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

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Magical!

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