Thursday, April 25, 2013

Living in Numbers Response

I read the Poem Living in Numbers by Claire Lee. Although it is a more modern poem I think that it speaks to people of many different ages. Living in Numbers is a list poem about how many times she has done a certain thing. It has 2 days and the numbers change when the day changes. The first two stanzas are on Sunday, August 22, 2010. This poem starts off with the line
Number of times I've woken up after
oversleeping and sprung out of bed like a ninja: 959
I think that this is interesting because the author broke up the sentence into two lines. I wonder why she did that? In this line there is also as simile comparing the way she got out of bed to a ninja. There is alliteration in the next line "Number of broken bones: 3."The line”Number of Scars, physical: 4; emotional: 947” show how people suffer and get through their difficulties. The author says how many Facebook friends she has, 744, and how many real friends she has, 9. I think that this shows what modern life is like, how people may be your friend  on Facebook but in real life you don’t talk to them. The last line on August 22, is "Number of things I know: 918,394" On Monday, August 23, 2010 the first line is
Number of times I've woken up after oversleeping and sprung out of bed like a ninja: 960
The thing that I find interesting is that unlike the first line it is not broken up into two lines. The thing that I love about this poem is that the numbers in the change when the day changes. I think that it shows how a day goes on and things change. You lose friends, you get new scars, you've laughed, you've cried, and you have gotten through it. I really like this poem, I think that the simplicity of it is great and I love the way that I can come up with a new meaning for it.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Haiku's

Ingnored
Forgotten about
Bursting through with the others 
The weeds are pulled

Fly
A bird flies above 
It glides into the water
flying in the liquid

Light
Kids jump in the water
Watermelon cut in bowl
Freedom for three months

Time
Tick tock goes the clock
Counting every second
Time seems to stand still

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Dream Variations Response

In the poem Dream Variations by Langston Hughes there are two verses, the first verse is said in a way that makes it seem like it is a dream or wish whereas the second verse is reality. The line "To fling my arms wide" creates the imagery of a wide open meadow. In the poem there is a rhyme scheme of A,B,C,B,D,E,F,E,G. The line "To whirl and to dance" gives the reader a feeling of hope and longing. The last line of the first verse says "That is my dream" This shows that this is his dream and it is what he wants to be able to dance and be free. The second verse starts the same as the first verse. This verse is told in a more present tense. The line "Dance! Whirl! Whirl!" shows that the authors enthusiasm for his new freedom. In the lines
"Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree..." the ellipses adds suspense for the next line "Night coming tenderly." The word "tenderly" creates an imagery of calmness and  contentedness. The line "Black like me" and "Dark like me" both show that the author embraces who he is as an individual.

It is...


Happiness is sunrise gold ocean on the horizon
Joy is yelling in the wind purple flowers at dawn
Quiet is static gray TV reception
Envy is gremlin green monster mucus
Fear is a stormy night sky blue shooting stars
Freedom is murder red friends working together
Thoughts are eggshell white people behind it all

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Response to The Walrus and the Carpenter

The poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll is about a walrus and a carpenter going on a walk where they get oysters to join them in the end the walrus and the carpenter eat the oysters. The first verse describes the setting using the an alliteration of "The sun was shining on the sea." Throughout the whole poem it has a rhyming scheme of A, B, C, B, D, B. In the second verse Carroll personifies the moon, saying that the sun spoiled the fun by being light even when it was night. In the third verse wet is compared to wet in the line " The sea was wet as wet could be" Throughout the poem each line starts with a capital letter. In the lines
If seven mads with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"They could get it clear?"
In this line the walrus is questioning things that may seem crazy. When the walrus and the carpenter invited the oysters on their walk the older oyster declined because he knew what was happening. but the younger ones followed them eager with no idea what was going on. Like the moon Carroll also personified the oysters saying
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
Another thing I thought was interesting is that Carroll used two hyphens in stead of one. In the next verse there is repetition when it says "And more, and , and more--" Frothy gives you imagery of what the shore looked like. "And waited in a row" gives you the feeling of the oysters lining up for their death. In the next verse there is alliteration in the line "Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax" The walrus act really friendly towards the oysters talking about eating bread with vinegar, salt and pepper. When the oysters bring up the idea that they might eat them the walrus changes the subject and the carpenter asks for more food. The carpenter keeps on changing the subject and the walrus feels guilty for eating them but in the end of the poem the need for nutrients won over the guilt so the oysters were eaten.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

New Vs. Old



Baby
Vs.
Grandmother
Baby teeth
Vs.
Grown-up teeth
Milk
Vs.
Cheese
Egg
Vs.
Hen
Computer
Vs.
Typewriter
Iphone
Vs.
flip phone
Ipod touch
Vs.
MP3 player
Email
Vs.
Postage
Printer paper
Vs.
Egg carton
Shopping mall
Vs.
Thrift store
Grass sprout
Vs.
Redwood tree
Obama
Vs.
George Washington
Quill
Vs.
Pen
Modern
Vs.
Antique
Present
Vs.
History
U.S.A.
Vs.
The Universe

