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My final thoughts about SOL:

Overall, I think SOL was a very beneficial and entertaining adventure. I’ve always liked writing blogs since the very first time we did on edublogs. Reading blogs is like getting a glimpse into someones life or mind without seeming stalky. However, unlike some vlogs on Youtube which document every minute of someone’s seemingly awesome, but boring life, blogs are usually very enjoyable to read. 

Blogging everyday really seemed to give me a better glimpse of myself as well. Trying to blog every single day really tested my dedication, and even though I missed a few days, I am still pretty satisfied. I have learned that:

1. After about 7 days or so, I was really out of ideas, and had to be somewhat creative to prevent sounding like an utter bore.

2. Trying to be creative is a lot harder than I thought, so I disappoint myself by saying (admitting) that some of my blogs were utter trash.

3. Do it for the blog. For a couple of days, and yes I mean that literally (I did it for 2 days), I tried doing something exciting so that I would have something to blog about. SOL taught me to live life daringly and that YOLO. 

In this final SOL blog (don’t worry, I won’t stop blogging forever), I will be issuing a challenge. 

I will be giving a mystery, somewhat like one of Karan’s previous post. The solution will be complete and utter nonsense, so for this blog, I want you guys to comment some of the most idiotic suggestions you can. 

If anyone can solve it, I will be utterly amazed. 

Every afternoon, William would walk back to his house from the bus. And every afternoon, as he turned the corner of Levito and Woodsmen avenue, he would walk past a certain house. He would always look up, and there, sitting in the attic, was a woman looking out through the window. No one really knew why she would just sit there from 3:30 to 3:45 every day and just leave. She always has though. 

William, being the very curious boy he was, always was curious on why, and every day, he would tell himself that one day, he would ask the woman why she, like clockwork, does this every single day.

One day, William was so curious that he threw a rock at the window to see what would happen. All he wanted was a reaction from the woman. Every day since then, he would throw a rock, but nothing would happen. 

One day, in school, William had to stay after school. He was supposed to meet for a TSA competition. What really surprised him though is that his partner wasn’t there. This made him very angry, as they were working on a project every single day until 5 o’clock. Not only that, but his mom had also been telling him to stay away from his partner as he was a troubled kid. He never understood this because he was very friendly. Anyways, he angrily got on the bus, and went home. 

His mom picked him up, and dropped him off at home. 

2 hours later...

It was now 7:45, and William was missing. His mom searched everywhere for him. As she drove down the lane, she found him, banging on an attic window trying to get out. 

Explain what happened. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSnkWzZ7ZAA

Please play this to set the mood of this legendary blog. 

In this blog, I will share the joys of whistling. 

1. You don’t need to be a good singer to whistle. 

2. It can annoy the heck out of people, and it is easy to not get caught.

3. Anyone can do it (unlike rolling your tongue, which is genetic). All you needs are two lips, and fully functional lungs. 

If you are missing either of these, I apologize dearly. 

4. It’s surprisingly fun. 

Seriously, just try it. 

5. You can pretend your volunteering for tribute. 

6. Whistling while doing work can improve your efficiency, according to the dwarves in Snow White.

7. It strengthens your lungs and massages your organs. I know this sounds kind of ridiculous, but after searching on the google, it turns out that whistling can drop your diaphragm, making it harder to breathe, and strengthening your lungs.

You guys don’t know how difficult how it is to spell diaphragm.

I mean, seriously, that extra g can leave. 

As you may all know, today was semi-formal. I would like like to start off by mentioning that it was a lot crazier than I thought it would be. I thought that it would be a peaceful social gathering with some conversation.

Hah. 

What was I thinking? 

17 minutes in, I find myself lifted 12 feet in the ground.

The semi-formal started off with a wonderful surprise. Kunaal informed me that we had gotten into the semifinals of eurochallenge. That caused me to go slightly berserk, running around and hugging everyone we saw.

Basically, the rest of the event was a large circle of freshmen surrounding an empty spotlight where people would be pushed into and forced to dance, with the occasional Arvind and Julian whipping around lights.

BTW that was incredible. It what like fire-dancing, except with LEDs. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccMoo5hTM3U

At the end, we ended up breaking up and danced a little in smaller groups. 

That was less hectic.

