English 196-08: Blog 29 - Monday, January 26, 2015

Monday, 26 January 2015

Blog 29 - Monday, January 26, 2015

The National Hockey League (NHL) held its annual All-Star game and skills competition this weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

This event is mostly for the fans to see their favorite players show off some of their skills.

What is a skill you could show off?

Here are your options:
1) You could write about a skill that you have. Explain how you acquired that specific skill?
2) You could share a video of you performing that skill with a brief explanation of how you acquired that skill (all on video).

Good Luck!

54 comments:

Anonymous26 January 2015 at 15:30
I think my best skill is my ability to do gymnastics. I am a level P4 (level 8) provincial athlete. Every year i have around 6 or 7 competitions a year. In gymnastics a have some amazing skills that most other people don't have, like I am able to do a back flip on the beam. An average human would not be able to do something like this. I also have many other great qualities in gymnastics, on floor for an example, I can do a back flip and do a one and a half twist. There is not many people in the world that are able to do something like this, and I feel very lucky to be able to participate in a spot like this.
-Sophie
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Anonymous26 January 2015 at 16:34
The skill that I had acquired when I was around 4-5 was swimming. I used to love swimming when I was a kid, it was my favorite thing to do in the summer. I knew how to do most of the strokes when I was around 5. I would always look forward to going to my swimming lessons. I knew how to dive around the age of 7 or 8, and was like a “kid professional”( jokes I don’t think so?)
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Anonymous26 January 2015 at 16:50
A skill that I have is playing ringuette. Like I said in a previous blog, I've been playing ringuette for 6 years and I'm improving each game. I am a centre which means I have to play both offensively and defensively. I've had a lot of tournaments this season and there is still plenty to come. I have one this week that I'm extremely excited for. I really wanted to show you a video but unfortunately, I don't have a video of me playing ringuette. Not many people know what ringuette is, or have ever heard of it, but I think more people should learn how to play because it's a wonderful sport!
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Anonymous26 January 2015 at 18:31
Dancing is one of my favourite activities and I definitely consider it a skill! My passion for dancing began when I was a little girl when I took ballet classes. I absolutely loved ballet as a little girl not only because I loved the style of dance, but I loved the tutus we had to wear! I remember learning about keeping a straight posture and how to perfect a pirouette. Later on, I progressed to hip hop. Hip hop wasn't my favourite type of dance primarily because you didn't need to have a certain skill to do this particular type of dance. Lastly, I am currently doing jazz ballet which is definitely my favourite type yet! Some of my best skills are doing the splits, which was very challenging at first, and doing a double pirouette, which requires amazing balance! I love dancing and I hope to continue learning new skills and techniques!

-Giuliana Giannini
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Anonymous27 January 2015 at 16:25
To me, playing the guitar is my favourite activity and it is definitely a skill. All my guitars are like babies to me and I have been playing it for most of my life. Ever since I was four years old, I had a huge passion for playing the guitar and it has not stopped to this day. I cannot believe that I have been playing the guitar for over nine years!!! At 13, I kinda consider myself a really good guitar player and other people have loved to hear me play. It is not the easiest thing to play, but I hope to really become a great guitar player as I grow older.

