This year I had a lot of fun writing blog posts. By keeping up with this blog I learned that I've been paying attention to what I read. Some ways I benefited are that I really looked into the problems in Kthe book and became good at making inferences or guessing how a character felt. Keeping up with this blog also made me more responsible because I had to do a blog post every other week,
and you had to be responsible for yourself to remember when to make a blog post.
I feel like writing online is different than in a notebook because you have to have to think about what you're going to write in a blog than just writing your thoughts freely in your notebook. Also, typing online for me is kind of slower than writing in a notebook. Writing online can be liberating when you are talking about a book you're reading and you have a lot to say about it. Other people can see your thoughts instead of having to keep some good thoughts in your notebook. It can also be limiting for the same reason. Sometimes you really want to write your thoughts down online, but since lots of people have access to your work you know that it could hurt someone or be offensive to something. That is more risky than keeping your thoughts to your self.
I think that most times online people try to make themselves better than who they are than in person. It is kind of rare when you see someone being realer than they are online than in person. On the Internet people can make fake names or have different personalities than they have in real life. I think that for some people they make sort of an alter-ego on the Internet.
On average, I think that most teenagers will abuse the freedom they have that is given online. They will find things that their parents have tried to censor them from or they might say something stupid that could spark controversy among their peers. Teenagers will also say things that they wouldn't say to someone's face online because it could be some sort of shield from reality. I think that is bad because you can be bullied at school and then have to come home to deal with cyber bullying.
To be honest, I don't think I would keep up with this blog, mainly because it would seem like homework. I like reading for entertainment, but it takes the fun away when you have think about every element inthe story and make it out into a blog post. I actually like blogs because you get people's opinions who are not real authors or journalists. It's cool to see an average person making stories or articles just for the fun of it.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Boy 21
I am currently reading Boy 21 by Matthew Quick. It starts out with a main character named Finley, who lives in a run down neighborhood called Bellmont, and is one of the very little population of white kids living there. He is one of the best on his basketball team. A lot of his life changes when he meets Russ Washington, otherwise known as Boy 21. Boy 21's parents has just been murdered and now he is in a state where he thinks he is from outer-space. There are a lot of things that Finley has on his mind everyday, and they could be life or death too.
One thing that Finley is worrying about is if he will keep his starting position at point guard. Because of Boy 21, who is supposed to be a basketball phenom, Finley might have to be his backup. Finley is not a star on his team, but basketball might be his one ticket out of his town and this year is his last in high school. Boy 21's parents were murdered, which is the reason why he moved to Bellmont. Even while he was getting the information about that from his coach, Finley couldn't help but think about if he will lose his spot. Finley's thoughts come after his coach gives him this situation. "And even though Coach is talking about the aftereffects of a murder, I'm ashamed to admit that I immediately begin worrying about my starting position. It's like being told I have cancer and might need a part of me removed-the part called starting point guard." It shows that even though this kid has been through a lot, Finley still has to think about himself more than Boy 21.
Another thing Finley has to worry about constantly is his surroundings in his neighborhood and at school. Finley is a white kid in a basically all black school, and all black neighborhood. He even adopted the nickname 'White Rabbit'. After he got that nickname people started giving him their carrots on their lunch trays everyday. Finley did not like it at all, but they still do it anyways. The only reason why him and his girlfriend are safer than anyone in his neighborhood is because of his girlfriend's brother, Rod. Rod made a promise after a scary incident that no one would lay a finger on them ever again. The person that assaulted Finley and his girlfriend was found unconscious, swollen and bruised, his braids cut off, and his head shaved. Since then no one has wanted to mess with them. I think if Finley becomes friends with Boy 21, Boy 21 will have to suffer like him, or they will become outcasts in the school.
The last thing that Finley is thinking about is the mental state that Boy 21 is in. Boy 21 thinks he is an alien from outer space and all he talks about is the constellations and the galaxy like an alien. He knows everything there is to space. I think lots of people in the school will feel weird about him. If I were in Finley's position, I might think it was a joke, which was one of Finley's theories. The thing the Finley was surprised about was that his coach chose him to be friends with Boy 21. He didn't don't why he would be a good match for Boy 21.
In conclusion, Finley has to worry about things in his everyday life that make things harder for him. That includes his starting positions, his neighborhood, and Boy 21's mind state.
One thing that Finley is worrying about is if he will keep his starting position at point guard. Because of Boy 21, who is supposed to be a basketball phenom, Finley might have to be his backup. Finley is not a star on his team, but basketball might be his one ticket out of his town and this year is his last in high school. Boy 21's parents were murdered, which is the reason why he moved to Bellmont. Even while he was getting the information about that from his coach, Finley couldn't help but think about if he will lose his spot. Finley's thoughts come after his coach gives him this situation. "And even though Coach is talking about the aftereffects of a murder, I'm ashamed to admit that I immediately begin worrying about my starting position. It's like being told I have cancer and might need a part of me removed-the part called starting point guard." It shows that even though this kid has been through a lot, Finley still has to think about himself more than Boy 21.
Another thing Finley has to worry about constantly is his surroundings in his neighborhood and at school. Finley is a white kid in a basically all black school, and all black neighborhood. He even adopted the nickname 'White Rabbit'. After he got that nickname people started giving him their carrots on their lunch trays everyday. Finley did not like it at all, but they still do it anyways. The only reason why him and his girlfriend are safer than anyone in his neighborhood is because of his girlfriend's brother, Rod. Rod made a promise after a scary incident that no one would lay a finger on them ever again. The person that assaulted Finley and his girlfriend was found unconscious, swollen and bruised, his braids cut off, and his head shaved. Since then no one has wanted to mess with them. I think if Finley becomes friends with Boy 21, Boy 21 will have to suffer like him, or they will become outcasts in the school.
The last thing that Finley is thinking about is the mental state that Boy 21 is in. Boy 21 thinks he is an alien from outer space and all he talks about is the constellations and the galaxy like an alien. He knows everything there is to space. I think lots of people in the school will feel weird about him. If I were in Finley's position, I might think it was a joke, which was one of Finley's theories. The thing the Finley was surprised about was that his coach chose him to be friends with Boy 21. He didn't don't why he would be a good match for Boy 21.
