Essay for english (2nd sem.)

I’m Not Being “held back”

An alarming rate of boys are dropping out of high school. The numbers increase steadily every year. Why is this happening? Is it the schools fault or the students? Some will lead you to believe that schools these days are too focused on females and are holding boys back. That is not true. The current school system’s way of teaching does not “hold boys back,” but it does not help them improve either.

Are boys being held back by the school system? The answer is no. In Bauerlein’s and Stotsky’s “Why Johnny Won’t Read” it reads , “Publishers seem  to be more interested in avoiding ‘masculine’ perspectives or ‘stereo types’ than in getting boys to like what they are assigned to read (93).” Yes, I will admit that some of the materials male students are assigned might not be considered “cool,” but that does not change the fact that it needs to be done. Just because a piece a literature a student is assigned to read might appeal more to females than males should not “hold back” a male student. Yes, it is boring. Yes, it is a book for chicks. Oh well. Read the story, do the work, and get it over with. Do not just sit there and fail because the story is not written for your specific gender. Furthermore, in Ann Hullbert’s “Boy Problems” she writes, “Men in the Army or prison and more job options for males (in construction and manufacturing) that don’t require a college education but pay relatively well (97).” From about when I was 10 ‘till now I have heard countless times that when I grow up I will need to get a job and support my family. Now, I am pretty sure that a lot of other males have been taught this same thing. No matter what happens, a man is suppose to be able to provide for his family, So, if said man finds that there is a better opportunity to do that by working now instead of finishing school then I can understand why the drop-out rate is so high. Why deal with the stress of school and work if finishing school will not affect how much you make at that job? Now, I am not saying students should drop-out and find a job. I am just saying that it is understandable why the drop-out rates for males are so high since ,from birth for some, males have had the need to be able to provide forced into their skulls.

As I said earlier, some people, probably the males who dropped out, blame the failures on the school saying that the school is holding them back, and that the school is helping further the female students education. In David Brook’s “Mind Over Matter” he writes, “Others say the educational system has been overly feminized. Boys are asked to sit quietly for hours at a stretch under conditions where they find it harder to strive (94).” This is an understandable argument. How is one supposed to succeed when the conditions hinder said success? Well, I have a counter to that question. How do the conditions affect boys more than girls? Research done by the Children Trends Database, in October of 2012, shows that more boys choose to drop out than girls do. Honestly, I believe people who blame the school, entirely, for their failures are just plain lazy. Girls have to sit through the same classes and lectures and do the same work and homework as us boys do. Do they just drop out? Do they say it is unfair or that the school system is against them? No! They sit down, do their work, and get things done.

So, apparently the school system has been “feminized” and is causing the males nationwide to fall behind. A despairing predicament if you ask me. There is only one question to ask. How do we fix it? Well, if the system is more towards females then the obvious solutions would be to focus on boys right? WRONG! In Brook’s “Mind Over Matter” it states, “We conclude that the issue is far less driven by a nation’s culture than it is by basic difference between males and females in the modern world (94).” The school needs to find a common ground. It does not need to focus towards one gender, but on both. I am not saying it is going to happen over night or anything like that. It will take time and a lot of trial and error. Also, in Bill McBride’s “Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching to Gender Differences” he claims, “If we don’t begin to alter our methodologies and materials for young men, the drop-out rates will continue to rise.” This is very true. If one gender is being focused on, then the other will just loose the want to improve and fall behind. If we had a more “competitive” school system, an example would be the way the Japanese schools rank their students, then I believe males and females would be more interested in doing better in school.

Is the current school system holding the male population back by unfairly feminizing the school curriculum? Are males just being lazy and need to start working harder if they truly want an education? Do males have too much expectations put on their shoulders to worry about school? I do not know. It is up to each individual male to determine that. All I am saying is, I am a male and I am doing just fine in school despite the “female centered” school curriculum. So, I will end this with a question. Do YOU, the reader, think that the school system that is applied in today’s society is oppressing the male population and giving an unfair advantage to the females, or do males just need to realize that their education is very important and start doubling, maybe even tripling their efforts when it comes to school work and just get the job done?

Book Review 4: Twelfth Grade Kills

Do you believe in the supernatural? How about vampires? What if one vampire, a special vampire, could rule all of man and vamp kind? Heather Brewer's Twelfth Grade Bleeds took hold and didnt realese its grip until the highly anticipated end.

Heather Brewer is one of my fav. authors. She has written many good books. What makes this one better than the rest? Three things in particular stand out to me. They the characters, the ability to hold my interest this long into the series, and having a satisfying end to said series.

We'll start things up with the characters. Now, the typical vamp book a person will read will have the vamps with all these superpowers and no where near human. Don't get me wrong, this book is pretty much just like that except that the author did a good job at making these certain vamps seem human enough to make them relatable to. Also, the other characters in this book are very good support characters that really help this story flow.

