Sunday, May 15, 2011

Tell-Tale ♥ EDGAAAAA



Everyone has a really good analysis on Tell-Tale Heart but I just think this man is MAD. I read this short story in 6th grade and I already listened to the tape recording so I knew this was a male, but I never learned the exact analysis and meaning behind this.
In my opinion, I thought the narrator was just too paranoid and his disease had got to him. If you look at that eye in the picture, who wouldn’t be afraid! From my source, it says there is a belief that centers on the idea that those who posse the “evil eye” have the power to harm people or their possessions by merely looking at that. I found this very interesting.  What left me confused was the fact that the narrator did not want any of his money and there was no clear explanation why he wanted  to kill him (of course), but  I think his anxiety level became too high. When the narrator heard the old man’s heart beating under the floor, I thought he was just hearing his own heart beat.  
I’m still curious to know if he is telling his story at court or if he has another motive for killing this man, that’s why I’m not that best analyzer. COMMENT if you have any other suggestions.
Merci

Sunday, May 1, 2011

MY REALIZATION

August 31 to September 3, 2010. The most critical days of my life.
September 4 to September 13, 2010. The long days taking it all in.  
September 14, 2010. The day of relief, worries, and boredom.
September 15, 2010. The day I realize something very important. 
           
            I always thought there was nothing exciting in my life. I imagined telling my future kids my adventures, hardships, and success living in Chicago. I always wished I had something amazing to tell. If you ask me, I have no clue what amazing is. On August 31, 2010 I was diagnosed with the Steven Johnson syndrome due to an allergic reaction to my medication. I guess now I have a story to tell.  

            August 31, 2010: Day 1
            Tears and agony. It was around 7:30 P.M when the reaction really got to me. I had awakened from a long nap in my living room. Earlier that morning I woke up with bright red eyes, a major headache, and a terribly itchy body. It was only when I took a shower that I noticed the bumps on my chest and under arm became bigger and red. When I came out of the shower I noticed huge blisters forming in my mouth. An hour later, my mom took me to the doctors to have a quick check up. “Your daughter has a simple virus. This virus has been spreading around lately. She’ll be just fine.” Liar.
Back to 7:30 P.M. Tears rolled down my cheeks. My eyes burned even more, just the smallest bit of light burned my eyes with pain. That nap was supposed to make me feel better. My dad came to be as I screamed, frightened of what was happening to me. I rushed to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, my mouth. My mouth was filled with blisters. Every inch of my mouth was covered with big, juicy blisters. My head pounded like a drum. I ran back to the living and screamed, slamming my body on the floor. My dad pulled me up and guided me to the coach. I could hear my mom crying on the phone, shouting for assistance. What was happening to me?
            Next thing you know I’m waiting in the Children’s Memorial Hospital in my all blue Aeropostale outfit, sweat pants and hoodie. Time was definitely not on my side. The wait took forever. My vision grew worse and I noticed my hands turned red. I laid down on the plastic coach while my mom filled in insurance papers. I shut my eyes, an attempt I made to keep the pain away. As I was waited, I heard a complaint from a Mexican man about insurance, a women pestering about her sick toddler to her husband, and a little girl who would not stop crying. Make the noise stop.
            Next thing you know I am once again checked up by a nurse then sent to another room where several doctors came to me. After another long wait I decision has been made.
            “Melanie my love,” my dad whispered into me ear. His voice cracked, “My love, everything will be all right. The doctors said you have the Steven Johnson Syndrome. You are going to the ICU now. It’s alright.” I did not complain and nodded my head as two nurses moved my stretcher down the noisy hallways.

            September 2, 2010: Day 3
            I am awakened by the voice of my uncle  also squeezing my hand. I attempted to open my eyes but they seemed sealed shut.
            “MmmTimmto Micmmmachmmel…” Why can’t I speak?  
            “Melanie, I’m here this is your Tito Mike. Don’t move, don’t talk, everything is going to be alright.”
            “Melanie, hi your Tita’s are all here.”
            I felt gentle pats on my body. Is that you? Is that really my family? I’m in pain! Comfort me, stay with me, down leave me! I wanted to scream out those words and open my eyes. I ripped my hand away from my uncle’s grasp and took my hands in attempt to open my eyes. Someone grabbed my hands. I ripped them away and touch my lips. They felt rough and dry.
            “Melanie don’t touch!”
            Why can’t I open my eyes? Why are my lips disfigured? I started to scream and tears dropped down my face. I wept with frustration and anxiety.
           
