Graisins

New standard: 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

I recently got inspired by an online site entitled Hyperbole and a Half. It's a cross between a blog and an online comic strip. The author of Hyperbole and a Half, Allie Brosh, chooses a topic to "rant" over, through a humorous story.

I decided that I would try to do my own version of a similar type of story along with my own illustrations, so here's a sample.

Graisins

There’s something about raisins that just make me feel sick. Maybe it’s the texture, maybe the color, maybe their appearance…

But whenever I’m forced to shove those small spawns of Satan down my throat, I get the strange feeling that I’m eating old people. Old people…like my grandma. How can I eat dried fruit that resembles my grandmother? Graisins, that’s what they are, grandma raisins—graisins.




I wonder sometimes if others feel the same way about raisins (possibly my grandma?).

It’s like a phobia, haunting me. They’re everywhere around me, it seems! In my dad’s cereal, in my grandma’s (bless her soul) cookies, and at school…always.

In elementary, they handed those bad boys out like candy on Halloween. “Nature’s candy?” Please…more like my grandma’s skin!

I don’t think it’s just me that feels this way about graisins, and if it is just me, what’s wrong with me. For some reason, graisins sound semi-satanic…

And quite frankly, I don’t understand how juicy, succulent grapes can turn into such a foul “snack.”

I feel bad for my dad, because when he buys trail mix, I feast on the nuts and M&M’s, but never dare to touch the graisins.

So there ends up being an over-graisin-populated bag of trail mix in the cupboard that nobody wants to touch. Even my dad doesn’t eat straight up graisins.

It seems as if my graisiphobia has taken control of my soul. More like a corner of my body designated to graisin-hating.

Thanks for reading! Also here's the link to to Allie's Hyperbole and a Half blog page. http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

Wait, College requires you to be tested on how fast you can accomplish something rather then what you've learned?

For my 20% time i've been doing ACT prep after taking the Pre-ACT. I've started on the english portion and i've realized that i don't know a lot of words pertaining to the English Language. Who is going to describe someone as atrabilious when we can refer to them as cranky or grouchy. I understand the need for knowing a vocabulary but words that i won't use after school can determine whether i am able to go to college with a decent scholarship and being flat broke. I'll continue working on ACT prep but i'd rather criticize articles written in major magazines or news sources. Now all that stands in my way to a firm begining is a catchy slogan, hmm..
Peace out,
William J.

Halo Reach

The standard that Edward and I used was Indicator 2: Students can comprehend and fluently read text. (Analysis) 11.R.2.1 Students can analyze how diction affects the interpretation of text.(Application) 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

For our third book, Edward and I played/reviewed Halo Reach. Halo Reach is the epic finale to the amazing Halo story line. Being the sixth game of the series, Bungie improved it like never before. With new features in almost every aspect of the game, Halo Reach is the best Halo game. The new features in multiplayer include new maps, firefight, different personal preferences, new weapons, and co-op campaign. Other new features includes the armory to customize your character, weekly/daily challenges, forge, and ranking up your character to change the level of elite armor (from minor to field marshall/officer). Other games have also reviewed this game at bestbuy.com under Halo Reach http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Halo%3A+Reach+-+Xbox+360/9713872.p?id=1218156775197&skuId=9713872&st=halo reach&lp=2&cp=1.

Edward and I have completed the campaign. However, Edward has accomplished that like 4 or 5 times. I achieved the completion of the campaign and experiencing online with Edward and Isaac, whicle playing through the various assortments of game modes. Having bad, lagging internet is the only complication that I faced. With the horrible internet, it makes gaming with Edward and Isaac not as fun because sometimes I get kicked out for not connecting properly or it lags everyone else out along with me. I overcame the problem of horrible internet by moving my Xbox to the clubhouse at Northern Links Golf Course - good wireless internet. I would definitely repeat this by playing online with Edward and Isaac. The online multiplayer is a great way to play various game modes with your friends and have fun doing so. I would redo the campaign, however, because I would like to pass it with the difficulty of Legendary - like Edward did several times.

L.A. Candy

I've started reading the book L.A. Candy. It's based off the reality show The Hills. Two 18 year old girls, Scarlett and Jane, move to L.A. to go to college and begin their new lives. Jane just began working for Fiona Shen, who owns a company that organizes huge parties. Jane is Fiona's assistant, but she's finding out she's not very good at the job. Scarlett just started college, but she can't find where any of her classes are. She's thinking of dropping out. One night when they were in a club, a TV producer came up and asked them to be interviewed to be on their new show: L.A. Candy. Scarlett, Jane, and two other girls, whom they haven't met yet, will be on the show. The camera's will follow them around and watch them do their everyday life routines. Scarlett isn't liking being followed around by all the cameras, but Jane surely is.

We Global

This whole project didn’t work out quite as I had hoped. I have missed a couple of days that I was given to use to work on the project. There has also been the inconvenience of finding lyrics while at school.

As I read the lyrics I became aware of the album and its background of the artist. I realized that the music didn’t have a real meaning to it. It was just one of the rappers who is able to rap about anything and make money off of it. The album “We Global” is also not just one artist rapping like Eminem or Snoop Dogg. DJ Khaled collaborates with many other artists in each song.

The album wasn’t what I hoped it would be which was a real meaning in life with a cool sounding beat. I have switched into another album to review and it is called, “Curtain Call" by Eminem. Through his catchy rhythms and fast rapping, he talks about things that really happen in life and how things need to change and go on. He has a great way of staying in the music industry over the years as he continues to collaborate with others and write his own rhymes.

I used the reading standard: 11.R.3.1: Students can analyze and explain literary devices within text.

Remembering the Classic Novels of High School!

While being freshmen we encountered Of Mice and Men and saw the love of two unique friends. Our sophomore year we yet encountered two more novels Lord of the Flies and To Kill a Mocking Bird. In Lord of the flies we discovered the true animal we as humans hold. Later To kill a Mockingbird only showed us we should cherish our innocence and childhood.  As we read these classic novels in the past I have decided to do a stop motion of these books. I will summarize these novels through stuffed animals, toys, and objects…etc. Stop motion is very difficult especially because of movement and light. So please don’t expect a lot as if I were a professional. The lighting may change at times, I will try my best to get it right and look its bets possible. But some things may be sketchy. I will also include some quotes that the characters say. I will also analyze some parts from the novels into paragraphs.

