June Book Report (LAST ONE?)

Watts, Alan. The book on the taboo against knowing who you are. New York. Random House Inc. August 1989.

Reason: I first picked up this book because I saw the infinity symbol on the front of the book. It looked like a psychology book, and it kind of is. The novel doesn’t have a setting; it just explores certain aspects of the human mind and tries to teach you how to separate yourself and the universe. It’s about knowing what kind of good you can bring into the world. The book takes place in the 1990s, but is like a text book- so it’s kind of current.
Plot: in this book Alan Watts makes a convincing case against the separation between yourself and the universe. The illusion that the self is a separate ego, housed in a bag of skin, confronting an alien and hostile physical universe, is the cause of a great many problems we have in the world. It gives the rise to the need for "conquering" the physical world, subjugating it to our needs, and for generally having an adversarial, hostile relationship to the universe and to other people, because they are "Not Us". Really there is no meaningful and finite way of defining where a human being ends. You can not live in separation from everything else. A human body needs a continuous supply of air and nutrients. It is part of a system in which each part would not exist without the others. All the molecules in a human body gets exchanged within a few years. A body doesn't even stay itself for five minutes, but will continuously take in parts of the environment and give out parts of itself to the environment. We can not state in any conclusive way where or when a human being starts or ends. A human being is a process within a bigger system of processes. Genetically a body is formed by the genetic events that came before it, by the heredity from previous members of the species. Likewise, a given human being will have an effect that is passed on for generations to come. The psychological makeup of a person is influenced by every single event that he/she experiences, and by every other person one bumps into on one's path through life. If you start with one person and you attempt to include all the factors involved in making that person, you would gradually include a bigger and bigger sphere, until you would encompass all of the universe. There is no logically defensible boundary to stop at, there will always be a bigger system that the smaller system is part of, is born out of, or influenced by, and inextricably interconnected with. Also, no thing, no characteristic, no quality, has meaning unless it is compared with, and contrasted to something else. "Inside" has no meaning unless there is an "Outside". Inside and Outside form two aspects of the same system, they can't exist in separation from each other. Most of the dysfunctional behavior and trouble that any person or group or society gets into comes out of the mistaken assumption that one is only the Inside and that the Outside is "Not Us", "bad", "incomprehensible", "antagonistic", "of no concern". Polarization, and hiding within one's limited definition, is a perpetual excuse for not taking responsibility, for acting in a "self"-serving, narrow-minded way. The truth of the matter is that the only truth about anything is The Whole Thing. There is no Good without Bad, no Up without Down, no Cops without Criminals. All are inextricably bound to each other as aspects of the same system. And when it comes to the Self, who You are, there is no objective basis for the belief that you are only one little speck, one little bag of skin, that really has nothing to do with the rest of it. More truly, your only true, objective identity is ALL OF IT, the Whole Universe, All That Is. YOU are the root and ground of the whole universe. You can not damage or hurt any part of the universe without ultimately hurting yourself, if you take a whole enough view. The effects of what you do might be so far removed from your consciousness that you might not notice, but everything you do WILL affect the whole, and thereby yourself. It makes no sense for your right hand to try to exploit, or hurt, or get rid of your left hand. Likewise, assuming a bigger perspective, it makes no sense to draw out short-term benefits in one area of the world that have damaging effects on the whole system. The beauty of the perspective of the self as the whole universe is that it covers materialism as much as spirituality. It really doesn't matter if you take a completely materialistic view, that we are all just functions of a material universe with certain characteristics to it, or if we take a spiritual view and say that it is all God, and we are all aspects of God, and all is Consciousness. We end up in pretty much the same place by comprehending the wholeness of it all.
Character: N/A
Evaluation: I really loved this novel. The best part of this was the when they said this
“This is it
And I am it
And you are it
And so is that
And he is it
And she is it
And it is it
And that is that”
A creature in existence is not also of existence. I just found the quotes in this book extremely interesting with many good quotes. It informed me about how the universe is going to blow up in a bit. I learned that we all just end up in the same place so its okay to do what you want. Its really hard to comprehend the wholeness of life.

This book compares to real life because of the fact that this book is based off human interaction. I do not really think that this is a book that other people need to read because it is a mind stimulating book and many people I don’t think would get that much out of it. I think that they would take it the wrong way.

Put yourself in the plot: N/A

Author, Context, and Trivia: Alex Wilson Watts is the author of this book. He wrote more than twenty-five books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the pursuit of happiness, relating his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religions or philosophies.

history of hip-hop

Group members: Breeanna Wolford, Hilary Leon
Song name: undecided



Hip-hop is a form of popular music that's comprised mainly of emceeing and deejaying. The other two components that complete the four elements of hip-hop are graffiti and breakdancing. As hip-hop evolves into big business, the four elements (emceeing, deejaying, graffiti, and breakdancing) are constantly being merged with others like clothing trends, slang, and general mindset.
Hip Hop music began in New York City in the 1970's. predominantly among African Americans and Latinos. Hip hop arose in New York City when DJs began isolating the percussion break from funk or disco songs for audiences to dance to. The MCs would usually just be there to keep the audiences entertained. By 1979, hip hop had become a commercially recorded music genre, and began to enter the American mainstream. It also began its spread across the world. By the beginning of the 2000s, hip hop became a staple of popular music charts and is now performed in widely varying styles around the world.
Some of the earliest rap songs ever recorded include "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" by Fatback Band and "Rapper’s Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang. The latter reached the #36 spot on the Billboard charts (a huge feat by 1970's standards), thus demonstrating hip-hop's ability to draw commercial appeal.
Hip-hop as a musical melting pot is still evolving. It has become more eclectic, borrowing from soul, jazz and live instrumentations with the likes of De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and most recently Kanye West championing the ‘soulful rap’ movement.

Inflation easing

U.S. personal spending slowed in April after record fuel costs, a slump in home values and a deteriorating job market eroded consumer confidence. incomes grew an asontishing .02%. business activity dropped for a fourth month in May and consumer sentiment decreased to the lowest level since 1980. this is bad becuase consumers are spending cautiously. The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, which excludes food and fuel costs, slowed in April. this is important to us becuase of the fact that we are living in the US and this effects everyone. I remember when it used to be 5 dollars to have lunch and now its 8. inflation is getting absolutly ridiculous. and gas...NEARLY 5 DOLLARS A GALLON? holy wow. I think that this is riducicouls and we should just reduce the prices and take some money out of ciruclation. that way there will also be less paper.


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a7ie.CYzdpFg&refer=home

Louis Kahn: an inspiration

In 1901 or 1902 (he wasn’t sure which) he was born on an island with his parents. They took a steam boat to Philadelphia When he was three years old he was fascinated by the fire and picked up the coals. He put the coals in his apron. He accidently caught himself on fire. His dad said that he should die. His mom said that we would be an amazing person. So they didn’t let him. Kids would call him Scarface so he waited until the last bell rang to go to school. His family was very poor, they couldn’t even afford pencils for him to draw with. But that was okay because you make charcoal by burning sticks in the backyard. He won a scholarship to the university, without the scholarship he wouldn’t of gone.
He was known as the philosopher of architects. Louis Kahn majored in drawing at the University of California. He then got his bachelors in 1924 for architecture. Although Kahn did architecture for a really long time Kahn did not find his distinctive architectural style until he was in his late fifties. He was known for his unique ability to create architecture that responded to the human scale very efficiently. He also helped create strong formal distinctions between “served” spaces and “servant” spaces (spaces that serve other spaces) . He mostly used brick and raw concrete. He worked closely with engineers and contractors on his buildings. Kahn’s work has played a vital role in the influence of contemporary architects of the 20th century.
He hadn’t found himself by the time that he was 50. Something that changed his life was in his fifties was when he was invited to tour the ancient ruins. This changed his life and he wanted to make buildings similar to this. I find him a very interesting, unethical architect that has done a lot for the world of architecture. I find him to have a varied degree of success versus some of the other architects’. He has three wives, which I found ridiculous. He actually got some prestigious cliental and built the buildings at the universities in which he taught in. I found this extremely respectable. Architecture has to have the element of time, Kahn definitely understood this. He made a built some buildings in la Jolla that are absolutely breathtaking and inspirational. There are very many spiritual things with this work. The buildings are not only beautiful, but they work very well. He had enormous trust in young people and just handed over the check book. He didn’t really mind how much it would cost as long as it was an efficient building. He was very willful; he didn’t want anything in his buildings to look like he didn’t want it there. If it looked like it didn’t belong there he didn’t suppress but he made more. Instead of trying to cover it up, he made more of it and owned it. He was very upfront and blunt and didn’t mind giving people a peace of mind. He was a heavy drinker.
Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack at New York cities Penn Station. His body wasn’t identified for three days and was placed into a New York City morgue. Catz, the person that Kahn traveled to India with, said that he did not look peaceful, but yet not like a dying man. Catz didn’t even know how he died.
Louis Kahn was an extremely believed in person. He was a ridiculous architect with huge dreams and always discontent with his work. (My Architect)

My Architect- a Sons Journey. Dir. Nathan Kahn. Perf. Nathan Kahn. DVD. MediaWorks Inc., 2003.

