Letter from local MLA

Today I received a letter from my local MLA, Linda Reimer.  It was very nice of her to do this, it’s a great feeling to have my hard work and talents recognized!  I’m happy I got this before I head off to England for the Crufts dog show in a few weeks 🙂blog mla letter

 

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Tri-City News Article

Today the article about mine and my dog’s show career by Diane Strandberg was posted! It turned out perfectly, I’m very happy with it 🙂

Thank you to Diane Strandberg and Tri-City new for the opportunity!

TriCityNews-Article-Emma&Vedder

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Global News Interview

Today was a relaxed Sunday morning until I received a call from Global News interviewer, Kristen Robinson, saying that she’d like to come by within a few hours to interview me regarding my recent dog show winnings and plans to go to Crufts!  I quickly raced to get my dog groomed up, all our ribbons put out, and my dog’s equipment out to show them a few demo’s on Conformation, Obedience, and Draft work.

It all went so quickly, and to my surprise they had my interview on tv this evening at 6pm and had it on again at 11pm. Being interviewed knowing it was going to be on tv was a very scary/exciting experience. I was a bit nervous to see myself on tv afterwards but it turned out better than I thought 🙂

Thank you Kristen Robinson and Global News for this opportunity, as well as the offer for a possible follow up once I get home from England!

Emma Gheseger/GlobalNews/Interview

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iSearch

The following is an assignment for iHub reads called, iSearch.  To complete the iSearch I had to look for any detail in my book (George Orwell’s 1984)  that stood out to me, and I would like to discover further. By analyzing that detail, rereading it, and researching it, I learnt as much about that detail as possible and thought about for what reason it was put in the book and what it symbolizes.

Big brother

In the first chapter of George Orwell’s 1984, the main character, Winston Smith, introduces us to an intimidating sounding poster. This poster is spotted across from the stairs on the way up to his flat in the Victory Mansions. The poster has an enormous face on it and like it says right from the book, “it was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move.” Along with the picture the caption on it read, “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”.  This poster is clearly intimidating to the society… Who is Big Brother? What exactly does he represent, in this novel?  

As we know “big brother” is a term in government and politics, but because that can become such a broad topic for an isearch assignment I’m narrowing it down to just the figure and the symbolism it has in this novel.                                                                               At the beginning it only mentions Winston seeing this poster, and going into detail of what was on it, indicating its importance, however it did not yet state what exactly it was representing. Shortly after Winston sees the big brother poster it talks about the telescreen, which could pick up everything they said in their homes and could not be shut off by citizens. Putting together the telescreen eavesdropping on what they said, and the poster saying “big brother is watching you”, we already get that they’re in some sort of controlled society. It goes on to say that Winston observes outside his window to be all grey, grey skies, and cold looking. There wasn’t much colour anywhere except for on the posters plastered everywhere, including the big brother posters. This symbolizes that nothing else really matters in their world anymore. For some reason society is only focussed on the meaning of those posters, they have perhaps been brainwashed to live by what those posters are indicating. A few times it mentioned that the eyes of big brother on the posters followed you in every which way you moved and the giant posters everywhere made it like his eyes even peered into Winton’s flat. It said “the dark eyes looked deep into Winston’s own.” This isn’t just saying that you could see these creepy eyes everywhere, it’s also indicating on how people felt. It was like someone was not only peering into their home but into their soul, what they were thinking, feeling, everything. They almost couldn’t be their own person anymore. The society of Oceania developed into a society who would only do things and think in the way that big brother would want them to. The scariest part about big brother is that he’s never seen, he is most likely not really existing, meaning he’s just a face the party had been using, and everything the society has done for “him” was out of fear of someone who isn’t even entirely existing. In this case, to society, “big brother” could very well just be manipulation. 

Relating it back to real life, this type of society and story is related to anywhere in the world with a corrupt government, where they’re always watching their citizens, giving themselves great power. An extreme example of big brother could be dictators such as Hitler. Given the year the book was written, there’s a great possibility that Hitler could’ve been an inspiration for the “big brother” in this story. It’s possibly used in this novel to share the terrifying message of how a society can become manipulated and brainwashed into worshipping a tyrannical leader.

