hopefully someone can give me some feed back!
Fact: in some areas of the Pacific Ocean there is more plastic than there is plankton, tiny animals and plants that are a vital key in marine ecosystems and food chains. In recent years the oceans have suffered more and more from human activities. Some of the foreign things polluting the waters are sewage, marine debris, heavy metals, and oil. Seventy percent of all the oceans’ pollution comes from land based sources . In other words humans are ruining the thing that gave us life the time to change that is now. The sea is being used as a wastebasket for different types of human pollutants and though the affect has been devastating for our oceans, there are plenty of ways to stop the damage.
Sewage is a very harmful component in ocean pollution. Everyone flushes the toilet everyday and what is being flushed is called sewage, sewage is an organic material and biodegradable that is why animal waste is used as a fertilizer. But human waste often contains toxic chemicals, heavy metals, harmful bacteria, and viruses. Sewage enters the ocean either intentionally or unintentionally, it can go through pipes into rivers or directly into the ocean or if the capacity of a system is exceeded then it gets washed into the ocean untreated (also known as raw). Sewage is harmful for two main reasons; the first is that when it enters the ocean little organisms feed on it and it depletes the oxygen supply in the water of that area, off setting the delicate balance of that specific eco system, the other way it pollutes is that the nutrient rich waste may cause a bloom of phytoplankton causing them to clog the gills of fish and to kill the other plants in the area. There is no way to clean up sewage once it enters the ocean the damage is done but a some places are actually drying the sludge and burning it to create electricity, this shows promising ways of disposal and alternative energy sources for the future.
Marine debris is one of the most serious and pressing forms of pollution. Marine debris can be a number of things including undetonated bombs, abandoned off shore oil rigs, out dated rocket engines, drums of toxic chemicals and radioactive waste, sunken ships, automobiles, beverage cans and bottles, pieces of wood, and almost any other item imaginable; but it mainly breaks up into metal, glass, and plastic. The debris enters the ocean in a number of ways: intentional dumping from ships, accidental dumping from ships and garbage barges on their ways to offshore landfills, as part of sewage, by being swept in be the wind or storms, from polluted rivers or streams, and in runoff from beaches littered with trash. Not all marine debris is harmful some is actually helpful, for example ships have been sunken to form “artificial reefs” where the marine life has adapted and made it their home; but plastic debris however, often floats, making it dangerous to marine birds and mammals who either eat it or become entangled in it, the plastic resin pellets look like fish eggs and are also eaten by the marine creatures. When the animals ingest the plastic if they do not choke right away then it becomes caught in the intestine causing malnutrition. The plastic can also cause buoyancy that makes it impossible for the animals to escape from predators. Thousands of people from all over the world participate in beach clean ups every year but this is not enough the only way to stop this tragedy from further devastating our oceans is by stopping it at the source, properly disposing of plastics, and the further advancements on photodegradable plastics which are plastics that biodegrade when exposure to sunlight is prolonged. Not only does this sound promising for healthier oceans but as a way to help the planet overall.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
topic description
for my blog post this week im going to use the rough draft of my topic description for my reasearch paper. I think it will help me if I do the rough drafts here and then turn in a final edited draft to see if mr. sutherland or anyone else for that matter will help me proof read, because i honestly have no idea what to do and a fresh sewt of eyes would really be helpful.
My topic is the destruction of marine habitats and ecosystems. I picked this topic because it is something I have always been passionate about ever since I was a little girl the ocean has always fascinated me, I always saw it as clean and untouchable but as I got older I stared to realize that things were changing on the news I heard about oil spills and the beaches I went to were closed and absolutely covered in garbage. What was once a dear childhood memory is now something I cannot recognize.
What I have learned so far is that there are so many different types of pollution and they include but are not limited to sewage, marine debris, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, oil, and radioactive materials. In the case of sewage it pollutes by being dumped into the sea with other harmful things and when it decomposes the bacteria that eat it use up oxygen that would otherwise have been used by fish and plant life. The types of marine debris are undetonated bombs, abandoned off shore oil rigs, out dated rocket engines, drums of toxic chemicals and radio active waste, sunken ships, automobiles, cans, bottles, pieces of wood, plastic materials, and plenty of other items. There are two types of plastic debris in the ocean manufactured and raw. Raw plastic comes in resin pellets that can be melted down and made into a number of materials. They are transported in bulk. Because they are very lightweight, they are easily blown away by wind. As many as 34,000 pellets per square kilometer can be found in some areas of the Pacific Ocean. When toxic chemicals are dumped into the ocean they are absorbed by plankton and usually the plankton die but if they do survive and are eaten the fish becomes contaminated and mutated and possibly infertile. The toxic heavy metals that have been found in the ocean are lead, mercury, cadmium, and copper. If an area is infected with heavy metals the marine life in that area can all be compromised. What we call oil pollution is actually petroleum. Since oil is lighter than water it initially floats to the surface and absorbs sunlight, smothering plankton, then it coats seabirds and other marine life but the oil breaks down the protective shield that the birds developed to make themselves water proof causing them to sink and drown and when ingested by the birds it causes intestinal problems and liver failure. When radioactive materials enter the ocean they generally affect larger animals more and can cause somatic effects (direct) and genetic effects.
What I would like to focus on is the different types of pollution in each ocean putting a larger emphasis on oil spills and marine debris. I would also like to include the effects that humans directly have on marine animals including but not limited to the effects that ambient noise has on whales, shark fining, and whaling.
My topic is the destruction of marine habitats and ecosystems. I picked this topic because it is something I have always been passionate about ever since I was a little girl the ocean has always fascinated me, I always saw it as clean and untouchable but as I got older I stared to realize that things were changing on the news I heard about oil spills and the beaches I went to were closed and absolutely covered in garbage. What was once a dear childhood memory is now something I cannot recognize.
What I have learned so far is that there are so many different types of pollution and they include but are not limited to sewage, marine debris, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, oil, and radioactive materials. In the case of sewage it pollutes by being dumped into the sea with other harmful things and when it decomposes the bacteria that eat it use up oxygen that would otherwise have been used by fish and plant life. The types of marine debris are undetonated bombs, abandoned off shore oil rigs, out dated rocket engines, drums of toxic chemicals and radio active waste, sunken ships, automobiles, cans, bottles, pieces of wood, plastic materials, and plenty of other items. There are two types of plastic debris in the ocean manufactured and raw. Raw plastic comes in resin pellets that can be melted down and made into a number of materials. They are transported in bulk. Because they are very lightweight, they are easily blown away by wind. As many as 34,000 pellets per square kilometer can be found in some areas of the Pacific Ocean. When toxic chemicals are dumped into the ocean they are absorbed by plankton and usually the plankton die but if they do survive and are eaten the fish becomes contaminated and mutated and possibly infertile. The toxic heavy metals that have been found in the ocean are lead, mercury, cadmium, and copper. If an area is infected with heavy metals the marine life in that area can all be compromised. What we call oil pollution is actually petroleum. Since oil is lighter than water it initially floats to the surface and absorbs sunlight, smothering plankton, then it coats seabirds and other marine life but the oil breaks down the protective shield that the birds developed to make themselves water proof causing them to sink and drown and when ingested by the birds it causes intestinal problems and liver failure. When radioactive materials enter the ocean they generally affect larger animals more and can cause somatic effects (direct) and genetic effects.
What I would like to focus on is the different types of pollution in each ocean putting a larger emphasis on oil spills and marine debris. I would also like to include the effects that humans directly have on marine animals including but not limited to the effects that ambient noise has on whales, shark fining, and whaling.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
lit circle letter #1: cannery row
for the first part of my lit circle letter i will just talk about what the book is like and what i think of it so far, for the second part i think i will do some character analysis.
well so far I'm not finding the book very interesting because i fail to see any type of plot beginning to form, another reason i think I'm finding it hard to read is that the characters are not likable i really do not care what happens to them, also the dialogue is hard to follow because of all the old time slang things. i think this is less of a book and more like a series of vignettes like the house on mango street. i think this because there really seems to be no plot or central conflict and because the characters don't seem to be very well connected they just all live in the same area. all the same i have started reading it and that mean i have to finish. its sort of funny they time Mr. Sutherland says make sure you pic an interesting book is the one time i don't.
for my character analysis i will start with Mack.