In conclusion, Finley has to worry about things in his everyday life that make things harder for him. That includes his starting positions, his neighborhood, and Boy 21's mind state.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
The White Boy Shuffle
I am reading the book The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty. The main character is a black kid named Gunnar, and he lives in a mostly whit neighborhood in Santa Monica. Soon he moves to a ghetto called Hillside. Gunnar had to act like everyone else in Santa Monica, but now he has to learn how to act like the people in Hillside.
Gunnar grew up in Santa Monica, a safe neighborhood where Gunnar didn't have to watch his back. He went to school with mostly white kids, and was described as the "funny, cool black guy." One day, his mother asked if they wanted to go to an all-black camp. Gunnar and his 2 sisters all said no, and she knew something was wrong. I think this book shows a lot about race and how racial stereotypes are. His mom thought they were becoming too white for their own family. That was when the family started to move to Hillside. I think moving to the new neighborhood had to do with changing his whole mindset and ways he lived, because Hillside was nothing like Santa Monica. Before moving, Gunnar's hobbies included reading, WWII, writing poems, and skateboarding.
When Gunnar's family first moved to Hillside, he had a taste of what he was in for. His mom told him to buy breakfast for everyone, and while on the street he asked another teenager where the store was in a casual manner. That kid started insulting Gunnar's clothes and asking why he was talking so polite. Gunnar realized what happened and when he got back to the house he shouted, "Ma, you done messed up and moved to the 'hood!" Even though his family was black, they didn't feel right in the community. They felt like they stuck out or they weren't like their neighbors. Before, Gunnar had never really seen black people. Now, he never really saw white people. Only after a few days in Hillside, he started using slang words. When he and his sisters weren't getting off of a swing, a group of kids came and the three started crying. They were kicked and punched until they ran away. Gunnar said he learned his first lesson, "never, ever cry in public - it only makes thins worse." In Hillside, he started playing basketball, hanging out with gangsters, and getting into trouble. The only good thing Gunnar got out of living in Hillside was playing basketball. He was ranked top 100 in the country and it even got him scholarships to various ivy league schools.
In conclusion, Gunnar had to learn a lot on how to fit in in Hillside. In Santa Monica nothing was dangerous, but Gunnar had to change his way of living in order to survive in Hillside.
Gunnar grew up in Santa Monica, a safe neighborhood where Gunnar didn't have to watch his back. He went to school with mostly white kids, and was described as the "funny, cool black guy." One day, his mother asked if they wanted to go to an all-black camp. Gunnar and his 2 sisters all said no, and she knew something was wrong. I think this book shows a lot about race and how racial stereotypes are. His mom thought they were becoming too white for their own family. That was when the family started to move to Hillside. I think moving to the new neighborhood had to do with changing his whole mindset and ways he lived, because Hillside was nothing like Santa Monica. Before moving, Gunnar's hobbies included reading, WWII, writing poems, and skateboarding.
When Gunnar's family first moved to Hillside, he had a taste of what he was in for. His mom told him to buy breakfast for everyone, and while on the street he asked another teenager where the store was in a casual manner. That kid started insulting Gunnar's clothes and asking why he was talking so polite. Gunnar realized what happened and when he got back to the house he shouted, "Ma, you done messed up and moved to the 'hood!" Even though his family was black, they didn't feel right in the community. They felt like they stuck out or they weren't like their neighbors. Before, Gunnar had never really seen black people. Now, he never really saw white people. Only after a few days in Hillside, he started using slang words. When he and his sisters weren't getting off of a swing, a group of kids came and the three started crying. They were kicked and punched until they ran away. Gunnar said he learned his first lesson, "never, ever cry in public - it only makes thins worse." In Hillside, he started playing basketball, hanging out with gangsters, and getting into trouble. The only good thing Gunnar got out of living in Hillside was playing basketball. He was ranked top 100 in the country and it even got him scholarships to various ivy league schools.
In conclusion, Gunnar had to learn a lot on how to fit in in Hillside. In Santa Monica nothing was dangerous, but Gunnar had to change his way of living in order to survive in Hillside.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams by Ben Joravsky is a book about two kids, William Gates and Arthur Agee, trying to make it to the NBA. They are both from different inner-cities of Chicago, and they're number one goal is to make it big by playing basketball. Even though they had similar and different problems with life, both William and Arthur would not let them get in their way of their dreams.
One obstacle that was in William's way getting to school. He grew up and lived in the Cabrini-Green projects, but got a scholarship to play at St. Josephs, a private school that was at least four hours away. He had to go live with his sister and brother-in-law to make his commute a little easier. It still took him two and a half hours to get to school. He had to leave quick, and mostly never had time to eat breakfast. His commute was harder than anyone could have. First, he had to take a bus that came at 6:20. After that, he got off to take a commuter train, and now he wasn't in Chicago. Then, him and Arthur Agee met to take a bus that still left them about a half a mile away form school. In the winter it was worse because it says, "In the winter it would be like crossing Alaska, the snow would be so expansive and deep." After all that, he still had to start school. Even though his commute was long and tough, William never gave up on going to the school and getting more coaching on basketball. Another thing that was in his way was his knee injury. Even though he did not injure his ligament, he tore his cartilage. It meant that he would have to go to rehab for six weeks. He was happy that he didn't have to miss the season, but he would not be as effective on the court as he was before. There were even more problems, but these two things that William had to deal with did not stop him from playing basketball.
Arthur Agee had his own set of personal problems too. One is that his family was deep in poverty. He had two other siblings, and his dad couldn't hold on to a job. His mom left her job, and it meant they were broke. In his sophomore year, he owed the school $500, or he would have to get kicked out. Without school, he had nothing to do and nowhere to go. In the book it says, "Two weeks went by and the Agees still didn't have the money for Arthur's tuition." It shows that the family was very poor and in two weeks they still didn't have enough money that most people we know have. It resulted in him having to go to his neighborhood school. Another thing that affected him was when his father left. His father, Bo, was a drug addict, and that's where most of the family's money went to. He used to sell drugs, but he eventually tried it with his customers and got hooked to it. His business then fell apart. One day, after hitting his wife with a metal pipe, Bo left for good. He had left other times but come back, and even went to jail once. Bo's disappearance also affected Arthur's mom, who wanted him to be punished. Arthur didn't have anyone at home to talk to, and had no role model in his family because Bo left.