What to Do if You Can't Find your Phone

What If...
Your phone was lost in a pile of possessions
I would call it with hope
that someone would hear the resonating ring
only to find
my phone is dead
 I would search the house
looking in every nook and cranny
like a spy stalking its subject
When that fails
I nonchalantly ask my family for help
hoping to sound like I am not
thinking of the catastrophic things that could have happened
I search high and low
only to find
my phone 
is exactly where I looked first

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Ender's Game Anticipation Guide Revisitation

Lying is justifiable if it's for the greater good.
After reading Ender's game I would rank this as a 2. In the book Graff and all the adults lie to Ender. When Ender realizes he'd been lied to, he was really depressed. In the book lying did help them defeat the buggers but it is my personal opinion that big lies are never good. What if buggers were actually really good creatures that would someday do something great, and because Ender was lied to he killed them. In extreme cases lying may be okay and it may work out for the people that are lying but it might not be for the greater good of all the creatures in the universe.
Sometimes violence is the only way to solve a problem.
I would keep the same ranking because I don't think that violence is the answer. In Ender's Game Ender is forced to be violent when the boys attack him at Battle School, that really wasn't the solution to the problem but if he hadn't have been violent then who knows what would have happened. After Ender kills all the buggers he feels really bad. Ender wished he hadn't have killed them. Ender was controlled and played into participating in the annihilation of the buggers. I don't think that war was the only way to solve that problem.
 It is okay to kill someone in self-defense.
I think that I would rank this as a 3 because I feel that if the death can be avoided then you shouldn't kill them. However in dire situations it would be okay. I could see it being okay if you didn't mean to kill them. On page 211 Ender unintentionally killed Bonzo after he tried to kill Ender. The teachers and most officials agreed that it was an act of self defense. When Ender killed Stilson on page 7 the adults concluded the same thing. In Ender's game they send the message that it is okay to kill someone in self-defense but I think that this applies as a last case scenario.
Words are stronger than fists.
Now that I have read the book I would give this a 4 this because not only is it still my personal belief but it is also proven in Ender's Game. Valentine and Peter have a lot of power being Demosthenes and Locke while they use their words to control the world. In fact Valentine and Peter had gained so much strength from their words that they both had the power to get Ender back or keep him away from Earth. Valentines words of accusation kept Ender from coming back and being taken advantage by Peter. Although fist are useful in some situation I still think that words are stronger. However when Bonzo tried to beat up Ender it had come to a point where words would not really help the situation. 
Bullies hurt others because they have low self esteem.
I think that I would rate this as a 4 because after reading Ender's game I realize that some people can bully other unintentionally. Plus some people make think that it is just the right thing to do. When Ender got in a fight with Bonzo, Bonzo had low self esteem because his army had lost to the dragon army and Ender saying that he didn't have honor by picking on Ender. I think that in some cases this ins't true, the human race could be considered bullies by going to war with the buggers, maybe we do have low self esteem always trying to have what we can't and trying to be what we aren't. To some degree the human race had low self esteem because they felt like they weren't they only intelligent life form. 
Only the best and brightest students should receive the best education to become a nation's leaders.
I still strongly disagree with this, I think that anyone can become a leader if they have the right education. In Ender's game they agree with this sending the smartest kids to battle school. If the kids pass the mental test they get to go and learn to be a soldier perhaps even a commander. I think that that their idea that only the best students receive the best education is really not fair to all the other students who have just as much potential to become great leaders. For example Peter and Valentine weren't accepted to battle school but they still became important leader on Earth and other planets. Those best and brightest students are just the students that have the most potential to become killing machines obeying every order given without thinking for themselves. Except for a select few, Petra Dink, Alai, most of the students at battle school just follow orders instead of thinking for themselves.
Revenge is never justified.
I think that I would give this a 3 now because sometimes it could be necessary to get someone back but in the end revenge only leads to more revenge. Although revenge is not the first answer I would go to it is a possible option. In Ender's Game the human race seeks revenge from the first and second invasion. Although that didn't really work out if they hadn't have launched the third invasion, the human race would resent the buggers and always think of them as bad. I think that revenge can be justified but it should be avoided.
Crying is evidence of weakness.
To be honest I think that I would raise this ranking to a 2. It seems mean to say that crying is weak but in some situations crying can be overly dramatically  Although I think that everyone should cry if they need to, crying too much is really annoying and people should be able to hold in their emotions in really public places. That doesn't mean that if you cry you are weak, all I am saying is that crying when nothing happened is weak. In Ender's Game Ender thinks that crying will make him weak but all the other boys cry.
Any action is acceptable in war.
I still agree with my previous thoughts on this statement. No you have to stay true to your morals and treat others how you want to be treated. In war most of the actions you make are based on one core idea, winning, so some people will do anything they can to win. Some things that they do may be something that isn't morally right. In Ender's Game Ender killed the planet in the stimulation and after he killed all the buggers he regretted his actions in war. I might be totally wrong here but I think that in war the human race should look out for each other even if the other people are different.
Teenagers need discipline and rules because they can't control themselves.
After reading Ender's game I would rate this as a two because I think that a lot of teenagers can handle themselves. For example I wouldn't have a problem if I didn't have any rules. I think that in the situation of no rules some teenagers would just make up new rules. On the other hand other teenagers would go crazy without rules. In Ender's Game the kids made their own rules. The kids at Battle school were able to run an orderly battle without much help from the teachers. Yes sometimes rules are useful but in most situations I think that teenagers can rise to the challenge.
Only though personal sacrifice can someone create positive change.
Now that I have red Ender's Game I would rate this as a 3 because there is other ways to create positive change, but sometimes change can come from personal sacrifice. If that was the only way then people would have to give up a lot. In Ender's Game all the kids going to battle school had to give up their childhood to save the world. In chapter 13 Ender sacrifices his life on Earth to go to commander school and help defend Earth.
Generating compassion for your enemies is the only way to create peace. 
I agree with everything I said originally. You have to understand and generate compassion for your enemies to create peace. Understanding your enemy and having compassion for them lets you see their situation from another perspective. It can help you keep peace. I think that this is proven in Ender's Game when Ender finally learns about the buggers and comes to peace with them. By going into Ender's mind the buggers were able to create compassion for Ender and therefore forgiving him for killing the buggers. 