Now to me what this excerpt shows is that Mack is uneducated when he thinks celebrate and celibate are the same thing and usually when someone is celibate it means they choose not to have sex not that they cant. but i think this also shows that mack is caring and sticks up for the people how are good to him even if the people who are doing the attacking are his friends. this also shows that Mack and his crew do not really respect women but in this book and time setting i suppose no one really does.
i think this shows that Mack obviously thinks highly of doc and that he would probly think highly of anyone who would give him mone and that shiws he is brock and has probly asked doc for many quarters. this also shows that Mack likes to repay people for kindness- that he takes care of things, his friends for one and most likely his enemys.
well so far I'm not finding the book very interesting because i fail to see any type of plot beginning to form, another reason i think I'm finding it hard to read is that the characters are not likable i really do not care what happens to them, also the dialogue is hard to follow because of all the old time slang things. i think this is less of a book and more like a series of vignettes like the house on mango street. i think this because there really seems to be no plot or central conflict and because the characters don't seem to be very well connected they just all live in the same area. all the same i have started reading it and that mean i have to finish. its sort of funny they time Mr. Sutherland says make sure you pic an interesting book is the one time i don't.
for my character analysis i will start with Mack.
"Mack said reprovingly to Hughie, "Just because he doesn't run no dame naked through the streets in the daytime, you think docs celebrate."
" whats celebrate?" Eddie asked.
"that's when you cant get no dame," said Mack.
Now to me what this excerpt shows is that Mack is uneducated when he thinks celebrate and celibate are the same thing and usually when someone is celibate it means they choose not to have sex not that they cant. but i think this also shows that mack is caring and sticks up for the people how are good to him even if the people who are doing the attacking are his friends. this also shows that Mack and his crew do not really respect women but in this book and time setting i suppose no one really does.
"that Doc is a hell of a nice fella" Mack said "he'll give you a quarter anytime. when i cut myself he put a new bandage on every day. A hell of a nice fella."... "i Have been wondering for a long time" he said "what could we do for him- something nice. Something he'd like."
i think this shows that Mack obviously thinks highly of doc and that he would probly think highly of anyone who would give him mone and that shiws he is brock and has probly asked doc for many quarters. this also shows that Mack likes to repay people for kindness- that he takes care of things, his friends for one and most likely his enemys.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
autobiography: part one
My name is Stephanie Elizabeth Harlyn Keel-Moore and this is my song.
I was born August 6th 1994, in Walnut Creek, California, at Kaiser Hospital. My mom carried home a 5 pound 7ounce 14 inch long baby to Concord, California where we lived for about a year. While we lived there we had a pet iguana she was 4 and a half feet long we also had an over protective cat who would sleep in my crib with me.
When I was 8 months old I got up to walk and never sat down and when I was 12 months old I started to talk and never shut up. Ever since then I’ve been the kind of girl who speaks her mind without thinking of who’s listening and the kind of girl who climbs a tree without wondering how she will get down.
My mom and I moved back to alameda when I was two to be with me dad and Brother Devin. Two is also the age I started gymnastics and ballet so guess you could say that is also the age I learned what it’s like to have a passion for something. Another thing that happened when I was two I, two words potty trained.
When I was three is when I first started pre-school I still remember my first day I went in happy and excited but when my mom started to leave I was bawling. But after snack time I started to feel right at home and that’s when I made my first best friend Arianna.
The summer of 1998 was the summer where I learned to swim and do cartwheels which are now in my opinion are my most used summer skills.
Also during the year I got my first pet that a could call my own (even though mom mostly took care of him) and he was none other than a 12 cent feeder fish from pet which I named Fido.
Five years of age I traded nap time for uniforms and started kindergarten at peter pan academy a private school on bay farm. And then I discovered not only to find that it’s hard to sit still but even harder to do it without falling asleep. The news on Fido: he’s still alive and has doubled in size. he has also made the first killing meaning I thought he would like a friend to keep him company little did I know he only wanted a friend to eat.
Grade school a horrific time for any child but not only was I faced with the traumas of first grade that year my dad also tried to teach me how to ride a bike (and failed) that was also the year where my mom, Devin, and I drove to 42 American states and Canada in search of the world’s largest ball of string as my mom calls it “it was our search for string and everything in between”
Fido update: still alive and now triple his original size and weight. He has killed again to but for the last time that was when I finally came to terms that Fido did not want a friend.
I was born August 6th 1994, in Walnut Creek, California, at Kaiser Hospital. My mom carried home a 5 pound 7ounce 14 inch long baby to Concord, California where we lived for about a year. While we lived there we had a pet iguana she was 4 and a half feet long we also had an over protective cat who would sleep in my crib with me.
When I was 8 months old I got up to walk and never sat down and when I was 12 months old I started to talk and never shut up. Ever since then I’ve been the kind of girl who speaks her mind without thinking of who’s listening and the kind of girl who climbs a tree without wondering how she will get down.
My mom and I moved back to alameda when I was two to be with me dad and Brother Devin. Two is also the age I started gymnastics and ballet so guess you could say that is also the age I learned what it’s like to have a passion for something. Another thing that happened when I was two I, two words potty trained.
When I was three is when I first started pre-school I still remember my first day I went in happy and excited but when my mom started to leave I was bawling. But after snack time I started to feel right at home and that’s when I made my first best friend Arianna.
The summer of 1998 was the summer where I learned to swim and do cartwheels which are now in my opinion are my most used summer skills.
Also during the year I got my first pet that a could call my own (even though mom mostly took care of him) and he was none other than a 12 cent feeder fish from pet which I named Fido.
Five years of age I traded nap time for uniforms and started kindergarten at peter pan academy a private school on bay farm. And then I discovered not only to find that it’s hard to sit still but even harder to do it without falling asleep. The news on Fido: he’s still alive and has doubled in size. he has also made the first killing meaning I thought he would like a friend to keep him company little did I know he only wanted a friend to eat.
Grade school a horrific time for any child but not only was I faced with the traumas of first grade that year my dad also tried to teach me how to ride a bike (and failed) that was also the year where my mom, Devin, and I drove to 42 American states and Canada in search of the world’s largest ball of string as my mom calls it “it was our search for string and everything in between”
Fido update: still alive and now triple his original size and weight. He has killed again to but for the last time that was when I finally came to terms that Fido did not want a friend.
Friday, April 23, 2010
monthly reveiw: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
For the first part of my review I will be doing a character analysis of all the main characters in the book. The second will be a question for discussion from the back of the book. The second question has to do with a woman's worth and power weather they were really as worthless as the men in ancient china said.
For my character analysis i will start with the main character Lily. Lily: Lily is the main character and her best and worst quality is her need for love, first, her need for love from her mother which she tried to attain through going through the foot binding process quietly unlike the third sister who screamed and ran. but this did not earn her mothers love so then she decided she would be very quiet and obedient so she could marry into a good family but even that did not make her mother love her, she tries to convince herself that she is just showing "mother love" like the nu shu character for mother love is pain then love but later in the book we find that she was not showing mother love at all but was really jealous of her daughters perfectly arched feet and therefore ability to marry into a good family. but as Lily tries to gain her mothers love it only brings her sadness and pain, then her need for love from Snow Flower which results lily wasting the last eight years she could have had with her laotong on petty jealousy and fear of rejection.
Next is snow flower. Snow Flower: Snow flower is a girl from Tongkou who was originally from a very high social standing but when the emperors changed her family fell out of favor her father took to opium and her high standing was over but her aunt in hopes of making her a more favorable bride searched for a laotong for her. Snow Flowers dominant characteristic is that she is constantly trying to please her loved ones first her family by being out standing in her study of nushu a secret women’s language and embroidery and by learning to behave like the ideal chinese woman but even that cannot save her from being married into a butchers home, then by trying to please Lily by listening to her and following her advise on making her husband happy even if it means breaking a taboo. but when she feels to much pressure from lily to be the perfect wife she sends Lily a message seemingly ending their friendship and that shows a lot about her character in that she would rather leave her laotong than further disappoint her.
