current event!

Summary: Scientists have found a new drug that may be able to treat Alzheimer's disease that will work in 3 different ways that fight off the formation of "plaques" in the brian, that are the characteristist of the Alzheimer's disease. They say it is called "gamma-secretase modulator" [GSM]. The drugs take over the making of long pieces of amyloid beta protein in the brain stop them from creating clumps, and increase production of shorter pieces that may make longer ones less likely to attach. These clumps are said to be the major contributor to the disease along with tangled bundles of fibers also known as neurofibrillary tangles.

Importance: This is importance because currently Alzheimer's is incurable and it affects a lot of people. My grandma had Alzheimer's so I am in the risk of getting it. It was really hard when she had it because sometimes she wouldn't know who she was and she would forget how to do things so in the end we had to put her in a nursing home because I had school, parents work. If this drug really works then that would change so many lives, I'd love to get that for my parents if they had to deal with that disease.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25100491/

book report!

Giles, Gail. What Happened to Cass McBride. New York. Little, Brown Young Readers: 2006.

Reason, Type and Setting: I just asked my mom to look for young adult and mystery books and that's what my mom picked out. So I decided to read this because the back sounded interesting. This movie is a mystery/fiction book that takes place in the 2000's, it seems like a timeless book though.

Plot: In the beginning it started from a guy in an interrogation room, throughout the book you learned about the events that led to the girl being kidnapped and buried under the greenhouse. You learn why the brother [Kyle Kirby] kidnapped her because of the suicide of her brother. You explore into the lives of the Kirby's and the McBrides. Cass talks to Kyle and in the end she uses her dad's tactics to find the opponents softspot, and exploits it until they both realize that Kyle's mom was really the one who drove him to suicide.


Character: Cass McBride is one of the main characters. She has brown hair, she's tan, she's lean. She's a popular pretty girl. She munipulates situations to how she wants them to happen. She knows how to munipulate people also because of her dad's nature.

Evaluation: I liked this book, it was really raw though and intense, like Lovely Bones the book I just read. This book was really interesting because you got to see the intentions behind the characters and you got to see how connected people were without knowing it. It also made me think about all the times that I said something mean or hurtful towards someone and made me really regret it because I would never want to push someone to suicide. I think the point of the book was be careful what you say, because you never know who will hear and how much it'll affect someone. I would recommend this book to anyone who liked a mystery. This book is based off of real life things because people deal I don't think this book is neccesary to read but I think it is neccesary to realize that words are harsh and you should also think before you say things.

Author, Context and Trivia: I don't really know anything about her, but I know she has written other books because my mom brought another one of her books home for me.


Reader Response; "I had been buried, buried....alive." "My breathing slowed down, not from calmness, but from hopelessness." These quotes were really like just realizations made by Cass McBride. They made me think about how I would react during those situations. It's amazing how she survived throughout and through all those days. And how she talks her way out of a situation. I chose this quote because it made me think a lot.

music project

History: Indie was first sparked after punk rock in the UK during the 1970's. They were bands supported by small independent labels; this is why they were classified as indie because they were on independent labels. They gained their popularity from the independent magazines; their music was popular among a small group of music lovers. Indie rock music was inspired by punk music, '60s pop music and counterculture, and occasionally electronic music and European pop. One of the first indie bands to become successful was The Smiths; their music influenced other Brit pop bands during that time. In the US indie was classified as music that branched off from alternative that was inspired by movements from 1970's and early 1980's. Also indie music was associated with abrasive, distortion-heavy sounds. Then in the 1990's in the UK indie music was connected to mainstream music as a result they got commercial success. During this time many indie bands were signed to major record companies or major independent companies were bought by major record companies. So during that time the label "indie" was applied to commercial guitar pop. During the same time in the US, the events were quite similar to the ones happening in the UK. Then in 2000 the indie music attracted many college students so bands like Silversun Pickups, The Kooks, etc offered to play shows for free to gain recognization. It may seem ridiculous to some people that the bands aren't signing with major labels but that shows that they aren't there for the money and they are just out to have fun, do what they love, and share that with the rest of the world.

Examples:

New Indie: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=107443193 MySpace Girl by Bubble Boy

Middle Indie: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=1244976 Don't Cry Out by Shiny Toy Guns

Older Indie: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=20745745 Familiar Ceiling by Phil Spector


Our Cover Song:http://www.jamglue.com/search?category=All+of+Jamglue&query=Kooks

Seaside by The Kooks: We chose to use Seaside because of its simplicity and beautiful sound and lyrics. The Kooks are a great example of one of the many indie bands to make it big in the 21st century. The Kooks made it big in 2004 after playing free concerts at colleges and universities. The song Seaside, we believe was inspired by the the lead singers home town, the Yorkshire seaside town of Saltburn.With all of us soon to be leaving for college I know I personally can relate to loving my home town and all the memories I have had hear.

current event!

Summary: Scientists have created a model that allows them to study injured brain tissue; They also have perfected a technique that keeps the brain of a fruit fly alive and healthy for a lengthy period of time. This is important because it allows them to inflict injury on certain nerve bundles and study what happens. They have all ready found the activation of a certain signaling pathway induces the regeneration of axons. This allows positive perceptives for the patients dealing with nerve injuries. The fruit fly model is 60% genetic similarity to humans. This model is helping us study memory and sense of smell; before we could only study the mouse. In the future the model will be used for learning about damaged nerve bundles; these will be applicants for further research with human and hopefully with help create new treatments for patients with nerve injury.

Importance: This is important because the problems with nerves that we thought weren't fixable may now be fixable. We may now be able to figure out other animals that we can compare our genetics too. I thought this article was amazing, I never knew how similar our genetics were compared to flies.


http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2008/06/03/microsurgery_on_the_brain_of_the_fruit_fly_leads_to_new_insights_into_irreparable_nerve_injuries.html

movie: my architect

I found this movie very interesting; it was crazy how he crossed out his home address. I wonder why he did that. Maybe he didn't feel like any address deserved to be on there because he was always traveling. This movie was hard to grasp for me because my dad has been with me for my whole life, but it kind of opened my eyes to wanting to learn more about my parents and take advantage of learning about them because I've known them for 17 years but I realized I don't really know that much about their history and what they have been through, I already made the mistake of that with my grandparents. I wonder why the ladies were okay with staying with him and having relations with him, did they think they could change him and get married to him. I wonder if he felt bad leading on the ladies, and for his children who never really got to meet him, and then he just left the world and they didn't get to really talk to him and understand how he is. I think this man didn't push any ethics onto his children but since he wasn't really involved and he was involved with different women so then they were subjected to ethics because they were tied to a ethical dilemma [being a single mom with a kid]. But I think by doing that he also broke out with doing what he wanted to do and not having to follow what society said was ethical and right.