Ethics

I do not believe that ethics is something that could be taught in school. Ethics is just a fancy word for morals. Its like teaching a kid manners-he’s not always going to use them. Manners aren’t really taught in school so why would ethics be part of the curriculum. It would be literally impossible to fail a kid based on their ethic skills. What would an ethics class incorporate? What kind of assignments can you give a person in order for them to learn such a valuable skill? Its like learning to whistle. I think ethics should be in a separate school- kind of like a manner academy. I doubt anyone could get anything out of this lesson if they don’t pay attention and realize the value of it-which many will not. Graduation requirements would be sketchy if they had to include ethics. The state would not be able to mandate such a law because everything is based upon personal. It is a personal belief, not a universal truth. It couldn’t be a universal truth because everything is based upon personal values and beliefs. It can’t be taught it has to be acquired through experience.

23May2008 Current Event

this current even is basically about how the goverment/doctors will prescribe methadone to a patient before they are even prescribed marijuana. This is funny becuase methadone is used to take heroine/crack addicts off drugs. They claim that mary jane is more harmful for you then methadone. this is only becuase the goverment is enforcing it really highly, and wanting peeople to take it. I think this is what I would call "goverment cencorship" or boosting the goverments financial control, which I believe to be really unfair and ridiculous.

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may212008/leveque_adhd_add_5-21-08.php

interminable - seeming to have no end; endless

Infinity is interminable.


intuit - to know or receive by intuition.
Women have a certain intuit that make them smarter than men.

laboriously - in a laborous manner; to work hard

The man was working laboriously to get everything done in time for the big presentation.

proximity - an area close together

The proximity of the school was very unique in comparion to the rest.

reticence - to not volunteer to do anything more than necessary

The cat is very reticence, and doesn't like to do more than is asked.

senescent - aging; growing old

The queen of england is very senescent.

shroud - a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial.
The shroud was bright pink to resemble her personality- colerful.
situation - the general state of things
synchronously - in synchrony; in a synchronous manner

The students synchronously handed in their tests.
tortuous - not straightforward
tranquility - a state of peace

5122008

Hopkins, Ellen. Burned. New York. Margaret K. McElderry 2007

Reason: I chose this book mostly because I first read crank and I really liked it. I really liked the overall setup of the book and thought that the poems within the book had an amazing flow. The setting of this book changes vastly from a farm to a town. The time period is now. This is a teen romance novel.
Plot: Pattyn is the oldest child in a Mormon family of six girls. She spends her time changing diapers and looking after her sisters. At sixteen she is suddenly questioning her faith, her faith's rules, her parents' relationship, her future as a Mormon woman, and her place in life--aloud. She starts to drink and date on the sly and sass the local bishop. When she is caught by her father with her boyfriend, Pattyn is sent to her Aunt J's house as a punishment for the summer. It turns out to be anything but a punishment. Her aunt, not stifled by strict Mormon tenets, gives Pattyn an opportunity to experience freedom on her farm, including riding a horse, driving a car, wearing store-bought clothes, going out to eat, and falling in love with Ethan, a local college boy home for the summer. Unfortunately, summer must end--and her freedom. Her father calls Pattyn home to take care of her sisters while her mother rests during the end of her pregancy. Her love for Ethan doesn't falter, but her resolve to survive her life quickly deteriorates. After returning home things start to go bad again. She mouths off to her father and gets beaten. She takes the rap for something her sister does, and gets beaten to save her life. She also learns that she will have Ethan’s baby.
Characotr: for the character analysis I will choose Pattyn. She’s the oldest child and she is probably the most unfree one out of all of them. I believe that since she’s lead such a sheltered lifestyle that she will must really want to break free. She is suicidal-ish when she returns home from her aunts. This book is about her trying to find reasons to live. The plot changes the character from a discontent Mormon girl to a semi-content women.
Evaluation: I really enjoyed this novel. However, I wasn’t really expecting it to be like this. I was expecting it to be a little focused around drugs, as most of Ellen Hopkins book tend to be. I think another ending wouldn’t of been suitable. I really liked the message that it sends.
This book compares to real life in many ways. There are other people who are trying to break out of their religious cults.
If I had been Pattyn I do not think I would of acted in the same way. I think I would of tried to be a bit more respectful to my parents so I wouldn’t of gotten beaten. I would of also used a condom before having sex.
Author: Ellen Hopkins has also wrote Crank, a book that I enjoyed very much. Most of her books tend to be about drug addictions.

Current event for 16 MAY 2008

‘These Guys Had to Be Taken Down’
Four pounds of cocaine. Fifty pounds of marijuana. Inside the San Diego State University drug raid.
Theta Chi was the fraternany busted in this drug bust. Drug enforcement officers recovered 4 pounds of cocaine, 350 Ecstasy pills, 50 pounds of marijuana, 30 vials of hash oil, $60,000 in cash and two guns, one of them taped to a bed frame. It ranked among the biggest college drug busts in U.S. history, with police making 128 arrests, including 95 San Diego State students. Jenny Poliakoff, a 19-year-old student at San Diego State was the reason behind this entire ordeal. She, one year ago on tuesday (the day that the drug bust happened) died from a cocaine overdose which sparked an investgation centered around drug abuse at SDSU.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/136441?from=rss

censorship in America

Mission Statment:The goal is the inform Americans about the vast amounts of government censorship creating awareness.

Vocaburly week 13

This picture is of ecstasy pills. Ecstasy is a highly addictive substance and known to many to cause an unimaginable amount of euphoria. Euphoria is a feeling of elation or well-being that is not based on reality and is commonly exaggerated. Ecstasy pills do this by increasing your serotonin levels vastly. Sometimes it makes it so you can never be happy again because you only get so much serotonin.
You could probably smell the person if they were on ecstasy. Usually, it makes you dance. Many people die or get really sick and dehydrated due to ecstasy because you cannot really control your body movements and it makes your move a lot. The aroma of a person using ecstasy would be a bit stinky.
Once you swallow the ecstasy tablet it is inevitable that you will feel high. You have no choice. You can’t really do anything; It is already invading your blood stream and making you high with euphoria.
Many users would describe ecstasy as a incantation. Many people would believe that this drug is a magical substance. While some can believe it is futile, as sometimes some users don’t feel it.
Ecstasy causes a feeling of enamored. Some users would describe the feeling as a “intense feeling of love”. Many people are fascinated by the simplest things while high.
Some addicts have an infatuation with this drug. As they feel like they need it. This is called addiction and many of them believe they can stop if they want to-the only thing is that they don’t want to stop so they don’t realize your addicted until your way past any stage of help.
This drug is definitely no deleterious. As you defiantly can tell that you are getting dumber as you take. As it does kill some of your brain cells. When you wake up, you do feel dumber.
To addicted, ecstasy consummates their life.

april 21st honors book report

Carlson, Richard. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and its all small stuff. Simple ways to keep the little things from taking over your life. New York, New York. Hyperion. 1997

Reason: I originally picked up this book because I thought the book had a very good title that probably addressed what the book was about. And golly-I was right! This is a self help book that helps you deal with stress management, behavior modification, peace of mind, and inter-personal reflection. It is basically a book that shows you how to keep yourself from going completely insane. This novel doesn’t have a particular setting or date; it is applicable to any time period or whatever walk of life you are in.