Next is Madam Wang: Madame Wang, the matchmaker, is a foot-bound woman and yet she does business with men, this makes her different than the other women in the story because some might view her as a woman of status and superiority but others might view her as Lily's father had and call her a necessary evil. he is also snow flowers aunt and we know that she dearly loves snow flower because of all the things she does to get her into a better marriage. Including risking business opportunities by recommending a girl from a broken household but in the end her efforts seem to be in vain since she ends up marrying a butcher and in their country which is mostly Buddhist this is considered the most unclean profession.
the final character is actually my favorite character Beautiful Moon: Lily’s cousin is Beautiful moon. Her fate was directly tied to Lily’s they were both going to move to Tongkou and marry in to the Lee family which is the highest ranking family in the region but on one hot summer day while the girls are embroidering their dowry's outside beautiful moon is stung by a bee and dies. but before this she was a charming girl and someone who was very charismatic it was as if a light followed her around and when she died it weighed heavily on everyone especially aunt who only had one child.
The next question is a question for discussion from the book. "In the story, we are told again and again that women are weak and worthless. But were they really? In what ways did Lily and Snow Flower show their strength and value?"
I'm sure i would not be alone in saying no women are and were not weak and worthless both in modern western civilization and ancient china. snow flower and Lily proved their strength and value in numerous ways the first being that they bore children and not only children they had multiple sons and in that time a woman was considered worthless until she had a son now this is just one way that lily and snow flower individually proved their worth in ancient chinese society. A way they both showed strength is through the fact that they both had bound feet and that showed amazing strength to have all of your toes broken and circulation to you feet stopped while the growth of you feet are being retarded. but the thing that shows they have even more strength that imaginable is that they survived the Taiping rebellion in the mountains for months on bound feet walking across small ledges and with limited food in the snow. but in my opinion the thing that shows they have strength and value most is that they found was to endure the constant oppression of the men in their lives and they did it through creative and inspiring ways like the simple and elegant creation of nu shu women's secret writing so they could express the sorrows of losing a child and the joys of motherhood to one and other and another amazing creation of coping is the creation of lao tongs (old sames) and sworn sisterhoods, a lao tong is your perfect match with birthday number of siblings and other factors and you stay with your lao tong for life she is your one and only best friend that you may share everything with but a sworn sisterhood is a group of girl friends who you she things with only until marriage and in death when they come to see you to the after life. but it is these bonds that make me think it is impossible for women to be worthless if you can ban together for such an intimate relationship.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
lit circle letter #3: snow flower and the secret fan
Lily: Lily is the main character and her best and worst quality is her need for love, first, her need for love from her mother which only brings her sadness and pain, then her need for love from Snow Flower which results lily wasting the last eight years she could have had with her laotong on petty jealousy and fear of rejection.
Snow Flower: Snow flower is a girl from Tongkou who was originally from a very high social standing but when the emperors changed her family fell out of favor her father took to opium and her high standing was over but her aunt in hopes of making her a more favorable bride searched for a laotong for her. One of Snow Flowers characteristics is that she is constantly trying to please her loved ones first her family by being out standing in her study of nushu a secret women’s language and embroidery, then Lily by listening and following her advise on making her husband happy even if it means breaking a taboo.
Madam Wang: she is the match maker and also snow flowers aunt and we know that she dearly loves snow flower because of all the things she does to get her into a better marriage. Including risking business opportunities by recommending a girl from a broken household but in the end her efforts seem to be in vain since she ends up marrying a butcher and in their country which is mostly Buddhist this is considered the most unclean profession.
Beautiful Moon: Lily’s cousin is Beautiful moon. Her fate was directly tied to Lily’s they were both going to move to Tongkou and marry in to the Lee family which is the highest ranking family in the region but on one hot summer day while the girls are embroidering outside beautiful moon is stung by a bee and dies.
Snow Flower: Snow flower is a girl from Tongkou who was originally from a very high social standing but when the emperors changed her family fell out of favor her father took to opium and her high standing was over but her aunt in hopes of making her a more favorable bride searched for a laotong for her. One of Snow Flowers characteristics is that she is constantly trying to please her loved ones first her family by being out standing in her study of nushu a secret women’s language and embroidery, then Lily by listening and following her advise on making her husband happy even if it means breaking a taboo.
Madam Wang: she is the match maker and also snow flowers aunt and we know that she dearly loves snow flower because of all the things she does to get her into a better marriage. Including risking business opportunities by recommending a girl from a broken household but in the end her efforts seem to be in vain since she ends up marrying a butcher and in their country which is mostly Buddhist this is considered the most unclean profession.
Beautiful Moon: Lily’s cousin is Beautiful moon. Her fate was directly tied to Lily’s they were both going to move to Tongkou and marry in to the Lee family which is the highest ranking family in the region but on one hot summer day while the girls are embroidering outside beautiful moon is stung by a bee and dies.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
lit circle letter 1-2
the story starts with Lily as an old woman reminiscing on her past. It then jumps to seven year old Lily in her “milk years” it is then the diviner who over saw the binding of young girls feet called the match maker to look at them because she had high arches which meant that she could have “perfect golden lily’s” it was then madam Wang determined that Lilly was an eligible match for a laotong relationship with Snow Flower. Lily’s foot binding began and her third sister died from infection on the same day her grandmother also died from old age. Soon a fan came for Lilly from Snow Flower and on this fan they would record all significant events for the rest of their lives. Snow flower and Lilly met for the first time when they went to the temple of gupo to pray for sons. After this snow flower stayed with Lily’s family on and off Lilly’s family wondered why Lilly never went to snow flowers and the match maker said that it was because they were of a much lower social standing but soon word traveled of Snow Flowers families misfortune and lily’s mother and father found out but decided not to tell Lilly as to not spoil her views of her new friend. Much time passed and the girls went into their “hair pinning days” they are fifteen including beautiful moon. It was the catching cool breezes festival when all the women returned to their natal homes while the men went to work in the fields Lilly’s father and uncle told the girls that they could go outside and finish their dowry’s when Beautiful Moon is stung by a bee and dies. The time had come for Lilly’s wedding ceremony’s but when Lilly is about to leave snow flower gives her an envelope with a letter saying that she was sorry for not telling her about her family’s situation and that she hopes that Lilly will still want to be laotong. After Lilly returns to her natal family her and her mother get into a large argument resulting in her and her mother barely saying another word to each other for the rest of her mother’s life which is cut short due to an outbreak of typhoid. Lilly and Snow Flower both become pregnant with their first sons and move into their husband’s houses fulltime. Lilly has another son and a daughter, Snow Flower has a daughter at the same time as Lilly but after that she has multiple miscarriages but finally she bears another healthy son and he soon becomes his father’s favorite child. Then Lilly’s husband goes on the road to make his way in the salt business. Soon after came an outbreak of typhoid many people died including Lilly’s mother in law lady Lu and the headman making Lilly and her husband the highest ranking people of the highest ranking house in Tongkou. Lilly’s husband returns home successful in the salt business. Lilly soon goes to visit Snow Flower but while there the taiping rebellion broke into their region so Lilly with Snow Flowers family flee to the mountains with the rest of Jintian. While in the mountains Snow Flower becomes increasingly depressed and soon her second son dies. Her husband is engulfed in grief and begins to beat Snow Flower. Lilly does not know what to say to her so she keeps quiet.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
christmas scene
I remembered this scene I did in drama class last year and I don't know why but its like a song stuck in my head and with it in there I cant think of anything else to write soooo here it goes.
Father: go to bed stephanie! He is going to come tonight don’t worry.
Stephanie: ok fine.
Mother : come on honey we better get to bed too. (after they leave stephanie sneaks down and sets up camp on the couch teddy bear in hand. she is soon awoken by a noise coming from the chimney. Out comes “santa”)
Stephanie: hello?
Santa: oh crap.
Stephanie: santa?
Santa: uhh yeah that’s me.
Stephanie: are you sure?
Santa: yes I’m sure now go back to bed little girl
Stephanie: what did I get for Christmas!
Santa: you’re going to get nothing if you don’t keep your voice down!
Stephanie: santa why are you Asian?
Santa: huh? Because I am, now go to bed
Stephanie: oh.
Santa: why don’t you go make yourself useful and get me some cookies and milk.
Stephanie: ok but there on the top shelf so I’m not sure if can reach bull ill try. (She heads to the kitchen while santa gets his sack. They exit and focus goes to parents up stairs in bed.)
Mother: joe wake up! Wake up (shakes him) joe!
Father: (eyes still closed in a groggy voice) ahh what.
Mother: did you hear that?
