I am very pleased to say that I did in fact receive a 4.0 3rd term! It was a long time coming, but finally my hard work payed off! I was very nervous as the weeks passed, and the end of term came closer and closer. Wonderful timing hit as our math teacher had an emergency and ended up going to the hospital for surgery. We had lost our amazing math teacher, and with that we had lost our ability to do math. Our math classes struggled tremendously as the subs had us copy the notes and said "Okay, there ya go! Figure it out!" Yeah right. There was no way on earth that was ever going to happen. A week passed and we dealt with the sub who thought she was funnier than all the funniest comedians put together. She would tell us joke after joke as I sat there saying to myself, "Lady, just give us the notes!" The even better part was when nine o' clock rolled around every night and I literally stared at my assignments for half an hour. I do have to admit that the week did have an up side when we got a new sub.
This sub was actually quite an inspiration to me if I must say. He walked into the room and off the bat told us that the last math class he had ever taken was in fact, Geometry. He had never gotten past geometry, and even had the pleasure of telling us "Math is pointless, you will never use it in life." At this point I was completely in love with this old man and almost had an instant connection with him! I did however find it very surprising that someone who had never taken more than geometry was subbing the math classes. I mean seriously, the kids in Algebra 2 Honors are already smarter than him. How can he teach them when they know more than him? The funniest thing about this sub was his common knowledge. He passed out our quizzes and said "Make sure you bring them back next time!" Us honest students couldn't cheat and informed him that we had to turn them in by the end of class. But as you can see, we had quite the adventure with the different subs who made math better than it already is. While the subs taught, we had two quizzes, and when our math teacher did arrive at the school, there was no messing around. We got straight to the chapter test, and soon after had a test on the terms 1-3. I was barely at an A, and the determining factor of whether I would receive a 4.0 was that test. I had to ace it in order to get a 4.0. So as you have probably already realized, I was very nervous with all the pressure, especially since our teacher had missed a whole chapter. Luckily I did my very best and ended up getting an A on the test which led to my first 4.0 of the year. I am very excited and hope that my grade will stay that way through 4th term as well!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.."
“A Tale of Two Cities” written by the great Charles Dickens, put a new light on the French Revolution. It is mainly based on two families, the Manettes, and the Defarges. Mr. Lorry (A banker at Tellson’s Bank) and Sidney Carton (A alcoholic Lawyer) are also two very important characters in this story. Early on in the book, Mr. Lorry reveals to Lucy Manette that her father has been alive for the past 18 years and is a survivor of the Bastille prison. They travel together to get Dr. Manette out of France, and later, Dr. Manette often thanks his young daughter Lucy for “Recalling him to Life” and saving him from his deathly misery. Many themes were addressed, and many points were given throughout the book, but the most important one of all was ‘revenge and greed always lead to tragedy’. In this book, Revenge completely consumes Madame Defarge. She is so set on her hate for the Evermonde family that she cannot focus on anything else. All she wants is to see people suffer, especially those who were responsible for her suffering.
When Mr. Lorry and Lucy Manette arrive at the Defarge’s Wine Shop to retrieve Dr. Manette, they find that a large cask of wine has been dropped, and broken. The red wine is running down the streets, and people suffering from all kinds of hunger are licking it off the pavement. Meanwhile, Madame Defarge is watching the people on the streets.
“The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street in the suburb of Saint Antoine, in Paris, where it was spilled. It had stained many hands, too, and many faces, and many naked feet, and many wooden shoes. The hands of the man who sawed the wood, left red marks on the billets; and the forehead of the woman who nursed her baby, was stained with the stain of the old rag she wound about her head again. Those who had been greedy with the staves of the cask, had acquired a tigerish smear about the mouth; and one tall joker so besmirched, his head more out of a long squalid bag of a night-cap than in it, scrawled upon a wall with his finger dipped in muddy wine-lees—BLOOD.”
