Reading for 5/4/09
Dumpster diving seems like something pathetic; something only poor people do and something that others should pity. Lars Eighner sheds a different light on this act though and makes it something that isn’t to be pitied, but rather something that is logical. He talks about how to dumpster dive correctly and the purpose of it. There is a humorous tone to the piece, so near the end when Eighner turns more serious and insightful, it is a bit of a change from the rest of his piece. He refers to two “deep lessons” of dumpster diving, both of which can also be lessons of life. The first lesson he refers to is “to take what you can use and let the rest go by.” This lesson can obvioulsy be used in dumpster diving because a dumpster diver doesn’t want to collect every single thing they see, or else they would have way too much. This lesson can also be used in real life though by telling people to pay attention to the important things in life, because nothing else matters. This life lesson can be one of the hardest for some people to learn, but there’s a possibility that it could be the most valuable.
The next lesson that Eighner talks about is “the transience of material being.” This lesson is more easily applied to life than the first lesson he mentions, but it is just as relevant. As a dumpster diver, those people are forced to learn how to live without material possesions, but rather just themselves and their thoughts. People with money who are still able to own material things should think about this, even if they are not in the position where they are forced to. If people can live a life by going through trash, it is possible for others to live a life that isn’t filled with the latest technological device and the latest fashion. So although this author made this whole piece slightly humorous, he really wanted to get to these two lessons that people everywhere should learn; if they plan on going dumpster diving or not.
Independent writing for 5/3/09
Leaving high school and entering college is one of the biggest steps a person can take in life. It is the step they take away from their parents and actually start being self-sufficient adults. If high school taught more useful things about the “real world,” maybe this step wouldn’t be quite as scary to these young adults. If there was a required Life 101 class I think that the most important things to teach would be finance things for when people live on their own. For example how to do taxes and how to manage money between food, school loans, rent, utilities, etc. Other related money things that would be useful to know are things such as how to get a loan and the pros and cons of a debit versus a credit card. Money wouldn’t be the only focus of this class though. This kind of class would be a good opportunity for students to discover more things about their future. This course could help them discover what they want to do when they grow up, and where they should go after high school. Althogh many people may know these things already, others might benefit greatly from it, which is pretty much how any class in high school is. It could be a fun class that could actually teach the kids things that will help them out later on in life, which is pretty much all we really want in a class.
Reading for 4/23/09
Deragatory terms are used every day from people. Although some people may not mean them in a rude way, many others do, and the terms originated from the rude meaning. With these bad words being said all the time, it makes sense that people would want to change the meaning of the words if they can’t change the fact that they’re said. Nancy Mairs is a good example of this because she takes a term that people usually don’t like, “cripple.” and make it something that isn’t a big deal. She calls herself a cripple and makes the reader familiar with the term without a negative connotation attatched to the word. The interesting thing about her using this term though is that she will only use it to describe herself. So although it seems that she adopted the term “cripple” to erase the negative connotation, she seems to still have a negative connotation with it herself. The fact that she won’t call others a cripple shows that she would feel bad calling them that name. So even though she may have gotten a little step closer with making the term “crippled” more accepted in society, she needs to work on making the term more accepted in her own life. If more people were able to make words no longer negative, it makes it so less mean things are exchanged between people, and that would be a nice goal to reach.
Educational Experience for 3/30/09
Road trips are supposed to be an adventure that is unlike any other. They are a time when driving around aimlessly and stopping for no reason are acceptable and encouraged.
Independent writing for 3/29/09
“Home sweet home” and “home is where the heart is” are terms that have been around ever since I can remember. Although when we are in our “home sweet homes” it can be hard to see how it is sweet, other times it is so simple to see why it is called home. A time when it is easiest to realize how sweet home can really be is when you’ve been away. When I leave home for a few days or weeks and I get back, it feels completely different to me, in a familiar way. My own home smells and looks differnet to me at first, and then I realize that I have missed all these little things about it that I may not have gotten in the place I just have been. And the feeling when my dogs rush in to see me and are jumping around and running into things because they are so excited, that is a feeling of home that I can’t find anywhere else, no matter how hard I try. The familiar feeling of my bed as I plop down on it, thinking how excited I am just to sleep in my own bed alone once again, just to wake up in the same place.
