non fiction article summary

                                         Upfront magazine had an article called "No More Payphones?" It talks about how the red "telephone boxes" may be taken down in England. This is due to the little use of these telephone booths. "With the rise of cellphones, calls from public payphones in the U.K. have plummeted 80% in the past 5 years." Since these telephone boxes aren't being used, they are getting recycled into little libraries, ATM's, or art galleries. Some Londoners believe the telephone boxes shouldn't be taken out. "It would definitely a big loss. Like losing the Empire State Building from New York."

                                         I feel that London shouldn't get rid of it's telephone boxes. They are like monumental treasures from London's past. They have been used in movies like "101 Dalmations." I think they shouldn't recycle these telephone boxes into things like ATM's or libraries. I think they should be turned into photo booths where you can take "cellphies". That way the booths will be used more and they could stay.

America poem reading response

Schon Gonzalez Poem Reading Response 1^st Draft 808 02/12/13

      The poem America by Claude McKay, is about a immigrant who has

 

just reached America. In the poem, the speaker wants to express his love

 

for America. He also describes the many challenges he would have to

 

face while in America.

     The speaker expresses the many problems he would face in America.

 

“Stealing my breath, I will confess I love this cultured hell that test my

 

youth.” The speaker had referred to America as a “cultured hell”. The

 

speaker was mentioning how diverse America would be and how many

 

people there would be to pick on him for his background. Another

 

example is “Beneath the touch of time's unerring hand, like priceless

 

treasures sinking in the sand.” The speaker used this line to describe

 

how in America, he will start with nothing.

     Another thing the speaker presents is how much he loves America. “I

 

stand within her walls not a shred of terror, malice, not a word of jeer.”

 

It seems the speaker is comparing himself to other immigrants. Usually

 

they would be afraid, but he feels differently. He stands with pride.

 

“Her” is America. Another quote showing his love is “Her vigor flows like

 

tides into my blood, Giving me strength erect against her hate.” Even

 

though he is treated like nothing, he still loves America. Thinking of

 

America's wonders, it overpowers his hate and strengthens his love.

    The speaker wanted to show his thoughts on America and his new

 

life. He knew it would be tough to fit in. Even then, he was still thrilled

 

to be in America. The speaker had shown his affection. Not only that he

 

spoke of the down's as well to coming to America.

My Poem "BLUE"

                                                                                BLUE

                                                      I represent the sea
                                                      I'm the ink used to copy work you see

                                                     I'm the color of the sky
                                                     I can also be the color of your eye

                                                     I'm associated with feeling down,
                                                     But also the color you can use to paint this town

                                                     I'm the opposite of red
                                                     I will never be dead
                                             
                                                     I am BLUE
                                                    Now what are you?

reading response #2 2/1/14

                                                          I have started reading the book "Cujo" by Stephen King. It seems so far that money is having a negative affect on many of the characters. Due to money problems, Vic may lose his contract with the Sharp company. It has also caused Vic and his wife Donna, to move apart slowly. It has also led to Donna cheating on her husband for Steven Kemp.

                                                           Money has become a major issue, especially for Vic. "They would indeed have gone under, as Roger pointed out, if Sharp hadn't decided to stay with them... Now it was the old man who wanted to stick with Vic and Roger and it was the kid who wanted to jettison them."(King 28) Vic and Roger are in a big situation. If Sharp decides to leave, then their business Ad Worx will go bankrupt and shutdown. This will make Vic jobless.

                                                          Money in the book is causing relationships to fall apart. "Feeling jealous of Vic because his life was a daily struggle to build something. When he was gone the house seem shockingly empty. So she washed floors that didn't need to be washed . She watched the soaps. She thought about Steve Kemp, with whom she had a little flirtation..." (King 44) Since Vic has to work to keep his business, which leaves Donna (the wife) to care for Tad. But while Tad's at school, Donna finds herself doing nothing. Due to money issues, Donna became lonely and depressed, causing her to make a move she ended up regretting.

                                                         I really hope this money issue ends because if it doesn't, it'll force the characters to take desperate measures. Or make even more decisions that they'll regret. It'll also tear the family apart. Hopefully Vic works everything out so he could spend more time with his family. Also so Donna won't feel alone.

upfront magazine reading response

                                  In the latest Upfront Magazine there is a article called "A Password Pill?" It talks of a pill Motorola has invented that helps people get on their electronics without having to put in their password. The pill is for people who frequently forget their passwords when logging on to things such as Facebook, and Twitter. I think this can be very useful.

