Blogs that In Liked This Month...

(My comments summed up).

http://beyondinkandpaper.blogspot.com/
Books beyond Ink and Paper - Joshua Waldman
There are many reasons why I like Joshua Waldmans blog. One reason is because he always adds just the right of information into his posts. For example, his post on Shakespear's play Twelth NIght, when he wrote about the blog and then talked about his opinion on how weird and unusual it was. It was a very good amount of information about the actual plot, and then writing about his opinion. It wasn't to long up to a point where somebody, like myself, wouldn't want to read it, but it was a pretty good amount. Also, Joshua Waldman connects really well, too. Whether it's connect book to self, world or text. He always finds something that connect very well and explains it really well. For example, his post about Dreams and Let America be America Again. He compared those two texts very well, stating the similarities and differences. It really gave a great outlook through other points of view.

http://thumbprintingwords.blogspot.com/
Worlds in Words - Sydney Dellaratta
There are many reasons why I like the blog Worlds in Words by Sydney Dellaratta, but on ereason in specific is because she uses a wide variety of blog post types. Like her first post on a book was based on a connection of the book The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks and herself. She related herself to the book, which is also something that she does really well, but that's besides the point. Another post type that she used was an essay type of post. Her second post, that was also about the last song, explained the impact of music on her main charactwers life, Ronnie. She stated many reasons on why and how music impacted her life. Also, in her social action post she elaborated on a song, Dear Mr. President by P!nk. That was very interesting and another type of post that she used. That's why I really like Sydney Dellaratta's blog.

http://coolerthanejup.blogspot.com/
Alphabet Soup - Olivia Stone
One main reason on why I like Olivia Stone's blog is because she uses a tremendous amount of voice in her posts. If you read anyone you will see the word 'I' come up many times. She also writes her posts as if she was talking to you. It makes it more interesting for one, and also it draws you more into the post. Like you're haviing a conversation with her, even though you really arent. She also tells you her opinion very assertively. It makes you feel as if that's exactly whats right, which is also another great aspect of the voice in her blogs, it kind of shows you her personality and how she is as a person, which is aslo really good too.

Gay Rights; Social Issue Reading Responce

     The First Article that I read was called Syracuse Man Killed for Being Gay ( http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/syracuse_man_was_killed_for_be.html ) which is actually pretty self explanatory. A man in Syracuse was killed for being gay. The second article that i read was called Another Gay Teen Commits Suicide for Being Outed, ( http://www.thefrisky.com/2010-10-01/another-gay-teen-commits-suicide-after-being-outed/ ). Which is also pretty self explanatory. Another gay teen committed suicide for being outed.
     This is a social issue because to me, it isn't fair. I don't think that anybody should be assaulted, or feel the need to harm themselves because of what other people think about them. In the first article it talked about how a man named Dwight R. Lee shot another man named Moses Cannon in the chest because he was gay. The thing is, these are two regular men. Two average guys that are just living their lives, until one has to go and end the others. It isn't fair to me. Especially since there wasn't even any conversation or arguments prior to the assault. They didn't even know each other. But, that didn't stop Dwight R. Lee from going ahead and shooting Moses in the chest. It's not fair.
     What I also don't like about this situation, is the fact that he didn't even try to get to know Moses Cannon as a person. He just shot him, with out any knowledge of his personality, or what type of person he was. But, I think that part might get to me more that somebody else because I like to get to know somebody's personality before I judge them, but that's just me.
     The next article that I read, which was called Another Gay Teen Commits Suicide for Being Outed, was pretty disappointing too. A young boy, only 18 years of age, Tyler Clementi committed suicide because his idiot roommate broadcasted a video of him having gay sex. Which might seem kind of funny, but it really isn't. One, broadcasting something that personally is never nor will ever be funny. Two, you never know who is watching, or what people might think about him after that. Which is obviously what his roommate, Dharun Ravi, wasn't thinking about, because after that people started to make fun of him. Really bad. Which isn't fair at all, not only because  they were making fun of him for something that was totally his decision and had nothing to do with them. But also for making fun of him for something that he wanted to be kept a secret, which isn't anybody's fault except for his roommate.
     I know that thoughts on Gay Rights differ depending on the person. Some might agree that gay's are people too and deserve the same rights as people who who aren't gay or bisexual. While others might disagree. I, myself, think that any decision that is this personal and independent, shouldn't be decides for you by the government or anybody else but yourself. I think that people deserve to be happy with exactly who they are, regardless of what other people think. Some might disagree, some might agree, and that's the issue.