But there is always those times when I return home after being some place, and I would much rather be at the place I just left. For example, when I come home from my two week adventure at camp during the summer, when I get home it makes me more sad than happy. Sure I still enjoy seeing my dogs and laying on my bed, but other things just make me want to go back to camp. When I eat dinner I am ready to grab a lunch tray and ready to have lots of laughs with the people I am closest to. Instead I am usually greeted by a small family feud, or my little brother trying to be funny once again, only resulting in him annoying me. At the stroke of midnight I expect to hear “lights out!” screamed through the halls and while banging on my door. As I sit at my house reminiscing about all of these things it makes me wonder, does your house always have to be your home? And at what point can we honestly say that we have found another home that we can really call our home. A place that we always feel safe, welcome, and happy. A place where the world around you seems irrelevant because this is the only place that truly matters. For me I have found my true home, and it is camp. I would call my house my “home away from home” because when I am at my house I really just wish I was back at camp.
News for 3/28/09
In America most people understand the obesity problem and how eating healthy and exercizing on a frequent basis can help prevent that. I found it quite ironic though when i heard about a man who died from over exercising , the thing that made this case different though is that the man had a heart condition called coronary artery disease. So how does having a heart attack from a previously diagnosed disease end with someone going to jail for four years for reckless homocide? The person arrested would be this man’s wife, Chris Mason. The heart attack was captured on video tape at the apartment complex’s outdoor pool, and Chris was excersizing her husband James for over two hours, extensively. Since James’s heart condition was previously diagnosed, Chris Mason knew about it and knew that exercise could be potentially dangerous to her husband. There were many witnesses, even Chris’s sister who said that Chris and James had very different personalities and had a strange relationship from the start. Not only was the married couple close to 40 years apart, but James had been a friend of the family since Chris was born. Friends of the couple stated that they “never knew of them to be romantic.”
From reading this article, I felt like there were many different things that pointed to the fact that Chris Mason was guilty of killing her husband. Although they do not have direct proof that it was murder, there were witnesses who said that they had been in fights before and she would be almost abusive. Even on the video of the night that James Mason died, it recorded her stomping him back into the pool when he tried to get out. So with all of these factors pointing to the fact that Chris Mason was a factor in her husband’s death, I am confused as to why she was only senteced to four years of prison. Most people who kill someone recieve life in prison, and she managed to get a mere four years. I believe that James Mason’s death was intentional, not just “reckless,” and I believe that Chris Mason should recieve more time in jail than what she is currently sentenced with.
http://news.aol.com/article/exercised-to-death/390966
Independent writing for 3/22/09
Holiday’s such as Valentine’s day are seen as “Hallmark Holidays” in the fact that they were pretty much created so that companies such as Hallmark and Hershey’s can earn more money than they already do. Now that I think about it though, holiday’s aren’t the only things that were created so that places could get money. In movies and on TV prom is portrayed as this amazing experience that should be the whole anticipation of high school. They leave out a few details in the movies though, such as the cost of this magical night. Girls have to pay for their dresses, shoes, hair, and nails which can add up to anwhere from $120 to $500, depending on how much they are willing to splurge. Then the guys have to rent their tux and are expected to pay for the ticket, dinner, and limo. Although this is true in many cases, it is of course not true to all people. Some girls make the decision to not get their hair and nails done professionally, saving them some money. Some girls even decide to be thrifty and either re use a dress and shoes, or even buy these items at a thrift store for about a quarter of the price. Guys can get out of spending all that money too. It would save them a good chunk of money by making a romantic meal and riding to the dance in the luxury of their own vehicle. So although prom isn’t exactly a “Hallmark Holiday” it seems to be indeed an expensive event that is under wraps until the time arrives.
Author Emulation for 3/19/09
Nathaniel Hawthorne writes The Scarlet Letter from the view of a distance yet descriptive narrator. In this author emulation of Hawthorne, I intedn to imbody that narrative idea.