Father : I didn’t hear any thing go back to sleep
Mother: I heard something!
Father: did you forget to take your medication?
Mother: no! I heard something I know it. Just go see what it is (there is a clash heard from off stage)
Father: Ok stays here ill get the bat.
Mother: I’m coming with you. And ill take the bat; be a man.
Father: all right come on dear. (They head down the stairs where santa appears to be inspecting the TV. Stephanie walks out of the kitchen with cookies)
Stephanie: were out of milk sorry
Santa: out of milk! What kind of house is this no milk. (Grumbles to himself. Mother and father reach the bottom of the stairs)
Mother: he has my baby!
Father : and my TV! DIE! (Father charges santa. They fight. Ultimately father pins santa to the ground with hat over Santa’s face.)
Mother: ill go call the police! (Exits to the kitchen)
Stephanie: why are you hurting santa! (she hits her father with teddy bear)
Father: this is a bad man hunny, there’s no such thing as santa. (Realizing what he’s said) oh crap.
Stephanie: (starting to tear up) there’s no such thing as santa!? (starts sobbing)
Mother: (returning) there on their way. Why is my daughter crying?
Father: uhh… this no good thug told her santa was a fake! (to santa) isn’t it enough you ruined our Christmas now you steal my daughters innocence!
Mother: oh how could you! (she picks up the bat and starts at santa when the police burst through the door)
Police: you have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law…(they put handcuffs on him and drag him out of the house) well need you to come with us to the station to answer some questions.
They get their jackets and head out the door. They are now at the station. Santa is in a small room with only a chair and a table being interrogated by an officer who also plays father. Mother and daughter are off stage.
Policeman rambles on about what he’s missing because of this “burglar” with out letting him explain himself for a while. Soon the “santa” gets the chance to speak. He explains that he a family friend and was trying to do something nice for the family then the mother comes in and verifies this and assures them they are not pressing charges.
Father: go to bed stephanie! He is going to come tonight don’t worry.
Stephanie: ok fine.
Mother : come on honey we better get to bed too. (after they leave stephanie sneaks down and sets up camp on the couch teddy bear in hand. she is soon awoken by a noise coming from the chimney. Out comes “santa”)
Stephanie: hello?
Santa: oh crap.
Stephanie: santa?
Santa: uhh yeah that’s me.
Stephanie: are you sure?
Santa: yes I’m sure now go back to bed little girl
Stephanie: what did I get for Christmas!
Santa: you’re going to get nothing if you don’t keep your voice down!
Stephanie: santa why are you Asian?
Santa: huh? Because I am, now go to bed
Stephanie: oh.
Santa: why don’t you go make yourself useful and get me some cookies and milk.
Stephanie: ok but there on the top shelf so I’m not sure if can reach bull ill try. (She heads to the kitchen while santa gets his sack. They exit and focus goes to parents up stairs in bed.)
Mother: joe wake up! Wake up (shakes him) joe!
Father: (eyes still closed in a groggy voice) ahh what.
Mother: did you hear that?
Father : I didn’t hear any thing go back to sleep
Mother: I heard something!
Father: did you forget to take your medication?
Mother: no! I heard something I know it. Just go see what it is (there is a clash heard from off stage)
Father: Ok stays here ill get the bat.
Mother: I’m coming with you. And ill take the bat; be a man.
Father: all right come on dear. (They head down the stairs where santa appears to be inspecting the TV. Stephanie walks out of the kitchen with cookies)
Stephanie: were out of milk sorry
Santa: out of milk! What kind of house is this no milk. (Grumbles to himself. Mother and father reach the bottom of the stairs)
Mother: he has my baby!
Father : and my TV! DIE! (Father charges santa. They fight. Ultimately father pins santa to the ground with hat over Santa’s face.)
Mother: ill go call the police! (Exits to the kitchen)
Stephanie: why are you hurting santa! (she hits her father with teddy bear)
Father: this is a bad man hunny, there’s no such thing as santa. (Realizing what he’s said) oh crap.
Stephanie: (starting to tear up) there’s no such thing as santa!? (starts sobbing)
Mother: (returning) there on their way. Why is my daughter crying?
Father: uhh… this no good thug told her santa was a fake! (to santa) isn’t it enough you ruined our Christmas now you steal my daughters innocence!
Mother: oh how could you! (she picks up the bat and starts at santa when the police burst through the door)
Police: you have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law…(they put handcuffs on him and drag him out of the house) well need you to come with us to the station to answer some questions.
They get their jackets and head out the door. They are now at the station. Santa is in a small room with only a chair and a table being interrogated by an officer who also plays father. Mother and daughter are off stage.
Policeman rambles on about what he’s missing because of this “burglar” with out letting him explain himself for a while. Soon the “santa” gets the chance to speak. He explains that he a family friend and was trying to do something nice for the family then the mother comes in and verifies this and assures them they are not pressing charges.
lit circle letter#1
May built a wailing wall to help her come to terms with the pain she felt. Even though we don’t have Mays condition, do we also need rituals, like wailing walls to help us deal with our grief and suffering? Well I think that really all depends on the person and their capacity for hurt and by that I mean how much they can take. I think of people having a cup inside of them that is meant just for pain some people have a large glass others have a smaller one in Mays case I don’t think she even had a glass and sometimes when you other cups are really full some of it might spill into the sad glass making it easier to overflow and when it over flows that’s when you go into a sobbing fit. But like I was saying I think if you have a large glass then you might not need rituals like that but if you have a small one like may you may need a wailing wall too but for me I do have rituals now there not as extreme as Mays but I still do. What I do is I have this pillow and I have had it for a long time, it’s one of those squishy pillows that everybody had that you could put on your head and look like a mushroom and the also broke really easily any ways whenever I cry really hard I go up to my room, sit on my bed and hug and cry into this pillow it like it held all of my sorrow and it always made me feel a little better but then one day my mother’s evil cat came into my room while I was at school and poked little tiny holes in it with his claws so all the little beads fell out in to my bed and I know it sounds stupid but I cried so hard over that pillow and I think it was because I felt like all the sorrow that I poured into that pillow was now being returned to me like it was only borrowed relief. I don’t know I feel like I’m rambling maybe it’s stupid but that’s what I feel.
here is a peice of advice...
Times may change but good advice doesn’t. This is a blog about advice that has helped me alot over the years and maybe it can help you.
“Get up and try again” that is what my gymnastics coach said to me when I fell off the beam attempting a front walkover she said that to me every time I fell and I did fall A LOT but persistence and perseverance put gymnasts into competitions. The beam and floor are my favorite events a floor routine is like being in a water ballet and with each trick the springs in the floor talk back. The beam is a tight rope and the person walking is a skilled circus freak and who ever is walking chest is tight with fear of falling not because of fear of getting hurt but because they don’t want to disappoint the coaches and parents watching. My least favorite event is the uneven parallel bars because of rips with are when the skin on the palms of your hands and the souls of your feet literally rip open because of all the stress and friction. Another reason is because I don’t think it’s a graceful event although it can look cool the bars all ways yell at you each time you reach to grab the bar again.
“Keep at it” that is what I tell myself every time I feel like I can’t do something that is clearly within my grasp. It’s what I tell myself when I have a ton of homework but I really want to sleep. It’s what I think when my friends ask if I want to hang out on a Tuesday when I know I have gymnastics. It’s what I think when I’m surrounded by darkness and I just can’t seem to find a light. And it’s what I tell my self on days I really don’t want to even get up in the morning.
“Don’t give up on your dreams their too important” my third grade teacher said that to me of course I was telling her I wanted to be an astronaut but that doesn’t mean the advice isn’t good. Now I fully understand what it is to have a dream. My dream it to become a marine biologist and to have an overall effect on the planet in a good way. My dreams are the door out of a very unpromising room, their like a way out of my own life, they take me to more exciting places. The reason why I will never give up on my dreams is because they will never give up on me.
The last and most commonly given advice not just to me but to everyone under the age of 15 is “reach for the stars” even though it sounds corny it is good advise because it tells you to have high expectations, to stay hungry, and to always have goals even though you will never be satisfied you always have something to live for.
In conclusion we have to follow the good advice and sort out the bad because our time is limited and we have to make the most with what we have by listening to people who have already been through the same experiences just share your wisdom and others will do the same. We all have to help each other because if we don’t then each generation will make the same mistakes and humans will never learn.
