Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Soccer Star
So this girl is amazing. She can basically do any trick with soccer ball that everyone else just dreams about doing. Although she does not have the ideal life of fiends, she does have the star and fame that her freestyle juggling has landed her. Indi has been playing ever since she was little and has been practicing and training every since she was little. I do not know if I would like to do that. Work on freestyle for soccer for 90 minutes each day. I enjoy my life and like my friends to be around. Indi has a special talent that any soccer player dreams about doing. And through practice and hard work, she gets to be a star.
Predicting the Future
There are many of High School students who are stressed out about college. Half of us do not even know what we want to be yet. There is a ton of pressure coming from not only parents, but from school as well. They are trying to help you decide what you want to become in the future, but some people just have know clue. These seniors at a high school have thought about what they have wanted to be and recorded it for all to hear. I listen to the one who wants to be a physical therapist because I am interested in that type of medicine. She says that she originally wanted to be a nurse until she had to go to the physical therapist a lot. Since she was there, she started to grow fond of the idea of how the body because of personal experiences. There sparked her passion for physical therapy. There was a boy who wanted to become a doctor. I listen to his as well since once again, I am interested in medicine. He wants to become a doctor because it makes good money. I believe that you should go for something that you love doing instead of what makes the most money. I know that may have some factor to it, but doing something that you hate for the rest of your life would suck. These is another boy who recorded his future, and his is undecided. Not everyone know what they want to become when they are older. My parents have pressured me ever since eighth grade because of my bother. He is currently a senior and has known that he wants to be an architect every since sixth grade. Because of that, my parents expect me to know what I want to become too. I am not so sure about medicine, I just know that I want to help people.
I have had a ton of personal experiences to why I want to help children. When I was in fourth grade I was in the hospital for a month and a half because my appendix ruptured. For those of you who do not know what your appendix is, it is a sac in your body that holds toxins and poisons, and you do not need it to survive. Well that was ruptured for 24 hours. By that time, all of the toxins were spread through out my body and into my stomach muscles. I could not stand up strait or do anything. I felt like an old person because I had to bend 90 degrees when I walked. Because of that, I had to go through HELL at the hospital. When I was in there for the first three weeks, they did not remove all of the toxins, so I had to go back in for another three weeks. Finally I was sick of the hospital and tired of the pain. So I did everything I possible could to get out of there. It is torture for a ten year old to be in a hospital for about two months. I never want a little child to go through the same pain and torture that I went through. That is my reason behind my future plans. Whats yours?
I have had a ton of personal experiences to why I want to help children. When I was in fourth grade I was in the hospital for a month and a half because my appendix ruptured. For those of you who do not know what your appendix is, it is a sac in your body that holds toxins and poisons, and you do not need it to survive. Well that was ruptured for 24 hours. By that time, all of the toxins were spread through out my body and into my stomach muscles. I could not stand up strait or do anything. I felt like an old person because I had to bend 90 degrees when I walked. Because of that, I had to go through HELL at the hospital. When I was in there for the first three weeks, they did not remove all of the toxins, so I had to go back in for another three weeks. Finally I was sick of the hospital and tired of the pain. So I did everything I possible could to get out of there. It is torture for a ten year old to be in a hospital for about two months. I never want a little child to go through the same pain and torture that I went through. That is my reason behind my future plans. Whats yours?
Sunday, March 27, 2011
My Sister's Keeper: pages 84-118
Jesse thinks about when he was a child and would light bath soap on fire to show Anna. He reflects that Anna is the only proof he has that he belongs in the family. Jesse goes to an abandoned warehouse and sets a fire. He admits he has done it before. He watches the fire from far away until he sees his father arrive. Jesse goes home to find Sara frantic. Kate is vomiting blood. Jesse drives Kate to the ER. At the hospital, Dr. Chance tells Sara and Jesse that Kate is in the end stages of kidney failure. Sara asks if a transplant is possible, and Dr. Chance tells her that the odds are not good. Sara asks if they would do the transplant if a donor were available. Jesse offers his kidney, but Dr. Chance tells him it must be an exact match.
There is a flashback and Sara is pregnant with Anna. Sara knows everything about the baby, from the sex to the specific combination of genes that will allow Anna to be a donor for Kate. She admits that she has thought of Anna only in terms of what she will be able to do for Kate. They only wanted a child who would save Kate’s life. Sara goes into labor on New Year’s Eve. Anna is born, and the doctors take her umbilical cord to harvest the cord blood. Kate begins a pre-transplant regimen of radiation and chemotherapy, which makes her violently ill. The doctors put her in isolation, then give her Anna’s cord blood.