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Ode to my pencil

Oh my pencil
How you help me so
What would I do 
without your beautiful grey lead?
Made of wood
with brilliant yellow paint
You help me write
or doodle when I'm bored
I fix you when you break
If I make a mistake 
your smooth pink eraser 
will clear them away
No pen compares 
to your versatile use
like shoes my pencil 
helps me everyday
What would I do?
Oh my pencil

Orson Scott Card Article Response

     In the article on  The Hollywood Reporter I learned about Orson Scott Card's, Author of Ender's Game, Opinion on gay marriage. Card wrote Ender's game which is a futuristic science fiction novel where the human race has to go to war with an alien race. In the article Card says that "homosexuality is a 'reproductive dysfunction' born of choice." People may be hesitant to support his works because of his opinion. With the Ender's Game movie coming out next November, the movie company wants to separate themselves from Card's opinion. They say that Card's opinion doesn't reflect in the book or the movie.I think that this is an interesting dilemma, His book is really good but buying it means that you are supporting his views. Everyone is open to their opinion but nonetheless, people will judge him and his book. This article doesn't effect my thoughts on the book but it does make wary as to whether or not I want buy the next book. Personally I think that we shouldn't judge Card's book and Card himself together. His work of art stands alone as a great book.
     I don't think that Mr. Vack should take Ender's game off the curriculum.  I think that reading this book opens the door for students to discuss if the author really is connected directly with the book. I think that Mr.  Vack could do responses in the future and keep learning from this article. I think that the movie company doesn't want Card's view on gay marriage to effect the way people see the movie. The movie company feels that Card would say something to upset the fans of the book and the movie if he is put in the limelight too much. I think that the company is right to feel this way. Although I don't attach Card to Ender's Game other may and that could make him and his book less popular.

Ender's Game Questions Chapters 12 - 15

Chapter 12 – Bonzo
1. Bonzo was really mad after the Dragon army beat the Salamander army. Ender seemed to be an all around better soldier than him and Bonzo didn't want to accept it. While Ender was in the Salamander army he didn't get to do anything and Bonzo treated him badly but despite that Ender was on the top of the ranks. Ender also offended his honor by saying that his father would be proud of him for beating up someone at such a disadvantage  To get back at Ender for beating his army Bonzo got in a fight with Ender, hoping to kill him. As we learn later Ender actually ends up killing Bonzo.
2. When Ender lived on Earth Stilson was the boy that bullied him. After he got his monitor off Stilson tried to make fun of him. Like the situation with Bonzo it came down to fighting. Ender beat Stilson up and killed him. I think that Ender was thinking of him because Ender had to fight with Bonzo just like he had to fight with Stilson.
3. Ender thinks that the teachers need him and they won't let anything bad happen. On page 206 Ender thought "They'll [the teachers] push me as hard as they can in a game, but outside the game they'll keep me safe." Ender expects the teachers to help him because they need him to defeat the buggers but Graff says that it will make him stronger to have to deal with bullies. After his fight with Bonzo Ender knew the the teachers would never help him. Ender was wrong for expecting help. 
4. When I read about the fights I didn't think that Bonzo or Stilson were dead. It really surprised when I learned that. At the end of the chapter you read people talking about the deaths and saying that Ender is scary. When the fight between Ender and Bonzo was done the book said that "Bonzo collapsed, fell to the side, and sprawled directly under a spay of steaming water from the shower." Think back on it it makes sense that they are dead.
5. Yes he was justified, they picked on him first. I think that that could have been avoided if the teachers stepped in. Major Anderson wanted to help Ender but Graff told him not to. I think that they didn't tell Ender about the deaths because he would be depressed and would think of himself as a killer. After Ender killed killed all the Buggers he was really sad because he didn't mean to kill all the buggers. If Ender had found out he killed them he wouldn't want to help defeat the buggers.