-Tisha
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Anonymous27 January 2015 at 19:00
I guess my skill is able to ride horses. Many people would argue with me that it is in no way a skill since apparently all I do is sit there? Sorry but I’d like you to get on my crazy mare and ride her around a 3’6 course. Let me guess, you fell off at a trot? Yeah, that’s what I though. I’ve been trampled, stepped on, bucked off, taken off with and fallen onto. I’m sooooooooooooo sorry but my ‘’soccer ball’’ has a brain of its own and even though I have no idea where it is sometimes because apparently it’s fun to spook at nothing right? Well if you ask Allegro she’d agree with you 100%. I have ridden over 50 different horses and trust me some of them are so push button it’s like driving a car that does everything for you. Some are like driving a really old car that keeps backfiring but instead they have around 50 brain farts in a single ride. My old pony for instance, she was a psychopath, she was young but she knew everything she just hated to do things that you want. She took off with me towards a 4 foot jump because clearly that’s what you do when you’re an 11 hand pony? Yeah suuuuuuure Laila. She got scared at her own shadow. I guess you could call me a freak because I think it’s fun to ride a 1200 pound animal at a 3’6 jump and clear it.
Abby :)
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 14:58
My skill is also the same as my passion... horseback riding! I have loved horses since a very young age and started riding when I was nine. I took lessons with my friends and it was really fun. Now, I've gotten to the stage where I have my own personal coach and am starting to think about competing. I don't own my own horse but I'd sure love to! I am considering leasing a horse at my barn. His name is Henry (Oh Henry) and he is an ex-racehorse. He is my boy! I thought him how to hug so when you put your head on his neck, he will wrap his neck around your head and his head will be facing you! It's so adorable! I love jumping and cross country! I jump around 3 feet but have also jumped a little higher!!!
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 14:58
This comment has been removed by the author.
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 16:20
I could take a photo or video of my skill but I don't really feel like embarrassing myself if I mess up so I'll blog about it instead. My skill also happens to be my hobby. I'm really good at playing soccer. Now I don't want to come across as cocky but I started playing soccer at the age of 9 and after only one summer of playing house league I was brought into the world of intercity. I made A for three years and I've finally made AA this year. I have been told that I've got raw talent and seem to be able to read the game. I love playing soccer and I'm really competitive. I always try to improve in all the aspect of the game. In gym one of the only reason I got a to 3.75 laps was because I trained really hard this summer to improve my running. I've always been good at kicking the ball but I've gotten better at controlling it, the distance I want the ball to go and the curve and force I put into the kick. I'm also a pretty good goalie. I can't believe I used to be sacred of the ball but sometimes I'm reminded when I don't have gloves and I'm in nets. The only place I can really tell you I'm not good at is juggling. I can get the ball up but I can't juggle it for very long. Well something to look forward to improve on I guess.
Lara
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 17:32
I could have chosen a lot of skills but I only chose one. My skill is playing hockey. I chose this skill because I think I'm playing the best hockey I've ever played since I started at the age of 5. So far this year in around thirty games I've gotten 4 goals and around twenty assists as a defencemen. Although at the start of the year I was pretty disappointed that I got cut from a team that I played for last year this year has really boosted my confidence with the puck and I have hopefully been able to prove that they should have chose me to be on their team.
Cameron Hubscher
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 17:49
Gregory

I don't know of any skill I have because I have never tried to find one. I normally spend all my time shut away in my game room (I really need to get a new hobby) and since playing video games doesn't count as a skill (even though it kind of is) I don't really have a skill to talk about.
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 17:54
I might be wrong, but I feel that my special talent is to play my violin. I play the Carnatic violin (it is the same thing as a normal violin, but genre is South Indian style). I have been playing the violin for the past five to six years. Since I was young I always wanted to play two instruments; one is the violin and the other is a Veena (a Indian instrument). I joined violin with two of my friends Rushmi & Shaapthavy. Today we are five people in our group, for most of our performances I play with theses same five people most of the time. I love playing the violin it calms me down and has a soft and smooth sound to it. On the other hand when I start a new song I hate playing it is squeaky and annoying. I am currently in level 4. There is all the way until level 7. If you pass level 7, than you are fully qualified in becoming a teacher. I hope one day I pass level 7 and start my own small violin school.