Next up, the books ability to keep my interest in the series so far into it. Many books that are series have lost my interest because after the second, sometimes first, they seem to just loose steam in manner of speaking. The first two are like BOOM, then the rest are just like meh. Except this one. This book is like a punch to the face from the beggining to the end.

And to finish it up, I shall talk about the amazing ending to an equally amazing series. How many times has a series, books, tv, or game, had an amazing run just to disappoint at the end? An unfortunate amount. This book, however, does not. It has a fitting ending to the story that does not leave the reader with an empty feeling like the story just ended with no real ending or that the ending was rushed. This one was well thought out and developed at just the right speed to leave the reader happy and content.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It is a very good book and worth the time to read.

Book Review 3: Airman (2nd sem.)

Take a moment to ponder on how it would feel to fly? Now take yourself back about the late 1800's-early 1900's and imagin how it would be to fly then. Eoin Colfer's Airman took hold and sent me soaring through this amazing story.

What makes a good book? While I am no author myself, I am a very avid reader and there are certain things that makes books "pop out" or "grab my interest." While there are a good bit of things to choose from I have to choose three. Those are: characters, genre of the book, and setting. These three aspects helped this book be even better and one of the best, in my opinion, that Mr. Colfer has written.

First up will be the one that has the least impact on the book: the genre. Before i start, yes, i understand that most people do pick or avoid certain books is because of the genre, i believe that the other two affected the book more. This book being in this certain genre caught my attention because usually when i think of Eoin Colfer, i think of fairies, magic, and little irish boy trying to steal gold, the Artims Fowl books for those who have no idea of what i am talking about, but this book is actually very realistic and non-fantastical. It is nice to read something different from the "norm" every now and then.

Next will be the aspect of this book that affected a great deal, but did not have the greatest impact per se, the setting. This book is located on a fictional island off the coast of Ireland. While the time frame of this book seams to be mideval, it is actual around the time where flying machines were first being built. So, this book has castles and airplanes. AWESOME! The setting, being the way it is, is very unique and inthralling adding to this books magnatism.

We will end this with the most impactful piece of this great book, the characters. This book has variety of characters. There is the young boy with a bright future, the srong-willed dad, the ecentric mento, the evil, treacherous villian, and the henchman to said villian. All of these characters have a realness about them that makes the reader believe that they are real and helps the book come to life. The characters in this book are exceptional. That's good because, i strongly believe this, if a book dose not have good characters, the book will fail. Hard.

While this is not the best book i have read, it's pretty close though, i would still have to recommend it to anyone and everyone. It has action, adventure, suspensce, comedy, and even a little romance. So, if you see this book, pick it up. It won't disappoint.

Book Review 2: Second Chance (2nd sem)

Have you ever wondered if there are vampires? Have you ever asked yourself what it would be like to be one? How about, what it would be like to hunt one? Heather Brewer's The Hunter's Chronicles: Second Chance pulled me in with its likable characters and chilling story and didn't let me go 'till it was over.

There are many things I like about this book. A few examples would be the characters, the writing style, and the author. While these are just a few things I like about this book, these are the ones that really made this book spectacular in my opinion. First up, the author.

The author, Heather Brewer, is among the top of my favorite authors. I like her writing style and the worlds she creates. Books like the Vladimir Todd series, the Slayer Chronicles series, the series this book is apart of, and the Legacy of Tril series are the books that make Mrs. Brewer one of my favorite authors. I would recommend her books to anyone and everyone.

Next, the writing style I mentioned before. Heather Brewer has a phenomenal writing style. She has enough story development to make it interesting, but spaces it out enough to where the story is actually fun to read. It draws you in and keeps you interested and entertained until the very end. I give the w.s. an 8/10.

Finally, and what I consider the most important out of the three, the characters. The main group of characters in this book some of the best characters in any book I have read. They are relatable  while being fantastical enough to be wowed by them. Also, They give off this family vibe that just draws the reader in more. Like I said, this is the most important aspect of this book because even with an amazing story, fantastic writing style, and a respectable background, if the characters suck then the book is gonna bomb. More than a few books have lost my interest because I just did not like the characters.

Everything considered, this book would have to be in my top 10 favorite books. I would definatly recommend this book to any vamp lover or fantasy reader as well as anyone who enjoys a good story. This is definatly a book one dose NOT want to pass on.

C.C. 4: Gender Roles (2nd sem.)

