Fahrenheit 451 Analysis

15. Discuss the use of quotations from literature in Fahrenheit 451.  Which works are quoted and to what effect? Pay specific attention to "Dover Beach", the Bible, and quotes from Shakespeare.  Explain using specific examples from the text in your argument. 

Throughout the novel of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, there were several allusions that connected to other literature.  Very well known authors such as Shakespeare, and Sir Phillip Sydney were tied into the story.  The Bible and ancient Greek stories were also involved.  The effect of quoting these works of literature improved the story.

Beatty constantly referenced works of literature.  "There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats, for I am arm'd so strong in honesty that they pass me as an idle wind, which I respect not!" (Page 119)  This is the line he quoted right before Montag set him on fire.  This quote belongs to the play Julius Caesar, created by Shakespeare.  Beatty kept egging on Montag to kill him, because he was depressed, and like Mildred who (subconsciously or not, I'm not sure) hated their life and wanted to die.  At the end of The Sieve and the Sand Beatty tries to use circumlocution and many quotes while talking to Montag so that he will slip and say something he shouldn't.  "All's well that is well in the end." (Page 108) Beatty references Shakespeare once again- this time to the play of All's Well that Ends Well. Beatty may have possibly used to much Shakespeare because there are tons of Shakespeare's plays that were preserved from the Renaissance, and therefore they may have been in the houses that he burned. "Sweet food of sweetly uttered knowledge" (Page 105) This is another quote in which that Beatty tried to confuse Montag.  It was taken from a poem by Sir Philip Sydney.  Beatty references an ancient Greek myth in Burning Bright.  "Old Montag wanted to fly near the sun and now that he's burnt his damn wings, he wonders why. Didn't I hint enough when I sent the Hound around your place?" (Page 113)  Beatty tells this to Montag when they arrive at his house to burn it.  Mildred couldn't live with Montag anymore; she was completely done with him, so she sped off in a car.  Beatty is reffering to the greek myth, Icarus, when someone is told not to go near the sun with their wings, and they do anyways. Beatty had warned Montag about reading books, and now that he did, he's in trouble. In The Hearth and the Salamander when the fireman get a call to go to an old lady's house and burn it down Beatty tries to get the old lady out.  "You've been locked up here for years with a regular damned Tower of Babel. Snap out of it! The people in those books never lived. Come on now!" (Page 38)  The old lady doesn't believe in what Beatty says, and would rather die with her books without them. So she lights her own house on fire with a kitchen match.  Beatty was referring to the Bible in his allusion.  The 'Tower of Babel' was involved in a story from the Bible.  Beatty's constant references to book implys he has read books even though he is a fireman and shouldn't have. Perhaps Beatty wanted to die because he read the books, and he felt that all the vast knowledge went far beyond what he could of thought without them. 

Montag is also someone who uses quotes of literature.  "Ah, love, let us be true To one another! for the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful, so new, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; And we are here s on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night." (Page 100) Montag read the poem Dover Beach to Mildred's friends.  After hearing it, one of them started crying.  The poem has several lines that refer to the way the women are not acting.  The friends of Mildred don't understand love, or being true to one another, or really understanding what's happening around them.  They really are 'ignorant armies.'

The use of quotations enhance the story.  Since Beatty always references books it made you think of some sort of irony, because he is a fireman.  Since Montag was starting to read and memorize books it really brought out the theme of defying society.  Shakespeare, the Bible, and other ancient stories brought out a feel that there was still a lot of intelligence within the book.  Overall without the allusions to other books Fahrenheit 451 wouldn't be the same.

TU Tuesday - Local

The article I read was about a new bill being passed. This bill makes it so that "the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [has] to standardize drug labels, laying out the drug's risks in easy-to-understand language." Five years ago a 15 year old boy named Cody Miller took his own life due to the prescription he was taking. His family did not recognize this sudden depression, and then 17 days after taking Singulair he killed himself. One of the main reasons people want this bill to be passed is so they can avoid tragic accidents like these. Apparently "most consumers don't realize that the drug leaflets that come with prescription medications are not regulated or reviewed."

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is trying to get this bill passed. If it is, "the Cody Miller Initiative for Safer Prescriptions Act, gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services two years to create a standard format for drug labels that is scientifically accurate and written in plain language describing the drug's proper use, common side effects and most serious risks." If this passes people who take drugs may be able to save their own life.

Source:
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Bill-Drug-labels-can-save-lives-3594022.php

50. Should women be allowed in the military?

Women should be allowed in the military because they're people too. Personally, I would never want to join, and I don't know why anyone would want to die fighting. So if someone actually wants to die fighting for the country, why not let them do so? It's a free country and that means people can do what they want. In the Declaration of Independence it says "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  Although at the time they said men, our country now believes women to be equal too.  The ideals of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness (created by John Locke in the Enlightenment period) apply to women too.  Women work at jobs, they are mothers, and sometimes they're even stronger than men.  Why shouldn't they be allowed in the military?  There is no reason they shouldn't be allowed in.  If they want to die for this country, I say let them. 