The judge asks Julia if she will be the guardian ad litem in Anna’s case. Julia agrees and goes to the Fitzgerald house where she meets Anna. Julia takes Anna to the zoo to talk, hoping it might loosen her up. Julia can’t determine why exactly Anna filed the lawsuit, but she realizes that Anna will either lose her sister or herself. Julia realizes that it will be difficult for Anna to live there during the course of the legal proceedings without being swayed by her mother.
Campbell works in his office when Julia walks in. The two discuss Anna. Campbell suggests removing Sara from the house, but Julia thinks it is the wrong course of action. The two argue and the dog, Judge, becomes increasingly agitated. Finally, Campbell leaves Julia alone in his office. Campbell straightens himself up in a bathroom. When he goes back to his office, Julia has gone. Campbell goes to see Anna at her house. Initially, he feels awkward around Anna and admits that he usually doesn’t spend time with his clients.
Reflection
I believe that Anna is doing the right thing. Even though it may not seem like it, it is her body and she may do whatever she wants with it even though she is a minor. What if someone created you to basically go through thousands of operations over the course of your life? I am pretty sure you would not want to go through that. I just hope the judge and her mom will figure it out eventually.
There is a flashback and Sara is pregnant with Anna. Sara knows everything about the baby, from the sex to the specific combination of genes that will allow Anna to be a donor for Kate. She admits that she has thought of Anna only in terms of what she will be able to do for Kate. They only wanted a child who would save Kate’s life. Sara goes into labor on New Year’s Eve. Anna is born, and the doctors take her umbilical cord to harvest the cord blood. Kate begins a pre-transplant regimen of radiation and chemotherapy, which makes her violently ill. The doctors put her in isolation, then give her Anna’s cord blood.
The judge asks Julia if she will be the guardian ad litem in Anna’s case. Julia agrees and goes to the Fitzgerald house where she meets Anna. Julia takes Anna to the zoo to talk, hoping it might loosen her up. Julia can’t determine why exactly Anna filed the lawsuit, but she realizes that Anna will either lose her sister or herself. Julia realizes that it will be difficult for Anna to live there during the course of the legal proceedings without being swayed by her mother.
Campbell works in his office when Julia walks in. The two discuss Anna. Campbell suggests removing Sara from the house, but Julia thinks it is the wrong course of action. The two argue and the dog, Judge, becomes increasingly agitated. Finally, Campbell leaves Julia alone in his office. Campbell straightens himself up in a bathroom. When he goes back to his office, Julia has gone. Campbell goes to see Anna at her house. Initially, he feels awkward around Anna and admits that he usually doesn’t spend time with his clients.
Reflection
I believe that Anna is doing the right thing. Even though it may not seem like it, it is her body and she may do whatever she wants with it even though she is a minor. What if someone created you to basically go through thousands of operations over the course of your life? I am pretty sure you would not want to go through that. I just hope the judge and her mom will figure it out eventually.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
My Sister's Keeper: pages 54-83
Sara and Brian see an oncologist who will be in charge of Kate’s treatments. Sara calls her older sister, Zanne, whom she has fallen out of touch with, and later Zanne arrives to help the family out. Since Kate’s form of cancer often resists treatment, the doctors admit they can only do so much. Sara asks what it will be like if Kate dies and wonders how she would survive it. Kate starts chemotherapy and gets extremely sick. The doctors test Jesse to see if he is a genetic match for Kate, since she might need bone marrow if she relapses, but he is not. Their doctor tells Sara that if she and Brian have more children, one sibling could be a match. After chemo, Kate develops an infection and has to be rushed to the hospital. While at the hospital, Sara tells Brian she is thinking of having another child. Brian thinks Sara wants to be able to replace Kate if she dies, but Sara assures him she wants to have another child to see if the child would be a genetic match for Kate.
Campbell wonders how much people are beholden to their parents. Campbell stops for coffee and when he returns to his office, he finds Anna there. Sara calls while Anna is in the room with Campbell. Sara tells Campbell that Anna has changed her mind, but Anna tells Campbell she has not. Campbell goes to the courthouse where he meets Sara, who decides to act as counsel for herself and Brian. Sara and Campbell speak with Judge DeSalvo, the judge for the case. They argue about what Anna really wants until Judge DeSalvo decides he needs to speak with Anna alone.
At the courthouse, Anna speaks with Judge DeSalvo. They discuss the trial, and Anna tries to remain composed. But she remembers memories of herself and Kate, and then starts to cry. She tells Judge DeSalvo she can’t give a kidney to her sister. He assures her no hospital would take a kidney from an unwilling donor, but she says being a donor has never been her choice. She says she never wanted to stop the lawsuit and only told her mother she would because she loves her. Judge DeSalvo decides to appoint Anna an expert who can decide what is best for her. Brian pleads with Sara to calm down, but Sara shouts that Anna practically signed Kate’s death sentence.
