Outside Reading

In this part of my book, The trial for Peter is going on. Josie insisted on going to the trial, even though her mom told her she shouldnt go. She felt the need to see what was going to happen to Peter. When she got to the trial however, she couldnt look at anyone of her classmates that were there. It made her very upset to think about what could have been and if she would have been nicer to peter if he wouldn't have done the shooting. I think this is very normal for people to show this kind of emotion, especially in Josie's situation where she used to be friends with Peter, then became friends with the popular crowd and started going out with Matt and ignoring him. I think Josie feels like she wishes she would have been nicer to him and given him some time of day even though he may not have deserved it.

outside Reading

In this part of my book, decetive Patrick Ducharme is interviewing the people that were involved in the shooting, including the victims. Drew was interviewed for his bullying Peter. The detective knew better then to interview Josie because he knew she was still grieving over the loss of her boyfriend, Matt. When the detective interviewed Peter, Peter showed no emotion and showed no remorse for what he had done. He looked at the detective in the eye and said "They started it". I think that when somebody does something and they dont show any remorse over it they are still in shock or honestly just dont think anything was wrong with what they had done. I also think this is pretty typical of people to do after they have just done something really bad.

Outside Reading

In this part of my book, it is in a flashback of a few months before the shooting occured. Peter and Josie's class was giving presentations for a project. Matt and Josie had just started dating and Peter was very jealous. He went up in front of the class and pointed out josie's popularity in front of the class. I found this very interesting because normally when somebody is jealous they wont do something that the entire class will see or they wont want to embarrass the person that they are talking about like Peter did to Josie. He put her name in the project, which embarrassed her very much.

Numerology for Chemistry

There were two girls born on the same day by the same mother. Their mother calls them twins. Everyday they sing a duet while riding a bicycle in the forest. Each day, they see a bison. There was a fire in a house in the forest on February second. The family thought it was a fire made of carbon dioxide, but it was really a fire made of ethanol.

Outside Reading

In this part of my book, School is starting again at a new location to finish out the year. One of Matt's friends brought Josie Matt's hat he was wearing the day of the shooting. She holds on to that hat for her life. It then goes into a flashback of when Josie met Matt and he started picking on Peter. A quote showing how much Josie adored Matt is "Seeing Matt with that grin on his face" This shows Josie got really happy around Matt and she would care for him no matter what happens.

Numerology

The trio of triplets rode tricycles. They entered a three day tournament for softball. They got three triple plays, and three triples. They won third place, which led them to win a triangular, tricolored tripod as their prize.

Outside Reading

I read the second part of the book and in this section, Josie gets out of the hospital for her injuries and sees her friend Haley in the hospital and realizes she is much better off then some people. Peter continues to deny doing anything wrong in the shooting. He thinks he was protecting himself and getting revenge on everyone that picked on him. Josie continues to miss matt terribly and cries often for him. This reminds me of any sort of catastrophe because people lose their lives and the families suffer terribly. It is hard on everybody close to the person that died. A quote that shows this very well in the book is "Dead was dead. When you died, you did not get to come back and see waht you were missing. You didn't get to apologize. You didn't get a second chance."(Picoult 114). This quote shows that you have to live every day to the fullest and not regret anything because you never know when it will be your last.

Spontaneous word poem

At school yesterday, a tree jumped
At lunch, a student ran
The number 3 is sweet to me
Vinegar fills the air and
music from the choir fills my ear
A plane flys by in the sky
out the window, shoes walk
i wonder why
They slip and slide and bike on by
Students talk in the shade of the sun

Blog 1

I am reading the book Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. In the first part of the book, a school shooting happens. On March 6th 2007, a boy named Peter shot at kids at his school. He brought two guns to school because people had picked on him since he was in kindergarden. His parents had no idea that he was getting picked on or even upset. The beginning part of this book was very intense. The beginning of this book made me think about the shooting at Columbine High school. These two school shootings are similar becuse they were both horrible experiences for everyone involved. Also, they both happened very unexpectadley. The shooter in both high schools killed alot of people. Nobody had any idea that the student would do something like that. Even though the book Nineteen Minutes isn't true, it still relates very closely with the shooting at Columbine High school.

