Nestled in the North-Eastern corner of Pennsylvania, we are Freshmen anxious to share our thoughts with the world! We gladly welcome comments from EVERYONE! To see student work, scroll down to student entries on the right, or select an assignment under teacher assignments and scroll beyond the directions.
Article posted May 22, 2012 at 01:47 PM GMT0 •
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May Free Write
WRITING ABOUT YOLO CAUSE YOLO
I YOLO. You YOLO. He, she, we YOLO. You only live once, they say. The phrase YOLO seems to have originated from modern musician, Drake. His song "The Motto" is all about "YOLO." This blog article will be dedicated to YOLO.
People say YOLO before or after they do something dumb. But hey, guess what! Riddle me this: if you realize that you only live once, and it is a concern of yours, WHY WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING TO JEOPARDIZE THAT ONLY LIFE YOU HAVE? It just doesn't make sense! I understand that you want to live it up and have a great time in life, but YOLO just doesn't work. Try the Latin phrase "carpe diem," meaning "seize the day." If nothine else, you sound intelligent saying it...until that becomes the new YOLO, that is.
Many people say it when they do dumb stuff. "I just drank four energy drinks. YOLO!" Or "I got in a fight with that guy! YOLO!" It's absolutley ridiculous. However, I won't lie. Sometimes, I do let slip a YOLO here and there. For example, at a social event at which people were asked to hold all clapping to the end, I clapped for my friends. I then proceded to say "BROKE THE NO-CLAP RULE! YOLO!" The difference is that I'm joking. My best friend even told me she was going to make a YOLO Jar. Every time I say it, I have to put in a quarter. So, I hope to be dropping the term from my vocabulary soon.
Now I conclude my speech on YOLOs and YOLOing. I'm guilty of it too. I'll drop it if you will. Go make a YOLO Jar. The world will be a better place.
Article posted May 22, 2012 at 01:47 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted May 9, 2012 at 02:00 PM GMT0 •
comment (1) • Reads 360
Dear Freshmen,
I bet that sounds good. Freshman. You're finally officially in high school. Are you stoked for the pep rallies, and homecoming, better field days and talent shows? You certainly should be. Events like these are much better in high school! Anyway, I'm not writing to you to tell you all the fun you'll have, because I'm sure you know, high school will come with fun things and very not fun things.
Be successful. That's all I can say. This is where it REALLY starts to count. I mean, it counted all before, but this is where it really matters. Colleges look at grades starting in 9th grade. Start getting serious.
Befriend your teachers. Everything is better when you get along with them. Participate in Mr. Woolcock's labs. Have fun, but don't be dumb. He's a nice guy, but don't push him. Mrs. Farr is a very serious and hard working woman, but she is NOT mean in any sense of the word. She is one of the nicest people I know, so don't go into her classrom with any falsehoods in your head that she is anything but that. Her class is not hard to excel in. Just do your work. Don't eat Mr. Hein's food. Don't question or abuse his doll, his dead guy's head, rasta banana, or any of his other toys. DO ALL BLOGS for Miss Transue. When she asks a question open for the whole class to answer, and nobody answers, answer it. If you've already answered several, get the person next to you to answer it. If not, you'll most likely end up with an extra quiz or homework or something. You may or may not have the following teachers, but I will throw in a word of advice for them too, because I had them. Mrs. Host is one of the kindest, sweetest women ever. Do NOT take advantage of her. It took awhile for me to get used to Mr. Delano's methods of teaching. They differ from Mr. Rez's. You'll get used to it. He will make fun of you at some point in the year, I assure you this. He is joking and means well. Don't call him by his first name or any nick name other than Del. He doesn't take well to that kind of thing. If you're in band, you'll have Coop. Mr. Cooper is a very fun guy. He may seem a little strict, but he isn't. Just don't be dumb. Make sure you at least know how to play a scale. Put forth effort and GO TO SECTIONALS. Apply this to all of your teachers: if you don't like them, don't associate with them any more than necessary, and certainly do not aggravate them.
