One Hundred! (not)

I would first like to say that i regret to have not reached the 100th journal milestone, for I have left out a number of journals from the previous quarters. However I still believe that I have learned from this experience, a valuable experience. From writing all the journals I have developed my writing skills and brain storming skills. With writing I have learned how to extend my answer in to paragraphs of explanations, and also how to go off topic by just the right amount to make the journal more interesting. Brain storming skills are also greatly developed through this process, we start it in class and I usually just list out ideas and complete them when I am home. Brain storming can also be related to creativity. Bending the question but not breaking it to better fit the answer I want to put out. This is quiet a useful exercise to help develop skills in different areas. I believe it should be used by the year after mine to help them with their writing skills too. Even though they might complain in the beginning, once they look back in the end they will relaize how much it has helped them.

Final Exam

Final exams are never something  I am completely confident about. However on this English final I can say I am more confident with it than I am with other finals. I believe that I was well prepared and my answered weren't guesses, I chose them because I knew it was the correct one to choose. I would say that I am most confident for the short answers, because I answered ever detail asked for and I used examples form the story and my own life. As for the multiple choice I am not saying that I am not confident but for questions on the story 102 I was less confident about.
When teachers give out test some would say that it is very easy, however if they were telling the truth they would not say so. They would say that it is a test that tests our knowledge learned form the course and not just a simple quiz used to fill in that final grade. If a teacher was to say the final was easy and we shouldn't worry. I would take the test to find out if they are telling the truth. Then if they are telling the truth and the test was easy I would ask them "Why bother?". Why bother giving a "final" exam if it not at least a little difficult?

Group work

When working in a group working together can be a really hard thing, especially when the group members are chosen by someone else. To make a group project successful the group members must work together without arguments. I do like working in groups, however not groups that are too large. The reason being in a large group there are always people who don't do much work, or no work at all. In small groups people are most of the time more welling to work together. However if the groups member are not chosen by each other and by the teacher, you can only wish that your working with someone you are friends with. While working in the group project some people didn't seem to do much work compared to others but still felt like they were doing more and blamed others for the lack of work. When working by myself I can plan my schedule out easily and I have no one to blame for not completing my work. I like doing my own work by myself because I know I can complete it.

Strangers Together

I believe that the story suggest that people no matter how distant or how much they are strangers, they will work together to produce a solution for the crisis. I believe the author suggest that there is always a good in people and in situation like they were in, everyone was wiling to work together despite their differences. I remember a family getting hit by a car on the streets of Shanghai. I witnessed the whole thing and I was in shock. I stood there not knowing what to do, or what I could do. Soon people began to crowd around the injured, some where checking their pulse and some were talking to the driver, and one of them was calling the ambulance. I witnessed how total strangers could come together and help a group of strangers who has been hurt. It was truly amazing. I myself had a more personal experience. I was at a swimming competition full of people I've never meet before. It came to the time of the 100 meter relay and I was put into a team with strangers who were strangers to everyone else too. We had no idea what to do. However we began to talk about who was best at what and who was faster, we came up with the line up for our team and went to get ready. As we stood waiting for the relay to begin I believe that everyone was nervous however we built a trust between the 4 of us that I believe everyone felt. The coaches shouted: "READY! SET? GO!" the first team member jumped into the water, water splashed up into the air and everyone just watched. Then the second wave started to come back, it was my turn now. As soon as my teammate touched the wall I jumped and I swam as fast as I could giving it all I had. As i touched the wall on the other side of the pool I saw the shadow of the last teammate fly over me and into the pool. As I pulled my self out of the water I heard screaming and when I slowly turned over I saw my teammate touch the wall before anyone else. WE had won the relay.

Project Reflection

From doing this book report I found more symbols and irony that I haven't noticed in the book before. It allowed me to visualize the book the way I want to, I had the chance to create bits and parts of the world of 1984 in my prospective. The book wasn't exactly a joyful read for me, it was a slow start and I didn't find it as appealing as other book that I have read before did. Therefore I didn't put as much effort into reading it as I could have, but I believe I put enough for me to understand the book. The project however I did put more effort into than reading the book. I collected materials from all over the place, brought it home, began to cut, and put the pieces together. I took two separate days to work on it and about a total of 2-3 hours of solid work. I believe that this is a good project to do, a better one compared to a normal book report. It is because it allows the students to use their creativity and to paint the book the way they want it to be, not just to themselves but to everyone else.

911

The 911 event has changed the world since it happened, especially the United States of America. The security level has rose up in the U.S.A. Also many racial stereotypes and discriminations against the Arabian race were created which greatly impacted the social classes of the U.S.A. But not only has it impacted these two things it has also impacted people's lives, those who lost their lives in the event, and those who lost ones they cared about because of the event. Their lives are greatly impacted and most of them would never forget what happen on 9/11. I believe the U.S.A responded correctly and incorrectly to the event. George Bush was the president at the time and he made some pretty bad decisions. The government as a whole made some great decisions, such as the creation of Homeland Security, as many people say the best offense is a good defense. Also trying to find out who was in charge of this terroristic act was also the right thing to do, because it gave the families that lost someone a answer. However the world is not a safer place because the Department of Homeland Security was created, new technology is being created each day and many are used for weapons that the terrorists can get. Having the recent news of Bin Laden being killed may have sent comfort into the hearts of ones who lost their family but it doesn't mean that it is the end.

