I recently just read a book called the Hogfather, Michael recoomended this book to me and it's kinda wierd. Death is covering for the Hogfather (a character similar to Santa Claus) on Hogwatchnight because the Hogfather has been kidnapped. Death feels very strongly about giving all of the children, rich or poor, the same quality of presents, in his opinion everyone is equal and should be treated equally. Death's assistant Albert strongly disagrees. Death's understanding of Hogwatchnight is that everyone should be happy and get good presents. Everyone, meaning, the rich and the poor. Albert says that the thing that makes people happy is when they know that they have more than other people. Therefore Albert believes that they should give the rich kids lots of toys and the poor kids few toys, because this will make all the rich people feel joyful. But Albert is not thinking about the poor.
There are many people in our world that believe in making the rich richer and the poor poorer.Albert is like all those people. I don't really understand why some people think this way because in my opinion it is really stupid. Maybe they feel that if they make the rich richer, then the rich will help them. Or maybe they think that there is no hope for the poor, so they don't even bother to try to help. It's not fair though, they are treated like they are not human. I think that the people like Death, who believe in treating the rich and the poor more equally, are much more sensible. If the people in government only helped the rich, then no progress would be made. But if they helped the poor then there would be no poor people, so the money usually being spent to help the poor could be spent on something else, and everyone would have a job. Therefore there would be more productive work going on in the world.
When Albert was a little boy he was "poorer than a church mouse" and every Hogwatchmorning when he took down his stocking, he got nothing. Eventually he got used to it and to him Hogwatchnight was just another night. I think that he may have noticed that he, a poor boy, got nothing on Hogwatchnight, and all the rich kids got loads of toys. Now Albert is a grown up and must think that all the poor kids should get nothing, and that all the rich kids should get everything. Albert thinks that this is the way it should be because this is the way it has always been. Death thinks that things should change.
If I were in Albert's position I would give everyone loads of toys. I would want to give the poor kids the toys they wanted. I would want to make sure that they didn't miss out. But unfortunately some people feel that if they didn't get something, then nobody should. It is wrong but it is true. Albert was treated very unfairly when he was a kid, so he must feel that since he was treated badly, then ever poor child should be treated badly. Sometimes past experience affects peoples lives greatly. Often times people who are mean, brutal, or just not very generous are the way they are because that is how they were treated when they were kids. These people don't understand that they shouldn't treat other people based on how they were treated a long time ago. Also, if you treat people badly because of how you were treated when you were a kid, they will just hate you. They know nothing about your past. To them you are just a mean, nasty jerk.
It is wrong to make the rich richer and the poor poorer, because it makes absolutely no sense at all. It is also not right to do what Albert did. Albert wanted to treat the poor kids unfairly because of his past experience, he did not realize that what he was doing was wrong. It is bad to treat others unfairly based on how you were treated when you were a kid. Other people may not understand your situation, and will just hate you.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Book Response: One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
I recently just read the book, One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. I think this book is an absolute master piece. The way Dr. Seuss made the entire book sort of fit together like a complex poem really inspires me to try some more poetry.
This book also reminds me of the Sonnet project we did just recently in ELA. This book is just like a sonnet, except it is like 20 pages long, and doesn't follow a particular pattern neccessarily. The reason I think the book reminds me of sonnet writing is because the rhyme scheme changes throughout the book. But it is so gradual that you don't notice it. I also really admire Dr. seuss for the time that must have been put into this. The process of writing this must have been extremely hard. I would have rathered write a novel than try to do this. It's like an artwork, you have to plan the whole thing out before you even begin it. That means that Dr. Seuss had to plan how the whole book was goin to fit together and sound before the book was even really started.
When you think about it like this, Dr. Seuss writing isn't just a bunch of kids books, they are super master pieces, that only a genius mastermind could come up with and compose. I really admire Dr. Seuss's poetic story telling ability.
This book also reminds me of the Sonnet project we did just recently in ELA. This book is just like a sonnet, except it is like 20 pages long, and doesn't follow a particular pattern neccessarily. The reason I think the book reminds me of sonnet writing is because the rhyme scheme changes throughout the book. But it is so gradual that you don't notice it. I also really admire Dr. seuss for the time that must have been put into this. The process of writing this must have been extremely hard. I would have rathered write a novel than try to do this. It's like an artwork, you have to plan the whole thing out before you even begin it. That means that Dr. Seuss had to plan how the whole book was goin to fit together and sound before the book was even really started.