                                 The article describes that the pill is actually a tiny chip! Once swallowed it will " use the acid in your stomach to turn itself on; then it will send signals to your phone and computer that let you in without providing a password." The article mentions the average person logs in a password "39 times a day." It also takes 3.2 seconds each time. Clearly, this product has been created for those who feel "Passwords can be a pain to remember." Or, it could be used for people who forget their password alot.

                                 I believe this is an incredible invention! This pill can save time and stress when logging on your computer or phone. This just shows how much our technology has evolved. This also means that they can maybe make something similar, but for people with alzheimers. The pill may be a solution to login quicker, but it possibly could become a temporary cure. With it , alzheimers can become the least of our problems.

Critical Thinking RR #2 12/3/13

                                                    Throughout the book Divergent by Veronica Roth, there is a lack of cooperation amongst the factions side from Erudite. This is also occurring amongst Tris and her allies. The text is trying to show how working against each other make everything worse. It shows what the negative effects are of such actions.

                                                     An example of this would be when Tobias is arguing with Tris. This is after Tris admits that she killed Will while he was under the simulation to Tobias, but also in front of all the Candor. Then, Tobias confronts Tris on the subject which lead to a full out argument. " 'Sometimes', he says quietly, 'it isn't easy to be with you Tris'. 'I'm sorry,' I say, all my anger gone... I watch him walk away. I feel like a space has opened up within me..."(pg.161-162) I fear if Tris and Tobias continue like this, it'll tear them apart. Tris needs Tobias. He is like the only thing that's keeping her in control and balanced. Without him, Tris would be lost and alone.

                                                      The factions opposing the Erudite, have also encountered this problem. " 'We don't need you as an ally,' Tori says. 'We're Dauntless!' The entire crowd presses forward at once- the Candor in the corridor yell and dive out of the way as we spill into the hallway..."(pg.278) When the Dauntless murder their former leader Eric, the Candor find out. Candor tries to keep them in their compound and threaten to join Erudite if they didn't. Still the Dauntless left. This may be bad because this only makes Erudite's army bigger while Dauntless stay small.

                                                        The fighting has also close relatives of theirs, like Tobias and his mother. He's become so desperate for help, he is asking the factionless now for help. But Tris doesn't think Tobias should trust them. " 'This is not about him!!!' 'Of course it is! He knows things Tobias. And we should be trying to find out what they are.' 'He is a liar Tris!' 'Yeah, well so is your mother!"(pg.294) They need Marcus and Tobias knows it too, but he doesn't want to admit it. His anger for Marcus has clouded his better judgement.

                                                        The constant fighting is causing people to turn their backs on each other. And when they already have a thing against the person, it's worst. They begin to not trust them anymore. Hopefully, Tris and the gang will figure this out and work together. If they don't, then no one's gonna survive the Erudite's tyranny!


                                                             

                                                     

Reading Response 12/2

                        A consistent conflict I notice throughout the book "Divergent" by Veronica Roth, is trust. It seems that Tris isn't sure who to trust. Just when she gets comfortable or trusts someone, she ends up getting stabbed in the back. It's even like this between her and Tobias! But, they aren't the only characters going through this.

                        There is a consistent hint to a lack of trust in Tris and Tobias's relationship. Here is an example from page 159. " 'I wish you trusted me enough to tell me things like that.' I do trust you, is what I want to say. But it isn't true- I didn't trust him to love me despite the terrible things I had done. I don't trust anyone to do that, but that isn't his problem; it's mine." This was after Tris confessed she killed Will during the simulation attack. After, Tobias confronts her about relying on each other for trust.

                          These aren't the only characters with the same issue. Earlier, on page 25, Johanna tries to persuade Tobias's father Marcus, to tell her of the information the Erudite were trying to find. " 'The last time I trusted a faction representative with this info, all my friends were murdered'...' In order to have peace, we must first have trust', says Johanna. 'So I hope you change your mind.' "

                            Trust is a very complicated topic, it happens everywhere in the world. People always struggle with who they can rely on. That's why it's good to have someone who is trustworthy. They also have to be very close and always makes the right decisions. Hopefully, Tris will figure this out in the book or else she'll have no allies help her overthrow the Erudite.