Yesterday, a couple of my peers and I went to NYC for the day. 

No no, I know what you may be wondering.

We did not go the NYC to skip the bio test.

We went to New York to compete in Eurochallenge, where we shared our insights on the eurozone’s economy as a whole with a focus on slow growth in France. 

Let me walk you guys through our day. 

1. My eyes open up to blinding light, and I try to shield myself. All of my limbs feel weak, and I want to stay in bed for the rest of the week.

2. I look at the clock; it says it is 8 o’clock.

3. I am confused. 

4. I then remember my ineffective 7-hour last-minute preparations. 

5. I squirm out of bed and put on my suit. 

6. I eat a banana and my mom sends me to school.

7. I walk into software and is greeted very loudly. 

8. I refrain from saying something profane. 

9. I turn on my computer and open my first code. 

10. I realize we have to leave.

11. We end up waiting in the MPR for a good 20 minutes. 

12. I eat something to wake me up.

13. I realize how cranky I was being and perk up.

14. We get lost on the road. 

15. The group thinks of funny things that could happen during the meeting.

16. Kunaal and I try to pronounce words.

17. We arrive at the train station on time. 

18. The train arrives and we realize that we are on the wrong side of the station.

19. Mr. Brown leads us to run across the tracks before the train hits us.

20. I take a nap on the train. 

21. I am awakened by an annoyed Kunaal. Apparently, I had fallen asleep on him. 

22. We walk around NYC. 

23. After what feels like 2 minutes, we arrive at the bank. 

24. Alex complains he’s hungry and we see a Mcdonalds. 

25. We also realize that we have 50 minutes until we have to be at the podium.

26. In a nutshell, we ate in about 7 minutes.

27. We arrive at the podium and Alex complains that his stomach hurts. 

28. We give the presentation. 

Overall, the presentation went relatively well. 

29. We walk back, seeing a Bentley, and a Rolls Royce. 

30. Gaurav convinces Mr.Brown to stop at Starbucks. 

31. Gaurav tells the nice starbucks girl that his name is James, and the entire group laughs suspiciously. 

32. We go home. 

If any BTHS people are reading this, don’t get me wrong. BTHS is an absolutely phenomenal school. I am just giving my opinion, which is that HTHS is a much better school.

For all you HTHS people reading this,

pride. 

1. HTHS is on a college campus. This reason had so many reasons inside that I had to make subsections. 

Subsection 1. We all know that getting our educations are important. But what’s, with no doubt, the most enjoyable time of the day, is lunch. Being on a college campus improves the food selection ten-fold. They sell, hamgurgers, sandwiches, almost every single type of candy and chips, etc. They even have a Starbucks for all you coffee-addicts 

Subsection 2. I heard that BTHS doesn’t have a gym and all it has are some tradmills. 

Bummer.

HTHS gets to use Brookdale’s facilities, including their large open fields, basketball courts, arenas, etc. 

Subsection3. Every HTHS student has access to the entire book selection at Brookdale. 

2. The teacher to student ratio is much larger. This basically means that students get more individual time with the teachers.

3. Our teachers. I don’t know who your teachers are, but ours are better. 

4.What is BTHS? For all of y’all not informed about you very own beloved school, BTHS was basically a branch-off of HTHS because we felt the biotechnology course needed to be slightly expanded.

5. Ranking.

Basically, almost all of the BTHS students’ first blog started off with 

Biotech biotech biotech so proud to get into biotech biotech number one in NJ biotech 

I want you guys to look at 5 lists, not one single one, about which high school is ranked higher, and then try to keep your argument. 

Since I don’t really know what to blog about now, I present to you, my spectacular day: 

1. I wake up at around 9.

2. I squirm around in bed until around 10. 

3.I sit up on my bed.

4.I stay sitting with a blanket wrapped around me until 10:30.

5. I get out of bed.

6. I eat various Chinese pastries for breakfast while my mom lectures me on how long it takes me to wake up compared to some of her friend’s children.

7. I realize how much I hate being compared to my mom’s friend’s children, so I start comparing my mom to her friends.

8. It didn’t really work out because my mom is awesome. 

9. I go to my computer. 

10. I realize that I have a software test, a math test, and a boatload of history homework to do, as well as EuroChallenge this week that I haven’t really prepared for yet.

