Of Mice And Men-Symbols

When most people think of an old friend, they think of great memories and shared times. In the book “Of Mice and Men”, Candy’s old dog symbolized crushed dreams. This symbolism was carried throughout the book until the dog was murdered. When the dog died so did Candy’s.

The sound of the bullet going through the dog’s head, not only ripped though one’s skull. It also sounded off emotions and signaled fear that Candy was now in. In a dark corner, he though and thought about his dog that had just got murdered. After thinking repeatedly, Candy seemed to be the blame because he wasn’t the one to put the dog to sleep.

While reading the book, you could almost see the smile on Lenny’s face as he elaborated on “eating off the fat of the land”. Somehow it seemed that both George and Candy was thinking about the same thing. Lenny agreed that he would tend the rabbits, in this fantasy world that they hoped would someday be reality. They agreed with a very famous slogan, “if you cant beat it then join it, life being their only competition.

With a decrepit hand, bent back, and aging body, it was quite obvious that Candy could not do too much of anything on his own. In this condition, he came to the conclusion that his dog was the only one that felt his pain, breathed his air, the one that was on his side, the one that had to fight the same battle everyday. Not only the fight of life but also the fight with integrity, discipline and his demeanor. Curly was the heir of the throne and these battles were with one of his own, the master. This dream that Candy hoped to grasp, would settle all of these differences that the dog had already tragically lost too.

Like may teams, members lost, no the dog will no longer guard the great house with the white picket fence that once only existed in a dream. Lenny lost the fight to life, dreams were crushed, no, the rabbits will no longer be tamed, nor the chickens be rounded by him. Both Candy and George struggled to get where they felt they belonged in life, where they left there best friends off in the ongoing chapters of aspiration, energy and hopes of struggling in life. If you’re interested in success beyond the struggle and are wondering when will the storm end, it won’t. It would be wrong to convince you otherwise that would be wrong but if you need encouragement to never set aside your dream this is the book for you.

Independent Hours Reflection

• What have I learned about myself through this experience?
I have learned that I have a very short attention span. I also learned that I don't need to have any children.

• Describe three moments of failure, success, indecision, doubt, humor, frustration, happiness, sadness?
While watching my little brother && sister I noticed a lot about them. My sister follows after my brother which is something that she shouldn't do. My sister is very funny, she has a smart mouth LOL.

• How will service learning change your future behaviors/attitudes/and career?
It wouldn't change my career. But my attitude towards them have changed.

Service Learning Reflection 5-28-08

This service learning meeting was ard. We went to the outside market but it was just strawberries and flowers there so we went to the Reading Terminal. We couldn't get any prices so thats the reason that we had to leave.
The object of the day was to complete a paper that explains how we will feed our children

Of Mice And Men-Motifs

Rudeness is the weak man's interpretation of strength. In the book Of Mice and Men Lennie was a very weak character but at the same time he was very strong. Some people picked on him but others just left him alone because of his retardation.

Even though he was retarded he accepted everyone as a friend even if they didn’t accept him. Crooks saw right through him and talked bad things about George, he instantly got mad. Lennie turned the tables and was about to fight Crooks so he told him there wasn't anything happen to George.

Lennie was retarded but was a very good worker. He could do twice the work of all of the other workers on the farm. He was a very strong man with a very bad disability.

He also couldn’t be very gentle with little things. He likes to pet little soft things then hurt them. He killed a puppy at the farm and before he came to the farm he used to kill mice.

As you can see Lennie was a very nice person but he was retarded. His one and only friend was George. Some of the farm workers despised him because he was such a great worker.

McCain's 7 Steps to Beating Obama

Step 1 - Paint Obama as a False Messiah McCain campaign wanted to look forward to the general election even before he was the official candidate. McCain was calling out Obama as an unfulfilled person built up on exaggeration and personal charisma. McCain's campaign said that it would hurt Obama's powerful arguement to keep a Republican in the White House.

Step 2 - Work, Woo and Win the Referees

Step 3 - Meet With the People, and Force Obama to Follow

Step 4 - Claim the High Road Without Leaving the Low Road

Step 5 - Use A Vice President to Temper The Age Issue

Step 6 - Make Inroads Among Traditional Democratic Voters

Step 7 - Rely on the Historic RNC Advantage

Of Mice And Men-Themes [Check This One] :)

Lions are born knowing they are predators. Antelopes understand they are the prey. Humans are one of the few creatures on Earth given the choice (Patrick H.T. Doyle). Curley had a lot of problems dealing with himself so he took it out on everybody else. He didn’t like big people because he was so small. His wife was very attractive and all of the workers liked her so he did whatever it took to break them down if she showed any signs of her liking them back. But on the other hand Slim was a very nice guy so Curley took advantage of him.

As soon as Curley seen Lennie he had a problem with him. Since he was so big Curley attacked him with words and Lennie didn’t really say anything back. He thinks he can do anything to whomever he wants because he is the boss’s son.