I think that I get most of my ethics from my parents and family [grandparents] so I think not having him around gave them more of a chance to develop what they thing is wrong or right. Like I said in my journal I think your parents give you a foundation but I don't think you have to agree with it but I think a lot of the time the ethics they believe in sticks with you, at least it does with me.

current event!

Summary: They are germs everywhere even where you least expect them! The most interesting places from the article that I read were; lemon wedges, shopping carts, and beds. It said that they found that the lemon wedges had E. coli and fecal bacteria! (70% of the lemon wedges). The second unexpected thing was shopping carts; it was found that 2/3's of the shopping carts were contaminated with fecal bacteria. The article said that your bed is filled with dust mites and they thrive when you make your bed because that seals in the moisture they need to live.

Importance: I thought it was amazing thinking of the things you usually interact with and you don't even realize how digusting they are. I am glad I read this article, I never really thought to wash my hands after touching a cart but now I definitely am. Also I am not squeezing in the lemon in my drink anymore EW!! Also yesterday I used the made arguement with my parents. They told my sister and I that we don't do enough chores like making our beds and I told them that if I made my bed it would make the dust mites thrive, and it's true.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24511171/

what happened to ethics?

I think that ethics are important but I don't think that morals and ethics should be pushed on children but school is where the child is usually [spend all their time]. I think that your parents can teach you ethics because they're your guardians but that doesnt mean you have to follow them but that will give you a foundation.

non-profit website

Click to see our non-profit organization's (C.E.E.D.) website: http://hthi.hightechhigh.org/~atorrero/organization.html

response: Classrooms have become unnecessarily high tech

Response to: http://www.mercurynews.com/community/ci_9034769?nclick_check=1&forced=true

I do agree with some points you made, however not all of them. I do believe that more and more people are becoming addicted to technology and probably couldn’t spend a day without it. But the High Tech Schools are not making kids addicted to technology; there are plenty of days where we don’t use any technology. I believe it is very important for people to understand technology because it is key in having a job, sure you don’t need it for minimum paying job but you sure need it for a career. I also agree you don’t need to be teaching people how to use excel for a whole semester but that’s not what happens here at the High Tech Schools. For example we learned Excel in our Math class while we were learning exponential growth, so we were learning two different subjects that worked hand-in-hand. The High Tech schools aren’t just about technology; they are also about projects and hands-on learning. We read articles but we mostly learn from projects and lectures. This school is for students who learn more effectively through hands-on.

vocab words

1. interminable adj. - having no limits. I think when you're a child your mind is interminable, because you don't no limits. You imagine whatever you want, noone puts you down, it isn't competitive at your age, it's just about growing and expanding your mind. It would be amazing if everyone continued to feel interminable. I chose this picture because it shows a person and this picture is supposed to represent a mind.

2. laboriously adj. - requiring much work. Some jobs are more laborious compared to others, I think what it really comes down to though it whether or not you really like it. Because if you really like it most likely it won't feel like work. I chose this picture because it shows a guy at his job, it represents it because it looks laboriously.

3. tortuous adj. - full of twists, turns. When I go on roadtrips most likely we go through many tortuous roads. I hate that because I have motion sickness. I don't really like riding in cars because of this unless it's in a straight road except I still can't read or text even if the road isn't tortuous. I chose this picture doesn't it shows tortuous roads.

4. tranquility n. - quality or state of being tranquil; calmness; peacefulness. I saw a quote that really struck me on a coffee cup that said "peace isn't being in a place that's completely quiet, it's being peaceful in a crazy place." Or something like that. I thought that was totally true, like sometimes I'm in my room, when it's quiet but I still don't feel peaceful. I chose this picture because it shows how some people gain tranquility.

5. senescent adj. - growing old; aging. The house's walls are looking quite senescent. I chose this picture because the house looks really old, it's windows and walls look very senescent.

6. shroud n. - something that covers or conceals like a garment. "A shroud of fog." I chose this picture because it represents the word, I think that fog can sometimes act as a scarf wrapped around my face.

7. situation n. - condition; case; plight. I was in a horrible situation, my paper was due on Monday but I didn't do it that weekend because I got sick, then when I was supposed to do it on Tuesday night, I got a horrible headache, and now I need to do a historical research paper and a persuasive outline. My situation is really stressing.

8. reticence adj. - reluctant or restrained. This is a picture of a parade of Clairemont High. I chose this picture because Clairemont is a public school and I think public schools are very restricted in what they can do, they usually learn from just text books, I'm not really sure if they learn from any other things.

1. proximity n. - nearness in place, time, order, occurrence, or relation
2. shroud n. - something that covers or conceals like a garment
3. situation n. - condition; case; plight
4. synchronously adj. - occurring at the same time
5. intuit v. - To know intuitively.
   

book report!

Sebold, Alice. Lovely Bones. New York. Delacorte Press: 1995.

Reason, Type and Setting: I chose this book because it was in a list containing on of my favorite books Perks of Being a Wallflower. Also my sister really liked this book and we share some of the same interests so I decided to give it a try. It's a fiction book that is like a mystery/action. It takes place in Connection/Pennsylvania, and during the 70's

Plot: In the beginning it takes about a girl, how she was and then she gets killed by a man. The narrarator is Susie Salmon the little 14 year old girl that was raped and murdered by her neighbor Mr. Harvey. She is telling the story while she watches her family, friends, and her murderer. She looks throughout the lives of others and can find out what led them to how they act now. She watches as her family falls apart, her friends grow up, everything. Everyone talks to her somehow throughout the book. Her father has a instinct about Mr. Harvey but he's too quick and has an excuse for everything. Even when Lindsay [her little sister] sneaks into Mr. Harvey's house and steals some evidence and he has an excuse for that. In the end Susie realizes the "the event of her death was just a bone in the body that will become whole one day." "The price of what I came to see as this miraculous lifeless body had been my life."

Character: Susie Salmon. She had blonde hair that turned more to a brown color. She was lean and pale, with a face like her mom's. She's quiet and soft, she isn't powerful but no girls in that time were very strong. She loves her family and she is very understanding and open.