Plot: this book doesn’t necessarily have a plot as much as it has advice for how you should live your life. I will just be discussing some of the ones that I found most interesting.
The first of which would be “Let Others Have Glory” this is a very useful thing to do and I never really thought about it before reading this book. This section advises you to listen more efficiently and let go of the “oh that happened to me once” or “My story is more interesting” aspects of life. This will create a sense of calmness and allows other to have some of the spotlight. Because when you immediately dive in and bring the conversation back to you, you can subtly minimize the joy that that person has in sharing the store. That creates distance between you and the person. It’s a lose, lose situation. You gain confidence by letting other people have the spotlight and more accomplishment is supposedly felt.
The second piece of advice that I found interesting would be “Imagine that everyone is Enlightened except you”. This strategy gives you a change to practice something that you probably believe is completely unacceptable. However, this proves to be the most helpful when it comes to self improvement. Your job is trying to determine what the people in your life are trying to teach you. This lets go of a lot of the frustration that you feel for other people. Say your waiting in line at a grocery store and the cashier is taking a long time. I think you should put yourself in their shoes- at a job you probably don’t like. You can think about how you need to get out of there and go on with your life or you can learn a lesson in patience. All you need to do is change your perception from “why are they doing this?” to “what are they teaching me”.
The third and last pierce of advice that I took with me from the book would be “Spend a Moment Everyday Thinking of Someone to Thank”. I found this one extremely interesting and a very good way to look at the world. This strategy only takes a few seconds to complete everyday and is a very important habit to develop. As you think of people to be grateful for you can think of anyone-that person that you let you cut in line because on only had on item, or that person that saved your grandmothers life. The point is to gear your attention to gratitude versus resentment. I really agree with this and plan to start utilizing it.

Character: there is not really a character in this book- the author is just writing about his experiences and what he has learned from them. Richard Carlson is a very interesting individual with the ability to maintaining his stress levels and modify his behavior I believe these traits to be extremely admirable.

Evaluation: I loved this book and I really suggest it to everyone who believes in bettering themselves. I found a lot of helpful tools and advice in order to advance my life ever further. I guess the main point of this book would be to just not sweat the small stuff, and that a lot of the things that you feel are important aren’t going to be important a year from now

This book infinitely compared to real life and the problems regular people face every single day. It addresses everything that I deal with (being a teenager) to probably things that a person that I a century old would face. This book is for anyone from any walk of life.

Author: Richard Carlson is a physician, author, and a motivational speaker. This is his most famous book and his claim to fame.

Current Event 18Apr08

Daniel Goldbloom on The Government's $500K Marijuana Deficit: uhh...what?
According to newly available Health Canada statistics, 462 licensees owe the government more that half a million dollars for weed. And using collection agencies, the government has recovered a measly $2,000. This is a case of governmental mismanagement, plain and simple. A lot of conservatives talk about what the government can learn from (or outsource to) the private sector. But in this case, the government should take its cues from the criminal sector, which seems to be doing a much better job of supplying Canadians -- both sick and healthy -- with marijuana.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/04/15/daniel-goldbloom-on-the-government-s-500k-marijuana-deficit-uhh-what.aspx

epitome - a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class
revere - to regard with respect tinged with awe

He was a very revered business man.
vertigo - The sensation of dizziness

When you experience vertigo I usually end up throwing up.
punitive - inflicting punishment
slander - defamation

I slandered a girl in 9th grade for making a flyer about her. I got suspended.
squander - to spend or use (money, time, etc.) extravagantly
panache - a grand or flamboyant manner
forlorn - lonely and sad
quell - put an end to

He quelled the arguement by cutting off the guys tongue.
concision - concise quality
libel - to misrepresent damagingly
defamation - slander or libel
misdirection - Incorrect instructions or directions

He had complete misdirection and actually went to Europe instead of Japan.

Drugs Body Makes Cannabis Decision

This current event is basically just about how marijuna in the UK is going to remain a class C drug. There is growing concern about the impact of cannabis on mental health, particularly of younger people who use the stronger 'skunk' form of the drug. However, Gordon Brown inferred at his monthly news conference that he strongly supported reclassifying cannabis as a Class B drug. Gordon Brown inferred at his monthly news conference that he strongly supported reclassifying cannabis as a Class B drug.

Book report!

Dahl,Roald. James and the Giant Peach. Puffin 1996
Reason: the setting changes greatly. The beginning of the book the mood is amazing-as his parents live in such a great place and they dream of someday visiting New York City. I selected this book because I remember reading it when I was younger and I remember forgetting all about it and wanting to read it again. I mean its spring break so I figured I’d pick a book that I really wanted to read. The book takes place in the 1900’s sometime. I do not exactly know when because I do not believe that it is ever completely specified.
Plot: The story is based around a young boy named James. His parents die after a terrible accident with a rhinocercerous. He is then forced to live with his two seemingly evil aunts- Spike and Sponge. He always dreams of visiting New York City, as his parents always talked about visiting such a place. At one point in the book his dream comes true. This is when a stranger appears with a “bagful of magic”. Among others things it changes insects into real life characters and causes an ordinary peach to grow to enormous proportions right inside his backyard. Him and the insects all travel to New York City within the peach. James is the leader of the group. James comes up with a plan to fly the peace away from the “marauding sharks” . they plan to do this by getting the insects to use their varied talents for the benefit of the others. Long story short- they escape the dangerous Cloud-Men who throw all kinds of weather at the peach. After a while the crew finally lands on the Empire State Building-located in New York City. There is a huge city parade after which James lives in the pit of the peach in Central Park and tells stories of his breathtaking adventure.
Character: James is the main character. I pity him so much but I do not believe that he is someone that should be pitied. I feel like he can really handle his own stuff. He seems strong but he is so young. But he shows everyone that he could handle himself when he takes the leadership role within the peach.
Evaluation: I liked the novel. I thought it was a good break from the serious reading that I have been doing recently. I think everyone should read it because it is seriously such a good book.
This book really doesn’t compare to real life whatsoever, but the lesson that I took from it is that life’s not that bad.
I think I would of acted in the same way as James because if I was that young I wouldn’t of known what to do.
Author- Roald Dahl has surprisingly created many famous children’s novels. At this point in my life I don’t think I’ll read anymore of his work unless I’m in search of a laugh or unless I’m reading it to my future million kids!

A new study on drug use in Australian Aboriginal communities had found that restrictions on alcohol and petrol have led to an increased use of marijuana.
The 5-year study period involved the researchers in observation, and structured and unstructured interviews with young aboriginal people and adult community members.
The study highlights the importance of looking at indigenous substance misuse in the total context of indigenous poverty, poor health and lack of opportunities.

To put the problem into perspective, Australian national statistics show that marijuana use is common in Australia with at least 11% of the urban non-indigenous population using the drug - when it comes to the indigenous population this number doubles to 22%. It is also suspected that the rates of marijuana use may be much higher in remote indigenous communities throughout the Northern Territory.

This is significant becuase if they choose to ban alcohol in the united states this is what could potenitally happen.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=35948

volatile - tending or threatening to break out into open violence

Boxers are very volatile.


mimic - to be an imitation of

The purse was a mimic of chanel.

inchoate - not yet completed or fully developed

A baby would be a inchoate object.

imitate -to mimic; impersonate

The girl imitated me as I blew a bubble.

bulwark - a wall of earth or other material built for defense

The moat served as the bulwark of the castle.

scuttlebutt - a cask on a ship used to hold the day's supply of drinking water
hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence
dearth - famine; an inadequate supply
deference - respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another
emulate - to try to equal or excel
endemic - prevalent in or peculiar to a particular locality, region, or people
aborigine - one of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a country or region.
precursor - one that precedes another

Creative Writting- When does graffitti become art?

