How does Outliers connect to MY life?

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is a book that is a mixture of different stories around the world that fit the definition of being an "Outlier." the definition of an outlier is 'something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body.' throughout the book, different people and groups give their life story that seems to make them a true outlier and how they reached their "story of success." these tales range from China to Africa to the United States all connected by how they reached success. For example, the book opens up with a chapter on the "Roseto Mystery" a town where "these people were dying of old age. That’s it." (Page 3) this town had virtually no one showing any signs of heart disease, high cholesterol and there was no alcoholism, no drug addiction and a low crime rate (page 7). The researchers found that the secret to long living wasn't in their drinking water, or in their genes, it was the town itself. (Page 9) the whole presence of the town was what occurred to make people live longer and to just live a happy life.

"Those three things- autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward- are, most people agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying." (Page 150) at first, I didn't comprehend this statement. However, it became clearer to me as I analyzed it. What this statement means to me is that you must enjoy what you are doing in life to actually succeed. After you achieve this and give out hard work and effort, reward will come your way. I can connect to this reasoning easily. I always think of school whenever I hear "effort" or "success" and I can connect to that on many levels. For example, throughout this school year I seem to have at least one or two tests or quizzes within that week. I have first handedly have seen that if I study and do quality work, that effort will reflect into my final grades. On December 23rd 2012 I will have a vocabulary test on 28 words and the definition of each word. I can either A- study for it and receive a high grade and increase my final average or B- not study and attempt to 'wing it' and barely pass. These seem like very drastic differences, but that's the truth and that's how the final outcomes will be. Unless I have a photographic memory then I would never have to study and could ace every exam that is given to me. But, I don't so I will stick to studying. 

"The idea that excellence at performing a complex task requires a critical minimum level of practice surfaces again and again in studies of expertise. In fact, researchers have settles on what they believe is the magic number for true expertise: ten thousand hours."(Page 40) when I first read that ten thousand hours is required to master a certain sport or skill, I couldn't believe this. I have played volleyball for two years now and I wanted to see how far I am from ten thousand hours. Combining the two months of practice each year for the school team and then the games, weekend tournaments, camps and practice for the travel team I came up with roughly 700 hours. That seems like nothing compared to the schedule of the Beatles that was stated in the book. It seems to be that I need a lot more hours to "master" the art of volleyball. 

"The heavily scheduled middle class child is exposed to a constantly shifting set of experiences. She learns team work and how to cope in highly structured settings." (Page 105) being exposed to constantly shifting of experiences results in a well rounded child and they learn how to cope when given different environments to excel in. I personally am a person that if I am not busy 24/7 or doing something to keep my mind going, I might go insane. A typical day for me would be to go to school, come home, start my homework, eat dinner, go to practice and then come home to finish my homework. I even schedule out what I will do for the week and plan out how long I will do each task for. I like to have tasks prepared and ready to tackle at that moment. 

"Concerted cultivation. Its an attempt to actively 'foster and assess a child's talents, opinions and skills." (Page 104) if a child has a certain skill, then usually they centralize it and see where it takes them. Sometimes it works out and they are the children that can decide what they want to become for a profession at an early age and carry on their plan. I personally am a person that changes what they want to become when they are older about every month. I cannot decide and my mind goes back and forth between ideas. I literally have considered every profession there is in this world. In the month of December during 10th grade we took the test where it would match a profession compared to your personality and the questions you answered; I received art designer. However, within the 8th grade school year I received photographer and wedding planner. These jobs all connect as an art perspective, which I highly enjoy, but something keeps pulling me back from making a final decision. It seems that if I stick to one job; that is the job for the rest of my life and for me its a little fear that what if I don’t enjoy what I'm doing? Someday I will figure out my future, however that day seems to never arrive. 

"It seems counter intuitive but we do things at a slower pace and as a result we get through a lot more." (Page 262) at first when I read that students at the KIPP schooling woke up so early and went to bed so late, my first reaction was to reject the idea. However, as they began to analyze why they applied this method I warmed up to the idea of this. Sometimes school becomes overwhelming and you seem to lack the understanding of the lessons and teachings that are being given. After a few confused teachings, you may begin to fall behind and you begin to play catch up with all your classes. Only a weekend seems to relieve some of the burden of the homework that begins to pile up. For the KIPP schooling, I loved how relaxed the schooling seemed to be. The days were longer not to cram in as much information that a brain could hold, there was more time to understand the lesson and comprehend it to a deeper level. There was enough time to ask questions and accelerate the learning because of comprehending the information and the lessons. It may seem counterproductive by going slower, but in the long run, the results prove how successful this is. 