Students are on autopilot, walking to the same classes every day with the same people, standing in the same places, talking about the same thing. The weekend is retold, using either expressive details or leaving out major events, depending on who is listening. Each day doesn’t feel very different when all the classes stay the same and people never change. People crave drama, people say bad things, people break promises; that’s what high school is. Students don’t participate in school for the education; they go to socialize, to seek the people that will keep them sane as they go through the boring days that just follow eachother. The packed halls make time go by so slowly, but when gazing back, everything has happened way too rapid.
Independent writing for 3/15/09
It wasn’t until recently that I learned that each generation has a name that is based off something that describes that generation. All I had really heard was Generation X and Generation Y, so I just thought it was alaphabetical. When I heard that our generation was named yet though, it got me to thinking. I’m no good with titles, heck, I can’t even title the pictures I take in photography or name half of my blogs, so thinking of a title for a generation is next to impossible in my mind. But just beacuse I couldn’t think of a specific idea for a title for our generation, I still thought about things that described our generation. One possible title I have heard is the OMG Generation. I can see how that is humorous and makes a little sense, because it has to do with IMing and texting, which is a big part of our generation. I also don’t want to be defined as the OMG Generation though. Although I do agree that it is a good idea to go with a title that has something to do with technology. Our generation has more technology than any other generation, and it is such a huge part of our lives. We all have cell phones, TV’s, computers, iPods, and endless other little gadgets. So whatever our generation ends up being named, I hope it has something to do with technology and isn’t a misnomer.
Independent writing for 3/8/09
People live, and then people die. Eventually everyone learns that they are going to die someday, and to an extent, they have to come to terms with it. Most people expect to die when they are old and wrinkly and it’s “their time.” The idea of death catching us off guard and coming too soon is the scary part. It is that reason why people don’t drink and drive, wear seatbelts, and do other things that will delay death as long as possible; better to be safe than sorry. So usually people don’t want to die unexpectadly, but truthfully, how many of us would really want to know the exact day that we will die?
Personally, I wouldn’t want to know even if someone could truthfully tell me. Sure there’s things that I want to expereince and goals I would like to accomplish before I pass away, but I also don’t want death to be my motivator. I don’t want the looming fact that I will die in a certain amount of time be the reason that I act the way I do. If I want to climb a mountain before I die, I should be able to find the reason and motivation to do that on my own, in my own time, not just get it done because time is running out. Also I wouldn’t want to be told when I’m going to die because that day would haunt me forever. If I was told I was going to die in exactly twenty four years, when the day started to get closer, each day would get more depressing. I wouldn’t want people’s last memory of me to be this depressed, scared person. I would want them to remember me as the person I am, and always have been.
I’m sure there would be some plus sides to having the life-long surprise be spoiled, such as getting closure with my loved ones. But the truth is, even though I hate surprises, I think that this is an important surprise becuase everyone is going to get surprised forever. I’m not the only one left in the dark, and I’m perfectly ok with taking precautions so that I may be able to stay on this Earth for just a little bit longer in order to live the life that I want to live.
Independent writing for 3/1/09
Boys and girls are different species. I have been realizing this basically my whole life, as I am sure that many others have too. One thing that I didn’t know is that girls and boys actually learn different ways because of the way their brains are. I guess now that I think of all the other things boys and girls do different, it makes sense. Just because we may learn in different ways though doesn’t mean that I believe that boys and girls should be taught in different locations. I belive that if there was single sex schools, it should only be in elementary school, maybe middle school as well. The younger years in a child’s education is when their brains form the most and they start to figure out the methods in which they learn. If boys and girls were seperated during this time period it may be beneficial becuase there would be less distractions and the school could focus more on the kids and specifically how they learn.
The reason that I don’t think this would be a good idea in high school though is because leaving high school is already a big step, and if kids were used to being with the same sex for years in school, college and the real world would be even more of a shock to those kids. High school needs to prepare kids for college and the real world, and if those kids are preparing so much educationally, it may be more difficult for them to process the idea of being in a classroom that is much bigger with kids that are the opposite sex. Having too many changes at once could be very bad for this student and I don’t think that as many people would succeed in college if it was so dramatically different from the life they had in their public schooling in their home town. The parents that choose to send their kids to single sex schools can make that decision on their own, but I personally would hate it if most or all of the public schools were like that.