Evaluation: I liked this book, it was really intense, like it made me cry at some points. Like imagining me losing one of my family members or me watching them not being able to care for them or talk to them but helplessly watch. I thought it was amazing and it really made me think. I think the point of the book was to make you think and maybe come to some realizations. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes to think and exercise their minds. This book is definitly based on real life, these things happen but I'm not sure that's what happens after you die, I'm not sure but that made me think of the possibilities. I don't think this book is neccesary to read but I think it is neccesary to open your mind up to different possibilities.

Author, Context and Trivia: I don't really know anything about her I just know she lives in California with her husband, and I know that there is a movie being created.

Reader Response; Quote and comment: "These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connections — sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent — that happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it. The events my death wrought were merely the bones of a body that would become whole at some unpredictable time in the future. The price of what I came to see as this miraculous lifeless body had been my life." This quote was said by Susie Salmon. I chose it because it just made me open my eyes, like it was a interesting theory, like no matter what events happen.

non profit name/logo/mission

Site Name: C.E.E.D. (Community Environmental Education and Development)

Mission Statement: We are combating ecological destruction through prevented education about the families in great needed in Haiti.

current event!

Summary: They found that “kangaroo mother care” position as known as skin-to-skin contact from mother to baby has helped the premature babies reduced the pain from all the needles and shots given to the baby; compared the babies wrapped in blankets. The study showed the cuddled babies recovered in a minute and a half whereas the wrapped babies recovered for more than three minutes. They said “This delay could make a significant different to the health of a very preterm baby.

Importance: I just think this is so amazing how a little change really makes a huge impact. I think it’s amazing how just changing from a blanket to the mother’s skin makes the baby recover quickly; and how smart the baby recognizes the difference. I think this shows how much affection helps people get through things.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24281873/

vocab words!

1. Love is inevitable, you can't avoid love, it'll find you.

2. Sometimes people act clumsy or awkward around the person they love/like.
3. Love makes people do crazy things and sometimes act delirious.
4. When you love something or someone there's a certain aroma that reminds you of them.
5. When you fall in love your life feels consummated.
6. When you're in love you become infatuated with that person.
7. Looking and thinking about someone else seems futile when you're with someone you love.
8. When you're in love you're constantly in a state of ecstasy.


1. acquiesce - to assent tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent: to acquiesce halfheartedly in a business plan.

2. amorous - showing or expressing love

3. aroma - an odor arising from spices, plants, cooking, etc., esp. an agreeable odor; fragrance.

4. awkward - lacking skill or dexterity; clumsy

5. consummate - to bring to a state of perfection; fulfill

6. conversely - opposite or contrary in direction, action, sequence, etc.; turned around. [the converse of

7. deleterious - injurious to health: deleterious gases

8. delirium- a state of violent excitement or emotion; often characterized by confusion
disordered speech hallucinations.

9. ecstasy- a state of emotion so intense that one is carried beyond rational thought and self-control.
10. enamored-to inspire with love; capitivate ; marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness.

11. futile- useless; incapable of producing any result
12. incantation- Ritual recitation of verbal charms or spells to produce a magic effect.

13. inevitability- unable to be avoided.
14. infatuation- a foolish and usually extravagant passion or love or admiration.

book report!

Paretsky, Sara. Windy City Blues. New York. Delacorte Press: 1995.


Reason, Type and Setting: I chose this book because my mom selected it for me after finding out I liked mystery novels and this is one of her favorite mystery authors. This is a mystery/fiction book. This book takes place in Chicago, Illinois; it's takes place in present time.



Plot: This book is a collection of little stories, it's about a private investagator named Victoria Warshawski. The mysteries she solves very but each one are relaly interesting and it's neat seeing how smart she is and also during the book it seems you get to know her character. One story is about a guy that comes posing as her long lost cousin and she find out he's working with a lawyer that's tied into the mob to steal some very pricey musical piece she has. Another one is about a tennis player that apparently killed the dad but there are different twists and she realizes the mom kills her and almost gets kills. And there are a couple more stories, about a friend that had a gambling brother.


Character: Victoria Warshawski. She has dark brown hair and a defined face like her dad. She seems to dress comfortably and sensibly. She's loud and blunt, she doesn't sweet talk she gets to the point. She notices detail and is persistent those qualities make her the detective she is. She's nosy and keeps working even when she's exhausted. She's the main character.

Evaluation: I liked the book, but I would have wanted one long story instead of like 4 or 5 short stories. But I like dhow you expected someone but them it was actually someone else that was guilty. I think the point of the book was to entertain and keep people reading and wondering. I would recommend this book to people that like mysteries or to also check out her other books. The book is based on real life, so it contains real life situations if you're a detective or deal with crimes. I don't think this book is necessary to read I think it's just a book to read for fun. I've never been in the same situations as her, I think I'd be totally freaked out and scared.


Author, Context and Trivia: I don't really know anything about her I just know she lives in Chicago that's why my mom likes her also because my mom was born there. She's wrote 8 books and I plan to read more of them.


Reader Response
Quote and comment: "Yeah well you hired me. You didn't buy me" page 184. This was said by Victoria Warshawski to Brigitte LeBlanc. I chose this quote because I totally agree with her because sometimes people think just because they're doing something for you like paying for you or whatever that you should agree with everything they say and I completely disagree with that.

current event!

Summary: Using water or chlorine sanitizers may not be as effective as you think. In a study they found water wasn’t effective for getting rid of the levels of pathogens and chlorine sanitizers had a less than 90% reduction of E. coli. Studies have also found types of microbes can play “hide and seek” with sanitizers and hide in the leaves. They also found there microbes can come together and form a “bio-film.” This helps protect the bacteria, this is a perfect place for E. coli and salmonella to stay. Their solution to this is irradiation. What is does is “inactivates parasites and destroys pathogens and insects.

Importance: I think irradiation sounds like a good idea but I would have to research more on what it is and the cons to it. I wonder if fruits and vegetables are going to cost more if a vegetable goes through the process of irradiation versus just washing. This relates to biology because it’s talking about bacteria and it also is showing how the bacteria adapted to washing plants.


http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2008/04/11/dr_mom_was_right_and_wrong_about_washing_fruits_and_vegetables.html

current eventt!