11. I go on Youtube for about an hour.

12. I realize I also have a class today and have not done any of that homework yet either.

13. I resume Youtube.

14. My mom catches me on Youtube.

15. She threatens to block Youtube.

16. I get to work. 

17. After a solid 7 minutes of concentration, my dad announces that lunch is ready.

18. I stuff my face with hamburgers.

19. I tell my mom that I can’t concentrate of homework right after I’ve eaten.

20. You already know what I’m doing now.

21. My mom tries to block Youtube.

22. She fails.

23. I go to my class.

24. The class is a blur.

25. I go to Kunaal’s house to work on Eurochallenge.

26. I accomplish 4 hours of legitament work.

27. I get home and eat dumplings. 

28. I cram-sesh all of my work into one night.

This blog post will basically be explaining my theories to Karan’s previous blog mystery.

If you haven’t read his yet, you better read it because you really are missing out.

Original Theory-

My first theory is that no one intentionally killed the old man. Karan mentioned that as the group were entering the tunnel, they all stood up. This made me believe that the old man might have fallen accidentally into the old woman, who stabbed him, and then pushed him away, screaming in fear. The smoker pulled out a gun and shot it at a person who he thought was attacking the old woman. It was dark, so he accidentally shot the window, which broke. The train was traveling so quickly that the old man was whipped out.

After reading Karan’s new blog post, however, I noticed that some details did not make sense. Karan mentioned that the smoker did not originally possess the gun. That means either the waiter or old woman had it, or he was lying.

But what hasn’t come up is that maybe it was the old man who had the gun originally. 

Theory 2- 

The old man was drinking at the bar, so maybe, he had got a bit drunk. When the train entered the dark tunnel, he fell over, not in control of his body, and fell onto the ground. He, out of control, fired his gun a few times, and accidentally hit the window. He was then swept out. 

This theory, however, does not make complete sense. How did the blood get on the old woman. 

Then again, who expects an old woman to commit such a crime. Maybe it was the old woman.

Theory 3- 

The train enters the dark tunnel, and the old woman gets into action. She whips out her cane, and hits the old man, who then fell on the ground. This is what made the “Thud.” He, then trying to defend himself, pulled out his gun, but intoxicated and in a dark tunnel, he missed and hit the window, which broke. The old woman tackled him out of the train with her shoulder, leaving some bloody residue as well. Before the train could leave the tunnel, she hit the ground, pretending as if she was innocent. 

Today is finally the first day of Spring. You know what that means. Warm weather, blue skies with the occasional poofy white cloud, animals, bright, new green leaves, and happiness. After a very long and cold Winter, Spring has finally arrived.

Hah. 

It turns, out, after a week of slightly warmer weather, today, it snowed. It wasn’t even a normal snow. It was one of those where each snowflake is the size of a small rock. 

Looks nice, right.

Today, during lunch, my group of friends and me had a huge debate over which goes first, the milk or the cereal. The debate probably encompassed around 30 people, including Ms.Gross. I have to admit, the majority of people agreed that the cereal goes first. 

The majority was wrong. 

The milk should obviously go first. 

First of all, if you pour the cereal first, and then the milk, within 3 minutes, your cereal becomes a big sloppy, soggy mess. You basically scrambling to eat all of the cereal before it turns into dog food. 

If you pout the milk first, you eat the cereal floating on top first, and then work your way up, so that each bite has the perfect balance of milkiness and crunchiness without the rest of it becoming soggy. 

The main argument for those who pour the cereal first is all this technical nonsense. Like, oh, if you pour the milk first, you might splash a few drops on the table. 

Honestly, who cares? 

And either way, if you can’t concentrate enough to pour milk in a bowl, that is your problem. 

The whole point of eating cereal is the taste not the presentation. I’d rather have an excess drop of milk on the table instead of a pile of mush. 

You decide which one you would rather enjoy 

Today, I will be continuing my series, and today, I will be describing one of the most interesting Holmdelians I know. 

He goes by many names; Ryan, Fryan, Fry-hun, French Fry, etc. 

I will be discussing Ryan Wu, if you haven’t figured it out. 

I have always known about this kid, Ryan Wu, but I never really got to speak with him in 5th or 6th grade. It was when middle school started in 7th grade that I began to speak with him.