-Madurra.S
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 18:08
For this blog I am going to talk about my favorite thing to do in my free time. I have many different hobbies but the one I am going to talk about is Tae Kwon Do. If you didn’t know Tae Kwon Do is a type of martial art. It was formed in South Korea. This is a skill for me because I am learning how defend myself. One of my favorite skills in Tae Kwon Do is a kick. It’s called the bichagui. For this kick you have to put your legs in an “L” shape. Then with your back leg kick the target with speed and power. This sport teaches you discipline. I am very happy with what I am doing.
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 18:32
Maybe art? …. Well, I don’t exactly have a really good skill that I’m the best at. But I guess art is kind of my ‘specialty’. I wouldn’t say that I’m the best though, or the worse! Somewhere, in between that. I’ve acquired this specific skill by tinkering with the different styles of art during my life. At one point when I was younger, I use to paint cause it was really fun to mix colours and get all wet with paint! Remember those times as a child, when you would finger paint? Those were the times …. I especially liked water colour painting! It’s just absolutely beautiful! I’ve just tried out so many different types of art that I would say that I’m the master of art in my family! However, I’m not going to say that since one of my aunts actually influenced me to start it! She even has an art studio! Anyway, I’ve just learnt all these skills during most of my childhood during elementary school. I just don’t really think this is that good of a skill but I think it’s a pretty okay one since it’s really fun and I really enjoy it!
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 18:43
I’ve been dancing ever since I was little, so I’ve gotten pretty good at it and now dancing is pretty much a skill! The first type of genre I did was ballet. I started to dance because my friend did it and when I saw her on stage with her pretty tutu I knew I wanted to be just like her! I remember having so much fun dancing all over the house trying out new moves (I actually still do this now)! The funny thing is my first show I literally hid behind the curtains the whole time because I was very shy! Though now performing is my favorite part. Later on I tried to do hip hop which was totally opposite from ballet! I did it for a few years and decided it wasn’t the best type of style for me, so I quit. Now I do ballet and contemporary and I find they’re both really fun! I also enjoy how they help keep me flexible. It’s also really cool because I can do really fun things like the splits and pirouettes. I only dance four times a week, but I really wish I could dance more!!!!!
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Rushmi Perinpanathan28 January 2015 at 18:49
For this blog I will be talking about my special talent, playing violin. I have many hobbies such as drawing and nail art, however, I felt that I should talk about violin. Madurra and I have been going to violin together since grade 3. My journey to acquiring this skill started by asking my mother if she had discussed with the teacher about me starting to play violin, she said she did and that I had to wait a few more years. Finally one day, my mother could not wait any longer, she asked Madurra's parents, and I believe, they too were interested in their daughter playing violin too. Hence we both joined a class conducted by a skillful and famous teacher. We started off horrible, we could not even play a note properly. In level 2 we started to learn about all the details of Carnatic music( the type of music we play). This type of music originated in India many centuries ago. Madurra and I already knew a little bit about these deatils, theory, since we had gone to singing classes already. We started to know more and more about with this amazing instrument. One day I sat down and thought I might be able to set the violin to the right octave. I went and twisted the peg, that was the first string I broke. The string snapped in half and I was terrified. However, the next class my teacher replaced the string for me and till this day that is the string I use. As we performed in many concerts and played many songs we went up levels and now we are in level 4.They say level 4 is extremely hard and I am terrified. For every level except levels 1 and 2, there are 2 exams. One for theory and one for playing the violin, practical. The exams take place in Ottowa, Toronto, and here in Montreal. They are in August, September and October. Recently we have been preparing ourselves for the exams and another concert. In conclusion, I am very proud to say that I play the violin.
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 18:57
I’ve been dancing ever since I was little, so I’ve gotten pretty good at it and now dancing is pretty much a skill! The first type of genre I did was ballet. I started to dance because my friend did it and when I saw her on stage with her pretty tutu I knew I wanted to be just like her! I remember having so much fun dancing all over the house trying out new moves (I actually still do this now)! The funny thing is my first show I literally hid behind the curtains the whole time because I was very shy! Though now performing is my favorite part. Later on I tried to do hip hop which was totally opposite from ballet! I did it for a few years and decided it wasn’t the best type of style for me, so I quit. Now I do ballet and contemporary and I find they’re both really fun! I also enjoy how they help keep me flexible. It’s also really cool because I can do really fun things like the splits and pirouettes. I only dance four times a week, but I really wish I could dance more!!!!!
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 18:59
I don't have many special skills but I guess that I am ok at playing the piano. I started to play the piano around last January. So I haven't been playing for that long. My teacher says that I am improving a lot. I always wanted to play this instrument but I never thought that I could. Last year some of my friends were playing the piano in my music class, they were really good. That is when I decided that I really want to learn how to play the piano. I asked my mom if I could take lessons and she said yes. I have been taking lessons ever since. Playing the piano may not be the most exciting skill but it is something that I love to do and I think that I am improving!
-Erin
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Josh G.28 January 2015 at 19:44
My skill that I've had for a long is HOCKEY! I've been skating since I was 2!! That's 10 years for all of you guys that don't like doing math. I've probably done about 1,000 hours of time on the ice. My inspiration was my family's passion for hockey. My dad has been playing hockey since he was a little boy too. He even played at what is now the Bell Center and met Jean Béliveau. My mom played in a ball hockey league for 16 years. In fact, for the 2009 NHL all-stars in Montreal, my mother was a volunteer driver and drove around the players, owners and even the Stanley Cup. The skills that I acquired took many hours on the ice. It also came a lot from my dad and many coaches along the way to where I am now. Basically, my life is eat, sleep and breathe hockey and that's how it will stay until I can't play anymore.
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 19:44
One of my favorite things to do is swimming. Swimming has been one of my favorite sports and activities my whole life. I started swimming when I was 4 years old, and I am still doing it now. It happens to be a skill that I have. During the summer, I do swim team four times a week, and during the winter I do it three times a week. Up until two years ago, that was how it worked. Then I started doing synchro. I do synchro in the summer as well, but for two years now I have stopped winter swim team and joined synchro. I still do swim team during the summer, which I’m happy about. I love to swim so much that I even joined the St Thomas Swim Team. We have practices every Thursday after school and we do three meets. Swimming is so fun and even though some practices can be difficult, it helps me improve.
Julia Daniele
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 20:22
Vanessa Gentile