Friday, March 26, 2010
monthly reveiw: The Secret LIfe of Bees
For the monthly review I will be answering the questions for discussion from the back of the book.
The first one is: were you surprised to learn T.ray used to be different, that he once truly loved Deborah? How do you think Deborah's leaving affected him? Did it shed any light on why T. Ray is so cruel and abusive to Lily?
I was not surprised to learn that T. Ray used to be different because throughout the book it says that Deborah was pretty and if she was anything like Lilly she was strong minded and has a personality like a bird that cannot be contained so if she was pretty she must have had many other suitors and if she was free spirited he could not have always been oppressive. And I am not surprised that he once truly loved Deborah because at first they were just a normal newlywed couple, I'm not sure which came first T. Ray’s cruelty or Deborah’s depression. If her depression sparked T. Ray’s abusive nature then I think her leaving was a pride thing that there was something he could not give her that was making her so sad and that made him angry but if it was his abusive ways that made her depressed I think he became complacent and after the newlywed glow finally went out she saw his true colors that he was overbearing and possessive. So her leaving affected him in that either something he loved no longer loved him or that something he owned was trying to escape. It did shed some light on why he was so cruel to Lily because she looked so much like Deborah he sometimes forgot and went back to his old ways like when he came to the Calendar sisters house and while he was beating Lily he was calling her Deborah or maybe it was that he was trying to punish Deborah by abusing Lily who he knew she loved dearly and the resemblance was so uncanny it was like she was there taking the abuse. Perhaps it was because he was punishing Lily for killing the woman he loved even though he knew she was a child and did not know what she was doing it was still her that killed his Deborah. In short I was not surprised that he used to truly love his wife but that his possessive nature won out over his love. Her leaving made him bitter towards Lily who greatly resembles Deborah.
The second question is: who is the queen bee in this story?
In my opinion there are two options there would be august which is the most obvious and then there could also be our lady in chains who I think is the better answer. The reasons august would be the queen bee is because she seems like a mother figure to all the characters throughout the story with her curvy hips and soft tummy Lily idolizes her and looks to her as a role model seeking her advice on many matters and her praise the way a child seeks from their mother. She is also a mother to June and May caring and providing she is the big sister who stepped up to the plate when their mother died. she is a mother to Rosaleen too for example when she brought Rosaleen into town to buy a new dress so she could register to vote i reminded me of a mother bringing her daughter to buy a new dress for a dance.
But I think Our Lady in Chains is the better choice even though she is not a real person she still has all the maternal qualities. for example she is strong literally in that she is solid wood and figuratively in the pose she is in with her fist held high in the air and a proud look on her face if you were to look at her you would think "that is a strong woman" but not only is she strong she is caring and in a literal sense sweet from the honey they preserve her with and her heart is painted on her chest outside her skin so that you can touch it and know she understands you and everything will be alright. I think the book also speaks for its self too because it says you are the mother of thousands just like the queen bee in constant labor and even august says Mary is a mother to all of the daughters.
And the third and final question is: Project into the future. Does Lily ever see her father again? Does she become a beekeeper? A writer? What happens to Rosaleen? What happens to Lily and Zach? Who would Zach be today?
Well obviously I don’t know for sure one because I’m not the author and two because these are fictional characters but this is how I would imagine it. I think that one day when Lily is older she will go back and see her father again because it is not in her nature to forget about things and she is also very curious combine that with the fact that she still thinks her father loves her somewhere deep down I could not imagine her not going back to see what he’s doing and finding out whether he truly loves her or not. I also think Lily does become a bee keeper because it is in her character to seek praise and when she tends to the bees with August she sees that it makes her happy and once Lily inevitably leaves the pink house I think wherever she ends up she will want to keep a little piece of her mother figures with her. I do think Lily will continue to write I mean how could she not? With all the things floating around in her head waiting to burst out but I don’t think she will become a published author and that she is more likely to become a school teacher just like August and June were. I like to think Rosaleen stayed with the Boatwright sisters and was more of a stand in May and kept August company when June moved in with Neil and Lily moved out. I think Zach and Lily don’t end up together romantically but still stay very good friends because they are just too different and I think a small part of Lily wants to protect Zach from the kind of men that beat Rosaleen all those years ago, even if it means giving him up. I don’t really understand what it means by “who would Zach be today” but if it means did he ever become a lawyer or a sports star then I would like to say he became a Butt kicking lawyer” in his and Lily’s words but to say the truth I honestly don’t know even though Zach and his aspirations were inspiring and my favorite part of the story I can’t honestly say that I believe he became a successful lawyer, sure he would have tired and might have ended up in jail or worst for it.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
lit circle letter #3
Dear Annabelle and Anna,
The third chunk of the book was really good I did not expect T-ray to let Lily stay or that June would end up marrying Neil. And a gain I cannot think of what to write about without summarizing and since there is really nothing to question and I did not annotate I guess I’ll just do another discussion question.
11. Project into the future. Does Lily ever see her father again? Does she become a beekeeper? A writer? What happens to Rosaleen? What happens to Lily and Zach? Who would Zach be today?
Well obviously I don’t know for sure one because I’m not the author and two because these are fictional characters but this is how I would imagine it. I think that one day when Lily is older she will go back and see her father again because it is not in her nature to forget about things and she is also very curious combine that with the fact that she still thinks her father loves her somewhere deep down I could not imagine her not going back to see what he’s doing and finding out whether he truly loves her or not. I also think Lily does become a bee keeper because it is in her character to seek praise and when she tends to the bees with August she sees that it makes her happy and once Lily inevitably leaves the pink house I think wherever she ends up she will want to keep a little piece of her mother figures with her. I do think Lily will continue to write I mean how could she not? With all the things floating around in her head waiting to burst out but I don’t think she will become a published author and that she is more likely to become a school teacher just like August and June were. I like to think Rosaleen stayed with the Boatwright sisters and was more of a stand in May and kept August company when June moved in with Neil and Lily moved out. I think Zach and Lily don’t end up together romantically but still stay very good friends because they are just too different and I think a small part of Lily wants to protect Zach even if it means giving him up. I don’t really understand what it means by “who would Zach be today”.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
lit circle letter #2
Dear Anna and Annabelle,
But i think Our Lady in Chains is the better choice even though she is not a real person she still has all the maternal quality's. for example she is strong literally in that she is solid wood and figuratively in the pose she is in with her fist held high in the air and a proud look on her face if you were to look at her you would think "that is a strong woman" but not only is she strong she is caring and in a literal sense sweet from the honey they preserve her with and her heart is painted on her chest out side her skin so that you can touch it and know she understands you and everything will be alright. i think the book also speaks for its self too because it says you are the mother of thousands just like the queen bee in constant labor and even august says mary is a mother to all of the daughters.
to me it seems the second section is when all the dramatic sequences happen with Mays suicide and Lily reveling that she is Deborah's daughter and august revealing that she knew the whole time and that T-ray was not lying when he said her mother abandoned her. but as I cannot think of much more to write i will do one of the questions for discussion.
I will do the question "who is the queen bee in this story". well in my opinion there are two options there would be august which is the most obvious and then there could also be our lady in chains who i think is the better answer. the reasons august would be the queen bee is because she seems like a mother figure to all the characters throughout the story with her curvy hips and soft tummy Lily idolizes her and looks to her as a role model seeking her advise on many matters and her praise the way a child seeks from their mother. she is also a mother to June and May caring and providing she is the big sister who stepped up to the plate when their mother died. she is a mother to Rosaleen too for example when she brought Rosaleen into town to buy a new dress so she could register to vote i reminded me of a mother bringing her daughter to buy a new dress for a dance.But i think Our Lady in Chains is the better choice even though she is not a real person she still has all the maternal quality's. for example she is strong literally in that she is solid wood and figuratively in the pose she is in with her fist held high in the air and a proud look on her face if you were to look at her you would think "that is a strong woman" but not only is she strong she is caring and in a literal sense sweet from the honey they preserve her with and her heart is painted on her chest out side her skin so that you can touch it and know she understands you and everything will be alright. i think the book also speaks for its self too because it says you are the mother of thousands just like the queen bee in constant labor and even august says mary is a mother to all of the daughters.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
SAT prompt: is decption ever justified?