I met him through our shared interest in math, and we both competed in middle school in various competitions, such as AMC and Mathcounts. In fact, to this day and the days to come, I don’t think either of us will lost this trait we share. At first, when I heard everyone calling him French Fry, I didn’t know what to think. Why were people calling him such? It even, after some analysis, seemed a wee racist. But he was ok with it, and that is all that mattered. 

Anyway, as I got to know Ryan, I noticed that Ryan wasn’t just the next person. He had such a unique personality. The first trait of him (the one I desire the most) is his competitiveness. Ryan will always try his hardest, even if it means losing many (MANY) hours of sleep. 

Actually, Ryan’s unhealthy sleep schedule can be beneficial to me too. When I am stuck on homework or studying, and it’s around 12 o’clock, I can trust Ryan to be awake. 

He doesn’t like it when he is wrong, but then again, when is he ever wrong? In fact, last year in math, and sorta this year, he will argue for every point back on a math test he thinks he deserves, which in a way, benefits me because I get those points back too. 

Ryan is also a very honest person. Many people tend to stretch the truth when asked a topic they didn’t want to answer truthfully, but Ryan will always tell the truth. When there is no one to trust about the date of the next math quiz, I ask Ryan first. 

I am starting a new series of blogs today. It may sound a little silly, but only about half of the month has passed, and I am desperate. 

Basically, in this series of blogs, I am going to describe my past and present with Holmdelians, such as how we met, and how we became friends. 

In this blog, I will be mentioning Alice Lai. 

Ok, so, to start off with, I moved to Holmdel in the 6th grade, but I feel like I met Alice far before that. I vaguely remember meeting Alice at a summer camp I went to at Holmdel High School. It was a Chinese culture camp, and we did all sorts of Chinese activities, such as yo-yo and arts. I remember that I was chosen to do a dance with Alice named like the Flying Monkey or something. Alice’s dad wanted us to actually be serious, but after trying to do the dance for a solid 2 minutes, I gave up and started to fool around. I don’t really remember much afterwards except that she was kind of angry. 

Next, I meet her in 5th grade in math class. I actually do not remember anything from this. 

In 6th grade, we really met. Alice usually talked to Paige, another girl in our grade. I would like to mention that Paige was, at the time, absolutely viscous. I do not even remember how she was like because I was quite frightened and kept a 10 meter radius from her at all times. I guess some of that aggression rubbed off on Alice. We were playing football in gym, and I caught the ball. I turned around, and see Alice charging at me like some raged rhinocerous. I turned around, and this is what I remember seeing. 

Before I knew it, I was squirming on the ground. 

We really didn’t talk much in 7th and 8th grade. 

The only times we really talked was in latin and math, but still, it wasn’t much. 

Now, in 9th grade, we have begun to talk more frequently. 

She has become a lot friendlier of a person and a VERY VERY helpful person. In fact, when studying for the Software midterm, we stayed up until around 1 in the morning for a few nights redoing the challenges. 

Today, I will be sharing probably one of the most legendary events ever to happen in my middle school career. It involves a single drink that changed our entire school. 

It all started on what seemed like a normal school day. Lunch had started, and everyone was getting their lunched. On the drinks shelf however, some new editions were added. Their was this new black water named Bik, and a certain new drink named Bob Marley. First, one person bought the drink. He realized how good it tasted, and the word quickly spread. Before long, almost half the entire lunch room was drinking this drink. Some had even purchased more than one. A certain daring individual named Salvatore Monticciolo was rumored to purchase 8 of these drinks. These drinks were amazing. People were chugging them down, and quickly going to get more and more, until there were none left. Little did they know what this drink was capable of. 

It turns our, this drink was called “Bob Marley’s Mellow Mood” drink, and its purpose was to calm people down into a mellow state of mood. It was also only intended to be drank by people if 18 years of age because of its strong effects. Our grade soon learned this the hard way. 

By 5th period, the effects of this drink was starting to take its toll on people. In every class, people were either falling asleep or trying to make their way to the nurse.

I experienced what happened to Salvatore first-hand. He, along with John Mackey, were trying to make their way to social studies. I would like to mention that these two probably drank the most. They seemed like they couldn’t walk properly, almost as if they were intoxicated. Sal didn’t even make it to his seat. Halfway to his desk, he fell to the ground. John Mackey, before long, also passed out. 

It was around this time that the nurse cam on the loudspeaker. She instructed every one that had drank this to go to her immediately. 

It was already too late. 

If you would like to learn some more, this also was on the news. 

I think it is very clear that writing 31 blogs in a row is a lot harder than one would expect. In fact, I think it is safe to say that most of us are running out of topics to write. Today, I will try to help you guys with that. 

1. Blog about your day. My previous two blogs were basically what happened step-by-step in my days. 

2. Make a blog completely out of Gifs. 

3. Make a blog completely out of photos. 

4. Start a blog-contest with someone. 

5. Write a short story.

6. Write a long story.

7. Write about something you are proud of. 

8. Write about someone. 

9. Answer some comments. 

10. Write about the weather.

11. Write about Spring. 

12. Write about something you love doing.

13. Write about something you hate doing.

14. Write about something that disturbs you. 

15. Write about someone who disturbs you. 

16. Actually, don’t. 

17. Write a tutorial on how to do something.

18. Write about food.

19. Write some food reviews. 

Apparently, my previous blog post was relatively popular, so I’m keeping the format, at least for now. 

1. I wake up with what seems like I’m having a migraine. I then remember about my accident yesterday. 

2. I squirm in bed for a good hour and a half, completely awake, but just too lazy to get out of bed.

3. I convince my mom that I’m in too much pain to go to school. 

4. Kevin Yan chats me saying that there is no software apps test. 

This pretty much sums up how getting out of bed went. 

http://gifsoup.com/view/1951120/getting-out-of-bed.html

5. I chug down 5 advils, and convince my mom to send me again.

6. I get to school, and get assaulted with a bunch of, “What happened,” and “Are you Okay?” 

7. It was during the middle of software that I realized that the advils were starting to really take a toll on me. 

8. I’m in english and I feel drugged. My bones feel nonexistent, and I felt really energetic, yet tired at the same time. 

9. I remember that today is pi day, and I laugh hysterically at several upperclassmen getting pied. 

10.  Dr.Agrawal says that if everyone agrees that they do not want to take the math test, we can post-pone it to monday.

11. Of course, Ryan Wu is the only one who objects. 

11.5. The class glares at Ryan.

11.7. Clark does something to Ryan. 

12. Ryan spontaneously decides that we should take the test on monday.

13. The entire class cheers. 

14. I get notified that I got a 124.5 on AMC, and I rush to the bathroom to do a full-out happy dance.

15. After I start learning trigonometric identities, my adrenaline instantly lowers, and I can start to feel the pain again.

16. I’m in IED, and the pain on my head is really starting to increase.

Today probably has been one of the most interesting days this year. 

1. It all started at around 12:30 this morning. Yes. This morning. I was checking powerschool, and noticed that my Software Applications grade dropped a solid 11 points. It turns out, even though I turned in my NYT 31 on time, I named it NYT 31 instead of He Eric NYT 31, and so, of course, minus 100 points. 

2. I wake up at around 7, and luckily, I find out that my mom is sending me to school today, so I got the extra hour or so of sleep. 

3. My mom tells me that it’s going to be around 60 degrees today, and I do a mini-dance in my bathroom.

4. I accidentally slam my hand on my sink, ending my happy dance. 

5. My mom makes me the best breakfast ever. 

6. I arrive at High Tech.

7. I see everyone ordering lunch as usual. I realize I forgot to bring money. 

8. I go ask Mr.Borschart if I could make up the NYT. He says no. 

9. I go to the research lobby, and realize that 3 more of my crayfish died. 

10. I get the camera Mr. Roche ordered for my experiment. 

11. I forget to take the camera with me. 

12. Eric Lou gives me part of his lunch so I don’t starve. 

13. Allen and I demolish everyone we play in pickleball.

14. We watch a movie in latin.

15. Tennis Try-outs begin.

If you read all the way to here, I congratulate you. It’s going to get a lot more interesting from here. 

Trust me. 

16. I get off the bus and meet all my friends waiting outside the courts. It turns out, the courts were closed, and the coach had left us. 