-Book the First, Chapter 5-The Wine Shop (Page 33)
The French are starting to become greedy, and thirst for what is coming. Madame Defarge knows that the “Lady Guillotine” is on her way, and that she almost has what she’s always wanted. The people have become desperate in their hunger and have a special thirst for change in their lives. They want to be freed from the miserable state they are in, and will go to great lengths to receive happiness in their lives. With nothing around them, and nothing to live for, they only have Madame Defarge’s influence on them, which will lead them to believe that they can only find happiness through revenge, and the lives of others. This is the build-up to the French Revolution, and many people living in England do not understand how this revenge and hate is consuming the French. Like the joker, many of them are already acting like the Defarges and not only thirst for wine, but for blood.
Once you make the connection that the wine is like the blood of the French Revolution, the passage makes a lot more sense. Dickens sets the scene telling you where everything is taking place, and makes it very easy for you to picture the moment in your head. He also does a good job of showing how the French Revolution affected everyone. The blood ‘stained many hands, and many faces as well.’ Whether you were a revolutionist working the guillotine, the person dying from it, or even someone watching, you were affected by it. He also talks about the ‘tigerish smear’ on the faces of the people. This ‘tigerish’ look on their faces describes what the French look like later on in the book as they watch people die at the guillotine with that same ‘tigerish smear’.
The tone of the passage is very strong and has a very negative feel to it. Charles Dickens intended it to have a negative feel so the audience would be ready for all of the negativity that would come later on in the book. The theme is much like the passage, because it too, drips negativity. It helps prove the theme because the people in this passage have become greedy, and that in the end will lead to tragedy.
Even though there were many tragedies throughout the book, there were also many triumphs. Many of the people in the book had their character tested. Some failed to remain strong and live life with love and hope, but some, in fact, did remain with good character throughout it all. Some were even changed for the better because of the revolution. Mr. Carton, an alcoholic that had wasted his life, finds what being a good person really means by saving the life of Mr. Darnay, and giving him the chance to live the happy life Defarge was trying to take away. But even though there were triumphs, the tragedies usually won. The streets of France had in fact become covered in red, but not in red wine: the red blood of innocent people living their ordinary lives. After Darnay was taken to prison for the second time (when doing no harm to the French), not even Dr. Manette, who was very dear to the French, could save him. Their greed had even topped their love for a Bastille survivor, who they treasured dearly. No one could save him, because they had all been stained. It wasn’t just the blood that stained them, they were stained with greed in their hearts and with revenge that had started with Defarge and ended in the whole community.
“A Tale of Two Cities” helped me reflect on many things. It showed me that revenge gets you nowhere in life. You never want to let revenge consume you, because all it will do is hurt others, and end in tragedy (as demonstrated in the book). It also showed me how important your family is and how they can help you overcome your tragedies and trials. Many of the characters in the book wouldn’t have made it without their families to help them along. Lucy saves her father, Dr. Manette; Dr. Manette saves Lucy’s husband; Mr. Darnay, etc. The family’s love for each other is really what keeps them in tune with what is important in life. They want only to have a happy live, and wish that the French would realize what happiness really is. You can tell how a life without family has affected Mr. Carton, and many of the revolutionaries, which is one of the main reasons they are filled with grief and need “Lady Guillotine” to cheer them up. The fact that they take others’ lives to recover from grief is in itself showing their greed. They are selfish, and care for no one but themselves in their actions. So this is why ‘revenge and greed only lead to tragedy.’ Only those who cared for someone else more than themselves found true happiness, and joy. Like Mr. Carton said, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known.”
When Mr. Lorry and Lucy Manette arrive at the Defarge’s Wine Shop to retrieve Dr. Manette, they find that a large cask of wine has been dropped, and broken. The red wine is running down the streets, and people suffering from all kinds of hunger are licking it off the pavement. Meanwhile, Madame Defarge is watching the people on the streets.
“The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street in the suburb of Saint Antoine, in Paris, where it was spilled. It had stained many hands, too, and many faces, and many naked feet, and many wooden shoes. The hands of the man who sawed the wood, left red marks on the billets; and the forehead of the woman who nursed her baby, was stained with the stain of the old rag she wound about her head again. Those who had been greedy with the staves of the cask, had acquired a tigerish smear about the mouth; and one tall joker so besmirched, his head more out of a long squalid bag of a night-cap than in it, scrawled upon a wall with his finger dipped in muddy wine-lees—BLOOD.”