            September 4-6, 2010
            There were several days I went crazy. I had awakened from a nightmare and saw at least five nurses around me. I swore they were just my imagination. The seemed unreal and I hated them. I pounded on their chests and screamed they were fake. I ignored their words of comfort and refused to listen. I don’t know what happened after that. They were real.
            One night I dreamt of Christopher, one of my family friends who recently passed away. He was only twenty one. In my dream he smiled at me…
            I remember waking up from screaming. Eye doctors were placing at least three different types of eye drops into my eyes. I thought I was never going to see again.
I will not tell a lie. I lost faith in God. I resented him. It’s my time to die, I thought. I remember that time I wrote in my diary. Perhaps I’d be the second to die in my family. I will be forgotten once I leave. What was I thinking…?

            September 7, 2010: First day of School
            I could not believe I was missing the first day of school. The first day of sophomore year! It was the day to see old classmates and see who had changed dramatically over the summer. It was going to be my fresh new start. No one would realize I was gone any ways. Stop lying to yourself, I thought. I am stupid.

            Someday
            There were days I didn’t even keep track of. I slowly learned what had happened to me and I gained a huge bond with one of the nurses. I was receiving family visits every day, including lots of doctor visits. The first day I was allowed to eat food, actual solid food, I asked my aunt to buy me one small McDonalds fudge sundae. I reminisced the days I saved the hot chocolate fudge for last. The taste of the sundae was so tasty in my mind. When I took my first bite there was no breath-taking, delicious flavor. It was upsetting and I cried. I was always curious what my body and face looked like. My body was too difficult to describe. Another day I ordered food and used the silver spoon as a mirror. When I looked at my reflection… Disgust.
           
            September 14: Day 14
            My last day and my last night. I could not believe it. I imagined staying in the ICU for months.  I no longer depended on my IV and my monitors, everything was taken off. The news of finally coming back home gave bright smiles to my parents. I was going to leave this place.  Loneliness grew in my like a virus. Everyone was excited for me to come home, but it seemed like I was the only one not willing to leave. Nurses packed up my belongings. Janitors began early cleaning. Why wasn’t I excited to leave? I had a fake smile on all day and night…  
           
            September 15, 2010: Good-bye Children’s
                        Waiting to go home and leaving the hospital was hard for me. Not being able to step outside even once in the past 15 days, made me feel out of place. It was hot outside and I was ugly. I felt ugly and gross. I was especially weak. The feelings I had when I walked into my house, my house. It was unbelievable.
           
 GAP

            After eating dinner my family went out to play a game of volleyball outside our front yard in the side walk. The summer breeze felt great. I sat on the grass, using my front yard fence as a guard to not get hit by the ball. I sat the game out and watch since my arms were weak and still bruised from the IV. As my brother started the game, I squatted down and breathed in the warm air. The breeze caressed my scared face and brought shivers down my spine. I clutched the green grass and pulled up my long sleeves to glance at my scars.  “One in a million chance,” I thought. I laughed. What a stupid saying. A “One in a million chance” is something doctors tell you for comfort. I will never believe in that phrase again. For some reason, as I gazed upon my family something hit me. Smiling at their funny facial expressions and their attempts to hit the ball I realized I didn’t love my family. I treasure my family. They are the only people sacred to me. They are the only medicine I need. Despite all I went through, they give me confidence and happiness. Instead of taking this as a punishment, my condition brought us all back together and that’s all that matters.
Search the Steven Johnson Syndrome. Look at the images and think of me. My mind and body suffered. From August 31 to September 15 I felt tortured and betrayed, but it wasn’t until I realized my family was my strength. I realized this over a volley game.
            “Tears roll down my imperfect face when I look at myself, but knowing you will always be there… It’s all I need.”