When asked to think about this question my mind honestly goes crazy. When I say crazy I do not mean that with a smile on my face. I say that with a frog in my throat and a stern look- like looking at something like this I am literally going insane. My mind is exploding with thought. From this explosion has created a new life of thought that I am so afraid to explore. The explosion has been caused by the stuff that I have done prior. Explosions in my mind are just a simile to represent something so magnificent- that so many people feel rots a mind. I feel like my mind is only expanding. Who can sit her and say expansion is negative?
I look at this picture and so many things come to mind. You know how people say a picture is worth a thousand words? I believe that every picture that I have ever seen –well any type of art work- is worthy of my thinking of a thousand different worlds. Something that sticks out more than anything to me is the background- all of the different colors of paint. The color that sticks out most to me is the red. I think about the red and wonder how everyone else sees the color red. I think its ridiculous how I can see a different red in comparison to everyone else. We never really know if we are normal because there’s no definite thing that defines world. I not only look at the red paint like that but I look at how thick the brush stroke was- what type of brush was used? Was it beautifully splashed amongst the canvas-each stroke depicting a separate meaning or is it just splashed upon the canvas-still beautiful but not representing as much meaning. However- is it still just depicting just as much meaning splashed on as it would be planned? Like depicting a broken life of shit? Or representing crazy times. You don’t even know and that scares me. Another thing I think about when it comes to the red paint is where the paint came from-what type of water was used within the paint? Where did the water come from? Was it purified in a factory? Did it come from a famous persons sink? Where did the ingredients from the paint come from? Everything comes from something and I really think we need to appreciate that factor. It is kind of funny how no matter how little something there is always something smaller that represents a story of how it is there.
I don’t think anything can represent graffiti because that terminology takes upon such a negative connotation. Art on the other hand sounds so plan and boring. I do not really think that that term art properly describes the blood and sweat that goes into the work that the “artists” do. It is so much more than a three letter word. Its indescribable.

Vietnam War Book Report

Downs, Fredrick. The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War. 1993. W. W. Norton
Reason: I chose this book honestly because it had the best cover and the best summery on the back. It’s setting is in Vietnam during the “Second Indochina War”. Long story short- The Killing Zone tells the story of the platoon of Delta One-six, capturing what it meant to face lethal danger, to follow orders, and to search for the conviction and then the hope that this war was worth the sacrifice. The mood is very indifferent/apathetic. The soldiers really didn’t want to be there, in combat. This book is very raw and uncensored.
Plot: This book is just basically a summery of the war. It is very, very non-controversial in my eyes. As it just states the obvious and what happened. It doesn’t so much give opinion about the things that had happened- it just simply states the events that occurred. Its basically how the platoon of Delta One-six, captured what it meant to face fatal danger, to follow orders, and to search for the conviction and then the hope that this war was worth the sacrifice. The really were confused about the war back then- as they didn’t know if it was pointless or not. After the documentary and everything I can definitely conclude that this war was a pointless one. The main character, Fredrick, was in infantry lieutent. His body actually ended up being mangled pretty badly. Honestly, it’s pretty gory more than anything and tells how a lot of people got killed during these times,. This is not something I really like to go in context about. Reading it, the descriptive details almost made me throw up he arrived in Vietnam in August 1967. his job was the US Army and was a combat infantry platoon leader. His job was to lead a platoon of infantrymen into combat patrols and they worked up in, he was part of the fourth division, third brigade, first is fourteenth infantry. And, they worked up in what they call Icorps, which is the northern part of South Vietnam. And, they worked along the coast and Duck Fo, Chu Li, Kam Kee, worked back up in the central highlands. In the central highlands, they fought the North Vietnamese Army, generally, and then down in the coast they fought the “Vietcong” ha. Two different types of fighting entirely. And, in January 11th, 1968, while they were on a combat patrol in the Chu Li area of near Kam Kee, and I stepped on a Bouncing Betty landmine. And that is how his body got all gross, as described in the book :/
Character: The main character, and by far the most interesting, would be Fredrick. He is actually a very smart man and is just out of high school when the story begins. As most people in the war he is drafted. He is unhappy about this but makes the best out of it. He grows as person and soon becomes pretty mangled and bloody in the war. 
Evaluation: I would suggest this book to anyone looking to get a honest account of the war. It is very raw and I really regret choosing this. It made up the war to be bad- but I mean- what war is actually good?
This easily relates to real life because it actually happened. I am very indifferent towards the war after reading this.
Author: The Authors name is Fredrick Downs. Basically to get an accurate account of him read the plot, as it is surprisingly his life. That really shocked me. he has no other books- as this is just an autobiography of the war.

bookreport

Mayer, Elizabeth Lloyd. Extraordinary Knowing: Science, Skepticism, and the Inexplicable Powers of the Human Mind. New York, New York. February 2007
Reason: Recently, I have become way too occupied with the human mind. I have took it was far as already picking my major in college- physiology. I have become so ridiculously entertained-as I believe that the human mind is infinite. Infinite to though- infinite to everything. A bigger reason as to why I chose this book is because I remember going into Brian Delgado’s office and telling him that I couldn’t wrap my mind around forever- he gave my example and clarified forever and gave me a piece of paper wrapped in a familiar sign- an infinity sign. A sign that mathematicians use so often-solved my entire life. We discussed Gurus. Think of your mind as a radio- the Gurus program there mind to the same channel as everyone else-that way then can get into your mind. One time there was this guru that met this young women, he sat with her-not even saying one word and he softly said “don’t worry, your father will never touch you like that again”. When Brian told me that I was disgusted but more fascinated by the way the Gurus mind had worked in such eloquent fashion. This book relates to that because of the fact that a guy at Berkeley pinpointed the exact location of a flute. I find that absurd. There are so many flutes out there. That is just the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. The book takes place in California and the character is just like a person. It is very weird because almost anyone can relate to this book.
Plot: A lot so basically this book is just about how people just "know" things without rational explanation. I look at the word rational and I just get freaked out about it. What is rationale? A lot of people call the author a “skeptical source” however I have learned that there are a lot of of trained scientists, physicians and psychologists have had extraordinary paranormal experiences, but feel constrained by the academic/scientific fundamentalists that they refuse to talk about them. I absolutely feel encaged by ideals and morals when I read that. I feel as if other people are trapping us in a web of what we should believe. And so many other people have other ideas that they never share with the world because of this web that there so afraid to step out of. For instance, when I went into Brains office he asked me if I’d done anything other than pot these last couple of months. I just think a lot. I don’t find it absurd however that I got asked that. If somebody came into my office with the exact same mindset as me I would be ridiculously worried about that person. I look at this book and it’s just ridiculous. The thoughts that have arisen from my mind due to this book are not of this world. I can’t even correctly explain it. It’s just due to a flute and the findings of a flute that such significant questions have arisen. This kind of thought process is often ridiculed by the religious AND the scientific communities but for different reasons. The scientists -because it is difficult to explain how ESP works. The religious -because if humans were to develop their ESP abilities -then we would all be prophets. This book analyzes multiple studies that support some amazing mental powers that the human mind appears to be capable of performing. Unfortunately, none of the studies are sufficiently referenced to allow an interested reader to review the actual data.
Character: I am going to analyze Dr. Mayer. It is kind of funny because Dr. Mayer took this as quite a jock. Dr. Mayer graduated from Berkley. He actually didn’t leave his Arkansas home when finding the flute- he did it all in his mind- which really trips me out. How can you do such a thing? I have learned through the book that many people actually can do that and it really trips me out.
Evaluation: I loved this novel. It gave me so many new mind boggling questions to explore within my ever-infinite mind. I would suggest this book to everyone. To an extent I kind of want everyone to have the same mind-set as me- but at the exact same time I want to know everything they know and experience their perception. It is so ridiculous- there are people who think more than I do. I just don’t see how you can ever get bored within your own mind when your thoughts are infinite.
This book easily compares to real life- as it is based upon a true story. It is really mind boggling and is trippy! This book is so important for others to read- or at the very least I believe everyone should read a book like it.
Author: the authors name is Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer, Ph.D., was an internationally known psychoanalyst, researcher, and clinician, the author of groundbreaking papers on female development, the nature of science, and intuition. In addition to her private practice, she was associate clinical professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and also taught at UC Medical Center, San Francisco. She died just after completing this book. I really think she died because she was getting to close to the truth.


THIS STUFF IS SO TRIPPY!