-Book the First, Chapter 5-The Wine Shop (Page 33)
The French are starting to become greedy, and thirst for what is coming. Madame Defarge knows that the “Lady Guillotine” is on her way, and that she almost has what she’s always wanted. The people have become desperate in their hunger and have a special thirst for change in their lives. They want to be freed from the miserable state they are in, and will go to great lengths to receive happiness in their lives. With nothing around them, and nothing to live for, they only have Madame Defarge’s influence on them, which will lead them to believe that they can only find happiness through revenge, and the lives of others. This is the build-up to the French Revolution, and many people living in England do not understand how this revenge and hate is consuming the French. Like the joker, many of them are already acting like the Defarges and not only thirst for wine, but for blood.
Once you make the connection that the wine is like the blood of the French Revolution, the passage makes a lot more sense. Dickens sets the scene telling you where everything is taking place, and makes it very easy for you to picture the moment in your head. He also does a good job of showing how the French Revolution affected everyone. The blood ‘stained many hands, and many faces as well.’ Whether you were a revolutionist working the guillotine, the person dying from it, or even someone watching, you were affected by it. He also talks about the ‘tigerish smear’ on the faces of the people. This ‘tigerish’ look on their faces describes what the French look like later on in the book as they watch people die at the guillotine with that same ‘tigerish smear’.
The tone of the passage is very strong and has a very negative feel to it. Charles Dickens intended it to have a negative feel so the audience would be ready for all of the negativity that would come later on in the book. The theme is much like the passage, because it too, drips negativity. It helps prove the theme because the people in this passage have become greedy, and that in the end will lead to tragedy.
Even though there were many tragedies throughout the book, there were also many triumphs. Many of the people in the book had their character tested. Some failed to remain strong and live life with love and hope, but some, in fact, did remain with good character throughout it all. Some were even changed for the better because of the revolution. Mr. Carton, an alcoholic that had wasted his life, finds what being a good person really means by saving the life of Mr. Darnay, and giving him the chance to live the happy life Defarge was trying to take away. But even though there were triumphs, the tragedies usually won. The streets of France had in fact become covered in red, but not in red wine: the red blood of innocent people living their ordinary lives. After Darnay was taken to prison for the second time (when doing no harm to the French), not even Dr. Manette, who was very dear to the French, could save him. Their greed had even topped their love for a Bastille survivor, who they treasured dearly. No one could save him, because they had all been stained. It wasn’t just the blood that stained them, they were stained with greed in their hearts and with revenge that had started with Defarge and ended in the whole community.
“A Tale of Two Cities” helped me reflect on many things. It showed me that revenge gets you nowhere in life. You never want to let revenge consume you, because all it will do is hurt others, and end in tragedy (as demonstrated in the book). It also showed me how important your family is and how they can help you overcome your tragedies and trials. Many of the characters in the book wouldn’t have made it without their families to help them along. Lucy saves her father, Dr. Manette; Dr. Manette saves Lucy’s husband; Mr. Darnay, etc. The family’s love for each other is really what keeps them in tune with what is important in life. They want only to have a happy live, and wish that the French would realize what happiness really is. You can tell how a life without family has affected Mr. Carton, and many of the revolutionaries, which is one of the main reasons they are filled with grief and need “Lady Guillotine” to cheer them up. The fact that they take others’ lives to recover from grief is in itself showing their greed. They are selfish, and care for no one but themselves in their actions. So this is why ‘revenge and greed only lead to tragedy.’ Only those who cared for someone else more than themselves found true happiness, and joy. Like Mr. Carton said, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known.”
Monday, March 14, 2011
The conflicts in Israel..
The real trouble began when the Jews started calling themselves “Israelis” after their homeland of Israel. The Arab population were known as “Palestinians” and ruled the area. The Jewish population was killed off or forced to leave by the Romans leaving the Arabic-speaking Muslims as the dominant ethnic group. In 1900, the population of Palestine was around 600,000 (94% Arabs). Many Arabs were willing to sell land to incoming Jews, but other Palestinian Arabs were worried about becoming the minority.