Saturday, April 16, 2011

BAMBI ♪ TOKYO POLICE CLUB

         There are many ways to analyze a song or poem... Every interpretation is neither right nor wrong. The song I chose was Bambi by Tokyo Police Club. Great song... Great song... Just recently I fell in love with it.
I wanna tell you there's a really good reason
why I came home wasted in the middle of the
night
a tiny kingdom at the bottom of the
trees
where I was always a winner and I was usually right

oh, you can watch it when you get a bit older
but for now in the bad bits, I should cover your eyes
she painted pictures with the tips of her fingers
sewing buttons to
Bambi, tying strings to a kite

turning into
black and white
underneath the swinging lights
barely awake
but I still got my stripes
'cause you're the killer with the
colored kite

I wanna tell you there's a really good reason
why I came down easy, spinning threads to a throne
a tiny kingdom at the bottom of the
trees
where I was always a winner and I was barely alone

turning into
black and white
underneath the swinging lights
barely awake
but I still got my stripes
'cause you're the killer with the
colored kite

tangled up,
tongue tied
tell me what to do
tangled up,
tongue tied
tell me what to do

turning into
black and white
underneath the swinging lights
barely awake
but I still got my stripes
'cause you're the killer with the
colored kite
turning into black and white

     I must say you have to read the lyrics a few times in order to get a solid idea on what's going on. Because I've never been drunk before maybe adults have experience this feeling of free-ness and POWER. My first time actually reading through the lyrics, I thought the singer was really "wasted". I still do. I see two different emotions in these lyrics. If you were to listen to the song and read the lyrics at the same time, you'd feel excitement and tons of energy coming out of the speaker. If you were to read the lyrics on its own, then you'd think the speaker is very protective and secretive. The speaker says "you can watch it when you get a bit older but for now in the bad bits, I should cover your eyes". Perhaps I am unable to fully understand this song until I get older... The symbols he speaks of seem to be for eyes only. Ultimately, I see someone having the best time of his life but it won't last. 

Friday, April 1, 2011

On the res·er·va·tion

     Before reading this blog I have one thing to say.
Mr. McCarthy I highly suggest we have our first field trip to some sort of amazing reservation when the weather gets warmer. That would be great~ Let us take a journey like Thomas and Victor.
According to a online source, an American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. The purpose of reservations was to provide the natives homes and land for agriculture.  I must say having your own little land to yourself is quite nice. Unfortunately, many Natives Americans struggled through cruel conditions. Well, that is the way I see it. From watching Smoke Signals (which was a very entertaining movie, “HEY VICTOR”) which took place in Coeur d'Alene Reservation, my views on what a typical Indian reservation shifted a bit. The reservation was not too big which I imagined, there was absolutely no traffic which is a plus, and everyone seemed very conservative.
                To tell you the truth, I was not 100% sure what the point of the movie was besides the fact we are reading about discrimination towards Indians and how they are viewed upon, but I guess after watching this movie I had a good laugh and I had the chance to see another type of reservation. I guess I have to read other people’s blogs and learn more facts.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Propaganda



jon-gosselin_magazine_cover.jpg
What is propaganda? 
PROPAGANDA = BADDDDD 
PROPAGANDA = "must read information" 

Propaganda is the manipulation of public opinion. It is information, ideas or rumors deliberately spread through media that may harm a person, group, movement, or nation. Although it has a negative connotation, it is used as an attempt to shift opinions persuasively by presenting new ones. There are good and bad propagandists. All propagandists use varieties of techniques in order to express their issue or subject. But remember it is important for the reader to understand these methods and understand the purpose of the propaganda before being biased. Think twice before you click on that online article or People magazine.  
    There is no correct meaning for propaganda but it has been debated. In my opinion I believe propaganda is a bad thing. My mother warns me not to pay attention to such garbage, but I do find People magazines and E! news quite entertaining. I have not been exposed to "good" propaganda recently or ever so if anyone could tell me where I could find it that would be great. I guess you can say our school's Beacon is a good propaganda. I have discovered juicy rumors about CPS especially on Facebook.   
  http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/the_awful_truth/index.html <<<< check out that
tsk tsk. Bad stuff





Sunday, February 13, 2011

WOW IT'S A WHITE ONE!