At first, this book didn’t seem very interesting to me. However, I enjoyed hearing the stories of success and Malcolm Gladwell's point of view on how to achieve it. I believe that the most interesting stories were of the Roseto town and the people that lived there and how different family backgrounds factor how well you will achieve in school. I could personally connect to a few stories and while I was reading this book I could voice my opinion throughout the chapters. I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I actually did, I've never read a book that was written in this style, it was a new experience and in the future I would enjoy reading another.  

137 Poetry Prompt

137 Poetry Prompt - Write a poem using the title, "Love Poem Number 137"

"Love Poem Number 137 "

love is a mushy-love note taped to your door
love is that person never escaping your thoughts
love is a thousand words

love is a heart-thumping experience
love is a cannot-stop-smiling feeling
love is a craving

love is a million little things
love is no color, no texture, no weight
love is an invisible string, always bringing you back

love is blind
love decides for itself
love is running through your mind all day

love is a cheesy pick up line
love is an unopened letter
love is a small act with a big impact

love is no amount of time
love can be a heart
love can be a cupid

love is in a thousand songs
love without you isn't real
love is mine and what's mine, is yours

Microfiction: Her foot slipped and she started to fall

Her foot slipped and she started to fall.
Her foot slipped and she started to fall, she quickly grabbed onto the edges of the abandoned pool. Panic struck Amanda and Eliza's face as Megan was holding as tight as she could to the crumbling cement. There was nobody around, nobody would step foot into this property. It was about midnight on the perfect Halloween night and the girls decided to have a little fun instead of trick-or-treating. This house was almost made for Halloween movies and you would get the chills as you would walk by. Day or night, people crossed the road away from this house, keeping their distance. The rumors around the neighborhood about this house didn’t ease the "creeped out" feeling. The front yard had two huge knotted and twisted trees with one having a small wooden swing that never seemed to stop swaying. The house was brown with jagged, dirty windows. The grass was tall, over-grown and tangled with every leaf that fell. Into the backyard was a huge, deep in ground pool with nothing but brown leaves and branches at the bottom.
          Megan’s fingers were turning red and white around the knuckles, her two friends both holding desperately onto her wrists. Her toes attempted to grab onto the wall, it was no use, and the smooth navy tiles were like butter under her shoes.
"Okay, okay, okay, okay... “Amanda repeated herself after seeing Megan struggle to get back up, they were all breathing heavy. Megan dangled from the edge swaying slightly side to side.
"Eliza, on three, pull her up." Amanda demanded. Eliza nodded and they both counted under their breath. There hands gripped onto Megan’s arms and slowly Megan was pulled up. She flopped onto her stomach and the girls flew back, all of them were breathing as if they just ran a marathon. They sat there in silence for about a minute trying to catch their breath. The bushes across from the pool shook revealing a glimpse of a red sweatshirt, the girls' eyes widened in horror.
 "I want to go home." Eliza whimpered as her heart did terrified flips. They stood up and a cold shutter went through them. The girls ran out of the yard and adrenaline fueled them the rest of the way home. They collapsed into Amanda's living room scared to death.
"Did anyone see that, in the bush?" Eliza finally said.
"What or who was that?" Amanda's voice shook. Megan stood up and locked every door and window around them. Each click of the lock seemed to make them jump out of their own skin.
"I don’t know who would do that?" Megan questioned them. All of them shrugged and glanced around the room.
"Its late, im going to sleep" Amanda said pulling out a sleeping bag. For the rest of the night, that red sweatshirt was on their mind and that’s all they could think about.

TU Tuesday

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/PRO-CON-VIEW-Should-all-driver-use-of-cell-2400663.php

Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.

Right from the first sentence their point of view is clear. In the phrase where it says "That's not very different from carrying on a conversation with someone in the vehicle." I think that is misleading, there is a different between having your phone in your hand to talking to someone with both hands on the wheel. Also where it states "answering a cell phone (or texting) can distract drivers with deadly consequences. But so can fiddling with the radio dial or scratching your back." I think some facts would need to be stated in order to back up this statement. However, the writer did back up some of their reasoning with facts and examples. It helped me understand both sides of the story when there were both pros and cons of the topic. With the other point of view where it states "since the advent of cell phones thousands of people have been injured or killed this way" I still think that these opinions need to be backed up with facts of the amount of people who are killed by texting compared to how many are killed by changing the radio or "scratching your back." lastly within the pros of banning the use of cell phones "Many years ago, when indoor smoking bans were first proposed some people thought that idea was crazy. We now see the wisdom of this approach." I liked how it compared to a law that seemed to have the same reaction from the people from a couple years ago.