Zionism began in the late 1800’s, influencing the Jews to move to Palestine so they could reclaim their “homeland” of Israel. Throughout the years Jews moved to Palestine, and by the 1930’s the number of Jews living in Palestine had risen to a high point, alarming many Palestinian Arab leaders. British put down the revolt, but fighting never really ended between the Jews and Arabs. Both the Jews and Palestinians formed military forces for when the British would leave.
When the British did leave in 1948, the Jews declared the independence of Israel. Neighboring Arab nations (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq) invaded Israel trying to get them to leave, but they lost the war and the Palestinian diaspora began. Hundreds of thousands of Arabs fled Israel, and left for the neighboring Arab nations so they could live as refugees and wait for the day that would allow them to return to their homeland.
The Jews had taken most of the Palestinians land, but not all of it. A small crowded area around the city of Gaza and a part of old Palestine on the west bank of the Jordan River became the part of the “Gaza strip, and the West Bank.” After the war ended in 1949, Egypt took over Gaza Strip and Jordan controlled the West Bank. Through the 1950s and 1960s Palestinians raided the borders of Israel, which led to much violence and warfare around the Gaza and West Bank.
The Arab armies wanted more than anything to destroy Israel, so next came the 6-day-war. After six days of air, sea and hand-to-hand warfare, Israel defeated all three Arab armies, taking control of the Sinai Desert, Golan Heights, and West Bank. After their defeat they were ready to leave, but the General Moshe Dayan persuaded them to stay. He offered them education, medical treatment and employment in the West Bank, and Gaza. They went from being a frightened, defeated army to a dangerous enemy. Dayan later regretted opening up their land for settlement.
The Arabs continued, and still continue to fight for Palestine. With wars and attacks, the Israelis and Palestinians still struggle to find peace. Is violence really the answer to settling this conflict? Is there no other way? That’s what they believe, and they will fight until they get what they want.
Zionism began in the late 1800’s, influencing the Jews to move to Palestine so they could reclaim their “homeland” of Israel. Throughout the years Jews moved to Palestine, and by the 1930’s the number of Jews living in Palestine had risen to a high point, alarming many Palestinian Arab leaders. British put down the revolt, but fighting never really ended between the Jews and Arabs. Both the Jews and Palestinians formed military forces for when the British would leave.
When the British did leave in 1948, the Jews declared the independence of Israel. Neighboring Arab nations (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq) invaded Israel trying to get them to leave, but they lost the war and the Palestinian diaspora began. Hundreds of thousands of Arabs fled Israel, and left for the neighboring Arab nations so they could live as refugees and wait for the day that would allow them to return to their homeland.
The Jews had taken most of the Palestinians land, but not all of it. A small crowded area around the city of Gaza and a part of old Palestine on the west bank of the Jordan River became the part of the “Gaza strip, and the West Bank.” After the war ended in 1949, Egypt took over Gaza Strip and Jordan controlled the West Bank. Through the 1950s and 1960s Palestinians raided the borders of Israel, which led to much violence and warfare around the Gaza and West Bank.
The Arab armies wanted more than anything to destroy Israel, so next came the 6-day-war. After six days of air, sea and hand-to-hand warfare, Israel defeated all three Arab armies, taking control of the Sinai Desert, Golan Heights, and West Bank. After their defeat they were ready to leave, but the General Moshe Dayan persuaded them to stay. He offered them education, medical treatment and employment in the West Bank, and Gaza. They went from being a frightened, defeated army to a dangerous enemy. Dayan later regretted opening up their land for settlement.
The Arabs continued, and still continue to fight for Palestine. With wars and attacks, the Israelis and Palestinians still struggle to find peace. Is violence really the answer to settling this conflict? Is there no other way? That’s what they believe, and they will fight until they get what they want.
Some more Romeo and Juliet!
Romeo
It was foolish of me to spend so much time
Grieving over Rosaline when I had not yet loved.
Jumping over the Capulet’s walls,
I knew not what lied ahead,
But my life was forever changed with love at first sight.