Is deception ever justified? This is a difficult question and I'm sure many people would have many wildly different takes on it but as this is my blog mine is that yes deception can be justified on some occasions. I know if my grandmother was dead she would have just turned over in her grave but as she is not I must be safe for now. But I cannot hinder what I think mainly since I see negative situations everywhere that could have been avoided if people would have been able to throw out their guilty continence, suck it up, and tell a little white lie. For example yesterday I was watching a show on the CW called life unexpected and on this show there was a woman who slept with this one guy while her and her fiancé were broken up no harm since they weren’t even together but she knew it would hurt him if she told him the truth so she kept it to herself but then for some unfathomable reason she told him and he left her. Now I know is she didn’t and everything worked out perfectly that would not make for very interesting television but the principal stands. A real life application would be that everyone has told a white lie to their parents “did you break that vase? ... Nope” “were you out with that boy? … No.” it saves you some trouble and them stress.
Now I'm not saying the truth is overrated by any stretch there are defiantly situations where you shouldn’t tell a lie to save your own ass for example in situations where the law is concerned or if something bad might actually happen other than a grounding. And if the situation could hurt someone emotionally or physically without the truth then it should ring out! But like I said this is a very difficult question with tricky angles it really just depends on the person.
Now I'm not saying the truth is overrated by any stretch there are defiantly situations where you shouldn’t tell a lie to save your own ass for example in situations where the law is concerned or if something bad might actually happen other than a grounding. And if the situation could hurt someone emotionally or physically without the truth then it should ring out! But like I said this is a very difficult question with tricky angles it really just depends on the person.
Friday, February 26, 2010
SAT Pronpt: Does true learning only occur when we experience difficulties?
Does true learning only occur when we experience difficulties? That depends on how you justify true learning. If it is book work like arithmetic and vocabulary, then no. But if you categorize true learning as I do which would be life lessons such as is deception ever acceptable, how far is too far, or wondering if you can ever really trust anyone but yourself I think that those might be lessons that must be learned by making your own mistakes. Now it is true people say that you have to learn from the mistakes of your father, mother, brother, teacher, or friends but sometimes that is not simply enough for example my friend had a friend who was practically a sister long ago that gave her a piece of advice she said “once you get to your happy place, stop” and growing up my friend was content enough to listen but when the time came when she really needed to heed her advice she thought what could one more hurt? And wound up puking on the couch. So in theory listening to other people who have “been there” is a good idea but humans are and teenagers especially are the kinds of beings who need to defy everyone and make their own mistakes. Another reason I think you cannot truly learn without going through hardships is because of the saying “in one ear and out the other” in so many cases this has proved true to me for example I will be sitting in class attempting to listen and I hear all the words but if I try to think back two seconds then I have no idea what my teacher has just said but I believe that if something happened to make me think about why I would need to know that specific piece of information I would comprehend it better.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Do people achieve more success by cooperation than by competition?
This is a difficult question because I'm not sure how to quantify success by money, happiness, or something else? If it is money like in a restaurant I think it’s sort of like socialism versus capitalism on the one hand capitalism keeps prices low and the businesses that cannot compete shut down but if you measure success in money there will always be other commentators making prices lower and lower but on the socialist side if the government protects businesses that should not compete that ruins things for the other competitors so on the subject of money as success I think competition wins this round.
If you count happiness as success then I whole heartedly say that cooperation will make people achieve greater happiness because people cannot relax when they are constantly in fear of falling behind and if people don’t ever get the chance to relax then it can lead to a number of health risks like high blood pressure.
Another thing that could be considered is just winning like a race or a game and if that is the case then I definitely think that competition is the best way to achieve success for example a zebra will run faster with a lion chasing it. And I have had personal experience with this same concept. Last month I played a rugby tournament and before our first game we practiced for a little bit and my running was ok nothing really special but when we were about to start our first game and got a look at the other team something changed I'm not sure if it was fear because the other girls were easily three times my size or if it was just the power of the will to compete but that game I ran faster than I ever had before.
In conclusion I cannot definitively say whether competition or cooperation is the best way to achieve success without knowing how to measure success.
If you count happiness as success then I whole heartedly say that cooperation will make people achieve greater happiness because people cannot relax when they are constantly in fear of falling behind and if people don’t ever get the chance to relax then it can lead to a number of health risks like high blood pressure.
Another thing that could be considered is just winning like a race or a game and if that is the case then I definitely think that competition is the best way to achieve success for example a zebra will run faster with a lion chasing it. And I have had personal experience with this same concept. Last month I played a rugby tournament and before our first game we practiced for a little bit and my running was ok nothing really special but when we were about to start our first game and got a look at the other team something changed I'm not sure if it was fear because the other girls were easily three times my size or if it was just the power of the will to compete but that game I ran faster than I ever had before.
In conclusion I cannot definitively say whether competition or cooperation is the best way to achieve success without knowing how to measure success.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Genocide
Genocide
Main Entry: geno·cide
Pronunciation: \ˈje-nə-ˌsīd\
Function: noun
Date: 1944
: The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group
This is the definition of genocide according to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, it seems simple and does not seem to fully dawn on you the actual meaning until you read it over several times. To think just one word could hold so much horrific history is hard it wrap your head around. I find it hard to grasp or even believe that anyone could ban together and annihilate an entire group of people, but that is what happened in 1933. I see two parts of genocide that I would like to address the first: who participates in genocide and what does it take? And the second: what kind of emotional state the people who are being eradicated in? I will be using Night by Ellie Wiesel as a guide to help me better understand what it was like to be a person of Jewish faith during the Holocaust.
To participate in genocide, one must be weak minded to be persuaded to participate in mass murder and even more feeble to be persuaded that it is right and essential for some cause or another. What does it take to knowingly participate? Perhaps it might take a lot of convincing and false studies, or maybe threats. Can people be participating in genocide and not even realize they are? For example a country might sit back and ignore what is happening in its neighboring country is that participation though? Or is a solider a participant if he’s just following orders or is it the one giving the orders? Both? These are all difficult questions and they are all subject to a difference of opinion.
The way I see it, the Jews in the Holocaust went through many phases as in Ellie Wiesel’s book night at first they were in denial that it was even happening saying “oh the Nazis will never make it this far” and again when German soldiers began to walk their streets and move into their homes but even then they started to except and even like them, saying they were polite house guests. Then when they were moved into the ghettos they felt secure like they were safer in their entirely Jewish community. But the Stockholm syndrome really started to set in when the police told them they were being deported not only did they pack their own bags and go willingly. They even had a chance to escape when there was no guard and with a safe place lined up they still decided to stay and leave with the last transport. While on the train the Jews start to realize they are in serious trouble with crammed cars, little food and water, and uncomfortable unsanitary conditions. When the woman on the train starts screaming they become uneasy, even frightened so in a situation where tensions are already running high they take a situation where they have no control and try to gain some control by beating the woman. When they arrive at the camp and discover they might die no one try’s to run they all seem to be internally defeated and all they hope for is time to pray and to die before family. But while inside the camp they still try to help each other by providing family members with portions of food rations and false hope of good news. Then self preservation kicks in and they all attempt to do anything to avoid transport with the thinking that the evil you know is always better.
In conclusion those who participate in genocide are generally weak minded like sheep being herded by media propaganda and orders of superiors and those who the acts of genocide are being committed against go through many phases from denial, grief, and even acceptance. Is there some way we can ever understand why genocide is really committed? Maybe. I think the philosopher Thomas Hobbes had the best insights on human nature and that is that people are naturally evil and selfish and if left to their own devices will run wild or at least this seems the case on the subject of genocide.
Main Entry: geno·cide
Pronunciation: \ˈje-nə-ˌsīd\
Function: noun
Date: 1944
: The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group
This is the definition of genocide according to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, it seems simple and does not seem to fully dawn on you the actual meaning until you read it over several times. To think just one word could hold so much horrific history is hard it wrap your head around. I find it hard to grasp or even believe that anyone could ban together and annihilate an entire group of people, but that is what happened in 1933. I see two parts of genocide that I would like to address the first: who participates in genocide and what does it take? And the second: what kind of emotional state the people who are being eradicated in? I will be using Night by Ellie Wiesel as a guide to help me better understand what it was like to be a person of Jewish faith during the Holocaust.