Buried Alive

I believe that in such a situation I would first think about all the people I know and how I may not see them again. Then I would panic and begin to try to find a way out, by all means necessary. If I can't move at all and there was someone who could go out I would like him to send a message to my family and friends telling them that I love them and regreets that I have to leave early.  I would probably regret somethings that I have done in live and some that I haven't got the chance to. If there were others trapped with me, I believe we would work together and help each other out of the life threatening situation.  In such dramatic events people always find a way to help other either it being mental support or physical support. I do not believe in the phrase "every man for him self" because there are always someone in the world that would care for you and would help you. Only the most selfish people in the world would use the phrase "every man for himself" in such a situation.

Jargon

Jargon exist in any and all kinds of activities or jobs, each one is made up of words already known but combined together creates a new and different meanings. There are always new terms being created because of new innovations on the activity. Krakauer mentions several in Into Thin Air things such as short rope, rappelling, and etc. From skating I have learned a lot of Jargons for names of tricks, brands, and even directions. Things such as BS, FS, pop-shuv-it, kickflip, hardflip, heelflip, treflip, sticky, steezy, and ollie may not make sense to other people. However it makes perfect sense to me. The most basic of the skate boarding slangs would be ollie, BS, FS and pop. Ollie is the most basic trick on the skate board it is simply stepping down on the tail of the board and dragging the board up with your other feet making it look like the board is jumping with you into the air. Poping is the simple action of stepping down on the head or tail of the board making it pop up. Then BS is backside and FS is front side. BS trick are done in what ever direction you are facing and FS is to the back. Then the combination of terms create new names for different tricks. For example FS ollie or otherwise known as a FS 180 ollie is a trick of which you ollie and add a body viral which would then mean you jump and spin 180 degrees with the board. There are probably a million more terms and new ones being created each day for skating, there is always more to learn.

Risk for a reason

I believe that in most cases if a disaster is to occur people wouldn't risk their own lives to saving a stranger. It just not logical to give up your own life for someone you have never met before. However there are people that are at the two extremes. There is a type who would risk anything and everything to save another human being's life, and the other would to anything just to save him/herself. The majority would still be in the middle, these people would hesitate and take the risk into consideration. They may end up thinking that risks aren't that large and go for it and sometimes the risk is too much to be taken and they bail out. There are more stories about people being brave and risking their own life for saving another's. I believe that some save other because they see a the importance of the person surviving, or they may just be every open hearted. Yet some people are either too scared risks or jut to selfish to save another person. To me if the person trapped was the one who caused the disaster it still wouldn't change my choice of trying to help him/her out of the situation, because they could be punished afterwards. Not unless my closest friends or family dies because of him/her I would leave him/her there to die. On the other hand in natural disasters things would be different I would try to help as much people as I can, because there is no one to blame for the casualties, and the more that survive the better.

Why Take Risks?

Krakauer says that the mountain climbers take risks because of the thrill and also the experience they can tell others. His comment can also apply to other forms of risk taking because risk bring excitement to life and also may people like to tell stories about their risks. Many times in my own life I take risk just for the pure adrenalin rush. I also do it some times to prove worthy to myself and some times friends. Usually I take a couple of physical risks the challenge myself and also to get the feeling of achievement. Many times I have seen others take risk both mental and physical and most of them are to show others what they can do, what they are capable of. Even risk can be rewarded with a larger outcome compared to not taking the risk, but that is not why people like taking risks unless your a businessman. People like it because they don't know whats going to happen they like the excitement, they like the chance of losing. If there is no chance of losing something from taking the risk there would be no excitement and mot importantly it wouldn't really be considered  risk.

Compare Disasters

The two events; the Titanic and Krakauer's journey are similar in both being great lost for the people who been through it. Also in both events people died of a tragic death. However what happened is different and they are also written with a different style. Krakauer has a closer view at the event since he was there to witness it and he put more narrative into the story than the Titanic story which was more informational. However both are written to make the event more interesting to read about and not just data and information. The Titanic story is using all firsthand and secondhand evidence and is told by putting the evidence together making it flow like a story. Yet Krakauer's story is a really narrative, he pretty much rights a memoir of the event into a book. The Titanic story is told from a third person point of view and is in the past tense since the event happen before the story was published. Krakauer's story is told in a first person point of view so there is less information in total but it more detailed on certain events and also has a more personal feeling to it. One is like looking at the after math and one is a flash back where you are right there with Krakauer.

participation

I believe that the job of a journalist should be reporting; reporting the truth and not adding bias opinions if they could avoid it. However when writing or talking about a event that is tragic or life changing, it is hard for a person no matter who it is to hold back emotions, especially if they were there to witness it. The line of which a journalist becomes a participant is vague and it difficult to decide what side he/she is one. To be 100% journalist you can not do anything that would affect the out come of the event, but if there was a person dying right in front of you and you could save him/her, wouldn't you do it. Yet if you do help and write a story of the main event some may say you are more of a participant in the event. However a lot of times news is presented best when the reporter or journalist was there and acquired first hand information. Events such as a natural disaster or war, its hard not to get emotional when wittnessing it. Therefore there should be a different amount of tolrance for different events due to the different emotional levels that the journalist will receive.