Poems

So much of spring depends
upon
the brown crunchy leaves
lying on the ground
The sun beating down
warming the earth
The sky blue,
and the soft breeze
blowing through my hair

So much depends
upon
a small, shiny wrapper
holding a brown soft piece of chocolate
melting in my mouth

Outside Reading 15

I found a short story in Chicken Soup for the Teen soul called Two Percent Is Enough. This story is about a little girl named Krissy who was sick from the day she was born. She was always weaker then other kids and as soon as she turned 4, things turned to the worst. She got a fever, high blood pressure, nonstop vomiting and her feet turned purple. She was taken to the emergency room and diagnosed with glumerulonephritis. She was given a 2% chance of survival. She recieved the right treatment and is now healthy and playing 4 sports. She says that even if you are given a 2 percent chance of survial, thats all you really need to get through and overcome the odds.

Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul by Multiple authors.

Research Project Blog

In this article i found on the Kashmir conflict was very clear on what each side wants in this conflict. Both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons, so if another war is going to start, both sides have a weapon. They both have fighter jets and ballistic missels that could be armed with nuclear warheads. India wants Pakistan to cease cross-border terrorism launched by groups that want Kashmir to be with Pakistan. Pakistan wants a plebiscite, which is when Kashmir and Jammu would vote on which country they want to join, but India refuses this.

Kashmir". Washington Post. March 18 2009 .


"Flashpoint Kashmir: Special Report". BBC. March 22 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/355280.stm.


Mahmud, Ershad. "Kashmir: Conflict In a Peaceful Valley". World News. March 22 2009 http://article.wn.com/view/2009/03/01/Kashmir_conflict_in_a_peaceful_valley/.

Outside Reading 14

I recently found an article on how Obama and his wife cant go out on dates anymore, so they have to get creative and find their own way to go out by themselves. Even though they are very busy all day everyday, they always put family first in any situation. This shows their love for eachother and their family is huge. I think that is very important for any family. Carol Bruess, says the Obama's seem like a very happily married couple. "When they speak of one another, there is this deeply embedded respect for each other, an adoration." President Obama told a reporter that he cannot wait to continue family dinners in the White House. This shows that he really loves spending time with his family, which is very important.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/family/39207502.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DU2EkP7K_V_GD7EaPc:iLP8iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Research Paper Blog

I found an article on the Kashmir conflict. These are some background facts i found that might be helpful.

1. It involves Pakistan and India, who both this Kashmir is their territory.
2. The majaraja, the ruler of Pakistan, was given 3 choices, join with Pakistan, join with India or remain independent. He ended up joining with India.
3. Pakistan thinks Majaraja was forced to sign with India, and muslims are majority of the populatin in Kashmir, so therefore they think Kashmir should be a part of Pakistan.
4. In accepting Kashmir as a part of India, the governer decided that this decision to join would be made final only when the people of Kashmir voted. India accepted this, but has never called a referendum.
5. India still hasn't called a referendum.
6. India and Pakistan have gone to war twice over Kashmir, once from 1947-1948, and again in 1965.
7. After the first war, Pakistan contolled 2/3 of Kashmir and India controlled 1/3.

Anthony, Levi. "India And Pakistan: The Conflict Over Kashmir". EduSolution. March 15 2009 .

Outside Reading 13

I found an article on the war in Iraq. This article is about how the priorities in Iraq are changing, now that troops are being pulled out of the war. While humans were fighting, stray dogs were multiplying rapidly. Since troops are being pulled out of the war, these stray dogs are becoming the center of attention. Dogs are being killed because they are wandering on the streets in packs, scaring kids going to school and adults walking to work. Some people think these dogs carry diseases. There have been over 10,000 stray dogs killed since December.

http://www.startribune.com/world/41262122.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Outside Reading 12

I found an article about European colonization. In this article, It talks about how in the 15th through the 19th century, Native Amecian population was ravaged. The first native american group discovered by Christopher Columbus was enslaved. The group was extinct by the year 1650. In the 15th century, Spainiards brought horses to the americas. This had a huge impact on culture. Europeans also brought diseases to the Americas that Native Americans were not immune to. Some diseases came in Epidemics, causing about 80 percent of the Native American population to die out. This article gives people a small glimpse of European colonization.

http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/native-americans-in-the-united-states/european-colonization.html