To participate in genocide, one must be weak minded to be persuaded to participate in mass murder and even more feeble to be persuaded that it is right and essential for some cause or another. What does it take to knowingly participate? Perhaps it might take a lot of convincing and false studies, or maybe threats. Can people be participating in genocide and not even realize they are? For example a country might sit back and ignore what is happening in its neighboring country is that participation though? Or is a solider a participant if he’s just following orders or is it the one giving the orders? Both? These are all difficult questions and they are all subject to a difference of opinion.
The way I see it, the Jews in the Holocaust went through many phases as in Ellie Wiesel’s book night at first they were in denial that it was even happening saying “oh the Nazis will never make it this far” and again when German soldiers began to walk their streets and move into their homes but even then they started to except and even like them, saying they were polite house guests. Then when they were moved into the ghettos they felt secure like they were safer in their entirely Jewish community. But the Stockholm syndrome really started to set in when the police told them they were being deported not only did they pack their own bags and go willingly. They even had a chance to escape when there was no guard and with a safe place lined up they still decided to stay and leave with the last transport. While on the train the Jews start to realize they are in serious trouble with crammed cars, little food and water, and uncomfortable unsanitary conditions. When the woman on the train starts screaming they become uneasy, even frightened so in a situation where tensions are already running high they take a situation where they have no control and try to gain some control by beating the woman. When they arrive at the camp and discover they might die no one try’s to run they all seem to be internally defeated and all they hope for is time to pray and to die before family. But while inside the camp they still try to help each other by providing family members with portions of food rations and false hope of good news. Then self preservation kicks in and they all attempt to do anything to avoid transport with the thinking that the evil you know is always better.
In conclusion those who participate in genocide are generally weak minded like sheep being herded by media propaganda and orders of superiors and those who the acts of genocide are being committed against go through many phases from denial, grief, and even acceptance. Is there some way we can ever understand why genocide is really committed? Maybe. I think the philosopher Thomas Hobbes had the best insights on human nature and that is that people are naturally evil and selfish and if left to their own devices will run wild or at least this seems the case on the subject of genocide.
Friday, February 12, 2010
summer camp
It was summer of 2007 and I was having some trouble with my confidence and what I was going to wear to gymnastics camp. I decided on plain shorts and a t-shirt I didn’t really like to stand out so I figured something casual that would avoid attention. The whole ride there was nerve wracking I felt like the ugly fish in the aquarium the one that you look at and think why is that in here? I didn’t even want to go to the stupid camp but my dad thought I was too antisocial so he gave me an ultimatum camp or summer school, so off I went with out even the safety net of knowing a single person to talk to. When I got there I went to the front desk to check in where a girl with red hair gave me a big hello my name is name tag with letters that were much to happy for the mood I was in then she instructed me to go out side for a small orientation. I walked outside and saw people sitting on the grass, so I went and sat behind them. A man named phil came out and told us what a great time we were going to have and how great we were all going to get at our weakest event I thought that was about as likely as pigs flying. After that we went and met our coaches I got Coach Tami she was a large muscular woman with brown hair she told us that at the end of the week we would all be performing a routine on our weakest event in front of our entire camp and that’s when the blanket of suppressed self doubt washed over me. I was sure I would fall flat on my face off the beam because I’m about as graceful as an elephant on ice skates.
The next day I came back and started right on the beam, coach Tami decided to try and teach me a handstand dismount and thanks to my canoe feet I fell off my third try and hurt my ankle which cost me of a day of much needed practice.
My third day of camp went great I learned a lot and also started to choreograph my routine though I still wasn’t very confident and it showed but my coach gave me a little pick me up pep talk and I felt a little better I even tried a few hard stunts buy I had a feeling they would take a while to fully get them right. The day before the showcase show I finished choreographing my routine but didn’t have time to practice as much as I would have liked because I left early for a friend’s birthday party.
Finally the day had come to present the my routine I got to the gym in the morning and the head coach Phil told us to all stay positive, try our best, and have fun! It was so cliché that I wanted to vomit; he wasn’t the one who had to try to not fall on his face in front of a large group of spectators. After that I practiced my routine and tried to incorporate the harder tricks like a one handed cart wheel, an illusion, and a round off back walkover dismount. Soon girls started performing and then it was my turn and before I knew it I was walking towards the beam sweating bullets. I went to the beam and started my routine, everything was going fine and I really started to believe that I was going to make it through without falling on my face then I realized that if I believed I could do it then I could so I added the one handed cartwheel and the round off back walkover and did them perfectly.
I think that I dident just learn how to properly dismount a beam at gymnastics camp I learnd how to believe in myself and that it’s ok to mess up sometimes because I’m only human. Now I teach gymnastics to kids from the ages of five to nine.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Super bowl!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8yypD7RiJU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Ce-SJreIA
I'm really excited for this years super bowl! for numerous reasons first i LOVE the saints ever since i saw them play for the first time I'm not really sure why maybe because my dad said they were going to lose or because they are the comeback kids. the second reason is this is the first year i have really started paying attention to football so now i know what is going on and i finally understand why it is so exciting. and third, watching football is the only pass time i have with my father other than snowboarding.
there are so many other things i love about the super bowl in general. i love how every game builds up to one epic match for one team to reign supreme, i love player stats when they pop up at the bottom of the screen, i love arguments about which quarterback could beat the other and which team will ultimately win, and i love super bowl food. yes the food whether it is BLT's, hot dogs, mac n cheese, or even ordered crappy domino's pizza, but at my house we have steak. but there is one super bowl snack that rules them all with many variations and that is chips and dip no super bowl party is complete without corn chips and salsa or potato chips and onion dip (my favorite).
finally the one thing that is the best about the super bowl is the commercials nothing beats super bowl commercials they have it all they are either funny or touching i usually forget they are even advertising something i have a few favorites i will attach to the end I'm not sure why i enjoy the advertisements so much but i really just do its something you cant explain unless you feel it too. i know my devotion to advertisements is a little creepy maybe even a little unhealthy but what can i say?
but none of that will matter since i cannot watch the super bowl this year because i have have my rugby kickoff tournament this Sunday in Sacramento we leave at seven in the morning and wont get back till at least nine at night. D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Ce-SJreIA
I'm really excited for this years super bowl! for numerous reasons first i LOVE the saints ever since i saw them play for the first time I'm not really sure why maybe because my dad said they were going to lose or because they are the comeback kids. the second reason is this is the first year i have really started paying attention to football so now i know what is going on and i finally understand why it is so exciting. and third, watching football is the only pass time i have with my father other than snowboarding.
there are so many other things i love about the super bowl in general. i love how every game builds up to one epic match for one team to reign supreme, i love player stats when they pop up at the bottom of the screen, i love arguments about which quarterback could beat the other and which team will ultimately win, and i love super bowl food. yes the food whether it is BLT's, hot dogs, mac n cheese, or even ordered crappy domino's pizza, but at my house we have steak. but there is one super bowl snack that rules them all with many variations and that is chips and dip no super bowl party is complete without corn chips and salsa or potato chips and onion dip (my favorite).
finally the one thing that is the best about the super bowl is the commercials nothing beats super bowl commercials they have it all they are either funny or touching i usually forget they are even advertising something i have a few favorites i will attach to the end I'm not sure why i enjoy the advertisements so much but i really just do its something you cant explain unless you feel it too. i know my devotion to advertisements is a little creepy maybe even a little unhealthy but what can i say?
but none of that will matter since i cannot watch the super bowl this year because i have have my rugby kickoff tournament this Sunday in Sacramento we leave at seven in the morning and wont get back till at least nine at night. D:
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
final
Final exam: English
For my English final I have to write one long blog post reflecting on my pervious blog posts by thoroughly answering three questions… Here I go.
7. What have you learned from your struggles with writer's block? Why do you tend to get stuck? How do you tend to get unstuck? Notice any patterns?
What I have learned from my personal struggles with writers block is that it is a wall you create for yourself that only you can get over or break through with will power and persistence. My personal wall is that I tend to procrastinate but I have been trying to get better by budgeting my time and making schedules for nearly everything.
I tend to get stuck when I'm writing about something that I have limited information on or that I don’t really understand for example in my History class I had you write an essay on one word “individualism” and how it tied into what we were learning but the thing was I had no idea what the word meant or how it related to what we were learning. So needless to say that essay took me a while. Another thing that contributes to my writers block is listening to music while writing it makes it harder for me to get in “the zone” and just get everything I'm thinking out onto paper or in this case screen.
