The Bumpy Road

Thingy Participle for Thing

2010-10-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

Thanking himself for already being a father, Federer guiltlessly ripped the tweener for a winner.

He ran down the court, focusing on the ball, full of excitement.

He whipped his racquet around, splitting the air with a whooshing noise.

Nonverbal Communication

2010-04-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

Mr. Bean communicates with his eye and facial expressions that he has no idea how to do calculus. He continuously tries to cheat off of his neighbor, he even goes so far as to throw his pen so he can try to look off the man's paper.

Mr. Bean feels awkward trying to put his swimsuit on around the other man. The other man is utterly disgusted. The other man was blind, and Mr. Bean didn't need to be afraid of him seeing anything. He put his bathing suit on over his pants so he wouldn't be exposed to the man.

He is trying to act inconspicuous about his bad driving at church. He uses facial expressions such as raised eyebrows and silent talking to be understood. He shows his amazement at the church, and his boredom as well, by staring at the ceiling with a dazed look. Bean is falling asleep. He puts his chin on his chest, and he startled awake. He then fell back to sleep. Bean just feel asleep on his neighbors lap. He is now kneeling on the floor, asleep. Mr. Bean's act of peeling his eyes open shows that he is intent on staying awake. He is now singing absurdly loud when he knows the words, but insanely soft for the rest of the hymn.

Mr. Bean is walking around in a park, he came upon a performer and started to dance beside him for money. Bean's realization that he has a credit card, caused him to be very excited. His coughing and arm waving is giving the idea that the perfume is choking him. Bean went up the escalator and didn't realized that he had stopped moving. He's facial expressions seem to present a look of utter amazement and obliviousness at all times. Bean stuck his hand down another man's pocket and ended up being dragged to the restroom with the man. He is now in a restaurant sitting alone. Bean is entertaining himself by playing a tune on his glasses and plates. He is now getting ready to indulge in his uncooked meat. Bean is getting ready to regurgitate the food, while feigning satisfaction towards the chef.

Bean is dressed in a tuxedo and he smelling something horrible, possibly his own breath. Mr. Bean's pant zipper is showing and he awkwardly adjusted it. He just bowed to the Queen and he hit her head. Bean is trying to dive or slide into the pool, but he was caught by a lifeguard. He then awkwardly ran off to another pool. Bean was knocked off the high dive by a young boy, and when he landed his boxers came off and a little girl took them.

Bean is frustrated because he can't drive out of the parking garage. Bean tried putting a large can over the weight sensors so the bar would open up and he could drive through.

Bilingual Education

2010-03-31T07:43:00.000-07:00

Ever since 1492, America has been a melting pot of cultures. English, Irish, Scottish, German, and Dutch, were the earliest settlers of the colonies. The majority of the immigrants spoke English, while the minority spoke their natural languages. In modern America, the dominate language is English, of course. Nativists, nowadays, strongly believe that immigrants should be required to speak English before they become naturalized citizens. Isn't this view contradictory? Our ancestors came to America and they couldn't communicate with the Natives. Our ancestors came for hope, but these immigrants also come for hope. I believe that the school board should not dismiss the bilingual education program, and for these reasons: Spanish students learn better in their natural language, 90% of the school's students pass their achievement tests, and 60-75% of the world is bilingual.
Immigrant students that don't speak English should not be taught in English speaking classes. If a Spanish speaking student moves to America, the school should meet the students needs. By eliminating bilingual education, a student falls behind in class, fails standardized tests, and is given an unfair chance at interpersonal communication. Spanish speaking students can only learn so much from kinesics and paralanguage. If a student who doesn't speak English, fails a standardized test or an IQ test, it is the school's responsibility and failure for not providing the oppurtunity for the student to succeed.
Another reason for the school district to keep its bilingual education program, is that 90% of the schools students pass their achievement tests. The school should take great pride in this accomplishment, because it shows the school takes initiative in helping students who don't speak English. The school should keep their program because of the positive feedback that comes from the Spanish community.
The United States is at an amazingly appaling disadvantage in the field of language. Only 25% of Americans are bilingual, while 60-75% of the world is bilingual. This causes quite a problem in the communication process. The school district should be encouraging its students to learn a second language. Especially since Spanish is the second most common language in America, followed by French and German.
If a school will provide transportation for students who couldn't regularly attend school or a meal to students who can't afford breakfast, or if a student can't speak English, the school meets the student's needs. The school shouldn't prohibit a non-English speaking student from learning in Spanish. I believe that schools should teach students in their native languages, so they won't fall behind. I also believe that the school board should keep the bilingual program because of the students high achievement test scores, and if every school had a bilingual program, American bilingual speakers would not be as rare as they are.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1825/about-one-four-americans-can-hold-conversation-second-language.aspx