    Black Boy has been one of the most interesting books we have read so far, but I must say Beat Street is an awesome movie. I was wondering what was the point of watching Beat Street since it is not so relevant to our reading, but now I have realize watching this movie gives us the determination to strive what we love and to give it your all. Beat Street takes place in the 1980’s where a couple of young men (boys) try to make their biggest dreams come true. Lee wants to be a famous break-dancer. Kenny wants to make it big with his DJ-ing skills at nightclubs and Ramon wants to express his love for graffiti.
     This movie was really inspiring for people who have the passion for art. All the characters stood out to me but Ramon stood out for me the most. When you want to become recognized, you need to make some changes and even take some risks. Ramon definitely took risks. His father was unhappy of what he was doing and his girlfriend wanted to be together with his child. Ramon looked for any opportunity to express his art. Every time he saw a clean wall or luckily a white train he used it as his canvas. He showed and expressed his graffiti in that way. He took graffiti as something he would do for the rest of his life. People looked at graffiti as vandalism but he took it for something of his own. I think we can learn from this movie.

Friday, February 4, 2011

HUNGRY FOR ATTENTION

     Richard Wright is a young boy hungry for attention.
1. Burning his house on fire
2. Killing a kitten
3. Getting drunk at the age of 6
4. Learning how to count

These are some of the actions Richard took in order to receive attention, either from his parents or from random people on the street. Of course Richard is not alone. I do not blame Richard for his actions. That is just what every child wants. Attention. Am I right? In most causes kids always want to impress their parents. For some reason Richard has this strong desire for attention. In most cases, his original intentions result in becoming out of hand. “Hunger stole upon me slowly that at first I was not aware of what hunger really meant… It had been a normal hunger that had made me beg constantly for bread, and when I ate a crust or two I was satisfied.” Although, Richard was referring to hunger relating to food, I took it as if he was explaining about his fetish for attention. Once you receive the attention you wanted you are satisfied. But in Richard’s case, anything he does is not enough. When you do not get the satisfaction you want, the hungry will control you. (That’s just in my opinion).
     Young Richard isn’t alone in his craving. Everyone always longs for some attention. When you are young, when you are a teenager and even when you are an adult. At school the one person in your class who tries to be funny and talks too much, is the person who is hungry for attention. Or that is just the way they are. A little boy who takes his father literally by killing a kitten is hungry for attention. Or he is just being a kid. OR he is out of his mind.   
I am hungry for attention.
Sometimes…

Thursday, January 20, 2011

(S.S.R.R part 2) On Being a Mexican American & How Being an Immigrant Shaped my Life

    After reading all the short stories, poems and articles from What is an American, I've come to the conclusion that "On Being a Mexican American" by Joe I. Mendoza and "How Being an Immigrant Shaped my Life" by Sonia Pressman Fuentes  were the best of my interest. Both articles seemed to grab my attention the most. Even though I am neither a Mexican American nor an immigrant the feelings they portrayed seem to sink into me.

     "On Being a Mexican American"

Joe Mendoza was a Mexican born in the U.S.A. As a young boy he was very proud of what and who he was. As he grew older, he experienced feelings of angry and confusion. He experienced his first time of segregation. Before long, his thoughts about who he was and how people react towards different cultures soon expanded. More things in his life were changing and he later became "anglocized" or "acculturated". The realization and feelings he felt was what a typical ______ (<< fill in some sort nationality) American would go through life. Right? Well, that’s what I think at least. While reading his life story there was many things he said that I happened to agree on. For example, his first sentence “It is important for Mexican Americans to accept the fact that they are a unique group at a crossroads.” True but it’s also for other cultures as well. For me Filipino American’s have a huge fact to accept their culture and especially their language, Tagalog. “But there was always a source to turn to for emotional first aid -- one's family and friends.” This is true for everyone. No one else but your family and friends can understand you the most and how you feel.
There were so many other things Mendoza said that I can absolutely agree on but I believe his voice speaks for everyone not just Mexicans.

Eventually, I became aware that I did not really fit in with this group. And yet, I could not dismiss a new feeling -- that of still needing to be a Mexican. When I returned to my school, I had a different outlook. Although I thought I had been safely "acculturated," I found I could not so easily forget my past.