11.R.4.1 Students can analyze a text within cultural, geographical, and historical context.

Blogception

A blog within a blog...
Magical!

One Book, Two Book, Red Book, Blue Book

The Fearbook: David Berkowitz

My reading standard is 11.R.5.1. I have summarized this on a different document. Right now, I have changed up my 20% time process. For two weeks, I have been going through The Fearbook. It shows the most evil and gruesome men in history. It shows Ted Bundy, Albert De Salvo (The Boston Strangler), and also the Gary Ridgeway (Green River Killer). The Fearbook shows a picture of them, information on them, their nicknames, etc.

The first man I decided I wanted to talk about was the first man listed in The Fearbook, David Berkowitz also known as “The Son of Sam”. He shot couples with a .44 caliber just so he can get his crime in the newspaper or on the news. Throughout the investigation, detectives and the news station received threatening letters from David Berkowitz just stating why isn’t he in the news or in the papers. He kept scolding the detectives that they weren’t looking for the right person. When the detectives realize that it was him, they finally arrested David Berkowitz. All David said to the detectives was, “You finally got me. What took you so long?” Now David is held in a correctional facility in Sullivan County, New York.

The Fearbook link: http://investigation.discovery.com/investigation/infamous-murderers/infamous-murderers.html#icpgn=idnavcrsk

Forza 4 - A Battle of the Trucks

Well, Matt and I decided we needed to switch up our styles on Forza a bit, and I decided to analyze a major part of the game as well while doing this: Affinity Level. But, before I start getting into this, let me explain that Forza's amount of realism is unbelievable, like I've said before. We decided to take some trucks to the track, which was very different. The handling of these trucks was unlike those of the beautiful 600horsepower Nissans we had before. This task wasn't easy, we had to battle for first in a race that we both weren’t used to.

Anyways, while doing this, I had learned much about affinity. Basically, for every big name brand car dealer, you get this sort of level. The more cars you race with that are of the same brand, the faster and higher your level gains. I'm pretty sure you can get up to about a level 20 or something, but after Affinity Level 7 for a car brand, you get 100% off all aftermarket parts for any car of that brand.

This feature is just great, it makes the game more fun, so you don't have to sit there for endless hours and pay for millions of dollars worth for parts. So, to demonstrate, I tried this out with some Ford cars, I had started with a classic mustang, and once I had got Affinity Level 7, I bought a Ford Raptor and tuned it for the track. Matt got some little GMC, this seemed like an un-fair advantage, but I wanted to prove how much faster my truck really was.

The starting line was unlike any other race we had dealt with before, and though Matt in his yellow GMC was started in second place, I was determined to destroy his little puny truck.

Around the first bend, Matt was still actually in the second place, but, I wasn't far behind. This was a real battle of horsepower, and neither of us were ready to lose a big race like this.

The video above shows the in-car view of my Ford Raptor, and you can see me passing Matt extremely easy here, even if it meant I had to go off-road.

Well, in the end, I had won by a long run, and this just shows how much horsepower actually matters in a race. Until next time, drive to live and live to race!

stupid stress!

I again have been working on my act prep., which I found I really needed after taking a practice test and not getting anything close to what I would have liked to have gotten. So I started timing my self while I practiced on number2 and was able to do much more of the test and get better grades on the tests as a result. I believe it was all mental and I got stressed out about it.I now know I need to work on not getting stressed about it. It is only a test. I will keep working to improve my ACT score and maybe just maybe ill do OK.

Relax just do it,
Pedo Bear

COD MW3

Call of Duty Modern Warefare 3










This weeks video game is Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3. This game came out in mid-November and has been a huge hit to all gamers. Just recently this game beat a record for the most money ever recieved from a video game, beating Halo 3. MW3 is the third of the Modern Warefare series starting in 2007 with just Call of Duty Modern Warfare. The Call of Duty series has entertained people form around the world and has always been a fan favorite.

MW3 has 3 bases: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Special Ops. Starting with Campaign, it takes you into the world of being a top military expert trying to track down the biggest threat ever in the U.S., Makarov, the leader of a secret terrorist group that has an objective of taking over the world. You must fight through every corner of the world, from Russia to Mexico and China to Germany.

In Multiplayer, you can play against and with differnet poeple across the world. You and your teammates must fight to win matches. When you you win matches it brings up your rank and your experience so when you play more you are a higher rank and when you are a higher rank you have the privilege of unlocking more things to help you win, for example: weapons when you reach a new rank you unlock a new weapon that you can use to fight poeple. When you use a weapon for a few matches your gun rank will go up unlocking different attachments for that gun for example: a suppresor, or a red dot sight. The attachment will help you fight in later matches.

Finally in Special Ops, you must complete different missions with a friend or solo. When you complete a mission you get a star depending on the difficuly you are on (regular, hardened, veteran, regular giving you 1 star and veteran giving you 3). In Special Ops there is also a survival mode were you have to face a horde of enemy soldiers of infinite waves on all the multiplayer maps. There is also a ranking system for survival, when you reach a certain rank, you unlock a new item that helps you beat the ememies.

In the end i think this is one of the best games i have ever played and when next year's Call of Duty comes out i hope it is better than this one.
During christmas break I plan to go on a big videogame haul and buy several games including a Kinect system so i can expand my gaming experience to a whole new level.

Isaac

New Project

For my new 20% time, I'm going to be doing a creative writing piece set in the Civil War. I'm going to write in the form of journals. Beings I just started my project, I still have a lot of work to do. I'm going to hopefully continue this project, if we continue doing 20% time. Write any comments or suggestions you thing that "Abigail Wilmot" should do or who she should meet.

Click here to follow her enteries.~*

The Sun Also Rises

Alrighty, I have been definitely taking my time with this book. I only read it during class and the book takes a bit more thought to comprehend. I have read the first “book” (chapters 1-7) Here are my summaries of what I've read thus far.

Chapter 1: Jake (narrator and protagonist) starts off the novel describing a man, and acquaintance, named Robert Cohn. Basically Robert was a middle-weight champion boxer, who came from a wealthy family. He married and divorced, lost his inheritance, then started dating a lady named Frances. She convinced him to move to France, where he is an author, and is always trying to get him to marry her. She is protective of him and doesn’t really like him going out without her.