17. I realize that 60 degrees is not THAT warm, and in shorts, I am freezing. 

18. The coach shows up and allows us on the field. 

19. Try-outs now officially begin. 

I would just like to mention that the amount of people that tried out usually fill up all 7 courts. But because a layer of snow just melted, there is only one usable court. Imagine how cramped we were. 

20. The coach starts feeding us balls. Of course, a plane catches my eye, and I lose attention. In a matter of seconds, BAM there is a racket in my head. 

21. I quickly apply pressure to my head, but the blood is everywhere. DO YOU GUYS KNOW HOW MUCH THE HEAD BLEEDS? There is blood on my hands, my legs, etc. Luckily, there was blood everywhere but my clothes. I ask for the coach, but apparently, he had fled the scene. How nice. 

22. The coach was actually fetching the nurse. 

23. After a whole lot of bad, now comes the good. I got to ride in the nurses cart back to the high school. It was like a over-sized gold cart. It was so cool.

24. Now back to the bad. I look in the mirror, and THEN begin to feel sick. (Surprisingly, the racket to my face wasn’t very painful.) There is blood all over my face, hair, hands, legs, and neck. 

25. I arrive at the emergency room. I get taken to one of those beds, and a doctor checks out the damage. He informs he that I will need stitches. 

I have never gotten stitches before, and this was a big deal to me. I bombard the poor doctor with a crazed string of questions. 

26. The doctor shoves 5 needles in my head to numb it. 

27. My head is all stitched up. 

28. I go home, and my mom tells me she’s getting me ice cream. 

All in all, I get ice cream, and I don’t have to take the math or software test tomorrow. 

Now, for the strange. 

It turns out, my dad got in a car accident many years ago, and he has a scar in almost the EXACT same place. 

That’s all for the strange. 

Hello pears, 

Today, I will be continuing my mini-series of random irrelevant insights my mind comes up with every day. 

1. Could we sell our appendixes? I mean, we don't need them at all, and some of us could use some extra money soo...

2. Do we actually need lockers? I am one of the special few who don't really use lockers and just carry around books in a backpack all day. I don't see why people insist on using their lockers. The only difference between lockers and backpacks is that taking books from a locker can use up precious time. 

3. THE HTHS ACCEPTANCE LETTERS ARE COMING OUT!!! If your not excited as me, then you are not realizing the magnitude of what is happening. The next 70 or so kids we are going to be interacting with for at least three more years are being decided. 

4. Can Mr.Roche actually distinguish the colors of M&M's just by taste? I have heard many stories, some saying they are fake, and others saying that it is true. Tomorrow morning, I intend on finding out once and for all. 

5. 27-inch monitors are both overkill and must-have

If you had read my previous blog, titled Spring Forward Part 1, I would just like you guys to know that I did not actually think of that clever theme. That is actually the name of Apple’s conference held today. If you are not very interested in technology, then this is probably not the right blog for you. In other words, leave.

But if you do enjoy computers, Apple, etc. then you might enjoy this.

I would also like to mention that I will not be talking about the Apple Watch at all because frankly, smart watches don’t appeal to me at all. I predict that they won’t catch on with the public.

The main thing that I will be focusing on is the new Macbook that Apple added to its lineup. What’s it called? Macbook.

Yep. First they had the plastic Macbook. Then, they released the Macbook Pro. Then, they replaced the Macbook, if I remember correctly, all together with the Macbook Air. Now, with a lack of a clever name, they dubbed the newest Mac notebook, Macbook. How creative.

Want to hear something even more creative and never before seen before? Well, Apple has made their computer THINNER and LIGHTER than their previous model. Wow. Who would have ever guessed

Anyway, it turns out this new computer is even thinner than the Macbook Air. This thing could cut someone.

HAHAHAHAHAHAH you think I’m kidding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtTJKtXyx_Q

I’m not.

I don’t even know if it can get any slimmer. I don’t know if it is physically possible.

This computer is so thin, that Apple brags that they took out the fans so that the computer can operate in silence.

…

Did they forget the purpose of the fans. After 3 minutes of use, this computer will burn a hole through your desk.

Anyway, this computer’s specs did actually improve. It offers a 256 SSD, 8gb of ram and a 1.2 gh intel M inside it’s base model for 1300 dollars.

All in all,