My T-Shirt Vote

"the world is but a canvas to the imagination." and chocolate chip :)

Creative Contest I Blog

N= Norwegian Buhund

(http://puppydogweb.com/gallery/norwegianbuhunds/norwegianbuhund_langhoff.jpg)

 Breed Description -  The Buhund is squarely built and has a dense, flat-lying coat. The ears are pointed and their shape and size should harmonize with the head shape. The tail is firmly curled over the back.


Appearance/Size -  Height: Males 17-18½ inches  (43-47 cm) Females 16-17½ inches  (41-45 cm)
Weight: Males: 31-40 pounds (14-18 kg) Females 26½-35½ pounds (12-16 kg)The Buhund is either tan or black.

Diet -Feeding dry Norwegian Buhund food rather than a moist canned style is best for your Norwegian Buhund. The mini kibbles’ tricky surface rubs against the teeth to remove as well as reduce plaque.  


Temperament - is vigilant, cheerful, active, and untiring, intelligent and attentive.  Very affectionate and need physical and mental stimulation and require consistent, leadership as they can be headstrong if they sense their handlers are not as strong minded as themselves.  They like to be taught and learn very quickly.  A natural watch dog, it is brave and vocal but not aggressive. 


Shedding -  he Buhund has a medium to short easy-care coat.  The coat should be brushed regularly and needs extra care during shedding season.  This breed is a seasonal heavy shedder.


Health/Allergies/Vaccines – Prone to hip dysplasia and Inherited eye issues




http://www.norwegianbuhund.us/
http://a2dog.com/norwegian-buhunds-diet-influences-oral-physical-condition/
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/norwegianbuhund.htm

Creativity Breeds Creativity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96fe3Cx_vHo

Small Poetry Prompt - Write a poem about a very small object

Small Poetry Prompt - Write a poem about a very small object

Eyelashes:

so tiny, so fragile
one small gust of wind and its out of sight
holds the magic of a wish
within the small fibers
lightly edges eyelids
one bat sends a heart crazy

47 lines each eye
4 lost everyday
4 wishes possible
4 opportunities to get it right
4 carefully picked wishes

curls toward the sky
opening your eyes, wider, brighter
bare, always exposed
nothing to hide

can be painted, extended, fake or natural
glazed with mascara
showing someones personality

gently balanced on the tip of the finger
eyes focused, ready to wish

inhale, exhale, gone.

TU Tuesday Guest Speaker

Kristi Gustafson Barlette    


Poise: she defiantly showed that she was comfortable speaking with us. She invitingly took in our questions and she walked around the room not staying in one spot. She showed that she was comfortable in the room and in front of the students. Her voice wasn't shaking and she spoke very clearly when answering us. Also she showed that she connected with the audience by making eye contact with the person who asked the question. For example, when I asked a question, she walked to the side of the room closest to me and made eye contact with me, which expressed her connection with the audience.


 Clarity: she spoke very clearly and I could understand ever word she said. I could understand her vocabulary she used and didn't jumble her words together at all. At some points however she did speak a little fast but that is a normal thing that comes with public speaking. However, the message was very clear whenever she answered the questions. For example, if she mispronounced a word she word clearly fix her mistake so we could understand. 


Volume: I believe her volume was audible and comprehensible. There wasn't one time that I couldn't understand what she said. If she ever began to quiet her tone she would always fix herself.


 Information: I really liked what she had to say after every question. I was curious to see what she had to say and what her experiences were. I liked her details she added to the stories and it made everything really interesting. I could take some stories and relate them to myself that made me connect with her even more. She added many details and points to get her idea across. For example, when she was describing the times she went to fly 92.3 to speak she talked about how Brian sometimes gets her name confused with another worker. 


 Organization: she wasn’t scatter brained at all when talking to us. She did have longer answers then usual but it helped all of us grasp the concept. She was very organized when talking to us by giving us answers that clearly answered the question. For example, when she was talking about when she went to the dairy farm, she gave a story that was in sequential order instead of starting at the end and then starts talking about the middle. 


 I believe we all had an effective conversation with Kristi Gustafson Barlette. I think we adequately reached our goal of holding an effective hour-long conversation. We all asked questions that she could answer and didn’t go off topic with our questions. I think I did well with asking a few questions and adding to the conversation. I think other classmates were doing great with asking productive questions to add to the discussion. For example, Marcus and Alec both asked multiple questions that productively added to the conversation and helped us understand her background more. 