In conclusion, Williams Gates and Arthur Agee had many problems and challenges in their daily lives, but none of them got in their way of pursuing their basketball careers. They proved to be strong and determined to not let any of those obstacles ruin their lives.
One obstacle that was in William's way getting to school. He grew up and lived in the Cabrini-Green projects, but got a scholarship to play at St. Josephs, a private school that was at least four hours away. He had to go live with his sister and brother-in-law to make his commute a little easier. It still took him two and a half hours to get to school. He had to leave quick, and mostly never had time to eat breakfast. His commute was harder than anyone could have. First, he had to take a bus that came at 6:20. After that, he got off to take a commuter train, and now he wasn't in Chicago. Then, him and Arthur Agee met to take a bus that still left them about a half a mile away form school. In the winter it was worse because it says, "In the winter it would be like crossing Alaska, the snow would be so expansive and deep." After all that, he still had to start school. Even though his commute was long and tough, William never gave up on going to the school and getting more coaching on basketball. Another thing that was in his way was his knee injury. Even though he did not injure his ligament, he tore his cartilage. It meant that he would have to go to rehab for six weeks. He was happy that he didn't have to miss the season, but he would not be as effective on the court as he was before. There were even more problems, but these two things that William had to deal with did not stop him from playing basketball.
Arthur Agee had his own set of personal problems too. One is that his family was deep in poverty. He had two other siblings, and his dad couldn't hold on to a job. His mom left her job, and it meant they were broke. In his sophomore year, he owed the school $500, or he would have to get kicked out. Without school, he had nothing to do and nowhere to go. In the book it says, "Two weeks went by and the Agees still didn't have the money for Arthur's tuition." It shows that the family was very poor and in two weeks they still didn't have enough money that most people we know have. It resulted in him having to go to his neighborhood school. Another thing that affected him was when his father left. His father, Bo, was a drug addict, and that's where most of the family's money went to. He used to sell drugs, but he eventually tried it with his customers and got hooked to it. His business then fell apart. One day, after hitting his wife with a metal pipe, Bo left for good. He had left other times but come back, and even went to jail once. Bo's disappearance also affected Arthur's mom, who wanted him to be punished. Arthur didn't have anyone at home to talk to, and had no role model in his family because Bo left.
In conclusion, Williams Gates and Arthur Agee had many problems and challenges in their daily lives, but none of them got in their way of pursuing their basketball careers. They proved to be strong and determined to not let any of those obstacles ruin their lives.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Fate and Rivalry in Romeo and Juliet
In Romeo and Juliet, rivalry and fate are two themes that really put the story together because they cause most of the problems in the story. I think those themes can be paired together because Romeo and Juliet met by fate, and their family's rivalry is what makes their relationship a secret. Also, fate has to do with the family rivalry. It just happens to be that Romeo and Juliet love each other. One of the biggest problem in the story is that Romeo and Juliet are in different family names.
An example of fate comes in Act 1 Scene 2, when the Servingman asks Romeo to read the invitation to a party held by the Capulets. The Servingman cannot read, so he asks Romeo to read it for him. Romeo finds out that Rosaline is going, and it makes him want to go. In Act 1 Scene 2, Romeo says, "I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, / But to rejoice in splendor of mine own." His only reason to be at the party was to meet up with Rosaline. If the Servingman had never asked Romeo to read the invitation, Romeo would've never went to the party, therefore probably never meeting Juliet and falling in love with her. Another example of fate comes when Juliet takes the potion that will prevent her from marrying Paris. When she takes the potion, everyone thinks she is dead. She has a funeral, and Balthasar thinks she is dead. He quickly brings the news to Romeo, who is supposed to receive a letter saying that Juliet is not dead. Romeo never receives the letter. It results in him going to see Juliet, and taking a poison that kills himself. Juliet wakes up and then kills herself after realizing that Romeo is dead. Fate has a lot to do with most of the problems and plots in Romeo and Juliet, and it is a major theme throughout the story.
Another big theme is the rivalry between the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo and Juliet fall in love at the party, but when they realize that they are from different families, they have to see each other in secrecy. Only a few people know about their relationship. If not for the family rivalry, Romeo and Juliet would've been a normal love story. The rivalry makes their marriage hard to do and makes the whole relationship a secret. An example of this rivalry comes in Act 1 Scene 1. The two families are about to fight, and Benvolio tries to stop it. Tybalt then says, "What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word / As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee." It shows that the two families hate each other more than anything, and they want to kill each other. If Tybalt found out that Romeo was going to marry Juliet, I think he would try to kill Romeo as quick as he can. One quote also shows an example of rivalry. In Act 2 Scene 2 Line 36, Juliet says, "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" She is asking the question, "Why are you Romeo?" She wants to know why she had to fall in love with her family's rival, and why Romeo had to be a Montague. In her next speech she asks questions like why does being a Montague matter and "What's in a name?" She is questioning that if something had a different name, would it still be the same? Like if Romeo wasn't a Montague, would he still be Romeo? Those examples show why rivalry is also a big problem in the story.
Fate and rivalry make problems by themselves, but together they also make a new theme. It was fate that made the two families rivals, and fate made Romeo and Juliet fall in love. I felt like Romeo and Juliet were also fated to break the rivalry. They were the first in history to like each other, and it made me think that it was time for the rivalry to break. It might happen, because after Romeo and Juliet are found dead, Capulet says, "O brother Montague, give me thy hand. / This is my daughter's jointure, for no more / Can I demand." It shows that Capulet is willing to stop hating each other and finally break the rivalry. Montague agrees and says he would make a statue of Juliet in pure gold. I think in order to move on with life, they had to stop the rivalry. If they didn't there could be more deaths to come and more hatred.
In conclusion, fate and rivalry were two big themes that caused lots of the problems and plots in Romeo and Juliet. Even though they loved each other fate put them in a family rivalry, making them scared to be seen by their families. Fate also made Romeo and Juliet kill themselves to be with each other.