My Mother-Social Awareness Writing #3

I think my mother is somebody who changes the world in a way, a small way, but still in a way. Right now my mother is the principal of the school that she just started about two years ago. But that isn't all, most of the things that you'll learn about her experience as an educator are here, in this interview.

Interview:
1.What does it feel like to know that you are the provider of education for little people?
Great. (Please elaborate...) It's a very uplifting feeling to know that I am affecting at least seven years of a child's life. (Will you have a big impact?) Yes. I have a big impact due to the vision of my school and the work that I expect my teachers to do for my school and the students who attend.
2. How long have you been in the education system?
22 years. (wow).
3. What was your process of going from a teacher to now being a principle of your very own school?
Well first, I substituted in brooklyn for a year at a lot of different elementary schools. Then I got a job as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. Then I taught sixth grade and fifth grade, 4/5 bridge class. Then I taught a K-5 Art class, then I taught a 3rd grade class, then fifth grade again. Then I was the math coach. Then I was an Assistant Principle, then I went back to being a math coach and data specialist. That's when I wrote a proposal to create a new school as the education leader (principal), and I got it.
4. Do you feel accomplished as an educator?
After all of that? Yeah...
5. Who is your role model? (In the educational system, that is).
Dr. Lorraine Monroe, who was principal of the first Fredrick Douglas Academy. Also, the principal that I worked under, Judy Aronson. Oh, and Mr. Stanislaus. (;

More Than Any Beautiful-Social Awareness Writing #2

Verse 1
I'm doing something
and now I know that I should stop.
But it's so hard,
and if I do I won't remain here at the top.

Whatever's right is something different,
can't you see?
Cause through my eyes,
nobody's understanding me.


Hook
But if you see me you,
you should bathe me in the truth,
you should tell what I don't want to hear.


Chorus
So take it away,
take it away,
all I see in you is a liar in disguise.

Won't you give it away,
sell it away,
I thought you'd be the one who would choose the way that's right.

But instead you hid it away,
hid it away,
you sold it away,
and you never let me know.

That I'm more than any beautiful.

Verse 2
I guess all you see
is anybody out of control.
but if you were me,
you'd see somebody who can't take anymore.

I'm not trying to hurt you,
or put somebody down.
But it's my life and I do what I want,
you've got no impact on me now.


Hook
But if you see me you,
you should bathe me in the truth,
you should tell what I don't want to hear.


Chorus
So take it away,
take it away,
all I see in you is a liar in disguise.

Won't you give it away,
sell it away,
I thought you'd be the one who would choose the way that's right.

But instead you hid it away,
hid it away,
you sold it away,
and you never let me know.

That I'm more than any beautiful.

Bridge
The world is changing all around me,
and I see.
There's nothing much to do about about me,
can't you see.
There's nothing really to show,
just me giving up my life,
for this.

Chorus
Unless you took it away,
you sent it away.
You told anybody that would ever want to know.

Then they would take it away,
my problems away,
take away what's covering my inner beautiful.

So why won't you through it away,
don't see it again,
just take it away.

Cause I am more than any beautiful. . .

     My process in writing this song was pretty simple, I just kept writing, it was kind of flowing our of me. but that's not important. What's important is the issue that I talk about, because it might not be as clear as World On Fire or Daughters. But, first i am going to explain to you exactly what every line means, it's kind of like a story. So the first verse says, 'I'm doing something that I know I should stop. But it's so hard, and if I do i won't remain at the top.' So I pictured a girl who was doing something wrong, and she know that she should stop but it's really addicting, and if she does, her friends won't think she's as cool as she would be if she was doing this. really in my mind I thought of smoking weed, but it could be anything, drugs, sex, bullying. Anything. So this girl is smoking weed. And she doesn't want to stop because it's addicting, and she doesn't wan't her friends to think she's not as cool. Then it says, 'Whatever's right is something different can't you see? Cause through my eyes, nobody's understanding me.' Which means basically, that smoking weed isn't right, and she doesn't think anybody understands her. Which is probably the reason why she decides to do this. It's like her silent cry for attention. Then it leads into the hook, which says, 'If you see me, you should bathe me in the truth, you should tell me what I don't want to hear.' (Which is honestly my favorite line of the song, only because of the metaphor that I used...) It really just means that she needs somebody to tell her what she's doing is wrong, and she needs to hear the truth, even though it might not be what she wants to hear. In the back of her mind, she know's what she's doing is wrong, but she's too afraid to admit it. She doesn't want to sto for the same reason, having her friends not think she's cool. Then the chorus consists of a repetitive pattern, of phrases like 'take it away, take it away,' 'give it away, give it away,' 'hide it away, hide it away.' Which might have been a bit confusing, and that I can understand, since she isn't really telling you just what she want' this person to take away and hide away. What she's talking about basically is her problem, in this case that we are speaking is her smoking weed. But it could also mean many things, like her insecurity and need for her friends to like her, or that addiction that she has for the drug. Or in any other case, the issue that that person possesses. 