 I would recommend Kristi Gustafson Barlette to come back next year to speak to the new class. I enjoyed reading her pieces that she wrote before she came in so I could understand her style and her experiences. I enjoyed asking questions and listening to everything she has accomplished. She had very interesting life stories that I enjoyed hearing. I would recommend her to come next year because of the good time I had. 

Kristi Gustafson comments and questions (TU Tuesday)

Playing Dairy Queen for the Day ((http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Playing-dairy-queen-for-a-day-2229727.php)

1. Did you grow up with your family owning a farm in Averill Park?
2. What made you like cows so much?

1. I like how you described learning how to milk the cow
2. I like how you described your whole learning process and experience. It made me feel like I was right there with you.

 “Ringers in the Extreme” http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Ringers-in-the-extreme-2263911.php)

1. What gave you the idea of this topic? Was it a story or a personal experience?
2. What is your personal thought about taking off the wedding ring?

1. I like how this story can easily involve your opinion and shows both sides of the story.
2. I like how you incorporated well-known people stories to help us understand more.

“Chron’s Patient Gets by with Family, Friends, and a Strong Routine” (http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Everyman-voice-Rooney-dies-at-92-2253697.php)

1. When did he start working for 60 minutes?
2. What did he usually write about?
1. I like how you added quotes from other people who loved Andy Rooney.
2. I like how you Incorporated stories of his life.

Thankful four

Opinion prompt#13

We should replace number grades with letter grades.


I disagree with this opinion statement. Before we had letter grades within Elementary and Middle School and I didn't like that as much as number grades. The letter grades have a bigger range while the number grades are straight to the point. With the range of numbers, it was hard to see if you barely received a B+, which had a range of 87-89, or you were one point away from receiving an A-. The number grades are much better because it shows if you need to improve by a few points or how well you are doing. The number grades seem to make more sense because teachers just need to enter the grades on gradespeed at the computer does the calculating for us. In middle school, I would always go and ask a teacher for my number average to see how well I was doing or if a needed to improve. The number grades just seem to make more sense then letter grades.

I Want to Write about #86

Write about seeing the ocean or mountains

Oceans take over more space on Earth than land does. Oceans are so vast and diverse I don't really know what REALLY is in the water. I know there are fish, seaweed and the occasional little crab, but my mind goes to crazy ideas. When I went to Aruba for vacation one year, we went snorkeling in a little reef where cold and warm water mix. There were thousands of fish, every single color and pattern thinkable. It’s amazing to see what is right underneath you when you are swimming!  When I go to the beach during vacation, the first few seconds I can hear the Jaws music creeping up on me. After hearing the soothing waves and feel the warm sand, I calm down and forget about Jaws. The last time I went to the beach, dolphins were swimming by so close! It was very exciting to see fins coming out of the water! Its better then seeing a shark's fin.

Magnetic Poem: "Present"

M = Manhattan (during the Christmas season)

I love the holiday season! Starting right after Halloween I start watching the TV shopping channels like QVC and HSN because I adore how enthusiastic about Christmas the people are. I begin to write my list of what I will give to everyone and I try to include everyone on my list because I LOVE giving presents. I love to see the person’s reaction seeing a little wrapped box and just giving the message that you care for them! I have a huge playlist on my iPod of Christmas songs to listen to at anytime of the day. The one thing that I want to experience at least once is going to Manhattan during the holiday season. I've seen so many Christmas movies of spending time in Manhattan with the decorated store windows and the monstrous Rockefeller Christmas tree with thousands of twinkling lights. If I ever took a trip there I would:

http://www.christmastimeinnewyorkcity.com/index.php?pg=events&adv=1&hol[]=02&hol[]=05&bor[]=03&bor[]=01&bor[]=04&act[]=10&act[]=08&act[]=03&act[]=07&act[]=11&act[]=02&act[]=14&act[]=04&act[]=01&fee=01&goodfor=01&anydate=1&at=15


http://urbanspacenyc.com/union-square-holiday-market/


http://www.girlsgetaway.com/2010/11/christmas-shopping-in-new-york-city/


http://theholidayshopsatbryantpark.com/event/citi-pond-bryant-park-tree-lighting-ceremony-0


http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/dylans_candy_bar/




1.  Holiday Windows Tour - "Touring the holiday windows is an annual tradition for New Yorkers and visitors that will get you in the holiday spirit and cost you nothing.  It’s lots of fun at any time of day but when the sun sets, the windows really sparkle. All over the city stores create special displays but Fifth Avenue is the center of the action."


2.  Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree - "There is an aura about the Rockefeller Christmas Tree that simply has to be experienced.  The grandeur of the scene, with an enormous and spectacularly lit Norway Spruce tree, presents a lifetime postcard.  The tree is one of the most beloved New York City Christmas experiences. It is breathtaking, romantic and restorative all in the same moment."