I knew as I kissed her and bid her farewell,
That Juliet held my heart in her hand.
She stood on the balcony that starry night,
And I listened as she spoke of her love for me.
I could not contain myself,
So I told her of my love as well.
We both knew that true love appeared,
So in secret we married, and held our love dear.
What saddens me is that which comes next,
My sword going through Tybalt’s chest.
Then Juliet’s heart was broke,
And I stood in Mantua with no one to hold.
When I heard the news of my lover’s death,
With all my might to Verona I fled.
Lying next to Juliet,
I pulled the poison from my coat,
Knowing I could not live without her.
I ended my life right beside her.
Juliet
They’d always wanted me with Paris,
But that was not what fate had intended.
On that night came young Romeo,
Into my life forever more.
As we danced and he kissed my lips,
I thought my life was forever bliss.
I stood on my balcony on that night,
Expressing all my hearts desires.
But what I did not know at first,
Was that Romeo was in a bush.
He heard every word I said,
Which startled and quite frightened me.
We talked and told each other of our love,
And I knew, even if a Montague,
I’d marry my dear Romeo.
The next morning seemed to long,
Waiting for the nurse who brought along,
The news that I’d be his sweet bride
And we’d be wed within the hour.
I was a happy wife until I discovered,
Tybalt’s blood was shed by my secret lover.
When I was ordered to marry Paris,
I knew that I’d find another way.
So to Friar Lawrence I went for help,
His potion worked extremely well
And for a while I said farewell.
Even though my cheeks were rosy red,
Everyone along with Romeo believed I was dead.
When I woke and found him without breath,
I knew I could never live,
Without Romeo who much did give.
It was foolish of me to spend so much time
Grieving over Rosaline when I had not yet loved.
Jumping over the Capulet’s walls,
I knew not what lied ahead,
But my life was forever changed with love at first sight.
I knew as I kissed her and bid her farewell,
That Juliet held my heart in her hand.
She stood on the balcony that starry night,
And I listened as she spoke of her love for me.
I could not contain myself,
So I told her of my love as well.
We both knew that true love appeared,
So in secret we married, and held our love dear.
What saddens me is that which comes next,
My sword going through Tybalt’s chest.
Then Juliet’s heart was broke,
And I stood in Mantua with no one to hold.
When I heard the news of my lover’s death,
With all my might to Verona I fled.
Lying next to Juliet,
I pulled the poison from my coat,
Knowing I could not live without her.
I ended my life right beside her.
Juliet
They’d always wanted me with Paris,
But that was not what fate had intended.
On that night came young Romeo,
Into my life forever more.
As we danced and he kissed my lips,
I thought my life was forever bliss.
I stood on my balcony on that night,
Expressing all my hearts desires.
But what I did not know at first,
Was that Romeo was in a bush.
He heard every word I said,
Which startled and quite frightened me.
We talked and told each other of our love,
And I knew, even if a Montague,
I’d marry my dear Romeo.
The next morning seemed to long,
Waiting for the nurse who brought along,
The news that I’d be his sweet bride
And we’d be wed within the hour.
I was a happy wife until I discovered,
Tybalt’s blood was shed by my secret lover.
When I was ordered to marry Paris,
I knew that I’d find another way.
So to Friar Lawrence I went for help,
His potion worked extremely well
And for a while I said farewell.
Even though my cheeks were rosy red,
Everyone along with Romeo believed I was dead.
When I woke and found him without breath,
I knew I could never live,
Without Romeo who much did give.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Some traditions aren't the best.
Our school unfortunately has the tradition of loosing the championship girls basketball game every year. We've lost the final game for three years in a row now, and it was very sad to see the girls so let down. This season they were completely undefeated until the championship game, so it was a big disappointment to loose the most important game. This game wasn't all bad though, we had a "Spirit Bus" that brought a bunch of the students from our school to the game (Which was a Northridge High School) to give our team some extra support. They tried their hardest, and gave it their all, but in the end it just wasn't enough.