Sources:

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

http://journalbuddies.com/journal_prompts__journal_topics/journal-writing-topics-memorial-day/

What is Crippling Us?

John Taylor Gatto tells of how public school is ruining children through an essay.  "Throughout most of American history, kids generally didn't go to high school, yet the unschooled rose to be admirals,...inventors,...captains of industry,...writers,...and even scholars,...In fact, until pretty recently people who reached the age of thirteen weren't looked upon as children at all. " (Against School)  He says how school is ruining maturity of kids, and their responsibility level.  Somehow kids aren't growing all the way up. "School has done a pretty good job of turning our children into addicts, but it has done a spectacular job of turning our children into children. Again, this is no accident." (Against School)  He basically claims that school turns kids into servants of society.  "Well-schooled people are conditioned to dread being alone, and they seek constant companionship through the TV, the computer, the cell phone, and through shallow friendships quickly acquired and quickly abandoned. Your children should have a more meaningful life, and they can." (Against School) Children who are public-schooled must have someone with them at all time, they lack the ability to be alone.  

This can be compared to Fahrenheit 451 because Mildred, along with several other adults of this town, require the constant attention from the "parlor."  Mildred sits all day in the parlor, with the special converter that replaces a blank audience's name with her own, and talks to the three panel TV.  "'Will you turn the parlor off?' he asked. 'That's my family.' 'Will you turn it down for a sick man?' 'I'll turn it down.'" (Fahrenheit 451, page 48) Mildred can't even get herself away from the parlor.  She is so attached to an inanimate object, she can't be without it.  Just as the children who need the constant companionship who go to public school.  Ray Bradbury tells of how society is discriminating against those who are intelligent, or those who surpass everyone else by using dialog.  "We must all be alike.  Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy; for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against." (Fahrenheit 451, page 58)  Beatte tells Montag about how books are bad because they cause problems.  In this futuristic society it is believed if you don't read books, you are happy because you don't think about a made-up world that someone wrote that will contradict your thoughts.  People can not be offended, and that's why the fireman burn books.  

I am not persuded by John Taylor Gatto to think as he does because there are always the few exceptions to public school.  For example Jay Leno went to Emerson College to get a degree when his high school counciler told him to drop out of High School. He is famous, and he still went to school, he is not a servant to society.  I am sort of persuaded by Ray Bradbury because his futuristic view of the world is kind of true in a way that people gasp when you mutter the wrong thing.


Sources: 

• http://www.wesjones.com/gatto1.htm
• http://www.collegecrunch.org/fun-stuff/famous-people-the-schools-they-went-to/
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Tried and True

If I had to spend the rest of my life in a library, museum or a zoo, I would pick a librabry.  Museums don't contain anything but artifacts, and small little boxes of information on the object.  It would get scary at night; I'd be afraid the things would come to life.  It would be lonely.  There would be no food.  Living my whole life in a zoo would be scary too, I'm terribly afraid of snakes and other reptiles.  It would be cool hanging out with the penguins though.  I love penguins. If I got hungry I could eat from a snack bar or kill and roast an animal.  It probably smells bad in a zoo too because of all the animal's poop.  Living in a library would be the best.  The smell of old books, and new pages is wonderful.  If I got bored I could watch a movie (they have a bunch of movies at the library for some reason), or listen to music, or I could get abosrbed into a book.  There is unlimited entertainment at the library.  There's also computers there, so I would be set for life.  Perhaps there's a small cafe in the library, if it was really fancy (like there is at Barns and Noble.)  That way I wouldn't starve to death.  So overall the library would be where I chose to live for the rest of my life.

Prompt from: http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/post/17477297690/my-28-most-tried-and-true-writing-prompts

TU Tuesday - Commencement Speech

Wise words are spoken, that touch your soul in commencement speeches.  Amy Poehler told Harvard's graduating class of 2011 "[w]hat [she has] discovered as a person in this world. And that is this: you can't do it alone."  I completely agree with her.  "[B]e open to collaboration. Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your own."  This statement holds true to the show Mrs. Poehler stars on, Parks and Recreation. "Daniels noted the mock documentary style of the series takes into account improvisation and the actors always give the editors so many choices to work with." (Inside Parks and Recreation) In the show all the actors and writers work together to create a wonderful show, without everyone's ideas and input, it would not be what it is today.   