In James Leather's article Today's Gender Roles he describes his views on the gender roles of today's society. I am writing this to explain two things. 1) What exactly has changed. 2) Do we have to change as well.
In today's society it is not normal to see a woman being the main income for her family or to see said female own a company. The employment percentage of employed married women rose from 25% in 1950 to 67% in 1998. Recent studies show that it is even higher now. Also, in 1947 only 12% of women went to college after high school. Now in 2011 it is up to 72% and in 2006 it was shown that 58% of students enrolled in college were of the female population.
Now, a person could go around asking different people what their viewpoints on this was and that person would get mixed results. Some would say they liked the change, some would say that it needs to go back to women staying home and men working, or some, this guy included, might not care either way. So, do people have to change with the changing of the roles? The answer is........wait for it.......NO!!!
It is up to you, the reader. A person is free to make their own decision on this subject. A person can choose to be open minded and let a woman do what she wants or be a man who rules his wife with an iron fist. Either way, it's up to you reader.  So, which is it going to be? Open minded or tyranny?

C.C. 3: Gender Roles (2nd sem. gender roles)

In Suzanne Venker's article "To be Happy, We Must Admit Women and Men Aren't 'Equal'" she informs readers of two things. 1) How the gender rolls of society were and 2) how they are now.  I'm pretty sure that the people reading this, if there is any, have there own opinion on this matter but I geuss I'll never know. So, on to the story.

When people think of a women's role in society, let's say, 20 years back, it was more than likely a little something like this. Women were to find a good man, marry him, have kids, cook and clean. Now, yes, some women still do that and it is a very honorable role and, as my mother has told me countless time, not a very easy one.

Now days you find some women are the ones out working and the men at home. You see more women with jobs and even thier own businesses. Why? Here's the reason. Females in today's culture are told to be strong and independent and don't submit to the will of men. Now, I don't see the problem for both the man and a woman to have a job and a family if they are happy, but, as Suzanne later goes on to say, this way of thinking can cause trouble and eventually lead to "a battle about whom does more on the home front and how they’re going to get everything done. That’s not a marriage. That’s war." At least according to Suzanne that is.

Honestly, I don't care which way it goes. Being an engadged man myself, I do not believe a woman's place is "in the kitchen" as some would say. If she chooses to be there, fine. That's good for her if she wants to do that. On the other hand, if my fiancee wants to go get a job and work, I'm not gonna stop her because it really does not matter. I think if both people work, that's more money and, hopefully, better lives. That's my opinion on the matter. If you, the reader, wanna state yours then that's what the comment section is for. Feel free to write 'till your hearts content.

Book Review 1: The Reckoning (2nd Semester)

                 In a world where there are superhumans and a cult that is quickly gaining population, there is a war coming. One that might not have many survivors. Michael Carroll's Quantum Prophecy: The Reckoning captivated me with its in depth story, mind boggling plot twists, and likable characters.
                 Three things that really made this book stand out for me was the setting, the characters, and the writing style of this book. These elements of the book really helped tie it all together and made this book better than the rest of the series, the Quantum Prophecy series. Now I will further describe why said elements have such an impact on the story.
                   First up is the setting. This book takes you to many different places in varying parts of the world.The reader goes from a secret military base somewhere in the U.S. to Lieberstan, then to Satu Mare. These helps because with the military base, Sakkara, it shows the imprisonment of the new superheros while the harsh landscape and the blistering heat of Lieberstan shows the inhumane working conditions of the prisoners there. These in depth settings help the reader really get into the story.
                   Next are the characters. There are a multitude of characters to pick from. A super fast teenager who found out his dad is actually an impostor and he killed his actual dad, a girl who has been frozen for the past 10 years or a super strong, energy controlling 15 year old on the run. Well I decided to pick a character  that, in my opinion, is more relatable than any of the others. That character would be Paragon, the human with the desire to save the world. His lack of powers is more than made up for with his will to do right and his unyielding need for justice. True he does die in this book, but the way he dies is even heroic. It's him and another family. Both captured. Only one can live and it's not even in there hands. It's in the hands of said 15 year old superhero mentioned earlier. What does Paragon do? Does he beg for his life? Does he beg Colin to pick him to live and condemn the family? No. He tells him to do the right thing and let the family live. A truly heroic move if you ask me.
                     Lastly is the writing style. The style is something readers see a lot of in very successful books. Sorta makes you wonder why he picked it. There is a perfect blend of comedy, suspense, mystery, and character development that is the final thread in this amazing story. He lets the readers get to know the characters. The readers get inside the head of them and gets to know what they are thinking. Also, if the situation is getting very serious, he brings in some humor to lighten the mood without making it obvious what he's doing, but there is enough seriousness that the book can be taken as a good action packed book.
                       I would recomened this book to anyone. Especially the readers out there who love action books and books with superpowers. I rate this book a 4/5.

C.C. 2: NFL Injuries (2nd Sem.)

In Matthew Jussim's aticle "Baltimore Ravens Injury Update: Terrell Suggs Plans To Play Through Torn Biceps, Ray Lewis May Return From Torn Triceps Soon" it tells about the injuries of a few members of the Baltimore Ravens. I am going to explain two things. 1) Why the return of Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs' is so remarkable and 2) what impact it had on the team.

