Friday, December 16, 2016

"A Man of Courage and Court"

Courage is when you're licked before you begin
She was the bravest person I ever knew
But you begin anyway
See it through no matter what

In our courts all men are created equal
Our courts have their faults
Courts are the great levelers
You rarely win
But sometimes you do

There's a lot of ugly things
Keep 'em all away
Hold your head high

"He's tryin' to be funny,"
"I'm very grateful"
"Never said anything about that"
"It's a sin to kill a mockingbird"


I commented on Eamonn's, Carter's, and Max's blogs.

Friday, December 2, 2016

TKAM: Atticus and Aunt Alexandria

A. When it comes to character relationships, who would be better to describe than Atticus the perfect father and Aunt Alexandria the stereotypical caretaker? To start, both are Finches. When I say that, not only do I mean that they're related, but they both want Jem and Scout to have great futures in keeping the Finch legacy going. Their father is a lawyer and their uncle is a doctor. They aren't just normal people and Atticus and Auntie won't let them cost the family like cousin Joshua.

They also have a similar view on what they want for Jem and Scout. Jem is maturing and even been called to be almost an adult. Scout is growing and under Jems influence of growing up as a boy. Atticus and Aunt Alexandria want Jem to be a proper gentleman and for Scout be a beautiful young lady. Both characters have these two interests.

B. These two also have significant differences. Aunt Alexandria is keen on noticing family traits. She says that the Merriweathers are morbid because they usually commit suicide and that "No Crawford Minds His Own Business." Atticus on the other hand doesn't pay much attention to families like that but does notice traits of Maycomb County's individuals. Miss Stephanie Crawford isn't gossipy because she's a Crawford but because that's just her.

Another difference involves the Tom Robinson trial. Atticus took the case because he favors justice and knows that Tom is innocent. Even though he knows he'll lose because Tom is black, Atticus still is going to try unlike other lawyers. Unlike other people in general, Aunt Alexandria is completely against this. Like many other white people back then, Aunt Alexandria was negative towards blacks. She feels that the Finch name in disgraced because of Atticus took the case. Atticus isn't racist and sees all people as people. Aunt Alexandria is and doesn't want Atticus to damage the Finch integrity.

C. Aunt Alexandria's relationship with Scout isn't really as an aunt as it is an instructor. The reason she's living with Scout is because she needs "feminine influence" and needs to learn how to be a proper lady. Aunt Alexandria could be feeling a mix of sorrow and dissatisfaction towards Scout because she's growing up as a boy and can't behave to expectations. Scout utterly dislikes her aunt because of what she's trying to teach her and the abnormalities of Atticus being convinced by Alexandria to talk the children to things like living up to the family name.

Atticus above all is Scout's father. He's loving and compassionate and uses experience as a lawyer at home. His main trouble with Scout is that he doesn't want her to be negatively affected by her upcoming experience while Atticus defends Tom Robinson. Scout loves her father but is uneasy in the situations involving Aunt Alexandria. Otherwise, these two have a steady father-daughter relationship.

D. Aunt Alexandria affects Scout in a way that really bothers her. Scout just wants to be herself and the urge to become a lady to be waited on pops up. Having said it herself, she'd rather wait on Dill and do a share of that type of work as well. Therefore Aunt Alexandria has a negative effect on Scout.

Scout is positively affected by Atticus because he's simply a great father to her. He understands and comforts her whenever she has something to tell him. With the coming trial, Scout'll need him after hearing what citizens say about her father. There's nothing more Scout could ask from her father which along with his qualities is why Atticus has a positive effect.


Tuesday, November 22, 2016

"A Negro family come to town"

In the picture shown, I see people in the back of a pickup truck being parked. I can also find other details like the dirt road, other cars, and the trees. Objects shown include a car, a chair, and random items in the truck. The physical setting is a road with trees on the sides and a visible. Holding on the right.