3. a show of The Rockettes - "The Rockettes bring the stage to life with a rythmic, rousing tap rendition of the beloved carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas."


4. Ice skating at Rockefeller Center - "Lace your skates and swirl away at The Ice Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center. Here you’ll find New Yorkers and city visitors alike swirling and twirling, with the bustling crowds and sparkling lights as a unique urban backdrop."


5.  Shop at Union Square Holiday Market - "With over 100 merchants bringing in some of the most unique gifts ever, this is the place do your holiday shopping, or just enjoy browsing!"


6. visit Dylans Candy Bar - "the supersize candy store across the street from Bloomingdale’s. Dylan's is a dentist's nightmare of Skittles and M&Ms, a Pez zone, and custom-made sundaes, from Central Park Zoo to Candy Bar Blast. And if you're determined to take a bath in chocolate, head to the (inedible) Candy Spa, where you'll find Hot Chocolate Bath Salts, Cheeky Chocolate-Milk Bubble Bath, and chocolate candles." 


7. Citi Pond at Bryant Park Tree lighting Ceremony - "Quickly becoming New York City’s flagship tree lighting ceremony in the heart of Manhattan, our tree lighting event is a perfect way to bring in the holiday season.  Live entertainment including on and off the ice acts will compliment the perfect family experience."

Once in a blue moon

Once in a blue moon

I've always used the saying "once in a blue moon" without knowing what it really is and who I've heard it from. I remember in 6th grade we were on the unit of astronomy and my topic was the Moon. I used "once in a blue moon" proverb while talking to her; my teacher’s eyes lit up and asked me to add what it was on my project. I researched the topic for a bit and learned a few things. Normally, the cycle of the moon occurs to only have one full moon per month. However the "blue moon" can occur, which means there are two full moons in one month. This doesn't happen very often so the term "once in a blue moon" means that it is a very rare moment. This phrase has been used for over 400 years dating back to medieval England. I've said "once in a blue moon" many times whenever I'm talking to someone, now I know a little background information on it and it adds emphasis to what you’re saying.

Letter Poetry Prompt

Letter Poetry Prompt – Write a poem entitled “A Letter You’ll Never See” to someone you never intend to show it to…

I've written a letter

Never meant for eyes to see

My heart beats within the pages

Tears wrinkle the paper

I give out all I can

Craving your love in return

All you've given me is

Your love to another girl

Love in blind, yeah right

Love is right in front of you

Your just too love drunk to realize

Diving head first into so called "love"

I wish for you every chance I get

11:11, shooting stars, fallen eyelashes

My pulse pounds through the words

It beats for you, just listen

As your eyes wander to my paper

My hands muffle my feeling's voice

Covering up any word that seeps through

Love finding its way, ribboning in between

My fingers fumble to fold this letter

Sliding it into a fresh envelope

Staring back at me, desired to be opened

Sealed with a kiss

Love is torture

Love keeps you waiting

Love is sneaky

Love kills slowly

Halloween

One dark and rainy Halloween ...

One dark and rainy Halloween I sat home angrily chewing on a Snickers. Both my parents left for the night and its down pouring and too cold to go outside. Thunder rumbled the house while lightning lit up the spooky bare trees in the yard. I stared out the monstrous window into the black night. The rain pounded against the window as I turned up the volume to the TV. My eyes drifted back to the Corpse Bride movie, bored out of my mind. I whipped out my phone, maybe to find a friend to hang out with. I send out a message, an "invalid" message comes back. I try again, nothing. 

"That’s never happened,” I say to myself. A loud crash comes from outside. I look around the room and out the window, nothing is different, just my mind going to insane conclusions, I guess. I glance down to my phone again, the screen flashes on and off with the "salt and pepper" screen. I slap my phone thinking that would fix it, and then it turns off for good. My heart sinks and my eyes become wide. My legs jumble towards the home phone, my fingers fumble over my dad's cell phone number, nothing. I try my mom’s number, nothing again. I whip my head from side to side around the room, everything seems normal, and I don’t know what to do. 

"Just like a horror movie, which aren’t real" I mumble to myself. I try to relax my thoughts by watching more of my movie. The rain seems to come down harder and harder; I turn on the volume to drown out the noise from the rain. The volume goes back down. I turn it back up and it just goes right back down; its like i'm battling with technology. My heart sinks down even farther; I'm too frightened to even function. The TV begins to go fuzzy and goes black. The only light on is above the kitchen sink and that begins to flicker. The power in the house begins to go on and off, playing with my thoughts and emotions. 

