Not all memories make you happy.

I have recently  been reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. The book is about a Kid named Charlie tha goes to high school and he writes letters to an unknown person about his life. He says hes not going to tell the person whos reciving the letters who he is but he kinda does it any way. So far in the book I have noticed that Charlie thinks alot so it brings him down.

Charlie can think alot about memories he has from a long time ago and it could make him feel depressed. For example, there was this time where Charlie, Sam, and Patrick were at a football and Charlie sees a players which reminds him of a party of long ago. He remebers that his siblings were going to have a party, he had to stay in his room. this couple comes in the room, the football player starts touching the girl but she says refuses. At the football game Charlie reliazed that the grl was being raped. he gets this anger now when he sees the football player, but it also makes him feel bad for the girl. I think Charlie doesn't really understands things at first but when he does he gets string feelings which make him bring himself down.

Another time Charlie brought himself down was when he rembered his aunt. He rembered that he didnt cry for Aunt Helen when she died. Aunt Helen was going to buy charlie his presents for chirstmas and his birthday when she got into a accident, she died there. when his mom gave him the news he was upset, indenial, confused but yet he didnt cry. I think Charlie think about things because he thinks its his fault. Like he could've stoped the guy at the party, or at least called for help. But he let it happen, when his sister came in the room she called him a perv. He also realizes that Aunt Helen was on her way to buy Charlie his two presents. One for christmas one for his birthday, she was the only one who game him to seprate presents.

In conclusion, Charlie always thinks about memories and they bring him down. This connects to humanity because, everyone always wants someone to blame. People belive that its ALWAYS  someones fault, and if it isnt someone will find one. Which lead them to feel bad about themself and deppressed and all.

Love or No Love

In Romeo & Juliet by WilliamShakespeare i noticed Romeo has a confused perspective of love. Sofar in the book, there was a fight scene between the Montague’s and Capulet’s servingmen. Romeo confessed to Benvolio that he loves Rosaline, but he is not lovedback. Romeo still attempt to see Rosaline at the Capulet party he, Mercutio andothers crash. At the party Romeo spots Juliet, and it’s love at first sight.

                Romeothinks love can be a happy good feeling but sad bad feeling too. He says “whythen, O brawing love, O loving hate… O heavy lightens serious vanity … featherof lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick heath”. Romeo is describing the love thathe is feeling for Rosaline. In the line he says there is oxymoron. I think the positive words represents the love that Romeo is feeling and the negative is the love that Rosaline isn't giving him back.

I think Romeo is confused of love (if that makes sense...) because he says he really Is in love with Rosaline but when he sees Juliet he fall out of love with Rosaline and in love with Juliet. I don't think he is a hopeless lover because even though he wasn't loved by Rosaline he still fell in love with Juliet and he had hope with Juliet.

I do believe in young love, even if they aren't adults their love is still true and they should be given a chance to expirence, and if it doesn't go right... It wasn't meant to be. But it can always happen

Distracted Driving

     The article  UNSAFE BEHIND THE WHEEL? by Kate Zernike, is about how America is trying to make driving safer for teens by passing laws, bills and forming associations. According to the article teens tend to overestimate their driving skills and underestimate the road. And they cant multitask on the road like, talking to friends, listening to the radio and of course texting. Teenage drivers' risk of a crash increaes 44 percent with one teenage passenger and quadruples with three or more.
     Zernike wants me to think that The United States are trying to keep teenagers safe by making laws and regulations. In New Jersey, they requires 1st year drivers under 21 to attach a red decal to theier license plates to make it easier for the police to enforce an 11p.m. curfew and passenger restrictions. And a bill now before the state legislature would require parents of teen drivers to complete a drivers to complete a drivers education course. Some people dont agree with the red decal on the license plate. Jeffrey Nadel, the nineteen year old president of the National Youth Rights Association says, "These laws are blatantly discriminatory." I agree with Nadel but I also agree with the state because the laws are for the teens safety.
     Zernike wants me to feel that unsafe driving can be dangerous and she wants us to be more careful. She included statistics like,"Teenage drivers' risk of a crash increaes 44 percent with one teenage passenger and quadruples with three or more. Two-thirds of teen passenger deaths happen in a car driven by another teen." Zernike also includes facts like, "This summer, Congress got involved, offering highway safety grants to states that strengthen teen driving laws and crack down on texting-and-driving for all ages: Distracted driving was a factor in at least 3,000 deaths in 2010." I think all the facts and statics she included were really great because they made the issue "real"... And I think teens should appreciate and respect the regulations because they are for thier own safety.

Other Words For Loveeeee

In the book Other Words for Love by, Lorraine Zago Rosenthal. This book is about a teenage girl in HS and as she falls for her 1st love she has complications with her family, frienships&sex.  i noticed that Ariadna Mitchell doesnt really say her feelings and what she thinks. most of the time say doesnt speak for herself is when the people around her are putting her down.  
Family: Ari has a sister Evelyn. Ari has always had a crush on her brother-in-law Patrick. After Evelyn has her 2nd child she enters a crisis because she didn't get a baby girl. Evelyn think Ari wants to take her husband and her kids. Evelyn's son ( says that Ari's food is better than Eveyln's. Thats when Evelyn got really upset and left. Later, Ari's mom said it would be better if Ari didn't got to her sister's house anymore. Ari only wacthed as she thought "Im sorry, Evelyn. Im sorry that you had a hard labor and you didn't get a girl. And I know I shouldn't feel the way i do about your husband, but i just cant help it."
Friendships: Ari like any other girl thinks her friends are waayyyyy more prettier than her. Summer is her "best friend". She's the girl that always has a boyfriend, has the perfect bleached blonde hair, perfect skin, smart, has money, and is envied by any girl. Ari finally has Blake, and summer can't stand it. Ari says " I never have a boyfriend, and i honly have one friend, but you had everything ... and that made you feel like you were btter than me." :O she tossed her hair "I am better than you." <-- that is not something your "bestfriend" ONLY FRIEND would say. not cool Summer. 
Ari's life made me think about teenages beacause i think any teenager can relate to Ari at some piont in the book. i know i did, a lot. with the family problems, fake friends, the true frineds you don't value, your first love that went all wrong... alll those this Ari says actually makes you feel like at some piont your reading her journal or something. I really really enjoyed reading this book. BTW:IT TAKES PLACE IN 1985. (So like teens can even relate to another generation)   :)
                                    

Life Doesn't Frighten Me

     The poem Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou has a meaning that many people can relate to. In Angelou's poem she tries saying that you should be confident & concur your fears. She uses symbolism and repetition.
     In her poem Angelou uses a lot of symbolism. The symbolism she uses can make you wonder what age she is. " Shadows on the walls, noises down the hall, Life doesn't frighten me at all." (1-3) Young children are usually the ones who are afraid of shadows, noises, as well as other things she says in the poem that sound like fears of a child. "Dragons breathing flame on my counter plane, That doesn't frighten me at all." (10-12) LAter on in the poem the fears become more deeper and makes the reader think what the line really means. " I've got a magic charm, That i keep up my sleeve, I can walk the ocean floor' And never have to breath."(37-40) This line make the reader wonder if the speaker of the poem is a young adult or an adult, and that the childish fears actually is symbolizes other fears when yur grown up. Shadows and noises can be like bullies talking behind your back. The fire breathing dragons can be like people who can attack you... but all those things don't frighten the speaker, obviously.
     Secondly, Angelou uses repetition. She repeats life doesn't frighten me at all a lot of times. The reader can infer that the speaker is trying to find confidence in himself/herself. The speaker mentions their fears but then repeats to themselves each time that they aren't frightened by those things. He/she tries to reassure themselves that they "Can walk the ocean floor, and never have to breathe."
     All in all, Maya Angelou tells her message through out her poem using repetition and symbolism. Being confident and concurring your fears make me think deeper about humanity because, everyone is afraid of something. I as a reader of Life Doesn't frighten Me, I think repeating to myself "I will no longer be afraid of (whatever)" over and over again will eventually make me get over my fears and make me fee more confident about them.

We are the World- Ish...

     My song analyze is on We are the World by Michael Jackson. Its not my favorite song but in talent we're singing it so its cool. I think the main meaning of We are the World  is we need to give to others, hence the lyric, "We are the ones who make a brighter day so lets start giving." We can all make the world a better place. In 1985 there was a famine that devastated Africa, then the song was written and then prefromed by artists to help Africa.
     The artists want us to feel bad for all the people that are in need. Jackson uses very powerful words that would capture the readers/listeners attention. In the 1 paragraph he says " there are people dying, And its time to lend a hand to life." This lyric can show and help you imagine how bad the famine has affected Africa; So badly people are dying. The word "God is also mentioned a couple of times. I think by incluidng or like talking about god people who look up to him would take the lyrics, reflect. Then hopefully help a life in need. The artists wants us to think that being caring and help full is good. in the 4 stanza it says, "Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free" I infer that this line means that if the helping person shows to someone they care, the lives of those in need will become "Strong and free".

In conclusion, I think Michael Jackson(&others)'s message about helping others is a lesson everyone should learn; Its good for both sides. (In my opinion) The helping person will get a felling of satisfaction because they know they have made a difference and has helped a person who needed care and love.