     Moving onto the second verse, it shows a point of view of this girl, a more psychological issue than it seems. It saying, 'I guess all you see, is anybody out of control. But if you were me, you'd see somebody who can't take anymore.' Which also relates to the line, 'Cause through my eyes, nobody's understanding me.' They both mean the same thing, except this one is more explanatory of the concept that this girl has had enough and can't take anymore. Enough what? You might ask... Enough of people criticizing her about the things that she does and doesn't do. Enough of people judging her about the way that she looks, because those are the things that build insecurities. But honestly it could be anything depending on the person, but that's how it is with this girl that I wrote the song about. Continuing with the second verse, 'I'm not trying to hurt you or put somebody down, but it's my life and I do what I want, you've got no impact on me now.' She doesn't want to hurt anybody. But, she wants to feel in control, even though she isn't. Then the chorus repeats with the same meaning, she doesn't want this problem and she wants somebody to take it away. The the bridge, which is kind of depressing. The world is changing all around her, which I meant to mean that soon enough, everybody is going to be like her, unless somebody can 'take it away.' There's nothing much you can do about her, but there's still a chance for change in some people who are soon to be like her. 'There's nothing much really to show, just me giving up my life, for this.' Very blunt. Kind of boring. But it's true. It's not much to look at, until it's all over and she's done. Her life is gone, its ruined. 

     The the chorus comes with that grand, 'Unless.' Her now speaking about the past, saying, 'unless you took it away, told everybody who would wan to know.' Which means that she could have been different if you took it away. She could have been different if you helped her. 'Take away what's covering my inner beautiful,' is a line that I also like a lot because it's true, doing drugs, smoking weed, cause you to now be yourself. Hiding your inner beautiful. Everybody has it, it's not taken away, it's just covered up. 

      Have you noticed that repeating line, 'I'm more than any beautiful,'? Yeah, i did that on purpose. Know what that means? She knows she beautiful, but she needs somebody to tell her. Her knowing isn't enough. She insecure, obviously, she needs somebody else to tell her. I named this song More Than Any Beautiful because everybody's beautiful. No matter what anybody says, we're all beautiful, and when you have somebody tell you that, you feel like your more than anybody that's beautiful, you're special. You're perfect. 

     The theme/issue that I demonstrate in this song is mainly about pier pressure. The girl in this song is under the influence of pier pressure and that's one of the reasons why she doesn't want to stop. I personally don't worry much about what other people think, but there are many people who do, a lot. There's nobody really to blame, just because anybody could be the blame. Parents, television advertisements, movie stars, Victoria's Secret Models. Anybody can be the reason why you feel insecure. That's a social issue because it's sort of like an epidemic. It's spreading and the more people start to think like that, the more people get put under the influence. There's still a chance to help people believe and realize that they are beautiful and perfect in there own way, and the sooner we do it, the better. 

Which One Are You?