I squeeze my eyes close hoping this will just end. I stumble towards the door and fall out onto my porch. I lift myself up and run into the streets. The rain is just a light mist now and trick-or-treaters roam the streets. I take a second to recover my thoughts. Panic is written across my face I look around. Children are still smiling and skipping through the streets, my thoughts are in a huge blur. I look back at my house, nothing is different. I look at other houses, nothing is different, but its what is on the inside that is playing mind games with me. I drop to my knees at the edge of my lawn and curl my legs to my chest and wait until my parents pull into the driveway.

TU Tuesday

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.

this article starts in a bar in Albany as zombies were "lurching, limping undead," and started to dance as a flash mob. the strong vocabulary was used to show how far flash mobs have come and how versatile they have came. From " a performance of the "Hallelujah" Chorus at Crossgates Mall" to "students boogied in their new student union at Ohio State." Flash mobs aren't just an exuberant act anymore! they have used it for advertisement and fundraising for charities. the article is trying to show the new possibilities and how flash mobs have been popping up everywhere.

even the title "Once avant-garde" shows how new and radical the trend is. "As a familiar synthesized riff began to percolate from the bar's speakers, the zombies started to dance." the vocabulary and description paints an image in your mind and excites you to see what will happen next.

Pull at least FIVE words or phrases out, define them, describe their effect, and tell what the overall impact those words or phrases give to the piece as a whole while incorporating into the post the textual evidence you pulled out from it to define.

http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Once-avant-garde-the-flash-mob-matures-2233487.php

1. As a familiar synthesized riff began
riff: a melodic phrase

2. may have tickled a memory
tickled: to excite amusement

3. Call it the maturation of the flash mob
maturation: the process of becoming mature

4. But a grimmer component of the trend

grimmer: ghastly character

 

5. began to percolate from the bar's speakers

percolate: to become active

 

6. Once avant-garde

avant-garde: those artists, writers, musicians, etc, whose techniques and ideas are markedly experimental; radical.

 

The Polar Express

My mom's favorite holiday is Christmas, and she LOVES it. In our basement we have huge boxes of Christmas decorations and every year we bring them upstairs to decorate the whole house. We have snowmen line up and down the stairs, tinsel wrapped around the banister, little Santa’s scattered everywhere and a HUGE Christmas tree incrusted with ornaments. We watch every Christmas movie we can find and just enjoy the holidays. When I was younger, my mom would read the polar express to my brother and I while we sit with hot cocoa mugs in our hands. We even have an ornament of the polar express to hang on our Christmas tree.

L = La Sierra University

http://www.lasierra.edu/index.php?id=1874

Five reasons I want to go to attend this school
1. the classes are 20 students or less, giving more attention to each student
2. there are strong athletic teams which I would like to join
3. It is in California, where the snow storms aren't as severe
4. it offers a Master of Arts and has its own gallery
5. they offer many scholarships

Three reasons I don't like this school
1. it is really far away from home
2. they are very strong about the Christian Faith, even though I am not very religious
3. there are only three sports to choose from for women

colleges website

http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ/alpha/

Vintage Photo

http://www.old-picture.com/american-history-1900-1930s/Balancing-Act.htm
"Balancing Act"

When I think of the 1920's I always think of the new inventions, the flappers, and thrive of America at the time. America just seemed unstoppable with its growing wall street and the luxurious life people seemed to live. Even with the ban of alcohol, couples still went to Speakeasies in their new car and big fur coats. In the picture, the scenery of the city showed how industrialized it was because of the city fog shown. Flappers took the streets showing how strong and beautiful women can be at the same time.

"He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at me with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made me think of a charging bull." - Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at me with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made me think of a charging bull. I stared back at him giving an is-that-all-you-got look.
I strutted towards him "excuse me, is there a problem?" I stated. He stood there about 4 feet away as people began to get off their bar stools and circled around us. I crossed my arms, pushing out my biceps, keeping my distance. The man started to grind his teeth together.
"Didn’t think so" I said as a started to turn back around to my chair. I felt the floor shake with every step he took towards me, I spun around to find him eye-to-eye, well more like eye-to-chest, with me. I slowly looked up to meet his fiery stare.
"You think you could get away with this?" he finally spoke. I could picture is nostrils blowing out rings of smoke just like a cartoon bull would. I knew what I did and apparently so did him. The room became quiet; every person curious to see what will take place.
"First, I don’t know what you’re talking about and second, let’s pretend this never happened and stop this madness so you don’t look like a fool." I smirked. The crowd glanced from his face back to mine, waiting for something to happen. He stepped back and put his hands into his pockets.
"Okay" he said, everyone around us began to make their way back to their seats. I looked around and started back to my chair. The floor shook as I slowly walked; I felt a gorilla hand grab my shoulder. There I was facing the bull and out went the lights.