Mrs. Poehler also expressed how she felt making good friends was a huge important part in life.  "Listen, say yes, live in the moment, make sure you play with people who have your back, make big choices early and often."  I agree with this because you do need people to have your back, so when you're down and in the dumps, they can rescue you.  Big choices lead to big responsibilities, and big responsibilities don't come easy without help.  "Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don't know about. "  I agree; If you speak your mind on everything, sometimes you'll get rejected and end up getting hurt.   You need friends to get you through life. "When you feel scared, hold someone's hand and look into their eyes. And when you feel brave, do the same thing. You are all here because you are smart. And you are brave. And if you add kindness and the ability to change a tire, you almost make up the perfect person."  Without other people influencing your life, you aren't who you are.

Sources:
http://www.graduationwisdom.com/speeches/0095-poehler.htm
http://www.paleycenter.org/fall-2009-inside-parks-recreation

  

1. How I Use Facebook

I use Facebook as a way to talk to people who don't have a phone/are grounded from it every once a month or so.  The "chat" feature is annoying.  I don't like Facebook.  I used to like it when I first got it back in middle school, but now I don't.  I used to use it for Farmville; I got to like level 35 and stopped because I realized it was stupid and I was wasting my life.  Sometimes when I log onto Facebook I will scroll down my news feed and literally start making rude comments at everything people post.  Or sometimes if I'm in a bad mood I scroll down and realize how stupid everyone is and tell the screen that I don't like that person, then I laugh to myself.  For tennis this year, me and the other team captains used Facebook as a way to get tennis messages out.  For example, our laser tag party that never happened.  Facebook is inefficient and stupid.  Sometimes when people posts things like "It's wednesday!" or "It's snowing!" it makes me get angry because I think that society is going downhill and the future generation is doomed.  Facebook used to be for college kids, then other kids got to it, now I believe a ton of parents use it, and now it's just dumb.  I use Facebook for pictures.  I want to delete my Facebook, but I don't want to because if i deleted it all the pictures would be gone.  In conclusion I use Facebook only when I have to. I'd much rather waste my life on the computer on Tumblr or playing video games.


Blog idea: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/100-blog-topics-i-hope-you-write/

Love to Know Slideshow

Prompt:  Behind Bars - Why is this person in jail?

 It was a cold and stormy night and a teenage male was just kicked out of his house.  He wondered around the street for hours and then decided to walk into the city.  The wet rain felt heavy on his head.  He looked at his feet as he walked.  He couldn't imagine that he'd been kicked out of his house.  He sighed and looked at his feet.  This wasn't how it was supposed to be.  His mind flashed back to earlier that day.

He and his parents had been fighting.  He was barely passing school.  They yelled at him for using drugs.  They told him cocaine would ruin his life; and he realized it did. But he couldn't stop his addiction. He needed help.

He started walking into an alley. What appeared to be a homeless man emerged from the shadows.  His beard was long and his eyes were red.
"Want to buy cocaine?" The man asked.  He stepped forward.  He needed the drug.  He stepped forward, handed him what money he had in his pocket and grabbed the bag of drugs. The next thing he knew he was blacked out.

He woke in a jail cell confused and angry.  It turns out the supposed homeless man was actually a CIA agent.  He didn't want to call his parents; that just made him more angry.  The night was awful.  He hoped to get out of jail soon; he felt he didn't deserve this.

Picture and Prompt taken from:  http://freelance-writing.lovetoknow.com/Slideshow:Free_Writing_Prompts~5

Creative Contest III

Computer controlled, but not a robot.

Philosophy

Communism is an economic and political philosophy. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto, a 23 page pamphlet explaining their ideas, in 1848. This pamphlet would eventually become the most influential work- it inspired many revolts and revolutionaries.  (Some of the most famous revolutionaries are Fidel Castro, and Mao Zedong.)  During this time the Industrial Revolution was happening in Britain due to its land, labor and capitol. Captialism was also the economic system during this time, which allowed the Industrial Revolution to happen. People were driven by the want to get money for their ideas. The Industrial Revolution caused a widening gap between the middle class's white collar workers, the bourgeoisie, and the blue collar workers, the proletariat. Mr. Marx and Mr. Engles both argued that this has always been the case with humans; they had always been divided into these types of classes. These two philosophers believed that the Industrial Revolution "enriched the wealthy and impoverished the poor" (World History: Patterns of Interaction.) Communism in theory is that the capitalism will destroy itself by the proletariot revolting. The proletariot will then control the government by a dictorship of themselves. The theory then says that the government will go away, and the people will be self sufficient. Basically; this final state is called communism. No governement and run by the people. The people are all equal under communism, they all get the same amount of food, same clothing, same everything. Each person will do their part to help the overall state. Individuality is gone under communism, but the people want the state to benefit because everything the state owns is all the peoples.