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/15_02/Bi152.shtml

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/05/AR2007040501892.html

Duel

2010-03-05T07:37:00.000-08:00

The camera positioning is quite strange. And most likely, relatively new to the film industry.
An 18-wheeler is looming conspiciously around the main character, who is parked at a service station.
The man and his wife are arguing over the phone.
Apparently, a man practically tried to rape his wife in front of a party crowd.
Old Rusty, the 18-wheeler, just passed the little red car.
Old Rusty, just about had David killed by an oncoming car.
David just passed Old Rusty. He got happy. Really happy.
Old Rusty just caught up with Dave.
David is at Chuck's Cafe.
In Chuck's Cafe, David sees Old Rusty, and possibly it's driver.
David is trying to figure out who Old Rusty is and what to do next.
He just slapped a truck driver who is disagreeing with him, only to find out that the man wasn't Old Rusty.
David just stuck his bumper underneath a schoolbus. Poor David.
Old Rusty pushed the schoolbus out onto the road.
Old Rusty tried to force Dave into a train.
David almost became a pulp.
David was, again, ran off the road by Old Rusty.
David's car is overheating.

ByePods

2010-03-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

Students in Mountain View High School have been banned from bringing iPods, and other multimedia devices, to school. The school administration says students are downloading formulas and notes onto their devices. Recently, more schools, and even colleges, have started to crackdown on iPods and other devices. However, Duke University issued iPods to their students and saw an increase in learning activity while a decrease in cheating. The issue matters because students can see their freedom of expression through music barred, yet that is the consequence of cheating. But, DU has shown that iPods can be used as a proactive learning device.
Article.

Oral Com Bloggies

2010-03-01T08:03:00.000-08:00

Earthquake:

Looters in Concepcion, Chile have been taking advantage of the recent disaster caused by an 8.8-magnitude quake. The government has issued military command to curb the temptation of looting in the city. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100301/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_deadly_storm

Global Warming:

Al Gore and the IPCC are having to spurn accusations from critics, including Sen. James Inhofe, that the recent snowstorms are proof of the fallacy of global warming. http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100228/ts_csm/283713

European Storm:

France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Germany were all victims of a devastating storm. 62 people were killed, while dozens of sea walls were destroyed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100301/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_deadly_storm

Similarities:

The three stories all involve climate, weather, and how they affected people.

Most Important:

Global warming has been a very controversial topic around the world. The critics take stock in every snowflake and every freeze that happens, without realizing that the abnormality of the snowstorms has a cause. And the cause is global warming.

Book Review

2009-12-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

While I haven't read many books this semester, the quality of the books have been high. However, I do hope to be able to read more during the second semester. I have chosen to describe the most memorable books from the semester.

Cutting For Stone - Abraham Vergehese

Vergehese weaves an intricate touching story about an Indian missionary hospital in Ethiopia and it's staff. An Indian nun, Sister Mary Joseph Praise, is pregnant. This is unknown to the hospital employees until Dr. Thomas Stone finds the Sister in her dorm unconsciously breaking out in a cold sweat.