Start getting serious, pay mind to your grades, and get to know your teachers. I also suggest you get involved with a sport, club or activity of some sort. They just make it a little more fun. Participate in spirit week and stuff. High school comes with a lot of junk that REALLY sucks, so I suggest you have a good time with the "fun" parts of it. Have a great year, and I wish the best to you,
Freshy!
P.S. Freshman are HIGHLY discriminated against by all upper classmen. Just get used to it. It isn't changing. In a year, you'll be doing the same thing to the Class of 2017!
Have a good year, make it worth it!
-Haley
Article posted May 9, 2012 at 02:00 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted May 4, 2012 at 02:22 PM GMT0 •
comment (5) • Reads 422
Romeo and Juliet: The Killers
Who do you consider to be the most famous couple ever? No, not any of those Jersey Shore couples or Disney princes and princesses. The couple that wasn't allowed to be together, but broke the rules to do it: Romeo and Juliet. There is a lot of pop culture that refers to this great tale of those famous lovers. One of these is the song "Romeo and Juliet" by the Killers.
This song describes what Romeo and Juliet would be like in modern times. "A lovestruck Romeo sings the streets a serenade...He finds a streetlight and steps out of the shade/And says something like, 'You and me babe, how about it?'" This exerpt from the song shows how Romeo might ask Juliet to be his own in today's time. It shows them as any other teenagers with a romance going on.
This slightly differs from the real story. In the story, Juliet asked Romeo instead. Of course, when she asked, she spoke as they did in Shakespearean times. The song does represent the love and how they felt for each other well though. The song says, "I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you / Can't do anything except be in love with you." Romeo and Juliet seemed to have a love as strong as this, and I believe these words would definitely apply to them.
Many songs and spoofs and modern movies were made based off of the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet. Some were rather accurate and some were not. This song, "Romeo and Juliet" by The Killers, was slightly inaccurate, mostly becasue it was in simpler, modern language, but hey, we can't all write like Shakespeare!
Article posted May 4, 2012 at 02:22 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted April 19, 2012 at 01:17 AM GMT0 •
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Clancy the Cat
April Free Write
Once upon a time, there was a kitty named Clancy. Not only was he very plain and gray, aside from his white booted feet, Clancy was also the runt of his litter. His brothers and sisters all took advantage of his being so little and scrawny. Clancy had it rough.
Additionally, Clancy was always last. He was last to eat supper, last to get picked in all the kitty games, and of course, last to be adopted. One day, when Clancy noticed that he didn't have to be last for supper, he realized the reason why. Everyone else had been taken home by little human girls and boys!
"Why?" Clancy wondered to himself. "I'm a good kitty cat! I always let the humans pet me even when they take one of my siblings away instead of me. I always keep my fur soft and clean, since Mama never did that for me. And I NEVER fight with other kitties, or even the puppies, who are REALLY annoying. Why am I always last?" Clancy sat on his little gray haunches and hung his head desolately.
Clancy was tired of this. One Thursday, Clancy decided it was the last chance. "I'll give it one more day. Either someone adopts me today, or I'm running away!" He declared. Unfortunately, Clancy had picked the rainiest and yuckiest Thursday to be his last day. Nobody showed up at all, except the humans who fill the supper dish. Clancy gobbled all the food he could hold in his little tummy and kissed Mama, even though he figured she never really loved him. After that kiss, he ran. He sprinted and tried to jump the fence. He smacked his face on the fence and fell backwards. He picked himself up and turned around.
"Clancy! Where are you going?" Mama trotted over to her embarrassed child. Clancy attempted to hop the fence again, but had the same result as the first time. Mama's trot became a sprint. "Clancy Gregory!" She shouted. She grabbed him by the scruff before he could leap again.
"Let me go, Mama!" Clancy shouted through his tears.
"I will not! Why are you running away?"