I do not agree with communism because throughout history it fails.  There has never been one successful communism state.  The only time people actually want to be united as one, and share everything is when they are all connected by god.  The Amish are a great example of that.  Why would the rich want to give their hard earned money to the poor?  The poor definitely would want the money from the rich.  But communism isn't fair.  The government can never be stable enough to leave because the society of the people won't ever be self sufficient.  If everyone is working for the same cause, people will start to get lazy during their jobs because they figure it doesn't matter how hard they work; as long as they look like they are doing work they will get paid the same amount as everyone else. If the government is currupt, which most likely it is, then the whole state will never be equal.  In the state you're supposedly supposed to be all equal; but some are more equal than others. Humans are naturally greedy, and this is why communism will never work.  

Works Cited

Black, Linda, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor, and Dahia Ibo Shabaka. "25.4 An Age of Reform." World History: Patterns of Interaction. By Roger B. Beck. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), 1998. Print.

"The Communist Manifesto." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 May 2012. Web. 06 May 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Communist_Manifesto>.

"The Principles of Communism." The Principles of Communism. Web. 06 May 2012. <http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm>.

TU Tuesday - Classified

If you're looking for a place to fix, or get a new fence this is the place.  We do estimates too!  Call us up!

http://timesunion.kaango.com/ad-fence-sales-installation-and-repair/20535916

NOTE:  THIS STORY IS FICTION


Sad and Broken


The day was sunny and hot when it all happened. The mysterious event that caused me to have to spend money.  I slowly walked to my backyard, with a glass of lemonaid my Mum had made for me.  "I'll make you lemonaid if you go outside and trim the hedges." she had said. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, because exposure to the sun was causing my pale white skin to sweat.  I didn't like the sun; I was used to being in a dark room with my computer and video games  for several hours everyday. It's not my fault I'm 30 and still live with my parents- I'm renting out the basement.  I have no job. I went to go chop the hedges I noticed a large hole in the brand new fence my Pa installed last week.  I screamed and ran back inside because I didn't know what to do. 


My mom pushed me back outside and I stood and stared at the fence.  I walked back towards it.  It was up to me to repair it.  I grabbed a hammer and some wood and thought for a very, very, very long time how to fix it.  I sat on a lawn chair, and continued staring at the fence.  I put on a hat because the sun was getting to me.  I understood what to do.


I went back downstairs into the basement and Googled how to fix a fence.  I read slowly, understanding every word.  I grabbed some nails from the garage and went back outside to the fence.  I put up a board of wood and hammered it over the hole.  I actually enjoyed fixing this fence.  I worked on it for about an hour.  As I walked back inside my mom gave me another glass of lemonaid.  She was so happy I fixed the fence!


When my pa got home he saw I fixed the fence.   He had a brilliant plan.  He asked me if I wanted to make a fence repair and installation service with him.  He hated his current job, so he was glad to try something new.  I was so happy, I never had a job before.  We decided to call it "J D Fence" because my name is Donald and his name is Jerry.  We were going to be the best fence repair team ever! "Aluminum, [c]hainlink, [v]inyl and [w]ood", we will learn to do it all! 


 From that time and on, me and my father fixed fences.  I eventually made enough money to move out of my parent's house. At the start we had to do "[f]ree [e]stimates" because we didn't have enough customers.  But then our fence service grew.  We became the richest fence installers and repairmen ever.

S = Shrimp Scampi

1 1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined- Whenever I was sad my mom would buy me shrimp. Shrimp never tasted good to me as a child but now I acquired a taste for it.  My mom's scampi is the best.  To prepare the shrimp I stood by the sink for several hours and cut the gross parts of the shrimp before cooking it.  My hands were frozen from the shrimp.  It hurt my hand but I thought it was worth it. 

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper- My mom told me to grab the sea salt from the cabin.  I don't know why we use sea salt instead but we do.  I don't add pepper because I don't like the taste. My mom agrees. I put the salt in.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter- So much butter! My mom laughs and says she doesn't care about the calories from the butter. We figured we'd just exercise and play tennis after we eat it.  I put the butter in the pan and patiently wait.

2 teaspoons minced garlic- I love garlic.  I put it on everything.  I slowly put it in and inhaled the wonderful smell. My mom laughs because she doesn't know anyone who likes garlic as much as me.

1/4 cup dry white vermouth- My mom doesn't put this in because we don't own any.  The scampi usually tastes fine without it.  We ignore the ingredient and move down the list.

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice- Instead of using freshly squeezed lemon juice, I pour the lemon shaped bottle that we got from the store into the pan and can't take the smell of the scampi. I wanted it so bad at that moment.  My mom tells me to wait.

2 teaspoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves- My mom takes the parsley leaves from her little plant out in the backyard and washes it off. We hope our dog, Blake didn't pee on it in the yard. I chop it up and drop it in.

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest- We yet again don't add this because we put in the other lemon juice.  My mom now lets me try a bite since I've waited so patiently. After it cooks we enjoy the meal with my dad and brother during dinner.