Cutting For Stone is the story of Sister Mary's two sons, Shiva and Marion, and their struggles and acheivements in Ethiopia and America.

pgs. 560

Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic - Tom Holland

Rubicon is a historical narrative of the Roman Republic's dawning years. Holland begins with the earliest known history of Rome's foundations. He spends only a brief time explaining these foundations. He quickly travels to the time of Cicero, Pompey, Caesar, and Cassius. While doing so, Holland incorporates the tide and mood of the Roman "mob." Holland's narrative climaxes with the epic clash between Pompey and Caesar and ends with Octavian ruling the Empire. Rubican is a well-written drama, not a history book.

pgs. 464

Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen

A Cornell veterinarian student, Jacob Jankowski, is struck with the loss of his parents during his final year of college. Jacob, overwhelmed, runs off and boards a train in hope of escaping his past. The train he boarded was a circus train. He manages to find a job as the vet of The Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Jacob's boss, August, and his wife, Marian, soon take Jacob under their protective wing. When the circus acquires an elephant, Rosy, August becomes the elephant's handler and Marian becomes the elephant rider. Jacob develops an ardent attraction to Marian and a fervent bond with Rosy.

These attachments lead him down a path of revenge, murder, renewal, and happiness.

pgs. 350

A Modern Day Vietnam?

2009-11-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

Vietnam is considered to be America's failure. America's hubris. The epitomy of audacity, arrogance, and overbearing. Forty years later, another nightmarish war would be similar to Vietnam: Afghanistan.

The combined wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are somewhat ridiculously called, The War on Terror. I'm not saying that the wars were not against terror; at the beginning they were. Seven years later the wars have developed into a deeper struggle.

While the leaders of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban are religious extremists, the majority of the fighters are not. To understand how this is possible, one must look at the income of these organizations. These terrorist groups are funded by the opium trade, not unlike the Vietcong who peddled drugs out of Southeast Asia. The opposition were both, in some part, being funded by illicit drugs.

No jobs are being created in Afghanistan, leaving able-bodied men desperate for money to feed their families. Even more desperate are young teenage boys that have been left as the head of the family because of their father's death. The unemployed turn to extremist groups for money in return for their service. Thus, the American military is not only fighting terrorists, but also desperate, needy civilians. Civilians that most likely are more sympathetic to the U.S. than their religious counterparts.

The consensus has long been that the military defeat in Vietnam was inevitable. Even with more soldiers, more money, and less "if's", the North would still have overrun the South. The same arguments are being made in the war in Afghanistan. General McChrystal has requested for many more soldiers and much more funding for the rapidly deteriorating war in Afghanistan. While the President and his generals are looking towards the past, and specifically 'Nam, their attention should be at the people of Afghanistan, not the terrorists. Our military succeeded on destroying the majority of the terrorists wing. However, our military failed to disable our enemies funding and supplies. Some historians believe that if President Johnson had moved more aggressively against the North and cut off their supplies that an inevitable defeat would have turned into a glorious victory for democracy. The best weapon to defeat the Taliban is simple and achievable: provide jobs. Secure the cities and provide jobs for the people. Burn the opium fields, provide jobs for the opium farmers, and choke the Taliban. A modern day Anaconda Plan.

The parallels between Vietnam and Afghanistan are glaring at the President and his advisors. The unknown enemy that uses guerilla tactics. The undefined objectives of the wars. A public that is war weary and more unrestful than ever. However, unlike Vietnam, the military has some more positives going in America's favor. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda are not being supplied by another world superpower. Their flanks are not being replenished by thousands of loyal soldiers. The U.S. military has and continues to develop new and improved anti-guerilla warfare tactics. Most importantly, our soldiers. A British Commander during World War I said that he had never before seen "such lions led by such lambs." Our lions are being led on the ground by lions. The President and his generals will soon either commit to this war or abandon a people who only know disappointment. Let our lions be fierce and our thinkers be sharp.