Chapter 2: Cohn goes to New York to find a publisher for his novel. The publishers love his book, and women notice him for it. When he goes back to Paris, he tries to convince Jake to travel to South America with him, offering to pay for the entire trip. He worries that Jake isn’t living life to the fullest. Jake disagrees, but Cohn continues to hassle Jake about traveling outside of Paris. Jake says he needs to return to the office to work, and Cohn asks if he can sit in the waiting room. After work, him and Jake have a drink and watch Paris.

Chapter 3: Cohn leaves, and catches the eye of a prostitute named Georgette. (She has bad teeth.)They have a drink together Jake decides to go hang out with her. He tells her he received a wound in the war that makes sex impossible for him. He sees some friends, and together they invite him and Georgette to go dancing. Lady Brett Ashley comes to the bar, a woman Jake is infatuated with, and Jakes gets mad that she’s with guys. Jake and Brett leave the club together. Before he goes, Jake leaves money to the bar owner, telling him to give it to Georgette if she asks for him. Once Brett and Jake get into a taxi, Brett says she's miserable.

Chapter 4: Jake kisses Brett in the taxi— she tells him to stop. They love one another, but Brett refuses to have to date Jake because he cannot have sex. At the café, Jake and Brett again run into their friends. They meet Count Mippipopolous, a Greek man who is interested in Brett. Jake goes home and gets into bed, and he begins to think about his wound. He knows he feels bad about it because of Brett. He cries then falls asleep. After four in the morning, Brett wakes him up by trying to get to his room. The count is waiting outside in his car. Jake lets her up to his room, and Brett says the count offered her ten thousand dollars to go to away with him, but she turned him down. She wants Jake to go out with them, but he declines. He tries to persuade her to stay, kissing her, but she refuses.

Chapter 5: Cohn meets Jake at his office to have lunch. Cohn asks about Brett, and Jake says that she is a drunk and that she is going to marry Mike Campbell (rich Scottish guy). Jake also says that Brett’s true love died of dysentery during the war. Jake says he met Brett while she worked in the hospital where he was taken for his injury. Cohn gets annoyed that Jake doesn’t describe Brett in positive ways. Cohn gets mad at Jake and threatens to leave lunch. Jake smoothes things over and persuades Cohn to stay. Afterward, Jake knows Cohn wants to talk about Brett but avoids bringing up the subject again.

Chapter 6: Jake goes to meet Brett, but she stands him up. After looking for her in a few places, Jake walks around Paris and sees his friend Harvey Stone, a compulsive gambler. Harvey is broke and claims he has not eaten in days. Jake gives him money. Cohn and Frances arrive, and she asks to speak to Jake privately. She tells him that Cohn has refused to marry her and that she fears that no man will marry her now. She claims that Cohn won’t marry her because he wants to tell people that he had a mistress. Cohn sits through her barrage. Jake excuses himself and leaves them alone.

Chapter 7: Jake goes home, and Brett and Count Mippipopolous show up. Jake asks why she missed their date and doesn’t believe she forgot because she was drunk. Jake asks why they can’t live together, and she tells him that she would cheat on him. She says she’s leaving Paris for San Sebastian, Spain, and it will be better for both of them. Then, the count talks about his life. He has been in seven wars and four revolutions. He is always in love because his values include love. The three of them have a great dinner before going out to a club. The count asks why Brett and Jake do not get married, and they give short answers. Brett begins to feel miserable and wants to leave. (Brett is always feeling miserable.)Jake takes Brett to her hotel, but she doesn’t want him to come to her room. They kiss and she pushes him away.

Standards: (reading) Indicator 2: Students can comprehend and fluently read text.

(writing) Indicator 1: Students can apply the writing process to compose text.

Evaluation: This book has gotten off to an extremely slow start, and if 20% percent time makes it another quarter or two I will definitely speed the process along somehow. I wish I would have made a reading schedule at the beginning of the book, so again I will evaluate after a decision is made. I enjoy the writing style of Hemingway so far, and the amount of culture he infuses into his writing. He also makes the stories of nearly all his characters fantastical. So far, so good.

Adieu.

Life As We Know It

Indicator 1: Students can recognize and analyze words.
Indicator 2: Students can comprehend and fluently read text.
(Analysis) 11.R.2.1 Students can analyze how diction affects the interpretation of text.
(Application) 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

I started reading the book Life As We Know It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It starts out by telling everyday life of main character, Miranda. Her parents are divorced and her dad and his wife are now expecting a baby. Her and her brother both live together with their mother, and in the summer go visit their father for a certain period of time. Both of Miranda’s friends seem to be coming further and further distant because of different interest and change of each others’ way of life. She talks about school and how every single teacher bombards her with homework all on one day, all due on the same day. This time the homework is about something that’s going on with the moon. Some very rare and spectacular is going to be happening on the upcoming Friday night. It’s all over the news, and now all over her mind because each homework assignment that was assigned to her was about what is going to happen. I haven’t found out what’s going to happen yet, but I am very excited for when it will tell me!
I was kind of disappointed on how little of time I got to read. I have been super busy with basketball season starting, working, and homework that I never got a chance to read outside of the classroom. If I could find a time to read for just 15 minutes a night I would get significantly further in the book and fulfill my accomplishments. By doing this, I could also get the book done much quicker so I could return it back to the library without having to check in out again and again.

Dave Ramsey Apply It!

Following up from my last blog, I have continued to draft for my scholarship essay for the principles of the Constitution. Unfortunately I am not finished yet and have hit a dead spot, so to brainstorm ideas and look for inspiration I started reading Dave Ramsey's book, The Total Money Makeover. The book is about how to change bad financial habits in a person's life and replace it with smart money savvy habits. I am not in debt and don't have a difficult financial situation, so I turned to the college saving chapter. The chapter first outlines how an adult should save and invest for their child's education. First Dave Ramsey makes sure that the reader knows that college does not ensure success, wealth, or happiness. He agrees that it is important but thinks a college education shouldn't cause such a financial dilemma that no one can escape it. He explains that there are many ways for adults to save for their child's education as long as they invest in fund that stays above the interest rate of inflation, which is 4% annually, but college inflation is even higher at a rate of 8% per year! Funds like ESA's and 529 plans are fine, but don't have a very high interest rate, which can then loose its value over a certain amount of years due to inflation. There are many ways of investing but Dave suggests that a flexible, pre-tax fund that has a good interest rate is the best way for funding education, which with some digging can be found fairly easy. If you haven't saved much or any money, it's okay. Dave explains how to get through college with little or no debt if there isn't much time.
This is where I found my inspiration for my essay- scholarships. There are thousands of scholarships that are available every year. Sholarships that don't take many requirements. This is a very simple way of staying debt free that just takes some hard work. With that I think I am ready to complete my essay.

