Final-Li Done!

4. How do the things you read influence what you write or how you write it?

I think that the thing I read influence what I write very much. Like if I read about something sad it changes the mood of everything and makes me want to write about something sad too. I think that what ever happens in my life influences what I write even more. Like for the iTouch incident. I was in sure a bad mood when I lost my iTouch and so that blog post also looked like crap. So I guess you can say when you have a crap time, you get a crap post. Now that I have looked back at my work it seems like these things are kind of true. There are so much grammatical errors in that post.

For Lit Circle books, reading influences what I write sometimes. I say sometimes because if the book is about something fake I usually don't take it seriously. However if the book is like the War of the Worlds, I tend to talk about the government. I don't try to but I do get influenced by things that spark my interest. I think that the things I read that will influence what I write is books that are true and that I am interested in.

I think that reading doesn't change what I write but what events happen in my life changes it. I don't really think that it will affect how I write it. I usually tell my story rather than explain it with great details. I think that is a strong or weak point in my write depending on how you look at it. I actually see my writing as a story and I have to tell it. Things that happen in my life affects the story but not the way I am telling the story.

7. What have you learned from your struggles with writer's block? Why do you tend to get stuck? How do you tend to get unstuck? Notice any patterns?

Well, I tend to get stuck when I feel like I HAVE to do it as if it was an assignment. And yes, it is an assignment but I feel like when I am forced to do something like a normal blog post I seem to always get writer's block. Getting writer's block is kind of strange to me because when I do end up typing something it is usually some what longer than what I except. When I get writer's block I usually just start typing up random things but then in the end I try to connect it. I also try to make it sound like I am actually talking to the readers face to face.

I noticed that if I tried to forcefully do the blog assignments I come up with crap work. However, when I just start typing randomly like talk about my day the blog post becomes a lot better. It also makes my blog look like a journal for my life. I also like talking about my interest like track. Talking about something I know very well is one of my strong points because I can just go on and on about it.

I also think that writer's block comes with procrastination. When I procrastinate I usually can't think of anything to write about. The thing that is really weird is that when I am SUPER focused in wanting to finish up my blog I get writer's block. So writing for me is probably when I am focused and not forced. I also try to make my blog post sound like I am just speaking normal to the audience. In conclusion, I think that the only way I can get out of writer's block is just to randomly talk about things that happen in my life.

8. How do you like having a blog? How has blogging changed the way you write, the way you think, or the way you think about writing?

Has blogging had any other effects on your life beyond strictly your "school life"? If so, explain.
For the second semester only: Do you plan on continuing to publish writing on your blog this summer, next year, or beyond? If so, what are your writing goals and how will you use your blog in the future?

Blogging has change the way I write because now I express myself more than I use to. Blogging helps me vent out the things that are happening in my life whether it is good or bad. I think that having a blog is helpful to just write about what happens and writing it is only the half of it. When you look back at all your post you can remember all the things that have happen in your life so you can learn from mistakes and not make them again. Again, blogging has made me put more feeling into my writing. Even though sometimes I have to express myself with curse words, I still try to express my feelings into words. It is nice to write things up even if no one reads it because you are the only that has to read it. Reading happy post when you are feeling a little down makes you feel a lot better too.

In the beginning of the year I thought that I would post posts about the environment. My blog's name is "forthehomework" but now it shouldn't be because I use it for something much greater. It is my first blogging account.

I will continue to keep blogging but on another website. So you can come check out my tumblr. I think that having blog is good because your friends can read what you write. You can also stay connected with one another. You can express what you feel into words and the more writing the better. The more you do it you will not only get better at writing but you will get better in expressing yourself and how you feel on the inside.

I would also like to thank Mr.Sutherland for introducing me to blogging. I think it has change my life by expressing myself in words. I can also get better in writing by doing so. I mean if I were to sit in class and write essays all day and just stopping during the summer I don't think I would improve in my writing at all. But now that I have a blog I don't have to just stop writing. I can express myself through words instead of bottle everything up. Just a little response to your letter! Thanks Mr.Sutherland. Even though I didn't do that well this quarter I learned a lot about my self this year. Like the little details of my life and what I get mad over. Thanks for everything!

Monthly Review : The War Of The Worlds

The science fiction novel "The War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells is a third person story that talks about Martians taking over Earth. There are lots of fighting and bloodshed making this story kind of bad and violent. I suggest that if you don't like a killing story this isn't a story for you. However this book is very interest because it paints a picture of how life MIGHT turn out if a thing like this were to happen.

1. What was the author's purpose(s) in writing this book, and how can you tell? How well was this purpose achieved?

To me, I think that the purpose of writing this book is to introduce to the audience that there might be Martians outside of the world we live in. This book is to take a step back from what and where you live in in life. Often times people forget about there imagination. "The War of the Worlds" was written in 1898. During this time most of the people living on Earth were discovering new things. Some of these things are like cars and technological things. Well this so happens to be the time where imagination sprung about. People where trying to make invisible objects and they were arguing over existence of mythical creatures.

However above all of those things were Aliens, Martians, and UFOs. This is the time where people argued over it whether they had seen it or what not. H.G. Wells wrote this book to give an over view about the things that might happen IF Martians do exist and IF they would come and invade Earth. I think that Wells did a good job painting out the picture of what it would be like but I think he forgot one thing about the Martians. What if they are really stronger than what he tells? I am sure that the audience that Wells was trying to write to got surprised in thinking what a Martian would be and what it would do. I think that Wells practically made a the first Stereotype about Martians. We don't actually know for sure that Martians do want to invade Earth or if they are plotting it. Heck they can already be on Earth without us knowing. So why haven't they contacted us? They probably might have too. This is where the government comes in. The government might have already made contain with aliens and of course we would be the last ones to know of it.

2. For what audience(s) is this book intended, and how can you tell? (In other words, for whom would you recommend this book?)

This book is recommended for young readers that want to read about science fiction. This book is very interesting and I think that they want would want to read it because of the things that happen outside of the world. Things that they wouldn't imagine happening is probably happening under secret facilities. I can tell that this book is for young children to adult because this story is some what scary if you think about it. Some of thing maybe real and knowing is only part of it. Seeing that Martians and aliens are real is even scarier.

There are some scenes where people die because of Heat-Rays or Black Smoke. There is the violent side to it while Wells adds imagination to it.

An almost noiseless and blinding flash of light, and a man fell headlong and lay still; and as the unseen shaft of heat passed over them, pine burst into fire, and every dry furze bush became with one dull thud a mass of flames.

This quote shows the detailed killing with a Heat Ray from the Martians. To some audience this would be pretty scary, in fact I myself think that this creepy. This is a real eye opener because there might be Martians outside of the world we live in. More than likely they might have the technology to do these kind of things. But then again that is just your imagination going crazy.

3. What are the weaknesses of this book, in your opinion?

I think that this book was pretty good in general however there were a few things that I didn't understand. H.G. Wells's writings are very complicating because it is the writing styles that is written back then. What I mean by complicating is that he uses interesting detail into most of his writings. I think this is my first third person story. I really liked it because there was a lot more talking and description in every event that happened.

Some weakness are getting attention. I don't know why but I had lost my attention reading it. So I don't know why but I felt that there were some very boring parts to the book and that just made me want to skip it. All there was in the some of the events that happen was all detail. Like during the actions scenes where the Martians were either shooting there heat rays or using there black smoke.

In general, I liked the book. There were lots of eye openers to all the things around me. This book in fact made me more interested in things outside of space. Martians are probably the number one thing I want to know if it is real or not. I want to know because if Martians are real then everything we knew about politics and religion is all lies. I say this because we wasted 2000 years fighting each other when in reality we should unite together. Religion is all a lie because there was nothing in the Bible or the Quran that saids anything about aliens and Martians.

We would have to rethink about what we have been doing these past 2000 years and if we had gotten anywhere. Martians could already be on Earth! Cough Cough Area 51! I think that the people that have lied to us the most is not religion or politics but is our own government. They are doing experiments and maybe even have already contacted with aliens or Martians. But then again you can just use your imagination about anything.

School + Life Rant Part Two

I am so behind in English. I want to slap myself. Life is a mess for me right now. I don't even remember if I did a blog or not. So I am just going to do another one anyways and on the plus side there are lots of things I want to write about right now.

School is almost to an end and I am just about to fall apart. There are so much things to keep track of. There are going to be lots of end of the year projects, parties, assignments, and finals. I can't even explain to you how far behind I am in English. I haven't posted any of my Lit Circle Readings even though I have every thing in front of me. It seems like I never have enough time.

Blogging right now for me does not seem like a homework anymore. It seems like something I just do to vent. Its nice to talk about your life even though no one may read it. Just expressing yourself feels really good.

Track has come to an end for me. I don't know what I will do without track now. I don't know what I will do everyday after school. I was basically time consumed from track but now since it is over I don't know what to do. One thing I am definitely going to do is get back on schedule. I was always sad and tired of track but once it is over. I'm still sad. It is like on of those things where you have but you don't cherish and once you have lost it you know how important to you it really is.

Even though track has made me sad, it has lots of up side too. I have PR multiple times. PR means that I break my personal record. I specialize in the 400 meter race. I started at 57.50 seconds or so. Now I have ended it at 52.88. This is one amazing accomplishment. I basically gotten faster by 5 seconds. Now I have to get faster by 3 or 4 seconds to be on the SCHOOL record. Right now I run the fastest 400 on the team so I am really happy. I also have 2 more years left so I am dreaming big!

Well I hope I get everything together this is going to be one heck of a hard week. Oh yeah. It's my brother's birthday today. He is now 18 years old. Just thinking about it make my stomach hurt. In two years from now I'm going to be 18 and I will pursuit in my own career and find what I want to do. Assuming that global warming doesn't take over the world and melt the polar ice caps and make the "2012 epidemic" real. Also assuming that that Measure E gets passed and I get a better chance in getting into a good college that can specialize in green technology. Green and environmental engineering is the way to go!

Rules of Love

1. What rules dictate the behavior of young men and women in relationships today?
Some of the rules that dictate the behavior of dating is actually going out to dates. These things also include making the opposite gender happy. The males are usually the first one to make the move. However, things have sort of change but still. Also the males are the ones that have to be the bigger person sometimes in order to make the relationship work.
The environment in where you live also decides the rules because if you live in a ghetto neighborhood, you either be the controlled or the one controlling.


2. Name a situation in which the rules have clearly been violated. In other words, what are things "nice girls" just don't do? What are things "nice guys" just don't do?
"nice girls" don't back stack or cheat and neither does "nice boys". If these rules are violated they are just not the same. So they wouldn't be called the the "nice" person.

3. What are the possible consequences for breaking these rules?
More than likely you will be dumped. The other gender will get mad and will except you to make it up to him or her depending on if you want it to work. Bringing flowers or doing a favor for him or her. Making things up is usually done. Most of the time the males have to do it. The reason for this is because its just one of the "rules". It is also enforced through TV, dramas, and movies. All of these shows show how the male has to seek out the girl and present her something very emotional and romantic. Most the time no a days males don't really do that. Heck! So people danced on their wedding. So that shows you how much change is already taking affect.

4. Where do these rules come from? Who "invented" them and who enforces them?
These rules were invented by generations of stereotypes and criticism. It was also created from popular people who think what should and should not be done. People that follow this just wants to do what "cool" people do. Thus creating a change and a trend. This is also how fashion is made every year. Things change according to what seems to be in "style".

School Rant Part One

School is almost over for me however, it seems like my work has doubled even though it is coming to a stop. I think that I have more homework at the end of school than the middle or beginning. I have so much things to worry about right now my head is about to explode. I have English assignments on top of English assignments, late work, 2 math projects, 2 chemistry projects, 2 history projects, 1 formal debate, 4.5 hour test, track meets after track meets, and formal debates and parties.

As you can see my life is about to explode! Most of these things are probably either going to be late or going to be bad work. I dislike the fact that when you come home from school you can't really focus and start getting the ball rolling until about 2 hours later. Or that is just probably me. I think the computer is a major distract in my life. I wish I could unplug and finish all of these assignments in lighting speed with 100% effort.

Sometimes I wonder if it is really worth going through all this stuff to only end up finding your self doing a job that requires nothing to what you have learn. Some things that I have been thinking about is 2012. If it happens, does that mean that I have wasted all my life trying to get a good education when in reality I'm not that smart. Truth be told I am a pretty average guy and I think its much wiser for me to just a job where I can just learn from there. I am a very hard worker too.

Another BIG thing that really pissed me off this weekend was the Measure E. I am all for it but a lot of people aren't. So I had to go canvasing which is knocking door to door talking to they about Measure E and what they think about it. Most people weren't home but some people were furiously against it. The people that handed me all the voting information showed me a chart of this that will happen if this Measure does not get passed. Some of these things are : making Encinal a Middle school, Lincoln middle a Elementary school, closing Chipmen, Wood, Otis, and a lot of other small elementary. They are also closing Island too.

SO 2012 looks VERY bright for me don't you think? They plan this out so it will probably be in effect by 2012. Some Senior year I am going to have. There's also going to be a lot of grade changes. Alameda High will have 2000+ students grades 10 - 12 only. Then everything else gets pushed forward one grade. Alameda WILL be in chaos!!!!!!!!!!

My Life and Future Plans

The school year is ending soon. I feel that this year went by really quick. In a blink of an eye we will soon go to college. Recalling back to this school year there were lots of things that were good and bad that happened to me. So left memories and some left scars. Some of the major events that happen this year was the iTouch incident. Some other major things that happen this year was running track. I beat my personal record several times. I also sort of feel like I haven't accomplished anything big yet because college is right around the corner and I want to do something that looks great on my resume. So my parents, like every parent, wants me to go to a good college so they decided to send me to a SAT prep class.

At first I didn't really stress about it. However, I went there and took a practice test I panic so much. I didn't know a lot of the problems there and the only thing I understand was the math and that is because my math was considered above average so I didn't really sweat about it math as much. But reading and grammatical errors were my weak points so it made the test really difficult. In fact that was the first test I have ever taken that gave me a head ache. Later on, I found out that I had to live with my aunts for 8 weeks because the program is 8:30 - 1:00.

The program also cost a lot of money so I am expected to get a great boost in my SAT grades. However, I don't get it. SAT is a test that can get you into a good college but some colleges don't even look at it so why bother taking it. I also think that SAT is based on money too. Those that are rich and can afford sending their children to great SAT programs get the greater benefit. Those who don't might not be able to go to a good college because of their SAT score might just live a normal life. So the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer.

My summer is going to be one of the hardest summer I have ever gotten. I am going to be studying most of the time. I always picture myself as a young monk that goes up the mountain to only see a old sage and acquire his knowledge from him. I think this because I am going to be isolated from all my friends and I think when I do come back home from the SAT program my way of thinking will be so much more different. I will definitely change a lot over the summer. BUT if I don't get a better grade on my SAT exam I WILL be pissed. Wasting all that time, effort, and money just to only receive the same grade. I would be pissed for weeks.

Anyways I just came back from a track meet. I should be sleeping right now because these past weeks has hurt my body mentally and physically to much. I have two math projects, one French project, 3 parts to a history project, English assignments, 1 small chemistry project, and 2 days of track. I also had the 4.5 hour practice test on Sunday. I come home at 8 or 9 on track days and sleep around 3 every night. So you should know how sleepy I am. I also have to wake up early tomorrow...

Monthly Review Fast Food Nation

In the food educational book called Fast Food Nation talks about the history of how fast food got his name. The author, Eric Schlosser, tells the story of how fast food originated and evolved into what it is now. Fast food originated from small stands on the street that sold hot dogs and stuff. It went through many changes and had been impacted by many different cooperation. There were lots of rivaling fast food restaurants that were competing on the cheapest, tasteful, and convenient food.

1. What was the author's purpose(s) in writing this book, and how can you tell? How well was this purpose achieved?

Eric Schlosser's purpose of writing this book is to inform others about the history of fast food itself. Many of the new generation of kids never questioned fat food restaurants and thought they were always here to begin with. When in reality, it took years for the fast food restaurants to assemble the prefect process on how they cook the food.

Most kids now a days know that fast food is bad but do they really know why it is bad? Most of them don't. On top of that kids don't really care about their health until they are older because when you are young you can burn the food at a faster rate. But if eating fast food becomes a habit, when they get older they will suffer the consequence.

Eric also wanted the public to know all of the bad things that fast food companies do just to get their money. The company mangers manges the company and yet they are the ones deciding what should go on what type of food. They are not cooks and they are making food for the public according to the price range they want. He also wanted people to know about the history of fast food because most of the people don't really know about it. He wants to let them know how fast food changed into what it is now and how it has caused a dramatic change into society even though its just restaurants.

I think that this books' job was achieved. He wanted to let everyone know about all the dangerous things that an happen. He also wanted everyone to know the real truth and secrets behind fast food. In fact a movie was made solely based on this book itself. The movie was shown to many people and Eric fulfilled his duties to shed some light to the younger kids that don't know much about fast food.

2. For what audience(s) is this book intended, and how can you tell? (In other words, for whom would you recommend this book?)

I think that this book is mostly towards younger readers and some adults because most of the adults know and the harmful things that can come with fast food. I think that is was towards teens because they are the ones that don't know anything about fast food and yet they eat it the most too. Before I read this book the only things I knew from fast food is that it is unhealthy and it is fat for you. That is basically all the adults told me. However none of these things mattered to me because I would usually burn of the energy really quick.

I can tell that the book is towards the teenage group because it is full of fun facts that relates to things we see everyday such as McDonald, Burger King, and Walt Disney Pictures. The teenage group knows all if not most of these fast food companies. Walt Disney is not a fast food company but it has worked and made contracts with McDonald before. I think the teenage group would most definitely like it because it is an eye opener to things that were never questioned.

I also learned many facts and things that happened during the age when fast food was evolving and competing with one another. The blueprint for making such a successful cooking system was also turned into to be made for factories. I think that the things that fast food affected during this age was very interesting and I think that other teens like me would enjoy it too.

4. How would you describe the author's style of writing? What's your opinion of the style?

I think that the author's writing style is very clear. When he talks about the history of fast food and you really relate to how things were back then. He also paints a picture in your head about things like "What Ifs". He does a really good job condensing the job and still make the literature flow as you read it. Even though most of the was information he still has short stories to go along with it. I thought that was a good thing to put in his book because if he were to just cramp us all with just information the book would be very boring. He also keeps the readers interested with what happened after this event and such and such.

I also thought that his writing style is great for long termed stories because in the beginning of the story he traced it all the way back to the first fast food restaurant and in the end he talks about the fast food nation now. He displays a good sense of time in his book. He also relates other outside problems into his book. He talks about WW2, Walt Disney, and other companies who used the blue print for using employees to the best way possible. Eric also uses real life stories to his story so it makes the reader feel like the problems are real and can happen to anyone. I also like how he talks about other things that is sort of relating towards fast food things. He talks about other things like food somethings. Not fast food but regular food. He also tells about employee's harsh working conditions and how many people are dying or have lost body parts while doing this certain job like the slaughter house for any example.