Ray Lewis in the game against the Dallas Cowboys tore his triceps. This was feared to be a season-ening injury. Terrell Suggs partially tore his Achilles tendon during the offseason. This, also, was feared to be a season-ending injury. However, both went through special treatment and would not take no for an answer and came back in time to make it to the Super Bowl.

What makes Lewis' return even more spectacular is that this is his last season and he is basicly the leader of the Ravens team. His return gave them the motivation they needed to make it. Ray has won defensive player of the year twice. Also, if the Ravens win, it will be his second championship ring, and he will be considered one of the BEST defensive players of all time.

Ray Lewis is an insperation to his team and also to others. Ever since his retirement has been anounced he has been followed around documenting his every move and motivational and emotion packed speeches. His insperational return proves that people can come back from serious injuries and still be good.

All I got to say is that I can't wait to see how he plays at the Super Bowl. GO RAVENS!!!!

C.C. 1: 2011-2012 AFC Championship (2nd sem.)

This is about what the results of the AFC championship game on CBS on Jan 21st, 2013 mean. It was the New England Patriots vs the Baltimore Ravens. If you are a football fan then you know what time it is. That's right. Super Bowl time. This is huge to the football comunity. My purpose for writing this post is to explain two things. 1) What teams made it to this momentus occasion and 2) Why these two teams making it is more spectacular than any other match up.

The two teams that have made it to the biggest event in the football nation, the 47th Super Bowl, are the San Fransisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, the team I am cheering for. The 49ers are 11-4-1. That means they have eleven wins, four loses, and 1 tie. The Ravens, the team that is going to win, are 10-6-0. That means the Ravens have ten wins, six loses, and no ties. Oh, and by the way, the coaches of these two fine teams are brothers.

That's right, the coaches are brothers. Jim Harbough is the coach of the 49ers, and the coach of the Ravens is John Harbough. Now if you have cought on to the way you pronounce their last name you realise why this Super Bowl is being called the "HarBowl" or the "SuperBough." While the coaches insist that the focus should remain on the players and not on the fact that the opposing coaches are brothers, people are still, and will continue to make a big deal about said relations.

As I said earlier, this is a huge occasion to the football community, but it is also a big time for the retail industry. You can see it in any Wal-Mart you go into. They are preparing for the rush of eager fans buying what will be the works of a great Super Bowl party. Also, this will most definatly increase sales in NFL merchandise over the next few weeks, maybe even months.

For now all there is to do is to plan a get together of friends and family and wait for the big game. Both teams have fought their way to this moment and both will give everything they got to win the honor of being the Super Bowl XLVII (47) champions. It will no doubt be an amazing game. So, I leave you with this, GO RAVENS!!!

Book Review

                      Have you ever had to save the world? How about staring the incarnation of chaos itself in the face and fight it? The characters in my book had to, unfortunatly for them. Rick Riordan's The Serpant's Shadow captured me with its face paced, action packed story.
                    The author's style in writing this book made me really love it and hard to put down. He gave you just enough to make you geuss what was going to happen, then he would throw in a twist that changed things up. Also, he had a lot of comic relief in there to lighten the mood, which i am a huge fan of.
                     The multiple settings in this book really helped the progression of the story. In one place the characters are in a swamp environment being hunted by a goddess and in the next they are in the deserts of Egypt facing down, litteraly, chaos itself.
                    The characters in this book were relatable to, so that made this book even better. The main characters, Carter and Saddie, are just kids thrown into a new world. Instead of them just being fearless leaders that are never daughnted, they act like kids. Yes, they pull through and overcome their challanges, but they also show their doubts and fears and they rely on the help of others to get through. These helped me get into the book more because I could see myself doing the same thing in there situation, minus the magic of course.
             I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of fantasy books, the Percy Jackson series, or anyone who is into Egyption mythology. I give it a 9/10

Essay for English (Macbeth)