A Post... Not on the Checkpoint? BLASPHEMY!

I just thought that Tuesday warranted a post, that's all...

That's a lie.

Megan has a NEW project now!

tada---http://one-two-red-blue.blogspot.com/

Blog #2

These past few weeks I've been proceeding with doing ACT Prep on www.number2.com. I've been struggling between a few of the answers on the reading sections. I narrow it down to two answers, but then I usually end up choosing the wrong one of the two. I don't like how www.number2.com sets the questions up and doesn't tell you which phrase or words the questions are working with. I got through one section of the reading portion, and now I'm on the tutorial on another reading section.

Ninja Dog

I’ve always known Shasta has special abilities. Some would even say super powers, but dogs can’t have super powers…or can they? I remember one particular day this past summer when my dog actually took off flying. My brother and I were in the backyard tossing a ball around. I noticed Shasta had stopped playing with our other dog Charlie and began taking an interest in the ball. That’s when I decided to play a little game with her. I thought it would be a great idea to play a game called Monkey-in-the-Middle and Shasta got the role of the monkey. My brother Adam threw the ball to me from across the yard and Shasta (being the good “monkey” that she was) charged after it. I teased her with it just a little bit and then threw it back to Adam. Again, Shasta charged after it. This went on for about five or six times when Adam decided to make it a little more interesting by standing on the steps of our deck. This must have been the time when Shasta decided to put an end to the “monkey” business. I asked Adam if he was ready to catch the ball and then threw it his way. Shasta immediately charged after the ball and launched herself into the air about five feet from him. Adam wasn’t expecting a flying fur ball to come hurling his way. Shasta looked like a super hero about to take out a villain, her front paws directly stretched out in front of her. Adam didn’t even know what was coming, but Shasta managed to drop-kick him with her paws against his chest. He went flying back and landed on the deck quite a bit stunned. Shasta ended up with the prize – the ball! At the time Adam didn’t find it so funny, but now we get a good laugh when we talk about my “super” dog.

I have accomplished everything I had wanted to do for this check-point. Although, I remember that I had told you that I would be posting pictures up. I do not have any pictures of her yet because she has not been cooperating with the camera, but I will try to get some for the next time.

Everyone Is a Phony...

11.W.1.2 Students can write a document analyzing how a work of literature mirrors the themes and issues of its historical period.

11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text

J.D. Salinger never thought of inspiring American culture through the theme of his novel; and only focused on writing what was happening to society for the first time. In the 50s many teens were driven away from the goody scene and TV shows like Happy days, The Dona red show and other family TV shows would soon be losing its young adult audience. Parents would soon be wishing for the day to see the innocence in their children again. In this novel the main character Holden has trouble with swearing, relationships, homosexuality, depression and in general rebellion. The 50s was the era were teens would start to rebel and follow their emotions instead of parents or other adults. Throughout the novel J.D makes Holden have these inner problems with himself. One big problem Holden faces is the search of relationships and even at some point in the novel he turns to a guy through his desperation. He talks very perversely with other guys and is always trying to have sex talks rather than a normal conversation. As you can imagine libraries wound not tolerate racy literature in the 50s. Society was willing to deny the fact what was happening to teens during the 50s. But J.D showed American through his famous novel the theme that would show thousands how to rebel and be different from others. Holden says he wants to be “the catcher in the rye” and to save the children from falling off the cliff. There’s a part in Holden of wanting to save the next generation into falling into the deep dark hole. He does this in several ways, while it’s erasing F*** You at an Elementary School or helping little children. Overall J.D. had the guts to write this incredible novel making it a truly classic novel in today’s society.   

This cycle I have achieved what I had wanted. Last time I was still in the middle of the novel, but I have met my goal and finished it. I also finished writing the theme and issues of the 50s. I have also finished the File Folder Project. This time I didn’t come over any difficulties, and I enjoyed it. I wish to do this again and read this novel. But I think I’m going to take a break of reading novels. I also think that I would take more time on the file folder project. I would recommend this novel to others because it’s very entertaining and you get sucked right in the life of Holden Caulfield.

Thank you ladies and gents!

Tuesdays with Morrie

11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text, I am reading the book Tuesdays with Morrie by: Mitch Albom

The story starts with an older man, Morrie, learning about the coming of death in his life. Morrie was a college professor in sociology and loved teaching the class. One of Morrie’s best students became great friends with him and this student in the later years of his life came back to see him in the days and months before his death. This student flies in about every Tuesday after they first meet and they talk about everything. Morrie talks about all the things going wrong with his body, and this student that works for the press and is telling him about the strike that they have going on right now so he is out of work.

I have loved this book so far and am going to keep reading it. I would repeat reading a book because I get to choose what I want to read and enjoy reading. I wouldn’t do anything differently right now because this book is super good.

As I continue to read on in this book it become more and more interesting. The depth of the conversation be come more in depth and detailed.

The Sixth Tuesday: The Talk About Emotions

Mitch comes to Morrie's house this Tuesday and brings more food because he wants to give Morrie something but already is giving him something, and the refrigerator is still full from the last week that he brought food. Just the present of Mitch being there is a gift to Morrie. When dealing with emotion if you don't let it go, then you will always be afraid of emotion Mitch says. On the other had Morrie says the opposite wash yourself with emotion and if fear gets inside of you then put on the same face you always do to make it through the day.

The Professor, Part Two

More background information about Morrie, his first job was to observe mental patients and record their teatments. Morrie meet some interesting people during this job, he helped a woman get off of the floor and sit up with him. He also had patents refuse to eat , soil their pants and medicated. Soon after that, he took a job at the college and his class would travel to different places around the U.S.

The Seventh Tuesday, We talk about the fear of aging

On the seventh tuesday, Mitch had learned that he had lost another ability, to wipe like his nose or in the bathroom. At this stage in Morrie's life he really didn't have any abilities beside eating and breathing. Morrie states that when you become old and can't really do anything that you feel like a child all over again because you have someone help dress you.

Evaluation: I think that i have achieved what i have wanted to do for this short period of time. The only difficulties i had were trying to find time to read and journal about my progress. I would love to continue this project so that i can get reading book cause thats a thing that i don;t get to do enough.