Risk

Some people in the world are drawn to danger because it give them excitement and some do it because they feel a sense of achievement afterwards. In life risks and danger may not be a thing that most would want however to achieve something great you are going to have to take risks. I my self take risk a lot, I love the feeling when I take a risk and I achieve the goal I wanted. Also when you take a risk you feel a rush of some sort and to me it just feels so good, it is almost impossible to put into words. I can recall a risk I took during a basketball game of mine in the 8th grade. We were losing by a few points and it seemed like we didn't have much of a chance of winning. As the opposite team stole the ball out of our point guards hands, and pushed us back to our side of the court, I broke formation risking that the opponent can run straight through the whole I created. I ran straight to their point guard who had the ball and took him by surprise. I knocked the ball out of his hands and darted down the basketball court to the other side just in time to make a lay up and even out the score. This was a risk that made me proud of my self, even though it could have gone terribly wrong and I could have singlehandedly lost the game for my team.

Free Write

Music has been around us ever since the beginning of time. It started out as a way of communication and telling stories to what it is today entertainment and an art form. Music can be expressed in many different ways; vocals, instruments, etc. Just the human body can be used in many different ways to produce sounds and to sing songs to create music. As the technology developed new sounds are able to be made by using the computer and voice's can also be altered on the computer. It is still music but it has lost its originality, hardly any new singers today still sing it the old fashion way; a set of vocals, a band, and a recording studio or live audience. I haven't had the privilege to live back 30-40 years ago when music was still like that and all the artists could really sing. I believe that the music industry has changed to the worse over the years. Artist aren't in it for entertaining the audience they do it for the money. Also new artists that come out are just like a replica of the one that came out 2 months before them. I am only 16 and yet my I Tunes library is made up of more than 70% of songs that are even older than I am. I follow bands and artists who started out in the 1970s just because their music is better than modern music. However there are still modern bands and artists out there that do it the way I like, but they are some how not getting as much attention as the computer generated sounds and altered voices. All the special effects added into a song just makes it seem like a messy circus; its noisy and unpleasant. The society and technology has improved but the music seems to have taken the way down hill, and yet there are artists out there who are trying to bring it back onto its upward climb.

A Challenge

Challenges occur in life all the time however not all challenges occur because of accidents, most challenges exist because people want them to. Everyone likes a little challenge in their lives, I specifically like challenges on a day to day basis. I challenge myself both mentally and physically but most of the time they are physical challenges. I like physical challenges such as skating because once I learn a new trick or land a big jump I feel fantastic. Compared to mental challenges I don't just feel a sense of accomplishment, I feel like I just won a million dollars! For example when I first started to skate I knew nothing but to ride around on my deck. Then I learned how to turn and how to Ollie ("Jump") but they didn't seem like such a big challenge or accomplishment so I wasn't too proud of myself. Then after a few months of practicing I could Ollie higher and also I began to learn a new trick called the Pop-Shuv-It. THe Pop-Shuv-It is a trick where you spin the board 180 degrees under your feet while you jump forward and catch the board after it made is rotation. It was very difficult at first to spin the board and may time I failed to land it properly and the board would snap back and hit my sheen. Practice after practice I finally land the trick successfully and it was consecutive. I felt so good and went on skating for a long time. Now I skate for the challenge of learning new tricks and also for the fun of it.

Highwayman

After hearing Seamus recited the poem from memory, Frankie found a connection between him and the Highwayman. They were both a lone and the one they loved was pretty much forbidden to love. The Highwayman was in love with Bess and Frankie was in love with Patricia. The Bess's father didn't allow the Highwayman to see her because he believed the Highwayman to be a and and evil person which his daughter shouldn't learn from or love. As for Frankie the nuns were like the parent who refused to allowed him and Patricia be together because they both have serious illnesses. Frankie can feel what the Highwayman is feeling for Bess the love and the want, and also the disappointment when he can no longer talk to Patricia. He feels the loneness that the Highwayman experiences. Also to add to the similarity both of the girl died and the boys lived with the pain of knowing that their loved one was dead. This is a very sad similarity to have and I believe that no one should have to suffer this; separation from love and also to receive information that the one you loved is dead.

Humor's Role

In the story Angela's Ashes humor is use from time to time to lighten up the mood and also to bring out character. In the story the irony and also the ways that the characters interact create humor. Humor by it self can be style for a story but it can also be mixed with many other styles.  Different styles mixed together create different effects. With a sad story and a touch of humor from here to there the story has more ups and downs, and with ups and downs the story would be more interesting. It is because if the story only had sad event occur then the story would be very depressing and difficult to read. However with bits of humor added inside reader would think it is less depressing and would want to read on. Humor can also act as distraction in a sad story. It takes the attention off of the main sad event, and then when they jump back into the event, the event would hit the readers hard.

Sick

As I was lying in bed, I heard kids playing and laughing in the playground below my apartment building. I couldn't  help but wonder what my friends at school were doing. Playing soccer, basketball, and card games. I wanted to be there with them, but I was at home with a horrible fever. I woke up in the middle of the night before and felt cold under three layers of blankets. My head was spinning and burning even though my body was cold. I rarely get sick, but if I do get sick I get it hard and it last longer than usual. I was throwing up constantly, and I couldn't eat anything because of that. I stayed home all day and in bed the whole time too. I couldn't eat anything and also didn't want to eat anything. I only drank water and Gatorade to keep my body from dehydrating. I felt horrible, it was a sensation that is so difficult to describe. Theo only thing I can say is that I wish it never happens to you.