                      "Ambition is like a choler; which is an humor that maketh men active, earnest, full of alacrity, and stirring, if it be not stopped. But if it be stopped, and cannot have its way, it becometh adust, and thereby malign and venomous." Ambition is a dangerous thing, but no always a bad thing. Ones ambition can affect others by improving their lives.
                      An overview of Macbeth, written by William Shakespear, tells how Macbeth is told he will become king, so he kills Duncan, the king, and Macbeth becomes king. Due to this, Malcolm, Duncan's son, flees to England to gather an army to battle Macbeth. Macbeth becomes paranoid and has Banquo himself and Macduff's family killed. Malcolm returns with his army, which Macduff is apart of, and advaces on Macbeth. Macduff kills Macbeth and Malcolm becomes King Malcolm.
                      Ambition is malignant. In Act III, Scene VII Lady Macbeth's ambition for her husband would not allow Macbeth to wait things out and made Macbeth take charge. Lady Macbeth's ambition was malignant, ifectious, and it spread to Macbeth. If it were not for Lady Macbeth, this situation might not have gotten so out of hand. Macbeth's ambitious act in Act II, killing Duncan, cause Malcolm in Act III, Scene VI to flee to England in an attempt to rally an army to fight Macbeth. Macbeth's ambitious act of killing Duncan is ruining the life of Malcolm while helping Malcolm ascend to the throne quicker. This atrosiuos act also caused the ruin of the life of Donalbane, Duncan's other son, by making him flee his home and country. Furthermore in Act IV, Scene III Macbeth decides to have Lady Macduff and her son assassinated. Yet again, Macbeth's infectious ambition destroyed anothers life, Macduff. While it did devestate Macduff's life, it also gave Macduff the reason to fight Macbeth with all he had. Ones ambition does not stay with them. It spreads like the wealth of a kingdom through its country, or like the venom of a wicked vipor through an unfortunate victim.
                        People handle life's obsticles differently. In Act V, Scene I it shows that Lady Macbeth has gone crazy. Due to the death of Duncan and the guilt from participating in said act, Lady Macbeth has gone insane. However, Macbeth, after his initial shock, handles it quite well and does not go coo-coo. Additionally, in Act II, Scene II Macbeth looses his composure after killing Duncan. Faced with this situation, Macbeth looses it and can not handle what he just did. Unlike Lady Macbeth who, faced with the same situation, took charge, due to Macbeth being "inferm of purpose," by cleaning up after Macbeth. In addition to this, in Act I, Scene I Macbeth is told he will be king. Hearing this Macbeth thinks on it and decides to wait and see how things unfold. In contrast, Lady Macbeth decides it is best to take the bull by the horns and make it happen. Two people can be presented the same exact situation and decide to take two totally different paths.
                        Ones ambitious act can affect multiple people in multiple ways. In Act II and Act IV Macbeth kills Duncan, Malcolm's father, and Lady Macduff, Macduff's wife. Malcolm goes to England to get an army to fight Macbeth while Macduff only joins Malcolms army instead of getting his own force to battle Macbeth. These two are faced with the same situation, Macbeth killing their family, and they react in two different ways. Also, in Act III Fleance's dad, Banquo, is killed due to Macbeth's paranoia. When presented the same situation as Fleance, the death of ones father, Donalbane went and gathered an army to fight Macbeth while Fleance ran away. Another person, Macduff, was presented this same problem and decided to stay and fight Macbeth. In Act I, Scene I the witches tell Macbeth he will become king, and Banquo is told his sons will be king but not Banquo. Hearing this, Macbeth goes and plans to kill Duncan to gain the throne. In contrast, Banquo hears this and dismisses it as crazy talk. One ambitious act has more affect than just the initial one. It spreads and affects others.
                        The diverse reactions of said ambitious actions can cause yet another ambitious act that is just as, or more so, life altering. In Act I, Scene I the witches say the Banquo's kids, not Macbeths, will be king and in Act IV, Scene I the witches tell Macbeth to "beware Macduff." Due to the witches telling Macbeth this, when Macbeth becomes king he orders the death of Banquo and his son, Fleance. Also, due to the witches warning, Macbeth has Lady Macduff and her son killed. Also in Act IV, Scene I the witches tell Macbeth the no woman born man could harm him. This gave Macbeth confidence and made him fight Macduff, who was not woman born, without fear. This brough about Macbeth's destruction. In Act I, Scene VII Lady Macbeth's ambitious act made her ambition spread to, or infect, Macbeth.. Lady Macbeth's ambition could not allow Macbeth to sit back instead of taking charge. Her ambition spread to Macbeth making him act ambitiously. Ones ambitious act can affect others, making them act equally or even more ambitious.
                        In conclusion, these themes impacted the overall drama by creating ambitious characters that would spread their ambitious nature to other characters making them ambitious also. Therefore, we need to learn a lesson from this. That lesson is we need to be careful of our ambitions and keep them in check while stopping the ambitions of others that do go on a rampage.

C.C. 5

In a recent episode of Ink Master, a tattoo competition air on Spike Tv, the contestants did a Star Wars themed tattoo that was supposed to show the skill of contrast. I am gonna tell you 1) who won and who lost and 2) why those people won and lost

The winner of this challenge was Tatu Baby with her Yoda head tattoo on the back and the loser, and consiquently the one who got sent home, was Kay Kutta with his Imperial Gaurd tattoo, also a back tattoo.