Chapter 13 – Valentine
1.I think that this quote means that if you pretend to be someone or something long enough you start to act and think like that person. In the book Valentine pretended to be Demosthenes and after a while she started to think like Demosthenes. This also happened to Ender when he became commander, he started acting more tough and more in charge. I think that this happens not only in the book but in real life, for example, if I were to talk in a British accent for a long time it would be hard for me to stop talking like that because I became the person I was pretending to be.
2. Yes and no, it could be helpful to have an instinct that told you to kill. However in most cases an instinct to kill could just lead to more trouble in death. In the End of the book Ender's instinct told him to destroy the bugger planet. That had some "good" effects and some bad effects. In the book the battles at Battle school were survival of the fittest. Whichever army was the most trained and ready won but in the end the battles didn't really matter, they were just a game to keep the kids busy.
3. Ender and Valentine discuss what the Battle School really is. He tells Valentine that the whole thing is just a game and they are the puppets on the string. Ender says that he finally understands the buggers but he hates them and he loves them. I think that Ender is fed up with the games that they he has been playing and he has conflicting thoughts telling him to help mankind or do what is morally right.
4. At the beginning of the book Peter was murderous and Ender was innocent and helpless. As I read further Ender became more violent and Peter mellowed down, taking the role of Locke, his complete opposite. On page 236 Ender tells how he thinks that he is now the person who has power. Valentine was helping Peter with his plan to control the world and she didn't get to see Ender as much. Valentine was backing Peter up like she used to do for Ender. Valentine still loves Ender and wants the best for him. I think that Valentine is mad at herself for going along with Peter's plan.
5.I think that the outcome would not have been the same. The Buggers had to understand the humans as the humans had to understand the Buggers. The Bugger war helped Ender and the Bugger cocoon communicate. I think that Ender will help start a new race of Buggers. On the other hand the war had a lot of damage and they might have found a way to understand each other. I think that the war could have been stopped but the outcomes worked out for the humans but not the Buggers.

Chapter 14 – Ender’s Teacher
1. Ender hated the way that the the tunnel floors sloped downwards. It gave him a feeling of falling. Another think that Ender didn't like about Eros was the way that the rooms seemed to be ill-proportioned, with the ceilings to low for the width and the tunnels too narrow. He was also disturbed by the amount of people, especially stranger, there were. He found out they were Bugger hives when Mazer was teaching Ender about the Buggers. It made a lot of sense because it never felt like a human place.
2.In the past all the teachers didn't teach Ender as much as learn from him. Graff, himself said that Ender was smarter than he would ever be. Mazer tought Ender things that he didn't know. For example Mazer taught Ender about how the Buggers lived. Mazer gave Ender the Challenge that Ender needed to continue his "studies." On page 264 Mazer says "One is never too old to be a student of the enemy. I have learned from the buggers. You will learn from me." This shows that Ender will learn what Mazer has learned from the Buggers.
3. Why had Mazer been dishonest with Ender? Do you think Ender could have
handled the truth?
I think that Mazer lies to Ender because it doesn't put as much pressure on him. Mazer has to be dishonest because Ender will have fun (kinda) working with his friends. Also if he doesn't know he may be more willing to do extreme but necessary things like he did when he blew up the Bugger planet.  I don't think that Ender could have handled the truth. He would feel a lot of pressure and he wouldn't want to kill all the Buggers. When the war ended Ender was sad and depressed that he had killed all those buggers.
4. Yes they did push the children too far. Ender pushed Petra so far that she was too tired to be used in the battles. While Ender was doing the battles he didn't get any sleep and he was always tired. After a long time of working himself too much he got sick. In the end it was worth it and the children did get better but I think that the Bugger war left some physiological effect on the kids.
5. I don't think that the genocide of the Buggers is justified. The buggers were their own race and they had acquired customs. The golden rule is to treat others how you want to be treated. I am sure that the human race would not like to be annihilated. I think that the genocide of the buggers was in fact inevitable. It may not have happened then but some time the buggers and the human race would be annihilated.