Selena

The next case that I have read articles about is the Latin singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez. My reading standard is 11.R.5.1. I have summarized this on a different document. This is the second case I have read about. Selena was a popular Latin singer in the early 1990's. The other day, I watched the movie Selena. It was a very interesting movie about her life, but ended very tragically. In the movie, Jennifer Lopez played the roll of Selena. Jennifer Lopez and Selena actually almost look alike. In the articles and the movie, it said that Selena was shot by her fan club president, Yolanda Salvidar. Selena and her father, also the manager, found out that Yolanda was stealing money from the club and Selena wanted to confront her about it. On March 31st, 1993, Selena was killed.

Here is a link to the biography of Selena Quintanilla-Perez: http://www.biography.com/people/selena-189149

Evaluation: Till this day, no one really knows why did Yolanda shot Selena. Many people have said that it was for the money. After Selena's death, Texas has established "Selena Day" on April 12th in Texas. Texas is the birthplace of Selena. Selena is remembered as "The Queen of Tejano".

Forza Motorsport 4

Overview: For 20% time, Matt and I  played the game . We also created new top of the line customized veichles and raced. 

Standard: 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

Review Site: www.gamespot.com/forza-motorsport-4/reviews/forza-motorsport-4-review-6338542

Our Thoughts: We thought the game has very realistic qualities. The graphics make it seem like real life.  The customization options seem to never end from Paint to performance.  Not only that, but the game handles more realistically than any racing simulator we have ever played in our lives.  This game is tons of fun, you really get into the action with how real the game is, and not only the game is good but there are tons of top of the line cars.

Evaluation: We think the game was great we are going to continue playing we will be uploading pictures of the custom cars and more information on them. Until next time customize, go fast,  and have fun and maybe even try it out for yourself!

Madden NFL

For my second game that I played, I played...

In any of the Madden NFL games you can be whoever you want and whichever team you want to be. You can even create your own players and teams.

I play this game all the time at my house and i have been playing it at school. At my house i have created a super team, to were i have all of the greatest NFL players all playing with eachother.

In the latest Madden games there has been a mode called Madden Momments and in this mode you replay situations from real games that actually took place in an NFL season.

There is a mode called Franchise mode were you can choose you favorite team and play through their entire season. You start at the draft and end when you reach the Pro-Bowl.

You can play online with football fans around the world to test your skills. Yuo can figure out if you have what it take to be come a madden pro.

Isaac

act for ACT

I have decided to change from my previous topic to something new and different! I didn't really comprehend much of what I was reading. So, while I was trying to come up with a new topic I decided figured ACT would be pretty simple and very beneficial, especially because we are starting to do ACT preparation in English class any way, so why not double team this. In the futur I think I will also so do preperation to the math and science not only english, but since our 20% time comes from english I am only allowed to do the english ACT preperation.

Have a nice Day,
Pedo Bear

Great Bear!

Great Bear Ski Valley in Sioux Falls will have it’s grand opening on December 23, 2011. It will all start with a rail jam!
Great Bear has lots of things to do. You can ski, snow board, or tube. There are many trails, rails, and jumps for the skiers and snow boarders. Great Bear has high prices on EVERYTHING! That’s the bad thing…Rates and Rentals:
Lift Tickets –
Full Day (9 am to 10 pm) $23Half-Day (3 pm to 10pm) $20 Kids 5 and under ski free with an adult Season Passes -Single $249 All Area Pass $348 Family (4 passes) $845 Each Additional Family Pass $183 All Area Family Pass $1240 Each Additional All Area Family Pass $269 Tubing Only $129 Punch Card (10 uses) $175 Equipment (Ski or Snowboard) $125.00

Equipment Rentals
Skis, Boots & Poles (Cross Country, Downhill and Telemark) Full Day (9 am to 10 pm) $17 Half-Day (3 pm to 10pm) $15 Adaptive Ski Equipment Great Bear has a limited supply of adaptive ski equipment available to the public at no charge. Snowboard & Boots Full Day (9 am to 10 pm) $31 Half-Day (3 pm to 10pm) $26 Snowboard Only Full Day (9 am to 10 pm) $25 Half-Day (3 pm to 10pm) $20

I get a season pass every year and I think it is worth it. But the rates are just so high! Everyone complains about the lack of rails and jumps. Great Bear should use all the money they get to make some more ramps and buy more rails.
In the long run; getting a pass is a good decision.

Saints Row The Third

Overview:
For 20% time I played and read reviews for the game Saints Row the Third.

Standard:
11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

Game Review Site:
http://www.gamespot.com/saints-row-the-third/reviews/saints-row-the-third-review-6345399 blocked at school

Thoughts about the game:
My thoughts about the game were that it is awesome but it is not as good as Grand Theft Auto. The graphics in the game were outstanding it looked so real. There were only a few things that i had problems with one of them is that the game is so glitchy and weird things happen when it glitches out. And the the other thing is that when you start another mission is it might freeze your Xbox 360 and you cant do anything but shut your Xbox 360 off and restart. But over all the game had enought missions that you can keep playing the game and still want to play it more.

Evaluation:
I got the most of the results that i wanted out of the research and the gameplay. Some of the difficulties that encountered were that some of the game review sites some of them people talked about random things and not even the game. So i had to go throught the helpful game sites and the unhelpful game sites. Yes i would repeat this project. I would do more research and finish the game that i started weeks ago.

Modern Warfare 3

The standard that Edward and I used was Indicator 2: Students can comprehend and fluently read text. (Analysis) 11.R.2.1 Students can analyze how diction affects the interpretation of text.(Application) 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

For the second game, I played Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (outside of school because the Mature rating). I bought the game at 12:00 on November 8, 2011 when the game released at GameStop. That morning, I started the campaign and only played four missions. However, I have not completed the campaign yet because of the awesome online multiplayer. The multiplayer is completely different than Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2. It has new features: different types of Special Ops, new weapons, new killstreaks with different types to choose from, and new game modes. Hopefully, I can complete the campaign in a week or two.