Now on both of these there are other people could've arguably won or lost is this one. In my opinion i think that Tatu Baby did deserve this win. The loser, however, I think should have been Mark Mathews with his Imperial Soldier head with a cog in the background. His tattoo could have had contrast easily put in and one of the contestants even suggested an idea that would have worked, but he decided to put black with purple. Not a great choice contrast wise if you ask me.

Tatu Baby won with her Yoda head, dubbed the "little green guy," because she used her colors to create great contrast and made the lines on the head really "pop," which is a good thing for a contrast challeng. Kay lost because the Guard was all red with a flat, dark background that, by no means, impressed the judges and he had been in the bottom of the group basicly since day one, so it was his time to go, at least that's what the judges thought.

I admit that the tattoo wasn't spectacular, but the worst one? I dont think so. As i said eariler, Kay's looked way better, in my humble opinion, than Mark's did. Plus Kay showed WAY more improvement in his tattoos than Mark did. Kay needed to work on his outlines, he improved them. Mark came in week after giving unfortunate "canvasis," as the people getting tattooed are refered to as in the show, dark, mediocer tattoos.

I could go on and on about why this person should have won or lost but there is a morale to get out of this story. Life isn't fair. You could be the absolute best at what you do. Second to none, and still have someone picked over you just because (insert excuse here.) At the end of the day you just got to take what you got and roll with it. If you don't like it, by all means, do whatever you can to change it to a more likable situation.

C.C. 4

In a post on the cite aljazeera.com entitle Congo's M23 Rebels Threaten to Take Goma, the post tells its readers a few things. Two of those things are 1) Why they rebelion took place and 2) how this is effecting the other countries.

In the article it is said that the rebels are "dissatisfied by recent events in Goma." They later go on to say when they see civilians, no matter their affilitions, beign mistreated and the government, is not stopping it, then they, the M23, will step in for the good of the civilians.

If this is what's actually going on and the M23 is doing this for the public's safety then i can understand why they are doing this. If i had the power to help a ciry from being mistreated i would do it without a second thought. If they are doing this for power though, then they are just like every other power hungry group out there.

It also says that the neighboring country, Rwanda, might be offering support to these rebels. This has caused 30 million dollars in support money to be susppended from Great Britain to Rwanda. Also the fighting between the rebels and the Congolian army has apparently caused harm to the Rwanda people and one person has died from this.

I think that this is a horrible thing but the post later goes on to say that it might, in fact, be Rwanda firing into its own city and claiming thats it's "fallout" of the fighting. If this is true than that is a far worse thing to happen. A government killing its own people for its advancement.

Unfortunatly this sort of thing happens throughout the world. The civilians struggles going unnoticed by its government. Sometimes even caused by their government. As i said earlier, if the M23 are doing this to help the people, then i support them 100%. If they are doing this for their own personal gain however, i hope they get shut down and taken care of so the people are no longer futher troubled by the greed of this group.

C.C. 3

In a recent post by Eric Pfieffer on Yahoo! News entitled "The Most Indebted Man In The World Owes Former Employer Billions" it tells how this man got in debt and how much exactly he owes.


The article says that the former employee, Jerome Kerviel, used "a sophisticated scheme of computer hacking and deceptive trades" to handle approxitmatly 73 billion in unadjusted dollors while working for the Societe Generale corporation. That was a pretty gutsy move that, unfortunatly for him, didn't turn out so good for Jerome.



The article also state that the amount he owes is 6.8 billion dollors. That much money, if they were assests, would make him one of the 50 richest people in america. I wonder what was going through his head when he decided to do this. Yea it's a lot of money but he will NEVER be able to pay this off in his lifetime


I'm pretty sure a person could look in a newspaper at any given time a see a story like this, maybe not on this scale but still. I understand that it's a lot of money, but is it really worth throwing you're life away?


I geuss the question we all have to ask ourselfs is, What would you do in that situation? Would you do your job, or would you steal the money?

C.E. 2

In a recent post on the cite UPI.com entitled "German High School Bans Homework," it tells what reform this school made, and why they deemed this necessary.

The school this post is talking about is the Elsa-Brandstrom high school in North Rhine-Westphalia. They have decided to rid the student of homework, one of the most dreded things ever. They did this "to help students unwind." I like the idea of no homework, but I, as much as it pains me to say this, don't see this change coming to my school any time soon. Also, another reform had to happen that made this possible that I am not ok with.

This change is that they did away with a year of high school and elongated the school day and year. I absolutly hate this idea. If this never happend at my school that would be to soon. I understand that means homework will never be done away with, but, hey, a man can dream can't he?

While researching this article I came across a school in the US that also has done away wtih homework. They instead asign reading to be done. So, maybe the daughnting task of homework will soon be a thing of the past.

While almost any student will tell you that homework is stupid and should go away, those same student would say the same about the idea of extending the school days. So, i think change is just a distant thought that the students of this generation will not have to worry about.