The way I get unstuck is first by removing all of the distractions, then setting a clear goal, and by setting up check points with rewards for example when I reach 300 words I get to check my facebook or when I finish three paragraphs I get to change my gum in know it’s kind of dumb but it’s what works for me.
I have noticed two patterns I have with writers block is that it usually occurs when I have no interest in what I'm writing and when I have a lot of time to write I suppose I just work better under pressure.
8. How do you like having a blog? How has blogging changed the way you write, the way you think, or the way you think about writing?
I have mixed feelings about having a blog on one hand I love that every week I learn new and interesting facts about all my favorite marine animals but on the other hand I feel like writing a post every week feels more like a chore. Not that I'm complaining I love the system its LOADS more free than any of my other classes but if I didn’t have this class and when summer rolls around will I still keep my blog? Probably not. But who knows this next semester I have decided to switch gears and maybe that will captivate my interests more.
Blogging has definitely changed the way I write I have noticed many improvements. The first thing I have noticed is my spelling has improved a lot mainly because I use Microsoft word and I tend to misspell the same words over and over again but when the spell check comes up I can go back and correct myself then soon enough I correct myself and then I stop making the errors all together. Another way my writing has improved is that I can write in larger portions faster. The last improvement in my writing brought on by blogging is that I have been able to convey my thoughts more clearly.
I wouldn’t say that blogging has changed the way I think but it has changed the way I think about writing. Before I couldn't write without a formula or specific set of directions I couldn’t just wing it on what I already knew but since starting blogging ill just turn on the discovery channel and write about whatever is on. I used to think there was just one way to write and that English was just one really complex math formula but throughout this year I have learned that it is a much more open subject that everyone has to make their own little interpretations on.
10. Where do you get your ideas for blog post topics? What inspires you to write?
I get my ideas for blog post topics from many places internet articles, personal favorite animals, suggestions from my friends, but mainly from the discovery channel (I know I'm a nerd but since they took away the Sci-Fi channel I have nothing else to watch and to be totally honest I live for shark week). The discovery channel is my favorite place to get my blog post ideas for many reasons first I can usually get more than one post from a single program, I get to watch TV while doing my home work, its educational but doesn’t feel like homework, I can do some of my other homework while watching, and I genuinely enjoy it especially because it is so rare that I get to do something of interest to me for homework.
I have many things that inspire me to write first that I want to succeed to be the first in my family to go to college earn an honest living doing what I love and have a white picket fence I know it’s so cliché but it’s what I want, the second thing that inspires me is a weakness and a strength and that is my need for approval and validation from my father it is a weakness because no one should ever feel like a parent is not proud of them but I suppose it is a strength because I forces me to push myself harder, my third and most vital inspiration is curiosity ever since I was young I have always been curious of all water really there is something to mysterious about a place on earth where no one has ever been. The ocean is such a fascinating place it is hard for me to imagine a subject that could hold my interest more.
For my English final I have to write one long blog post reflecting on my pervious blog posts by thoroughly answering three questions… Here I go.
7. What have you learned from your struggles with writer's block? Why do you tend to get stuck? How do you tend to get unstuck? Notice any patterns?
What I have learned from my personal struggles with writers block is that it is a wall you create for yourself that only you can get over or break through with will power and persistence. My personal wall is that I tend to procrastinate but I have been trying to get better by budgeting my time and making schedules for nearly everything.
I tend to get stuck when I'm writing about something that I have limited information on or that I don’t really understand for example in my History class I had you write an essay on one word “individualism” and how it tied into what we were learning but the thing was I had no idea what the word meant or how it related to what we were learning. So needless to say that essay took me a while. Another thing that contributes to my writers block is listening to music while writing it makes it harder for me to get in “the zone” and just get everything I'm thinking out onto paper or in this case screen.
The way I get unstuck is first by removing all of the distractions, then setting a clear goal, and by setting up check points with rewards for example when I reach 300 words I get to check my facebook or when I finish three paragraphs I get to change my gum in know it’s kind of dumb but it’s what works for me.
I have noticed two patterns I have with writers block is that it usually occurs when I have no interest in what I'm writing and when I have a lot of time to write I suppose I just work better under pressure.
8. How do you like having a blog? How has blogging changed the way you write, the way you think, or the way you think about writing?
I have mixed feelings about having a blog on one hand I love that every week I learn new and interesting facts about all my favorite marine animals but on the other hand I feel like writing a post every week feels more like a chore. Not that I'm complaining I love the system its LOADS more free than any of my other classes but if I didn’t have this class and when summer rolls around will I still keep my blog? Probably not. But who knows this next semester I have decided to switch gears and maybe that will captivate my interests more.
Blogging has definitely changed the way I write I have noticed many improvements. The first thing I have noticed is my spelling has improved a lot mainly because I use Microsoft word and I tend to misspell the same words over and over again but when the spell check comes up I can go back and correct myself then soon enough I correct myself and then I stop making the errors all together. Another way my writing has improved is that I can write in larger portions faster. The last improvement in my writing brought on by blogging is that I have been able to convey my thoughts more clearly.
I wouldn’t say that blogging has changed the way I think but it has changed the way I think about writing. Before I couldn't write without a formula or specific set of directions I couldn’t just wing it on what I already knew but since starting blogging ill just turn on the discovery channel and write about whatever is on. I used to think there was just one way to write and that English was just one really complex math formula but throughout this year I have learned that it is a much more open subject that everyone has to make their own little interpretations on.
10. Where do you get your ideas for blog post topics? What inspires you to write?
I get my ideas for blog post topics from many places internet articles, personal favorite animals, suggestions from my friends, but mainly from the discovery channel (I know I'm a nerd but since they took away the Sci-Fi channel I have nothing else to watch and to be totally honest I live for shark week). The discovery channel is my favorite place to get my blog post ideas for many reasons first I can usually get more than one post from a single program, I get to watch TV while doing my home work, its educational but doesn’t feel like homework, I can do some of my other homework while watching, and I genuinely enjoy it especially because it is so rare that I get to do something of interest to me for homework.
I have many things that inspire me to write first that I want to succeed to be the first in my family to go to college earn an honest living doing what I love and have a white picket fence I know it’s so cliché but it’s what I want, the second thing that inspires me is a weakness and a strength and that is my need for approval and validation from my father it is a weakness because no one should ever feel like a parent is not proud of them but I suppose it is a strength because I forces me to push myself harder, my third and most vital inspiration is curiosity ever since I was young I have always been curious of all water really there is something to mysterious about a place on earth where no one has ever been. The ocean is such a fascinating place it is hard for me to imagine a subject that could hold my interest more.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Sperm Whale
Hahaha laugh it up what a funny name but once you get past all the immaturity it really is an awesome creature.
The sperm whale is the largest toothed animal on the planet adult males grow to about 60 feet long and can weigh up to 50 tons! The females are smaller growing up to 40 feet and 18 tons. The brain of a sperm whale weighs about 20 lbs that is the largest brain of any animal in the world. The sperm whales teeth are large and cone shaped, and they weigh about two lbs each. the long thin lower jaw has about 50-60 teeth and when not in use they fit in to sockets in the upper jaw. The four chambered heart of the whale weighs about 277 lbs.
The whale is carnivorous feeding on a variety of things the most common is the giant squid. let that absorb for a moment. from the sperm whales belly is how we originally uncovered the giant squids existence we further found out more about the squid by following the whales to remote islands in japan where the first pictures of a live giant squid were taken. the whales also eat large fish and are even known to snack on a rare filter-feeding mega mouth shark off the coats of Indonesia.
the sperm whale holds the record of the deepest diving whale. although the whale usually dwells near the surface the whale hunts the giant squid which is a bottom dweller. but the younger whales known as calf's stay near the surface and the mothers bring them back large pieces of the prey because the have not learned to hold their breath for long periods of time. the sperm whale can dive up to 10,500 feet deep and hold its breath for about an hour it does this by with holding blood from less essential parts of the body and using the oxygen to fuel only the most essential organs scientists do not know if the act is conscious but they believe it is.
Sperm whales live in all kinds of open oceans and have been found in both tropical and cool waters. the inhabit all but the polar seas and rarely dwell in coastal waters.
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