Perspective

Different perspectives can cause the readers to receive different views of one events. With that it can cause a different emotional element and also changes the meaning of the event. One character may view the event as something unimportant but to another character may mean the world to. If a writer was to write a story about someone he/she knew he/she would have a greater emotional attachment to that character (this also appeals to settings and events). In memoirs writers reveal a important event that occurred in their life. Memoirs are more like a strip of the most important information from a wiki page, and the biography being the wiki page. Also the style used to write memoirs are usually more story like and less textbook styled. Perspective is a powerful tool it may get you to see only the detail the author wants you to see but blinds you from everything else. It is used a lot in the writing of history. History is never written in a third-person who knows it all and reveals it all. It is usually written from a perspective that would make the country the book is published in more powerful or less weak. You could read about the same historical event from three or four different countries textbooks and each would have it own twist to it.

Writing in a Style

Dear all PAS students and faculty members,
Good morning, PAS is a great school with great people inside of it. To be such a great school there are standards to be maintained. Everyone who is a Pas student, teacher, or staff is the best. There is no doubt about that. I am very proud to take part in such a great educational system and to get to meet all you wonderful kids. However to insure that we stay the best we must keep our environment clean. As I walked into the main office this morning I took a glance at the sofa area and noticed it was filled with trash. Empty plastic bottles, left over dinner, and all sorts of trash. This is the last warning I am giving out to the you students. If I see any one leave trash at the sofa area again I will immediately hand out a detention. I will now sit at the Door of the main office and watch the sofa area 24-7.

Dear PAS students,
I am very unhappy about what our community has become. The sofa area is not a area for students to go an leave trash at. This is ridiculous! How has the students at this school become so responsible? I am very displeased, this is not to happen again.

Dear fellow PAS classmates,
I have noticed the amount of increasing trash pilled up at the sofa area. I would like to remind you that we should keep our learning environment clean, and be responsible of your own trash. Don't rely on the cleaning lady to throw your trash away for you. Also just a friendly reminder, recycle. Thank you

Two Styles?

In the article that Lahiri wrote about her life as an Indian-American she mentioned that she always tried to hide her cultural background to the other kids. She learns from both cultures and learns to be proud of being both when she become older. When she was young she was afraid of her friends knowing about her other cultural background but when she became older she was proud to have another culture affect her as a person. Since she is the first generation of children after her parents moved from India to America she was more exposed to Indian cultures. As compared to other families which have already stayed in America for a couple of generations, which would be exposed to less Indian cultures and more easily blend into the American culture. Yet for Lahiri she has the same struggle as other immigrants do, trying to blend in without showing their former cultural backgrounds. Lahiri uses a style which is very informative and entertaining. The figurative language she uses seems to be more appealing to me than it would be if she used less figurative words. 

Taking a Leap

Everyone takes risks in their lives, some do it more than others and find it rewarding. However risks are not always rewarded, a lot of the time risk lead to hazards and bad things to happen. Risk could be the right thing to do if the circumstance provided no other option. However people still take risk when there are other safer options because the outcome may be better than taking the easy way. Sacrifice is also a risk since the sacrifice you made may not always help. People make many different types of sacrifice for their loved ones, they can very from using money to trading in your own life for theirs. Most of my friends have taken risks to help me before. Some lied to teachers to get me out of trouble and some took the punishment for me. As for me, I have taken the same risks that my friends have taken for me. To be specific one of the times my friend who didn't understand any Chinese at all, accidental threw a basketball out over the fence and onto the street where it hit it someone riding a bicycle. The person have been hit was really mad and threatened my friend. The biker said that he was going to call the police if he didn't apologize and give him money to go to the hospital. My friend was shocked and he froze, therefore I went up to the biker and tried to calm him down. I ended up being yelled at because I took the blame for the throw and after about half an hour of yelling by the man I ended up in the principals office and got "yelled" at for another  twenty minutes. Why did I do it I am not sure but all I know is that if it was my friend who confronted the man the situation would have been a lot worse. So I guess it all comes down to who you are taking the risk for and if you do take the risk would it remedy the situation.

Nature's rule

I was in third grade when I went on my first hike, one of the only times that I was taken out of the city. We took a shuttle bus to the "Yellow Mountain", and once we arrived I looked up and saw a huge mass of green and brown. I was amazed by what I saw and I began to appreciated the world I live in more. The thing that surprised me the most was how big the mountain was and how much life was on top of it. There were birds, monkey, lizards, and all sorts of animals living up on the mountain. Nature plays a very important role in life, due to the fact that it provides us with food and recourses to survive with. In many books or poem writers add nature into their setting, however each author can use it in a different style. They can use different tone and choices of words to describe the surrounding. Nature could be depicted as a scary and dangerous place if the write was to use gloomy and dark toned words as compared to lively and bright words.