Reflection
I enjoy how the book goes into flashbacks. It is hard to understand sometimes when you are in the future or present though. But other then that, it gives you great information on what happened and why everything is the why it is now. I do not know why, but my favorite character in this book is Campbell. I think it is just because he is a lawyer and not really supposed to be handling Anna's case, but because of the circumstances, he takes her case anyway. And I was surprised that in the book the judge is a guy because in the movie, it is played by a woman who lost her daughter in a car accident. There are many differences between the book and the movie.
Campbell wonders how much people are beholden to their parents. Campbell stops for coffee and when he returns to his office, he finds Anna there. Sara calls while Anna is in the room with Campbell. Sara tells Campbell that Anna has changed her mind, but Anna tells Campbell she has not. Campbell goes to the courthouse where he meets Sara, who decides to act as counsel for herself and Brian. Sara and Campbell speak with Judge DeSalvo, the judge for the case. They argue about what Anna really wants until Judge DeSalvo decides he needs to speak with Anna alone.
At the courthouse, Anna speaks with Judge DeSalvo. They discuss the trial, and Anna tries to remain composed. But she remembers memories of herself and Kate, and then starts to cry. She tells Judge DeSalvo she can’t give a kidney to her sister. He assures her no hospital would take a kidney from an unwilling donor, but she says being a donor has never been her choice. She says she never wanted to stop the lawsuit and only told her mother she would because she loves her. Judge DeSalvo decides to appoint Anna an expert who can decide what is best for her. Brian pleads with Sara to calm down, but Sara shouts that Anna practically signed Kate’s death sentence.
Reflection
I enjoy how the book goes into flashbacks. It is hard to understand sometimes when you are in the future or present though. But other then that, it gives you great information on what happened and why everything is the why it is now. I do not know why, but my favorite character in this book is Campbell. I think it is just because he is a lawyer and not really supposed to be handling Anna's case, but because of the circumstances, he takes her case anyway. And I was surprised that in the book the judge is a guy because in the movie, it is played by a woman who lost her daughter in a car accident. There are many differences between the book and the movie.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
1000 Awesome Things
There are a lot of awesome things out in this world and this website displays all of those great things. For instance, eating something while you are cooking it. I am pretty sure everyone does that when making cookies or brownies. I know I do it all the time. It is just so good and mouth watering you cannot help it. Also, there is when dogs or cats chase their own tale. I do not know why, but it is just so darn cute when animals do that. I know everybody looks through the oven door while something is baking in there. You have to see how your food is cooking. Do not want anything to burn! I am pretty sure everyone does that too, unless your cold, then you open up the oven to get a blast of hot air in your face. Another awesome thing is reading short chapters. It feels like you are such a fast reader and the book goes by extremely fast as well. That is why I like picture books!
Friday, March 18, 2011
My Sister's Keeper: pages 17-53
(The attorney)Campbell gives his account of his meeting with Anna. He talks with her about her case and notices how angry she seems. He agrees to represent her because he thinks the case will be easy to win and great publicity. He does not think they will even need to go to trial. Anna leaves after Campbell tells her he will file a petition in family court for her medical emancipation. Campbell’s dog, Judge, pushes against him, apparently alerting Campbell to something. Campbell goes back into his office and locks the door.
(The mom)Sara’s mind jumps back in time to 1990. She recalls her decision to give up her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mother. Sara notices a bruise on young Kate’s shoulder blade. The next morning, bruises have spread up and down Kate’s spine. Sara takes Kate to the hospital where Kate undergoes a series of tests. The hospital refers Sara to an oncologist who diagnoses Kate with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). It is a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. The doctor tells Sara and Brian (the dad) that APL has a twenty to thirty percent survival rate and they should begin treating Kate immediately. At home Sara and Brian deal with the fallout of the diagnosis and the realization that their daughter may not survive. Sara refuses to let Kate die.
Anna and Sara sit with Kate at the hospital during her dialysis session. Sara talks about kidney donation while Anna thinks about all of the risks associated with the procedure. Vern Stackhouse, a sheriff, comes to Kate’s room. He serves Sara papers for the lawsuit Anna has filed for medical emancipation. Sara responds angrily, but before she can talk to Anna about the lawsuit, Kate cries out in pain. Sara goes to Kate’s bedside while Anna runs out of the hospital room. When Sara, Kate, and Anna arrive home, Kate runs to her room, and Sara demands to know what Anna is thinking. Sara grows even angrier until she slaps Anna. Later, Kate talks to Anna. Sara and Brian walk into Anna’s and Kate’s room at night. Anna overhears her father saying that maybe Anna’s actions are not crazy. Sara holds Anna and assures her they can fix everything by talking to the judge. Anna only nods.