Summary: Salmonella was found in puffed rice and puffed wheat, reported by "23 people in 14 states." 3 of these have been hospitalized. Thankfully none have died as a result. The symptoms of having salmonella are "nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

Importance: I think this is so scary how salmonella and disease are so easy to obtain. I just read an article about how washing with water or with chlorine sanitizers don't clean the veggies or fruits all the way! AHHHH.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24086035/

vocab worrds!

1. vertigo - a dizzying sensation of tilting within stable surroundings or of being in tilting or spinning surroundings. I chose this picture because it shows a guy feeling dizzy and sick. I have had feelings of vertigo before it sucks. I remember in 9th grade my good friend Anna had vertigo and she stayed home because she was throwing up.



2. forlorn - desolate or dreary; unhappy or miserable, as in feeling, condition, or appearance. I chose this picture because I have a sad look on my face, and it reminded me of the word forlorn. Usually I am a happy person but I do have my sad moments but I always have my family or friends to help me feel better :].


3. revere - to regard with respect tinged with awe; venerate. I chose this picture because it shows some of my friends. I have revere for them because each of them is so amazing and each has a special quality about them that I admire.




4. squander - to spend or use (money, time, etc.) extravagantly or wastefully/ scatter. I chose this picture because shoes are the main things I squander my money on. I have more than 30 pairs and I definitely don't wear all of them but I like most of them, some of them I just dont want to get rid of them because I spent a lot of money on them haha.



5. panache -a grand or flamboyant manner; verve; style; flair. I chose this picture because this is my friend Emily. She reminds me of the word panache because she was always so outgoing and she always and still dresses in the brightest colors.











6. punitive - serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment
7. slander - a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report
8. quell - to suppress; put an end to; extinguish
9. concision - concise quality; brevity; terseness
10. libel - the act or crime of publishing it.
11. defamation - the act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel; calumny
12. misdirection - a wrong or incorrect direction, guidance, or instruction

current event!

Summary: They have realized with research of course there is a connection between throat cancer and the intake of "refined carbohydrates and the rise in obesity rates." Esophageal adenocarcinoma is said to be associated with GERD. Which results in obesity and a high carb intake. They saw throughout the year this is more of a increase of refined carbs [white bread, pasta, etc.]

Importance: This shows how changing little things in your lifestyle can change things that could hugely impact your life. I'm glad I read this article because I want to stay healthy and if just a little change like that could help me stay that much healthier than I am definitely going to do that.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23940951/

what i hear.

I hear doors opening, people walking [stairs], door slam, distant talking from right and above me, I head Michael go "um no" I hear Nick Holt and Mike Flynn talking about baseball, doors opening, people laughing, shuffling of feet, opening of doors, talking above me, footsteps, Jill "Can you um, why don;t you come outside of the classroom." People loudly talking above me, doors opening and shutting, someone popping a bubble [gum], footsteps, shuffling, "good how are you?" "I'm okay" some hitting something making a clank noise, slow footsteps, someone clapping opening, slamming door, door being closed, opened, closed, opened closed, open, closed, opened, closed, opened, closed, opened, closed, opened, closed, footsteps, opened, closed, opened, closed, opened, closed, distant talking, printer, "whenever you're ready though, high-heels, opened, closed, keys jingling, high-heels, opened closed, gibberish, running.

what is art?

I think the difference between art and graffiti is the intention behind it. I think a lot of people don't consider graffiti art because of a negative connotation it had and because it's not like "typical art" and on canvases in museums.

vocab words!

1.imitate - to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example. When I was younger my sister used to imitate everything I did. She would listen to the same music and want the same clothing, she would get the same food as me everything! I always complained to my parents and they would always tell me that she was copying me because she wanted to be like me and to take it as a compliment. Now when people imitate me it doesn't bug me as much and I try to be a good example because I know my sister looks up to me as a role model.

2.mimic - to imitate or copy in action, speech, etc., often playfully or derisively. I remember the annoying game when someone would mimic you and they wouldn't stop, I hated that game! I chose this picture because I remember when Sophia would do that to me hahaha.




3. scuttlebutt - A cask on a ship used to hold the day's supply of drinking water. I chose this picture because it's of casks. I never heard of this word, it doesn't really make sense, I wonder what their reasoning for that word was.




4. bulwark - any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need, danger, or doubt. I didn't have time to find a picture of my parents so I just found a picture of cartoon parents. I chose a picture of parents because for me they are my bulwarks also my boyfriend Alex is too. I think everyone needs at least one bulwark in their life.




5. hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance. My neighbor was once my boyfriend but I ended it because I could not stand his hubristic attitude it was so annoying! I chose this picture because he is the perfect example of hubris.






6. dearth - scarcity and dearness of food; famine.
7. deference - respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.
8. emulate - to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass.
9. endemic - natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous: an endemic disease.
10. aborigine - one of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a country or region.
11. inchoate - not yet completed or fully developed; rudimentary.
12. precursor - a person or thing that precedes, as in a job, a method, etc.; predecessor.
13. volatile - evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor.

current event!

Summary: People are making sushi at home, but they don't know that not every fish can be eaten raw. A man served raw crab at his restaurant, this led to food poisoning. Overall they just want to inform the people and educate them on food safety.

Importance: I thought this article was important because many people eat sushi and some people do eat sushi at home. It's important we get educated so we can prevent getting food sickness.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23843666/

book report!

Rennison, Louise. Love is a Many Trousered Thing. New York. HarperCollins Publisher: 2007.


Reason, Type and Setting: I chose this book because I have read every single book in this series and this book just came out so I really wanted to read it. The series are really funny and it's about a teenagers live so it's easy to relate some parts. Explain why you selected this book. I'm not sure what type of book it is comedy/fiction? This novel takes place in Europe. It takes place in modern day life.



Plot: This story is about a teenager living in England. She used to be going on with this one guy named Robbie but then he left he and went to New Zealand, while he was there she meets an Italian guy named Masimo and starts liking him. Then Robbie comes back and she stuck with both of them at a gig and runs off. Throughout the book Georgia Nicolson [the teen] tries to figure out who she should pick, in the end she chooses Masimo but then at the very end makes out with Dave at a camping trip.



Character: Georgia Nicolson. I don't really remember what she looks like because the first book that described her, I read years ago. But she has brown hair, she thinks it's a boring color, she always wears lippy [lipstick], mascara and eyeliner. She seems to have a good sense of style. I think she has qualities of a typical teenager, she has attitude towards her parents, she's boy crazy, she's very talkative and sarcastic. She seems to seem very self involved, like she gets mad when her friend doesn't respond to her. She's the main character. She thought she figured out that Masimo was her one and only, but during the book she always mentions Dave so I thought it was a hint that she would realize she liked him or something would happen.