Style

When I hear the word style the first thing that comes to mind is appearance, then actions, and finally use of words. To recognize whether a person has style or not is not hard at all, because everyone has their own style it just might not be very special/different compared to other people. There are only different types of style and there is no such thing as having no style. However some people do stand out more due to their unique style. The way style is expressed is very complicated because there are many ways of showing one's style. The most common way is by clothing. Usually when people ask about style they are talking about fashion and what you wear may define what type of person you are. However some people may act completely the opposite from what they look like. The styles can contradict each other. For example a person could be wearing very baggy clothes and have a appearance of a gangster but their actions can show that they are highly educated or nerdy person, which would contradict their appearance. Style can last forever and yet it can also change very quickly it all depends on the person. I would say that I do have a style but it seems to be harder for me to describe it myself. Therefore I am unsure about what my style is exactly.

A Daring Adventure

I believe fate as being some thing uncontrollable and unpredictable. Fate is something that can change but not because someone else is controlling it but because of your own actions. Its like a written script for you to act out but during the process you can add your own feelings and action to it. There is no one that controls fate but only manipulates in, usually unintentionally. Events can happen because of other's mistakes and end up affecting your fate. Each event is special but there are only some that we remember; the ones that mean something to us. A huge event can occur that has nothing that is in relation to you and you may forget it had ever happened. But event such as you cutting your finger in art class because another kid pushed you, you can remember for a lifetime. Events can come in all shapes and sizes but what really matters it what it has to do with you, did you experience it yourself? The more of a connection you have with the event the for memorable it is and the more meaning it has to you. Meaning is given because you can relate to it and that you can recall it as if it had just happened. Meaning in life as a whole is somewhat a little different. Usually meaning is given to life after you have learned to love someone (which most experience once they are born) or when you find something or someone you want to live for. Meaning to life is always complicated you may not be able to explain it but there is always something pushing everyday to live on.

My role

My role in the project is to be the camera man and also to assist Benson in video editing. I am pretty happy with my job, since I am handy with the camera and it also something I like to do. Since the start of the project we have only assigned roles, and the script write has began to write the script. However no filming has been done yet which is understandable, since we have not gotten the script yet. Today during class we got the script for a scene we could do with out Sean and Wan-Yi. However we have not rehearsed it yet and the directer wanted to go straight into filming, which the rest of the group didn't agree to. Due to the fact that we had no costume ready, no props, and no proper setting for the scene. Therefore we ended up rehearsing the scene which ended up very messy since the director didn't seem to have the power to make people concentrate. So far the experience hasn't been pleasant due to the arguments and it seems like we have no work done at all. The director seems to hold a grudge against one of the members, due the personal issues. The two both wanted the position of director at first but after some thought one of them gave the position away to the other; who is now our director. When ever the member is trying to give an opinion or contribute to the plan/discussion the director either ignores him or tries to put him off. The rest of the team has all seen this happen, and I believe that I speak for the whole group the director seems to be incapable to do a good job as the director. Now reflecting on my own effort it doesn't seem like i have done much other than contributing in discussions and calming the group down during arguments.

Cruel or Kind

In the novel  Of Mice and Men  everyone has a different personality. Some are kinder than others and some are more cruel. However no one is purely kind or cruel. You may see the leader of the workers slim as a kind man, however when he has to deal with Curley he is not kind but cruel. Curley is probably the most cruel character in the novel since he shows no sign of being nice to any of the guys. Especially toward Lennie, since Lennie is tall and big Curley hates him from the first sight. Curley picks on Lennie and is unafraid since he has a mental issue, yet Lennie fought back and scared him off. A sign of kindness in the novel would be when George and Lennie were talking about their dream, and they allowed Candy to join them. It wouldn't be much of a kind act for people today to do, but back then most men don't share dreams with strangers and they were lonely most of the time. However their act of kindness or should i say George's act of kindness wasn't 100% kind either. He only allowed Candy to join them because Candy brought benefits with him; money. Therefore there is no true kind or cruel, there is always a mixer of the two. The only difference each character has is the amount of each they have, some may have more cruelty than another who is more kind.

The Band Played On

In the story  Titanic the band members continued to play their instruments while other were getting onto life boats and running for their lives. I believe they did so due to many reasons. One being that making music was their only way of calming themselves down and it is also something that makes them happy. Reason two would be to make the situation for other less chaotic and to make the situation seem not as big of a deal. however out of the two I am leaning more towards the guess that they played for themselves, to calm themselves, and to prepare themselves for what is to come. I have personally never been in an near death experience and neither have I saw anyone or have known anyone who has the experience. However if I was to experience a deadly event I would say that I would end it with a blast. Before death I would do my favorite thing, just so I can die happily. I wouldn't want to coward away and die fearing of death. I would die smiling and happy. "The show must go on."

Sources

A primary source is one where it is taken directly from a first hand witness, a picture, or quoted word for word. A hand source would be when someone other than the first hand witness uses primary information and adds their own words or saying to it, not keeping it original. The primary source has always been known to be more trust worthy and i do not go against that saying, however that doesn't make second hand sources untrustworthy. Secondary sources can be as true as the primary sources, only with a person's personal opinion. Things such as autobiographies, photographs, or quotes would be considered a primary source. A television show that is about a certain event could be secondary and so can things on the internet. Sites such as Wikipedia is a secondary source, since they collected the information from someone or somewhere else. For example in a event like the 9/11. A interview of a person who was there and experienced the bombing would be a primary sources, also a picture of the twin towers being blown up would be a primary source also. Secondary sources would be a child at school who saw the interview and then added his own opinion on the people who bombed the towers. So in conclusion a primary source would be one with solid facts and hands on information. A secondary source would be someone else who uses the primary source and adds their own opinion or details to the source.