Refection
I feel bad for Kate. I mean she is going through a tough time and cannot help anything that is going on. I do not want to say she is ripping her family apart, but everyone is freaking out about it which is causing everyone to be stressed out all the time. Including the mom, Sara. She is just so fixed on making Kate feel better and get rid of that stupid cancer. By the way, cancer is DUMB!!! I hate it with a strong passion. Anyway, I know I would be trying to save my daughter if she had cancer, but I do not know if I would use my other daughter to do that. It would make me feel like I was taking another persons life that is healthy.
(The mom)Sara’s mind jumps back in time to 1990. She recalls her decision to give up her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mother. Sara notices a bruise on young Kate’s shoulder blade. The next morning, bruises have spread up and down Kate’s spine. Sara takes Kate to the hospital where Kate undergoes a series of tests. The hospital refers Sara to an oncologist who diagnoses Kate with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). It is a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. The doctor tells Sara and Brian (the dad) that APL has a twenty to thirty percent survival rate and they should begin treating Kate immediately. At home Sara and Brian deal with the fallout of the diagnosis and the realization that their daughter may not survive. Sara refuses to let Kate die.
Anna and Sara sit with Kate at the hospital during her dialysis session. Sara talks about kidney donation while Anna thinks about all of the risks associated with the procedure. Vern Stackhouse, a sheriff, comes to Kate’s room. He serves Sara papers for the lawsuit Anna has filed for medical emancipation. Sara responds angrily, but before she can talk to Anna about the lawsuit, Kate cries out in pain. Sara goes to Kate’s bedside while Anna runs out of the hospital room. When Sara, Kate, and Anna arrive home, Kate runs to her room, and Sara demands to know what Anna is thinking. Sara grows even angrier until she slaps Anna. Later, Kate talks to Anna. Sara and Brian walk into Anna’s and Kate’s room at night. Anna overhears her father saying that maybe Anna’s actions are not crazy. Sara holds Anna and assures her they can fix everything by talking to the judge. Anna only nods.
Refection
I feel bad for Kate. I mean she is going through a tough time and cannot help anything that is going on. I do not want to say she is ripping her family apart, but everyone is freaking out about it which is causing everyone to be stressed out all the time. Including the mom, Sara. She is just so fixed on making Kate feel better and get rid of that stupid cancer. By the way, cancer is DUMB!!! I hate it with a strong passion. Anyway, I know I would be trying to save my daughter if she had cancer, but I do not know if I would use my other daughter to do that. It would make me feel like I was taking another persons life that is healthy.
Cody vs. Chris
The bleak diction of Cody’s language and the average diction of Chris’s language portray the way the two teenagers act throughout life. Cody is standing in his temporary guardian’s house responding to her questions with dull yes or no answers. When Cody was at his alternative school eating with his friends, he was being very disrespectful towards a teacher. Using provocative language is a sign of little diction. Chris on the other had demonstrates intermediate diction. At the beginning of the movie, Chris is receiving his diploma and gives a little speech. His terminology is average for normal humans. Also, Chris’s imagination has a great deal of affect on his life. He creates this hero called Xavier. Whenever Chris is sad or feels alone, he pretends he is Xavier knowing that he can conquer the world. Chris gives advice to his younger sister that has been having trouble at school with bullies. He advises her not to let the bullying get to her. Another example of Chris having a higher diction then Cody is because he has a sense of humor. Chris will laugh and chuckle at his own jokes while Cody will give a polite laugh or maybe a fake smile.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
My Sisters Keeper: pages 1-16
Thirteen-year-old Anna Fitzgerald begins the story. She talks about the different reasons babies come into being and admits that she was born for a very specific purpose. Scientists used her mother’s eggs and father’s sperm to create a specific combination of genes. They created her in this way so she would be able to save her sister, Kate. Anna talks about visiting a pawnshop to sell a locket. She has a difficult time parting from the locket because her father gave it to her as a gift after she donated bone marrow to Kate. Anna goes on to describe herself as skinny and a freak. She talks about her family, how her sister Kate has leukemia, and how she has had to undergo medical procedures to help Kate whenever Kate has gotten sick. Her mother, meanwhile, obsessively shops online, and her older brother, Jesse, behaves like a delinquent because their parents don’t have time to care about him. Anna shows Jesse a newspaper clipping about a lawyer named Campbell Alexander. Jesse warns her not to mess with the system and the roles everyone in the family has, but he still agrees to drive her to Campbell’s office. Anna meets Campbell and notices he has a service dog, which Campbell sarcastically tells Anna prevents him from getting too close to magnets, because he has an iron lung. Campbell tries to send Anna away, and she explains that she wants Campbell to help her sue her parents for the right to her own body.