Music Video

Lyrics to We are the World by Michael Jackson(USA for Africa):
1)There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And its time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

2)We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somehow will soon make a change
We are all a part of Gods great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need

[Chorus]
3)We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
Its true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

4)Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]

5)When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus: x2]

Maya Calendar Fail CORRECTIONS

The article Mystery of the Maya by Natalie Smith is mostly about, who the Mayas are and what their Maya calendar means. The Maya were a group of American Indians who lived in the area which is now Mexico and Central America. They had a really advanced writing system. They had a great knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. The Maya calendar also called the Long Count; it marked the past and future. The calendar starts from when the Mayas believe the world was created. The calendar is similar to the one we use today. The 365 days were based of the earth’s orbit around the sun.

 Smith wants to think that the Mayas don’t mean the world was going to end December 21 of 2012. She says “The largest unit of time on the calendar is a baktun, which is approximately 394 years. After 13 baktun, a great cycle of the Long Count comes to an end. The end of the current cycle will take place on December 21. It’s the end of this cycle that some people have confused with the end of the world.” Smith clarifies that December 21 will be the end of a cycle in the Maya calendar NOT the end of the world. She explains with definitions and facts like what is the baktun and how long is the calendar cycle. Smith also wants me to feel that the Mayas were a very knowledgeable group of people. She states “The height of their empire was from 250 A.D. to 900 A.D. During that time, they developed an advanced writing system. But it was their knowledge of mathematics and astronomy that really set them apart from other ancient cultures. The Maya carefully tracked the movements and cycles of the planets, moon, and sun long before anyone else did. They used this information to create a highly accurate calendar that closely resembles the one we use today. It contained 365 days and was based on Earth’s orbit around the sun.” She speaks of the Maya in a very admirable way. She interviewed an expert on ancient Maya at Colgate University in New York, Anthony Aveni. “You hear all about how amazing [the Maya] were, and I think they were,” says Aveni. “They were very accurate astronomers. Doing all of that without telescopes is amazing.” Natalie does a very good job of persuading readers Maya were bold people by using positive words towards the Mayas. She also tells and explains the invention and how the clever maya people came about the idea.

          This article taught me many facts about the Mayas and their calendar. I used to think that the Mayas did predict doomsday just that they predicted the wrong day. In this article taught me they actually were just marking the end of a cycle and the start of a new cycle. I also think of the Mayas of very brilliant people. I think it’s very clever how they could figure out a time span that will later turn into a year without any technology.

Bibliography: Smith, Natalie. "Mystery of the Maya." Http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3757754. N.p., 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.

Maya Calendar FAIL!

     The article Mystery of the Maya by Natalie Smith is mostly about, who the Mayas are and what their Maya calendar means. The Maya were a group of American Indians who lived in the area which is now Mexico and Central America. They had a really advanced writing system. They had a great knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. The Maya calendar also called the Long Count; it marked the past and future. The calendar starts from when the Mayas believe the world was created. The calendar is similar to the one we use today. The 365 days were based of the earth’s orbit around the sun.

 Natalie wants to think that the Mayas don’t mean the world was going to end December 21 of 2012. She says “The largest unit of time on the calendar is a baktun, which is approximately 394 years. After 13 baktun, a great cycle of the Long Count comes to an end. The end of the current cycle will take place on December 21. It’s the end of this cycle that some people have confused with the end of the world.” Ms. Smith clarifies that December 21 will be the end of a cycle in the Maya calendar NOT the end of the world. Natalie also wants me to feel that the Mayas were a very knowledgeable group of people. She states “The height of their empire was from 250 A.D. to 900 A.D. During that time, they developed an advanced writing system. But it was their knowledge of mathematics and astronomy that really set them apart from other ancient cultures. The Maya carefully tracked the movements and cycles of the planets, moon, and sun long before anyone else did. They used this information to create a highly accurate calendar that closely resembles the one we use today. It contained 365 days and was based on Earth’s orbit around the sun.” She speaks of the Maya in a very admirable way. She interviewed an expert on ancient Maya at Colgate University in New York, Anthony Aveni. “You hear all about how amazing [the Maya] were, and I think they were,” says Aveni. “They were very accurate astronomers. Doing all of that without telescopes is amazing.” Natalie does a very good job of convincing readers Maya were bold people by using positive words towards the Mayas.

          This article thought me many facts about the Mayas and their calendar. I used to think that the Mayas did actually predict doomsday just that they predicted the wrong day. In this article taught me they actually were just marking the end of a cycle and the start of a new cycle. I also think of the Mayas of very clever people. I think it’s very clever how they could figure out a time span that will later turn into a year without any technology.

Bibliography:

Smith, Natalie. "Mystery of the Maya." Http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3757754. N.p., 2013. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.