Bosom Buddies

The relationship between George and Lennie is a very simple but complicated relationship. George takes care of Lennie while Lennie provides George with a stronger visual presence. The both are benefiting from each other, but Lennie is just benefiting more from George. Since Lennie has a disability George has to take care of him and make sure that he doesn't get in trouble. Lennie can only provide that visual intimidation for George, which wouldn't help much after you get to know the two of them. Their relationship makes other workers curious of why they are traveling together. Also that once they know that Lennie is disabled they wouldn't be afraid of him. The way their relationship moves the plot of how George takes care of Lennie, and it is those action that move it forward. In my own life I have been both Lennie and George. In school I have different groups of friends. In one of them I am a George who is kind of like leader. However it is not a completely dominating role, unlike George I take advice form others too, so therefore I am a bit like Lennie. Lennie only listens to George and looks towards him for advice.

Emotional setting

In the story Of Mice And Men  the setting was in the 1930s. George and Lennie arrives on a ranch to earn money so that they can buy their own plot of land. The main setting is on the ranch that they work on and their worker dorms. From what we have read for class all the scenes take place in the dorms. It seems to be where all the action takes place after their long day of work. The surrounding of the ranch as I imagine it is empty can dry, but i could be wrong since the books doesn't really describe the surroundings. On the other hand there is the emotional setting which is a lot of the time friendly. When ever George and Lennie are together they seem to be happy and when ever they talk about their dream land the mood gets all excited and energetic. Then when ever Curley enters the scene the moods is toned down, darker, a sense of danger, and even anger. Curley is always looking for trouble and therefore he brings about him a bad atmosphere, and something bad always happens when he's around. Also with Curley's wife she brings a dreamy element when viewing it from Lennie's point of view, but to the other works a hostile tone. She brings about a hostility to other because she always gets other in trouble with Curley.

Base Theme

In the story  Of Mice And Men George and Lennie have a unique relationship due to the fact that they know each other so well. Not a lot of men traveled together back then, so it must have meant they had a good relationship. George is always bossing over Lennie, and he doesn't hold back while insulting him or yelling at him. This also shows how close they are because you would never yell full out at someone who you don't know very well. You would always want to save face around people you don't know, even though you may not notice it but it is what happens. Just think about how you would yell at a friend for doing something wrong and how you would yell at a person who you don't know that has done the same thing wrong. So this proves Steinbeck's view of how if people knew each other well they would be friends. Therefore I agree with Steinbeck's statement because after looking at the quote and then reviewing my own behavior with my friends, I noticed a difference. Just like how I explained it in the beginning when i am around my friends I am more open and more reluctant to goof around and act stupid. However around adults or classmate I don't know I become preservative and more closed up, trying not to make a fool of myself. Only true friends will accept you for what you are, and will only laugh with you but not at you.

Magic pictures

In the story Old Man With Enormous Wings  it shows us three pictures that show magical realism. One being a ostrich statue's head peaking out of a ware house door, and curious kids watching from the side. To me this picture isn't that fantasy like, it seems morel like an adventure to me. The kids seems to be shocked by the ostrich and seems to want to get near. The second picture which I would say is most likely to come form a fantasy is a picture of three men ridding on a fish. First of all the three men look perfectly normal on the Giant fish and with no surprised or amazed facial expression at all. Second the fish is out of water and in a bucket standing up right on it stomach. Fish can't breath without water, so it doesn't really make sense that the fish is still a live after it was pulled out of water. Last but not least the fish is larger in size than all three of the men combined! How is that even possible its not like the fish is a whale. However the picture is very convincing if you don't pay that much attention to little facts and details. The third picture is a sculpture of a moon placed on top of a rocky mountain. This is actually really commonly seen in folk tales or children's books. It is because in the old days people didn't know where the moon or sun came from. So they thought they came from a behind the mountain and would stay up on the mountain for a certain period of time each day. Therefore the picture shows that, with a sculpture of a moon just sitting on rocks. This is magical realism because we all know that the sun and moon are in outer space so it is impossible that the moon sits on a mountain some where.

ode

You come in many colors shapes and sizes,
Duck tongues, beanies
top hats, fedoras,
Fitted caps , and cowboy hats
all so wonderful
you keep the rain off my head
you keep my hair from making a mess
and on those bad hair days
you hide me from embarrassment
who needs expensive hair cuts when you have a hat
you hat will cover it all for you
they are just so wonderful
but have you ever
wore a hat
which made you scratch your hair all day?
Or have you ever bought a hat that was too tight?
Has a hat ever got you to stay after school,
in the principals office?

Another P.O.V.