Reflection
I am glad Anna is suing for her own body. Her mom should not be able to run a whole bunch of test on her just so she can take the life of one child and put it into another. I think it is wrong for people to do stuff like that. God has his plan and if it is for someone to get cancer, then that sucks, but it is his plan. Sara (the mom) should not have had Anna be a donor in everything that Kate needs. Oh and I like how the attorney Campbell has a dog. Dogs are so cute!
Reflection
I am glad Anna is suing for her own body. Her mom should not be able to run a whole bunch of test on her just so she can take the life of one child and put it into another. I think it is wrong for people to do stuff like that. God has his plan and if it is for someone to get cancer, then that sucks, but it is his plan. Sara (the mom) should not have had Anna be a donor in everything that Kate needs. Oh and I like how the attorney Campbell has a dog. Dogs are so cute!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sickness
So I do not know if you have noticed, but everyone is seeming to be getting the sniffles. I know I sure do! I have had a sore throat and stuffy nose for the past few days. Most of the people in my class do as well. I recommend drinking lots of water. I know people tell you that all the time but it really works. Yesterday during school I carried a water bottle around all day. Every time I could feel my throat starting to hurt I just took a sip of water and it felt better. Granted you may have to pee like ten times in one day, it is still good to stay hydrated when you are sick. Also maybe carry some cough drops around if you cannot carry any water. Those flavored ones are so good. I eat them even when I do not have a sore throat or cough. That is probably not a good thing, but oh well. And please sick people, do not cough in other peoples faces or anything, that is just gross. Use hand sanitizer or cough into your sleeve. I am sick too so I am going to try to do all of these things as well. I do not want the whole school to be sick. That would not be good since spring break is approaching and I am excited for it! Plus I have a soccer tournament this coming weekend. I hope it is extremely warm because I do not want to be running in freezing rain while being sick, then most likely getting ever more sick!
Picture Book Timeline
On this website there is a time-line of different children books through out history. I do no really like the really old ones. I think they are just a little to old fashioned for me and do not spark my interest. However, once the years keep on going, the books start to appear more children like. I remember most of the children books because my mother used to read them to me every night before I went to bed. The Cat In the Hat books were my favorite. I just love the way he can rhyme everything. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Also, the book about green eggs and ham. I never really liked eggs. I think that is just because I read this story too many times and it started to gross me out. Green eggs? The just sounds disgusting. So I just never thought about trying them. It was only till a few years ago that I had my first egg. It was good! But you have to enjoy it with some orange juice. It is the perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is another great classic. That little caterpillar just keeps eating and eating everything around him until he gets so big he just sleeps for the longest time. This book taught me about the cycle of butterfly's. I thought that they were born like that, but it astonished me that they were actually something else before. It is kind of like a tad pole and a frog. It is the same thing only one is a baby and another an adult.
The Napping House by Audrey Wood is another one of my favorites. It was not on the website of children picture books but I just have to mention it. If you have not read it, it is about a house, a granny, a child, a dog, a cat and a mouse fall asleep one by one on top of each other. Then a flea wakes up everyone in the napping house. The house is not a napping house anymore. I do not know why it interest me so much. I like all of these books still today!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is another great classic. That little caterpillar just keeps eating and eating everything around him until he gets so big he just sleeps for the longest time. This book taught me about the cycle of butterfly's. I thought that they were born like that, but it astonished me that they were actually something else before. It is kind of like a tad pole and a frog. It is the same thing only one is a baby and another an adult.
The Napping House by Audrey Wood is another one of my favorites. It was not on the website of children picture books but I just have to mention it. If you have not read it, it is about a house, a granny, a child, a dog, a cat and a mouse fall asleep one by one on top of each other. Then a flea wakes up everyone in the napping house. The house is not a napping house anymore. I do not know why it interest me so much. I like all of these books still today!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Frankenstein: pages 1-133
The narrator in this book is writing letters to his sister at the beginning of this Romantic novel. Frankenstein is the creator of a monster who was once dead. Victor Frankenstein goes off to college to pursue his studies of natural philosophy. When he arrives at college, his professors tell him to stop reading old books because they will not do anything for him. Eventually Victor since in on one of the professors classes and starts becoming interested in the science. Victor then gets the idea to push his mind to the limit. Victor wanted to see what he could create. So that is when the creation of Frankenstein occurred. Victor went outside and took the bones and skin of freshly deceased bodies. He combined them all together to make "the monster." After his creation came to life, Victor started to freak out and ran outside. He could not believe at what he just created. When he returned home, the monster was gone. However, Victor was glad that this monster was out of his hair. Once a few years passed, Victor receives a letter from his father saying that his brother William is dead and has been murdered. He then returns home as quickly as he can grieve with his family. The next day, the murderer was put on trial and found guilty. It was an old family friend that refused to admit the murder. She said that she did not do it, but when in court, she admitted to the crime and was executed. After the trial, Victor went up to the mountains where he was standing alone. He looks to the left of him where he sees a creature sprinting towards his direction. It was the monster. Victor pleads for the monster not to hurt him. The monster just replies, if you listen to me, no one else will get hurt. As Victor suspected, the monster was the one who strangled poor William. None the less, he listens to the monsters side of the story.
