We're Getting Constitutional Up In Here

Ok, everybody, unless you've lived under a rock for the past few months, you've heard about the mosque that's being built a couple blocks from Ground Zero.

And, unless you're Helen Keller, you've seen and heard the hate. Wait, scratch that--it's evolved. It infects on contact now!

If you've ever read my blog before, you know which side I'm on.

I think the mosque should be built.

Why do I think this? Well, let's get started.

• It's our constitutional right.
• You can't just generalize 1.57 billion people based on the actions of about one thousand.
• In Islam, someone who murders and/or commits suicide is not a Muslim, and has no chance of going to heaven. It's stated very clearly in numerous religious scripts, so those terrorists are just people who aren't fans of the West, and want some twisted excuse to harm the US.
• One big reason we have to come together to make a mosque is because we're outcasts to the rest of the country.
• That mosque has already been there for a year. They're just expanding now.

Also, to address every argument I've heard...

• We Arabs are your doctors, engineers, and lawyers, and we've been here for a while. Get over it.
• If you're so patriotic, why are you pushing for the contradiction of the constitution?
• Dude, you are clinically insane.
• Of course they're not training camps!
• Because Saudi Arabia has a state religion. Sorry, when did Saudi Arabia become America's standard?
• What ever happened to 'Live and let live'? What about 'Love thy neighbor'?
• You should be ashamed that a matter of religion has entered politics. This is America, the supposed land of the free. By trying to tear apart the constitution, you're the ones that are terrorists. You're the ones that are trying to bring down democracy.
  
• Please do research beyond the words of Glenn Beck before you speak.

Those are my views. I, of course, am Muslim, so I support the building of Park 51 wholeheartedly.

In a few years, Park 51 will be built, Americans will have something more to add to their big plate of shame at the White Guilt dinner party, and we'll all have a really good topic for college admission essays! They even might stop preventing us from gaining scholarships by lumping North Africa and the Middle East (prominently Muslim regions) with Europeans in the "White" box. Seriously. When you get your registration forms, notice that Arabs are included under "White," even though Arabic isn't even Latin-based, the culture is completely different, we're treated differently, and the religions specific to each region wildly differ.

So, what I'm really trying to get at is that it's our right, and everyone needs to stop hating.

What's your opinion?

Your Pro-Rights Blogger,
Nadia

I Love Stats

Hey guys! Have you seen the new tab on Blogger? It says Stats and it is wonderful.

As you may well have noticed, I'm a fan of creeping. And with this tab, I can be a MEGA CREEPER! And it's easier.

So I now know that my most visited post is 'Tis Better To Have Loved And Lost Than To Have Never Loved At All, which surprises me, since I forgot that that post existed at all. And hey, are you using a Windows? You're a part of the majority!

Are you feeling creeped out yet? You're probably not alone! (I wonder if my magic Stats tab can tell me that...) Just another example of how NOTHING is private now, what with the internet and my magic Stats tab.

I even know where you live.

Dun dun duhhhhhhhhhhn.

Well, not really, but I know most of you are in America. The country that visits the second most? Netherlands. Yeah, I didn't expect that either.

Sorry, my Dutch readers, but I was not rooting for Holland to win the World Cup.

Your Creepy Blogger,
Nadia

Diary of a Freshman: Funny Things I Have Heard

High School is weird. High School is a place with a lot of different people. Because of these things, I've heard and seen quite a few things in my two weeks at high school.

In Health class:

After my teacher talks about Camaros, money, how good he thinks he looks, how cool he was in high school, dances, nightclubs, pharmaceutical companies, sports, over the phone meetings, layoffs, the electric slide, and different ways people have cheated in the past on his tests for FORTY-FIVE MINUTES, he returns to the subject in the last three minutes of class with a, "So, uh, I dunno, good mental health."

A teacher to a student in the hallway:

"Yes, but if you're a pirate on the high seas..."

On my technology handout:

'Manu PC maker fudge.'

And that's in only two weeks! Imagine what kind of gold I'll have in a month!

Also, I found and opened my locker--on my first try! Tip: The only time you should go looking for it is study hall. Just search the walls for a number near yours as you go from class to class.

So, what have you heard recently?