The scene that I have decided to use is the first scene where Christopher finds the dead dog and gets questioned by the policeman. The point of view I would be taking is the policeman's view. I chose this scene and this role because I thought it would be interesting to see what a policeman would think about a autistic kid. Since policemen are suppose to be kind, and just. However not all police are like that and in the story the police man seemed to be every confused about what Christopher  was doing, whether he was trying to be a smart ass or just plain weird. With this type of personality my character definitely has a different point of view of the situation that of Christopher's. With Christopher's abnormal action it would cause my character to act differently from what is normal to him. He would probably look at him weirdly and maybe even stare. I believe that my character would be a little shocked and not sure about what to say.

holiday reality

During the lunar new year holiday I had a good time. I ate with my relatives and family and also received a lot of money from red envelops, however enough is never enough. I have always wanted more money in the red envelops that I get even though I do get a lot already. I also had a day free from family gatherings and on that day I took a train up to Taipei and bought a new pair of shoes, ones I've been asking for months. However I didn't stay in Taipei for the rest of the day but took the HSR down to Hsinchu and meet up with a friend to go skating and also just to hangout. I had a great time and went home to be with my family again. Comparing my original plans with the reality it seems as if I had over estimated the amount of time I had for this holiday. I originally wanted to hang out with friends even more, not just one day but two or three. A difference I would have liked to have was to have the Monday and Tuesday of the first week to be free too therefore the break would be longer, since we don't really have class on those two days anyways.

Holiday Plans

During this Chinese new year break I wish to spend more time with my family, and get to know them better since I use to live outside of the country. However that is not all I wish for from my family, I want the red envelopes; the money. With the money I get I would go buy some new clothes and a pair of new shoes, the typical things you would get. Then I wish that I'll have time to hang out with my friends, go skating, and maybe watching a movie. I also plan to train my new dog to go to the bathroom where he is supposed to be going, no anywhere on the floor. I also wish to get my grades higher after I come back to school, even though i can't really do much over break I still hope to complete at least 3 of my wishes.

Film V Print

Film and print differ in many ways but also are common in many areas. Film shows you directly what it is that the director wants you to see and nothing else. However in books you are able to imagine your own character's look from the descriptive details given to you by the author. In both chases images are created only that in film the director who is similar to the author of a book shows you exactly what it is and a book allows you to imagine. From my personal preference I would prefer books over movies if they exist in both forms. The reason behind that is because I am a very creative person I love imagining what things look like, imagery is really important to me. However I am not saying that movies suck, they're good to you get a more continuous flow of pictures and action, in stead of you having to stop a bit and imagine your own. In cases where a book is interpreted into a movie the director may choose to delete scenes which they think to be unnecessary or unimportant. That is one thing i don't like about movie interpretation that don't stick to the book's details or actions. Which do you prefer more of the film or the print?

Shaped by time and space

Our surrounding contributes to our way of acting a whole lot. The surrounding people can influence your decisions by per-pressure. It can also be due to you being familiar with the same kind of reaction. Also the natural environment can affect how you dress and how you cop with the weather. I have always lived in main land China and Taiwan, both having a stricter studying environment and smaller social circle. If i was to have been born in America, I would probably experience more freedom and also have a wider social circle, since there are cultures there. However on the academic side I would probably slack off more and end up getting bad grade in all my classes. Due to the fact that there is so much freedom a child can have it may get out of control. I would dare say that I would be happier since I would have less to care about. Not that school isn't important but because everyone around seems to not care much about school, so then I would also feel the same way. Even though I would to experience such an amount of freedom I would still choose my current life over the one I imagine having in America.

Rites of passage

In many different cultures rites of passages are preformed during a time of which one enters puberty. However each ceremony differs from another in even the smallest detail. In more ancient societies where they still keep their old culture. Larger ceremonies would occur. On the other hand in more modern societies smaller "ceremonies" with family or friends happen more often. The most common rites of passage that I see in my society is the 19th birthday celebration. Once someone turns 18 they seem to be a "adult" and people give gift and go partying. It has always seemed to me that everyone wants to turn 18 to get more freedom and right, but they never want to be older than 18 either. I myself am looking forward to the day I turn 18. For most people when they 18 they spend more time with friends than family. The friends would give gift that symbolize adulthood. Thing such as razor blades for guys, a nice dress for girls, and sometimes in America a car. With the phrase rites of passage, each word means something important. Rites means ceremony or ritual. Of means to or towards. And finally passage means the way or new direction. So usually rites of passage are about a new turning point in life in most chases adulthood.

Symbol of the House

In the story House Taken Over the house stands as a sanctuary, a peaceful place which is undisturbed by the pollution of the modern world. The house is closed off to the outside world and in side it only keeps the peace. Reading and knitting represents the easy pass time the only good things left in the world. The house is sealed off against the world because Irene and his brother are trying to live a "clean" life.Even though they still go outside on Saturdays, they only go to buy yarn and books so and nothing else, they also only make quick trips. At the end of the story "things", "people" break into the house. I believe the "things" represent the outside world's influence and pollution. Once they have entered the house the brother and sister seal themselves away from it. However in the very end the "things" still take over the house and pollutes it. Therefore the brother and sister are left on the street into the polluted world. So I believe that its implying that no matter what you do you won't be able to stop the pollution.

Being tested

All stories or movies was a many conflict which produces a road block for the protagonist. Usually the conflict is challenging for the protagonist and also leads to different events to occur. In the story Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon the main character, David Martin faces many challenges that make his life difficult as a writer. David had a poor family when he was young and his father was a drunk. Once he became an adult poverty didn't leave him. He had a job but the money he got was only enough to pay for a small apartment; one resembling a prison cell. However everyone gets a chance at getting to the top in life and David did too. His way out of poverty was write books for a publisher, however the book was not to be in his name. He had to obey that rule which no author really likes unless they chose to do so themselves. He was getting rich but he wasn't happy about not having his "own" book. Later on he begins to have serious health problems that could lead to death. However a mysterious man helped them and also offered him a chance at write a book with his own name on it. He couldn't take the offer though, due to the fact that he had a contract with his old publishers. After a few days he heard news that someone killed his publishers and also burned the storage room. This allowed him to take the mysterious man's deal. The about the relationship between David and his new "boss" and many other conflicts happen. However the only conflict that i could relate to is the one where he couldn't have his book with his name on it. I remember back when i was in middle school me and another kid did a project together but in the end the other kid told the teacher i didn't do any work at all. Therefore I did work but didn't receive credit for it. The two are the same because it was the crdit David wanted and me also.