The monster tells his story of hunger and thirst. As the monster exited Victor’s house, he ran to a barn where an old man yelled in fear. Then to a village where more did the same. Finally the monster finds a safe warm place to hid in for the night. Through a little crack in the barn, the monster spots a young man and woman, and an old man. He admires these young folks who work hard but are weeping in misery. The monster feels bad, so in order to help without frightening them, he helps gather wood early in the morning. Also, in the winter he shovels the walkway. This helps the couple and their father out substantially. The smiles start to get bigger on their faces. The monster while staying in their barn learns how to speak the human’s native language. He also started to become friends with them without meeting. One day, while the two young humans were out, the monster decides to enter the house gracefully with the old blind man’s approval. The monster was trying to win over the old man’s love by the time the other humans come home. He does this so the old man will become friends with the monster and hopefully the children will to despite his looks. However, when the children returned home, they jumped and screamed with fear. The monster was upset and embarrassed. He ran out of the house as far and fast as he could. When he reached the end of the forest nearby, he stopped and looked back.
The monster tells his story of hunger and thirst. As the monster exited Victor’s house, he ran to a barn where an old man yelled in fear. Then to a village where more did the same. Finally the monster finds a safe warm place to hid in for the night. Through a little crack in the barn, the monster spots a young man and woman, and an old man. He admires these young folks who work hard but are weeping in misery. The monster feels bad, so in order to help without frightening them, he helps gather wood early in the morning. Also, in the winter he shovels the walkway. This helps the couple and their father out substantially. The smiles start to get bigger on their faces. The monster while staying in their barn learns how to speak the human’s native language. He also started to become friends with them without meeting. One day, while the two young humans were out, the monster decides to enter the house gracefully with the old blind man’s approval. The monster was trying to win over the old man’s love by the time the other humans come home. He does this so the old man will become friends with the monster and hopefully the children will to despite his looks. However, when the children returned home, they jumped and screamed with fear. The monster was upset and embarrassed. He ran out of the house as far and fast as he could. When he reached the end of the forest nearby, he stopped and looked back.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Spellbound
Pick any two sets of parents and compare and contrast either their motivations for having their children excel in the National Spelling Bee.
Ted, a young boy from rural Missouri, has parents that have an appreciative empathy for their son. His family lives in a double-wide trailer out in the middle of a farm. Ted's parents are flabbergasted at their son's accomplishments because they come from the lower society of America. The care-free attitude of Ted's parents portrays the relaxing life of children in the lower class. Ted's parents do not push him into studying or make him do specific after school activities to help Ted learn. However, in upper class society Neil's parents drill him to win the national championship spelling bee. Neil's passionate father illustrates the diligent enthusiasm of successful high class workers in America. Neil's father is fixed on his son winning so badly that he hired spelling coaches, goes through words given to past winners, and hires organize prayer circles back in India so that his son could be the champion of the spelling bee. Both Neil's father and Ted's parents want them to excel as much as they can during the competition and they both work on spelling during pre-season spelling bee. Neil's father and Ted's parents demonstrate the different motivational styles for parents having their children excel in not only school, but in extra curricular activities.