Evaluation: I liked the book, it was a cute book and very funny. The only thing that bugged me was when Georgia bashed Jas all the time I feel like Georgia doesn't really appreciate Jas, but I don't know Jas that much so I can't judge their relationship. I'm not sure it really had a point but it was about a girl trying to figure out her life and who she liked. I would recommend to people who like sarcastic humor and maybe to people who like Gossip Girl because it's kinda fun to read about other people's lifes and how people deal with situations. Well the book is based on real life, it contains real life situations, like friend problems, boy problems, parent problems, etc. I don't think that it's neccesary for people to read this book I think this is just a book you can read for fun. I have been in the same situation before, well kinda like that and it sucked, I got to know them both and I based my decision on my happiness. I wouldn't have made out with both of them and then decided, and then made out with someone else. I think she needs to just think and reflect and realize who makes her happier. Like it was obvious to me looking in on the outside that she likes Dave.




Author, Context and Trivia: She read all eight books in the series, Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. I know she lives in England, and I think she's 40+ years old. I liked all of the books in the series, I'm kinda sad though because this is the last book so I can't read anymore of this series, I think I'm going to try to find more books like this or see if she has written any other books.


Reader Response
Quote and comment: "Well, luuurve is a many trousered thing..." This quote was on page 248, it was said by Dave. I think this quote is true, I think that you can love many people, but I think when you've in love you can't share that. I chose this quote because I thought it was a significant quote.

current event!

Summary: We know that acupuncture relieves pain; even menstrual pain! In a study it showed that "acupuncture was beneficial for women if offered as part of the health insurance system." They found also it helps with dysmenorrhea. Of the women given the acupuncture 63.4% felt at least 33% improvement, compared to only 24% of the women in the control group.

Significance: Cramps hurt really bad sometimes, and they can prevent you from doing certain activities. As a girl I would like to be aware of all my options of relieving my menstrual pain.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23355673/

current event!

Summary: It’s normal for people to loss around one-hundred hairs a day, but there is a hair loss disease that rare but it’s hereditary called Hypotrichosis simplex. They identified a receptor that is connected to hair growth. This disease is very rare but it may be crucial in finding an understanding the “mechanisms of hair growth.” What it does it stops certain receptor structures on the exterior of hair follicle cells from properly shaping. They also discovered that when “messengers from outside bind to these receptors” they turn on a chain reaction in the cell’s core which is essential for the hair follicle to work properly. “The defective receptor structure falls into the category of what are known as G-protein-coupled receptors,” Professor Dr. Markus Nothen says. This is a good thing because they compatible places for the drug treatments. They also recognized an endogenous [arising from within] messenger that attaches itself to the hair follicle and then to the receptor.
Significance: This is important because now they can help treat hair loss and research more into how to help people who deal with Hypotrichosis simplex. I think it would be horrible if you lost your hair when you were just a child, you would have to go through so much and it would probably affect your psychological state. It might also lead us to being able to grow more hair if someone wanted long hair. So I think the effects of this study will provide help to the people who are losing their hair but it might also open a new business opportunity just for materialist wants.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2008/02/24/getting_to_the_roots_of_hair_loss.html

war documentary reflection

Documentary Name: The Civil War by Ken Burns [PBS]

Reflection: I thought this documentary was interesting, it was a little long but it had a ton of pictures. We are planning to do our documentary like this one. We want to have pictures being shown while one of us narrarates and then have some clips of the interviews we do. Also the movie was helpful because it showed history before the war so it showed us the events leading up to the war. The only thing I didn't like was how long it was.

vocab words!

1.insurrection - rebellion. This picture represents the word insurrection because it shows the teenager rebelling. Teenagers often rebel by doing crazy things with their hair like getting crazy hair cuts or hair colors. Another act of rebellion is when kids get parts of their bodies piercing. I think almost everyone if not everyone has rebelled against something before. What would the world be like if people didn't rebel and get their voices heard?

2. countermand - revoke or cancel. This picture represents countermand because people get their licenses revoked sometimes. Almost everytime someone gets punished there is some kind of countermanding. When I get in a lot of trouble I get my phone, computer, television, and hanging out with friends privledges countermanded. I don't think countermanded is always the right way to punish someone. Someiimes when my parents takes my privledges away I may continue to do the things they tell me not to.

3. fidelity - loyalty, faithfulness. I chose this picture because I think that marriage represents fidelity, but the ironic thing some married people divorce because of a lack of fidelity. I think fidelity is very important whether in a friendship or marriage or dating. It's important to be able to feel you can trust them around people, trust them to keep your secrets, etc. I think it's hard to find a relationship that has complete fidelity, and that is the biggest hardship for people, being able to completely trust someone.

4. steadfast - unwavering in position. I chose this picture because when I see a fist I connect it with being firm in their decision, like "putting down the rules." I think it's important to be steadfast with your decisions and not be vacillate. If you are because won't value your opinion as much as they would have before. But I think it's important to know and understand both sides before you make your decision and become steadfast about it.

5. complicit - choosing to be involved with an illegal activity. I think that a lot of people think that they are innocent and not involved with the crime, but they are. If they knew about the crime and they didn't act on it, they are being a part of a crime. I think a lot of people complicit, because they are scared they will get hurt if they stand up for theirselves or they think they won't get caught.

lucidity - easily understood; a lucid explanation
conciliatory - tending to win; a conciliatory manner
acumen - keen insight, quick
complicit - choosing to be involved with an illegal activity
emancipation - to be freed
bolster - a pillow

current event!

Artificial Sweeteners linked to weight

Summary: Researchers found out when testing on rats, when eating the yogurt with zero-calorie saccharin, they consumed more and gained more weight. The researchers said this is because
“salient orosensory stimulus,” what is does it predicts that someone is about to pit in a lot of calories. The Ingestive and digestive reflexes gear up for that intake but when false sweetness isn’t followed by a lot of calories, it gets confused. As a result people may eat more then they usually would.
Significance: This is important because it shows how our body works and also it shows how we’ve changed and modernized our food and it’s backfiring on us. We are so focused on our self image we’re doing so much things to try to make things convient for us in short term. Today people are all about short term and don’t focus on cons or what could happen to them in the long run.

http://www,biologynews.net/archives/2008/02/11/artificial_sweeteners_linked_to_weight_gain.html

1. renovate v. - to restore to good condition; repair. I chose this picture because his is fixing the desk and making it as good as new. I think you can renovate friendships by talking to the people and fixing the problems and then your friendship is as good as new.