Sentence A Day - Sentence 8

2009-10-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Cutting For Stone:
His fingers shielded the fire, a nine-fingered sepulchre.

Me:
Her hands wielded the jewels, a ten-fingered cage.

The author compares his hands to a sepulchre, creating a sense of exaltedness.

Sentence A Day - Sentence 7

2009-10-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

Cutting For Stone:
Or how about the strawberry angioma, the watermelon stomach, the apple core lesion of cancer, the peau d'orange appearance of breast cancer...and that's just fruits!

Me:
Or how about the soft crunch of shrimp, the crackle of fried rice, the stickiness of peanut butter, the juicy flesh of an orange...and that's just food!

Verghese uses polysyndeton to create flow and a sense of excitement.

Sentence A Day - Sentence 6

2009-10-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

Cutting For Stone:
Like a birder, I listed the ones I sought: pulsus paradoxus, pulsus alternans, pulsus bisferiens...and simple drawings of what they might look like.

Me:
Like a begger, I repeatedly murmured the usual cliche plees: food for the Vietnam Vet, help a man out, don't let them keep me down...and the other useless rabble that accompanies them.

The author begins with a simile and uses a colon to list a few examples of what he sought to create imagery.

Sentence A Day - Sentence 5

2009-10-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

Cutting For Stone:
I saw a new dimension to Rosina - call it cunning.

Me:
I realized she was something more - something destined.

By using the hyphen, Verghese describes the new dimension of Rosina.

Sentence A Day - Sentence 4

2009-10-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

Cutting For Stone:
A Land Rover passed by - Imperial Bodyguard, not police - moving slowly, its tailgate open, men with machine guns across their thighs looking out.

Me:
A sandy Prius crossed in front of us - a bodacious blonde, not ugly - moving swiftly, its driver side door open, the operator bouncing her head to the beat of her music.

The author uses hyphens to specify who owned the Land Rover and commas to add detail and imagery.

Sentence A Day - Sentence 3

2009-10-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Cutting For Stone:
"His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie the First, Lion of Judah, needs the road."

Me:
"Her royal pain, Caitlin the Only, The Lonely, needs a brain."

Verghese uses apositives to further describe the Imperial Majesty.

No harm intended.

Sentence A Day - Sentence 2

2009-10-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

Cutting For Stone:
"Before you did all these...other things?"

Me:
"So...you want me to...right?"

The author uses dots to add intrigue and hint at unmentionable material.

Sentence A Day - Sentence 1

2009-10-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese:
In place of the normal gurgling bowel sounds, what he heard with his stethoscope was a cascade of high-pitched notes, like water dripping onto a zinc plate.

Me:
Instead of the stereotypical criminal, he was clean-shaven and sharply dressed, like a man bred for deviousness.

The author uses commas to set the imagery and adds a simile at the end.

2009-08-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Dan Pink's A Whole New Mind explains why people who are able to use and control their right brain will thrive in the Conceptual Age. After reading the empathy chapter I wanted to test my skills on Spot the Fake Smile.

I don't like to smile for pictures. I'll smile whenever else though. I was interested to see if others would smile while they were having there pictures taken. And if so, could I spot the fake?

I was surprisinlgy bad. I got 9 out of 20 smiles correct.

Sopho-no-more Year

2009-05-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

Well it's over. I now know my way around the high school, somewhat. I didn't enjoy tenth grade as much as I did ninth grade, but oh well. It seems that the school year went by too slow sometimes and too fast lately.
Hopefully eleventh grade will be more enjoyable.

The Giver

2009-05-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

The Giver by Lois Lowry describes what a utopia could possibly be like. In the world of Sameness, Jonas, a young boy, grows up wondering why he is different. He soon discovers why he isn't the same when he is chosen as the new Receiver of Memory.