Chapter 15 – Speaker for the Dead
1. I think that Ender would agree with this statement. He was given the roll of the hero that would save the human race and he did his best. He learned about the buggers and lead the humans to victory. Ender didn't really have control over his life, he played along with Graff's games. Graff cared for Ender and forced him to play and do his best at that role. 
2. Ender had done a lot of bad things in his life. For example he killed the buggers, hurt the boys at Battle School, Killing Bonzo and Stilson. I think that Ender thought that one more crime added on to his many other didn't make much of a difference. I think that Ender didn't feel as bad about Stilson and Bonzo's death because they deserved it whereas the buggers didn't do anything to Ender.
3. Valentine new that if Ender went back to earth Peter would take that opportunity to reveal himself making him be even more powerful. Valentine was trying to help Ender live a better life. If Ender came back to earth Peter would control the world even more. By not being able to go back to earth Ender had the opportunity to start another life. He is able to undo his wrongs. In the end it was really for his own good that Valentine made it that Ender couldn't return to earth.
4. The thing that is ironic about Peter saving million of lives is that in the beginning of the book Peter murdered animals and he hurt Ender. After being mean the tables had turned and he was now saving people's life. I think that Peter had other reason for making the Locke treaty nonetheless he did end the war on Earth.
5. After Ender found the cocoon of the new hive queen Ender learned the story about the buggers and he also learned that the hive queen had forgiven Ender. Ender learned all this information by talking reading the bugger's mind, he thought "...How can I see these things, like memories in my own mind."
6. Ender uses the pseudonym "Speaker for the Dead" because when he found the hive queen cocoon he learned about the dead race. After telling people the bugger's story Ender was kind of like the speaker of the dead buggers. His book is the story about the history of the buggers. I think that he wants to be known for his memory of life rather than death.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

CEJ 5


Greta Bishop
02-26-13
Brewer sued for ‘watered down’ beer
Independent.ie
02-26-13
Business
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/brewer-sued-for-watered-down-beer-29096767.html

Anheuser-Busch was accused of watering down budweisers, michelob and other brands in a class action case seeking millions in damage. The lawsuit, which was filed in in Pennsylvania claimed that people were being cheated on the alcohol content stated on the bottle. Budweiser and Michelob are said to be 5% alcohol content whereas some “light versions are just over 4%. Information on the lawsuit comes from a former employees at the company's 13 US breweries, some in top-level plant positions, according to lead lawyer Josh Boxer of San Rafael, California. "Our information comes from former employees at Anheuser-Busch who have informed us that as a matter of corporate practice, all of their products mentioned (in the lawsuit) are watered down," Mr Boxer said. "It's a simple cost-saving measure, and it's very significant." The water added before bottling reduces the alcohol content by 3% to 8%, he said. After merging with InBev in 2008 Anheuser-Busch, based in St Louis, Missouri, became the world’s largest alcohol producer.
I don’t think that this has much of an effect on me but some people may be mad that they are paying for beer that is less alcohol than originally stated. I don’t think that there is a bias in this article because the author gives quotes from both parties and tells both sides of the story without stating his opinion. I don’t think that this story is very meaningful but I think it has another meaning. Because Anheuser-Busch is such a big company they may feel that they can get away with cheating people. Who is to say that this isn’t happening all around? I think that the lawsuit won’t work, the whole story will be covered up and Anheuser-Busch will go back to being the billion dollar corporation. On the other hand maybe I’m wrong?

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Ender's Game Questions Chapters 9-11


Chapter 9 – Locke and Demosthenes
1.I think that Peter and Valentine have a battle of morals. From the beginning Peter has always been murderous and Valentine is a sweet girl who tries to help others. I think that Valentine is trying not to become like Peter. With their new arrangement of Lock and Demosthenes Valentine must work with Peter. I think that Valentine feels bad for helping Peter control the others. I think that Peter is manipulating Valentine by making her write things but she has to write specific ideas that are the total opposite of her views. I think in a way Locke and Demosthenes are playing good cop, cop on the internet.
2.  In the book Locke is thought to be the more liberal of the two. The philosopher Locke was said to be the father of Classical Liberalism. Locke was the first person to define himself through continuity of consciousness. In the book Demosthenes takes a more violent and immediate stand. She thinks that the Americans should break the Warsaw Pact. The real Demosthenes was a Greek statesmen. He idolized his city and fought to preserve its freedom. He played a big part in his city rebellion. I think that this makes sense because Valentine is urging her followers to start an uprising.
3. Ender was angry because Graff and the other teachers used Valentine to make him feel better. They used the only good memory he had and made her say stuff. I think that Ender is angry because he feels that the battle school and the teachers are controlling him and his life. At first he was angry that he was like Peter but know he is angry that he is so dependent on the battle school, it is the only thing he knows as home.
Chapter 10 – Dragon
1.In book Ender is a stern leader but he is also understanding. He expects his soldiers to be in the best condition but he also feels empathy for Bean because the same thing happened to him. In the end Ender is a really good leader, his soldiers follow him without loathing him. Ender leaves leniency to the toon leaders. I think hat he is that kind of leader because of his experience with other commanders. I think that he was combining all the good qualities of his previous commanders.
2.  Ender pointed out what a good soldier Bean was. He made it so that the other boys in their army was jealous of him. Ender did the same thing that Graff did to Ender. I think that the reason Ender made Bean out to be such a good soldier is so that all the other boys will watch him and he can earn their respect. Plus all the things that Ender said about Bean were true. Ender put a lot of pressure on Bean and he had to live up to it.
3. What does the word Salaam mean?  What could this tell you about the power of religious identity?
In chapter 10 we learned what the word Salaam means. Alai said that Salaam means "peace." I think that this tells you that you can express things with your religion. Alai feels an  identity with the word Salaam and he feels that he can use it to show what he feels. I think that your religious identity has the power to break laws and bring people together.
4.In the End of chapter 10 Ender realizes his and Alai's friendship has a wall.. At the end he was also given a new army full of new soldiers.Major Anderson said that he wasn't allowed to practice with Shen and Alai. I think that Ender's reaction to all this change is what the teachers wanted. Graff wanted Ender for feel isolated and alone, making it so that he can't practice with his friends achieved that goal. Also he took on teaching his soldiers which is what the teachers wanted.

Chapter 11 – Veni Vidi Vici
1.I don't think that the computer doesn't actually know Ender but instead the computer learns how he thinks and his fears from the way that Ender plays the game. The more I think about it the more I come to believe that the computer does not know exactly what Ender is thinking. I think that the computer learns already known facts about his fighting skills and his family to see how he deals with different situations.
2. What Ender means by this is that he can't lose a game because it will make him seem weak. If he seems weak the other boys will try to hurt him. I think that in a way Ender is scared of what will happen if he loses a game. In the context Ender is asking Bean to help him find a way not to loses the battles. I feel really bad for Ender, it is a lot of pressure to have to win every game. With idea of being beaten up right around the corner Ender is doing his best to make himself seem tough and to avoid the inevitable fight.
3. The teachers want Ender to reach his full potential. The buggers are also coming and they need Ender to be prepared. I think that Graff wants to be the one that pushed Ender to become the best. On the other hand too much pushing could lead Ender to become tired and not want to fight anymore. In a way it is already happening. Ender sees the way that the teachers are making the games unbalanced. I think that pushing is good for the human race in the long run but Ender doesn't get to have a childhood or any long term friends.
4.The last two sentences of the chapter talk about how Bean thought of lots of ideas a that were all stupid. Ender had told him to think of the craziest, stupidest ideas that could help the dragon army win the next battles. Beans says that Ender would be proud of him, I think that this shows that Bean is ready to help and looks up to Ender. Ender thinks that most stupid ideas have to potential to become great ideas. Ender chose Bean to come up with these ideas because he is the youngest and the brightest of the boys in the army.
5.Yes this is an appropriate title for this chapter. In chapter 11 Ender's army becomes really good, they learn new skills and watch what others do and then they conquered the battle rooms. They win every game, the whole chapter is about how the Dragon army beat all the other armies and got around the obstacles the teachers but in the game. This title shows exactly what happens in chapter 11.



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

CEJ 4

Greta Bishop
02/12/13
Quilting Class Gives People Hope
The Times Standard
02/10/2013
Local
http://www.times-standard.com/lifestyle/ci_22560164/quilting-class-gives-people-hope

In the Hope Center is colorful quilts that show the adversities and achievements of men and women with mental health problems. “These quilts tell stories and provide the people who've made them a creative means to express themselves,” said Oceana Madrone, a long time quilter and Department of Health and Human Services health education specialist. Madrone facilitates the quilting classes held on Wednesdays at the Hope Center. The quilting classes are a peer run classes for people with a mental health problem. Other regular activities include gardening, painting, beading, social gatherings, field trips and peer advocacy groups. The Hope Center is supported by DHHS Mental Health with funding from the Mental Health Services Act. Materials for the quilts are donated from community members.”These are based on the Wellness Recovery Action Program, known as WRAP, which is used worldwide by people dealing with mental health challenges who want to attain the highest possible level of wellness,” said Kellie Jack, a peer specialist at the Hope Center. “These are small quilts, so when they are done making them, they can literally wrap themselves up in the quilts and take them home.” The quilts include inspirational words and pictures that have meaning to the people that made them. Madrone said the the quilts are good conversation started. The DHHS Mental Health also offers a Healthy Moms quilting program every tuesday, helping mothers deal with alcohol and other addictions.

I think that to the community this means that they are willing to help people with mental health problems. I think that this means that people with mental health problems will have a creative way to let out their feelings. It also lets the people learn things be using math and other skills to make the quilts. I don’t think that this article has any bias. I think that this program, class thing is a really good idea and that it is a really good idea. I think that in tough times having a creative way to express your feelings is really good and this helps the people stay mentally stable. This could be the way that someone learns that they are a really good quilter. For example people in the past with problems like loss of sight have turned out to be great artist. I think that this program will keep going for a long time. Another thing that I think is really funny is that Oceana Madrone is Madison's grandma. So local news relates to someone in our class.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Drones, Right or Wrong?

     In the past drones have been used for everyday use. They can be used to monitor traffic or to take pictures, not to mention the use in warfare. The fact that the drones are unmaned makes it so that the targets are less human and only on the screen. Drones seem to be useful machines when used correctly but are they being used correctly? With the use of military drones people can sit at their house and control the drone hundreds of miles away. The people control the drones like a video game, dehumanizing their targets. I think that if they can't see their targets they won't think as much about killing innocen people. I don't think the military should use drones for war because the people controling the drones won't be able to see the full effect of the actions.
     Recently Obama passed a law saying that it is okay to assasinate people with drones if he thinks that they might be terrorist. I also think that his puts too much power in the exsecutive branch's hand. For example if the presiden sees somebody as a threat, maybe no a physical threat to the country but a threat to the president's power, he may choose that to assasinat them is the only answer. I think that the use of drones is helpful but it can also be abused. In Ender's game they use machines to do things that humans could do. I think that in the end of the book unmanned machines will be very important to the rest of the story.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

CEJ 3


Greta Bishop

02-06-13

Homeless dogs embark from Kauai to Oakland

Jones, Carolyn
SFGate
02-04-13
State
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Homeless-dogs-embark-from-Kauai-to-Oakland-4249851.php
The Kauai Humane society has a surplus of dogs and have started a new programs to get these dogs a home. When people visit Hawaii they can now bring back a dog. The Kauai Humane Society is awash with a Airedales and other hunting dogs. They are trying to get Bay Area residents to bring back a dog or two on their next vacation. Through a deal with the Alaska Airlines tourist can accompany a dog straight back to the SPCA for adoption. So far 12 dogs have been taken to the Bay Area and 9 of them have been adopted. The SPCA says that the main reason for their success is that they’re not chihuahuas or pit bulls."We have a bazillion brown Chihuahuas. This gives us a little variety," said Allison Lindquist, East Bay SPCA director. "They're something different. They're a hoot." The dogs are mostly Airedale, whippet, and hound mixes, slightly rare mixes for this side of the Pacific. The program started when Brandy Varvel, operations manager at the Kauai shelter moved from Santa Cruz to Kauai to find about 90 dogs in the shelter on an island with only 60,000. This is saying a lot because in Oakland with 400,000 people there is only about 60 dogs in the city shelter. Alaska Airlines which travels year round from Kauai to Oakland, agreed to let the dogs travel for $100 as long as they are accompanied. The Shelter pays the $100 and provides a dog crate, plus the necessary medical paper. Volunteers at both ends handle the rest and after a day or two getting used to the mainland they are ready to adopt. "It seemed like such an innovative solution, and they do all the prep work," said James Pumphrey, SPCA operations manager. "How could we say no?"

I think that there is a little bit of bias in this article. I think that the author of the article is trying to get people to bring back dogs or adopt dogs.Not that this is a bad thing because if possible people should try to adopt a dog. I agree with this article, I think that the idea of bring dogs here is a really good idea. In fact if I could I would bring back a dog myself. Also I think that Brandy Varvel is pretty amazing for setting this up. I was really surprised to hear that there were that many dogs in the shelter. It is a good change to read good news, all the news articles that I’ve read are gruesome or have something to with death. So this is a nice, happy story that restores my faith in humanity. I wonder if other islands have started to offer this transportation of dogs? Can dogs go other places rather than Oakland? I think this could be a good idea for fundraiser. You could raise money to pay for the airplane trip to Oakland or another city. I really liked ready this story and I learned a lot.

Video Game Response

     I don't normally play other video games except for Temple Run and Fruit Ninja. I have no problem with video games but I don't spend my time playing video games. If I were to make my own video game I would make it be a story line game where the player has to save the world. They go through different levels, discovering the aliens, making friends with the alien and then saving the world. This game wouldn't be violent. I think that the reason kids are so violent is because main stream video games focus on death and gore. However not all video games are violent. I used to play a game called puppyluv. In this game you took care of your virtual puppy. I think that this game taught kids how to take car if animals. It taught kids to be responsible for their animals. I don't understand how someone can spend a whole day playing video games. To me it seems that video games control our brains, we have to get the next level, we have to kill the zombie. To win you have to kill everyone, the game makes you take pleasure in other people dying. I think the violence in the games reach your mind subconsciously telling you that killing people is okay. I think that violent video games have a big physiological effect on your mind. On the other hand I am not judging other people for playing video games. In way I feel like what I am saying is a little to opinionated and I'm sure my opinion could change on this so don't quote me.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

CEJ 2


Greta Bishop

02-05-13

Two students get fingers torn off during tug-of-war

Soave, Robby
The Daily Caller
02/05/2013
National
http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/05/two-students-get-fingers-torn-off-during-tug-of-war/
According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune two students at South El Monte High School got their fingers torn off during a tug-of-war game. The two students, one boy and one girl, were participating in their school’s Spirit Week Festivities according to the Los Angeles county fire department who arrived at 12:20 PM. “Fingers (were) amputated during some type of tug-of-war,” said Fire Captain Miguel Garcia in a statement. “They were transported by ambulance to a trauma center.” Neither the fire department nor the school has explained how the injuring happened or who was involved. Luckily no one else was hurt. As a result of this incident the school board will be reconsidering its policy on tug-of-war.
I think that this incident is really terrible. I can not believe that this happened. You would think that tug-of-war is a harmless game but after reading this I don’t think that I will ever think of tug-of-war in the same way. I don’t think that there is any bias in the article. This is because it doesn’t contain that much opinions. I am wondering whether or not someone was involved and was it purposeful. This incident is really gruesome but I think that it shows that even the simplest or trivial games can be dangerous. I think that this event will lead other schools to review their regulations on tug-of-war. This kind of relates to the game red rover. Sometimes kids get clotheslined but I have never heard of anything this gruesome ever happening. All in all this event is horrible and I hope that nothing like this ever happens again.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Ender's Game Questions Chapt. 6 - 8

Chapter 6 – The Giant’s Drink
1. I think that the purpose of this game is to see how well the students at the battle school solve problems. Although Ender made it to the End of the world, I think that he was a little violent. I don't think that he is a murderer but I do think that he has the possibility of becoming a murder. In the book Ender stabbed the giant's eye and through the eye was the passage way to fairyland. I think that the memory of Peter keeps Ender from becoming a murderer. 

Chapter 7 – Salamander

1.Alai said "salaam." I think that this was important because it showed that Alai and Ender were good friends and that Alai was willing to take the risk and show a part of Alai that not many others had seen. The book said that Alai had given Ender a "sacred gift." Alai had broken the rules that he said he couldn't have a religion, and he showed his religion to Ender. This exchange showed that Alai trusted Ender. As the story goes on, they become even better friends and help each other learn.

2. 
The "just living" mentioned in the chapter means the normal life that Ender could have if he wasn't a third or go to battle school. I don' think that Ender has ever "just lived." Ever since he was born he has has been a third and Peter and Valentine have had monitors. I think that Ender wants to be accepted and he doesn't want to be a murder like Peter. If I were him I wouldn't be very happy. I think that Ender will soon find out that he would rather be a normal boy but I also think that there us no "just living" for a but like Ender. I would much rather live a normal life than have all that pressure of killing the buggers.

3. 
Petra gave Ender friendship and made him feel at least semi accepted. Petra helped Ender learn how to shoot the guns. In the book Petra mentored Ender even though Bonzo didn't want her to. Petra's friendship made the other boys not like Ender as much. Because no one liked Petra, Ender was also shunned. This shows that people can be judged just for the friends that they have.

4. 
In the book Bonzo was a very harsh commander, everyone worked in unison and everything was decided before they got in a fight. However his way did get results.Ender learned that to be a good leader you have to be organized but I think that he also learned that good leaders have to be friends. I think that Ender learned that even though planning tactics works, sometimes you have to go with instinct and do the unexpected. 

Chapter 8 – Rat
1. I think that this quote means that Ender shows more potential than Graff. Graff is more of a teacher than the kind of person that actually saves the world. Ender is smarter and learns faster. In a way I think that Graff may be jealous and proud of Ender. Ender thinks of things in a different way then others and he is mentally stronger than other students at battle school, he shows this by not crying at with the launchies.

2. 
I think that this quote means that Ender is willing to learn. It shows that Ender is willing to get help from others. I think that this quote shows how independent Ender to take his education in his own hands. Dink is willing to teach Ender but he wants Ender to learn. This quote shows what kind of relationship Dink and Ender have. They will learn from each other. 

3. 
When endangered by the older students at the battle school Ender and his launchie friends did a counter attack trying to get the door. This response shows what Ender would do in the situation of a real war. If their was a real war Ender would hide he would take initiative and do what needs to be done. I think that the fact that Ender ripped someones ear shows that Ender is okay with hurting other people to survive. 

4. 
When Ender sees his brother, Peter in the mirror he breaks the mirror with the snakes that are trying to kill him. I think that it showed that Ender is turning into the murderous Peter. The mirror represents his reflection and his future of becoming a killing machine. I think the snake represents the people that Ender is leading to do the same.

5. 
The game knows what is going on in the players mind. It knows Ender's insecurities and fears. I think that the game is made to help the player deal with the worst emotional situation. The game may be preparing the kids to deal with having something bad happen to the people they love. I think that the game is also a way the measure the students as to whether their ready to move on. That is how Ender was promoted to the Salamander group.

6. 
I think that Ender is showing that he hates himself for being the kind of kid that teachers love and the kind of kid that could possible kill all the buggers. Ender is disgusted with himself and thinks that the snakes were right in killing him. He says that he is the tool that other will use to survive. I think that Ender wishes that he could go back to his normal life with his family. I think that the people in charge of the school and of Graff are keeping all the smartest boys in space so that they can take over the people on earth.