"Because I hate my life, and everyone, and everything!"
Mama looked genuinely hurt. "Do you hate me?"
Clancy hesitated. "No, Mama, I don't hate you. I love you. But you don't love me..." he trailed off.
"Clancy!" Mama interjected. "I love you!" Clancy looked less than convinced. Mama licked off his tears and said, "Here. I'll prove it to you!" Mama meowed a wild meow. A few seconds passed, and nothing happened.
"Mama...?" Clancy asked.
Mama shushed him. Just then, a giraffe galloped to the fence beside them and picked up Mama by the scruff and slung her onto his back. He then did the same to Clancy. "Thanks Girard!" Mama shouted. "Now off we go!" Girard the giraffe carried Clancy the cat and his Mama, who loved him all along, as they galloped off into the sunset to spend the rest of their lives, then eight more, happily ever after!
Article posted April 19, 2012 at 01:17 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted March 20, 2012 at 01:02 AM GMT0 •
comment (5) • Reads 673
March Freewrite
I'm sure you've read many cliche blogs about music, and this one isn't any different. This post, however, is more about the lyrics of songs. When one listens to music, they should take time to listen to not just the catchy melody, but also the lyrics. Songs can be just as insightful and intriguing as any other piece of literature.
One song that has (in my opinion) beautiful lyrics is "A Walk Through Hell" by Say Anything. This song always makes me happy. It is a song about a man who is so in love, he proclaims how he would truly do anything for this girl. The narrator tells of how he would climb mountains and slay beasts and, of course, walk through hell for her. He said "[I'd walk] Through hell for you. Let the torturing ensue. My soul is useless without you."
Another great song is "Anne Braden" by Flobots. This song tells about racism, ignorance, and lack of tolerance in our country in the past and present. It tells of a woman who saw hatred and racism and loathed it. In the song, a man asks her "Why is a nice, Southern lady makin' trouble for the governor?" She responds "I guess I'm not your type of lady, and I guess I'm not your type of Southerner. But before you call me traitor, well it's plain as just to say, I was a child in Mississippi, but I'm ashamed of it today."
The third song that I love which I will share with you is "What Sarah Said" by Death Cab For Cutie. This song provides a story of a man who is stuck in the waiting room of a hospital. He explains, "There's no comfort in a waiting room, just nervous pacing bracing for bad news." He tells about how he was told by a girl named Sarah that "love is watching someone die." These words make him think, and he asks "So who's going to watch you die?" This song is kind of sad. However, anybody who has been in a similar position, waiting in a hospital fearing the words the doctor will whisper to you, can relate and will love this song.
Next time you listen to the radio or your iPod, don't just sing along thoughtlessly. Listen to the words. Think about it. You may find that the song offers more than just a beat to dance to.
Article posted March 20, 2012 at 01:02 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted February 22, 2012 at 02:55 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 632
Do you remember how you used to spend your Saturday mornings when you were young? I do! If you are like me, then you spent them watching cartoons on Nickolodeon and Cartoon Network. Symbolism is a beautiful thing. I used characters from some of my favorite old cartoons to symbolize personality types.
Cartoons and Personality Traits
-Dexter (Dexter's Laboratory): Intelligent and slightly arrogant
-Chuckie Finster (Rugrats): Easily frightened, but takes risks and overcomes his fears for the good of others
-Helga Pataki (Hey Arnold!): Acts evil and unnmerciful, but has a soft side...somewhere
-GIR (Invader Zim): Loyal, extremely fun, but lacks basic common sense
-Muriel (Courage the Cowardly Dog): Protective, loving, and motherly
-Dag (Angry Beavers): Immature and dramatic
-Cat (CatDog): Smart, clever, cunning, but ill tempered and frequently rude
-The Gromble (AAAHH!!! Real Monster): Heartless and mean
In conclusion, these characters symbolize these presonality types perfectly. So which of these characters are you like?
Article posted February 22, 2012 at 02:55 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted February 7, 2012 at 03:24 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 584
Historicism
A historicist would celebrate That 70's Show. One reason why they would celebrate this show is because the language used in it and the clothes and decor are much like that of the 70's. For example, in several episodes, characters may refer to the police as "the fuzz." This phrase was a very common one in the 70's. They also all wore flare pants. The whole house just screams the 70's.
Another reason why a historicist would celebrate That 70's Show is the interests of the teens. As many kids and teens were in the 70's, Eric, a main character, is in love with Star Wars. Many of them also love comic books, like kids of the 70's did. Also, though it is awful, the show exemplified teen drug use of the 70's, which is very accurate.
For reasons such as these, That 70's Show would be celebrated by historicists.
Article posted February 7, 2012 at 03:24 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted February 1, 2012 at 02:59 PM GMT0 •
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Facebook Faux Pas
As Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz once said, "Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking." Isn't that the truth. The matter about which I will be writing is Facebook. In fact, my last post to Facebook was that very quote. Of late, Facebook has been polluted with garbage that people feel necessary to post. It (along with other social networks and technology advancements) has caused a huge change in the average teen's vocabulary. Frankly, I am sick of it. Many people have grown extremely weary of the abundance of meaningless things people update to Facebook these days. Facebook is not a diary. Facebook is not a place to publicize your issues in hopes that you might feel better about yourself because of the number of fools who "like" your status. As a social network, Facebook's goal is to allow people to share and connect with other people and make friends. To tell you the truth, nobody cares if you're going to eat spaghetti, shower, then watch Jersey Shore. Nobody cares if you're spending the night at So-and-So's and it's gonna be soooooo muchhhhh funnnnn!
Which brings me to my next point. These days, people completely disregard basic grammar and spelling, especially on the internet. The use of slang in everyday conversation is rising rapidly. The vocabularies of people, particularly kids and teens, have regressed as technology has advanced. What if we someday get to a point where our language is so deluded that it can hardly be recognized?
Additionally, the language used on the internet these days it outrageous. Foul language should not be posted. Kids don't realize that people see your posts. Businesses and companies and maybe even colleges WILL check your Facebook for things you've posted. What if those questionable pictures you posted of that wild party last Friday night cost you your career? The illusion of privacy is just that: an illusion. The Scarecrow was very accurate. Please help rid the world of this, starting with such ridiculousness on Facebook. Don't post everything, and if you feel the need to, get a blog.
Article posted February 1, 2012 at 02:59 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted January 20, 2012 at 03:05 PM GMT0 •
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Haley
Miss Transue
9 CP English C-3
6 January 2012
Nobody Is Perfect
I’m sure you have experienced it. Maybe you didn’t make the little league baseball team, or maybe you missed a note at your band concert, or maybe you did poorly on a test because you just did not understand that class. Whatever it was that brought you down, I am sure, at some point in your life, somebody has said to you, “Nobody’s perfect!” The theme of Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury is that everyone is flawed; nobody is truly pure or perfect.
As good as Jim Nightshade proved himself to be, he was still in no way pure or perfect. Jim originally came off as a typical “bad boy,” but he changed throughout the story. He truly did establish himself as a better person than the readers may have initially assumed. But Jim was still flawed. For example, Jim thought about going on the carousel even though Charles and the boys deemed it evil. “Look! the merry-go-round! You want it to go forward, don’t you, Jim?” Will thought (Bradbury 97). Also, Jim was elated whenever they would go to the “theater,” which was really just somebody’s window through which they peeped. When Jim began to ask Will if he would visit the theater, Will shouted, “No.” The story said, “’It’s just there. The fifth house. Just one minute, Will,’ Jim pleaded, softly.” This made Jim a peeping tom, which is certainly not a good trait to possess. Although Jim had changed after he had a near death experience, and he did seem to have become pure by the end of the book, he still had many a flaw and was in no way pure. Another piece of evidence suggesting Jim’s impurity is on page 88. Robert, otherwise known as Mr. Cooger and Mr. Electrico, said, “I’m taking Aunt Willa to the carnival…Join us?” Without hesitation, Jim agreed, even though it was believed that not only the carnival, but Robert, too, was evil. Even when they left, Will was distraught, but Jim seemed just fine. Jim was and remains to be seen as a flawed, imperfect, and impure human being.
Another character to whom this theme may be applied is Will Halloway. Will was just as imperfect and flawed as Jim, or any other person for that matter. For example, Will, also, took part in the breaking of windows in the haunted house. The story reads, “...Will breaking one window instead of none, because Jim’s watching” (Bradbury 18). Will allowed peer pressure to get to him, and he broke a window. Doing this is not something he would do had Jim not been along to influence him. Also, in chapter 47, the Dust Witch was shot at the hands of Will. The story said, “The boy grew very calm indeed, with the rifle on his shoulder…And the rifle fired” (Bradbury 248-249). It was originally a job for Charles, but he included Will. Will could have said no and not helped kill the witch. Although she was evil, and he was probably doing the world a favor by killing her, this definitely helps to prove Will impure. Furthermore, the story says, “Will hauled off and hit Jim, hard, on the nose” (Bradbury 98). When Will was assuming that Jim was fantasizing about riding the carousel and growing younger, he lost his temper. He gained so much anger that he punched Jim on the nose! It is absolutely fair to say Will exhibits a flaw here, as he exhibits many others throughout the book.
Charles Halloway, also, is an excellent model of this theme. For example, when explaining thoughts of Charles, the story says, “Somewhere in him, a shadow turned mournfully over. You had to run with a night like this, so the sadness could not hurt” (Bradbury 17). Charles was a very depressed and damaged person in the beginning of the story. He hurt his son and wife by his depression and lack of energy. This led Charles to spend a lot of time away from home and his family. He spent an extensive amount of time at work and at the bar. “Five minutes later, he turned into the corner saloon for his nightly one-and-only drink…So he drank, eyes shut, listening to hear if that thing inside turned over again, rustling in the deep bons that were stacked for burning but never burned” (Bradbury 18-19). He also stayed late at work several evenings, as he did on page 55 when he was at work until three in the morning, and he saw the boys running around as the carnival came into town. Again, this must have hurt the feelings of his family. This is definitely a symptom of impurity and imperfection. Additionally, Will asked his father if he thought he was a good person. He replied, “To you and your mother, yes, I try. But no man’s a hero to himself” (Bradbury 134). Here Charles admitted that he tried to be good, but he knew he was not perfect.
Always be mindful that perfection is a goal that is impossible to achieve. As cliché as it may be, nobody is perfect. Just as you have learned that this is true of all the characters of Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, it is also true of all humans that no one can be pure or perfect. Everybody has flaws.
Article posted January 20, 2012 at 03:05 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted December 7, 2011 at 03:01 PM GMT0 •
comment (6) • Reads 1134
December Free Write
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! You hear it all season long, but WHAT makes it merry and happy? Is it the friends and family and joy? For many, the season is good purely for presents.
Though 'tis the season to be jolly, many are jolly exclusively for the gifts they receive. Christmas is meant to be a time for happiness, love, giving and helping others. Far too many people don't see that. It's fine to be thankful and give and receive gifts, but it is so unfortunate that it is the main focus of many people, especially children!
As Alvin and The Chipmunks once said, "Christmas, Christmas time is near. Time for toys and time for cheer." Kids see Christmas as a time to get cool toys. The thing is, the kids will play with it for a week before it ends up in their closet along with all their old Barbie dolls or GI Joe's with missing appendages that never see the light of day. The ingrates don't understand of what Christmas should be.
So this year, switch it up a bit! I encourage you to donate to some charity! Get rid of your old clothes at Interfaith Wardrobe! Work at a soup kitchen! Drop a few bucks into the bucket and make the man dressed as Santa ringing bells outside of the mall proud!
Article posted December 7, 2011 at 03:01 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted November 18, 2011 at 03:24 AM GMT0 •
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November Freewrite
'Til My Heart Stops Beating
Fall asleep with your headphones
While the worlds on replay
Watch the stars from the rooftop
As they light up the city.
So many questions that spring up
So many answers I don't have
So many voices that ask them
I won't stop 'til they're all dead.
This I learned as a child,
"Always follow your heart"
But reality sets in
It wasn't true from the start.
When you're wearing your heart out
'Til it's bruised and it's bleeding
Seems there's nothing to fight for,
But the drum keeps beating.
-The Heisman Hopefuls
This song is "Til' My Heart Stops Beating" by The Heisman Hopefuls. What do these lyrics mean to you? Do they mean anything to you? To me, these words and the band mean a considerable amount.
The Heisman Hopefuls was a band from Binghamton, New York. Members of the band included Tyler Reed (vocals), Tom Towner (Drums), Patrick Bayer (Bass), and Sam Festa (Guitar). Matt Rucker was an original member of the band. Unfortunately, Matt had to leave the band, but he attended and occasionally accompanied on stage the band at many of their concerts. The life of The Heisman Hopefuls was far too short. The band was born in January of 2009. Just this past October, the band played its final show. This band, though from a small town and hardly known, was one of my favorite bands. Since the band broke up, many members have gone on to start or join other musical groups.
"Til' My Heart Stops Beating" was released in 2011. This song means a great deal to me, as it tells of how even when you're frustrated and confused, don't give up. This song can appeal to anybody. Regardless of your gender or age, this song could speak volumes to you. Anyone can relate to the moral of this song: give your all to what you love.
It was once said by a source unknown that “Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.” I must agree with this wholeheartedly, as this song and this band have done this for me.
Article posted November 7, 2011 at 03:29 PM GMT0 •
comment (5) • Reads 1334
3 Strikes, You're Out!
3rd Person Omniscient
The timid child sat on his father’s shoulders with his arms outstretched. He nervously opened his palm, revealing the carrots the zookeeper had given him. Joe slowly bent over and licked the carrots out of the child’s hand. The boy’s hand quickly retreated as he shouted “Dad! Look at his tongue! It’s so gross!” The boy dropped the carrots on the ground as his dad let out a deep, frustrated sigh and removed the boy from his shoulders. The child led his father to the bathroom where he would then cleanse his hands. Joe had heard this a thousand times. Joe turned away and sighed.
“Kids just don’t appreciate us like they used to,” George said from over the wooden fence that separated the two.
Joe made his way to the fence and extended his long giraffe neck over the wall to see his large, grey best friend. “That’s the thing,” Joe said, “I can’t stand it anymore. They all just end up running away!”
George, being a several thousand pound elephant, understood entirely the frustration of having humans find you gross. “I know,” he said. “They’re jerks. We should give them something to be afraid of!”
The two sat for a few minutes and tried to think of a solution. An idea crossed Joes mind. “I've got it! Let’s do it! Next kid that angers me will face the wrath of my stomach!”
George stared in disbelief. “Joe! What? How could you - Wait. You know, that isn’t a bad idea!"
"Then it is settled. Next time a kid is rude to me in the slightest, I shall eat the beast!"
Limited Omniscient
The child sat on his father’s shoulders with his arms outstretched. He opened his palm, revealing some carrots. Joe slowly bent over and licked the carrots out of the child’s hand. The boy’s hand quickly retreated as he shouted “Dad! Look at his tongue! It’s so gross!” The boy dropped the carrots on the ground as his dad let out a deep, sigh and removed the boy from his shoulders. Joe had heard this a thousand times. Joe turned away and sighed.
“Kids just don’t appreciate us like they used to,” George said from over the wooden fence that separated the two.
Joe made his way to the fence and extended his long giraffe neck over the wall to see his large, grey best friend. “That’s the thing,” Joe said, “I can’t stand it anymore. They all just end up running away!”
It appeared that due to George being a several thousand pound elephant, he would understand entirely the frustration of having humans find you gross. “I know,” he says. “They’re jerks. We should give them something to be afraid of!”
The two sat for a few minutes and tried to think of a solution. An idea crossed Joe's mind. “I got it! Let’s do it! Next kid that angers me will face the wrath of my stomach!”
George stared in disbelief. “Joe! What? How could you - Wait. You know, that isn’t a bad idea!"
"Then it is settled. Next time a kid is rude to me in the slightest, I shall eat the beast!"
Dramatic
The child sat on the shoulders of a middle aged man with his arms outstretched. His palm slowly opened and the boy bared several slices of carrot. Joe slowly bent over and licked the carrots out of the child’s hand. The boy’s hand quickly retreated as he shouted “Dad! Look at his tongue! It’s so gross!” The boy dropped the carrots on the ground. The man took him off his shoulders and led him away. Joe turnsed away and sighed.
“Kids just don’t appreciate like they used to,” George said from over the wooden fence that separated the two.
Joe made his way to the fence and stretched his long giraffe neck over the wall. “That’s the thing,” Joe said, “I can’t stand it anymore. They all just end up running away!”
“I know,” he agreed. “They’re jerks. We should give them something to be afraid of!”
A moment of silence passed. Joe abruptly shouted “I've got it! Let’s do it! Next kid that angers me will face the wrath of my stomach!”
George stared at Joe, his mouth agape. “Joe! What? How could you - Wait. You know, that isn’t a bad idea!"
"Then it is settled. Next time a kid is rude to me in the slightest, I shall eat the beast!"
Article posted November 7, 2011 at 03:29 PM GMT0 •
comment (5) • Reads 1334
Article posted October 14, 2011 at 03:26 PM GMT0 •
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Kids These Days
Kids strive for acceptance from other kids. It means the world to them to fit in. It is of the utmost importance that each child look exactly the same, with their American Eagle jeans, their Hollister hoodie, their Aeropostale tee, and their neon Osirises, or their Ugg Boots, or moccasins or their cool new Nike Shox. Conformity is a sickness, and we must find a cure.
However, you should know that going out of your way to avoid conformity makes you a nonconformist. I consider deliberate nonconformity to be just another form of conformity. Those who avoid modern trends and fads meticulously are hypocritically doing the very thing that they claim to be avoiding, conforming.
My best advice to you is to be who you are. Be who you truly want to be. Do not allow your peers to influence you. You may say you don't care what people think and you are who you are anyway and all that jazz, but are you really? Ask yourself, would you be the person you are today if you were home-schooled and didn't keep up with the trends? If you truly want to wear your Hollister hoodie, by all means do it! But don't specifically wear or not wear it because it's considered "cool" or not. Love who you are. Embrace your individuality. As Irving Wallace once said, “To be one's self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity.”
Article posted October 14, 2011 at 03:26 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted October 5, 2011 at 03:01 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 1051
Pay Attention To Me!
Thomas Jefferson once said "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." Sophocles said "I would prefer even to fail with honor than to win by cheating". Both of these intelligent men have expressed how much they value honesty. It is absolutely better to be honest and lose than cheat and have success because you will feel self satisfaction, you will have no worries of getting caught, and you will get an experience for next time the task comes up.
You're home alone and the latest thrilling horror movie is on. You watch with anticipation to see what will happen next. You pause it to go to the bathroom, but you realize that involves going all the way downstairs! So what do you do? You hold your to your heart with a death grip your closest companion: your cat. From the Cheshire Cat from "Alice In Wonderland" to Garfield to the nameless cat from "Coraline", cats have always been there for us. Our furry feline friends make the best domestic animals because they don't bark, they are fun to play with, and they aren't too big and therefore can live comfortably in virtually any home.