When you think about it like this, Dr. Seuss writing isn't just a bunch of kids books, they are super master pieces, that only a genius mastermind could come up with and compose. I really admire Dr. Seuss's poetic story telling ability.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
book response: Neuromancer
I recently just finished a really hard and confusing book called Neuromancer. The book was really confusing because it had some many intriquacies, and it was really hard to envision it all in my head.
The book was about a guy who was like a hacker, but he didn't really hack into computers, he hacked into people, corporation databases, and different parts of the matrix. That's what was so hard for me to envision, what did the matrix look like? I was never sure if he actually went into the matrix or if his mind just linked to it, that part was really confusing.
Even though the book was really confusing I still really liked it. It was really interesting.
The book was about a guy who was like a hacker, but he didn't really hack into computers, he hacked into people, corporation databases, and different parts of the matrix. That's what was so hard for me to envision, what did the matrix look like? I was never sure if he actually went into the matrix or if his mind just linked to it, that part was really confusing.
Even though the book was really confusing I still really liked it. It was really interesting.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Code Talker
I recently just read a book about the role that the Navajo Native Americans played in the conflict with Japan, this book was really interesting, and I learned a whole lot of cool information that I had never known, and may never have known if I hadn't read this book.
In this book the author describes the role that the Navajo Native Americans played in the conflict against Japan. The Navajos were vital to communicating within the ranks of the U.S. military, they were used as code talkers, and because their language was so different, and so complicated, the Japanese would have absolutely no chance of ever decoding their messages.
The story that I am responding to is told from the perspective of one teenage Navajo boy who is determined to fight for his homeland, even though his homeland is no longer in the hands of his people. The Navajo boy faces many challenges just getting into the army, he is under aged, and very small for his age. But even against the odds the boy is able to get into the army. From there he learns that he along with dozens of other Navajo men have been selected to create, and perform with a code. The code is to be based on the Navajo language, being that it is almost impossible for a non- Navajo to understand it ever.
I think that this book is really interesting, and it probably taught me some of the most interesting non- fiction information I have ever learned from a book. I think it is cool that this secret was kept so well and for so long, and I am amazed that I have never heard of the code talkers being that they were such important individuals.
In this book the author describes the role that the Navajo Native Americans played in the conflict against Japan. The Navajos were vital to communicating within the ranks of the U.S. military, they were used as code talkers, and because their language was so different, and so complicated, the Japanese would have absolutely no chance of ever decoding their messages.
The story that I am responding to is told from the perspective of one teenage Navajo boy who is determined to fight for his homeland, even though his homeland is no longer in the hands of his people. The Navajo boy faces many challenges just getting into the army, he is under aged, and very small for his age. But even against the odds the boy is able to get into the army. From there he learns that he along with dozens of other Navajo men have been selected to create, and perform with a code. The code is to be based on the Navajo language, being that it is almost impossible for a non- Navajo to understand it ever.
I think that this book is really interesting, and it probably taught me some of the most interesting non- fiction information I have ever learned from a book. I think it is cool that this secret was kept so well and for so long, and I am amazed that I have never heard of the code talkers being that they were such important individuals.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Book Response
Taking it too far. Sometimes a joke goes too far, and someone gets hurt. Sometimes a prank doesn't work quite right, and someone gets hurt. When you are doing something you have to be aware of the consequences. People can get hurt, without you meaning to hurt them, you shouldn't do things that are risky, illegal or dangerous that involve other people. Because when someone gets killed, your tight.
In the book, Swear To Howdy by, Wendelin Van Draanen The two main characters, Joey and Rusty are best friends. One night Joey and Rusty are out by the river at night, they sneak out a lot, and tonight they have a plan. Joey decide they should make a fake ghost and scare someone. But the plan goes all wrong. They scare the driver of the car so bad they she drives into a pole. When they find out the next day that the driver was Amanda Jane, Joeys big sister, and that she's dead, they feel absolutely terrible.