Picture and Recipe from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/shrimp-scampi-recipe/index.html

Famous Poem Starters

Shipwreck by Alyssa Varsanyi
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
through my eyes a flash-
at sea,
what I can see means so much to me.
A light house shines bright back into my mind,
making me wonder why I have not yet to shine. 

I crawl out of bed,
and head to the porch.
Staring into the nightmare,
that had occured to me the previous day.
A ship wrecked all over the beach.  
Corpses stench the air.
I stare and do not hesistate to turn back.
Once day I will have the courage to go look at the mess.


The mess I was supposed to have been on-
for I,
was supposed to be the captain. 



(First line from The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe)

Nursery Rhymes ARE Relevant to Life

Diddle, diddle, dumpling

---

Diddle, diddle, dumpling,

my son, John,
Went to bed

with his trousers on,
One shoe off

and one shoe on!
Diddle, diddle, dumpling,

my son, John!

I chose this nursery rhyme because it reminds me of me when I'm too stressed out and forget things before I go to bed.  For example where it says "my son, John,Went to bed with his trousers on," one time I went to sleep with a nice shirt I wore to school instead of an old tee-shirt I usually wear to bed.  Another time I wore a hoodie to bed without realizing it because I wasn't concentrating. (I'm paranoid that if I fall asleep with a hoodie I will somehow roll around and the strings will wrap around my neck and suffocate me so usually I do not sleep with a hoodie on.)  This nursery rhyme also sounds like something my mom would say (plainly, not in rhyme) to one of her friends because she likes to talk about me and I find it weird that she shares embarrassing things like that I don't want her to.

Taken from:  http://www-personal.umich.edu/~pfa/dreamhouse/nursery/rhymes/diddle.html
 

Turn your Inkblot into a Butterfly

 Thoughts Before Speaking 
Can Lead to a Friend

I had been quick to think, 

and from that turned a disaster.

Arranging things around quickly,

always going so quickly,

messing it up even more.

I was angry and torn.

 

 

A word said wrong,

saying exactly what I thought,

I knew then it can sometimes hurt others,

and from that

I burned inside.

My own mind-

embarrassed.

My own words sting my tongue,

I dropped my head in shame and preceded to back up,

dropping it and backing up,

seems that's all I ever do.

Realizing, 

I really need to think.

 

Patience didn't occur to me,

so I looked all around

and thought hard.

I quickly turned around,

and walked away from my own thoughts -

I couldn't think about it any more. 

I knew now something had to be done.

The sun rose,

and I knew what to do.

I walked up and said sorry to you.

You forgave me,

and we became friends.

And  I now thinking-

ever so slightly

before the next word was shed.

Cathleen F. Crowley

http://www.timesunion.com/cathleencrowley/
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/A-precious-gift-for-the-giving-3473055.php
http://blog.timesunion.com/healthcare/about/

Cathleen F. Crowley is an "avid sportswoman, playing volleyball, basketball and ice hockey, as well as board games and orienteering"; but Mrs. Crowley covers "health care, hospitals and medicine" for the Times Union.  The article I read was called A precious gift for the giving.  In this article it tells how New York is "rank[ing] close to the bottom in registered organ donors" in the United States and now with the help of DOV (Department of Motor Vehicles) it is said that the registered organ donors will rise because of the new part of the website.  In the new part of the website, people have the option to "register as organ donors".  Right now, the organ donor list is low, "so a team of nurses at the hospital has started an effort to improve the donation process and increase the number of donors."  The nurses help patients change their mind and sign up for donation.  This article was kind of touching because I realised that "[y]ou could give someone hope and be someone's hero," just by donating.  Mrs. Crowley is a "closet techie" and researches a lot for what she covers in the newspaper.  She has been a "newspaper reporter for 15 years" and loves her job.

NYT Tuesday

Two Different Kinds of Birds

The day began as a first step;

Their feathers were simple,

slick but shallow,

except for two hybrids.

The tale of a shiftless dreamer 

and the woman who saved him;

has been the only dispute.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/us/a-shortage-of-rural-veterinarians-means-retirement-must-wait.html?ref=texas

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/science/dinosaur-dig-in-china-turns-up-largest-known-feathered-animal.html?ref=science

http://tv.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/arts/television/bent-on-nbc-brings-romance-to-remodeling.html?scp=2&sq=romance&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/business/energy-environment/for-hybrid-and-electric-cars-to-pay-off-owners-must-wait.html?ref=business

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/us/love-that-endured-alzheimers-ends-in-2-deaths.html?scp=2&sq=love&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/nyregion/juror-in-michael-pena-trial-regrets-lack-of-rape-conviction.html?ref=nyregion

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/nyregion/fighting-over-a-liquor-license-from-park-avenue-to-albany.html?ref=nyregion&gwh=2E0F2A4176D776B11EF574BC3754E43A

 

What sets you apart from the crowd?