Article posted October 5, 2011 at 03:01 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted October 5, 2011 at 02:55 PM GMT0 •
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Theme: Lying isn't always necessarily a bad thing.
Story Application: The Djinn Al Faq lied to the man about his family being alive so he could continue to live his life somewhat happily.
Real Life Application: When you know what your parents bought your sibling for his/her birthday, and they beg you to tell them what they will get, I personally wouldn't tell them and ruin the surprise! If you can't change the subject, it may be in everybody's best interest to lie.
Article posted October 5, 2011 at 02:55 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted September 21, 2011 at 02:57 PM GMT0 •
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September Freewrite
During summer, do you hang out with friends, catch up on sleep, or travel around? For me, summer is a busy time. I spend my summer seeing family, on vacation, and doing other fun things.
This past summer, my cousins came to visit from Ohio. It was very exciting because I usually see them twice a year at most. My dad runs a kids' camp out where we live for a week every summer. They helped us manage the activities and the kids. Even though we've all done the things he does before, it's still fun to watch the children experience these wonderful things. That week, my cousin and mother accompanied me to the orthodontist's office to get my braces removed! I had been so excited for this all summer. Towards the end of the summer, I went to Lake Ontario with my mom and my brother and his girlfriend to see my aunt and uncle and cousins. One activity in which we participated a lot there was tubing. We were even going to water ski, but I was nervous that I'd fall. It was a lot of fun and really nice to see my family that I hadn't seen in months.
This year, I went to the beach twice! I love the beach. I have a tendancy to get sunburned, but I always do my best to prevent it and have a fantastic time. The first time I went was with my family and cousins. We go every summer to Bethany Beach, Delaware. Geographically, it is between Rehobeth Beach, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland. It was a blast, as usual. Family also visited us there. The second time I went was with my friend, Keeley. I went with her family to Emerald Isle, North Carolina. It was really exciting. That was the farthest south I have ever been! It was quite an experience to share with a best friend.
Another thing I did this summer wasn't so fun for me. I took my brother to college. We were fairly close, as far as siblings go. This makes it very difficult for me to adjust to not having him around anymore. What's even worse is that he's all the way out in Pittsburgh! Not to mention, we got lost on the way home! It was tragic. I miss him a great deal, but anxiously await his homecoming next weekend.
August rolled around all too soon, ending the fun of summer. On August 30, I anxiously attended the first day of my highschool career, eager to show off my new teeth! Now the days seem longer and the work load has increased, but I continue my work necessary to be successful this year. This concludes the story of how I spent the summer of 2011. Thank you for reading!
Article posted September 21, 2011 at 02:57 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted September 15, 2011 at 03:29 PM GMT0 •
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A Visual Representation of Me
I'm Haley, and I had to decorate my binder for Miss Transue's class. On my binder, I have the quote “We’ll float on, good news is on the way” from the song “Float On” by Modest Mouse. As representation for a positive reading experience, I have a picture of Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson. I chose this because it has been a favorite book of mine throughout my childhood. To symbolize a characteristic of mine, I also added to my binder a picture of a thumbs up. I added this to show that I try to remain positive, uplifting to others, and happy. To cover the categories “anything you want” and “something you like”, I put pictures of several pop culture references. I have photos of several bands, such as Death Cab For Cutie, The Beatles, Say Anything, The Heisman Hopefuls, Panic! At The Disco, The Decemberists, and Manchester Orchetra. These were added to my binder because I am very passionate about the music to which I listen, and these bands all mean a great deal to me. I also added a picture of Johnny Depp’s character Captain Jack Sparrow from one of my favorite series of movies, Pirates Of The Caribbean. Also on my binder is a photo of Michael C. Hall’s character Dexter Morgan from my favorite TV show, Dexter.I hope this visual representation of me has helped you to get to know me a little better!
Article posted September 15, 2011 at 03:29 PM GMT0 •
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