Everyone makes mistakes, its part of life, making mistakes, trying to fix them and make them right. And then learning from them. But when you make a mistake you should admit it, you should come out and say that you did it. If it is just a little mistake then it's fine, don't bother coming out with it. Then you'll just get in trouble for a little thing. If it is a big mistake and it actually affects someone in a major way, or if people have been hurt, you need to come out with it. Or else the guilt will eat away at your soul little by little until you can't stand to look at yourself in the mirror.
Joey and Rusty have made lots of mistakes together while planning their adventures. Once they were shooting squirrels that were digging up Joey's driveway, and they accidentally shot Joey's Dad's cat, Mouser. But they didn't come out with it, because they figured they would get into more trouble than it was worth, so they swore to Howdy they'd never tell a soul. When they accidentally helped cause Amanda Jane's death, they couldn't keep it a secret, they tried and were successful for several days. But the guilt was too much, and when Joey tried to shoot himself in the mouth, Rusty decided it was time to tell the truth, for once.
People make mistakes, everyone does. Some things are best kept a secret, and some things aren't. People need to be careful, even if it is just a joke, it can still hurt someone. Even if it was an accident, it still happened. Nothing goes perfectly as planned, and if you hurt someone, or mess something up, you should admit it. Everything has consequences and you need to be prepared for them.
In the book, Swear To Howdy by, Wendelin Van Draanen The two main characters, Joey and Rusty are best friends. One night Joey and Rusty are out by the river at night, they sneak out a lot, and tonight they have a plan. Joey decide they should make a fake ghost and scare someone. But the plan goes all wrong. They scare the driver of the car so bad they she drives into a pole. When they find out the next day that the driver was Amanda Jane, Joeys big sister, and that she's dead, they feel absolutely terrible.
Everyone makes mistakes, its part of life, making mistakes, trying to fix them and make them right. And then learning from them. But when you make a mistake you should admit it, you should come out and say that you did it. If it is just a little mistake then it's fine, don't bother coming out with it. Then you'll just get in trouble for a little thing. If it is a big mistake and it actually affects someone in a major way, or if people have been hurt, you need to come out with it. Or else the guilt will eat away at your soul little by little until you can't stand to look at yourself in the mirror.
Joey and Rusty have made lots of mistakes together while planning their adventures. Once they were shooting squirrels that were digging up Joey's driveway, and they accidentally shot Joey's Dad's cat, Mouser. But they didn't come out with it, because they figured they would get into more trouble than it was worth, so they swore to Howdy they'd never tell a soul. When they accidentally helped cause Amanda Jane's death, they couldn't keep it a secret, they tried and were successful for several days. But the guilt was too much, and when Joey tried to shoot himself in the mouth, Rusty decided it was time to tell the truth, for once.
People make mistakes, everyone does. Some things are best kept a secret, and some things aren't. People need to be careful, even if it is just a joke, it can still hurt someone. Even if it was an accident, it still happened. Nothing goes perfectly as planned, and if you hurt someone, or mess something up, you should admit it. Everything has consequences and you need to be prepared for them.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Book Response
Some people think that they can do everything all by themselves. But they are wrong. Many times in your life you will find that you need other people's help to achieve what you want to achieve. Then when you look back at the event you may find that without other people's help, without teamwork, you would have failed. Teamwork wins in most scenerios. Teamwork wins wars, it wins fights, it wins practically everything.
In the book, The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey, there are four main characters, Reynie, Sticky, Constance, and Kate. These children are on a quest to save their namesake, Mr. Benedict from his evil twin brother, Mr. Curtain. I think that these children represent teamwork, because throughout the entire book they always use their combined efforts, and skills to win their fights.
Teamwork usually wins because no, one person can see a problem from all points of view, and seeing a problem that way is often the key to solving it. For example, when they were in the library reading Mr. Benedict's dead parents' letters, to discover where Mr Benedict was, the children used teamwork. Sticky speed-read the papers, and Constance, Kate, and Reynie used their highly developed brains to interpret the information.
In the book, the point of the children working together was not only to save Mr. Benedict, although they didn't know it at the time, but while they were working together, they were also bonding together. They were creating an unbreakable relationship.All of the children had been friendless until they met each other, but by the end of the book, they all knew that they were now life time friends.