Embezzle - To take (money, for example) for one's own use in violation of a trust

You can go to jail for charges of embezzlment.
Emaciate - to make abnormally lean or thin by a gradual wasting away of flesh.
Obsolete - no longer in general use

CD players are obsolete.
Obviate - prevent the occurrence of
Penchant - A definite liking; a strong inclination

A laywer has a strong penchant for argueing.
Paucity - smallness of quantity
Sycophant - a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
Taut - tightly drawn
Tenuous (adjective) - lacking in clarity

If you do drugs you have very tenuous life.
Tenacity (noun) - persistent determination

The boy had alot of tenacity to do better than his brother at everything

Current Event

This current event is about how alcohol is just as bad as any drug. However, it will stay legal becuase But even the experts admit that drafting a drug policy is tough. They believe that if alcohol was discovered now it would be classified as a type B drug, to give you a little bit of clarification a Type a drug would be something like Heroine. This is happening in New Zealand


http://www.hightimes.com/ht/news/content.php?bid=1599&aid=24

Current Event 21 Feb 2007

When coffee and cold showers fail to stimulate stressed students, it can be tempting to use prescription drugs to focus, stay awake or de-stress. This article is basically about how College students, mostly white males, are using prescription drugs like ADDERALL and Rittalin to enhance their test taking skills.
http://www.utulsa.edu/collegian/article.asp?article=3590

Vocab

1 lucidity- Easily Understood

Lisa and I's friendship is a lucidity-we both just make fun of everyone and that keeps us entertained.
2 conciliatory-To regain or try to regain (friendship or goodwill) by pleasant behavior.
3 countermand-to revoke or cancel

Josh often countermands our plans, but the times we do spend together are interesting.
4 acumen- Keen Insight, shrewdness

I have never met someone who displayed as much acumen as this man. He was extremly insightful. however, I didn't realize this until later becuase of the fact that I was too busy trying to make him stop hitting on me.
5 insurrection- an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion
6 fidelity-loyalty, accuracy, exactness
7 complicit-choosing to be involved in an illegal or questionable act

When I decided to take part in Freddy and Alex's complicit act, I didn't know that they would want me to jump on top of a cart and pretend like I was flying.
8 steadfast-steadily directed, firmly fixed in place or position
9 emancipation-freeing someone from the control of another.

If I was an emancipated minor I would move to Cuba so I could smoke Cuban Cigars!
10 bolster-to support with or as with a pillow or cushion

Albom, Mitch. The Five People You Meet In Heaven. United States. Time Warner Paper Backs. 2003

Reason: While the author never technically says the exact location of the book, I can infer that the location is probably in New York. This is due to many reasons-first of all-for a while, before his father dies; he is a taxi-cab driver. That just screams New York to me for some reason. I would have to say that this is a mystery novel because of the fact that it really did have me going and wanting to turn the next page. It was a book that I couldn’t put down. I would have to guess that the novel takes place in the eighties. Once again, it never specifies. However, it definitely wasn’t to long ago.
Plot: The main characters name is Eddie. Eddies home base is on the Ruby Pier. The Ruby Pier is his father’s domain; however, once his father dies he is left in charge (he was a taxi driver prior to this because he didn’t want to have to follow in his fathers footsteps). He does this for financial reasons, as he wasn’t making so much money being a taxi driver. Eddie does anything from balloon animals to just pure maintenance on the rides. The day he dies, he was making a pipe-cleaner animal for a little girl. The day just seems really usual, not out of the ordinary what so ever. He gets a call on his walkie talkie that tells him to come to “Freddy’s Free Fall”, which is a ride within the park that got shut down. While the other men are trying to rescue people from the suspended carts, Eddie decided to try to figure out what exactly is wrong with these carts. He draws the conclusion that the cables had to snap, there was just no other synopses. He then realizes it’s too late. There is this little girl that is standing looking up at the carts; she begins to cry-as her mother is on the ride. The carts start to fall down, Eddie, trying to be a superhero, runs and try to save the little girl. He has a bad knee from the war. He ends up blacking out and a car ends up falling on him. He ends up dying. However the little girl was saves (however, he doesn’t know this until Tala, one of the five people he meets in heaven, tells him this). Once he gets to heaven he meets five different people who teach him interesting lessons. I learn that everyone else’s lives are affected because of your own personal actions.
The first person Eddie meets in heaven is named Joseph. However, he refers to himself (and others refer to him this way to) as the “blue man”. The connection between Eddie and Joseph is absolutely ridiculous. Evidently, Eddie is the cause for this mans death. When Eddie was younger he was playing catch with some friends. The ball ended up hitting Joseph’s windshield. Minuets later, still anxious from this “attack” Joseph crashes into a truck. He doesn’t die from that, he dies from a fatal heart attack that he had moments later. The lesson that Eddie took from Joseph was that people are indefinitely affected by your actions, weather you realize it or not. The second person Eddie meets in heaven is a captain from the war the Eddie was in. The captain, evidently, stopped Eddie from walking in the fire. When Eddie was walking towards the fire, the captain decides to shoot him in the leg. Thus, crippling him. However, he definitely stops Eddie from walking in the fire. Eddie was then sent to the medical unit. When the captain was going to check up on Eddie’s leg he gets blown up in a mine. After the captain leaves Eddie meets his father again. His entire setting changes to a snowy mountain. Eddies father and him were never too close. That is why he is not the third person he meets in heaven, better yet, the third person he meets in heaven is a lady named Ruby. We assume that she is the lady that is named after the pier-“Ruby Pier”. She ends up being the wife of the owner. This lady is a little freaky and tells him the truth about his father’s death. Unlike he was told prior-he was now told that his father died from a disease. Eddies mother never really picked up the phone and called the hospital, she just let him die. But it really wasn’t that- it sounds worse in the summer than it actually is. It is not Eddies mothers fault, it is Eddie’s fathers. He had a bad drinking problem and would never even seek help. Ruby teaches Eddie about forgiveness, and persuades Eddie to forgive his father. The fourth person Eddie meets in heaven is his late wife, Marguerite. The funny part is, Eddie is obviously aged, however, she stayed in the same natural, youthful state as she looked the day her and Eddie wed. Obviously, when she died, Eddie was very upset. The lesson that she teaches him is that “love doesn’t have an end. When people die, love takes a different form to be left out in the dark”. The last person Eddie meets in heaven is a little philopeano girl named Tala. Tala is about five of six years old and very short. Eddie meets Tala near a stream. The tie between Tala and Eddie is that Eddie threw a flame thrower in Tala’s hut when he was fighting in the war. Eddie thought he saw something but never really went to check. Tala is probably the most interesting and mysterious character out of all of the people he meets in heaven. She teaches him this lesson-“everyone has a purpose in life, and that not only affects their own lives but other people's lives as well”. These people all equally affect Eddie and, as described above, give him a different life lesson.
Character: For the character analysis I decided to do the main Character, Eddie. I don’t really get why Eddie lost his life. I mean-I see how, but I do not really get why. I mean, I don’t think everyone gets the opportunity to meet five people in heaven-yet-who knows? Eddie seems like a older man, not that attractive. Maybe 5’9 or something. He just seems mysterious about his past and I think that’s what draws me to him.
Evaluation: I loved this novel. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to seek purpose- who would hopefully because everyone. I really liked the lessons that Eddie was taught through the five people in heaven. It made me realize how valuable life really is.
This book easily compares to real life. But to the same extent we do not really know what happens when we die. This subject freaks me out and I could definitely go without talking about it. This book just reminds me of an atheist for some reason, I don’t know exactly why.
If I was the main character, I would have acted the same way. However, this book kind of taught me that you can’t escape fate, so even if I was put in the book as the main character, his fate would have been the same.
Author, Context and Trivia: Mitch Albom is the author of nine books. This book is just the second one. This book, I learned, got made into a movie and premiered on ABC. He is also a journalist and radio host. He definitely has an impressive resume. I would probably read more of his books- I would just hope that they are similar.

Current Event

In Seatle, Wasington The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington state is launching a new campaign to get people talking about changing marijuana laws, and it's enlisted travel writer Rick Steves in the effort. Thus far- Steves filmed a 30-minute video for the ACLU, in which he says he has traveled all over Europe, and he's learned that it makes more sense to treat marijuana use as a public health issue than it does to arrest people for using it. I think this is significant becuase the organization says nearly 830,000 people are arrested on marijuana charges every year - 90 percent of them for possession - and that the U.S. spends far more money arresting, prosecuting and jailing people than it's worth.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_aclu_marijuana.html

Disseminate (v)- to scatter or spread widely, as though sowing seed; promulgate extensively; broadcast; disperse.