Sameness consists of climate control, almost no family structure - except your siblings and parents who you aren't even related to - no job choice, and no emotions. Everything is literally the same. The routine is very rigid yet fragile. The routine's fragility is caused by the government's inability to control every person.

Only two people know what "normal" really is: The Giver and Jonas. Whoever is The Giver carries the burden of knowing the what the world was and still is.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Giver. This is a book I'd read again. Lowry presents a very easy-to-read and fascinating book.

The House on Peach Street

2009-05-25T19:08:00.000-07:00

Sandra Cisneros' House on Mango Street is a very short, choppy, and unfilling book about a young Hispanic girl named Esperanza. Cisneros writes highly detailed vignettes about Esperanza's life and her family.

Chapters varied greatly. Some chapters would be about family and others would be about hair or a carnival or jobs. House on Mango Street is a brief summary of a girl's journey to womanhood.

I didn't much like House but Cisneros' descriptive writing kept the book a quick and easy read.

Poem-esque Thing

2009-05-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

So much depends upon
a streaking pencil

Dull with
yellow

Marking on the
paper

2009-04-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is a satire-esque, allegoric, fable about the Russian Revolution. Orwell's dislike for totalitarianism isn't hidden in Animal Farm.

Orwell models the movers of the Russian Revolution as pigs. Napoleon, the aggressive, conceited pig, is modeled after Stalin, the slightly dim-witted, aggressor of the Revolution. Snowball, the gifted orator and careful politician, is Trotsky, who was exiled by Stalin and assassinated by his followers. The neighboring farmers are comparable to Churchill and Hitler.

The rest of Orwell's characters are citizens that unfortunately live under piggish rulers.

Animal Farm is an easy, and somewhat entertaining read, about a complicated part of world history.

Tech Tools

2009-04-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

I enjoy cnn.com. The CNN website is chalked full of stories that are interactive with the user. The user can look at maps and read documents that further describe the story. Users can comment and have discussions with others. Political commentaries are heatedly debated amongst CNN's followers. cnn.com's website publishers do a great job.

The Forever War

2009-04-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Journalist Dexter Filkins tells the most enthralling and thrilling stories of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Filkins was a journalist in the Middle-East from 2003 to 2006. He witnessed the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the horrors in which it's believers committed in the name of Allah.

The Forever War is the most intriguing and insightful book I have read about the reasons mullahs and Middle-Eastern religious leaders have taken the role of extremists. Filkins describes the slums of Iraq in such great and frightening detail that even the most ignorant American can start to visualize the hardships Iraqis have lived through.

This is a great read for people who are curious about all assets of life in Afghanistan.

Knopf, pg 368

Spring Break

2009-04-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

Spring break gave me a well-needed rest. I slept in everyday and stayed up late everynight. I had no worries about school or homework. All I had to do, and all I did, was stay at home and do absolutely nothing. I slept, ate, and listened to music. I lived the welfare life.

Even though, I was able to sleep in and rest, I am happy school started again. The break cruelly gave me a dose of summer, then it was over. My high was over and reality struck again. What a shame.

Anthem

2009-04-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Anthem by Ayn Rand is a strange book. Her characters don't use words that exclude fellow beings. The only purpose of life in Anthem seems to be that of "we."

The utopian world of Anthem can be summed up in a simple phrase: Ignorance is bliss.

Equality 7-2521's life consist of sweeping streets and keeping his individual interest to himself. He, unlike most others, has wants and needs. Equality 7-2521 wonders about the past and why he is among very few others that believe in something other than "we."

Ayn Rand delivers a greatly detailed and graphic picture of utopia goes wrong in Anthem.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

2009-03-02T17:22:00.000-08:00

Khaled Hosseini's tear-jerking novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is not only a spectacular follow-up to The Kite Runner, but it is also a more gripping and heart-touching book.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is the story of two Afghani women that are polar opposites and the bond they form. This bond is formed in an unimaginable way to Westerners. The two women, Mariam and Laila, are married to the same man, both unwillingly.