Today there is a menu of terms from which we may select a label. Should we select Mexican American, Chicano, Latino, or Hispanic? It is interesting to note that recently arrived Mexicans are not confused, for they know who they are. I submit that it is the members of the second or third generation in the U.S. who have problems with having to choose -- or with having someone else choose for them.
     “How Being an Immigrant Shaped my Life"
     I am not an Immigrant but there is one thing I can agree on with this article. While reading Sonia Pressman Fuentes’s story, I noticed I kept nodding my head. Her attitude and voice came to me and I realized I could relate this to Filipinos (I tend to connect my culture with these type of stories). When she had to move from Germany to America she wondered how her life would be different if she never left Germany. When you become an immigrant especially at a young age, you come to think being an immigrant saved your life but it has stolen or striped you away from your childhood. I talk or hear a lot of the feelings my aunts, uncles, or cousins have to say when it comes to their home land and America. American is the land of opportunity and a better way of living. Right? In the end of this story it was the happy satisfaction Sonia realized that coming to America was a good change and that being an outsider is a valuable.  

Thursday, January 13, 2011

At the White House: President Johnson and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1966.
                  M: "Hey John...."
                  J: "Ya?" (...)
                  M: "Can't wait for that
                  three day weekend huh?"
                  J: "Totally."  

January 17th, 2011 is not the day we have Monday off but a day no one should ever forget. It is somewhat like a holiday, definitely a celebration, but a day for America to remember the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the first national holiday to honor an individual black American. This man helped change America. He screamed to the world and spoke out for justice for colored people, for an end to racial discrimination.
“Everyone knew that the sky is colored blue, that a spring lawn is green. But we have always argued about what to color man. King gave us the answer: Do not color him a yellow man. Do not color him a black man. Do not color him a white man. Color him or her human. It's time for a different hue.”
            Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. didn't just change the course of EVERY LIVING person in his generation but has changed those born the next generation then the next, next, next generation. He has dramatically made a difference changing the lives of everyone in the US. Thinking about King and the dramatic changes he created is just like thinking WHAT IF us humans never created google or the computer. He will still be relevant in 2011 till the end of the world. His legacy will never be forgotten.  
       .

Thursday, January 6, 2011

* S.S.R.R *

“Children of the Sea” was by far the best story I’ve read so far. After finishing the last journal, I felt though it was a too short for a short story. It would be 1000x better if it were a book. I could read the entries forever if there were more. All the suspense I got was crazy after each and every journal the man and the woman wrote. I literally put down the iPad (I was using it to read the story) and just shook my head. I was disappointed. Disappointed that it was over, not because the ended sucked cough* The Great Gatsby. The books I enjoy to read are books\short stories like “Children of the Sea”. The goal in any author is to catch the reader’s attention and this book definitely kept me going. The fact that these journal entries were never send to both the man and female we very fascinating for me. Through all the entries their love and pain they  expressed was so deep and powerful while I was reading.    
       “To be Young Gifted and Black”, “I Hear America Singing”, “There was a Child Went Forth” and “This Sacred Soil” were all decent. Out of them all I liked the second reading “To Be Young Gifted and Black”. I found it interesting to discover the similarities and differences I had with the narrator. Especially the feelings she had once something occurred in her lifetime. I liked how she always seemed curious and asked herself questions and stated her thoughts she didn’t really understand, like what we all tend to do. The other poems were okay as well. They didn’t really grab my attention so much but they were interesting. There was no suspense or deep emotions (or maybe it was just how I felt about it). I’m not into poems or making my own.
  KRICK? KRACK!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Music Review: Gipsy Kings

                              http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24sgr_gipsy-kings-volare_music
 CLICK THAT LINK AND LISTEN TO IT!
    I was so anticipated into sharing this song, I really hope you'd take the time to listen to it and ENJOY it~ I am personally not a music type of music. I don't prefer R&B over classic or rap over country but this. This is...... This is like MYYY song. My dad is a huge jazz fan and he loves a lot of instrumental music so when we were younger, my sister and I, he would play all sorts of music and the song I'd always love to dance to is Volare by Gipsy Kings along with Sade~ I can't even pronounce the song correctly but they are really amazing~ I barely play this song or listen to it every day but when my dad is out of songs to play (which is rare) I always suggest this song my "singing" the chorus. Hopefully this song will keep you moving. It's very uplifting. This song is just "in my blood". For a little more ummfhhhh listen to the remix version that I just searched up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXHdd8vyrFA) <<<Youtube~

Thursday, December 9, 2010

OH Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway


Compare and contrast? First impressions? Who do you like better? Is their friendship truly real or fake??? Hm...
So the main characters of the Great Gatsby Jay and Nick are quite fascinating to me. Slowly learning more and more about their characteristics especially Gatsby is very interesting, just like everyone else who wants to know who this wealthy guy is. In my opinion, I really like the character of Nick Carraway. He's seems very quiet, understanding, and I've noticed a lot of people tend to really open up to him and that's how us readers discover every person's secrets. On the other hand, from the very beginning I was quite curious about Gatsby. He is Nick's neighbor, he is known by everybody but few know who he truly is, he seems to love to show off (new money), and over all he holds a very mysterious character. We all know from reading that Jay and Nick's friendship is obviously fake. It really shows Gatsby effort into trying to get to Daisy (♥) through Nick. Since Nick is Daisy's cousin Gatsby could be a few steps closer into seeing Daisy. (I stand correctly)
Fakes + Users, what else will we discover?
                                               

Thursday, December 2, 2010

First Draft of Golden Snowflake competition


 


FYI: I am not good at writing poems so you do have a chance of winning the Golden Snowflake…. Here’s my first draft of my poem. Enjoy. (I couldn’t find a certain style to stick with so I need to edit that)

I stand there, gazing at my entire family.
The announcements from Santa Claus,
the screaming, the laughter, the smiles.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
How many gifts are we all going to receive?
Those greedy eyes, those devious fingers.
You want those envelopes don’t you? ($$$)
I stare at the sea of rainbow wrapping paper,
the stack of bows and jungle of ribbons.
You noticed the pile of presents
becoming SMALLER and SMALLER and SMALLER,
but the piles of trash becoming BIGGER and BIGGER and BIGGER.

An hour has passed and the last gift is finally called...
The bottom of the Christmas tree is bare.  
The tree no longer has any envelopes to share.
It’s time to categorize and clean up.
Now there’s no more craziness, everyone has subsided.
I should be cleaning but I just stop and stare.
The song you’ll never get sick of by Mariah Carrey playing in the background. (You know it)
A short glance at the video camera,
I try to look my best and smile.
The camera is gone,
It’s time to reflect.

Remembering the past Christmas’s,
Thinking about how much you’ve changed.
You have new memories and more memories to come.
The thought of Christmas being over
Is never any fun.
But the kisses and the hugs,
The tears and the laughter.
The tons of money you’ve spent but gained.
It is all worth it when you get to have another year.
  
Dear Santa,
I want a puppy, more Neopets, a giant teddy bear and I want a picture of Rudolf.

Dear Santa,
     Can I have money for a new laptop please?

Friday, November 26, 2010


As Mr. McCarthy said this is probably the most anticipated blog "of the quarter" or whatever... Everyone is going to be reading each others blogs to see if they got picked. We all know everyone will choose who they're friends with. 
Truthfully, I have to be honest. Because I missed the first two\three weeks of school I haven't met all my classmates in all my classes, but I am starting to know everyone in this unique 3rd period class. I'd say I'm thankful for my sister. Rose. My twin. I know I told Mr. McCarthy I wouldn't write about her but I can't be as much thankful for anyone else in the class because first of all, I don't live with them. Nah. But before I came to school she helped me a lot in getting prepared for his class. Considering all I went through, she was really (no actually) looking after me.
When I first went to class I was quite nervous. I was expecting Mr. McCarthy to throw out tons of essays and poems for me to catch up with, considering all the complaints I got from my sister... But he was actually 2 out of the 6 teachers that didn't give me a hard time. I'm thankful for that.
Although after being in his class for about 2 months or so (???) I'm very thankful to be in Mr. McCarthy's class and very thankful for the rest of the people in my class. Everyday I get a good laugh and no worries (but maybe about this HSG book...)
Thanks~
Wait... After thinking about it I really like my 3rd period class. They make everyone laugh and make my mood not so sucky. I'm thankful for a lot of the people surrounded by me, since they have other classes with me. Thanks for saving my life 50x.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

I am (definitely) a plow

A plow is either a noun or a verb.
·         (n) plow, plough (a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing)
·         (v) plow, plough, turn (to break and turn over earth especially with a plow) "Farmer Jones plowed his east field last week”