News for 2/28/09
The End Is Near
Now that Barak Obama is president, many things in America will change. One thing that is going to change is the war that is currently in progress. Although the war against Iraq is in Iraq, it still is affecting American’s in many ways. Many people around the country have loved ones in Iraq right now that I’m sure they worry about everyday. Luckily Obama has an outline of a plan already set for the pull out of Iraq. Plans that are this large and important take a lot of planning and attention to little details. Because of this, the plan will not go into effect by August of 2010. Another reason for waiting for about eighteen months is the fact that Iraq’s elections take place at the end of this year, and General Ray Odierno, U.S’s commander in Iraq, believes that it is crucial that there are still some American troups in Iraq for that time for security purposes. Although the plan is supposed to go into effect in 2010, all American troups are not planning on being gone until the end of 2011. This is because thousands of different military sections will leave at certain times, in a certain way. If all of the soldiers pull out at once, the plan would not be effective.
I am really hoping that this plan will be successful and that the Iraqies will not want to come over here to fight. I highly doubt that this will happen though because we have been in Iraq for so long, that they just might be happy to get rid of us. I feel that this war has gone on for too long, and that we probably shouldn’t have gone over there in the first place. Although this plan isn’t going to be in effect immediately, and still has many things to be figured out about it, I am glad that a plan is even being made. Obama hasn’t been in office that long, and I am happy to hear that pulling out of the war is one of the things that is at the top of his list.
Reading for 2/27/09:
Scavaging Through a Dumpster
Dumpster diving. Since the majority of people who dumpster dive are homeless, it seems like a depressing topic to discuss. Lars Eighner manages to describe this activity in a upbeat way that reads more like a “how to” book. He never strays from the topic of dumpster diving and goes into detail about what to trust in a dumpster, where to go dumpster diving, when to find certain items, the other people who dumpster dive, and how he got into it. Eighner writes about “scavaging” as if it is a sport that has certain rules to follow if you want to be the best and most efficent you can be. He tells stories to prove his credibility and writes his way around using gory details that may scare the reader away.
This reading was really enjoyable and funny to read. Eighner has a way of writing that seems as if he is talking directly to the reader in an everyday conversation. Even the most serious things he finds a way to make funny, like the topic of death. “Botulism is almost certainly fatal and often the first symtom is death” (24) was the most obvious and most enjoyable line of the whole story to me. I also liked how he talked about this strange topic for pages on end without drifting away from what the writing was about. He consistantley talked about Lizbeth, but he never directly described who she was until the end where the reader was expected to put the pieces together and realize that she wasn’t a girlfriend or a roommate, but rather a canine companion. I would be interested in reading more pieces by Lars Eighner to see if his other writings are as simple and enjoyable as this one was for me.
Life inspiration:
“In the end, we will remember not words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”
Martin Luther King Jr. was a very wise man who said many wise things, but to me this quote is one of his most memorable. Martin Luther King Jr. has been an icon for The Civil Rights Movement that happened in the 1950’s and 1960’s in America. He wowed people with his speeches, letters, and non violent protests. Out of all those memorable things he said, the reason I like this quote the best is because it is timeless and pretty much anyone could interpret it in their own way and apply it to their life. The way I interpret it has to do with gossip and being able to tell who your real friends are.
Being in high school, it is pretty much impossible to escape gossip. Everyone talks about everyone and rumors are spread. If a rumor was spread about me I would be a lot more upset if I learned that one of my friends wasn’t trying to stop the rumor than about the rumor itself. I think it’s a friends duty to stop a rumor once they hear it and not believe this negative thing about their friend. Martin Luther King Jr. is completely right, in the long run I probably won’t care too much about this rumor that has been spread about me, but I will remember the friends who obviously can’t judge my character and expect the worst of me. Personally, if I hear somebody talking bad about a friend of mine, I will stick up for them and tell the person that if they want to talk bad about that person they can talk to somebody else about it. Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t too concerned with high school drama at this point in his career, and so this probably isn’t exactly what he was trying to say with his quote. The way I see it is how I can apply it to my life though, and it’s a quote that I think peeople should keep in mind if they want to be the a good friend and a good person.