Mariam was raised without a truly loving father and with a mother that was full of hate for all men. Laila was raised in a very Westernized family with very liberal views of what Afghanistan should be.

They are tied together by a barbaric husband who physically and emotionally assaults them.

Reading A Thousand Splendid Suns was eye-opening and an emotional rollercoaster.

pgs. 384

Rubicon

2009-03-02T15:21:00.001-08:00

The Rubicon River, a now inconsequential river in northern Italy near the Apennines, was once part of a decision that would change the scheme of the world. Julius Caesar. A name that, for many, emanates tyranny, oppression, and pretentiousness. Many don't know that Caesar was being strangled into a position of destitution and subjection.

Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic, tells the late history of the Roman Republic. Author Tom Holland asks,"What parallels might be drawn between the present-day United States and the Roman Republic before Julius Caesar took over?", at the end of the prologue.

The history of the Republic is told more like a drama than a history book. This is most likely because the history of Rome is a drama. The history of the United States will most likely also be a drama, yet hope-filled story.

Holland meticulously pieces together an expertly crafted almost novel-like history of one of the most powerful and massive empires in history. Even a person with a hatred of history comparable to a slug hating salt would be able to enjoy Rubicon.

pgs. 432.

Answering the Call

2009-02-16T17:30:00.000-08:00

Dogs. Dogs are man's best friends. I wonder how old that simple epithet is?

Jack London procured his status of a masterly author with The Call of the Wild. London, an adventurous traveler and high school drop-out, scribed a time-defying story of struggle and freedom in The Call of the Wild.

Buck, the only consistently present character in the story, is a lavishly spoiled farm dog. He has everything he would ever need. He has a pond, he has young kids to play with, and he has subordinates that answer to their King. Put simply-King describes Buck the farm dog.

On the heels of an unfortunate betrayal, Buck is thrown into the Northland, a booming area due to the Klondike gold rush. The angry King has been uncrowned and tossed into the Wild. Buck soon learns the law by which he now abides by. The law is simple- the strongest survive.

Buck is motivated to survive and lead by the call of his primordial instincts. Throughout The Call of the Wild Buck is challenged by stronger and more skillful animals than himself but they lack what he doesn't: will.

Jack London's timeless classic kept me enthralled in its pages. He has woven a web of the basic human characteristics; the needs to be free and respected.

Antigone

2009-02-15T19:38:00.000-08:00

Ahh. Don't we love reading other family's feuds? They just provide an escape from our own feuding and quibbling relatives. The family of Creon, Antigone and Ismene is far beyond arguing over the turkey and dressing at Thanksgiving.

The fall of brothers Eteocles and Polynices in a luckless and unfortunate duel between each other sets the theme of this time enduring read: What is family worth?

Hailed a hero by King Creon, Eteocles is honored in his heroic death. The traitorous Polynices is ordered to decompose and flesh-out by forgoing a burial. Antigone, their sister, is determined to honor Polynices' right to a burial, even though it means disobeying Creon.

Ismene, the other sister, is not sure whether to obey the law as an honorable and respectable citizen would do, or to honor her brother that has been left to rot in the streets. The sisters will either rebel against Creon's will together or separate.

If you like soap-operas and escaping your own familiar stresses Antigone will make you realize how suttle your family arguments really our.

Antigone is chalked full of decisions and choices. However the crucial and underlying choice is this: Respect for family or the law?

Art of Persuasion

2009-01-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

"Advertising if fundamentally persuasion and persuasion happens to be not a science, but an art.", so says William Bernbach.

Every achievement by anyone can be traced to persuasion. President Obama for example had to persuade millions of people to vote for him, to fund his campaign, and to even create the most massive ground campaign in American political history. President Obama was, and is, uber persuasive, for now anyways. Let's see how persuasive he is in a few years.