From Your Freshie Blogger,
Nadia

What Your Facebook Info Page Says About You

Your Facebook Info Page says a lot about you, and as I have been creeping for a week--I mean, not at all--I've noticed that the info page says quite a bit about the person. Here's what your Facebook Info says about you.

Siblings
-If you only have your family under 'Siblings,' you're normal.
-If you have three or four people under 'Siblings' who are not related to you, you have a tight group of friends, and hang out mainly with those people.
-If you have a million people under siblings, then you are popular, but flighty.

Interests
-If you have interests under your Interests title, and they don't involve vampires, you're cool (in my eyes).
-If you have things like "Mustard" and a Bob Marley quote under your interests, well, you're not exactly the smartest cookie on the block.

Profile Picture
Arguably one of the most important things on your profile is your profile picture. It tells what you think of yourself, what you want to show everyone on Facebook, and, as every picture is, it's worth a thousand words.
-You smiling nicely=Normal. Cool.
-Hilarious picture, possibly involving an animal costume=Hilarious, fun, upbeat, be friends.
-Picture that is just showing off their "hot bod"=Stay away. These people are often large sac à douche. Or putains désespérées. (This is all in Frenchlish because I often feel bad about saying bad things. But it's ok in French!) Do not get tangled up with these people. Not in any sense.

So, what does your Facebook profile say about YOU?

Your Normal[-ish], Cool Blogger,
Nadia

Diary of a Freshman: You Have No Choice

There is something I've learned in the past week. It is that if we, as students, don't want to fail, then we have no choice.

By that, I mean that we must bend to our teacher's every whim. So that means I have to get a red, wide rule notebook with pockets, with the words HEALTH WHITE 4 written on the front in black Sharpie, as per my half-deaf teacher's instructions.

Because as it turns out, they mean it when they say that they will not take points for work that was not written with mechanical .07 pencil on 1 cm by 1 cm graph paper.

Why they do this? Maybe they like the power trip, knowing that hundreds of students are currently breaking their backs to do the most ridiculous things. Or maybe they just feel like doing as little work as possible.

My math teacher, when having us grade our work, will not ever give us more than half the answers, because half the answers are on some mysterious page in the back of the textbook. It would take no more than 1 more minute to write down the other answers.

Also, before you buy that kaliedescope of colors in a box, know that most teachers will only take work written in black, blue, or pencil.

So, what you should take away from this is that if Ms. Jameson wants you to chicken dance over the threshold of her classroom, well, good luck making a 4.0 without your dancing shoes on.

Your Irked Student Blogger,
Nadia

Diary of a Freshman: Water Fountain

Small tip. Press the button on the fountain, then lower your head. You never know which ones rise six inches into the air. You do NOT want to get sprayed in the face in the middle of the cafeteria.

If it does rise six inches, be very careful. When it hits down, it splashes everyone within a three foot radius. You must drink it all.

Firsthand knowledge. Heed my warnings.

Your Thirsty Blogger,
Nadia

Diary of A Freshman: First Day

Today, I had my first ever day of high school. I learned some very valuable lessons. Wanna hear? Of COURSE you do! And I have block scheduling, so I had TWO first days, which means no one else is more qualified to tell you about the first day of high school.

Well, I suggest you make a map. Or at the very least, tour your school before the first day, because otherwise, you WILL get lost.

The first number of the room number is the floor!

Don't be afraid to ask the teachers where a room is. That's why they're hanging around the outside of their classroom. Don't ask upperclassmen. They will not answer. Only ask an upperclassman if you know them.

Do follow the signs! Much of the time, there are signs or plaques reading things like ROOMS 300-310 -> Look for them! They help SO much!

Do not forget to bring your lunch to lunch. It makes you look kind of weird. Also, if you try to go back to your class to get to your backpack which has your lunch in it, don't even try. The classroom will be locked. On your way back down, remember that the cafeteria is in the right wing, RIGHT of the main stairwell. Not left. It will take you to the gyms, AKA Smelltown, AKA the other side of the building. Firsthand knowledge here, people.

Do bring paper, pencils, and an accordion folder.

Find a buddy! If you know you have your next class with someone, stick to them, and together SEARCH.

If you're taking a level 2 language class, brush up on your language. You will have to speak it on the first day.

Be prepared to have homework, yes, even after the first day.

If you have a class, like study hall, with a lot of upperclassmen, don't freak out. Just try to befriend some sophomores, or become the kid in the corner who uses his or her time wisely.

If you're 10 minutes late to your class after lunch because you had accidentally been looking for class on the wrong floor, don't say so upon eventual arrival to class.

Talk to new people that seem normal. If that's hard for you, then find an old friend who has other friends, and meet people through him or her.

If you have Health in 235B, and your friend has AP Human Geography in 235A, then look together for this mysterious classroom that no one (even teachers) knows the location of. Ask the creepy kid in the corner. He'll know.
So, search with your friend, find a large group of people in the auditorium, find creepy stairs behind a door in the back of the auditorium, climb all those stairs, go through a door, and you've found 235B, Health! But what about your friend who is supposed to take AP Human Geography? Well, see that door in the back of the room? It leads to another classroom, which opens into the hall.
That happened to me. Exactly like that. I was the one with Health.

Yes, it is ok to say, "Is this Computer Applications for Freshmen?" upon finding what you think is your classroom. It is not ok if the room's teacher is talking.

Do all the homework given immediately!

Do save a seat for a friend you know will be in your class. Even a new friend. It's a good way to pave a path to friendship, or even just lab partners.

Quietly laughing and making fun of the teacher's antics can quickly bond table mates.

At most high schools, most people don't use their lockers, unless they are in the absolutely best position.

There are some of the best tips you'll hear, and I've got some French homework, so until next time...

Your Freshie Blogger,
Nadia

Fixing My Sleepy

Ok, I'm trying to stay up all day so that I sleep at nighttime like people are supposed to. I only have one day to fix my sleep cycle, so I need to make it count. Every now and then I'll write a bit more in here to stay awake and to let you hear my crazy sleepy.

12:49:53 PM
Mom just woke me up, even though I set my super loud alarm clock for 10:40 am. But this is an accomplishment, because yesterday, I woke up at 5:28 PM.

12:57:02 PM
Skywire 2!

1:04:33 PM
I'm hungry.

1:06:41 PM
Level 27 is so hard! I can't even get past the third mole!

1:09:45 PM
These Skywire riders must be seriously traumatized. Like, their skywire mates were killed by mechanical monkeys and leaping frogs or eaten by a giant alligator head. I'm sure that once they got off at the checkpoint, the first place they went was to the therapist's office.
SKYWIRE SURVIVOR: ...and the cabin just wouldn't stop, and there was no time, and the frogs leaped! Jimmy fell out, screaming "Why me?" And then the half-robo monkey was MOVING. It CAME for Carmen! Not even her viking hat protected her. *Sobs uncontrollably.*
THERAPIST: *Confused, has no idea what she's talking about.* Why don't you try on this jacket for me. See? It even has a pretty belt.

1:19:18 PM
I am SO hungry!! I should've had more for breakfast.

1:26:07 PM
I am OWNING Anagram Magic!

2:17:45 PM
I accidentally entered Keeperbee instead of Beekeeper. It cost me nine points. I could have won!

3:06:39 PM
Watching a show about the extravagant lives of celebrities. Who can guess the channel? That's right! VH1. It's always VH1.

3:23:59 PM
I get to eat! So happy. :)

3:25:18 PM
That's a good Fruit of The Loom commercial.

3:37:01 PM
Googling Orlando Bloom. So pretty.

3:38:19 PM
TOTALLY SPIES!??? Wait a minute, what's this? This is NOT Totally--never mind it was a commercial. Phew! Whew? Phew.

3:45:27 PM
What? Jerry's mom is EVIL? She's Mr. X? Oh, Mr. X. Disguise. She drank the villain gene? NO!!! She's going to try to kill all those other WHOOP (or WOOHP?) spies? NO!!!! Wait, that was convenient. You'd think the fixings on an evil robot would have some kind screws or something. You know, something that prevent one from being able to access the inside and batteries of the evil robot with one's bare hands. Of course, these spies don't even think of messing up the innards. They just want some power source.

3:52:24 PM
The Fushigi is JUST A BALL!

3:52:52 PM
It worked! Yeah, Jerry's Mom is good again! That was easy! But, oh boomdogle, the Goodifier doesn't work on all those droids stalking WOOHP agents! Let's KILL 'EM. That was convenient too. She just happens to have a bunch of jet packs. Ouch, thrown into Big Ben! Yeah, mirror versus laser thing! It wins somehow! Woo-hoo! That's what I call teamwork! The girls fell into the river, and the first thing Jerry said was, "Oh my! If the girls are down there much longer, they'll run out of oxygen!" which for some reason, I cracked up for about 4 minutes over.
About 3 seconds later, they surfaced.
Ooh! Mega-droid! But never fear! The girls can do it! And they did!
Global evil has been eradicated, so there's no more need for spies, so Clover, Alex, Sam, and Jerry are now retired. Totally Spies! over.
Hell YEAH, I just summarized the series finale!

4:25:31 PM
So much ice cream. More Anagram Magic!

5:21:38 PM
Cramps suck.

7:12:16 PM
Cramps are slightly better. House is quiet. Everyone is asleep. Fixing my sleepy is so hard.

8:07:40 PM
Enough games! I must set out tomorrow's clothes, do 30 sit ups, have dinner, set my alarm clock, brush my teeth, wash my face, and sleep. School is so hard.

8:12:52 PM
WHERE is my soup?!!!

8:50:10 PM
Goodnight!

Your Sleepy Blogger,
Nadia

Sleepy Woes

You know what sucks? Trying to fix your sleep cycle. Do you know what time it is right now? 4:25 am.

Do you know when school starts? Tomorrow.

I took some cold medicine around 11 pm to know me out, but it is 4:30 now, and I'm hardly drowsy.

And so, I have devised a plan so that I can sleep at the right time tonight so that I don't pass out on the [high school] bus, nor my first [high school] class.

'Cause that could be embarrassing. And God only knows what goes on in high school. I could get my SHOES stolen! (Actually, on the first day of middle school, my older sister got her phone stolen. Someone very politely asked to borrow it, and never gave it back. Is that stealing? I think I'll return to this later.)

Also, I wouldn't want to miss out on anything, especially since I have to report back to you for my Diary of A Freshman. No, I will not let you down! For you, for the next generation of high schoolers! For the future historians! For the children! End world hunger for those who don't have maps and education like such as South Africa and the Iraq we were such as and I believe that they should our education over here in the US should help the US and help South Africa it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future--wait a sec, never mind, that was the 2007's Miss Teen South Carolina's answer to "Why do you think 20% of Americans can't find America on a map?"

But you get the point. I'm going to try not to fall asleep or faint, because lack of sleep combined with lack of food (it's still Ramadan) will be BAD, and I DO NOT want to be forever know as the chick whose shirt blew up as she fainted and fell down the stairs.

So, to amuse you and help me to not fall asleep, I will periodically write in a post, and post it later. It will look something like this:
4:43:56 AM
Watching runway fails is so funny!

4:58:32 AM
Darn it! I'm still not 5'4''! I mean, someone whose dad is 6'3'' and whose mom is 5'0'' should be at least 5'4'' at 13, am I right?!

and I assume that by 5 pm it'll sound something like this...

5:29:46 PM
I chased a bunny around the yard. His name is Charles. But then he hopped away when I collapsed. He waited for my guards to go down, then he attacked! What a jerk! I hope he never comes back! Who does he think he is? I was nearly passed out, and he just left??? I never want to see his ears again!
I miss Charles so much.

Ok, well, I hope you have fun with my delusions!

Your Tired Blogger,
Nadia

Ramadan

Alright, it's Thursday today, which means it's the first day of Ramadan! Well, for me anyway. The rest of the world started on Wednesday. Why? Because you tell if Ramadan is going to start the next day or the day after by looking at the moon, because Ramadan is a month in the lunar calendar. But, in my region of the US, we couldn't even see the moon, so we figured it started on Thursday. Well, it didn't, so I already have a day of fasting to make up later in the year.

Now, it seems that most people I know don't know much about Ramadan, or even Islam--but I guess I can't criticize, I still don't know where the Easter bunny comes in--so let me educate you.

When we fast, we wake up at around 5 am, start eating and drinking a lot of things, go back to sleep to be passed out till 2 (in my case), and we can't eat or drink anything at all, no gum, no medicine (but if you're sick, then stop fasting), NOTHING until sunset, which this year, is around 8:40 pm.

Yeah, that's right. We can't eat a thing for 15 hours!

Man, I wish Ramadan was in November this year. 8 hour days!

Your Fasting Blogger,
Nadia

Mini-Blog: Sorry!

Sorry I haven't been BEDA-ing for a few days. I had limited access to computers, which means I was grounded.

But it's all better now, so I'm back!

Well, I would tell you interesting stuff here, but I have to save ideas for the other August post, so be sure to read them!

Your Blogger Is BACK!,
Nadia

"Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated" Is NOT Scooby Doo

You may not know this, but my favorite cartoon of all time is Scooby Doo, followed by Tom & Jerry. I watched Scooby Doo pretty much every day of my childhood. So, I was excited when I saw that there were some more Scooby Doos coming to Cartoon Network. The oldies are my favorites, but new ones are okay.

It took two episodes for me to wholly realize that "Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated" was NOT the real Scooby Doo.

Because every Scooby Doo episode must follow a certain set of rules, and this new series made sure to break every one.

Scooby Doo Episode Guidelines

1. There shall be no romance between Velma and Shaggy. He's a 60s hippie in the present day who eats dog food, and she's the genius. NO SPARKS.

2. Scooby Doo is not allowed to be fully literate. He's still a dog!

3. There must be a hallway chase thing with the doors a stuff. It's classic, and a Scooby Doo signature.

4. Daphne has to get kidnapped, and then Fred will say, "They got Daphne!" and they aren't too worried, more determined. Daphne is the chronic damsel in distress. They're never really worried because this has happened dozens of times.

5. Shaggy and Scooby have to go off somewhere to eat, encounter the monster, run, get back to the gang, whimper, and suggest leaving. No initial bravery allowed. They must be led by their stomachs, and controlled by their fear. In short, they must remain in character.

6. The first plan/trap must fail. Plan #1 must fail so that they can assess what went wrong and make a better plan. And you know what? That's how life works, and Scooby Doo, as we all know, is realistic.

7. Scooby and Shaggy must ruin the second plan, but still capture the culprit. It's just how it works. Also, life is never how you plan it, so why should the traps go according to plan. It's a life lesson.

That is just how REAL Scooby Doo episodes roll, and if they don't it's not Scooby Doo.

Your Groovy Scooby-Loving Blogger,

Nadia

The Best Things I've Encountered This Summer

I've had a pretty good summer, and here are some of the best things I've encountered this summer.

-Graeters Ice Cream. It's an ice creamery specific to my region. It's so good. In fact, in the last two or three weeks, I've eaten nearly three pints of their ice cream. (One pint belonged to my sister. Shh!)

-'Now We Can See' by The Thermals. It is a great song, especially since it's kinda weird. Not The Shins weird, but more like Modest Mouse weird, except the sound is a bit more mainstream. Anyway, listen.

-Being in a new city, where you know no one, don't speak the language (but are trying to learn via menus and signs), and you don't know the city. It's fun and adventurous! Well, it would've been, but we had my grandma with us, so the adventure pace was kinda slow. In fact, the adventure stopped every 15 minutes for a break.

-'Blogging Breaking Dawn', a weekly blog that mocks Breaking Dawn, chapter by chapter. Dan Bergstein, the king of Sparklife, has been Blogging Twilight for the last 4 books, and it is SO funny. Go here to read them. Sadly, this week's post hasn't been uploaded yet. *Tear* It's like BEDA all over again! *Goes to a quiet corner to cry--I mean, drain herself of body fluids through the eyes so that she can find out what it's like to faint. Yeah, that's better.*

Well, now I'm busy *ahem* trying to faint? So, I'll see you tomorrow.

Your Blogger,
Nadia

What Happened To BEDA?!

It seems that no one--not even the founder of it--is BEDAing this A-month.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE WORLD?!