The fact that I hate the crowd sets me apart from the crowd.  Everyone these days is trying desperately to fit in with the "crowd".  While I, on the other hand, want to defy the crowd.  I dislike "mainstream" culture.  I don't listen to the radio because well, simply, it's awful.  I don't even know the names of most celebrities.  (For example, I get mixed up between a Beetles band member and someone from INSINC, although I have forgotten both their names...One of them is Paul.)

I tend to be quiet around other people who I'm not good friends with.  For example in art last year I had no friends (literally, it was awful) and I never talked to anyone and sat by myself.  (Turns out I draw better when I'm alone, doesn't surprise me much, considering the only work I can ever get done is in my room with music blasting.)  But then if you took earth science last year I would never shut up because one of my best friends, Timmy, was in that class and we'd just talk and draw all over each other's papers.  I seem to have multiple personalities around different people.  There's quiet/shy me, 5 year old me, funny me, and angry me.

Anyways, I defy the crowd with my train of thoughts.  I am always thinking outside of the box.  Sometimes my mind works in layers, and I'm a visual learner.  I draw whatever I want, do whatever I want (for the most part) and am not even swayed to want to be like someone in mainstream society.  I am my own person, and I believe in not being anyone else.

R = Red Robin

My resturant is the Red Robin in Clifton Park.  I really enjoyed eating here-- the food is delicious!   They have baskets of fries that are to die for!  (I absolutely love french fries.)  Red Robin is known for their "gourmet" burger.  When you walk into Red Robin there is a lot of balloons surrounding you and a sports-bar-ish area when you look around.  You can take one on your way out, which is something that's really cool.  If you look down you'll notice a TV is on the ground...where you're standing!  There's a glass floor so you can look and see the TV, but not break it.  The service was well when I went.  The atmosphere Red Robin provides is "fun and food!"  The prices are reasonable for the taste of their food!  There is only pro's here I believe.  I would recommend Red Robin because of the excellent burgers and fries! 

The Book(s) that Changed My Life.

My favorite book series of all time would have to be Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan. The book follows a character named (ironically) Darren Shan.  Darren is turned into a vampire and forced to leave his human family behind; he then follows Mr. Crepsley (the man who made Darren into a vampire)  as his apprentice.  I started reading this series in 6th grade; prior to reading it I have only read realistic fiction.  I didn't care for vampires, or werewolves or weird creatures that didn't exist.  I really like this book series because this was the series that got me into liking horror and mythical creatures.   This book really opened up my eyes to what horrible things could be done, or thought of.  I realized realistic fiction was boring, and there was so much more imagination that could entertain myself while reading a book.  Cirque du Freak doesn't really relate to my life, but when I was younger I wish it did.  I would dream about becoming a vampire too and going on magical bloody adventures in the forest.  I really like the characters in this series.  Mr. Crepsley was the coolest thing ever because he had like a huge scar down his face and a crop of orange hair. I loved him so much I like cried when something bad happened to him.   (No shame.)  Darren was an interesting boy too, he reminded me of myself in a way.  It's hard to explain.  Some of the other characters were incredibly interesting.  There was a snake boy, a tiny man who controlled the universe, and half-dead-reborn-people who couldn't talk.  I used to cry every time I read the first book.   I probably re-read the book about four times.  I cried a lot but it was worth it.  (Yet again no shame.) This series probably speaks to me so strongly because it's what sparked my interest in the world of horror, the supernatural, and the imagination that lays deep in my brain.

Bucket List

1. Learn Japanese so that I can at least form 25 sentences with it - I find the Japanese language to be the most interesting language on this planet, and if I could at least sound like I know what I'm talking about that would be super cool! 

2. Go to Texas - I have never been outside of the time-zone and Texas has always appealed to me.  I have a friend who lives there that I want to see.  I also want to go to Schlitterbahn; the largest waterpark I know of.  I saw it once on a Travel Channel Show. 

3.   Go to Platform 9 and Three Quarters in London - I have been a Harry Potter fan since middle school, and I would just find it to be amazing to actually go where the movies were filmed! 

4.  Go to Japan - There is so so many things I could possibly think of doing in Japan. I would probably freak out the whole time and eat a lot of sushi.  I would also make sure to go during the time when the Sakura trees are in blossom and I would also like to go to a shrine there.

5.  Gain 1,000 followers on Tumblr - I'm at 663 followers now, and if I promote myself more online I could probably get more.  I've had my Tumblr since summer so I suppose I could reach my goal if I've gained this much already. 

6. Get a pet hedgehog - they're the cutest things ever and if you put them in water they're float on their back like a little boat!! They're the cutest things ever and I just want to play with one.