     The book that I read this week is called Trading Faces by Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy. This book is about a pair of twins, Payton and Emma, and they're going to a new school, a public school. They've been in a private school, a very small one at that, all their lives up until the seventh grade when they moved to the public school. They are both very excited but for different reasons. Payton, the more girly one who is way more worried about other people's thoughts on her, is excited for this new school because of cute boys, more people, and the fact that classes switch up which means more people and more cute boys. Emma on the other hand, who is the more intelligent one and more focused on her academics, is excited for a new school because it means a new set of people to challenge her intelligence. Both really excited they come to this new school. Unfortunately their first days of school don't go so well. Payton embarrases herself infront the the most popular guy in school and Emma feels like there are so many more people who are smarter than her. That's when they agree on a switch.
     Payton and Emma decide to switch being each other just for a little bit, since either of them wouldn't really care about the situations each one is going through.
     This book kind of reminds me of this movie called It Takes Two. It's staring Marry Kate and Ashley Olsen. In the movie neither of them know each other at all. One of them is an orphan living at a town orphanage, Amanda. The other one is totally rich and lives in a lake house with her dad, Alyssa. Amanda's orphanage goes on this yearly camping trip to this camp that's across lake that Alyssa lives by. One day, Alyssa finds out that her dad is getting married to this woman, and runs away, which just happens to be the day of the orphanage football game. Amanda didn't really know how to play so throwing her the ball wasn't the best idea, and she ends up running into the forest and doesn't stop. Alyssa and Amanda end up running into each other and finding that they look exactly alike. In total aw and in current unsatisfying life situations they decide to switch places.
     If you have read and seen both these movies you would totally see why I think they are similar. In the book there is a pair of girls who aren't happy and both decide to switch and experience what it's like to be somebody else. In the end of both books it doesn't end up well, in Trading Faces people find out that they were faking and people start to not like them, until the apoligize and beg for their forgiveness. In It Takes Two there's a family that wants to adopt Amanda, but it's really Alyssa and she ends up running away to trade places.
     All in all, I don't think that it is a good idea to switch places with somebody, if you can, when life get's tough. If your put in a situation it's because you can get out of it. If you don't even try, you won't learn anything.

Daughters - John Mayer -Social Awareness Writing #1

I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world
But she's just like a maze
Where all of the walls are continually changed
And I've done all I can
To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe it's got nothing to do with me

Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Oh, you see that skin?
It's the same she's been standing in
Since the day she saw him walking away
Now I'm left
Cleaning up the mess he made

So fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Boys, you can break
You'll find out how much they can take
Boys will be strong
And boys soldier on
But boys would be gone without the warmth from
A woman's good, good heart

On behalf of every man
Looking out for every girl
You are the guide and the weight of her world

So fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too


     The song that i analyzed is called Daughters by John Mayer. I really do love this song, not just because it has an amazing melody to it, but it also has a great meaning behind it. The story that this song tells is a story about a girl that John Mayer knows who's really hard to figure out and she keeps changing. John Mayer tries to figure out why she's so guarded and defensive, but then he realizes that maybe it's just that it doesn't have anything to do with him. Then in the chorus he talks about how fathers should be good to their daughters, because soon enough they grow up and become mothers, so mothers should be good to their daughters too. The next verse leads the story into how her father messed her up. How the skin that she's in was the same skin she was in when he left her and walked away. Now, John Mayer feels that he's the one who is supposed to help her and clean up the mess that her father made. Then the chorus repeats reminding you that fathers and mothers should be good to their daughters. Then it leads into the bridge which talks about how boys are stronger than girls, just because when they break, they'll carry on. But, that doesn't mean that there isn't any damage done. If you leave a boy without the grace of his mother, then eventually he will become messed up too. Then the bridge talks about him saying on behalf of everyman who's looking out for any girl, you're the guide and the weight of her world. Which is pretty self explanatory. 
     The thing about this that some people might not realize though, is that that reminder is there for a reason. If this were a story, and John Mayer says that in the story, it's because some men forget that. And yes, some women forget that too. That's the issue that this song talks about. It talks about the responsibility and impact that one person can have on another person, thus many people. It talks about how some decisions people make can really impact somebody that cares about you in a big way, and you might not even realize it. The issue here is that many people have not been realizing it, and many people have not been caring. 
     I think that this issue is really important, especially when dealing with young people. Growing up, when you have two people who are there all the time, it shows that there are actually people in the world who care about you. It shows that not everybody is against you. It gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing that they love you, and they love each other too. Growing up will then be easier for you, because you won't have to worry about anything like pier pressure getting to you, and you won't have to worry about what other people think, because you know that the only people whose opinions actually matter are theirs. it changes you're whole aspect and point of view about life and about society. So if you ever get that feeling that nobody will ever love you, you know that they do. You know there's hope. If they love you, anybody can love you. 
     But if you grow up, without those people there, it'll be harder. Life, and the world will be more scary because you don't know that there is somebody who loves you. You don't know for sure. You'll be more prone to getting those doubtful thoughts because it isn't positive in your mind that it's possible for somebody to love you. Then, you'll have to start worrying about what other people think about you, what your friends think about you, what society thinks about you. Honestly, that sucks. People like that I feel sorry for. I know what it's like to have two loving parents love you and each other as I grow up and still am growing up. I don't know what it's like to not, but i would never want to. 
     It's important to have people who love you, and when you don't, that's an issue. 






Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnmayer/daughters.html

Something About Her Love...

I wonder if she ever thinks about it,
and thinks,
Why me?

It must be hard on her,
seeing me this way
thinking that she could fix it.
Because she can't.

Nobody can fix it.
Nobody can change it.
Things happen that we cannot control,
so why worry?

And i wonder is she ever thinks about it,
and thinks,
'I'm sorry, i can't fix it.'

Because nobody can fix it.
Nobody.
Things happen that we cannot control,
so why worry?

I don't want her to think that she has to.
I don't want her to think that i want her to.
I want her to be free.

If there's one thing i'd want before I go.
One thing I'd change before I leave, before I'm set free,
is to set her free.

The book that i am reading is called My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. So far, i am enjoying this book because i love the relationship's that the character's share. Especially the sisterly relationship between Anna and Kate. You see, in this book, Kate has cancer, she suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia, which is a blood and bone marrow cancer. Her sister Anna was created so that she can give Kate her bone marrow, basically. So all throughout the beginning of her life, she has had bone marrow taken out of her to give to Kate. Until she turns 13, her parents tell her that she would have to give kate one of her kidney's, then she decides to sue her parents for the rights of her own body.
I admire Anna's courage. Anna as a charcter shows that she loves her sister Kate, but she needs to watch out for her own self also. I love the relationship between Anna and Kate, they love each other, but they both know what is right. Even though giving Kate a kidney may help, the stress of this whole surgery may kill her anyway. Basically, it won't solve all problems, and they know that. But, they both love each other. And that's clear.

Two Blogs that Came to my Liking...

One blog that I really found interesting was Joshua Waldman's blog, because of his point of view on the books that he reads. I think he really looks for the deeper meaning behind the words that he reads. He makes it seem that there more than just words, it's more than just a story. Which also might explain his blog title, Books Beyond Ink and Paper. I also like the way that he elaborates on everything that he reads, and his opinions, so you're never confused or puzzled by exactly what he's saying, or the point he's trying to get across.
Another blog that I liked was Sydney D.'s because she really connects to her reading. The character's that she reads about, she finds a way to connect with them. I think that's really cool, because it gives you a better intake on who her character is. Like her character Ronnie, because I know Sydney, I have a better perspective on the type of person that Ronnie is.

Rubies Like Roses

She's a small fish
in a little pond.
That I can understand.

Nothing's ever right,
everything's wrong.
That I can understand.

I'd rather hide,
then show my true side.
I hope she can understand.

Rubies like roses,
and the doors she closes
whenever you try to sneak in.

I don't know her, but I get
the pressure that she feels,
and the need to try and sneak away.

And I can relate
to that misfit feeling
of only trying to get by everyday.

So I'll take my key,
and she'll lock the door.
And we'll lock everybody outside.

And we'll talk of the day,
where we both escape.
And won't have to pretend or hide.

And there won't be any door anymore.

I started to read the book Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen. In this book, a seventeen-year-old girl named Ruby lives with her mother, until her mother abandons her for a better life. One day she was there, she went out, and never came back. But, Ruby didn't think too much of it, she thought that she would be able to take care of herself on her own. That only lasts for a few months though, until her clothes dryer breaks, and she ends up hanging a string of clothes in the middle of her kitchen. Of course somebody see's it, and reports it to Child Services. Whenever Child Services would come and check up on her and her mother, Ruby would always make up excuses for reasons why her mother wouldn't be there, but that doesn't last long enough. They finally realize that her mother hasn't been with her for nearly four months, and take her away from their little yellow house. They make her move in with her older sister. Her sister is ten years older than her making her twenty-seven years old. Ruby obviously doesn't want to move in with her sister, thinking that her life would have been a lot better without her, and wanting to escape the first chance she gets. But, after a while, Ruby realizes that her life with her sister isn't really all that bad, she learns to adjust.
That I can relate to. I can relate to that feeling of just wanting to get away from everybody for a while. That feeling of just wanting to take a break from life, and go somewhere where there is nobody that will bother you, or judge you, or mock you. In this poem that I wrote here, it basically says that I can understand everything that she's going through. I can understand that need to just want to escape one day, and get that feeling where you don't have to watch out for anyone about to hurt you. I talk about how we would escape together, me and Ruby, and finally get what we want in the end. But, unfortunately, you can't. There's no escape. Life is hard, and then you die. That's just the way it is. -.-