Outside Reading 11

I found an article on global warming. Global warming has been a continuous issue that continues to get worse. Countries like China and India are getting most of the blame for this issue, although i think all countries are equally to blame. It is feared that the large populations of China and India, combined with their strong economic growth, their need for energy and materials might result in outstripping of resources. Greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere so the industrialized countries quantity of emmisions are still in the earth's atmoshpere.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/708/global-warming-and-population

Outside Reading 10

I found an article on Christmas in the new york times newspaper. This article is talking about how explaining Christmas to someone can be very difficult. You don't know where to begin, if you should explain santa and the north pole or the shepards in the field at night. Then, theres the importance of family and friends and how this holiday centers around children. I agree with the author saying explaining Christmas to someone can be very difficult. There is alot to be said in little time to explain. Christmas is a holiday of modest spirit. What we want is to love, to know we are loved, and to imagine a world that lives up to the purity of that feeling.


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/25/opinion/25mon1.html?_r=1

Vocab Thinking map-Share-cropping

This is my bubble map for share-cropping which means a farmer giving a portion of their earnings to his landowner.

Outside Reading 9

I recently found an article about how Bollywood wants to make a movie about Mumbai Terror. This film would be about the attacks in Mumbai. They would also show that 170 people died. The people that would make this movie are afraid people wont watch it because they are not used to this kind of movie. On the other hand, they think people might watch it because it is different and some people are up for a change from the musicals. I think that making a movie about this would show people how bad the attacks were and what it is like to be in that situation. I also think that people would go see this in a cinema because people are ready for a change.

Blakely, Rhys
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5347379.ece

Outside Reading 8

I recently found an article in the star tribune about the catholic church. The Catholic church has many beliefs that are very important to its members. They believe that God is the savior and he died to forgive people of their sins. The number of members is about 67 million in the united states. Catholics believe that god intended for them to gather in a church and worship every week. They also think that God created the world and continues to care for it today.

source:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/faith/40287402.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DU2EPaL_V_9E7ODiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Outside Reading 7

In an article from the star tribune, Obama plans to send his first budget cut to capital hill this week. He plans to halve the federal defecit to 533 billion dollars by the time his first term ends in 2013. He inherited a 1.3 trillion dollar defecit from George W. Bush. An official says the defecit will be shrunk by scaling back the Iraq war spending and ending the temporary tax breaks enacted by the Bush administration. Republicans don't agree with this. They say that this plan will hurt small businesses. So, even though not everybody agrees on this plan, the president is making change for the future.

Sidoti, Liz
http://www.startribune.com/politics/40049792.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUec7PaP3E77K_0c::D3aDhUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Outside Reading 6

I recently found an article in the star tribune about Alzheimers, by an author who lost his father to this disease. He is hoping that someday there will be a cure for this horrible disease. This author's father had this disease and had trouble watching his father not remembering anyone and cursing and swinging at anyone who came near him. He thought everybody was out to get him and it was especially hard for his family because they wanted to help him, but they couldnt. It would be nice to find a cure for this because this disease is becoming increasingly popular, and affecting more and more people everyday. The man in this article and many others, including me, are hoping to find a cure for this disease.

Miller, Bob
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/40003437.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsA

Outside Reading 5

I found an article about the christian religion. Christians believe in one god and he created the universe and still takes care of it. Some parts of Christianity are based off of judism. They teach that after Jesus' death, God's prescence stayed around the earth which formed the holy spirit. The holy spirit is in one God, there are 3 people: the father, the son and the holy spirit. This became known as the Doctrine of Trinity. Most christians believe that God died to save people from sin and make life possible for others. I am a christian and I believe all these things are true.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03712a.htm

Outside Reading 4

I found an article in the washington post about gender roles. It says that both men and women agree that increased gender equity had enriched both sexes. However, they both also agree that raising children, building susscessful marriages and leading satisfying lives is becoming more difficult with every new thing happening in the world. Both genders think that they should be spending more time with their families instead of at work. Men and women think that men have many advantages rather then a woman. Men don't understand the challenges women face and women end up doing twice the amount of work as the men if they work full-time.

