American Dream? Sounds like it.

I’m sorry to blog about school in the middle of summer, but this is such a discovery I’ve made today.

American schools are far better than Irish schools. No joke.

I was talking to my friend from San Francisco today and she was telling me and my other friend about her school. They have 300 Apple Mac computers, then 20 Apple laptops for each classroom. Seriously. We have battered old block computers from the 90s.

And they have a GYM. A real, proper gym for their “gym class” (me and my friend bust ourselves laughing at this fancy name for PE hehe) We use our assembly hall.

And as for school trips, they have it all. They have Spirit Days (another laughable moment, but they’re real) where the 8thGraders (Year 10s) decided whether to have Character Days where you come in dressed as a cartoon, or theme days or whatever. Sounds UNREAL. We’re not allowed non-uniform days, not even for charity, in school.
On their last day, instead of going on a trip (we went for the second year running to a OE Centre..fun.) they hire a bouncy castle, candyfloss machines and game stalls and put them in the gym. No way would our school even DREAM of that. “No, no,” they’d say. “Too dangerous.” Too dangerous my arse. What they really mean is, “Sorry, we can’t be bothered to fill out the necessary paperwork for you to have a good time for once.”

Also, all 8th Graders have the chance to wander around Washington DC for a week, just to dander around the city having the craic. Again, UNREAL! Imagine use being let loose in Dublin for a week?

But there is one downside to all of this. The fees are high; below 80% is considered a fail; and 9 ‘slips’ (like bad notes) results in suspension. Three suspensions equals expulsion.

Still, which would you rather have? A crumbling old school with fungus on the ceiling and trips to the local shopping centre, or a modern school that likes to pitch bouncy-castles up in their hall? I know which one I’d pick.

Congrats Jenson!

Jenson Button stormed Hungary yesterday, delightedly winning his 200th grand prix. The conditions at the Hunagaoring were perfect for Jenson, completely changeable.
Sebastian Vettel appeared slightly more back on form this week, taking 2nd on the podium, still leaving the current World Champion with a 100point lead.
Lewis Hamilton looked set to take top spot on sunday after leading the race, about midway he spun in the wet part of the track, nearly hitting Paul di Resta. Then he made the crucial decision to come in for intermediates, and just as he pulled out of the pit lane, the track started to dry off. To make the matter more frustrating he was given a drive-through penalty for the incident with Paul.

Yesterday also saw the explosion of Nick Heidfeild’s Renault, which pulled in for a stop, let off volumes of smoke and as Nick drove out of the pit lane he pulled in alongside the grass, and his car set on fire. Luckily he got out in time, as the left side of the car exploaded seconds after, with the debris on the pit lane exit and the car a foot away. For some reason the stewards decided not to put out the safety car, and let the drivers drive around the debris with the smouldering car mere feet away.

An unfortunate incident also saw Michael Schumacher retired from the race after spinning of the track. He later stated this was to avoid hitting Felipe Massa, his former teammate. Going a bit soft, are we Schumi?

When Jenson was on his parade lap he said down the radio “A nice way to start summer break. Let’s come back and win them all!” before getting out and running over to embrace his team, dad and girlfriend Jessica. Not even mum was forgotten as he waved into a BBC camera and said “Hi mum.” with a cheeky grin. The first race he won, and the place he won his 200th grand prix, I wonder if Hungary now holds a place in Jenson’s heart? 🙂

*I dont own this image*

Healthy food…NOM.

It has just occured to me HOW nice and yummy healthy food can be. For a snack there, I just had stale (yes, stale) crusty bread with darilea spread and tomatoes. Delicious. And low on fat.

Also, a simple pasta sauce made with crushed tomatoes, basil, a dash of ketchup and a sprinkling of sugar makes for a lovely add to some plain penne. Again healthy!

It just goes to show you how good food can be when thought about and healthy. Happy eating!

Is seb sick?

I dont know what’s going on, but in the midst of the 2011 Grand Prix, the reigning champion and apparently unbeatable leader of this season is floundering.
Qualified 3rd behind teammate Mark Webber and McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton, the race was off to a strange start as everyone expected Sebastian Vettel to fly into pole as usual, but no. It was Alonso who jumped in here and strangely, Sebastian has been quite slow and floundering around the lower end of the top 10. He has also made at least 2 mistake which is completely out of character. He’s not even doing the fastest laps!
Maybe this is a good thing though, as he is so far ahead in the points anyways, he could’ve given this one a miss, but watching him flail round his home track is just as unsettling for the viewer as it is for Christian Horner and co.
Will Sebastian finally wise up, pick up the pace and take a podium? Well, there’s 15 laps to go; can he make it? Let’s sit back and watch to see if the famous #1 sign will shine here in Germany.

As for Jenson Button and the hydraulics failure, don’t even talk.

*Er, he didn’t and I dont own this image*

Paid to do a job, then they muck up?

I am at a loss for words at the crucial mistake of the McLaren pitcrew at the British Grand Prix whereupon clever driver Jenson Button was sent out of the pitlane apparently clear, yet the nut hadnt been fixated onto his front right and the lollipop man didnt notice this and let him go?

These pitcrew are paid to do a job where they cannot afford to make mistakes, yet they do so anyways? I know i sound extremely harsh here but we were about 12 laps away from the end, Jenson was in a good position to claim a podium, but yet he had to retire because of a technical error; not to mention the debacle with Lewis and the fuel consumption.

McLaren need to buck up their ideas and get some UPDATES done, or else they’ll end up like a fish out of water at Germany, where our happy young German friend by the name of Sebastian will take first. Again.

*I dont own this image*