7. Go to a bamboo forest in China - I love bamboo so much and I would love to just be surrounded by it!  I have about 4 plants in my room and I try my best to take care of them.  I actually care if they die; unlike any other plant in my house.

8.  Help make a video game - I would love to design anything in a video game.  I think it'd be even cooler playing it, and then seeing my name in the credits! 

9. Go shopping in the biggest mall in the world -  I think this would be the most unique experience ever! I would probably spend a lot of money, but it would be worth it.   I think this would make my life complete! I would probably shop till I just ran out of money.

10. Go to a concert of either Super Junior, TVXQ, or BEAST in Korea.  I love these boy bands so much it's insane.  I have listened to TVXQ's song called Balloons over 100 times in a month. Every member in these boy bands are beautiful and I would absolutely love to see one of them live.

Lucky Blog

My favorite piece of clothing ever is my tennis sweatpants from last year.  When I finally got them I put them on and it was like heaven the way the soft grey pants touched my legs. I never gotten any clothing from school.  On the grey sweatpants there is a red image of two tennis rackets on the upper side to my left (if I'm wearing them.)  They are actually guy sweatpants, but they are extremely comfy.  I think I've worn these sweatpants at least once almost every week since I got them. A lot of people from the team that year got them too, and that means we could all match when we did the" team clothing" dress up day.  The sweatpants softness on the inside has started to become really worn out but I still love them.  I wore them to Florida this year and my plane ride was wonderful- so I consider them to be lucky. (On the way back I wore my black sweatpants and the ride was very scary.) They also match a  lot of my clothes because almost all my tee-shirts (minus the tye-dye ones) are all black.  Grey matches with black very easy and it's hard to wear black on black because then you could get stereotyped as someone who has no taste in clothing color.

TU Tuesday - CRIME.

My question: What makes someone consider someone who is under 18 an adult when dealing with crimes, such as the grand jury did for Lance Tiernan's case, and since Lance was charged as an adult does that mean he'll be killed or spend a life time in jail?

The article I read in the Times Union was about how a Ohio teen was charged as an adult for murdering another kid in his "fellow group home." The boy who killed sixteen year old Anthony Parker was seventeen, and his name was Lance Tiernan.  The two boys allegedly got into an argument- Anthony hit his head and got "blunt force trauma" and died nine days later he was sent to the hospital.  I believe Lance is still a teen but "[i]n most states, the youngest offender who can be waived to adult court is a 17 or 18-year-old....Usually, the offense allegedly committed must be particularly egregious in order for the case to be waived judicially, or there must be a long history of offenses."  Murder is a pretty serious offense, and Lance is accused as being an adult so for Lance to be accused as an adult makes it okay according to the Juvenile "Waiver."  In Ohio they have the death penalty, so if Lance is charged guilty he may have to go on death row.  He could also go to prision because some people argue that "[l]ife in prison is a worse punishment and a more effective deterrent."  Since Lance was living in a home for people who are "abused, neglected, have disabilities or are otherwise troubled" it is possible he may not be charged with the death penalty, and just some time in jail.  He may just be mentally ill.


 Resources:

• http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/OH-teen-charged-with-murder-in-group-home-death-3406489.php
• http://criminal.findlaw.com/juvenile-justice/juvenile-waiver-transfer-to-adult-court.html
• http://www.drc.ohio.gov/public/capital.htm
• http://www.balancedpolitics.org/death_penalty.htm

EXTRA CREDIT PIVOT

Creative Contest II Blog

There was once a boy who couldn't make anyone laugh.  The boy spent his life making a joke that would be sure to make someone laugh.  When he finally thought of one, he tested it on a man walking.  The man thought it was so funny his head fell off.

 

Taken off of blackboard: http://blackboard.neric.org/@@BBD74E190855DF35FC17CC9A6F386EFA/courses/1/guild-10reg1bd/content/_192132_1/embedded/wts2.gif

 

SCRUPLES

2. In a heated tennis match, your opponent returns a ball that looks out, but you’re not sure. If you win the point, you win the match. Do you call the ball out?

If it looks out, then it was out. If it looks in, it's in. You always have the final call. In this situation, I would call it out.   Even if I wasn't sure, I would call it out.  There is NO re-do's in tennis. It doesn't matter if I was winning the match or not- any time during the game I would call it how I see it.  Being the match point, I would feel bad of course if it turns out the ball actually was in, but I honestly call it how I see it.

It's hard to believe that I have played tennis for two years now. I personally have been in this actually situation a few times.  During practice I learned to call, right when it hits, and shout whether you thought it was in or out. For me, when it's a close call I always have to remember exactly how it hit, and use kind of a "replay" feature in my head. (Kind of like they have in tennis matches on TV.) Once I remember the exact spot it hit, I say it. I don't like to look like I hesitate when I call the ball. This season, when I would play, right before the actual match would start I would tell my opponent that I register the shot in my head before calling it.