An example of fate comes in Act 1 Scene 2, when the Servingman asks Romeo to read the invitation to a party held by the Capulets. The Servingman cannot read, so he asks Romeo to read it for him. Romeo finds out that Rosaline is going, and it makes him want to go. In Act 1 Scene 2, Romeo says, "I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, / But to rejoice in splendor of mine own." His only reason to be at the party was to meet up with Rosaline. If the Servingman had never asked Romeo to read the invitation, Romeo would've never went to the party, therefore probably never meeting Juliet and falling in love with her. Another example of fate comes when Juliet takes the potion that will prevent her from marrying Paris. When she takes the potion, everyone thinks she is dead. She has a funeral, and Balthasar thinks she is dead. He quickly brings the news to Romeo, who is supposed to receive a letter saying that Juliet is not dead. Romeo never receives the letter. It results in him going to see Juliet, and taking a poison that kills himself. Juliet wakes up and then kills herself after realizing that Romeo is dead. Fate has a lot to do with most of the problems and plots in Romeo and Juliet, and it is a major theme throughout the story.
Another big theme is the rivalry between the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo and Juliet fall in love at the party, but when they realize that they are from different families, they have to see each other in secrecy. Only a few people know about their relationship. If not for the family rivalry, Romeo and Juliet would've been a normal love story. The rivalry makes their marriage hard to do and makes the whole relationship a secret. An example of this rivalry comes in Act 1 Scene 1. The two families are about to fight, and Benvolio tries to stop it. Tybalt then says, "What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word / As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee." It shows that the two families hate each other more than anything, and they want to kill each other. If Tybalt found out that Romeo was going to marry Juliet, I think he would try to kill Romeo as quick as he can. One quote also shows an example of rivalry. In Act 2 Scene 2 Line 36, Juliet says, "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" She is asking the question, "Why are you Romeo?" She wants to know why she had to fall in love with her family's rival, and why Romeo had to be a Montague. In her next speech she asks questions like why does being a Montague matter and "What's in a name?" She is questioning that if something had a different name, would it still be the same? Like if Romeo wasn't a Montague, would he still be Romeo? Those examples show why rivalry is also a big problem in the story.
Fate and rivalry make problems by themselves, but together they also make a new theme. It was fate that made the two families rivals, and fate made Romeo and Juliet fall in love. I felt like Romeo and Juliet were also fated to break the rivalry. They were the first in history to like each other, and it made me think that it was time for the rivalry to break. It might happen, because after Romeo and Juliet are found dead, Capulet says, "O brother Montague, give me thy hand. / This is my daughter's jointure, for no more / Can I demand." It shows that Capulet is willing to stop hating each other and finally break the rivalry. Montague agrees and says he would make a statue of Juliet in pure gold. I think in order to move on with life, they had to stop the rivalry. If they didn't there could be more deaths to come and more hatred.
In conclusion, fate and rivalry were two big themes that caused lots of the problems and plots in Romeo and Juliet. Even though they loved each other fate put them in a family rivalry, making them scared to be seen by their families. Fate also made Romeo and Juliet kill themselves to be with each other.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Buried Onions
I am currently reading the book "Buried Onions" by Gary Soto. Eddie, the main character, is living in a run down part of Fresno, where it is infested with Mexicans. He has to watch his back at all times to keep living. While growing up, he has had to be careful of lots of harmful things or people and has to still do that now. Some of those things make bigger plots or problems as the story unravels.
One example of something he has to worry about is who killed his cousin, Jesus. Eddie's aunt always calls him to tell him to kill whoever killed her son. Eddie is a nice guy, even though everyone around him seems devilish. He wouldn't kill anyone, but his aunt keeps reminding him about it. Jesus is mentioned lots of times in the book, and he seemed to be a big part of Eddie's life and they were probably really tight. One day he goes back to his old college and follows a person around. In the parking lot, Eddie starts to scare the guy he was following around, and starts asking him questions. He asks stuff like, "Why did you kill Jesus?" Even though he had never met the person before. I don't really know why he decided to do that, but it shows that he actually wants to do something to the person that killed Jesus.
Another thing he has to worry about are the gangs in his neighborhood. He said, "I never ran with gangs, never kicked it with weasel-necked vatos locos..." He said that after someone called him to meet Angel, a gangster-type person. Eddie has a better conscience than most of his friends, and it showed there. There are multiple gangs and cliques in Eddie's neighborhood, all of them being dangerous. There is one major gang, the Hmongs, and Eddie doesn't want to go anywhere near them. Angel and his crew are also other people he has to worry about. Angel is one of Eddie's oldest friends, but Eddie has tried to get away from him since Angel is a big time thief. Another thing he says is, "I glanced over my shoulder, slowing but not stopping, because if you stopped and it was your enemy, your life could spill before you could touch your wound." He means that anyone could kill you in the street, and you have to be alert about it. It also shows that he doesn't want to be with gangs because he doesn't want any enemies, the ones that could kill him like he had said. To live in Fresno, you have to have a lot of street smarts, and Eddie shows it by not interfering with any gangs.
One other thing that bothers him is how much money he has. Eddie dropped out of college, but he hasn't really been doing much with life. He makes money by stenciling in people's house numbers on their curbs, but it doesn't pay much and he has to go doorstep to doorstep asking if people want their numbers. His poorness is really affecting him, and sometimes he doesn't have anything to eat. When his mom went to visit him, it says, "I didn't have much to offer, just ice water. I was even out of Kool-Aid." It shows that Eddie has really been suffering and he doesn't have much money. He won't have money to provide for a girlfriend, much less a family, and he can't even live well on his own. I think Eddie is a very focused and hard working man, but luck hasn't found it's way to him. He can't seem to ever succeed in anything, and his amount of money that he has can show that.
In conclusion, Eddie has to get through a lot of tough things in Fresno, the Mexican slum. Those things that he has to worry about make for big problems or plots, and Eddie has to do whatever it takes to get past them. As I keep reading, I will be looking out for more things that Eddie has to worry about.
One example of something he has to worry about is who killed his cousin, Jesus. Eddie's aunt always calls him to tell him to kill whoever killed her son. Eddie is a nice guy, even though everyone around him seems devilish. He wouldn't kill anyone, but his aunt keeps reminding him about it. Jesus is mentioned lots of times in the book, and he seemed to be a big part of Eddie's life and they were probably really tight. One day he goes back to his old college and follows a person around. In the parking lot, Eddie starts to scare the guy he was following around, and starts asking him questions. He asks stuff like, "Why did you kill Jesus?" Even though he had never met the person before. I don't really know why he decided to do that, but it shows that he actually wants to do something to the person that killed Jesus.
Another thing he has to worry about are the gangs in his neighborhood. He said, "I never ran with gangs, never kicked it with weasel-necked vatos locos..." He said that after someone called him to meet Angel, a gangster-type person. Eddie has a better conscience than most of his friends, and it showed there. There are multiple gangs and cliques in Eddie's neighborhood, all of them being dangerous. There is one major gang, the Hmongs, and Eddie doesn't want to go anywhere near them. Angel and his crew are also other people he has to worry about. Angel is one of Eddie's oldest friends, but Eddie has tried to get away from him since Angel is a big time thief. Another thing he says is, "I glanced over my shoulder, slowing but not stopping, because if you stopped and it was your enemy, your life could spill before you could touch your wound." He means that anyone could kill you in the street, and you have to be alert about it. It also shows that he doesn't want to be with gangs because he doesn't want any enemies, the ones that could kill him like he had said. To live in Fresno, you have to have a lot of street smarts, and Eddie shows it by not interfering with any gangs.
One other thing that bothers him is how much money he has. Eddie dropped out of college, but he hasn't really been doing much with life. He makes money by stenciling in people's house numbers on their curbs, but it doesn't pay much and he has to go doorstep to doorstep asking if people want their numbers. His poorness is really affecting him, and sometimes he doesn't have anything to eat. When his mom went to visit him, it says, "I didn't have much to offer, just ice water. I was even out of Kool-Aid." It shows that Eddie has really been suffering and he doesn't have much money. He won't have money to provide for a girlfriend, much less a family, and he can't even live well on his own. I think Eddie is a very focused and hard working man, but luck hasn't found it's way to him. He can't seem to ever succeed in anything, and his amount of money that he has can show that.
In conclusion, Eddie has to get through a lot of tough things in Fresno, the Mexican slum. Those things that he has to worry about make for big problems or plots, and Eddie has to do whatever it takes to get past them. As I keep reading, I will be looking out for more things that Eddie has to worry about.
Friday, March 21, 2014
The Ivory War
In Upfront magazine, there was an article about trading for ivory that could threaten to extinct Africa's elephants. China is the country behind this. They are the world's largest market for ivory, and in the past few years the ivory taken from elephants has been getting dangerous. It is starting to make wars, enriching corrupt armies. and jeopardizing wildlife tourism. There is an estimate that tens of thousands of elephants are being killed each year for their ivory tusks. I think there has to be an end to this madness if we want the elephants to keep living. They are important animals in the world and it would not be right to kill them.
The only way to stop this is for the Chinese to stop. "The Chinese hold the key to the elephants' future," says Iain Douglas. If these things keep on and continuing, there may be a possibility in the extinction of elephants in Africa's countries. I think there should be a law that makes a limit on the amount of ivory taken from elephants, that way the elephants can live longer. Of course, there should also be a law which prohibits ivory seizure around the world. The most ivory seizures come from Tanzania and Kenya. It is a little weird that 17% of ivory come from an unknown place.
The start of the problem is China's greediness for ivory. In China there is an estimate that 90% of the ivory there is illegal. The reasons behind why China is in demand for all this ivory is because it is a soaring demand for China's middle class. Since their economy is growing, the middle class has more money to spend on luxurious things, including ivory. I think the Chinese love ivory so much because it has been a big part in their culture. There are stories told by great emperors about ivory objects and how great they are, so it must have some influence on China right now.
Since 1979, the decline in elephant range has been huge. There used to be a lot of range in Central Africa, but now the ranges are scattered around and there isn't big spots on the map now. The country Ivory Coast got it's name because of all the elephants that roamed there; now there are barely any. Ivory has even become so popular and demanding that one tusk of ivory could be worth more than 10 times the average income in some African countries. Sometimes they are killed for a bag of salt. The killing of elephants need to stop. They are very innocent animals who just want to be free of harm and weapons. It may not be possible to end seizure of ivory once and for all, but a little effort into doing that could make the difference.
In conclusion, the elephant population of Africa has been diminishing, and could get down to none at all. If China could change it's ways and stop buying or using ivory, elephants may have the chance of continuing their lives. If not, we could see the extinction of elephants in our lifetime.
The only way to stop this is for the Chinese to stop. "The Chinese hold the key to the elephants' future," says Iain Douglas. If these things keep on and continuing, there may be a possibility in the extinction of elephants in Africa's countries. I think there should be a law that makes a limit on the amount of ivory taken from elephants, that way the elephants can live longer. Of course, there should also be a law which prohibits ivory seizure around the world. The most ivory seizures come from Tanzania and Kenya. It is a little weird that 17% of ivory come from an unknown place.
The start of the problem is China's greediness for ivory. In China there is an estimate that 90% of the ivory there is illegal. The reasons behind why China is in demand for all this ivory is because it is a soaring demand for China's middle class. Since their economy is growing, the middle class has more money to spend on luxurious things, including ivory. I think the Chinese love ivory so much because it has been a big part in their culture. There are stories told by great emperors about ivory objects and how great they are, so it must have some influence on China right now.
Since 1979, the decline in elephant range has been huge. There used to be a lot of range in Central Africa, but now the ranges are scattered around and there isn't big spots on the map now. The country Ivory Coast got it's name because of all the elephants that roamed there; now there are barely any. Ivory has even become so popular and demanding that one tusk of ivory could be worth more than 10 times the average income in some African countries. Sometimes they are killed for a bag of salt. The killing of elephants need to stop. They are very innocent animals who just want to be free of harm and weapons. It may not be possible to end seizure of ivory once and for all, but a little effort into doing that could make the difference.
In conclusion, the elephant population of Africa has been diminishing, and could get down to none at all. If China could change it's ways and stop buying or using ivory, elephants may have the chance of continuing their lives. If not, we could see the extinction of elephants in our lifetime.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Rikers High
Rikers High by Paul Volponi is a story about a teen who was arrested and sent to Rikers Island. Martin, the main character, had to put up with lots of things growing up in his tough neighborhood, but it is nothing compared to what he has to deal with at Rikers. One incident affected him physically and mentally, but he had to do what it took to get past it. While getting off of a bus in front of their courtroom, some inmates got into a fight. Martin was chained to the person in the fight, and he got tangled up in it. Martin tried to swing back but the person attacking cut him across the cheek.
An example of physical harm done to him was some inner monologue. After he was sliced, he said, "Suddenly, I was paralyzed with fear, and I was too shook to even cry." It shows that this incident affected him too much to even feel or think about what was going on. Also, he had a big cut across his cheek, and had to live for weeks with a huge bandage across his face. After it healed, he had a big scar on his face, and it seemed to make him a little less confident when it came to fighting or being physical, though it gave him some respect from other inmates. Another thing that bothered him was telling the CO who did it. He even said, "Snitches get stitches." That means that if he snitched on the guy who cut him, there would be more scars to come.
I feel that mentally the incident had more of an affect on him. While in the hospital, he was thinking about his cut all night. He says, "I couldn't keep track of all the fears running through my brain--about what I was going to look like, how nasty a scar I would have, if the cut would ever heal." His mind was racing and he couldn't do anything but let time pass. It also made him feel violent. He told himself that he would cut that kid back instead of snitching and wouldn't care about how much time he got for it. His thoughts kept getting to him and in the hospital he wondered a lot about the cut. I think he also became a little bit more wiser in his actions and he thought about things more before making decisions. One inmate named Brick had a business going on in the jail. He asked Martin to join him, but he declined. It was a wise decision because he might have debts or other things owed to Brick once he got out of jail. Being cut had a mental affect on him, but it might of made him wiser in some ways.
One thing I've noticed in the story is that after being cut, Martin doesn't really talk about himself anymore, he only talks about what he observes and what's happening in jail. The story doesn't include his actions or thoughts as much as it did in the beginning of the story. I think it might be like that because he isn't ready to put himself out there and let people know how he feels or what he wants. Now he just goes with the flow, instead of doing what he feels like. I also think he didn't want to take part in fights or taunting because he really didn't want another scar covering his face.
In conclusion, Martin's cut had a physical and mental affect on him throughout the story. In some ways it made him smarter, and in other ways it made him more cautious, but I could tell that he was affected no matter what.
An example of physical harm done to him was some inner monologue. After he was sliced, he said, "Suddenly, I was paralyzed with fear, and I was too shook to even cry." It shows that this incident affected him too much to even feel or think about what was going on. Also, he had a big cut across his cheek, and had to live for weeks with a huge bandage across his face. After it healed, he had a big scar on his face, and it seemed to make him a little less confident when it came to fighting or being physical, though it gave him some respect from other inmates. Another thing that bothered him was telling the CO who did it. He even said, "Snitches get stitches." That means that if he snitched on the guy who cut him, there would be more scars to come.
I feel that mentally the incident had more of an affect on him. While in the hospital, he was thinking about his cut all night. He says, "I couldn't keep track of all the fears running through my brain--about what I was going to look like, how nasty a scar I would have, if the cut would ever heal." His mind was racing and he couldn't do anything but let time pass. It also made him feel violent. He told himself that he would cut that kid back instead of snitching and wouldn't care about how much time he got for it. His thoughts kept getting to him and in the hospital he wondered a lot about the cut. I think he also became a little bit more wiser in his actions and he thought about things more before making decisions. One inmate named Brick had a business going on in the jail. He asked Martin to join him, but he declined. It was a wise decision because he might have debts or other things owed to Brick once he got out of jail. Being cut had a mental affect on him, but it might of made him wiser in some ways.
One thing I've noticed in the story is that after being cut, Martin doesn't really talk about himself anymore, he only talks about what he observes and what's happening in jail. The story doesn't include his actions or thoughts as much as it did in the beginning of the story. I think it might be like that because he isn't ready to put himself out there and let people know how he feels or what he wants. Now he just goes with the flow, instead of doing what he feels like. I also think he didn't want to take part in fights or taunting because he really didn't want another scar covering his face.
In conclusion, Martin's cut had a physical and mental affect on him throughout the story. In some ways it made him smarter, and in other ways it made him more cautious, but I could tell that he was affected no matter what.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Blog Revision on "Tears of a Tiger"
I went back to revise my last blog post, "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper, found here. Rob Washington was killed because of a car accident when Andy hit a wall. Andy felt that he should be blamed for everything that happened. I have learned that even in real life, people will feel responsible for deaths, even if they weren't part of anything that happened.
Andy felt like he was the main cause of Rob's death. He had been going to a psychologist for awhile just to talk about his emotions and what he think went wrong on that fateful night. Andy felt like Rob's death was all his fault, because Andy was driving drunk at the time. Some other teammates were in the car, but Rob was the only one that died. Andy started to get really depressed over those thoughts he had, and he just couldn't let go of the fact that he was responsible for the death. I think that when accidents happen like this in real life, people feel like Andy too. I don't know why Andy was feeling so guilty for the death, but it really got to him. His depression was getting so bad that nothing would make him laugh. Something or someone should've made him happy or stop thinking about Rob, but nothing did. The worst thing he could've done was take his life, but that is exactly what he did. That shows that he is not emotionally strong, and he is a coward, like his friend Gerald said. Committing suicide was the last thing he should've done, and I think staying alive would be much better for him or anyone in that situation in real life.
Some examples of Andy's depression come from his writing. One poem he wrote included lots of dark thoughts. His first stanza talked about not being able to find the light in his life. That already shows that he can't forget about the accident. He also writes about the pain that no one else can feel, and the cheerful faces don't know what he feels inside. He ends the poem by saying, "I don't think I'm going to last." That really makes you think that he wants to die, or maybe he wanted to die instead of Rob. There was no way to escape his feelings, so he probably committed suicide to do that.
Even though this is from a book, this can happen a lot in real life. I know what it's like to have family or friends die, and you wish you could've done something to prevent it. Or you might wish that you spent more time with them. I think that's what Andy felt. He knew Rob was dead because of him, and it could never be changed. This kind of situation happens a lot because of drunk driving, but very rarely do you hear about someone killing them self after accidentally killing someone else. He should've faced his guilt and at least tried to get over it. I understand why Andy felt that way and why, but I don't understand why he would leave everything he had because of it.
In conclusion, Andy felt like most people feel when death occurs; guilty. After his friend was killed in a car accident, Andy felt very responsible for the death. His guilt was too much for him to handle, and it resulted in killing himself.
Andy felt like he was the main cause of Rob's death. He had been going to a psychologist for awhile just to talk about his emotions and what he think went wrong on that fateful night. Andy felt like Rob's death was all his fault, because Andy was driving drunk at the time. Some other teammates were in the car, but Rob was the only one that died. Andy started to get really depressed over those thoughts he had, and he just couldn't let go of the fact that he was responsible for the death. I think that when accidents happen like this in real life, people feel like Andy too. I don't know why Andy was feeling so guilty for the death, but it really got to him. His depression was getting so bad that nothing would make him laugh. Something or someone should've made him happy or stop thinking about Rob, but nothing did. The worst thing he could've done was take his life, but that is exactly what he did. That shows that he is not emotionally strong, and he is a coward, like his friend Gerald said. Committing suicide was the last thing he should've done, and I think staying alive would be much better for him or anyone in that situation in real life.
Some examples of Andy's depression come from his writing. One poem he wrote included lots of dark thoughts. His first stanza talked about not being able to find the light in his life. That already shows that he can't forget about the accident. He also writes about the pain that no one else can feel, and the cheerful faces don't know what he feels inside. He ends the poem by saying, "I don't think I'm going to last." That really makes you think that he wants to die, or maybe he wanted to die instead of Rob. There was no way to escape his feelings, so he probably committed suicide to do that.
Even though this is from a book, this can happen a lot in real life. I know what it's like to have family or friends die, and you wish you could've done something to prevent it. Or you might wish that you spent more time with them. I think that's what Andy felt. He knew Rob was dead because of him, and it could never be changed. This kind of situation happens a lot because of drunk driving, but very rarely do you hear about someone killing them self after accidentally killing someone else. He should've faced his guilt and at least tried to get over it. I understand why Andy felt that way and why, but I don't understand why he would leave everything he had because of it.
In conclusion, Andy felt like most people feel when death occurs; guilty. After his friend was killed in a car accident, Andy felt very responsible for the death. His guilt was too much for him to handle, and it resulted in killing himself.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Tears of a Tiger
I am currently reading "Tears of Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper. So far, it seems like every main character in the book has problems at home and in school. Following the death of Rob Washington, Andy has been feeling more and more depressed. I think he is feeling that because he was the one driving, so he felt like he cause the death.
Recently Andy has been going to a psychologist to talk to him about what Andy is sad about, or just about Andy in general. The psychologist asks him lots of questions, and he tries to get a real feeling of what Andy feels. The night that Rob died, Andy and some of his buddies were drinking. Andy was drinking while driving, and that led to the car crash. He told his shrink that he should've died and not Rob, and he just feels really guilty. When Andy went to the mall with his girlfriend Keisha, he started to get depressed again and they had to go home. I don't think anyone really knows how Andy is feeling. On top of that, his parents have very high grade expectations, and he can't live up to them. All he wants to do is play basketball. I think Andy is just feeling depressed because of Rob's death and how his parents treat him.
One thing I am thinking is why didn't B.J. tell them to stop? He was the only sober one in the car since he doesn't drink, so why didn't he tell Andy to stop driving? B.J. seems very religious, but he is also short, which makes his character unique. He doesn't drink because it stunted his growth, and praying to God didn't help him. Another one of the perspectives we see from the story comes from Gerald. Even though we've only seen his poem or heard from Andy, he has a very rough life at home. Andy said he was lucky because his parents only shout a him, but Gerald's beat him. Gerald even has a scar from when his dad hit him onto the radiator where it hit his face. Gerald doesn't seem like he's bothered by anything though, so I'll be trying to find out more about him.
In Andy's ELA class, he had to write a poem about anything, You could tell that his was deep and dark, probably about his depression. The first stanza talks about him being in the dark and not finding light, so I think that he just can't seem to get past this incident yet. The second stanza tells us that no one knows how much he is hurting or how depressed he is, that all the cheerful faces do not find the sadness around him. The last stanza really tells me that he is depressed. It almost makes me think he wants to commit suicide. He told his psychologist that he wished it was him who died instead of Rob. That tells me that he feels this situation is too much for him to handle. The last line says "I don't think I'm going to last." I don't really know how much he means by that, but it really seems like he can't escape this pain.
After starting to read this book, I have already found out a lot from the main characters. I will be looking for more information about Gerald's home life. Also, why Andy is feeling so down about the death still. It seems like he will never get over it, and that makes me feel like he wants to be away from this world.
Recently Andy has been going to a psychologist to talk to him about what Andy is sad about, or just about Andy in general. The psychologist asks him lots of questions, and he tries to get a real feeling of what Andy feels. The night that Rob died, Andy and some of his buddies were drinking. Andy was drinking while driving, and that led to the car crash. He told his shrink that he should've died and not Rob, and he just feels really guilty. When Andy went to the mall with his girlfriend Keisha, he started to get depressed again and they had to go home. I don't think anyone really knows how Andy is feeling. On top of that, his parents have very high grade expectations, and he can't live up to them. All he wants to do is play basketball. I think Andy is just feeling depressed because of Rob's death and how his parents treat him.