Persuasiveness follows character hand in hand. The more upstanding and moral a person is the easier it will be for them to persuade someone. Aristotle was quoted saying, "Character may also be the most effective means of persuasion." If a person, being a known thief, tried to persuade someone to lend them their keys or a few dollars, of course the thief will pay you back, do you think the person would lend them anything? I doubt it.

Without persuasion we wouldn't even do our homework, at least I wouldn't. As students we are persuaded to do homework with grades. You do your homework, you get a grade, and hopefully a decent one.

People like President Obama have mastered the art of persuasion. He's now the most powerful man in the world. Persuasion is common. So common we don't notice it.

Sophomore Year

2008-12-14T17:47:00.000-08:00

I pretty much like 10th grade. Now.

I began the year hating being a sophomore. It was, and still is, similar to 7th grade. A new place. Youngest people in the school. New teachers who you don't know.

But as the year has progressed so has my attitude towards the high school.

This was my first year to play tennis and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm ready for season to start.
My classes are more challenging and involve me to work more (which clashes with my laziness).
My science classes are severly harder than last year. In AP Bio we had a rough start. But now that we have a steady teacher the class has gotten better.

I am glad that the 1st semester is almost over. I can't wait for school to be out.

Auspicium

2008-12-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by Shakespeare is a telling story of leadership. There are many prime examples of leaders. Brutus and Mark Antony are the most obvious examples.

I believe Mark Antony is the more able leader. Antony shook the the conspirator's hands after they murdered his dear friend. By doing this Antony had gained their trust. This move let them feel comfortable, so they lowered their guard.

At the funeral services Antony spoke second to a passionate Brutus. Brutus enthrived and rallied the mob which is Rome to believe that Caesar was a tryant and was overly ambitious. Antony was facing an uphill battle. He had to calm the crowd, persuade them that Brutus and the assassins were corrupt and caused the empire harm. He convinced the crowd to change their convictions about Caesar and to believe that Caesar was a kind, loving, gentle, and smart Emperor.

Antony also forms strong alliances with powerful politicians who were favorable of Caesar.
His friendship with Octavian provides Antony a strong, viable military force. Which later defeats Brutus and his allies. Antony then delivers the throne to Octavian.

2008-11-19T19:24:00.000-08:00

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, is the most essential and difficult habit for me to master. I often pride myself on listening to people and their problems or ideas. But while reading 7 Habits I realized I did not do what was asked of me; I quickly interjected my own thoughts and advice instead of listening.

While reading the Five Poor Listening Styles (Spacing Out, Pretend Listening, Selective Listening, Word Listening, Self-Centered Listening) I realized that I am most guilty of spacing out and word listening. Often when someone is talking (usually teachers) I space out and don't hear what they say. When someone starts to tell me about their social life I automatically, without hesitation go into pretend listening.

My mom is almost constantly probing. I understand the "I'm your mom, I deserve to know about your life" hoopla crud. I agree; to a point. If she asks about a test that's fine or if she asks about my homework that's fine too. But when she starts re-asking the same questions (which I've learned it's always fun to give a different answer than the original) I get irritated pretty fast. She doesn't listen to my first answer and when she ask a different question it is either a varying form of a previous one.

Listen, or thy tongue will make thee deaf, is going to be my reply when she asks the same question as before; Hopefully by repeating that proverb, it will sink into my communication skills as well.

Egeo Ambulo Cosmicos

2008-11-12T21:10:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be quite frank in the post; I want to leave this country and travel the world. After, of course, I finish college with my M.D. in internal medicine, hopefully.

I plan on flying to Europe and when I land I will call home and tell my family I am safe, but after that I don't plan on having any contact with anyone in America. I want to sit on a bluff overlooking the River Tweed or go to to Ireland and traverse the rolling evergreen mounds. The mountains of Nepal, the western plains of Russia, the cityscape of London, the City of Blinding Lights, the shores of Spain: all of these call me.