My first match this year I played a girl who would always have awful calls.  At first I let them slide, because I was a nice person, and I was super nervous of my position.  She kept going to her coach to "pump her up."  Since it was my first match as a singles player (and well, in 1st position) I really had no idea what was going on.  I had played exhibition doubles the year before.  At first I started to beat her, then she caught up.  We kept getting really really close and the exhibition from my team was sitting on the grass watching me.  She had this shot that was completely out and I called it out.  She was like 'are you sure?', just kind of doubting my call.  I was offended because it was so far out, I turned to the people watching me and awkwardly asked them if they agreed with me -- they did.  Anyways I ended up losing the match. At the end we were so sweaty and it had been such a long game, the girl came up and hugged me and I was so proud of myself.  I hadn't cared that I lost just because I did such a good job, and I knew in my heart the girl cheated a bit here and there.

So my point is,  I am always honest with my calls.  I call it how I see it. I would call the ball out.

My Blog Idea

Songs in other languages make you think differently.  If you take a second language you're sure to have heard at least one song in another language!  For the blog write a short story using any (CLEAN) song sung in another language as an inspiration, capturing the tone of the song.  Cite the song title, artist, and lyrics used (both in English and in the other language.)   Call the blog "[Insert song name here] Inspiration Story".

Ex.  

Song Used: SEOUL by SuperJunior(슈퍼주니어)& Girls' Generation(소녀시대)

Song Lyrcis English & Korean: http://immortalsoul123.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/seoul-song-mv-lyrics-romanization-and-english-translations-download-links/

Walking home after a long day at school, I look to my right and notice a large beautiful tree.  One foot after another I walk slowly, staring at the beauty around me.  Has it been this long already?  I nod in agreement with my thoughts as I notice a pretty bird sitting on a tree branch.   Its been a full year since I moved to Seoul, the heart of Korea.  My mind was still hopeful, almost every day had been good.  I start to move towards the bird, carefully going slow so I don't scare it away.  

AHHHHHH! I scream as my friend jumps on my back.  He got off and poked my shoulder, asking what I was doing.  I told him about how I was going to get a good look at the bird until he attacked me.  He nodded, smiled, and proceeded to grab my hand to drag me away from the tree.

"Let's go get some food, I'm hungry." He laughed.  I couldn't argue.  We walked together though the street, waving to a happy traffic officer as we passed.  He stopped at a place where a ice cream sign stood.

"Ice cream isn't dessert!" I laughed, as he nodded.

"I had a good day, let's just do it once." He smiled, and grabbed my hand again, leading me into the ice cream place.  I had never been here before.  It was so large, and decorated so adorably!  I sat down and we ordered sundaes.  The day couldn't get any better!  

As we walked out, he told me he'd walk me home.  It was dark now and the street lights were on,  I was sure glad to have such a good friend.  

I noticed the bird again as I was walking; it flew into it's nest with three little eggs.

Stephen Leslie Short Story Feedback

1.)  "They leave behind things……more interested in the violence then the food sometimes.    They always forget the water heaters." I thought it was interesting how the water heater was always left behind by gangs, although I don't really understand why someone would need a water heater. "As the heat of the day increased"  Isn't the location hot enough?  Why would someone need a water heater if the area was already hot?  I personally don't understand what a water heater is used for.   "I’m done draining the water heater"  Possibly describe what the water heater is...is it like a stove? I don't know if it's because I'm ignorant or just because I'm a teenager.  I'm sorry. 2.) "Sometimes I sit in the sleek black cars in the garages and imagine what it must have been like to roar down the road,"  If there still is cars, why can't he use the car to move north?  Did "the great migration" happen because oil ran out?  Is this a world just without power? I don't understand what kind of world this is taking place in. Is it far off into the future? 
3) "Sometimes I have a hard time distinguishing what I long for the most the rain or a woman to hold at night."  I thought this line was very emotional and I really liked it.  It shows a bit of the longing and nostalgia of the old times.  Both rain is beautiful, as the woman would be.  It makes the reader think about how lucky they are to have what they have now.
4)  I really like the idea of how the town is surrounded and trapped in sand in a way.  It's quite original, I've never read a book with sand causing so much pain.  I really like how you mentioned a concert! "I found a few pillars of what was once the outdoor concert hall and even found a seat with a label on it “C 214”. It shows how life was once fun,full of joy and music was to be heard by families!
5)"When I awoke I just laid on my sleeping bag and listened to the sound of the sand blowing."  Is this kind of like a radio?  Perhaps calming to the character?
6) "Since they were on foot they could not haul a lot of weigh so the cans were left behind."  Maybe describe the physical condition and looks of the gang? Are they starving or in good shape?