2. disseminate v. - to scatter or spread widely, as though sowing seed; promulgate extensively; broadcast; disperse. I chose this picture because it shows a girl whispering in a guy's ear and gossiping to him. This represents disseminate because I think a lot of things are disseminated because of people live off of gossip and tell everyone everything and can't keep a secret.

3. resilience n. - the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity. I picked this picture because all of my friends are resilient. They have been through things but then in the end get through it and are fine. Also in this picture it says love and I think love helps you be resilient.

4. austere adj. - grave, strict, forbidding. I picked this picture because it shows a strict teacher. I don't think being strict is neccesarily a bad thing, when I was in ninth grade Ian Eggleson was my teacher, if he wasn't as austere as he was I don't think I would have been pushed my to best.

5. sanguine adj. - cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident. I think this picture represents the word because she looks so happy and she is very sanguine. A lot of my friends are very sanguine, I like that because it influences me and I become happy and more optimistic. I think it's important to surround yourself with happy and optimistic people.

6. Eloquence (n) - the practice or art of using language with fluency and aptness. [flow of eloquence]

7. Baleful (adj) - full of menacing or malign influences; miserable
8. Bigot (n) - a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.
9. Relapse (n) and (v) - to fall or slip back into a former state, practice; a return of a disease or illness after partial recovery from it
10. Repudiate (v) - to reject as having no authority or binding force

Song Project

Song: Such Great Heights
Written by: Bed Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello
When: Early 2002Song definition: a melody and lyrics connecting and creating a song.
Genre: Indie Electronica Rock
Created because: He wanted to write a positive love song and they wanted to do a new kind of thing with cool beats and neat lyrics.
Meaning: I think this song is him talking about how perfect this girl is for him there are hardships that he has to go through to stay with her but since she’s so perfect for him he will go through them and wait for her, Also I think this song during the hook it’s saying that when he’s with her he forgets about anything bad, but people are telling him he can’t hide and ignore the problems all the time. Some people think that it’s about his love that’s a musician and she picked her career over him and he’s using this song as a way for her to remember and know he’s waiting and missing her.
Stanzas: 5
Structure: It has a hook: They will see us waving from such great heights, "come down now", they'll saybut everything looks perfect from far away"come down now", but we'll stay...
Secondary Context: Many people have done a cover of this song, Ben Folds, Jenny Lewis, Teddy Geiger, Matt Nathanson, and Iron & WinePeople and Society: This song tells us about love and this love seems pure because he is waiting for her and hasn’t forgotten about her. It also is a song that people can relate to.

current event!

Study: Folic acid reduces premature births

Summary: It has been found that women that take folic acid a least a year before their pregnancy cut their chances of very early pre-term births by 70%. The pre-term babies are subsuptable to things like cebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease, and blindness. Also it has been found it they took folic acid they cut down their chance of premature births by 50%. Folic Acid assists the body in making new cells, this is important because they need to get enough to prevent birth defects named neural tube defects. Folic Acid is found in leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried beans, peas, and nuts. Also enriched breas, cereals, and other grain products have it. You can also take it as a supplement, multivitamins are an example.

Importance: 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely in the U.S. Some of these babies don't survive or they die off because they are so weak. This change be hard for the mother and father. This article is important because it informs us about a way to prevent pre-mature births. I thought this article was very interesting, when I plan or if I plan to have a baby I will follow these instructions.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22927827

current event!

Stroke treatment vacuums clots from brain



The article was about a new treatment for strokes, it's called Penumbra, and what it does is sucks up the clot bit by bit to restore blood flow, the downfall to this device though it when the clot is being broken and the blood rushes into the oxygen deprived brain tissue, sometimes it can trigger swelling or a brain hemorrhage, both can kill you. A lot of strokes occur when blood vessels leading to the brain get blocked off and then that result into brain cells starving and dying. Currently they have a drug called TPA but it is only effective within three hours of receiving the stroke symptoms

This is important because they discovered a new way to treat strokes and this could save many lives. Also now that they have identified a way to treat strokes they can perfect it more and explore and build on this idea and find more ways to treat strokes that suit other cases.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22883894/

vocab worrds!

1. erratic - adj. deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion; eccentric; queer: erratic behavior. This picture represents the word erratic because the lady looks crazy looking. She looks a clown and definitely not a person you would see walking around outside. I think when people are nervous their behavior can become erratic.

2. escalate - v. to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.: to escalate a war; a time when prices escalate. This picture represents the word escalate because its showing a man going up. Another way of using the word escalating would be the problem escalated more than it needed to. I think a lot of things in people's lives are escalated more than they need to be, things get drawn out.







3. euphoria - n. a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states as mania. This picture represents euphoria because they look so happy. When people are in love when they're with people they love I believe they reach a state of euphoria because those people make them so happy. When I am around my best friends and my bf I feel euphoric because they make me so happy.






4. eulogy - n. a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, esp. a set oration in honor of a deceased person; high praise or commendation. This picture represents eulogy because he is giving a speech. Usually when people give eulogy whether it's in a movie or in person I usually cry out of sadness or happiness. When my cousin's read their speeches during my cousin Laura's wedding I cried because they were so cute.

5. eradicate - v. to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate: to eradicate smallpox throughout the world; pull up by the roots. This picture represents the word eradicate because she is eradicating the weed, she's removing it completely.

6) equivocate (verb) - to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge: When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated.


7) erode (verb) - to eat into or away; destroy by slow consumption or disintegration: Battery acid had eroded the engine. Inflation erodes the value of our money.

8) esoteric (adjective) - understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions; private; secret; confidential.

9) espouse (verb) - to make one's own; adopt or embrace, as a cause; to marry.

10) euthanasia [mercy killing] - the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, esp. a painful, disease or condition.

11) epitome - a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class: He is the epitome of goodness.

political project!