tu tuesday blog

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning.

http://blog.timesunion.com/aimee/

Saying that not getting enough sleep can cause stimulation to hunger, weight gain, and not having the best food choices, these are all long term effects that can occur to a person. Aimee Geraci never stated any short term effects besides having a better mood. " your body is stressed and responds by making more cortisol... cortisol simply stimulates hunger and disrupts your ability to metabolize carbohydrates, therefore increasing blood sugar levels, insulin production and body fat storage." this seems to show that one thing leads to another and getting a little less sleep than normal can cause so many drastic problems. I was also wondering, what if you take naps throughout the day? Would that counter the affect of less nightly sleep? This article is easy to relate to because of our high school schedules and how early we have to wake up. However, everyone age differs for the amount of sleep needed. "Without adequate rest (seven or more hours a night), your body is stressed." that amount of sleep may only be referring to her age group instead of a high school student.

Haiku: What adventures does your future hold?

sun absorbs the day greedy, never stopping time
'til death do us part

TU Tuesday

http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/vanity-thy-name-is-dmv/14956/

Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.  And, develop FIVE factual, interpretive, and evaluative questions for further exploration of the topic(s).

Personally, I have pretty bad eye-sight. I can see peoples faces and I know who they are, but I cannot read anything from a distance! Eyesight changes as you get older so why would you take that out of the DMV test? since I don't drive and haven't gotten my license yet, I think the most important part of renewing your license is to check your eyesight!  "The state has apparently decided to put the policy on hold" probably because of all the reactions and the use of common sense kicks in. Connecting that drivers can "simply affirm on a form that their vision is good enough to drive without glasses, or that they need corrective lenses" and that most people try to "deny our imperfections" most drivers will not be honest just to show that they don't need glasses to drive or that they have "perfect" vision. I believe this is only in for money because "millions of dollars are at stake" and New York needs to increase their profits and boost their economy.

1. Has the number of car crashes in the states that removed the eye test gone up?
2. are we only in this because of our bad economy?
3. if a person has glasses, how could you force them to wear them when driving?
4. what states also removed the eye test? have they gained more money then before?
5. how is it a criminal penalty for lying about your eyesight?

opinion prompt 4 – You should avoid using plastic bags!

I believe we should stop using plastic bags. The plastic bags are destroying our earth and last years in our garbage dumps. I think it would be better to have reusable bags as a requirement when you walk into Price Chopper or Hannaford. I understand that you could reuse the plastic bag as a garbage bag or to carry your items but how many times would you use and reuse one plastic bag? If it’s filled with garbage I would never reuse that bag! The reusable bags are a great idea and come with great designs! Just think of all the plastic bags we saved from going into the ocean! I always think of the movie Happy Feet because it sends a big message to stop throwing garbage into the oceans because it affects the animals in their natural habitats. I agree with this because we could easy use more reusable bags then plastic bags. From my experiences, the reusable bag can hold just has much as about three plastic bags could! They are also easier to carry instead of the plastic digging into your palm. Price Chopper has tried to push using reusable bags more then plastic because it takes off about 5 cents per bag that you bring in yourself! One reusable bag can help take out so much trash out of the oceans; everyone should at least own one!

Title your poem “A Poem for Six A.M.” and write a stanza for each waking hour of the day

A Poem for Six A.M.

Six A.M. wake up.
why am I awake so early?
throwing myself out of my cozy bed

Seven A.M. arriving at school
the sun breaking through the horizon
spreading its fingers higher and higher

8 A.M. middle of first class
a cool breeze flows through the window
chilling my bare arms

9 A.M. passing time
rolling down the sea of people
flowing with the crowd, getting tossed around

10 A.M. Spanish class
mastering a new language
el clase es muy divertida!

11 A.M math.
numbers filling the air
logic is not at all logical and proofs spend the time away

12 P.M. lunch time
food flying across the room
chatter soaks through the walls

1 P.M. Biology
cells making up every living thing
microscopes are as common as dust in the room

2 P.M. More Biology
watching the clock as if you were paid to
time slowing down as the school day comes to an end

3 P.M. New Gym
opening the doors, a rush of wind blows you a step back
like walking from a dark tunnel into the sunlight

4 P.M. Volleyball practice
bump, pass, hit, in, out, libero, outside, middle, setter, top-spin, floater
like a whole new language to learn