Workng together is a very powerful tool, and it has many uses. In their case it bonded the Mysterious Bendict Society together. But it also helped them acheive a nearly impossible quest. People who think they can be a one man team, and do it all themselves are stupid, and won't go very far. But those who work together, can, and will achieve great things.
In the book, The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey, there are four main characters, Reynie, Sticky, Constance, and Kate. These children are on a quest to save their namesake, Mr. Benedict from his evil twin brother, Mr. Curtain. I think that these children represent teamwork, because throughout the entire book they always use their combined efforts, and skills to win their fights.
Teamwork usually wins because no, one person can see a problem from all points of view, and seeing a problem that way is often the key to solving it. For example, when they were in the library reading Mr. Benedict's dead parents' letters, to discover where Mr Benedict was, the children used teamwork. Sticky speed-read the papers, and Constance, Kate, and Reynie used their highly developed brains to interpret the information.
In the book, the point of the children working together was not only to save Mr. Benedict, although they didn't know it at the time, but while they were working together, they were also bonding together. They were creating an unbreakable relationship.All of the children had been friendless until they met each other, but by the end of the book, they all knew that they were now life time friends.
Workng together is a very powerful tool, and it has many uses. In their case it bonded the Mysterious Bendict Society together. But it also helped them acheive a nearly impossible quest. People who think they can be a one man team, and do it all themselves are stupid, and won't go very far. But those who work together, can, and will achieve great things.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Book Response
Along with knowledge comes your own opinion. When you learn a lot about a topic, or topics, you will form an opinion about what you think. In many places and times people have been hurt because of their way of looking at things, some people do not like it when people disagree with them, when people have different views, arguments and even fights will happen.
In the book, Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag is a fireman. But his job isn't to stop fires, it's to start them. He has a job, destroying and burning books, and their owners. Books are illegal, they supposedly hurt, and pollute peoples perfect minds, and their happy lives. But what is really happening is, opinion is being destroyed, there is no such thing any longer. Everyone agrees with everyone, and no one learns anything new.
Sometimes people are afraid of people that think differently then them. They are afraid of change, and new ways of thinking always causes some sort of change. People all have their own opinions and their opinions are what shapes the things that our world is built on. But imagine a world where everyone were brainwashed and people with opinions were burnt out of fear.
That world is the world that Guy Montag lives in. And he has never thought anything about it. And he never would have if he hadn't met a very peculiar seventeen year old girl. One girl had an opinion, and she opened up Montag's world, and let him see it for what it really was. But people don't like people that are different from them, and a man hunt was organized for Montag when it was known that he read books. Montag fled, and traveled with a group of other outcasts.
Books were illegal, they changed the way people thought, and made it so that they could not be controlled, they made them speak out, and say what they wanted to. Books created fights and debates. Just as opinions do in our world. There are many people that hate others for how they act, how they think, and what they say. But that is bad, because you wouldn't be half as smart as you are now, if opinions did not exist.
In the book, Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag is a fireman. But his job isn't to stop fires, it's to start them. He has a job, destroying and burning books, and their owners. Books are illegal, they supposedly hurt, and pollute peoples perfect minds, and their happy lives. But what is really happening is, opinion is being destroyed, there is no such thing any longer. Everyone agrees with everyone, and no one learns anything new.
Sometimes people are afraid of people that think differently then them. They are afraid of change, and new ways of thinking always causes some sort of change. People all have their own opinions and their opinions are what shapes the things that our world is built on. But imagine a world where everyone were brainwashed and people with opinions were burnt out of fear.
That world is the world that Guy Montag lives in. And he has never thought anything about it. And he never would have if he hadn't met a very peculiar seventeen year old girl. One girl had an opinion, and she opened up Montag's world, and let him see it for what it really was. But people don't like people that are different from them, and a man hunt was organized for Montag when it was known that he read books. Montag fled, and traveled with a group of other outcasts.
Books were illegal, they changed the way people thought, and made it so that they could not be controlled, they made them speak out, and say what they wanted to. Books created fights and debates. Just as opinions do in our world. There are many people that hate others for how they act, how they think, and what they say. But that is bad, because you wouldn't be half as smart as you are now, if opinions did not exist.
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