The big brother poster is from Oceania’s government and the “big brother” on it is the face of “the party”. Looking at the literal word, there is some irony in the name big brother… Just like a big brother, they bully and taunt you but they are also family, making them loyal and will have your back. The big brother from this novel has a bit of the same effect on the society. He appears to be stern, serious, and controlling, which is how he ends up inspiring loyalty to himself out of fear.  However, he also acts as a trustworthy entity, only being an enemy or threat if you’re a “criminal” to what the party has told the society to do.  Of course the citizens will be loyal to him and whatever the party says because they have been scared into it. They are then made to believe that what the party is saying is always what’s best. Because they will slowly become brainwashed to worship their party and believe that it’s always in the right, big brother can compare to a God-like figure to the citizens in Oceania. Everyone begins to worship what he has to say.

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Spanish Culture: Diego Rivera

My Spanish class includes two culture projects to get a closer look at how hispanic culture and people have had an impact on our world. For the first culture project I had to choose a topic related to authentic creative work that originated from the Spanish speaking culture. I chose to do my project on Spanish muralist/painter Diego Rivera, and in particular I studied his mural “Creation”.  Below… The first link is the essay I wrote about Rivera and his art piece, Creation.  The second link is the short powerpoint I put together, showing some pictures including the Creation and a few of his other art pieces.

Spanish culture project #1 D

Diego Rivera

creation

The “Creation” by Diego Rivera in 1922 at the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria

 

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Tri-City’s Interview

Shortly after I got home from Toronto I was contacted by Tri-City news reporter, Diane Strandberg, who wanted to organize an interview with me about my accomplishments in the dog show world.  Today is the day we planned for me to phone in and do the interview. It was a little nerve wracking, especially because it was the first important interview like this that I’ve ever really done. She asked about everything I’ve accomplished with my dog Vedder, about the Junior National where I placed 4th, and about my future plan to show an Otterhound and a Newfoundland at Crufts, worlds biggest dog show located in England.

I’m very excited for what the article will turn out like, and will post it here when it’s published!

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Tri-City News Interview

Today I was honoured to have been interviewed by Tri-City News reporter, Diane Strandberg. After hearing about my recent win in the junior finals in Toronto she was interested in hearing my whole story and upcoming plans in dog shows. I shared with her exactly how dog shows work, what it meant for me to place 4th in Toronto, and about recently being hired to show an Otterhound and a Newfoundland dog at the biggest show in the world, Crufts in England.

When I started in dog shows I was just doing it as something fun to do with my dog, which of course it still is but, I never would’ve expected to be travelling across Canada (soon England!) for it, and now being interviewed on what I do… It’s amazing and I can’t believe all the opportunities the dog is continuing to bring me.

Tri-City news will be posting an article from our interview within the next few weeks 🙂

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 🙂 It’s been a pretty relaxing break so far, spending time with friends and family, and been continuing working on my course work quite a bit getting caught up from being in Toronto.

billy & me christmas

Billy and I

 

Vedder & Burton christmas

Vedder and my new Siberian kitty, Burton

 

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More from Junior Handling National

I’ve been home and back at school now for a few days. I’ve been crazy busy from catching up on school work, getting unpacked, and I’ve had an incredible response from people congratulating me on placing in the national. It’s really nice to see so many professional handlers cheering us junior handlers on.  Since I’ve been home I’ve got some incredible news… A lady in England contacted me through Facebook congratulating me on my win and is wanting to have me go stay with her and show her Otterhound at Crufts dog show!! I’m so honoured that she has made me this offer and I’m beyond excited to get the experience of showing a dog at the biggest dog show in the world! Looks like 2016 is going to be full of exciting adventures already. Can’t wait to be flying to England in March 2016.

Also, just got the official pictures from the show photographer in Toronto…

4th junior national 2015

Official win picture of Romeo and I. 4th in National Junior Handling Final

jr. national 2015

Group picture of all the juniors

 

 

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Toronto ✈️ Vancouver

Quickly… I am now on my way home. This has been one of my most exciting dog show adventures! It was an amazing experience and I was lucky to meet and make so many new friends at the national, as well as having a lot of fun hanging out with old friends.  As much as it was sad to say goodbye to all my friends there after such a great weekend, I’m excited to get home to see my own dog and family. Today made the perfect end to the Caledon Kennel Association 🙂  Bye Toronto!

Leaving toronto

Leaving Toronto City

 

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