The seeds need to be disseminate in order for the plants to grow properly.
Eloquence (n)- the practice or art of using language with fluency and aptness.

He spoke spanish in mexico with such eloquence.
Austere (adj)- severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding.

My fourth grade teacher, Mrs Guzman was extremly austere.
Baleful (adj)- full of menacing or malign influences; pernicious.
Bigot (n)- a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.

Michael is extremly bigot.
Relapse (n) and (v)- to fall or slip back into a former state, practice, etc.
Repudiate (v)- to reject as having no authority or binding force
Resilience (n)- the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.
Sanguine (adj)- cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident.

Bob sagot is very sanguine in this speech
Renovate (v)- to restore to good condition; make new or as if new again; repair.

Making Sense of American Popular Music

“How It ends” By Recon
You have become the one that you hate, the one you despise. You have changed. Changed for the worst, never coming back. This is my burden that I take on my bloodshed wings. I will never rest until your last breath has left your body. I will never rest until you are dead. This is how it ends. I will never rest until you're dead. I will bury you.

1.) The dictionary defines a song as a short musical composition with words. The band that I am choosing to do is Recon. This music would ultimately fall under the hardcore/metal realm.
2.) While there are no historical influences, bands Recon identifies with include Hatebreed and Pantera.
3.) Recon created this song. This song is actually about the drummer, Paul’s, ex girlfriend, which I found absolutely hilarious how he is so vocal and out about that.
4.) The song is basically a hate song towards Paul’s ex girlfriend. However, there are many different views that this song could capacitate. Another view could probably be towards an old friend, or just somebody you hate and want dead, in general.
5.) While the song is very short, it does have structure. However, another plus about this song is the actual beat to it, and how the words are very stretched out to create a three minuet long song that has hardly any lyrics. The hook is definitely the guitar/drum beats. I am very attracted to the breakdowns in this song. It doesn’t really have chores, because this song is basically the same length of chores in a regular song. It’s one stanza, but doesn’t sound like it.
6.) This song doesn’t really have an historical context because of the fact that this is a very new and underground band.
7.) This song probably says a lot about the stupid hardcore kids, and not so much regular society. I hate that scene with the gauged ears, black hair, tight girl pants, “effin break shieett” attitude. Now you might be asking yourself- “what is hardcore?” Mike from Recon said “You know...Koi fish tattoos, shiny diamond/dollar sign clothes and other wigger stuff, girl pants, big ears, teen angst, anime hair, throat tattoos, Hatebreed moustache tattoos, tattoos of weapons, breakdowns, straight edge, breaking edge, the same 3 girls banging the same 65 dudes, getting aids, fighting everyone, memorizing the age of consent, acting like your opinion matters, etc...” it made my day ten times brighter when I read this.
8.) Not only the song, but the entire band is somehow related to the military. “Personally, I'm interested in that sort of thing. I don't really think I'd have what it takes to join the military or anything like that, but I have the utmost respect for those who do, we've got friends and family members who are in Iraq right now and it really takes a lot to drop everything and go put your life on the line for some sh*t you may or may not agree with. I'm a big fan of WWII and Vietnam history, I read up on that stuff as much as possible and I jock the History and Military channels pretty hard (Mail Call is the most glorious show ever conceived). As a band I think it all fits in with the name, and like I said before, we're all into war and military themed movies, favorites being Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, The Rambo trilogy and Apocalypse Now.”

www.myspace.com/recon

Current event

"Baby given meth&ecstasy"
Basically heres what happened-Authorities say a 21-year-old Annistonwoman was charged with giving her boyfriend's 10-week-old babycrystal methamphetamine and ecstasy.the baby was left with the father for a visit earlyThursday. At some point during the day, the father left Chapmanalone with the baby.When the baby's mother returned, she noticed that the baby wassick and took the baby to the hospital. Medical personnel conducted a blood test and found evidence ofcrystal meth and ecstasy. Her bail is at $90,000.
This has a great deal of significance becuase it makes me think about the fact that this could happen to anyone, and maybe the babies don't always get sick and have to go to the hospital, maybe they just chill on meth. This could really happen to any kid if you think about it.... then there life is full of addiction, and not even by personal choice.

Gregory, Julie. “Sickened”. New York, New York. A Bantam Book. October 2003

Reason: honestly, I picked this book up because I really liked the cover-art. However, when I opened the flap and read the summery I really thought that I had picked up a good book. The setting of this book is in southern Ohio. The family lives in a trailer, which surprises me because Julie’s medical bills must be pretty high. This is definitely a mystery novel. Or like a suspense one. However, I am not completely for sure on that. It just really seemed like it. This takes place around the 1980’s I want to say, but it is never specified.
Plot: alright so, Julie’s mom has a disease. However, Julie’s mother is in full belief that Julie has a disease. Because of this Julies mom takes Julie to so many different hospitals. Her mother always believed, or tried to convince other people that there was something wrong with her daughter's health and was forever taking her to see doctors and specialists and suggesting that they perform open heart surgery on her. Whenever the doctors said that there was nothing wrong with Julie, her mother would become enraged and take Julie to another hospital. Julie Gregory was a victim of “Munchausen by Proxy”. She misses a lot of school and would be too tired to concentrate in lessons because her mother would put her on a special diet. However, Julie felt as if she couldn’t live without her mother. This is weird because of the fact that she knows that she’s not sick, and that it is all on her mother. Julie doesn’t want to hurt her mother when she is growing up. She eventually grows up. However, in the end of the book Julie went back to her mother, who had remarried and adopted some more children. She left after she discovered that her adopted daughter was suffering from the same treatment from her mother that she was given herself, and decided to prosecute her mother.
Character: I want to analyze Julie. She is a very small girl- due to the special illness that her mother believes her to have. The book describes her to be very small and lanky. In the beginning of the book they shave her chest, so I’m suspecting that she is quite hairy (they did that when she was barely 12). Julie is the main character in the book. The plot changes this character from a defenseless little girl to a woman that prosecuted her mother for the things that happened to her, and her mothers adopted daughter.
Evaluation: I loved this novel. I thought that it was written really well. There are some really neat quotes in the book that I really enjoyed. I would recommend this book to everyone. I mean this is a serious book- it’s about indirect child abuse.
This book compares to real life in so many ways. This probably happens to a lot of people, which frightens me because it would be so hard to detect. I wouldn’t of acted in the same way as Julie thought, if I knee there wasn’t something wrong with me then I would of put an end to the madness that she endured throughout the book. I think the book ended in a logical fashion, and couldn’t have really ended better.
Author: The author is Julie Gregory, the same as the main character in the book. She is an advocate for MBP abuse. Sickened is the only book that she has written and I believing her to be a fantastic author.

Vocaburlary

1) equivocate: to use ambiguous or unclear expressions
2) eradicate: to remove

When you go to jail you are eradicated from normal society.
3) erode: to eat into or away; destroy by slow consumption or disintegration
4) erratic: unpredictable
My life is erratic, and I love it.

5) escalate: to raise
6) esoteric: understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest
7) espouse: to marry
8) eulogy: high praise
9) euphoria: a feeling of happiness

Drugs give you a sense of Euphoria
10) euthanasia: painless death

An animal usually gets euthanised.
11) epitome: a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class; role model

Grave for Two is the epitome of failure for the music industry

Current Event

This current event was basically how LA has pot vending machines. However, here are the restrictions:
• Customers bring their prescriptions for approval at the AVMs, housed in enclosed room guarded 24/7.• They are fingerprinted and photographed.• They receive a pre-paid credit carded loaded with their individual profiles.• They choose their dosage (3.5 grams or 7 grams) and one of five strains of marijuana.• The marijuana is in capsule form and dispensed in vacuum-sealed packages.• They can buy no more than 1 ounce a week.