John McCain: Republican candidate for President

The candidate I am profiling is John McCain He is representing the Republican Party. McCain has had many experiences dealing with politics In 1982 when Congressman John Jacob Rhodes retired, John McCain was elected to the U.S. Congress, and he served Arizona's then-first district. March 19, 1985, John McCain declares he is going to run for the U.S. Senate four years after his first Congressional victory. January 6, 1987, he is sworn into office as a member of the U.S. Senate. On November 3, 1992, McCain is re-elected to the United States Senate. June 7, 1997, he assumed chairmanship of the Senate Commerce Committee. In November 2, 1998, John McCain is re-elected to the United States Senate. During 2000, he runs for the President of the United States but it is unsuccessful. But a result of that he rallying millions of supporters during his campaign aboard the Straight Talk Express. On November 4, 2004, John McCain is re-elected to his fourth term in the United States Senate with over 77 per cent of the vote.

These are John McCain’s views on certain important issues going on in the world.

These are his views on the Iraq War. He supported the War in Iraq but in 2004 he was tired of Donald Rumsfeld taking care of the condition. He said "I think the American people should know the extent of the enemy we are facing." He believes that we need to change something in the defense secretary; he doesn’t care how the republicans think of him he’s still going to push on.

These are his views on Immigration. He made an act with Senator Ted Kennedy called The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, this will let the millions of illegal immigrants to apply for citizenship in the U.S. He also wants to make an additional guest worker program with the choice to have lasting permanent immigration. He disagreed with Proposition 200 [the purpose of this was to stop non-citizens from voting or trying to obtain public benefits]. He was against this because he felt that it was would too expensive and it wouldn't work.- He also said it was important to keep immigrants because the "low-skilled immigrant labor" is needed because no one else would want to do it.

These are his views on national security. He believes we need a strong military, it has to be the best equipped and supported one. We need to expand technoloical edge and he supports the development of missles.

These are his views on education. He believes that if there isn't equal access than there can't be equal opportunity. He also believes that communication with the parents in necessary in success. He also thinks that the schools should compete for the "most effective, character-building teachers" and then we should hire them and give them rewards for their good work.

These are his views on health care. He is against universal health care, In U.K. they have universal health care and a lot of the doctors are going into private practice to get more money as a result people are waiting in lines to get care because they're aren't many public doctors left. His idea to help people afford is giving tax credits of up to $5,000 for families. His overall goal is to improve the competition in health care and as a result have the cost lower. It the end he would let citizens buy heath care nationwide instead of buying it from the companies in their state. He said "In health care, we believe in enhancing the freedom of individuals to receive necessary and desired care. We do not believe in coercion and the use of state power to mandate care, coverage or costs."

These are his views on the economy. He says the tax money will be used sensibly and carefully on actual national importances, it will definitely not be used on "wasteful pet projects and special interest earmarks." He believes this can happen if we end Pork Barrel [it’s a political metaphor used in government and it the governments spending for things that are meant to mostly help certain constituents [representatives] or campaign contributors. He wants to show American’s to see how their money is being spent.

These are his views on taxes. John McCain thinks that if we keep taxes low will be key to stop the tax problem. He knows that tax cuts work best when with lower spending. He also wants to cut the taxes for middle class families and make it harder to higher the taxes. McCain also believes that by investing in this it will begin a change to expense of equipment and technology will also drive to economic growth. Furthermore by keeping the taxes low, it will let the government to increase the economy status.
This is his view on Global Warming. McCain supports the idea of restricting greenhouse gas emissions because he believes that they are causing global warming.
This is his view on nuclear weapons. He doesn't have a major view on nuclear weapons but he did vote yes on getting rid of nuclear weapons.

Biographical Summary
John McCain was born on August 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Area; He was raised on naval base. His family has a history of people being in the military. He spent 22 years in the navy before he decided to become a congressman [Republican].He has a sister and younger brother. He graduated from Episcopal High School located in Alexandria, Virginia. After he went to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. At that school he took classes on electrical engineering. After graduating he trained to be a naval aviator. One time he almost got killed when he was on an aircraft called Forrestal, thankfully he got out and was fine.

Another time during the Vietnam War on October 26, 1967 the same thing happened except this time he wasn’t so lucky, McCain had to eject from the plane. His arms were both broken, he had a shattered knee, and a broken shoulder. He then he landed in a lake where a Vietnamese man took him out, then a crowd beat him, stabbed him with a bayonet, and took him into custody. Officials found out and because of his father’s high status [admiral] he was offered early release from the prison but he refused because he wanted to follow the American POW code of conduct it says “that prisoners should only accept release in the order in which they were captured”. He was a P.O.W. in the Vietnam War for five and a half years until he was released on March 17, 1973.
During the time in prison he was alone; but he doesn’t want to me recognized for that he wants to be known for what he is accomplishing and doing now.

McCain voted in opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment for women and for using extra money for the Clean Air Act. He became identified as the main fight against pork barrel; he even employed someone to make sure there were no suspicious events happening. Officially on September 27, 1999, he began complaining as a Republican candidate for presidency. He is a strong enforcer on ending steroids or other drugs used to improve the MLB players; as a result there is now a stricter guiding principle. He supported the War in Iraq but in 2004 he was tired of Donald Rumsfeld taking care of the condition. He said "I think the American people should know the extent of the enemy we are facing." He believes that we need to change something in the defense secretary; he doesn’t care how the republicans think of him he’s still going to push on. He announced his candidacy again on April 25th, 2007

why we fight movie reflection

I really liked this movie, it really opened it eyes to what was happening. I made me realize I need to question things and not just accept things, not just pertaining to government issues but everything. There were many quotes that convinced me not to just accept things. The first one was talking about how we bombed Japan, everyone thought it was necessary and if we didn't a million Americans would have died, it turns out that the Japanese had been trying to surrender but Eisenhower didn't let them because he wanted to show off and scare Stalin. I find this so shocking and horrible that everyone was convinced bombing the Japanese was necessary but it wasn't it was just used to show we had a lot of power and to scare people into being our allies or not messing with us. Another quote that showed me just agreeing and not questioning things is a big deal was "We fight because too many people aren’t standing up and saying I don’t’ agree with this I don’t want to do this." I totally agree with that quote people just think oh we're fighting for freedom the government wants us to do this of course there can't be anything wrong with it. Being naive and not questioning isn't the way to go, you need to challenge peoples ideas and have your own ideas and thoughts about things. Also another quote that caught my attention was when they were talking about the Iraq War. The man said "The first day of the war we didn't receive any soliders we just received civilians." Another man said "The yard of the hospital was filled with corpses, and 90% of the people killed were civilians." This quote amazes me, what are we doing in Iraq that is causes us to kill so many random innocent people. Why should they have to pay when they didn't do anything? Another quote I really like was "They want to spread democracy on the points of their bayonets."I really liked this quote because it's sarcastic and sad but it's true. We are trying to spread democracy and "help people but we're doing it by force they don't have any say in what we're doing. Lastly after I heard Eisenhowers speech warning us about how allowing the "military-industrial complex" to accumulate too much power wouldn't be good; I realized that he warned us and we had an opportunity to fix that or change the path we were heading to and we didn't and now we are in a bad state.