This photo was taken in 1941. It depicts "negroes" at the back of a truck parking on the side of the road. I think this was made because the photographer may have been related to the people in the picture. If this image was taken in our present day, there would not only be color, but the vehicles would be different models. The road would be paved but as for similarities, the people and items is the truck would be in the same position.

"Macomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse, sagged in the square." When I read "red slop," I thought of Mexico. In rain, streets turn to slop there as well. This was because the roads were made of dirt. I connected that experience to the text and to the picture because those streets look like dirt. As for the sidewalk, there's a big patch of grass between the cement on the roadsides and the sidewalk. I looks like the grass overlays with the cement and grass possibly grows there too.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.umbrasearch.org%2Fthumbnail%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.loc.gov%252Fpictures%252Fcdn%252Fservice%252Fpnp%252Ffsa%252F8c07000%252F8c07400%252F8c07468r.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.umbrasearch.org%2Fcatalog%2F0d0769359b3b335061f401cff8fe2e6c37eda2d5&docid=EgFjaXwXQ0dPOM&tbnid=rKztVKi8QIyoyM%3A&vet=1&w=640&h=479&hl=en-us&safe=strict&client=safari&bih=672&biw=1024&q=library%20of%20congress%20a%20negro%20family%20come%20to%20town&ved=0ahUKEwj4pIi-pe3QAhVL62MKHVMYDz0QMwgiKAcwBw&iact=mrc&uact=8

Because Bogger has problems getting the image in, here's the link to the photo on Google Images.


Delano, Jack. Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia. A Negro Family Come to Town.     
     N.d Library of Congress, Washington D.C.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

If "Martyn Pig" Had a Soundtrack

I have recently finished a book found in Mrs. Larson's library which I found intriguing. "Martyn Pig" is the story of Martyn, a young 14-year old who lives with his alchololic father. With Alex who is three years older than Martyn as his only friend, life is unstable. There's children who bully Mayrtyn by his last name "Pig", his dreadful Aunty Jean which visits occasionally, and Alex's boyfriend, Dean. Martyn goes through so much and things become worse when a simple accident changed his life forever.

Of course Martyn hated his drunken father who did nothing but drink, watch television and order Martyn around but he didn't want to take his life. The alchoholism and a small push ended the old man's life and left Martyn troubled. With the help of Alex, the two must find a solution through this conundrum, along with threats and suspicions.

If I could pick the soundtrack for "Martyn Pig," I would use "Mad World" by Gary Jules. This depressing song reflects a man's perspective on doing the same routine every day, week, and month. I would include this because Martyn is neglected by his father who is consumed to his alchoholism. One can only imagine how sad Martyn's life would be. This connects to an example in the book where Martyn is ordered to get turkey and when he describes the daily "stages" of his dad getting drunk

Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4

The second of five songs I'd pick is "Donovan" by Brian Reitzell isn't really a song but an instrumental music score. This was composed for the video game "Watch_Dogs" which is played as the theme of a villain. "Donovan" connects to a situation where Alex and Martyn have risky business with Dean.

Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zeSDAs7kMes

Next, I picked "Damned" by Kevin Sherwood. This instrumental is part of the "Call of Duty Zombies" soundtrack and used as menu music. Not only is "Damned" a cover soundtrack, it describes what Martyn is. When his father dies, it leaves him with the decision to call the cops or cover it up, along with many other details spiraling out of hand.

Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3HAOmIiuJME

The second to last song chosen for this book's soundtrack is "Silk Vista". Composed by Johan Skugge and Jukka Rintämaki, this was used for "Battlefield 4". Its beats, if you will, are great for intensifying a visit from Aunty Jean. Why would the scene need emphasis? This was after Martyn's father's death and Alex has been there helping Martyn hide the incident.

Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dgHlKHFhkWg

Last but not least on the Martyn Pig soundtrack, I chose the third theme made for Doom 2016. Like other pieces in the Doom soundtrack, this is a heavy rock instrumental and is ideal for Martyn Pig. Many intense sections in the book like Alex and Martyn getting the body hidden elsewhere deserve music like this.

Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL_AjfGgaQtib2vhJ6TwdOCMg-6SjVHC1E&params=OAFIAVgE&v=5ALnYMxVGSA&mode=NORMAL

Monday, October 31, 2016

"On This Day"

On this day, every year, veterans are respected and honored
for the bravery they have shown

They risk life and limb to serve their country,
the country that themselves and many others live in

On this day, an armistice was made during World War I
on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month

Armistice Day was later changed to Veterans Day
to honor not just an armistice but all veterans

On this day, we remember the sacrifices made,
made by veterans that did so much to protect us

They leave their close ones to secure the future of other families
and risk dying which consequently leaves their wives, husbands, or children to fend for themselves

On this day, we are thankful as we should be every day,
for the lives we live thanks to them

Their bravery, courage, and honor, is something some but not many acknowledge every day

For all of this, our country is eternally in the debt of all veterans, living or deceased.

Friday, October 28, 2016

1st Quarter Reflection 2016

     Some things you learn in the current year may be similar to what you actually learned from the last year. Mrs. Larson had tuaght us about the TIQA format. Topic sentence, introducing a quote, stating the quote, and analyzing it. This strategy is what I learned from Mr. Richards, my past social studies teacher. He told us about a strategy similar to TIQA but excluded the topic sentence. The "123" strategy helped me understand Mrs. Larson's.

     To aid in using TIQA, she gave us a printed PowerPoint presentation. This had the crash course on TIQA from making the topic sentence to using supporting details. I want to thank Mrs. Larson for giving us the tutorial paper and for presenting other strategies. The given strategies may actually help us later in life. Such may include simply writing down vocabulary words on a notebook.

     Actually writing something can help you learn better than mindlessly typing it. Mrs. Larson started giving us vocab. words on Friday. Not only do we have to input those and our prefixes onto Quizlet, but we also have to write them down in our notebooks. This is helpful because writing takes time. On an electronic, a letter is typed at the push of a button. On paper, you take time to write and therefore know what you are writing about. With Quizlet it's type first, study later. 

     I see the first quarter of this school year as an introduction. We learned strategies that we'll use not only in the progressing school year but later in life. These past few months have been showing us the possible assignments to come and has given us these strategies. Overall, we know what to do for whatever comes during the next few quarters.


Friday, October 21, 2016

A Letter to Lady Fortunado

     Lady Fortunato,
In the chaotic celebrations and mayhem of the carnival, I encounter my good friend Montresor. Surely you remember him when we discussed wine and Italian arts. Sadly, Montresor isn't who he was before and has revealed that side of him tonight. He has lured me into a trap, using my knowledge and love for wine. I regret to inform you that I may spend my last days in this miserable chasm.

To start, I met Montresor in the carnival parties near his palazzo. He told me that he got a pipe of what seemed as amontillado. Being the best there is in wine, I decided to accompany Montresor and help him. There are times when the great must help the lowliest and besides, wine was my specialty. Montresor couldn't stop mentioning Luchesi but what did he know that I didn't? We went into the Montresor catacombs and drank Medoc before checking the pipe. I do remember Montresor being very kind and hospitable but apart from that and being eager to check the amontillado, I can't remember anything else. I must've drunk from all the Medoc.

I walked with Montresor through the catacombs into a room. All I tried to do was find the wine, but as I came back to my senses, I realized that I was stuck with nitre and was chained up. I looked around and saw Montresor finish what looked like to twelfth or thirteenth tier of stone and mortar. He led me into a trap and left me to die in the last place someone would look for me. If you find this letter, I may already be dead, indirectly killed by Montresor.

Your unfortunate husband, Fortunado

I commented on Vince B's, Sophie M's, and Jack S's blogs.

Friday, October 7, 2016

"The Kindness and Compasion a Family can Give

"The Kindness and Compassion a Family can Give.

Theme: Kindness and helping others.

“We remember our first days in America” said a few strangers while helping us
No matter how much the strangers resembled beetles, my father always maintained that they could be angles, given to us by God to test the deepest sentiments of our hearts.

My brother had found another stranger housing and a job, encouraged him, and even given him money when he could — even though my bro had so little himself. All of this, without telling anyone.

Maybe every stranger was an address-book brother, sent to test the goodness in our hearts.


Haileab the kindhearted, the compassionate, friend to the poor and the downtrodden, the first to comfort the sick, the last the leave them, ally of his people, our father and shepherd, he has gone up, and we pray, oh, Eternal One, that you receive him.


My father was never afraid to ask for help. But he also used his own power to help others, especially the most recently arrived refugees. The poorer the refugees, and the more desperately they needed his help, the more he wanted to do for them.

Of the gifts that we can give, the greatest is to see beauty in each other — in essence, to give beauty to each other. When we give that beauty, we prepare our hearts to receive it back.

Monday, September 26, 2016

AoW Week 2

Article: WHO Providing Health Care To Syrian Refugees In And Outside of The Camps

"WHO Providing Health Care to Syrian Refugees In And Outside of The Camps" focuses on the broad topic of refugees. According to the article, "' The current security situation in Syria along with the aspiration to protect my children forced me to leave my home' said Samira, a middle-aged Syrian mother who fled home with her four children, seven months ago." Samira and her children fled for safety due to the civil war. In Of Beetles And Angels, the book partially focuses on refugees. The memoir states "Please do not blame us. What would you do if chaos approached you on the tortured feet of a million refugees? Could you handle so many?" It's evident that refugees are the focus on both the article and the book.

The article mainly focused on health care for Syrians. It's said that "the four clinics inside the camps along with the mental health care center offer offer medical consultations, education and psychological support to the Syrian refugees." This means that the clinics and the mental institute are working to help refugees in clinics. In OBAA, it's stated that "The first time Beth saw us, she saw trouble. My father lay shivering under a blanket, his head aflame in fever, and Beth, a nurse, knew instantly that he had malaria." This means that medical help was needed for both types of refugees.

There are many ways war can affect groups or individuals. In Mina's article, it's stated that Syrian refugee children must give up their education to support their families. This is because the civil war has taken family members. Children will be left out on education because of the war. In Carter's article, it is made known that around 5,000 refugees are screened for America. There's many more refugees Germany yet the Obama Administration aims to screen at least 110,000 as a goal. War affects people in a way that they must hope to seek a safe resettlement along with the support needed for those families.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Angel's Introductory Post

I'm Angel and this post will introduce some facts about me. Whenever I'm not doing homework or reading, I'm playing video games. The console I use and love is the PlayStation 4. I am a PlayStation Plus member so I have access to two free games on the PS4 and two others for my other console which is handheld. That second console is the PS Vita with touchscreen capabilities. I also have access to playing online.

My favorite video game is "Destiny" which has the sci-fi experience of "Halo" and the first person shooter action of "Call of Duty". The story sets in the far future when humanity discovered a planet-like object we called "The Traveler". It made miracles by making planets of the solar system habitable for us. With all this good, a darkness that chased the Traveler found us and an event known as "The Collapse" began which is when all was lost to the alien races of the darkness and we were forced to live behind a wall in the "Last City" of Earth under the Traveler's light. You, the guardian, must do what you can to eradicate the aliens and restore what was known as the "Golden Age".



The story is long and I bought all expansions. I even pre-ordered the new expansion called "Rise of Iron" which is my first pre-order ever! Destiny is also the first game that made me buy every expansion as well.

Other than "Destiny" I still have other passions. I love programming and wish to code video games for a living. I still have a long way to go because I need to learn Java Script and C++ which are programming languages.

To be honest, there's not that much to say about me. If you have a kid and throw in the love of PlayStations, Destiny, programming, books, brains and that kid may as well be me.