Peronsaly,I think this is a bad idea becuase I think people are going to abuse this. I believe that it is probaly harder to abuse this versus a regular pharmacy. However, we will see.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/01/hot-button-medi.html

"Why We Fight"

This movie was basically a whole bunch of political evidence in total non-support of the Iraq war. I saw a lot of interesting facts and details that definitely was interesting. It is basically about the forces supporting the American militia. It is also about how the military has been all too important to American life. A fact that I found really surprising was Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon—now receive among themselves over $30 billion per year in Pentagon contracts. The "military-industrial complex". Eisenhower was worried that too much intelligence, and too much business acumen in America, had become focused on the production of unnecessary weapons systems. Since his time it has only gotten worse. I don’t really know how to explain it but Eisenhower it right, and military force has only gotten stronger.

Flowers in the Attic V.C Andrews
Reason: I chose this book because I felt as if it as going to be a good book. And believe me it was. The setting of this book was in the 1950’s.
Plot: After the death of her husband, Corinne Dollanganger takes her four children Christopher, Catherine, Cory, and Carrie, and goes to live with her wealthy parents who she hasn't seen in years. Once they arrive at the forbidding mansion, Foxworth Hall, the Dollanganger children learn a terrible family secret the reason that their mother was disowned and disinherited years earlier. Which was because she married her half uncle. In order to inherit her ailing father's wealth, Corinne and her mother must hide the existence of her children. The total time that thekids were in the attic for was 3 years, 4 months, and 16 days. So Cathy and her brothers are mistreated and tortured by their evil grandmother. Day by day, week by week, month by month, Cathy, Chris, Carrie, and Cory become weaker and weaker, but there is never anyone from the outside world to notice. Their only hideaway is the attic, the one place that they can go to relive the happiness that they used to know, and only there can they begin to plan their escape, to return to the lives they used to know. They soon do escape, and that’s when you start reading “petals in the wind”, by George Orwell.
Character: The character that I am to focus on is the evil grandmother. Several times the grandmother has plotted to kill the children. Her attempts have gone as far as pouring tar on little Carries head. She is a really evil person and throughout the novel it definitely shows. The Grandmother is really old, but still in good shape. The roll she takes on is evil. I selected this character because I find her interesting. I find her interesting because of the fact that she is so mischievous.
Evaluation: I really loved this book and it kind of made my appreciate my life. You know- when you seem like your all upset but you really aren’t because in comparison to a lot of other things your life is good. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn to love life.
This book compared to real life because of the fact that this could be happening in any house, even your next door neighbors. I think this book is important for everyone to read because it would make people realize how good their life is.
If I was in the plot I would have acted the same way as Cathy, the main and oldest character. I think her decisions were very good and I support the way she acted. I wish the book wouldn’t of ended, and that the second book would just come with the first book because it gets you so wrapped up in that.
Author: The author of this book was V.C Andrews. She was basically the inventor of Gothic writing. Flowers in the Attic is her best seller. She made a few other books and they are mostly sequels.

1. intrepid - fearless
2. trepidation - fear


This picture is from FEAR FACTOR. in Fear factor the players face their worst fears.

3. despondent - hopeless
4. decorum - well mannered
5. aspire - to reach a really high set goal
6. vacillate - to change opinions

7. desultory - lacking order
A riot is very desultory. I picked a riot becuase of the fact that riots do have have order.

8. fallacy - a false belief
Cinderella is a fallacy.
9. formidable - causing fear

This charactor is very formidable in Scary Movie 2

10. heritage - practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
11. guru - an intellectual or spiritual guide or leader.Ghandi is a guru. He is very good at keeping the peace.

current event

This article was about how Michagen is going to stop issueing drivers licenses to illegal immagrants. few states are still issueing them. The new policy also bars people who are legal but not permanent U.S. residents from getting licenses. Legislation to allow those on temporary work or student visas to get licenses is pending in the Legislature.The new policy applies to first-time applicants for a Michigan driver's license or identification card. Updated procedures for renewals will be released soon. This is important becuase of the fact that this is probaly a good first step in getting alot of the illegal aliens to be citizens of the united states.

Breeanna Wolford
7 Jan 07
Pelzer, Dave. “The Lost Boy”. Deerfield Beach, Florida. Health Communications. 1997
Reason: I selected this book because I found “A Child Called It” extremely inspirational and decided to read up on a follow up that book. A child called it was truly a book that I will never forget, and so it the lost boy. This novel takes place in various locations, it starts out in Daly, California but it indefinitely changes settings quite often.
Plot: The main character in this book is David Peltzer as a younger boy. In this particular book he runs away form his alcoholic mother. He got rescued by his teachers because they knew that he was being abused. His mother would starve and torture him. At times she would lock him in the bathroom with a whole bunch of bleach and cleaning supplies that you aren’t supposed inhale for long periods of time. For six years, David Pelzer was sent to over ten different foster homes; sometimes returning to the same home twice. Dave’s one fear is that his evil mother would eventually find him again, it really did haunt him. Even after the court case when she pretends to be all nice and give him a bunch of his toys. He falls back in love with her during his court cause but he then learns that she was just acting, and what a good actress she was. A lot of families promise not to give up on him, but all of them eventually do. Throughout his years in foster care the one thing David yearns for is to see his Father. In the first book you learn that his Father was once a great man, a brave fire fighter, David’s “hero”. But after years of abuse and a living hell with David’s mother, he too had turned to drink and turned his back on David. There were several times when his father would make arrangements to come and visit David, but not once did he turn up. David would convince himself that it was he that had got the times wrong and not his dad that his dad would never let him down on purpose. For a short time (after the court hearing) David had some contact with his mother. She then decided that David was to have no contact at all with “her family”, she even changed her phone number so he could no longer cal her. As the years passed David had a continual urge to see his mother. There were questions that he had wanted to ask her for years. He needed to know “why”. What had he ever done for her to treat him so bad, why was he not good enough to be a member of “the family” like his brother’s were, why did she not “love him”, why was he “it”. David knew though that he would never get any answers from his mother, he was the problem as far as she was concerned and that would never change. At the end of high school he gets bad grades because he is too interested in joining the air force. He remains in the foster care system until he turns 18, when he joins the air force. No one was ever as proud of him as his “real” family was when he joined the air force-from that point forward he referred to him as Dave the Man.
Character: The character that I will choose for this is the father. David’s father. David’s dad was a proud fireman prior to all these things that happened in the family. He was a very accomplished man, with a lot of honor. When all of this stuff starts going down he slowly looses it. He becomes an alcoholic. He really doesn’t end up liking his wife, David’s evil mom. He eventually gets a divorce and moves to San Francisco. When Dave goes and visits him their he decides that this couldn’t be the father that he once knew, Dave was dumbstruck and upset.
Evaluation: I loved this novel, and I think it fit nicely after a child called it. I really liked the ending because it was reassuring that no matter what good can come from something. I figure that Dave will be used to the army because of the way that his mother treated him. This novel made me think about how messed up child abuse is, and how much I really hate it. I would recommend this book for everyone to read, because to an extent it’s definitely life changing.
This book definitely compares to real life because things like this happen all the time, and that is just really not cool. I hate to think that as I type this there are children being abused, it just really bothers me. I think everyone should read this book before they have kids.
If I was David I would have probably acted in the same way if I didn’t decide to run and get help. However, he was really young so I understand. I loved the ending of the book and I really thought that it was perfect. J
Author: This book is actually part of a trilogy and I’m only on book three now. I plan on doing that book for my next book report. David Peltzer is seriously an amazing author, but what is more ironic is that he is actually the main character in the book two. I don’t pity him though, I applaud him.

Current Event

This article is about how Myspace is going to adopt new online safety standards to better protect children from sexual predators. Myspace is going to add better technology to screen out underage users, and to develop age and identity verification technology. Both Myspace and Facebook have come under attack by regulators for not doing enough to police their sites to shield minors from predators. Texas is the only states that this agreement is not in. MySpace said it would review every image posted to its Web site, strengthening the technology that enforces the minimum customer age of 14, and that it would default user profiles of 16- and 17-year-olds to a private category. However, one good myspace is doing is slowly jailing all of the sex offenders in the community.