Author emulation for 2/25/09
Mother Knows Best
Basically all the mothers in the world have some similarities. They are care about their kids and want the best for them. My mother is no different, but she has always been really caring for others too. One of her biggest passions has always been diversity and getting people involved. When I was in sixth grade she started a group devoted to bringing different young adults together. She mostly wanted a range of ethnicities, sexual orientations, ages, and backgrounds. This group performed a play called Runaways by Elizabeth Swados. Runaways was a perfect fit for the diverse cast that my mom had gathered and gave an “in your face” message, which she loved. Theater is another big passion of my mom’s. She was part of the drama program all through high scool, majored in drama, taught drama classes at middle and high schools, and even did lights for rock and roll shows.
From the outside, it looks like me and my mother have nothing in common. If I performed on stage there is no doubt in my mind that it would be dancing, my mom would act. I am not interested in becoming a teacher, but if I did I would want to be a core teacher in an elementary school. She could easily finish an entire book series in a week where I am impressed if I finish one or two books in a week. She’s an introvert, I’m an extravert. Although we seem like opposites, I learned a lot from my mom. My tolerance for basically everyone was learned from her, and the intricate way I tell my pointless stories. Neither of us handle stress very well and we seem less organized than we really are. Our minds seem to constantly be in the gutters and little things make us laugh. No one could be the person that they are today without the people who raised them, but the qualities me and my mom share seem to go beyond that. I have taken the things that I look up to her for and tried to fit them into myself. No matter how different our life paths end up being, I will always be my mother’s daughter.
Independent writing for 2/22/09
Creativity In Movies
Movie ticket prices right now are ridiculous, so when I pay ten dollars for a movie, I am expecting something back for my money spent. There are some movies where I leave wishing that I never spent that money at all, some where I want to go back in and see it again, and some that could really go either way. Those ones that are in the gray area are not bad movies, they are just not very original. For example, do all chick flicks really have to be the same? Girls meets boy. Girl and boy either start out rocky or go right into a “perfect relationship.” Right when things are going good a big secret is revealed that ruins everything. But wait. There is a lesson to be learned. Big gesture. Boy and girl make up and live happily ever after. We’ve all seen it, even the guys out there. But just because movies are in the same movie genre, it doesn’t mean they need to all be the same. I’m starting to wonder if creativity is starting to go down the drain a little bit.
If it wasn’t then why else would movies be re-made all the time? There are so many movies out there that previously existed and sometimes having a re make is cool because the viewers can see the new one with all the new special effects the world has to offer. On the other hand, when movies are being re-made barely 20 years after the original came out, that’s kind of sad. Writers have such a hard time nowadays thinking of their own story line that they need to borrow them from books. Sure it’s obvious that “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” were made from books, but there are so many movies out there that are based off of amazing books that people don’t even know exist. It just sucks to keep falling for the same trick and throwing my hard worked money away on movies I’ve seen before.
Educational experience:
Competing in something other than sports
This year was my first year being a part of FBLA, Future Business Leaders of America, and it has been a different experience from anything I’ve ever done before. I don’t even think I really want to study business when I go to college, but I joined this club so that it would look good on college applications. I figured I might as well have some fun along the way though. So I decided to go to Glenwood Springs the first week of November to compete in a real FBLA competition. I didn’t think I really had any skills that the events tested, but I competed in a single event, speed typing, and a team event, poster making. Turns out I have more skills than I thought and ended up taking 3rd place in speed typing and 2nd place in poster making. Although we had a lot of down time to just sit around, I had a lot of fun. We managed to entertain ourselves by just walking around the high school and finding interesting things about it.
Glenwood Springs was a beneficial thing to me so that I was prepared for the much bigger competition that occured at the end of January, districts. Districts was held at Johnson and Wales in Denver and was a much more serious affair. I competed in a single event, client services, and a team event, desktop publishing. I earned 4th place in client services and 8th place in desktop publishing. These do not seem as successful as the awards I earned at the Glenwood competition, but districts had many more contendors in each category and both of the events I participated in were foreign to me, I just had to use the knowledge that I have learned in life beforehand.
State is near the end of April and is in Vail for three days. Because of the places I earned at districts I didn’t qualify for state, but I can still participate in an event called community service where I present about a community service thing I have done. Last week many of the FBLA members went to a retirement home in Broomfield and decorated cookies and played bingo with the elderly. The people going to state are most likely going to use that community service for their presentation, but I am hoping to volunteer at a humane society before state so that I can present something different and something I am more interested in in order to hopefully earn a better score. So even though I may not be too interested in business, the competitions I have participated in for FBLA have helped me prepare for professional settings and broaden my horizons about things that are out there.
Assigned Independent Writing:
It is obvious that we are in the middle of an age where technology is everything. We can do anything online now; we can shop, order pizza, read the news, etc. Reading the news online can be really useful because many times you can get the latest news faster from the internet than from the newspaper that is plopped on driveways in the mornings. Also if the topic you are reading about is interesting, there are often times links that lead to related things. This kind of computer literacy is a good thing, and may start to become more popular than reading the newspaper. But I also believe that reading books will never go out the window. Sure, many kids would rather spend their time on myspace or watch tv, but reading a novel at a computer screen will never be the same as feeling a book and reading it in the leisure of your bed.
It is true that much communication is done through the computer now and verbal literacy could be going down the drain. Most teenagers feel more comfortable talking to their friends through text message or online than in person, or even on the phone. Some people seem to forget how to communicate with someone in person after they text them too often. Although not everyone is like this, it is becoming much more common that verbal literacy isn’t quite as important. Hopefully this problem will get better with time and not worse, because if everything was computer literacy, there would be way too much technology in our lives.
Independent writing:
Valentine’s day is probably the worst thing ever invented. Sure it’s an excuse for stores to have sales and for people to get gifts, but what is the point? Valentine’s day has so many expectations that are close to impossible to meet. If you’re in a relationship it is supposed to be crucial that you do something for your significant other.Only a short while after Christmas people rack their brains for a nice gift for their significant other just because they’re supposed to. And the people who just happen to lose feelings for their significant other around Valentine’s day are considered awful for breaking up with someone so close to this “sacred” day. And for the single people? Well the whole day is just torture. When I heard that Valentine’s day fell on a Saturday this year I was happy. Not having school on Valentine’s day this year means that I don’t have to watch the lucky individuals walk around the school with their baloons and teddy bears and flowers. I don’t have to see every person that has a valentine and feel bad about myself. As the day draws closer though, I realize there is no escaping this holiday. Valentine’s day is a Saturday night, a night I like to go out with my friends and enjoy myself after a long week at school and a long day of working. On this particular Saturday night though I will most likely be at home because all my friends will have Valentine’s dates. Knowing that the majority of my friends are going to be out with their boyfriends or girlfriends while I sit at home is equivalent to walking through the halls seeing the goodies people have recieved. I am happy for those who are in realtionships and that are excited for this day, I just think that it is extraordinary that just one day of the year can cause some people happiness and cause others to feel alone, and yet people still call it a holiday, which has the connotations of being a joyous occasion for all. Should Valentine’s day really even exist?
Reading:
This is a precis written on Mike Roses “I Just Wanna Be Average”
Mike Rose in his exerpt from Lives on the Boundary exhibits that an education can benefit a person in more than one way. He exhibits this by telling a detailed story of his teenage years and how a few teachers were able to impact his life. Rose’s purpose is to inspire readers with his story in order to get them motivated to be more than just “average.” He adopts a reminiscent tone for the readers waiting for a reason to listen to him.
1. Hodad- a non surfer who hangs out at beaches pretending to be a surfer.
pedagogy- the function or work of a teacher
barbs-a point projecting backward from a main point
2. -Appeal to ethos- Since Mike Rose was in a situation where he had no reason to be interested or motivated in school at first, readers who are in a similar situation can connect with the aspect of his persona.