The reviews of the game that Edward and I read were on Best Buy and Game Informer. For others peoples' reviews, you can see them on Best Buy also (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Call+of+Duty%3A+Modern+Warfare+3+-+Xbox+360/2670133.p?id=1218343210400&skuId=2670133&st=call of duty_&lp=1&cp=1). I achieved almost everything I wanted to: online, special ops, campaign. However, I did not finish the campaign which I hoped to do. Some of the difficulties that I encountered included complications with internet, homework/holiday, and friends not on to play with. I overcame that stuff by fixing my router for my laggy internet, and I finished homework before I would game. With my friends not on, I decided to play by myself, which isn't as much fun. I would definitely redo this project because I am a fan of Call of Duty and the new Modern Warfare 3. If I was to do anything differently, I would do campaign before going online and playing multiplayer or special ops. Also, I would play the campaign on the hardest difficulty to challenge by skills of gaming.

Pregnant Women in Prison

Reading about the harsh circumstances that some women went through really saddened me. It was very informative but also unbelievable how our security forces could be so inhumane. Granted that these cases were some of the most harsh and brought into the news, there should still be sympathy put on others. The women could have been treated harshly because they were frowned upon for what they were being held in prison for, but it's still never an excuse for inappropriate care for women.


Indicator 2: Students can comprehend and fluently read text. (Application) 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

Collier County Jail – Florida
Joan S. sought medical attention – age 22
-Near due date
-Leaking amniotic fluid
-Two weeks
Got ultrasound
-Fluid was completely gone
-Babies’ skull had collapsed
Jail delayed
-Transporting her to the hospital
-Giving her a shot that would prevent complications in being pregnant again later on

Miscarriages
Maricopa County Jail
Michelle M
-Punched repeatedly in the stomach by two other prisoners
-Bled heavily
Taken to doctor
-Miscarried
-Needed follow up checkups
Jail failed to bring her to her check up until she was bleeding heavily, again, and called an ambulance
-Needed blood transfusion
-Surgical procedure to remove remains of the pregnancy from her uterus

Giving birth – in some cases
Informed staff members to help women while in labor
-In cells
-Some have assistance of a nurse
Aren’t taken to doctor until after they have given birth

Nineteen-year-old Terra K. screamed, pounded on the door and asked for the nurse in the Dubuque County Jail in Iowa, only to give birth alone in her cell. Afterward she asked, “How does somebody have a baby in jail without anybody noticing?”

http://womenandprison.org/motherhood/view/pregnant_in_prison_and_denied_care/

Just be YOU

11.R.3.1 Students can explain literary devices within text, also 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

Grade-level reading for some is a boundary to whether or not they will allow themselves to pick out a more complex book and try to read it, let alone trying to obtain the mental capacity for picking out and fully understanding literary devices like the point of view from which the piece may be written or even the genre of the piece.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks is an inspirational heartfelt story of a soldier who comes home for 2 weeks and during that time he falls in love, impossible right. This soldier, John Tyre comes from a background of drugs and gangs. Having a troubled adolescence he didn't really care. Finally realizing that he wanted to make something with his life he enlisted in the army. Then you have Savannah, a small shy girl with a never ending compassion for wanting to lend a helping hand. She and a group of friends are on a mission trip for Habitat for Humanity when she first meets John. Of course having someone bringing back your sopping wet satchel isn't exactly the ideal way to meet if you ask me but it worked for them. Time flies when you're painting details you didn't realize were there to begin with, before they know it he has to deploy once more and she promises to write. In one of his letters he tells her that, "No matter where your at in the world the moon is never bigger than your thumb.." The story ends with a tough lesson in love and that believing in yourself and staying true to who you are will get you farther in life than anything else ever will.

"Don't follow your dreams......Chase them." -Richard Dumb

*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

NEW BOOK!!

I can't tell you much about this new book yet because I just started it but it is so enthralling that it's nearly impossible to put down. What information that is available is this...The book is called After River by Donna Milner. In the first chapter the main character, Natalie, describes how she first sees this figure walking up the lane towards their valley nestled dairy farm home. Natalie is very hesitant toward this strange man and yet it seems as if her mother, Nettie, is expecting him. What to do, what to do?

RuRo Shaggy!

No one wants to get a phone call in the middle of night hearing your brother telling you that your mother keeps asking for you. Let alone having to go back to the place that you have spent most of your adult life trying to stay away from.

Natalie Ward's mother (Nettie) has been slowly dieing for the past 5 years and it is all now catching up to her. Nat as she is called in the book, feels that there is nothing there for her anymore.

As she boards a bus and settles into her seat for the next 13 hours she reminisces about her life before HE showed up.


"Sometimes people put up walls, not to keep others out but to see who cares enough to tear them down" - Anonymous

It Helps to Actually Post...

1.1.R.2.2- Students can read fluently to comprehend grade level text

Since my project would involve a lot more work to use for the analytical part of 20% Time than I want it to, I decided I would also do a book review so as to have something easier to write about. Since it had just come out and I read it recently, My first book was Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini.

This is the fourth and final book in a series that was originally meant to only have three books, And in my opinion, it shows. There are some parts that seem to just be filler, sections that add length and nothing else. Other than that the book was well worth the wait and an enjoyable read.

The story starts with the protagonist, Eragon, in a fight to capture one of the many cities unter the control of King Galbatorix. During the struggle he and Saphira find a Dauthdaert, a magical artifact that has the ability to bypass a dragon's magic, killing it. Their chances of killing Galbatorix improve greatly, but are by no means certain. Eragon's brother Roran becomes a war hero after capturing two more cities for the Varden, the force opposing the king.
Much of the story after this vague point cannot be done justice without including spoilers, which isn't acceptable at all, but it includes Eragon's work to discover the secrets of the Vault of Souls and the struggles to avoid Galbatorix's forces as the Varden gets closer to the capital city.

Overall I enjoyed the entire series, so I'd reccomend the books to everybody who doesn't mind a 400 page count.

Since doing book reviews seems like an easy, likeable thing to do, I think I'll continue.

The last book I read was The Redemption of Althalus, by one of my many favorite authors, David Eddings. This book, along with many of his other works, centers around the basic idea of good versus evil. In this book, the main character, Althalus, is approached by a man who offers him countless treasures in exchange for one thing: a book. Thinking it but a simple task, Althalus travels to the house at the end of the world to retrieve it, only to discover that the 'simple book' was actually one of the two books of the gods. Dweia, the keeper of the book, informs Althalus that he is actually the 'chosen one' who will use the book to defeat the evil controller of the opposite book's power, essentially saving the world from disaster. Unfortunately for Althalus, the book is not an easy tool to use. In order to comprehend what he needs to simply to use its power, Althalus spends more than two thousand years in the house at the end of the world, unaging thanks to Dweia's influence. Thus Althalus must save a world that he is two milleniums removed from, facing an evil that has had two thousand years to prepare.