Proving one's self

When people are still young they tend to want to standout in the crowd or at least fit in. They also want to prove the others that they are more mature than they look so they can earn respect. They also prove to others their bravery and endurance to earn respect. Respect from others and from elders are very important to a teenager. With respect they gain confidence and also feel accepted. I myself have done so before and not just once but many times. However some of them happen subconsciously since it felt natural to do so. The one I can remember the most clearly was when a group of my friends and I wee playing around in my compound. We ran up to the club house roof (2 floors high) and we played mini golf. Soon we got bored of that and tried to find something else to do up there, one of my friends went over to the edge and stayed there for a couple of minutes. Then he came back and said he had an idea. We were all so excited to hear what he was about to say but once he said it everyone grew silent. "Why don't we try to jump down this roof" he said. After a few minutes of thinking 3 of my friend moved to the railing looked down. Then the rest of us crowded behind them and watched them drop down on to the grass below. They seemed to have not been hurt at all! So then the rest followed one by one they dropped down as I watched from a safe distance. I was left alone on top of the roof with 6 of my friends down below. They cheered me on but i didn't seem to help me at all, they soon decided that i wasn't going to do and told me to get down and we would go to another place. Once I heard that I thought to myself, I must jump down or else they will not look at me as part of the group. So there I go I jumped off and landed on the ground safely after a roll. My friends smiled at me and offered me a hand to get up. Later on in the day I asked them what they would have thought of me if I didn't jump. Their answer surprised me but make me smile. They said that they would have understood and it wouldn't have mattered.

symbols

Symbols are seen all over the world and many repeat in places that has no relation at all. Symbols represent certain things to people, and how every person interprets the symbol may be different due to cultural differences.  Symbols are created in two main circumstances. One being natural and the other being made for a purpose. Ones that came naturally may be like the symbols for fire, water, the sun, the moon, and human. All symbols that are naturally created resembles the actual thing. Then for the symbols created for a purpose, they may look completely different from what it represents but in people minds they are the same thing. For example the peace sign to me at first looked like a circular leaf, that it until I learned that it really meant peace. What is peace, it is not something you can physically see but only mentally experience it.  Therefore the peace sign is an example for a symbol created for a purpose. Many symbols in the world are created after a major event and they are usually used to help remember the past.  Also many symbols are reused in different cultures. For example the Buddhist sign is almost identical to the Nazi sign other than the fact that the Nazi sign is turned. Even an African country was it on their flag. Symbols are quiet common in life and new ones are created each day and they are laos every important in lour lives, helping us remember things in a different way.

Choices

Making different choices affect the outcome of an event/events. So of course choices are important. However it will not reveal who you truly are, what your personality is unless no one less influenced your choice. If you were too make a choice under per-pressure that choice is no longer yours, the choice that you would most probably make benefits the others surrounding you, it may benefit you also.  In life everyone makes life changing decisions, important choices. Choices such as who you are going to marry, where to live, what major to take in college, what job to apply for. I myself had made some important choices in lie already and I am only 15 years old! I have chosen who to be friends with and if they are the right people to make friends with. The choice on who your friends are is very important, because they can change your life and how you act. Even though I still 2 years away from graduating high school I have already chosen the major I want. I choose to be an art major. This choice can change the rest of my life, and how i live it. I may never be an successful designer or fine artist, but I love art and that is impossible to change.

Welcome Back

The vacation was no white Christmas and may never be that way, but i know that I'll always have a good time hanging out with friends. During the break plans for going skating, watching movies, just hanging out, or sleeping over at a friends house all came together. The first few days was still a bit on the down side since no events have been officially confirmed yet, however they started very soon. The first event that I went to was actually school related. It was a yearbook meeting, however it felt more like a bunch of friends having fun at Starbucks. Two days after that i went skating with a friend and we skated for 5 hours, it was great fun and exercise. Soon after skating, on the Sunday of that week, I went to the school alumni. To tell the truth the alumni wasn't as fun as it could have been, but the after party was great! A group of people headed up to Taipei and had a sleepover at a friend's house. The next day i headed home ready to spend some quality family time with my sister and parents. However the family hours didn't last long when a friend called to ask if I could go watch a movie, and of course i went. We went and watched Tron: legacy in a movie theater with a 8 floor high screen. However the movie wasn't fantastic but just mediocre. Sooner than I thought it would have came new years eve arrived and another sleepover was planned. This time we watched the 101 fireworks and also the national park fireworks, they were both very beautiful can carefully executed. Once the fireworks were done we all gathered up and played games until the first sight of day light shined through the windows. Even then not everyone went to sleep, I myself didn't sleep until 7:30 in the morning of January,01,2011. We had lots of fun but school was getting near and we had to call it an end and go back to our homework.