Current Event

        In a recent article by Peter S. Goodman, Business Editor of the Huffington Post, entitled "Chicago Teachers Strike A Push-Back To Education Reform," Goodman informs his readers of what the reforms were and why the teachers do not like them.

         Rahm Emanuel, the person who made this drastic reforms to the chicago educational system, "revoked a 4 percent raise that had been promised to teachers under their existing union contract." Emanuel thinks that test scores should depend on the raises the teachers get. Emanuel also stated that students get "the shaft" since the teachers just get the raises instead of earning them through the students test scores.

         The teachers, as anyone in there situation, didn't react to kindly to these new changes. They say that this isnt fair because they "are effectively getting stuck with accountability for complex social problems that extend far beyond their control." They go on to say that "no one in Chicago runs the risk of losing their job for failing to supply enough low-income housing. No one must satisfy a numbers-based standard for increased employment in impoverished communities. No one is on the hook to ensure that students show up well-fed and well-rested. All of these issues roll down to teachers, they say, directly influencing conditions in their classrooms. Yet they alone find themselves having to answer for the sole measured result: achievement on test scores."

       While reading this article I couldn't help but side with the teachers. No matter how good they are at teaching, some students will do bad on tests no matter what. The teachers shouldn't loose thier hard earned money because of it. Especially if it was already promised to them in a contract. These changes are unfair to the teachers that work hard to give there students the education they deserve and cutting their pay is not a good way to show appreciation for that hard work.

           I completly side with the teachers, something I thought i would never do, on this topic. The reforms should be changed back to the way they were. I would be irate if my pay, pay that was already promised to me, was cut due to circumstances beyond my control. I have said all i have to say about this topic, but i leave you with a question. If you were in these teachers shoes would you fight for your pay or would you just sit back and take it?

Literary Bucket List

1 Battle Royale - Koushun Takami: This book is a must read for any fan of the Hunger Game series. I liked the series and i heard this book was a lot like it so i figured i would check into it. From what i heard a class of kids are kidnapped by the government and forced to kill each other until only one is left standing.

2 The Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater: I want to read this book because the author wrote the Shiver series and i liked that series a lot, so i figured why not give this one a shot. It is about a "death race" so to speak. I read the back of the book and the inside cover and it caught my interest right away. I am looking forward to reading this book.

3 The Gray Wolf Throne - Cinda Chima: This is the third book in its series, the Seven Reamls series. I have read the first and second and I enjoyed them enough to want to read this one. This is also a fantasy book, which is my favorite genre, so that fact also picked my interest.

4 Calico Joe - John Grisham: I wanna read this one because my english teacher Mrs. Gillmore promoed this book in class and it is by John Grisham. I have read a few books by this author and i liked them so i decided to give this one a try.

5 Supernaturales - Eon Colfer: Eon Colfer is one of my favorite authors. The Artimas Fowl series is also one of my favorite series. Since this book is by him, I automaticly came to the decision that this book was worth my time and i want to read it ASAP!

6 The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor: I love everything about Alice In Wonderland. The books. cartoons, and the movie. When i heard there was a new book coming out that put a spin on the story i new i wanted to read it. A few of my friends have read it and they said it was good.

7 Seeing Redd - Frank Beddor: This is the second book in the Looking Glass War series. While I haven't read the first one YET, I still want to read this and the other book in the series, Arch Enemy. I know this book will be an amazing one and i can't wait to read it.

8 Arch Enemy - Frank Beddor: The third installment in the Looking Glass War trilogy.I want to read this one because I love everything dealing with Alice In Wonderland. I have ever since I first saw the cartoon when I was a little kid. So, I'm guessing there is a very good chance this book will be amazing.

9 The Serpent's Shadow - Rick Riordan: My brother, Austin, was reading this book and I sort of skimed it and it seems very interesting. I have read the other books in this series and I liked them
so I figured I would give this one a try.

10 It's A Book - Lane Smith: This book was shown in my class as a book trailer. It made me laugh and i like books that make me laugh. True, this book won't be high on my "to-read-list" but it will be read eventually.

WTC

             America is a strong country that will remain independent as it has since its conception. In the text it says that the building will be 1,776 feet tall. America got its independence in 1776. This was a message from the architects to anyone who dares threaten America that no matter what happens, no matter how badly the damage, we will retaliate and we will come back stronger than before.

How to survive a job interview

How to Survive a Job Interview

We all know people who are always “a ball of nervous energy” whenever they go to a job interview. Since they are nervous, a lot of people make mistakes that cost them the job that they would not have made if they had a clear head. This is understandable since surviving a job interview is such a daunting task to accomplish. Here are some tips that will hopefully soothe those troubled minds.