Notes:

What we’re fighting for – freedom

Why do we fight – for ideals, idk, oil, greed, power: we don’t have a broad based

reason [idea] why we’re fighting in Iraq

We help other places, “we defeat the enemies of freedom”

The gov. didn’t want the q asked why did they hate us

Moment – entire world behind America

Now billions spend, kids dying

Animosity is stronger towards America more than before

We use freedom as an excuse

Would have changed without the trade center, the war in Iraq has nothing to do with the trade center

Presumption – preemption : which

March 19^th 2003 - ordered a missile to hit southern Baghdad

“We are going to dominate the world with military use.”

“We are on the side of decency, demo., and decency.”

We were the only alive nation after WWII, Japanese gone, Europe “bleeding to death”

They had been convinced if Japan didn’t get bombed 1 million of people would get killed

Japanese tried to surrender Eisenhower didn’t because he wanted to show off and scare Stalin

We had to fight comm. We stayed mili. Forever we are the arsenal of demo. We were in every corner of the earth and remain dominant

New bomb – like new candy in the candy store

They want to spread democracy – on the points of their bay-o-nets

We need to take over even more than the height of the cold war

We spend the most on defense than anything else using the federal budget

Worried goals are set on things that benefits corporations

Product comp. “if there was only one car you wouldn’t want another cuz there’d be no other options

Halliburtion – research more

1.2 billion spent on advertising the army

They’re not like human beings they’re like objects [people you’re killing]

The people in the military have always been lied too, the public and the media have been manipulated

Militaristic

We brought them up teaching them how to abuse rights

Economic colonist

We go in an have free market, free trade

We want our companies to get rich in your country

What we have in a mini-thing of totailitarism

If you join mili now you’re helping policy makers win

The first day of the war we didn’t receive any soldiers we just received civilians

The yard of the of the hospital was filled with corpses

90% of cilivizians killed in the war

The gov. exploited my patriotism

The reason

Never the liberation of Iraqis

We didn’t have an exit strategy building 14 permanent structures

We rub in their faces “you will work with us cuz you sure as hell don’t want to work against us.”

It won’t go back because we are not the same people we were before

Standing gov. will destroy our structure and our government

2002 – give this power this a single man [right the war, when declare], 6 months later he did

New ethic – lets roll.

Capitalism is winning

1961 – Eisenhower warning

Mili = be a team leader

War of Iraq she removed herself because she didn’t agree

We fight because too many people aren’t standing up and saying I don’t’ agree with this I don’t want to do this

book report!

Book Report / Novel Summary

Albom, Mitch. The Five People You Meet In Heaven. Nashville, TN. Broadway Music Corp.: 2003.

Reason, Type and Setting: I selected this book because I heard the name before and I decided to check it out and read it. This book is a logical book, makes you think. Ruby Pier. Around the 2000's.

Plot: This old man named Eddie is walking around when he meets a little girl and made her a trinket, later we sees that same girl under a ride that had broke. He quickly rushes over and gets under the ride to save her but he dies. Eddie ends up in a place that is empty and quiet. The first person Eddie meets a blue colored man up there. He finds out that just a little thing affected the people around him. He finds this out because when he was younger he threw a baseball and it landed into the street; he ran out to get it and almost got hit by a car [in that car was the blue colored man]. After almost hitting Eddie the blue man become really worried and anxious as a result he hit a truck and died from a heart attack. The second place Eddie finds himself is in the jungle, this was from when Eddie was in the war. He there he mets up with his old captain. After talking to the captain he learned what happened during the war. The captain shot Eddie's leg but he was only doing this to prevent Eddie from unknowingly walk into a fire. When the captain went to check if the route they were going to use to get Eddie to some medical attention he blew up from a mine. From this meeting Eddie realized that when we sacrifice we gain something too. For example with Eddie he's now crippled and has a limp, but he is still alive and wasn't killed in the fire. Next Eddie finds himself in snowy mountains, he sees his father at a restaurant but he doesn't go over to his father because they had never had a good relationship. He meets a woman that teaches him about forgiveness after he forgives his dad and no longer experiences anger and bitterness towards him. The forth person he meets in heaven is his wife. There he is taught another lesson that love lasts forever even when people die it's still there. The last person he meets is a little girl from where we was in the war. She teaches him everyone has a point in life and everyone's lives a intertwined somehow or another.

Character: Eddie. Describe your character’s physical appearance. What qualities does he or she possess? What roles does you character play in the plot? Why did you select this character? What interest you about the character? How did the plot change the character in the end?

Evaluation: Yes I really liked the novel, it made me thinks of my actions in a different way. It made me think about all the actions I have made in my life and how they affected other people and I also made me realize I need to be more careful in what I do. The main point was that everyone has a point in life and everyone's lives a intertwined somehow or another. I would recommend this book to others because I think it really makes you think and reevaluate the actions that you make and how you act towards others.

It is about real life. I brings up many important issues, like how forgiveness is essential, how when you sacrifice something you always gain something, and more. I really like how optimistic this book and how it really made you think. I think it would be a good book to read because like I said it makes you think and reevaluate the actions that you make and how you act towards others.

Put yourself in the plot. Yes I would act like him at first I'd be confused and deny killing the Blue Man like him and then after I would just feel so complete and satisfied. I really liked how the book ended so I wouldn't change it at all.

Author, Context and Trivia: For One More Day and Tuesdays with Morrie. I don't really know anything about him I went on his website right now and he says his inspiration comes from people he knows. I don't think I've ever read a book like this that I can remember at least. Yes, I would like to read more of his books because this one was really interesting and I really enjoyed it.

Reader Response

Quote and comment: “No story sits by itself. Sometimes stories meet at corners and sometimes they cover one another completely, like stones beneath a river.”page 10, said by the narrator. Select an important quote from the text you are reading. I chose this quote because I though it sounded cool and it was what I thought the overlying theme in the book was, how people's lives are all connected. It's important because it's telling us the theme, it's what the whole book revolves around.