I love this book and (again) reccomend it most highly to those who aren't daunted by page count.

Genre: Fantasy

PTSD

I used the (Analysis) 11.R.5.1 Students can analyze factors that influence the credibility of informational sources standard.

I chose PTSD because the night before we chose our topics, I was watching Grey's Anatomy (don't make fun), and in the episode, the hospital fell victim to a shooting at the hospital. One of the surgeons was operating on a friend who was shot while having gun held to head by a man who was telling her to stop operating and let him die. After the traumatic event, she experienced PTSD so horribly that she quit being a surgeon. She turned into the opposite of what she was. She did things that she wouldn't have done before the incident, and she didn't do things she did before the incident. After that episode, PTSD really sparked my interest.

Many people will say that they have heard of PTSD, and that soldiers only get after returning from war, but not a lot of people really know what it means. PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder that occurs after a traumatic event such as combat or military experience (most common or most heard of), sexual or physical abuse or assault, serious accidents such as vehicle and environmental accidents, and natural disasters. After the event, the victims may feel scared, angry, confused, and/or lost. These feelings won’t go away, and will sometimes get worse as time goes on. These feelings may disrupt a person’s life, and make it feel like the victim can’t continue their life.

The first symptoms of PTSD may not show up for anywhere between one day and a couple weeks. There are four main types PTSD symptoms. The first one and possibly the most extreme symptom is reliving the event. A victim could possibly feel the same horror and fear in everyday situations, and it seems like everything that happens is a flashback from the event because of the horror feeling. This symptom is usually causes by some sort of a trigger. These triggers include hearing a loud bang or noise which would recall gunshots or battles from previous traumatic events. Other triggers includes seeing a car accident happen or hearing of the accident or seeing or hearing violent, physical or sexual assaults.

The second main symptom of PTSD is when a victim avoids situations. A victim of a train accident experiencing PTSD would avoid any place dealing with trains and also possibly avoid conversations about trains. A person who was attacked by a construction worker would want to avoid construction workers because they don’t want to think of that certain experience. A victim could possibly avoid their therapist because they would have to relive the situation in order to talk about how they feel. Victims with these situations will tend to avoid people, places, and thoughts that would relate back to that incident.

The third symptom of PTSD is numbness feeling. This symptom would make it hard for victims to express their feelings towards family members, therapists, friends, and whoever they talk to. They also fail to communicate normally on a daily basis. Victims will also avoid relationships and positive feelings. Victims will also fail to participate in their usual activities because of their loss of interest in them.


The fourth and final symptom when victims become alert. Victims could possibly have a hard time sleeping because they are afraid and alert about everything. They could also be paranoid about the smallest things. Because of this paranoia, victims will be unable to concentrate or pay attention. Another sign of this symptom is when the victims feel like they are in danger all the time.

After a traumatic event, it is normal for people to experience these symptoms. Some people will think that they have PTSD because they are experiencing these symptoms. However, if the symptoms go away or decrease after several days, then they are experiencing normal trauma. People who PTSD, on the hand, will experience these symptoms just people with normal trauma, but their symptoms don’t go away. It only gets worse for PTSD victims. This is because the mind is in a psychological shock. All of the feelings and memories towards the event are disconnected, and will remain disconnected until the victim faces their fears. In order to move on from the event, victims should reconnect all the memories and feelings about the event, and talk about them. Another way to face the feelings of the event is to go to the place where it happened and relive the event in the mind. Doing so will free the mind and release all the anger, frustration, and sadness. It may not work the first couple times, but it will. When experiencing PTSD, it is imperative to do whatever means necessary to get better because PTSD can and will put someone on the edge of life and death.

I believe I achieved what I wanted to learn about PTSD. I’ve found so much information of PTSD, and there is much more information out there to find. I didn’t really encounter any difficulties besides having to find the websites I used because one of them was recently blocked at school, so I had to cite that information at home. Besides that, the only difficulties I really encountered were what information I should use. I don’t know if I would want to do a project this long again; towards the end, it started to bore me. I don’t know why it did, but I am kind of bored of reading about PTSD. It might be because I haven’t found a whole lot of new information lately, and I’ve been finding all the same information I found before. I probably wouldn’t repeat this project once I finish it because it’d pretty much be the same exact blog.

Works Cited
Hall-Flavin, Daniel K., and David Mrazek. “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2 Aug. 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. http://www.mayoclinic.com/‌health/‌post-traumatic-stress-disorder/‌DS00246/‌DSECTION=symptoms.

Segal, Jeanne, and Melinda Smith. “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” HelpGuide. Segal Enterprises, Oct. 2011. Web. 1 Nov. 2011. http://helpguide.org/‌mental/‌post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm.

The First Day

So for my 20% time, I am going to be journaling about my dog (Shasta) for my project. Like in the book, Marley and Me, I have been inspired by the main actor/character in the book/movie. So for the next couple of weeks, I am going to be journaling about her telling stories about her life or the different things she does. So for instance, in the next paragraph, is a story about her when we had first gotten her.

The first day we brought Shasta home, we couldn't believe how big she was. She was already three months old when we got her; she was born October 29th, 2010. It was a Saturday when we got her, and I still remember the feeling I had when I saw her for the first time. I fell instantly in love with her. Her ears were floppy at the time because she was still just a puppy, and so the muscles in the ears had a hard time keeping them up, but I didn't care. Her eyes were ice blue, and huge! She looked at me, at first with curiosity, then with a type of trust that can only happen between an owner and his dog. She snuggled up on the way home and it was a moment I will cherish forever. Her love was and is unconditional and has in some way, shape, or form has changed not just me, but my family as well. It’s funny how a chubby, little, ball of black and white fur, could bring so much joy and laughter into someone’s life.

So everything is going well, and I cannot wait to tell you more about Shasta and the different things she has done. I will also be posting pictures of her soon, so everyone can see her.

Here is my link: http://shasta-and-me.blogspot.com/

Life is hard!! =/

11.W.1.2 Students can write a document analyzing how a work of literature mirrors the themes and issues of its historical period.

11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text

For this Cycle I have selected to read a novel by J.D. Salinger titled The Catcher In The Rye. It's one of the most popular book in the 20th century that introduced teen rebellion and emotions. It reveals the life of Holden Caulfield, showing his teen angst and his moving emotions. In this classic novel the main character, Caulfield, struggles in the real world and shows the readers for the first time how to not care and be a free teen.