One of my skills is probably soccer (I guess). I've been playing soccer for four years now (since I was nine). Soccer is my favourite sports. I still do play house league now because I never really went or felt like going to tryout for intercity. Okay, so let's go on to my "special skills" I have. One of the skills I have in this sport are my kicks. When my team gets a corner kick I'm the one to take because they say I have "the Beckham kick". If you don't what that means listen -> When David Beckham takes a corner or a free kick he has the skills of curving the ball into the net and that's what I have. On my corner kicks I always (sometimes I mess up) the Beckham kick. If you ever call me a soccer pro I'm honestly not. I can't do any of those juggling tricks and stuff. But I do have a pretty great kick. Soccer is so much fun to play, but practices are so long!
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 20:28
I just made a delicious looking pizza, which represents my favorite skill. I love cooking. It’s one of my favorite hobbies because you can eat your product. I’m also pretty good at it. I can make everything to a grilled cheese to a creep. I also love baking, drink making and everything between. I also have other skills like building model plane. The reason I think cooking is so important is because you do it at least once a day. I can’t wait to learn new recipes like “cream brulé” and new tricks. Every time I travel I find new foods like Italy’s “gelato” or France’s “pain au chocolate” which are delicious. I also love making every course of the meal, appetizers, main and dessert. Maybe some day I’ll have the #skillztopaythebillz.
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 20:32
My best skill is soccer I have been playing for 5 years and every year I score longshots. I play like this young Frenchmen who has great potential and is greatness is longshots. Since I have started to play I always have been a person with a hard shot but it doesn't just take that you need accuracy. Every year I simply get better and It feels great . Soccer is one my favourite sports to play because I play everywhere even I am a right forward. I played house league but it was only because my mom didn't have time for intercity. Now I am very happy because I am in a league where there are no bad players and I am of the younger ages so I am a little smaller but it doesn't effect me going right by then. It is a fun sport but you need patience.
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 20:41
For my blog I’m going to talk about my skill at hockey shooting. When I play hockey my mind goes into a complete different mode, I just do what I’ve practiced and don’t think. I’ve have gotten a total of 19 goals this year and most have gone in because of my shot. When I have the puck, and I see a part of the net, whether it beside, under or on top of the goalie I manage to get the puck there. I am so happy to be gifted with this skill and that I have been able to use it in a sport.
-Adrian Szekely
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Anonymous28 January 2015 at 22:21
For my blog I will talk about my skill to draw very well. For me drawing was a talent that came naturally without any classes. I just kept drawing and drawing and over the years I got better and better. When I draw I concentrate a lot and just focus on my ideas and inspiration. I am proud of this skill because I draw most of the time and I want to be good at what I do. I also have another skill which is being able to do tricks in soccer I know most of the tricks but I never use them in a game because their risky because you may mess them up. This skill did not come naturally it actually took me a lot of practise first I start with a small ball then start with a normal sized ball. I wanted to make a video of this but you can't play soccer in the winter. Any ways those were two of my best skills.
Daniel Carducci
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Anonymous29 January 2015 at 06:10
Ever since I was about 3 I loved to ski! I think that my favorite part of skiing is when you finally get down the mountain and you take off your boots and then your feet feel a lot better! I'm just kidding! My favorite part about skiing is when you don't wipe out on a run that you normally wipe out on. When I first started it was really hard to learn! My dad didn't want to wait for me to go on the big hills so my first day out I went on a huge run! (or I thought it was big at the time) Just after my dad let me go on my own without his help I started to get the hang of it. Years later I started to race on a team and that is how I became a good skier now! I am no longer on a team but now I like to race with my sisters even though they usually win. I think it might be a while before I start to beat my sisters but when that day comes I will definitely be celebrating!
Trevor Lafave
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