-Appeal to logos- By using many recognizable and respected names and titles such as Hemmingway, the Iliad, John Ciardi, and others, Rose appeals to literary scholars and students that have studied these pieces.
-Imagery- “I am holding a picture of him. He is sitting in his wheelchair and smiling at the camera. The smile appears forced, unsteady, seems to quaver, though it is frozen in silver nitrate.” (324)
3. -In the long run who helped him out more in his education, Mr. MacFarland or Brother Clint?
-Why did he end with the piece of information he ended with instead of continuing onto graduating high school?
-How did he end up liking going to Loyola University?
4. “While it’s certainly true that we’ve created an educational system that encourages our best and brightest to become cynical grade collectors and, in general, have developed an obesession with evaluation and assessment” (326)
News:
Today in Molo, Kenya, a little over 100 people were killed, and another 200 people are injured, with some on the verge of death. These residents were killed by a fuel tanker when they went to go get free fuel. The excitement stopped though when the tanker blew up unexpectadly. The explosion was most likely caused by someone lighting a cigarette, but the police are still doing a thorough investigation to make sure. A majority of the victims were badly burnt, and it has been hard for their families to identify them. Kenya is a country that is far in poverty, and with all of these tradgedies that keep hapenning in their country, it’s going to be hard for them to get back on their feet. All of the medical bills and chaos will set them back a little, especially after a fire in a supermarket less than a week ago. Hopefully the country can get this mess sorted out as soon as possible, and try to keep their country safe. Any other country that is able to help out should help supple Kenya with some doctors or medicine to help heal the injured.
Kennedy, Elizabeth A.. “Gas Truck Inferno Kills Scores in Kenya.” AOL News. 1 Feb 2009. AOL. 1 Feb 2009 <http://news.aol.com/article/gasoline-blaze-kenya/324445>.
Independent writing:
“An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind. “- Mohandas Gandhi
I have always liked this quote by Gandhi because it makes people think. Taking an eye for an eye is getting revenge, if someone takes yours, you take theirs. By saying that doing that makes the whole world blind, Gandhi is making a powerful statement about how getting revenge will not solve any problems, but rather make them worse. If the person you are getting revenge on gets revenge on you back, there is no stopping that violent circle. Gandhi was a believer in fighting without violence, and this is a perfect example of his views. I am all for the non violent approach, and I wish that the people of the world could take his advice more often. Gandhi was able to lead the people of India into freedom, which is proof that his technique works. Martin Luther King Jr. is more proof of Gandhi’s fundamentals. During this time of war, more people need to think back to what has been accomplished without guns and weapons, and think twice about the impact they are making on the world.
Author emulation:
This is a character sketch that is written in the style of Annie Dillard’s “Terwiliger Bunts One”.
First time I went to Anysia’s house I didn’t know her that well. Her family came to pick me up and take me to their house to get read ready for the homecoming dance. I was nervous about how to act around her parents and dreading the awkward silence that was almost sure to be part of the car ride. Turns out there was no need for any of those emotions because as soon as I got into the car Anysia plops her hands out the window because “they smell just awful.” The entire ride to her house her parents were making jokes about how strange she was. There are no awkward silences with Anysia, only purposeful pauses. Her day is not complete unless she was laughing a large majority of it.
She’s like a puppy you have to train. Too many times have I told a story and had to grab her face and say “Anysia, focus!” Sometimes there is no predicting when she is about to become distracted though. Like the time when we were walking through the halls and she was telling a story, suddenly she screams “butterfly!” and runs into a room where there is a large butterfly decoration on the wall.
She’s a giver but not a taker. When I asked what she wanted for Christmas her response was simple. “I don’t want you to get me anything. But waht do you want for Christmas?” I was also commanded to tell her boyfriend that she wanted nothing for Christmas when he asked my advice. Neither of us listened to her becuase sometimes we know what is best. She even tries her best to keep her birthday a secret.
Everyone knows Anysia, but only a select few actually know who she is. She is not a sharing person, but she loves to talk. She constantly uses words such as “excellent, spectacular, and indeed” and is always searching for new, fun words to say. She is a silent communicator, talking with her eyes and hands and if you’re lucky enough to be a mind reader it is easy to understand her. On the other hand, being her best friend usually works just the same.