In this cycle I didn’t achieve what I have wanted. I desired to get the book done during this cycle but unfortunately there was not enough time. Currently I’m in the middle of the book. I would have wanted to take more time to read the novel and get it done quicker. So I could have started my next project but unfortunately that will have to get pushed back. Hopefully at the end of this week I will get done with the novel. For my writing project I have decided to do a file folder book project. I will also add the journal that the file folder book project requires. I will write from the character’s point of view using first person narrative.
  

Journal Entry 1

Holden Caulfield

Dear Journal,

My mom and dad are going to be really mad at me for failing out of school. Boy, I hope they won’t get too mad at me. I says the word boy a lot, I really do my grammar aint very good either but that was the only class that I didn’t fail. All of my other classes though I failed. My history teacher Dr. Thurmer invited me today to his house to talk to me about my classes and school and other useless things. I really hate when adults have to tell you things over and over and over. It drives me insane especially when they think they want to say an “emotional speech” when really they just want to waste my time with their words. Well Dr. Thurmer is really a great teacher he really is. He has a good soul. Well I have to leave journal my roommate Ackley is in my room again. I swear he always comes in here just to touch my stuff and his teeth are really disturbing. He says he brushes them but the whole goddam school knows he don’t. He also thinks he is better than me because he is 18 when really he acts childish –Goodbye

Rock Band 3

The standard that Edward and I used was Indicator 2: Students can comprehend and fluently read text. (Analysis) 11.R.2.1 Students can analyze how diction affects the interpretation of text.
(Application) 11.R.2.2 Students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

Edward and I decided to do our 20% Time on playing and reviewing new (or in the past year releases) video games for Xbox 360. To start off the review of the games, we read reviews from Game Informer Magazine. After the reading of the reviews, we play the desired video game. Edward and I, like other gamers, will post our own review of the games on their websites or retail stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy.

For out first part of 20% Time, we played Rock Band 3. We decided to pick this game because it is a great game for all ages and has new songs on it. It also has amazing graphics and features: multi-vocals, keyboard, and new drums. Edward and I started playing the World Tour; however, it starts off as Road Challenges, which is a cool way to show how you need to progress your way through setlists. With the amount of time in school, we couldn't finish the Tour. We play Rock Band all the time at Edward's house (with Josiah, Isaac, Tom, and many others), and I know we have beaten the World Tour before. I would repeat this project because it is a great game and it is really fun to play modern and older well-known songs with friends. If I did this again, I would probably do the Tour with the keyboard because I haven't really played enough songs to see how the keyboard is.

Meth, Abuse, and Abandonment! (OH MY!)

I used this writing standard: 11.R.2.2 reading standard where students can read fluently to comprehend grade-level text.

I have been reading the book Fallout by Ellen Hopkins. I haven't got very far into the book yet, but I plan to do a project of some sort that portrays Hopkins' writing style. I also plan to give 3-week by 3-week intervals of what's been happening throughout the book, sharing comments on certain ideas/happenings from the book. Along with my project, I plan to do some research on her and why she writes about what she does.

Firstly, Hopkins has a writing style so unique compared to other authors. Actually, you could consider her more of a poet. Hopkins is also the author of Crank, a book of hers that people may be more familiar with. People are easily intimidated by the 650-page books she writes, but in all actuallity, the 3-4 inch-thick books are pretty quick reads. Instead of using normal paragraphs, she creates story through free verse poetry, and sometimes makes things even more intricate by creating illusions with her words. (Example: If she is talking about money, she forms her poem into a dollar sign).

Some people aren't so fond of her books because they tend to be rather morbid. Her first novel, Crank, is about a girl who gets hooked on meth and becomes far more distant towards her family. Another novel, Tricks, is about 4 different people living completely different lives in Las Vegas, but all being connected somehow. This book, Fallout, is actually a sequel to Crank. Crank came first, then Glass, and now Fallout. (Sorry for confusion).

So far, this book talks about the 3 of the 5 children of Kristina, the main girl from Crank who gets addicted to meth and ends up getting raped by this seriously jerk-like guy, then getting pregnant with his baby. Anyways, this book goes back and forth between the 3 kids: Hunter, Autumn, and Summer. Hunter is a guy who is living a wild college life, while dating this supposedly awesome girl. He wants to find out why his mom left him with his grandparents and never bothered to care. Autumn an extremely self-conscience girl, living with her aunt and alcoholic grandfather. She has some OCD, and a few other problems, including her prision-ridden father. Summer is a girl who finds it hard to live up to her name. She's a foster kid who basically has to look out for the "family" because her fostermom doesn't really seem to care. Where I just left of in my story is when Summer gets in a nasty fight with her "sister" after standing up for her younger "sibling" because she violated her.

I feel like some people don't grasp the concepts of these stories in the same way I do, hence why I enjoy them more than most. I feel like reading about the morbidity of other's lives (to be blunt) makes me appreciate what I have so much more. It makes me want to strive to do better and help others stay away from any related or non-related problems.

Evaluation

For my 20% time project, I chose to pursue a a field that I am fascinated with-finance. Since taking personal finance at the beginning of this school year, I have become a sponge in search for knowledge of finance. One of my favorite people in finance would be Dave Ramsey. His teaching, writing, and experience have made him a millionaire. The best part about it is he wants everyone to be a millionaire too, so he started writing and he published the book called The Total Money Makeover. The book is directed toward adults who are struggling with debt but also talks about how to stay out of debt in college. I have applied some of his tactics to try and keep myself debt free. I have applied for a scholarship called Being an American Essay Contest worth 1000 dollars. The guidelines are as followed:

Essay may be submitted between Constitution Day – September 17, 2011 through Bill of Rights Day - December 15, 2011. All contest entries are due by 11:59 (PST) on December 15, 2011.
Question:
How does the Constitution establish and maintain a culture of liberty?
In an essay of no more than 1000 words, analyze and discuss:
• How one of the Founding principles established in the Constitution helps preserve liberty• Why at least one Founder, as evidenced in a primary source document, believed your chosen principle was a safeguard to liberty• Why your principle continues to be important today• How you personally help preserve a culture that ensures the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in America

My drafting from my research is going well and I have a great idea on what to write and can't wait to follow up on further progress of 20% time in the next 3 weeks!