Outside Reading 3

I read an article i found in a National Geographic magazine about Muslim culture. Muslim culture is very different then christian culture because Muslims pray 5 times a day at certain times, while christians pray when they want to. Muslims also have to pray in the direction of Mecca, and Christians dont have a certain way they have to face to pray. The Islamic art is very different from Christians. There are no pictures of Allah, because they dont believe in pictures of him. Christians can have pictures of God.

Outside Reading 2

In a book I read, called a million little pieces, there is a man who was an addict. The book is about his struggles to overcome the addiction and to tell people how hard it is to overcome something like that. He had many times he was faced with challenges where he could have easily broken his vow to stay sober but he was strong and knew he needed to change or he could die. While he was in rehab, he met this girl that he was forbidden to see because the girls and boys needed to stay seperated. They met secretley and she helped him overcome many of the challenges he faced.

Natural Disasters

I have recentley come across an article in a magazine about the tsunami in Thailand on December 26th, 2004. This tsunami is known to be one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. This tsunami killed tens of thousands of people in 11 countries. It is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. This tsunami had waves as high as 50 feet in some places.

Outside Reading

In chapter 8, Haven and Casey go for their daily walk around the neighborhood. When they walked passed Gwendolyn's house, they saw her standing there not moving. When she finally turned around they saw her. She looked absolutley terrible with a plain expression and extremley thin. Haven went out to dinner with her dad again and they talked about her dad and Lorna, his new wife and their future.

Outside Reading

In chapter 7, Haven ran into sumner everywhere. It turns out he had 4 jobs and Havne thought that running into him everywhere meant that he was meant to come back into her life and fix or change something. Haven talked to Ashley about Sumner being back in town and how he wanted to talk to her and see how everything was going with her, but Ashely had no interest whatsoever. This made haven very upset and when she told Sumner, he was also upset.

Outside Reading

In chapter six, there were two homecomings the first week of august for their neighborhood. One was the return of Haven's best friend Casey, who had spent the summer at a camp. The second, was the return of Gwendolyn Rogers, the local model who grew up in the same neighborhood as Haven. She had a terrible breakup with her boyfriend and she is now home and wont leave her house except when she goes for a walk in the middle of the night. Sumner has a second job at Lakeview mall as a security guard which Haven found out while working one day.

Outside Reading

In chapter five, Haven goes out to dinner every Thursday with her father to catch up with him since they dont live together anymore. This Thursday, he took her to a resturant when all of a sudden Sumner Lee shows up as their waitor. Haven and Sumner get talking and he brings up Ashely. He tells Haven to say hello to her for him and when she does, Ashley doesnt want anything to do with him. Haven can't seem to figure it out.

Outside Reading

In chapter four, Ashleys wedding continued to be the main focus around the house. Lydia, the neighbor has helped Haven's mom get through everything and is now helping get the wedding set up for Ashley. Haven has many flashbacks of Sumner, when Ashley dated him. In this chapter, she remembers how Ashley broke up with him. She Recalls that it was at night, Ashley had been on a date with him and afterwards when he dropped her off She broke up with him on the front porch. Haven heard the whole thing.

Outside Reading

In chapter three, Haven woke up to a wedding crisis. Ashley has a wedding crisis almost every week. Carol, Their cousin was the source of most of these problems. She is always saying she can't come to the wedding anymore then she will call and say she can about two days later. Haven has a job at Little Feet, a kids shoe store at the local mall, called the Lakeview mall. During her break, she went out in the mall and realized there was a fashion show getting ready for a show in about a few weeks.

Outside Reading

In chapter two, Haven goes over all of ashley's boyfriends the most recent one, Lewis, who was going to be married to Ashley come august ninteenth. Sumner Lee was Ashley's boyfriend a few years ago and he has been the only one who really mattered to Haven. He wasn't like any of the other boyfriends Ashely has had before. The best time they had was when haven's family and Sumner and Ashley went on a vacation to Virginia Beach.

Outside Reading

Over break, i read a book called That Summer by Sarah Dessen. In Chapter one, there is a fifteen year old girl named Haven. Her parents got divorced and her mom is having trouble getting over it. Her dad got remarried and she couldnt help remembering her sister, Ashley's old boyfriends. Her sisters new boyfriend is Lewis and Haven doesnt like lewis very much. she thinks he is really boring. Haven is really tall and she can't help but feel out of place.