Reading:
This is a precis for Annie Dillard’s “Terwilliger Bunts One.”
Annie Dillard in her “Terwilliger Bunts One” illustrates that her mother was a vibrant person with a mind of her won. She describes this character with anecdotal styles and a frequent use of dialogue. Dillard’s purpose is to immortalize her mother’s individuality in order to inspire readers to be their own person. She adopts a nostalgic tone for her fans, friends, and family.
1. a. Torpid- Sluggish
b. Galled- A skin sore
c. Stolid- Unemotional
d. Portulaca- Fleshy leaved plants
e. Royal Poinciana- Tropical tree
2. a. Irony- “To protect a pack of cigarettes she put it in a Band-Aid box.” (154)
b. Anecdotes- “During a family trip to the Highland Park Zoo…” (153)
c. Alliteration- “Hidden houses.” (155)
3. a. The author speaks about her mother in past tense, does that mean that the mother is dead?
b. Why does Dillard use the gaps between paragraphs when she does?
c. Does Dillard aspire to be like her mother now that she is grown up?
4. “She regarded the instructions on bureaucrataic forms as straight lines. “Do you advocate the overthrow of the United States government by force or violence?” After some thought she wrote, “Force.” ” (152-153)
Independent Writing:
In this day and age technology is a huge thing. Sometimes I don’t think we realize how much we actually rely on it though. My iPod broke about two weeks ago and it has been very hard for me. I listen to music constantly. Luckily in the car I can still listen to CD’s and to the radio and in my room I can use my computer, but in places like in the shower and in photography class, it isn’t so simple to find replacements. Almost everyday I feel lonely and helpless without my music right at my palms. Only a few years ago though, having an iPod kind of sucked, but it wasn’t crucial that I had one. The idea of listening to a walkman right now though is comical.
I don’t only rely on my iPod though. If I got my cell phone taken away, I don’t know what I would do. The main reasons would be keeping in touch with people when I need to speak to them, but it’s more than that. When I am bored in my room, at work, at a friends house, it is easy to just say “hey what’s up” to whoever I want to. Also, when I am standing alone in the halls it makes me feel not as alone to text someone. Even when I am just standing there talking to people my nervous twitch is to open and close my phone. Technology is a thing of comfort and solitude to most people, not just a device to help them out. Relying on technology isn’t exactly a good thing, because it is true that things break and malfunction, and it’s not possible for everyone to just fix it right away. But the truth is that there is technology wherever we look nowadays and that is only going to become more true with time. Generation to generation, more people are going to rely on technology and there is probably no stopping it, but is there even really a reason to?
Assigned Independent writing:
As a teenager in this current economic crisis, I know firsthand how frustrating it can be to not have enough money to do what I want. As a teenager with a car and a license, the idea of going out on a Friday night is much more appealing than sitting at home. The truth though is that sitting at home is a lot better for my wallet. Instead of going out to eat, it’s easier to eat in. Instead of going to see a movie, it’s easier to have a movie night with DVD’s that someone already owns or just rent some movies. A big spender for a lot of high school students though is going out to lunch every day. Some people just drive home, but a lot of people don’t like to miss out on the time spent with friends. Truthfully though, it’s just as easy to drive to someone’s house as a group and eat there for free, to us, and still be able to spend time with our friends.
Something that a majority of teenagers could do, but don’t, is get a job. Not only does a job give teenagers some extra cash, but it is also a good way to get things for cheaper, or freee. Kids who work at a place that serves food get that food for free, or at least cheap. Any other job as it’s perks also. At the movie theaters kids can get free tickets for them and a couple of their friends. At retail stores the workers get a discount, which is an easy way to save money when shopping.
The truth is that saving money as a teenager is a lot easier than we make it. I could do nothing but spend money on my car payment and my gas in a month, but I choose not to. I go out to lunch, go to the movies, and go shopping. Like many other teenagers I don’t want to miss out on the social time, and I definitaley don’t like sitting at home with my family all the time.