Ted, a young boy from rural Missouri, has parents that have an appreciative empathy for their son. His family lives in a double-wide trailer out in the middle of a farm. Ted's parents are flabbergasted at their son's accomplishments because they come from the lower society of America. The care-free attitude of Ted's parents portrays the relaxing life of children in the lower class. Ted's parents do not push him into studying or make him do specific after school activities to help Ted learn. However, in upper class society Neil's parents drill him to win the national championship spelling bee. Neil's passionate father illustrates the diligent enthusiasm of successful high class workers in America. Neil's father is fixed on his son winning so badly that he hired spelling coaches, goes through words given to past winners, and hires organize prayer circles back in India so that his son could be the champion of the spelling bee. Both Neil's father and Ted's parents want them to excel as much as they can during the competition and they both work on spelling during pre-season spelling bee. Neil's father and Ted's parents demonstrate the different motivational styles for parents having their children excel in not only school, but in extra curricular activities.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: pages 160-200
Death Eaters appear and Harry, Ron, and Hermione join hands and Disapparate (teleport) under Hermione’s direction. They arrive in Tottenham Court Road, a busy street in London, in the Muggle rather than the wizarding world. They all start to debate on where to go now that Voldemort has taken over the Ministry. Harry decides to go to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, the house that Sirius Black left to Harry in his will. They can only hope that the jinxes and charms on the house will be enough to hide them from Snape and the other Death Eaters. Inside the house, small signs, such as a knocked-over umbrella stand, give Harry and the others the impression that someone has been in the house, but it appears to be empty now. Suddenly they feel their tongues raveling and then unraveling, the effect of a Tongue-Tying charm Mad-Eye Moody put upon the house to prevent them from revealing its secrets. Harry feels a burning pain in his scar. Ron badgers Harry about what Voldemort is doing, fearful that Voldemort has attacked Ron’s family. Ron’s father’s Patronus arrives to say that the family is safe but being watched. Harry sees through Voldemort’s eyes as Voldemort tortures one of the Death Eaters who attacked them in the cafe, punishing him for summoning Voldemort but then letting Harry escape.
Harry went into Sirius room and found a letter that reveals that Sirius had given Harry his first broomstick, for his first birthday; that Harry’s parents had known Bathilda Bagshot; and that Dumbledore had borrowed his fathers' Invisibility Cloak. Harry makes up his mind that he wants to go to Godric’s Hollow to meet Bathilda Bagshot and visit his parents’ graves, hoping to find information about his own parents and about Dumbledore’s past. When he tells this to Hermione, however, she tells him it’s a waste of valuable time. Hermione reminds him that their urgent task is to find the Horcruxes, the destruction of which will enable them to defeat Voldemort. Harry and Hermione notice the room belonging to Sirius’s deceased younger brother, Regulus Arcturus Black, who had been a Death Eater. Seeing his name on the door, they realize he may be the R.A.B. who signed his name to the false locket that Harry and Dumbledore recovered from the cave. Hermione remembers with a shock that there had been a locket in the cabinet in the drawing room of the house the last time she’d been there. Unfortunately, the locket is no longer there. The only hope Harry has is that Kreacher, the bilious house-elf he inherited with the house, may have stolen the locket. They summon Kreacher. Kreacher admits that he did steal the locket after it was thrown out two years ago, but he says that it’s now gone—stolen by Mundungus Fletcher. Kreacher explains that after Sirius ran away from home and deserted his parents, Sirius’s younger brother Regulus became more and more involved in the Dark Arts. At the age of sixteen, Regulus joined Lord Voldemort. A year later, Regulus informed Kreacher that Lord Voldemort needed the services of a house-elf, and that Regulus had volunteered Kreacher, who then went to Voldemort to do his bidding. What Voldemort needed Kreacher for was to test the defenses that he had set up to guard the locket Horcrux in the underground cavern. Voldemort made Kreacher drink the potion in the basin until it was all drunk, then he put the locket Horcrux in it and refilled it. Then Voldemort left Kreacher to die as the potion overpowered Kreacher with thirst, Kreacher went to drink from the lake, and the dead hands of the Inferi dragged him under the water. But Voldemort seriously miscalculated by not taking into consideration the nature and ways of house elves. Kreacher had been ordered by his master Regulus to come back after helping Voldemort, so he was bound to return. More important, though no witch or wizard could Disapparate into or out of the cavern, house-elf magic works differently than wizard’s magic, so Kreacher was able to simply Disapparate from under the water, going back to his master Regulus. Apparently, Regulus soon after had a change of heart about serving Voldemort, and he made Kreacher take him back to the underground cavern and show him the basin with the locket. Regulus drank the potion himself, stole the locket, and replaced it with the false one signed “R.A.B.” that Harry found. He ordered Kreacher to return home, never to reveal to Regulus’s family what had happened to him, and to destroy the locket, after which Kreacher saw Regulus dragged beneath the lake and killed. Kreacher returned to Grimmauld Place, unable ever to tell Mistress Black what had happened to her son, and unable to destroy the locket as ordered because of the powerful enchantments protecting it. Harry orders Kreacher to find Mundungus Fletcher and bring him back to Grimmauld Place, but before Kreacher leaves, Harry presents him with Regulus’s false locket as a token for Kreacher to remember his former master by. Overcome with gratitude, Kreacher leaves to carry out Harry’s orders.
