I cannot fathom the situation i'm in right now #feeljealous

Washington always looking beautiful #lovethiscity

At the Ford Theater buying myself a ticket for Our American Cousin!

Taken to jail by patrolmen because they won't listen to me #fools #Listentome

The police in this city are idiots why wont they listen to my warnings #DangerApproaching

Feeling outrageously angry right now!!!

At last I've been released from prison! Dr.Wellington is the only man with common sense around here #goodman

Dr.Wellington just told me it turns out I had a concussion #oops

Two hours left until the play begins It will be a good time #iwish The President is in danger #gotogofast

I lost my chance to change history #depressed #angry #lookingforward







Tuesday 25 February 2014

Quick Write - Sonic 2


http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2
This image means a lot to me it's a picture that is part of my childhood. This picture is the cover to the game Sonic the Hedgehog 2 which growing up was one of my favourite games of all time and still is to this day. The cover has the two heroes Sonic and Tails on it with the villian Dr.Robotnik towering above them in the background which only gave me more of a reason to play the game and stop him from taking over. This picture reminds me of my childhood playing this game with my brother over and over again always getting farther each time we played it. I have only good memories about this game (except never being able to beat my brother in the versus mode) but besides that this is a game I will always enjoy playing any day of the week! I honestly recommend you play it if you never have before.

Crimson Shroud - Show Your Mettle



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGaewwQ0r7c
I'm a big fan of Video game music and I stumbled across this gem a few days ago and I have been listening to it non-stop. Give it a listen!

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Quick write - friends or foes

I believe it is harder to stand up to your friends rather than your enemy's because when you choose to face your enemy you have built up the courage to face the issue. When it is all said and done you won't have to deal with the collateral damage as you would with a friend. When standing up to a friend not only do you need to build up a lot of courage but you also get to thinking about the consequences of how you could hurt their feelings or ruin your friendship with them. It takes more courage standing up to your friends because they are people you trust rather than someone you dislike and standing up to them could come off as you are trying to change them. Both of them take a great deal of courage but standing up to your friends you also have to deal with the aftermath.

Quick write which door?

I'm stuck between two doors to choose from the Tardis doors and 221B Baker Street doors the reason why I'm stuck between the two doors is because I would love to enter the Sherlock Holmes world where I would be able to help out Sherlock and John Watson in solving mysteries which are always interesting. The Tardis doors would give me the chance to travel throughout time and space and go on some grand adventures seeing unique and new things!

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Digital Footprint



My Digital Footprint showing my online presence from games to websites that I use frequently.