Dress appropriately for the interview. Kate McInnes, author of “How To Survive A Job Interview,” states that a person looking for a job should “leave the suit and tie at home.” Great advice, because if the place a person wants a job at is not a suit and tie sort of place, the person wearing one will look too “stiff” and “old fashion.” Also, no one else will be wearing one and the person will look awkward and out of place. McInnes also says a person should not show up in jeans and sneakers either. Also good advice because a place might not be a suit and tie place, but it is still a place of work and a person should dress professionally and ready to work. That means no jeans, sneakers, flip flops, showing of underwear, no low cut shirts, and no showing tattoos and piercings. What I am trying to get at is that a person should not dress up too much, but they do not want to underdress either.

If a person goes through the trouble of getting an interview, they should have the common decency of showing up on time. McInnes says in her post that “arriving on time is good,” because it “separates you from the other applicants and every little bit helps.” Showing up on time to a job interview is very important. Being nervous, as well as late to an interview, is not good and will probably cost someone the job. If a person knows they will be late, they should call and ask to reschedule. While being on time to an interview is very important, a person should not show up too early to one either. Showing up too early at an interview can be troublesome and annoying to the interviewer. He or she might be on break or in a meeting and will have to be interrupted to be told the applicant is here. Instead, look around and get to know the place. See if it is a good work environment. A person should show up on time to an interview or only a few minutes before to make the best impression possible.

A person separating themselves from the rest in a good way is crucial, but separating oneself in a bad way could cost you the job. Katherine Goldstein, author of “Arianna Huffington and Getting A Job At Huffington Post,” is a good example of having a positive impact while Bruce Hurwitz’s story on Amy Levin-Epstein’s post “Job Interview Horror Stories” is a perfect example of making a very bad impression. Goldstein was thrown into her interview ill prepared, and, to make matters worse, she was being filmed the entire time. She kept her cool and eventually got the job due to her good attitude and ability to adapt. Hurwitz’s story, however, did not go quite as well. Hurwitz was waiting for the elevator when a man walked up and started talking to a woman also waiting for the elevator. She chose to ignore him so the man started yelling at her about “how he was interviewing for for a great job with a great salary and he could buy and sell her” if he wanted to. Bruce was the interviewer and told the man the interview had been canceled. Now, some people will say all a person has to do to get a job is to know people. While, yes, it is nice to know some people to help out, it is still up to the person to make a good enough impression to get hired. If a person is confident, and makes a good enough impression, more than likely, they will get the job.

To recap all the major points of this advice, dress appropriately, show up at reasonable time, and make a good impression while not making yourself look bad. Now that you know these helpful hints, do you think you can successfully survive an interview?

Doyle, Alison. "What Not to Wear on an Interview." About.com Job Searching. About.com. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewattire/a/interviewnot.htm>.

Kennedy, Erin. "How To Survive A Job Interview." Executive Resume Writers & Professional Resume Services by Erin Kennedy. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://exclusive-executive-resumes.com/interviewing/how-to-survive-a-job-interview/>.

McInnes, Kate. "How to Survive a Job Interview, 10 Tips for Creative Professionals." Adobe Illustrator and Vector Tutorials, from Beginner to Advanced. 04 Jan. 2011. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://vector.tutsplus.com/articles/how-to-survive-a-job-interview-10-tips-for-creative-professionals/>.

Levin-Epstein, Amy. "Job Interview Horror Stories." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 10 Mar. 2011. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-47540318/job-interview-horror-stories/>.

Goldstein, Katherine. "Arrianna Huffington and Getting a Job at the Huffington Post: My Story." Slate Magazine. Slate.com, 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 15 May 2012.

What does being human mean?

Being human means striving for a better purpose and being able to feel emotions. Everybody feels and wants to do something. Might be something miniscule or humungous, doesn't matter, they still want to do and feel something. If someone had no emotions or goals for there life, I believe that that person would lose the qualities that would make them human.

Everyone wants to do something with their life. No matter what the goal is, everyone has one. The goal might be to become a firefighter, lawyer, hobo, create life like Victor Frankenstein, or even a power ranger, there is still a goal set. My goal is to become a welder once I graduate from high school and college. Having goals is part of what makes humans humans and everyone should set a high goal for themselves.

Every human has the capacity to feel emotions. No matter who you are, you feel some sort of emotion.It could be happiness, sadness, remorse, indifference, or even appathy, people still feel something. Someone could be a evil villain or the world’s most nicest person, they still feel something. Even if it is just a fleeting feeling, the feeling is still there and that is also part of what makes us humans so different than other species.

Some people will say animals feel emotions to, and they do. The feelings I’m talking about are deep emotions that could rule a person’s life. Animals go off of instincts instead of emotions. Those certain people might also say animals have a purpose as well, and, yet again, they do, but they do not set goals for themselves and strive to achieve that purpose.