I really thuoght that this artice was rediculous. Becuase to an extent it is the childs fault to ensure their safety. They really shouldn't be giving out private information online.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011400833.html?hpid=sec-tech

Thomas Paine Essay

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death”. This quote was said by Thomas Paine, and I believe it relates greatly to his manner of living. Most of Thomas Paine’s greatest accomplishments came through his writings. However, while, some his writings inspired passion, some also brought him great criticism. He had a grand vision for society: he was loyally anti-slavery, and he was one of the first to advocate for a world peace organization. He also was passionate about bringing social security for the poor and elderly to the table. But his radical views on religion would destroy his success, and by the end of his life, only a handful of people attended his funeral.
Thomas Paine produced many pamphlets in which made in infamous. The first pamphlet, however not nearly as successful as the some following, was entitled “The Case of the Officers of Excise” This was produced in 1798. At the time Paine moved to Lewes. This is where he was employed as an excise officer. This is where Paine became involved in local politics. He not only served on the town council but also established a debating club at a local inn. Paine upset his employers when he demanded a higher salary. Paine finally was fired after this episode, and he responded by publishing this pamphlet.
In 1776 he published his most famous pamphlet, entitled “Common Sense”. This was a pamphlet that attacked the British Monarchy and argued for American independence. Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. This was the best selling piece of work in the 18th century. This pamphlet caused a lot of outrage, and love, from many different types of people. For instance, one such attack, entitled Plain Truth, was from a person named James Chalmers. Chalmers called Paine a "political quack."
“The Crisis” was a series of pamphlets, published by Thomas Paine from 1776-1783 (during the American Revolution). This provided support to the patriot cause, but slandered the loyalists. The first pamphlet of the collection opened with a line that was very similar to that of Thomas Paine’s life- “These are the times that try men's souls”. This relates to Thomas Paines life because he was really good at stirring the hearts of the fledging United States during his lifetime, which definitely identifies with the revolutionary war,
During Thomas Paine’s lifetime he published two very influential books. The first powerful book was entitled “The Rights of Man” (1971). It was written as a reply to Edmund Burke’s infamous novel (that gained more attention than Thomas Paines novels) “Reflections on the Revolution in France”. “The Rights of Man”, basically embodies the ideas of liberty and human equality. Many of the ideas in the book come from the concepts of the Age of Enlightenment and John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government. This put England in quite in uproar. At this point in time Thomas Paine left for France. This came at the perfect timing because this was around the time when Thomas Paine was put on trial and convicted for seditious libel against the crown. He later published the same book for a more reasonable price so more working class people could buy it in France.
The second book that he published was entitled “The Age of Reason”. This is the last book he wrote. This book centers almost entirely around Christianity. To Thomas Paine, it made sense to question everything in order to make valid answers possible. He puts forth many questions in this book regarding Christianity, confronting many beliefs with pure and rational reason. This book basically challenges the inerrancy of the bible. This book was inexpensive, was it was able to get into the hands of less-elite people. More people bought it. This book inspired many British freethinkers of the nineteenth Century. This book did not bring nearly as much controversy as those of the past decades.
Paine remained in America until 1802 when he returned to the United States, on an invitation from Thomas Jefferson. He returned during the second great awakening, which was a time of great political partnership. Upon his return to America not that many people were fond of him. The religious people hated him because of “The Age of Reason.” The Federalists attacked him for his views on government depicted from “Common Sense”.
Seven years later, in 1809, Thomas Paine died. Only 6 people attended his funeral. This is because one by one his closest friends soon abandoned him. Two of the six people were of African descent, which was widely looked down on at the time. People said that they were most likely freedmen who had much gratitude towards Paine. Supposedly, years later, a radical named William Cobbett dug up his bones in order for them to be shipped back to England so a more “fitting” funeral could come about. Twenty years later, when William died, the bones were still among his possessions. No body had any clear idea about the whereabouts of these bones, but people have sworn to having some part of Thomas Paine- a leg, or a skull.
It can definitely be said that Thomas Paine lived a very productive life. Despite the fact that few actually attended his funeral, it probably can’t be said that many people appreciated his creativity at the time. “The Age of Reason” was probably the one book that definitely completely diminished Thomas Paine’s successful life. Thomas Paine was an amazing guy with a lot of knowledge that never went wasted.
Works Cited
"Thomas Paine." Wikipedia. 6 Jan. 2008. Wikimedia. 6 Jan. 2008 .
"Tom Paine." Spartacus. 6 Jan. 2008 .

Perloff, James.” Tornado in a Junkyard, the relentless myth of Darwinism”. Arlington, MA. Refugee Books. 1999.

Reason: During break I read a fantastic book called “Tornado in a Junkyard, the relentless myth of Darwinism” by James Perloff. Considering this is not a usual book that could easily follow the book report standards I will try my best to give you an in-depth look at this book while trying to cover some of the key concepts that I read about. This book is basically disproving Darwinism. I thought it would be an interesting book because I completely agreed with Darwinism prior to this book. That is the reasoning behind as to why I picked it. The setting would be in America, at around this time. No major developments have really happened that could disprove this book up to this point.
Plot: There are many different shaping points in this book. In the beginning (the 1960’s) he gives an account of his life prior to becoming an adult. He tells us about his prior, anti-Christian, liberal background. He explains how Darwinism is being taught as a fact today in schools. It is being taught as though it is as provable as the law of gravity, even though Charles Darwin himself called it "grievously too hypothetical." He states this in a negative tone, as if it shouldn’t be taught in schools. It slowly gets into the facts that support the fact that Darwinism is invalid. Fossil records are an issue in the book. A more interesting point would be why genetic mutations can't create higher life forms. He answered the question “What good is half an eye”. His explanation of irreducible complexity explains why half an organ won't win any battles for survival. To quote the book- "To suppose that the eye, with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree." Then he also Then he points out that the classification system which is based on the fact that there are distinct differences in species. If evolution were true, it should be hard to classify animals because there should be so many intermediate forms. It would be like trying to divide a rainbow into distinct colors. That was something that I found really interesting. An interesting question that popped up during the end of chapter four was “why re extinction rates today are so high, and modern evolution is unknown.” That question, sadly, went unanswered. Darwinian evolution depends on the premise that there is no limit to the changes that can be achieved by selective reproduction. The next couple of chapters point out the limits to breeding. Species can vary only as much as the pre-existing genetic material allows. For instance, you cannot breed a dog and a cat, which disproved the whole Darwinism ordeal on that particular subject. Something that I found astounding was that according to evolutionists, pre-biotic molecules came together by chance and formed the first living cell. This book examines the probability of that happening, and concludes that it is just not possible. Later in the book the focus moves towards astronomy and not so much human evolution. It discusses human growth patterns and leaves me with a stunning statistic- that if there was only two people left on earth it would only take 6,300 years to get to the current population of 6 billion. There was more stuff in the book that talked about how we resemble dinosaurs, but it really got confusing with a lot of different pictures. The book ends with a brief overview of Christian beliefs and basically wants the reader to become Christian.
Character: there were no characters in the book besides the author who explained himself in the beginning as a very liberal person. His viewpoints definitely change from the beginning to the end, but it was more of an abrupt change right after chapter one when he starts talking about his adulthood, and evolution, and all the fun stuff.
Evaluation: I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very educational. I usually do not like reading scientific novels but this one kept me going for the longest time. The only time I actually got a little bored was during the end when it got confusing. There were a lot of parts in the book that I needed clarification, in which I never received. However, it didn’t really affect this report thus far. I would recommend this book to someone who believes in the Darwin Theory, who someone who hasn’t decided what they believe. I did not really agree with the ending because it talked about how to be saved, and a whole bunch of Christian values that I do not currently believe in, however my views constantly change.
How does this book compare to real life? This book is actually all real. It is a non-fiction book that I enjoyed very much. This book seems to have a lot of to do with Christianity though; a Christian would enjoy reading this a lot more than probably a Mormon (Just a thought). I think everyone should read this book to just broaden their views.
Put yourself in the plot: This is N/A because their isn’t really a plot as much as just hard factual evidence.
Author: James Perloff was a contributing editor to “The New American” for several years. He has another book entitled “the shadows of power” which is about Americas Foreign policy. I liked this particular book, but I do not wish to read more by this author at this particular time.