It's a sad, sad day when bloggers don't have time for a wonderful, internet-wide project. BEDA really did bring a lot of people together. I made lots of friends, revived my blog, and had so much fun in the process!

So why is it dead?

Your Sad Befuddled BEDA Blogger Who Is NOT Giving Up On BEDA,
Nadia

Why Facebook Kinda Sucks

I got a Facebook account a few months ago, and I've really started to appreciate how terrible Facebook is.

For one, spelling just goes out the window online! Why? No idea. I'm surprised that people really think that when you type in a Facebook status with your face, others will understand that "iimk ,lolcve bsafcfledsx!1"* means " I love waffles!"

I'm sure you've heard this before, but privacy. There's none of it online. By the way, when they say that something is "anonymous," it means that it's anonymous unless someone cares enough to click a button and find out who said they're fat.

There is so little privacy on Facebook, every friend of yours--and let's be real, you hate half the people on your friend list--can see your Wall-To-Wall conversations with anyone! Also, if you've got some casual relationship with someone, there will be the ever present pressure to make it "Facebook official," and that can really weird people out.

On top of that, it will quickly turn you into a creep. I cannot tell you how many hours I have creeped--ahem, that's because I have never creeped on someone before, because I'm a completely normal and sane teenage girl, thank-you-very-much. BUT, if someone was perhaps feeling inquisitive about his or her future classmates, and she--or HE-- would have to do would be to
1. Go to the "[School] Class of [Your Class's Year]" Page.
2. "Like" it.
3. Look at the members and pick a random one of them and click on their name.
4. Read their information, interests, quotes, sports, Wall, see their profile pictures, look at their bumper stickers, and so on until you get a feel for their personality.
*Ahem* At least, that's how I imagine creeping would be done. But I wouldn't know. Because I've never done that before.

:D

Also, anything you say can turn into a digital bucketful of drama. Or a bucketful of digital drama. Ooh, I've got it! A gigabyte of digital drama! Yes! That's the one!

So, that is why Facebook kinda sucks, and if you have any other reasons, leave your Crazy Little Thought in the comments.

"That's not why. You just hate it 'cause you don't have many friends on there!" the annoying reader puts in.

Annoying, if you don't shut up, I will feed you to the DigiKraken! I respond without mercy.

*The obnoxious reader pees his pants and quietly retreats.*

Your Blogger,
Nadia

*I really did type that with my face.

Diary of A Freshman Pt. 2: Orientation

Today was my freshman orientation. What's that? Why, I'd be be happy to share some tips!

Nobody asked you anything, says the annoying reader.

SHUT UP! I reply.

Some things you really need to know when you go to orientation:
1. You will probably not have many classes with your friends.
2. You will probably need extra money for things like sweatshirts and PE uniforms.
3. You will have to get all your heavy textbooks and lug them around, so prepare your arms for the weight, or break out your old sling so that people will look at your crippled self, feel sorry, and carry your books for you.
4. The agendas will no longer have funny facts in them (I was heartbroken when I found out).
5. LISTEN TO DIRECTIONS AT ORIENTATION (or you will get lost and none of your information).
5. If a woman with a short hair stands a half inch away from you to talk to you, take a slow step backwards. Because they're not joking around. They're just crazy.
6. DON'T get there late!
7. Most people will sit in the back of the auditorium at the orientation talk.
8. Don't trust all the signs.
9. They will most likely mess up your schedule, but don't freak out, it's usually easy to fix, and can be fixed that day.
10. Never take an honors class. Learn something in an advanced class. Also, people in advanced classes are smart and awesome.

My orientation was confusing (I missed the part where the teacher said where to get your schedule, and by the time I found it, there was a HUGE line.

I also missed the table where they give you your agenda, so I had to go back at the end, walking against the grain with a huge stack of books that I was trying to hold with one arm.

My sister introduced me to a few of her old teachers, and they're all kind of strange. Whatever, at least they don't hate me!

Your Almost Freshman,
Nadia

BEDA!!!!!

Happy August! You know why it's happy? Because that means it's time for BEDA!

Yes, Blog Every Day August! This is the first blog of BEDA for me, and I'm super excited!

Okay, see you tomorrow!

Your Daily Blogger,
Nadia