Reflection
I believe that Kreacher was loyal to his master but very wrong for helping Voldemort! I also think that Harry, Hermione, and Ron are taking up too much time. I know they have to find all of the Horcruxes before Voldemort takes over the whole entire magic world, but they need to spread out or do something so that they can find all of them in time. No offense, but I like dobby a lot better then Kreacher. The good thing is that Harry, Hermione, and Ron found out who R.A.B is. Also they can find the person who has the real Horcruxes so that they can destroy it personally if Mundungus Fletcher has not already. The only thing I do not understand is why Harry wants to figure out Dumbledore’s past so badly. I know they were good friends but does it really have much to do with finding the Horcruxes or killing Voldemort? Maybe reveling something from Dumbledore's past will help him in the end.
Harry went into Sirius room and found a letter that reveals that Sirius had given Harry his first broomstick, for his first birthday; that Harry’s parents had known Bathilda Bagshot; and that Dumbledore had borrowed his fathers' Invisibility Cloak. Harry makes up his mind that he wants to go to Godric’s Hollow to meet Bathilda Bagshot and visit his parents’ graves, hoping to find information about his own parents and about Dumbledore’s past. When he tells this to Hermione, however, she tells him it’s a waste of valuable time. Hermione reminds him that their urgent task is to find the Horcruxes, the destruction of which will enable them to defeat Voldemort. Harry and Hermione notice the room belonging to Sirius’s deceased younger brother, Regulus Arcturus Black, who had been a Death Eater. Seeing his name on the door, they realize he may be the R.A.B. who signed his name to the false locket that Harry and Dumbledore recovered from the cave. Hermione remembers with a shock that there had been a locket in the cabinet in the drawing room of the house the last time she’d been there. Unfortunately, the locket is no longer there. The only hope Harry has is that Kreacher, the bilious house-elf he inherited with the house, may have stolen the locket. They summon Kreacher. Kreacher admits that he did steal the locket after it was thrown out two years ago, but he says that it’s now gone—stolen by Mundungus Fletcher. Kreacher explains that after Sirius ran away from home and deserted his parents, Sirius’s younger brother Regulus became more and more involved in the Dark Arts. At the age of sixteen, Regulus joined Lord Voldemort. A year later, Regulus informed Kreacher that Lord Voldemort needed the services of a house-elf, and that Regulus had volunteered Kreacher, who then went to Voldemort to do his bidding. What Voldemort needed Kreacher for was to test the defenses that he had set up to guard the locket Horcrux in the underground cavern. Voldemort made Kreacher drink the potion in the basin until it was all drunk, then he put the locket Horcrux in it and refilled it. Then Voldemort left Kreacher to die as the potion overpowered Kreacher with thirst, Kreacher went to drink from the lake, and the dead hands of the Inferi dragged him under the water. But Voldemort seriously miscalculated by not taking into consideration the nature and ways of house elves. Kreacher had been ordered by his master Regulus to come back after helping Voldemort, so he was bound to return. More important, though no witch or wizard could Disapparate into or out of the cavern, house-elf magic works differently than wizard’s magic, so Kreacher was able to simply Disapparate from under the water, going back to his master Regulus. Apparently, Regulus soon after had a change of heart about serving Voldemort, and he made Kreacher take him back to the underground cavern and show him the basin with the locket. Regulus drank the potion himself, stole the locket, and replaced it with the false one signed “R.A.B.” that Harry found. He ordered Kreacher to return home, never to reveal to Regulus’s family what had happened to him, and to destroy the locket, after which Kreacher saw Regulus dragged beneath the lake and killed. Kreacher returned to Grimmauld Place, unable ever to tell Mistress Black what had happened to her son, and unable to destroy the locket as ordered because of the powerful enchantments protecting it. Harry orders Kreacher to find Mundungus Fletcher and bring him back to Grimmauld Place, but before Kreacher leaves, Harry presents him with Regulus’s false locket as a token for Kreacher to remember his former master by. Overcome with gratitude, Kreacher leaves to carry out Harry’s orders.
Reflection
I believe that Kreacher was loyal to his master but very wrong for helping Voldemort! I also think that Harry, Hermione, and Ron are taking up too much time. I know they have to find all of the Horcruxes before Voldemort takes over the whole entire magic world, but they need to spread out or do something so that they can find all of them in time. No offense, but I like dobby a lot better then Kreacher. The good thing is that Harry, Hermione, and Ron found out who R.A.B is. Also they can find the person who has the real Horcruxes so that they can destroy it personally if Mundungus Fletcher has not already. The only thing I do not understand is why Harry wants to figure out Dumbledore’s past so badly. I know they were good friends but does it really have much to do with finding the Horcruxes or killing Voldemort? Maybe reveling something from Dumbledore's past will help him in the end.
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