One thing I am thinking is why didn't B.J. tell them to stop? He was the only sober one in the car since he doesn't drink, so why didn't he tell Andy to stop driving? B.J. seems very religious, but he is also short, which makes his character unique. He doesn't drink because it stunted his growth, and praying to God didn't help him. Another one of the perspectives we see from the story comes from Gerald. Even though we've only seen his poem or heard from Andy, he has a very rough life at home. Andy said he was lucky because his parents only shout a him, but Gerald's beat him. Gerald even has a scar from when his dad hit him onto the radiator where it hit his face. Gerald doesn't seem like he's bothered by anything though, so I'll be trying to find out more about him.
In Andy's ELA class, he had to write a poem about anything, You could tell that his was deep and dark, probably about his depression. The first stanza talks about him being in the dark and not finding light, so I think that he just can't seem to get past this incident yet. The second stanza tells us that no one knows how much he is hurting or how depressed he is, that all the cheerful faces do not find the sadness around him. The last stanza really tells me that he is depressed. It almost makes me think he wants to commit suicide. He told his psychologist that he wished it was him who died instead of Rob. That tells me that he feels this situation is too much for him to handle. The last line says "I don't think I'm going to last." I don't really know how much he means by that, but it really seems like he can't escape this pain.
After starting to read this book, I have already found out a lot from the main characters. I will be looking for more information about Gerald's home life. Also, why Andy is feeling so down about the death still. It seems like he will never get over it, and that makes me feel like he wants to be away from this world.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Tomas' Blog
Tomas' Blog
I was reading Tomas' blog and was amazed on how much he thought the text he read and how much he elaborated on each idea he had. I read his post on "Smoke Signals" and I thought that he did an excellent job on it.
In that post, he used lots of examples from the text to prove his point. I also like his way of formatting his blogs. There are about 4 paragraphs where he puts facts from the article and what might the author be wanting us to think. The last 3 paragraphs are about him giving his perspective on the article or how the problem could be fixed. The last paragraph is all the questions he has after reading the article. That shows that not only did he read the article, but he understood everything and could ask more questions that were not in the article.
I had read parts of the article before, but even if you didn't know what it was about, you will find most of it in his blog post. He did a great job on giving a brief summary at the beginning and gave the problem too. He also used great transitions that went well with what he had to say after. When he gives direct citations, it is often followed by what he thinks of the stat or statement from the author. It shows me that he is reading the article carefully and his own view on things can help another reader understand the article. His last paragraph gives you insight on his own thoughts, and he has some questions that were not answered yet.
In each of his posts, Tomas did an amazing job on elaborating, providing evidence from the text, and adding on to what he already knew. From now on I'll look at his posts as mentor texts because he is such a great writer.
I was reading Tomas' blog and was amazed on how much he thought the text he read and how much he elaborated on each idea he had. I read his post on "Smoke Signals" and I thought that he did an excellent job on it.
In that post, he used lots of examples from the text to prove his point. I also like his way of formatting his blogs. There are about 4 paragraphs where he puts facts from the article and what might the author be wanting us to think. The last 3 paragraphs are about him giving his perspective on the article or how the problem could be fixed. The last paragraph is all the questions he has after reading the article. That shows that not only did he read the article, but he understood everything and could ask more questions that were not in the article.
I had read parts of the article before, but even if you didn't know what it was about, you will find most of it in his blog post. He did a great job on giving a brief summary at the beginning and gave the problem too. He also used great transitions that went well with what he had to say after. When he gives direct citations, it is often followed by what he thinks of the stat or statement from the author. It shows me that he is reading the article carefully and his own view on things can help another reader understand the article. His last paragraph gives you insight on his own thoughts, and he has some questions that were not answered yet.
In each of his posts, Tomas did an amazing job on elaborating, providing evidence from the text, and adding on to what he already knew. From now on I'll look at his posts as mentor texts because he is such a great writer.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Impulse
I am reading the book Impulse by Ellen Hopkins. It is about 3 teens perspectives on life in basically a mental ward. Right now, they are on an adventure camp since they've made so much progress. After this camp they will be able to go back to their homes. Th three main characters, Vanessa, Tony, and Conner are the more "normal" ones there. Vanessa cuts herself, Tony is gay and has been abused many times, and Conner is in love with older women.
I think that Vanessa has to cut herself to escape the pain that her mom brought to her. Her mom was crazy, and she had to see her mom taking pills and being bipolar. She would also do evil things to her son. Cutting might ease her life, but as described in the story, her arm is all red from it. A few weeks before the camp, she was crazy for Conner, who seemed to like her back. But now that Tony is spending quality time with her, she is beginning to wonder if Tony is the one she really loves. He is more caring and more affectionate than Conner, and that's what Vanessa wants.
Tony is at a difficult decision in life. Is he gay, or is he straight?From what he remembers, he's been gay all his life (only because of what his mother's boyfriend did to him). But right now, he is in love with Vanessa. I think that he might finally find love with the opposite gender, and it seems Vanessa loves him too.
At this camp, Conner decided to quit his meds. After taking them all this time, it was hard for him to sleep at first, because they were in the middle of the desert. Conner always complains that his home life was worse than what it is now, especially because of his mom. I think his parents' expectations for him were very high, and he decided to spend time on a woman that was older than him. He looks as if he's normal, and he acts like it too, but we still don't know what is making him reluctant to go back home.
I think that Vanessa has to cut herself to escape the pain that her mom brought to her. Her mom was crazy, and she had to see her mom taking pills and being bipolar. She would also do evil things to her son. Cutting might ease her life, but as described in the story, her arm is all red from it. A few weeks before the camp, she was crazy for Conner, who seemed to like her back. But now that Tony is spending quality time with her, she is beginning to wonder if Tony is the one she really loves. He is more caring and more affectionate than Conner, and that's what Vanessa wants.
Tony is at a difficult decision in life. Is he gay, or is he straight?From what he remembers, he's been gay all his life (only because of what his mother's boyfriend did to him). But right now, he is in love with Vanessa. I think that he might finally find love with the opposite gender, and it seems Vanessa loves him too.
At this camp, Conner decided to quit his meds. After taking them all this time, it was hard for him to sleep at first, because they were in the middle of the desert. Conner always complains that his home life was worse than what it is now, especially because of his mom. I think his parents' expectations for him were very high, and he decided to spend time on a woman that was older than him. He looks as if he's normal, and he acts like it too, but we still don't know what is making him reluctant to go back home.
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