Why haven’t I used this to describe myself? Ever? I’m just realizing this is so me. THIS WORD is so everybody!!!! Every day of our lives we work work work! After working so much our result is either negative or positive. When I go to school I smash through all the hardcore classes and then I make my teacher pleased or un-pleased. When we “plows” are over worked we break down and get broken. Sometimes we get fixed and repaired like we normally should, but others just… Don’t get fixed at all. Why I’m I acting so serious? I don’t know. I believe everyone who responds to this blog will refer this plow as a symbolism of working in school and life….
Don’t you also notice plows are made every year? (Duh for farmers… What a lame way to start a new paragraph) But they aren’t necessarily made the same why. We are always built and made to achieve high expectations and we are constantly used. We need someone to create us and “teach” us how to work. We plow through different types of fields and obstacles. There usually a piece of cake but some are hard to restore...  

Friday, November 12, 2010

Whacha think about American Lit?

    You ask how’s American Lit for ya? I actually like this class. I really enjoyed Survey Lit during freshmen year and this year I think I’m going to enjoy this class. It’s ironic how both my teachers are coaches on a sport team at Whitney Young (baseball~ and soccer~).
    First of all, the first day of American Lit for me was very calm. I didn’t expect it to be so…. Not hard? Because I wasn’t in school for 3 weeks I was just watching my sister doing Mr. McCarthy’s homework and I was like, wow seems difficult. But thank goodness I came at the right time. I came right when we started the Crucible. That’s one thing I like about the class. Reading very interesting books (maybe not the HTSG). I normally don’t have time to read my own books so reading in class helps my "Reading Skills". (I really enjoyed watching the Crucible movie which helped me and some of us understand more of the story line). I also really like these blogs. Not only do I get to create my own blogs I get to read other peoples thoughts and opinions as well. Although I don't have the best writing skills, this is good practice.
     Secondly, I like my class as a whole. I like the people in it and I also enjoy having Mr. McCarthy as a teacher.
     "Mr. McCarthy!!?"
     "I am."
I feel like my American Lit class has a different atmosphere than any of my other classes. Everyone is really expressive and chilled back. I never really see anyone sleeping in his class either. I can't say this class is perfect but I do have a problem with note taking and then the tests. I've taken one test but it was quite hard. I just hope the way we are note taking and answering questions, is good enough for us when we take those exams or tests.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

My SLA-VERY opinion

My opinion on slavery? You know I always had to study about slavery in Social Studies or World History and I'm actually reading about it now... But my opinion on slavery? I never really had to answer to what I believed was good or bad about it (or my opinion). Of course everyone should say slavery is wrong right? Isn't it cruel that actual human beings are being treated like property where you can be BOUGHT or SOLD and not allowed to run away or escape. Aren't you born to be free? Not under control of a person of higher status or level? All people should believe slavery is wrong, I agree. Of course slavery was good for some slaves depending if your slave owners were kind enough to treat you well and give you an education but still... Even though slavery existed hundreds of years ago, it still existed today. Thankfully it's not as horrifying than before. Slavery still goes on in many countries like Asia and Africa but often consists of women or children sold into slavery as domestic servants or for prostitution.
My last thing to say is I really hate any sort of cruelty especially when someone or something is being treated like an animal or dust. 

        I guess that's it.


Friday, October 29, 2010

To combine would be divine~

As we were told to, I researched about 20+++++ minutes on Salem, the Puritans, and the actual House of the Seven Gables and Nathaniel Hawthrone. So this here is what I have sucked in:
     The first thing you get when you type "Facts about Salem" on Google is facts about Salem Witch-Craft. You basically find witch-craft on every single website you click on. Salem, Massachusetts was where alllll the quote on quote witches were hiding. Salem was best known for it's many witch trials. The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before local magistrates followed by county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft. Salem also has historic sites such as the House of the Seven Gables, also known as the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion. the house is an actual house built in 1668 that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write his book The House of the Seven Gables. How ironic?! Salem was an important port in the trade with East India, and shipping merchants built lavish mansions in town. You may ask: "What is a Puritan?" Well, Puritans were a significant grouping of English-speaking Protestants in the 16th and 17th-century who were also big believers during the witch craft trials. They performed many exorisms during that time.
Hope you learned a lot!

FINI