Often I find myself arguing with this urge to walk wherever my feet take me. The urge is somewhat inexplicable. I will describe it to the best of my ability: It feels like my soul is trying to escape it's physical entrapment so it can fly and be rid of pain and worry and sorrow. I plan on embracing this urge one-day. This day will come when I can aid others with it. To afford new essentials while traveling the globe I plan to treat those in need. Not just people who can pay, they can go to their primary physician if they are sick, I mean treat the people who doctors won't see because they less fortunate. John Wesley said, “Do all the good you can,By all the means you can,In all the ways you can,In all the places you can,At all the times you can,To all the people you can,As long as ever you can”. I plan on traveling the world and living by this standard.

After I see the world first hand, I will return to America. But, the world is immense, so when I leave I won't be planning on returning very soon.

I Hope This Is What It's Suppose To Be!

2008-11-06T22:05:00.001-08:00

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey isn't usually my cup of tea. I normally don't like "self-help" books. I feel like it's my own life and if I know my own flaws let my deal with them. In other more precise words: Don't tell me what the heck to do. But, 7 HHET seems...to be different. The book, to me anyways, reads like saga, about myself. I can relate to many obstacles and rocks in the book. The most obvious obstacle for me to overcome would be procrastination.

Procrastination is tackled in Habit 3: Put First Things First. The procrastinator is someone who says ,"I'm going to stop procrastinating-sometime soon." This sentence hit home with me; I have repeated it to myself several times. To stop procrastinating the sentence must change to,"Enough, I'm done with it!". And after you commit yourself to this you must have the willpower to follow through.

Procrastination is like eating chocolate in excess. A little bit of procrastination is okay. An excessive amount of procrastination becomes a habit. A bad, and time-consuming habit which causes people to become "stress cases".

I have decided to get organized and to plan my homework and weekday activities out in a recently purchased planner. I have decided to end my addiction to procrastination.

Enough!

2008-09-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

I support Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. I believe Senator Obama's judgment has more depth and he has a more realistic view of the world. He realizes the severity of a person with an unpayable mortage's situation, since he only has one house, not seven.

Senator Obama, I believe, has the better temperment, attitude, perception, and more knowledge on foreign policy. Yes, I said knowledge on foreign policy. I could trash McCain and his so-called foreign policy experience but I won't, out of respect for his service to the country. Senator Obama would talk to our enemies, to try to understand them and their life. To undertand where they are coming from. I'm not talking about the radical Islamists. They are set in their unmovable ways. I'm talking about North Korea, Russia, Venezeula. The policy of isolationism- if - your - country - doesn't - have - oil of our current administration obviously doesn't win us a favorable position in the world. Obama can, and will change this.

The decision of Obama not to race to Washington to handle the economic crisis was wise. He knew, that the more voices in the room, the less amount of work that was going to be accomplished. Obama's views on taxes our more realistic and effective than Senator McCain's.

Senator Obama has been "dogged" by "six - pack Joe's" for supporting a withdrawal from Iraq without finishing the "job" (please define the job we are doing and when we will know when it's finished). He will send more troops into Afghanistan, where the more realistic threat is, and will work closely with Pakistan to gain control over it's northwestern tribal areas.

An Obama Administration would bring about change, as would a McCain Administration. Yet, we must ask ourselves: Which person do I believe, regardless of race, religion, and age, will affect this country in a positive way and give us a more favorable position in the world? My answer, Obama.

2008-09-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

The invading enemy has never known defeat. The enemy is foreign. The prince of the ruling family, Scarto must lead his army into war. He is the swiftest, strongest, deadliest, and most-skilled warrior since Achilles himself graced the world. The prince develops war into an art, which he quickly masters. He has the ability to read minds, and to embed fear in an unwilling heart. The powerful prince has such stealth he weaves in and out of the woods like a deer plodding a well-traveled path. Scarto is tall and thick. He is muscular, as wide as a door. A scar begins under his right eye and slopes downward across his cheek. Can he lead his people to victory?