Last year I went to the championship game (as a cheerleader) hoping with all my heart that we would win. My reason for wanting to win last year was a lot different than my reason this year. Last year the cheerleaders and officers spent most of the year with fundraisers and assemblies for a team member who had cancer. Her name was Madey Slaughter, and she was an inspiration to all of the students at the school. She made the team before she knew about her cancer and couldn't play for the team at all. Even though she couldn't play, or even go to school, we still felt like she was part of our team and we were always thinking about her. Our girls basketball team fought hard to win for Madey, and we made it all the way to the finals. The games leading up to that were some of the best games I've ever gone to. We would paint our faces with her number (55) and cheer like we'd never cheered before. At a couple of the games we were surprised to see cameras with news reporters coming to film for stories they were doing on the news.
We worked hard to get to that last game, and we could feel the pressure rising as we walked into the doors of Davis High School. Right as the game was about to start we could see Madey being pushed in her wheelchair with her mask, ready to support her team. This made everyone want to win even more, and made the team even more nervous. They gave that game 110% and honestly did everything they could, but when that buzzer went off, we hadn't won. It was really devastating for everyone, but mostly the team because they felt like they had let Madey down. It was at this game that I learned a really important life-lesson. "The journey is more important than the destination" what really matters is your journey getting there. It doesn't matter if you win or loose, all that matters is your journey! We had sold hundreds of sweatbands, raised thousands of dollars, and become more united than ever before. I noticed that the students had become less selfish, and more selfless in their actions. Even though most of us didn't know her, we all came to love Madey for her courage and faith, knowing that everything would work out for the best.
Last year I went to the championship game (as a cheerleader) hoping with all my heart that we would win. My reason for wanting to win last year was a lot different than my reason this year. Last year the cheerleaders and officers spent most of the year with fundraisers and assemblies for a team member who had cancer. Her name was Madey Slaughter, and she was an inspiration to all of the students at the school. She made the team before she knew about her cancer and couldn't play for the team at all. Even though she couldn't play, or even go to school, we still felt like she was part of our team and we were always thinking about her. Our girls basketball team fought hard to win for Madey, and we made it all the way to the finals. The games leading up to that were some of the best games I've ever gone to. We would paint our faces with her number (55) and cheer like we'd never cheered before. At a couple of the games we were surprised to see cameras with news reporters coming to film for stories they were doing on the news.
We worked hard to get to that last game, and we could feel the pressure rising as we walked into the doors of Davis High School. Right as the game was about to start we could see Madey being pushed in her wheelchair with her mask, ready to support her team. This made everyone want to win even more, and made the team even more nervous. They gave that game 110% and honestly did everything they could, but when that buzzer went off, we hadn't won. It was really devastating for everyone, but mostly the team because they felt like they had let Madey down. It was at this game that I learned a really important life-lesson. "The journey is more important than the destination" what really matters is your journey getting there. It doesn't matter if you win or loose, all that matters is your journey! We had sold hundreds of sweatbands, raised thousands of dollars, and become more united than ever before. I noticed that the students had become less selfish, and more selfless in their actions. Even though most of us didn't know her, we all came to love Madey for her courage and faith, knowing that everything would work out for the best.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Shakespear!
In our 9th grade english class we are learning about Shakespear, but mostly Romeo and Juliet. I love the story of Romeo and Juliet, and have loved learning about it. The way that shakespear writes, and the dialouge he uses in between characters is amazing. Some people hate going to class and learning about this stuff, but I find it very interesting. I almost wish that we could just learn about it all year! I'm not sure why people don't enjoy learning about it, because if you pay attention to the story, it is the opposite of boring. The characters are obviously different than us, but in a lot of ways they are the same. They go through trials and hardships just like we do today, but the way they respond to them is the main difference. Most people living here today wouldn't kill themselves if they couldn't be with their "love" but Romeo and Juliet have so much compassion and love for each other that they would go to those extremes. The way they describe their love and pain really makes you understand how they are feeling, and gives you a glimpse of what it would've been like to live in that time era. I'm not sure what life would've been like if there were two houses, The Capulets, and The Montagues. Shakespear is a brilliant writer who captured the world with his stories, but most of all with Romeo and Juliet.
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