5 P.M. volleyball practice
water never tasted so good
our team as a family, knowing everyones strengths and weaknesses

6 P.M. home
dropping my bags as if i was carrying weights
feet sliding across the floor heading towards the couch

7 P.M. dinner
savory aromas fill the kitchen
as the chicken crackles in the pan

8 P.M. dining room
homework sheets cover the table
pens and pencils hard at work, working through every subject

9 P.M. home
feet scrambling everywhere, getting ready for the days to come
crawling into bed, ready to pick up where I left off, into the next day

#193 ten worst things that can happen to you on your way to school

1. You woke up late and forgot to eat breakfast.
2. It is pouring rain outside when you are waiting at the bus stop and you have no umbrella.
3. A car drives through a puddle and hits you with all the muddy water.
4. You forgot your homework at home.
5. You slip going onto the bus.
6. The bus breaks down and you have to wait in the rain.
7. You drop all your papers into a puddle.
8. You forgot to study for a big test that morning.
9. You forgot your lunch at home.
10. You finally get to school and walk to your locker, but the lock is missing and all your stuff is gone.

piece of Art

 (Oil on canvas
Galleria Palatina (Palazzo Pitti), Florence)

It always seems that a piece of art becomes famous when the artist passes away. If the artist knew that, would they still go on and paint many pictures? Just to become famous later on? I never appreciate a beautiful painting or landscape picture like other people do. I don't see what the point is! If you put me in an art gallery, I look around for about 30 seconds and then head for the door. Nothing ever catches my eye or stops me in my tracks, a painting just isn't my cup of tea. looking at a painting is like looking for furniture, boring! I take art classes throughout school and I see the difficulty in the picture but who could still there for hours painting fruit and instruments? My grandmother loves art and going through galleries but I don't see it. I will figure it out one day!

you ability to juggle many tasks will take you far. (178)

Apparently, women are better than men at multitasking. I multitask all the time; one time I was doing four homework assignments at once! Women are good at multitasking but I do have to stick up for the guys too; they always balance everything and seem so nonchalant with everything going on. On the inside they are probably freaking out about how they are going to fit in doing homework after a game or practice. Its tough to balance everything together; I have no idea how I'm doing it! I play volleyball after school, I do dance on the weekends, I try to join as many clubs as possible, and who can forget all that homework?? However, I would rather have a busy life instead of sitting around the house bored out of my mind. It is always good to have a day to sit, relax and have nothing bother you. I need things to be exciting in my life; I always think to enjoy everything to the fullest and never hesitate to just trust in something and jump.

letter: K

Ketchup does not belong on a hot dog. Knowing this, why do people still do this? Knots form in my stomach just thinking about this. Kindly saying this, please stop. Kindergartners should be taught young not to put ketchup on a hot dog. knowledge soaks up like a sponge in a young child's brain, we need to teach them when they are young. Keep setting a good example, don't even think about putting a ketchup bottle near a plate of hot dogs. Key point here is to be a role model for the children. Kick those bad ketchup habits out the window! Kiss the ketchup bottle goodbye because it shouldn't even be put in the kitchen. Kleenex's should be near for all those ketchup lovers trying to get rid of it. Kudos to everyone for being so supportive and getting rid of those nasty habits!!

Wishin'

stop wishing through windows we know have been shut

but I say keep wishing

keep wishing on those fallen eyelashes

keep wishing when the clock strikes

once upon a time isn't just for fairy tales

Stop wishing through windows we know have been shut

the window may be shut but the glass has cracks

the window may be shut but the glass is still see through

the window may be shut but I can still see the picture

stop wishing through windows we know have been shut

you can still sense what is on the other side

have your mind still ponder on day dreams

the grass is always greener on the other side

stop wishing through windows we know have been shut

my wish may not mean anything to you

this means the whole world to me

I cannot tell you what I wish for

or else it wont come true

I'll keep wishing

and I'll open that window up.

A Turning Point

1. moving to Guilderland
2. losing my great-grandmother
3. starting high school
4. joining the volleyball team
5. volunteering at a soup kitchen

10 things you didnt know about me

1. I have an older brother who just graduated from High School last year
2. I have a dog who is 11 years old (Jasmine) and is named after princess Jasmine from Aladdin
3. I am on the junior varsity volleyball team for Guilderland and I played freshmen volleyball last year
4. I have been taking dance classes since I was three
5. Math and art are my two favorite subjects
6. I love to bake but I cannot cook to save my life
7.  I love music, I listen to everything and I sing-a-long to it :)
8. I am very clumsy, I am always hurt some how
9. My favorite movie is Date Night because I love comedies!!
10. I have a huge family, my dad has 5 siblings and my moms side of the family lives in Europe.

books i read this summer!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs