7th grade, what a year.  7th grade started out pretty bad.  I didn't have any kind of interest in any of my classes.  As a matter of fact, I hated school.  As the year went on 7th grade got better, I decided that I better get with it or my mom was going to have my rear end.  I decided to work harder and with that hard work I saw my grades improve and I think my teachers appreciated it more.  It wasn't like I wasn't paying attention, I just didn't want to be there.  As I buckled down and work harder on my grades, I got a lot more privileges at home.  I liked that.  However, as I brought up one grade it seemed like another fell.  It seems like maybe if I am trying harder in one class and concentrating on what is going on in that class another class gets forgotten about and the grade slips.  I guess next year in the 8th grade that will be something I need to work on.  I learned how to be a little more open with everyone and not be so bottled up.  I just don't have a lot to say, people say I am my fathers son because he is the same way, without the green hair of course.  If I could change anything it would be to start the year out working harder and setting better goals for myself to be successful from the beginning.  I did learn that if you don't do your work or turn in your homework, your teachers are less likely to help and then your mom is on top of you all the time about the things you were suppose to do. 

I would like to tell the next class coming in to ask for help if you need it.  Teachers can't read your mind and if you are struggling with something ask for help. 

I think the format of this book is ok.  It can be boring at times and interesting at other times.  Seedfolk I think is about how people come together and make a community garden.  This tells me that people really can get along without knowing one another.   I like Ana because she doesn't stop trying to get the government to clean up all the trash in the lot.  I dislike Virgil's dad because he is always trying to do something for money and never to help the community.  In science we planted a S tomato seed and a T tomato seed, we are trying to determine which seeds are capable in going to space.  So far the T seed has sprouted and the S seed has not.  In Language Arts, I painted a bunch of colors on a rock.  I thought a lot of colors would look cool on a rock, however, I don't think it turned out very cool, to many colors.  My favorite activity was the tomato seeds in science.   

The experience of International Towne was great.  My country was India and I worked in a Threatre.  It was interesting to watch the Indian movies that were being shown.  I learned that in you can't drink a slush puppie in the middle of the world.  You get arrested for that.  I also learned that Greece supplies alot of goods to different countries.  I wouldn't change anything because this is the best field trip I have ever been on.  The best part of this experience was getting the slush puppie drink in Mexico. 

What Weapons and Armor did the Romans use in The Battle of Ziles?

The Battle of Ziles was known as The Battle of Zela. It took place on August 2, 47 BC in Zile. Zile is now a small hilltop town in the Tokat Province of Northern Turkey.  The Ancient Romans were lead to victory by Julius Caesar.  Rome was one of the most powerful empires of the Ancient world.  Romans built their strong military with courage, duty and honor.  Because the Romans had all kinds of different weapons they could chose what would benefit them most in a battle.  Today, we have the same option, we get to determine what will benefit us more during a war.  Whether is is a rifle or a grenade.  Ancient Romans used quite a few weapons and armor, each battle they had a new type of weapon.  Today we are protected by new and improved weapons.  

This project is coming along well.  I have learned how The Batlle of Ziles was won and how Julius Caesar was involved.  I ended up with a ton of information and I think the hardest part is going to be choosing what I want to talk about.  I feel like it is important for me to discuss the weapons and tactics that were used in The Battle of Ziles.  Julius Caesar made a huge mistake in this battle and it almost costed him his life.  He actually pulled almost all of the soldiers off the front line and sent them to do their everyday things.  The enemy moved in quick and he made a fast decision to get all soldiers back.  It could of gone the other way.   

In September 2006, my dog Meatball, a blue heeler puppy, was officially named a Jackson.  A few months later he started to get bigger and started chasing birds in the sky.  The first time we let him out of our sight he dug a hole under the fence and went and visited our neighbor Treg in his back yard. Treg returned him safely to us and we fixed the hole he dug.  Another few months went by and Meatball got even bigger.  He could chase the birds even faster and he learned how to jump towards them.  By the time Meatball was a year old he could jump an eight foot fence with no problem.  My dad would hold treats above his head and Meatball would jump up and get the treat.  Meatball also use to take a big pot we put water in and dump his water out and play with his pot.  He would bounce it all over the backyard.  He would start at one end of the backyard and jump and hit the pot, it would roll clear across the backyard, he would chase it and then turn around and  jump up and hit his pot again.  We lived in a house that the neighbor didn't like it when he did that, that neighbor called the Humane Society on my family and we had to take Meatball's pot away from him.  Now, he has a football on a rope that we play with him.  Meatball has been a great friend and protector.  He doesn't let anybody around our house that he doesn't know.  He barks everytime he hears someone new or sees someone walking, he even barks at the trash man. Meatball mostly is my brothers dog, but he still likes me.  This past August we added a new member to our family, Harley.  We are pretty sure that Meatball likes him, but he does keep Harley in line and lets him know who is boss.  I could go on for hours with stories about Meatball, I hope one day I will get to tell the same kind of stories about Harley.

Personally I didn't care for the dissection of the chicken wing.  I actually told my mom I didn't want to eat chicken for a while.  It really wasn't worth while for me because I am just not that into it.  I learned what cartilidge looks like, and what bone marrow looks like.  I guess it was kind of neat to see how the muscles work.  Other than that I would have to say that this was my least favorite thing to do in science so far.

In the green and black box.

The round disc placed.

On the big black screen above.

The man fights the evil.

With the guns ablazing.

To kill the zombie lurking.

To be the most powerful fighter.

I understand that times were different back then, but I don't believe it was right for black people to be treated different than white people.  Having to go to school with Army troops walking you to class, so that you can be safe is unbelievable.  I am glad that the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to have segregation in schools.  Ernest Green paved the road for others.  He was confident with his decision to go ahead and go to school.  He wanted a better education and he said he was going to get one.  Ernest Green was the only senior in the Little Rock Nine and that is why he was the first black person to graduate from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.  I think that is the coolest part about him, that made him historical.  I don't know what I would do if I couldn't join any clubs like he couldn't.  He played the saxophone and was not able to play in the band because he was black.  I don't believe people should be judged by the color of their skin, they should be judged by the way they act, talk, etc.  I think that if I was in Ernest Green's position I would have done the same thing and stood my ground to make a difference for future generations.  I don't think I could have gone on without fighting back.  Today discrimination still goes on.  I think it is wrong because not all people are at fault  for being who they are race wise. Every one is different in their own way and race should not be an issue.   Today our society looks at all middle eastern people as being a threat to us because of 911, but not all middle eastern people are out to get us. Just because one bad person does something bad, that doesn't mean that all people in that race are going to do something bad.

"Be yourself; everone else is already taken."  by Oscar Wilde.  I like this quote because I am myself and I don't care what people think of me.  I am who I am.

I Am Who I Am

I like to be me .

I don't want to be you.

I have blue hair.

I am quiet too.

I have a sense of humor.

I am different at home than at school.

I don't care what people think.

I am who I am.

I liked the Cell Unit in science.  It was cool to learn all the different types of cells.  Some of the things I learned were how cells live, how big they are, and how they rank in size.  It was cool to find out that the Rhinovirus is smaller than the Dust Mite.  I didn't like learning about plants that much, because I am just not into plants.  I thought this part was boring.  We did a lab that let us look through the microscope at different cells.  We learned which cell was from a plant, an animal, and bacteria.  If I had to choose a unit in science to learn more about it would be the cells.

I am currently reading to newest "Diary of a Wimpy Kid".  It is "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney".  So far Greg and Rowley are making signs for shoveling snow.  They put these signs up outside of the school.  It starts to snow and the signs fall off and now there is a big green spot on the school wall.  The next day the principal starts talking with all the students about who might have left the green spots.  I really like this book because Greg and Rowley are always getting into trouble some how.  I am not too far into it yet but I already can't wait to see what happens next.  The rest of the series is good so I figure what the heck I will continue reading them.  Hope they come out with another one. 

A mother was arrested after her 3 yeasr old son was found wandering near I-25.  The mom was found first about 3 miles from the Pueblo County line.  He was found after police questioned his mother on where he was.  She had been seen walking around her car on the side of the road carrying the boy.  She left the boy and started walking towards Pueblo, CO.  Now what kind of mother would leave her child like that.  I don't think she is a very good mom and she should go to jail for a really long time.  Being a mom is hard work, so my mom tells me.  I guess I can see where she is coming from, kids are hard to keep up with.  I have heard my mom say a thousand times, "If your not going to take care of your children, then you shouldn't have them."  I hope the little boy is ok and that his dad is nicer.

Some of the tools poets use to create effects in their writtings are as follows......

Imagery and sybolism - In a poem it is very important for the reader to establish the theme of the poem.  What story is being told in the poem.  Finding out what words the writer is using as symbols by using metaphors. 

Meters - This is where the reader determines when the writer is more passionate within the poem and where there are strong points and weak points.

Poetry is different when reading it versus when you are reading a book.  It may take a few times reading it over and over before you really understand what the writer is truly saying.

Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength." Dalai Lama

 

a)Explain/interpret what you think it means.

 I think this means that you are a stronger person if you have compassion and tolerance for whatever situation comes about.  Having compassion and tolerance makes you a better person and you don't always have attitude when someone is complaining to you about a situation. 

b)How could you apply it to our own life?

I could be a little more compassionate and tolerant of my cousins that come over all the time.  I have four boy cousins that are younger and I am not always tolerant of them.  I also don't show very much compassion to them when they want me to play with them, I am always busy doing something else.  Maybe I should try harder and then maybe they wouldn't be such pains.

c)Could it be used to make a positive change in someone's attitude?

 Having more compassion and tolerance can make situations easier to handle.  Maybe if people showed more compassion and tolerance towards others than maybe we would have more nice people in the world and not so much violence.

d)How could it make an impact on the world?

We have alot of violence in our world.  Maybe if we all showed more compassion and tolerance to each other we could all get along better.  We live in one of the best countries and there are other countries that need help.  If our country and other countries together showed more compassion and tolerance we could cut down on wars.

2011 was a pretty good year.  In 2012 I would like to go fishing more.  We didn't fish but one time in 2011 and fishing is one of my favorite things to do.  I would also like to go camping more than once this year.  Some of my personal goals are to work harder at being organized and not spending so much time in front of my XBOX.  I would like to be more active outside and with my family.  I would also like to see my grades come up.  I think that is my biggest goals for this year would be better grades. 

Greek culture helped form Western civilization - the civilization of Europe and the Americas.  The Greeks gave us words and traditions such as democracy, geometry, politics, and the Olympic games.  Greece has a Mediterranean climate, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.  The Mediterranean climate was ideal for growing olive trees and grape vines.  Olive oil and wine were important trade goods and brought in wealth.  Greeks tried to live up to bravery, strength and honor.  Greek travelers in ancient times felt at home in any Greek port city.  Greeks spoke the same language and worshiped many of the same gods.  Women had different rights and roles, depending on where they lived.  In Sparta, women had a lot of freedom and in Athens women had very few rights.  Greece has a lot of history, but the items I have wrote about are the facts that most interested me. 

I have bee absent and I am not sure what was all done in class.  I have been excused from all in class activities. 

I have a dog named Meatball.  He is a 5 year old Blue Heeler.  He is also known as a short haired Australian Shepard or a cow dog.  He is a very smart dog.  When we got our new puppy my mom would go outside and call the puppy.  If the puppy didn't come then Meatball would go and get him and bring him to my mom.  Meatball likes to chase squirrels, he corners them up in our trees in the backyard.  He is also a very protective dog.  We lived in a house a few years ago and my mom had the cable company come hook up our cable.  Meatball was still sleeping in a kennel at the time and when the cable guy came around the corner of the hall to hook up the cable in my brothers room, Meatball went wild and tried to get out of his kennel.  My mom had to sit on the top of the kennel to keep him from getting out.  Meatball was not happy that a stranger was in one of his boys rooms. 

Meatball doesn't have to sleep in a kennel anymore.  Now we tell him kennel and he goes into my brothers room and lays down on his bed we got him.  He is a really good dog.  This last summer we went camping and it was the first time that Meatball got to run with us on the four wheelers.  He likes to do those kinds of things because he is a herding dog that would normally live on a ranch and herd cattle.  He keeps us all together when we are camping and he doesn't let us out of his sight.  I like taking him camping because I know he will let us all know if something is out in the woods that shouldn't be there.  Now you know a little bit about my dog Meatball.

The three most important things I am thankful for are my family, my pets, and my home.  I am thankful for my family because without my family I would be alone.  My family is always there when I need something or if someone else in my family needs something.  My family always loves me and I can always count on my family.  I have a pretty big family and we are always doing something as a family.  I am thankful for my pets because without them I would not have anything to take care of.  I like to take care of my pets and they always love me.  The dogs always give me kisses and my cat always sleeps with me at night.  The fish are fun to watch.  I love my pets.  I am thankful for my home because without it I would not have a place to sleep, eat, shower, play, or be warm.  My home is very nice and cozy.   

Do I like blogging?  I am starting to like blogging more.  During the first nine weeks of school I was not into the whole blogging thing.  I didn't like that fact that everyone was going to be able to read what I was writing about.  Know that I am getting into it a little more I am starting to like blogging.  I think that blogging is starting to help me open up a little with my writing.  In the long run it will help me with my reading and writing abilities.  I like blogging as our writing assignments.  I would like to be able to blog more about what ever I want.  I would also like to write about different holidays and what they stand for.  Writing about sports is always fun and interesting.  Let's keep blogging. 

My current event is about the Ohio man who killed himself and let his exotic animals loose.  A man in Zanesville, Ohio was having lots of personal problems and decided to let all of his exotic animals loose before shooting himself.  He let loose, lions, tigers and bears.  He was found in his driveway on October 18, 2011.  The police received several phone calls about animals running loose in the area, so they went and checked on this gentleman and that is when they found himdead  and all 56 of his exotic animals loose.  Jack Hanna told authorities that the safety of the community was what was important.  Authorities shot to kill, among the animals killed were 18 Bengal Tigers, nine lions, eight lionesses, six black bears, three mountain lions, two grizzly bears, two wolves, and one baboon.   A young grizzly bear, three leopards and two monkeys were captured and sent to the Columbus Ohio Zoo.  That is were they will live for the time being.  

I feel like that guy shouldn't have had any of those animals, because he couldn't take care of them.  I would have liked to see them try harder to traquilize the animals rather than kill them.  I have read several articles about this guy and it seems to me he should have had all those animals taken away along time ago.  He used to have buffalo and cattle but they all died from starvation.  People like this shouldn't be able to have animals.    

poponthepop.com/2011/10/ohio-man-releases-animals-before-committing-suicide/

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/six-exotic-animals-rescued-from-carnage-are-recuperating-at-ohio-zoo.html

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/photogallery/monkey-business.html

I got a new puppy in August, he was four weeks old when we got him.  We named him Harley.  He is a Black Lab and Blue Heeler mix.  My mom gave him a stuffed animal the second day we had him.  Now whenever we ask him to get his baby he grabs the stuffed animal mom gave him.  So far he is training ok, we already taught him kennel.  When we say kennel he goes into his kennel.  We still have a lot of stuff to teach him.  Our five year old Blue Heeler, Meatball, didn't know what to think of him in the beginning.  Now, Meatball plays with him.  When mom goes out and calls the dogs in if Harley doesn't come Meatball will go get him for Mom.  I want to call him puppy cop, but mom says I can't, "Brandon he needs to learn one name," is what she always says.  I think we are going to have lots of fun with Harley.    

A book I have currently read is "Who Wore It Best ?" and the person I thought who wore it best was Babe Ruth because he hit 714 home runs and  because he hit 2,217.I don’t like the Yankees but he was a legend he won 94 games but he also lost 46 but that’s still pretty good.

Rachel's Challenge inspires me to be a leader.  I don't know what I would do in the situation of a school shooting.  I hope that I am such a positive, friendly person that I could help anyone in need of a friend.  I was born two days after Columbine and my mom has spend the last 12 years making sure my brother and I both know how important it is to get along with everyone at school and be friends with all.  I could not imagine going through what Rachel's brother has gone through the last 12 years.  It would be hard to talk about my brother if something like this happened to him, but Craig Scott just wants people to know who his sister was and what she stood for.  I will forever be a friend and leader for my class. 

The scariest thing that happened to me was when I spent the night at my Pawpaw's house.  I was down stairs trying to go to sleep when I heard a noise.  I turned down the TV and listened for a minute.  I heard what I thought was someone say get out.  I listened some more and heard tapping on the wall.  Next, my Pawpaw heard me yelling in fear and came down stairs.  He listened, laughed and said I was so silly.  The noise I was hearing was the water running through his base board heat.  I ended up sleeping at the bottom of his bed on the floor.  I think this happened when I was around seven.

1.       I like to play COD on my Xbox.

2.       My pets are named after foods.

3.       I play football.

4.       I like peanut butter and I’m allergic to it.

5.       My favorite food is spaghetti.

6.       I hate the color yellow!

7.       I like the color purple.