His wife was the only girl on the farm so of course she needed a friend. Even though she was married, she was very lonely. All of the men on the farm were attracted to her because of her looks. Curley got mad every time she was around another man. Slim was a very nice guy and most people looked up to him on the farm. Since he was so popular on the farm then he didn’t really like him. He would say stuff to him just for him to say something back but he never did.

As I read the book Of Mice and Men there were a lot of themes. The one that I was really interested in was “human predators”. Just because you have problems with yourself then you shouldn’t take it out on someone else. This book had one person that took advantage of everyone on the farm.

Overview of Service Learning

Our Service Learning meeting on May 1st 2008 was the best meeting so far. We accomplished what we needed to do but there were some challenges. I didn’t really learn much in the meeting and there is a lot of work that needs to be done if we want to change anything next year.
In the meeting we were supposed to go to different restaurants and take a survey about the price of their food, how the food tastes, and is there enough time to get there and back in time. Everybody completed their survey and we talked about all of the food places.
There weren’t a lot of challenges but the main challenge was the time. Everybody that went to the gallery got his or her food but wasn’t able to eat it in the little but of time we had. I think they are going t have to make the classes shorter and lunch will have to be a little longer like it was last school year. And they are going to have to make some guidelines up about leaving out for lunch.
By next year there will be a lot changed dealing with lunch. Somebody from our group is going to make a bill and propose it to the principal and if he approves it then we will make up a new schedule for next year.

Service Learning Reflection 5-1-08

Service Learning was alright I guess. I didn't like the new location, we need to go back down to the lunchroom. There was alot of distractions when we were up in the lobby, everyone was looking out the window. Even though we were somewhat distracted we got alot done. For lunch we went out to different food places and gave them reviews. My group remebers went to Chick-Fil-A, Burger King, KFC, 2 different chinese stores, and Auntie Anne's. Next year they are going to make the lunch longer so the kids can back to school in time.

Empire Of The Sun Article...Jim

Through the movie Empire of the Sun Jamie changed a lot. As he grew he got wiser but at the same time he got street smarter.
Before the war Jamie was a very rich spoiled boy. He lived in a mansion with his mother and father. He was also a brat and got what he wanted and did whatever he wanted. He was a gentlemen and he cared about the homeless people that was around where he lived. And he abused his nanny and told her what to do and he was only a little boy.
During the war he changed his name from Jamie to Jim. His whole personally changed. He became a thief and stole stuff for Basie to trade. He found himself at the end of the war but he already threw away his suitcase full of memories.
After the war he became a little smarter than he was before the war. Before he went back home Basie taught him some techniques on how to survive. He became rich again when he found his parents. He also gained some of his sanity back and some of his memories. He started to remember how his mother looked and what she was like.
In a movie as a character develops you might also see some changes that the character might go through. Jim went from Jim to Jamie, from rich to poor, from a brat to a tough guy in one movie.

Service Learning Reflecton 4-25-08

Service Learning this week was boring. The group leaders talked about taking a walk to Aramark and other places to sponsor our school lunches. We also decided that we are going to visit some restaurants and other places on our next service learning meeting.

Nutrition Facts in a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

In a sandwich that is made with two slices of white bread, two tablespoons of peanut butter, and two tablespoons of jelly has 18 grams of fat, 200 milligrams of sodium, 59 grams of carbohydrates, 12 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 432 calories. One sandwich provides 27% of a day's fat, 23% of a day's sodium, 24% of a day's carbohydrates, 16% of a day's protein, 13% of a day's fiber, and 22% of a day's calories. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is served as a snack but it has alot of fat, sodium and calories.
If you make the sandwich with whole grain bread, one tablespoon of starwberry spread (without sugar, just fruit and juice), and one tablespoon of reduced aft peanut butter it will be way healthier.

Service Learning Reflection 4-11-08

Our service learning meeting was very boring. I really don't think they will get anything that they are trying to get. The only thing that will be done the nutrition group is Ms. Thompson is trying to make sandwiches for the students. I think that is a good idea and I will be delighted to help her anytime.
In our service learning group the leaders, Michel Lee, Derrelle, and Antionette was talking about getting new vending machines and microwaves which I don't think will ever happen so they mind as well just give up now. I took that whole converstaion as a joke. One of our gruop mambers by the name of Tihira kept making jokes relating our school to Gratz. She kept saying Gratz is sucha bad school but they get to eat chicken wings, which was very funny yet true to me. So the whole time we were in our meeting me was laughing.
I don't think I wanna go back to that service learning grouo because it;s just a waste of my valuable time, and I think I can be very useful in another group.

Through the movie Empire of the Sun Jamie changed a lot. As he grew he got wiser but at the same time he got street smarter.
Before the war Jamie was a very rich spoiled boy. He lived in a mansion with his mother and father. He was also a brat and got what he wanted and did whatever he wanted. He was a gentlemen and he cared about the homeless people that was around where he lived. And he abused his nanny and told her what to do and he was only a little boy.
During the war he changed his name from Jamie to Jim. His whole personally changed. He became a thief and stole stuff for Basie to trade. He found himself at the end of the war but he already threw away his suitcase full of memories.
After the war he became a little smarter than he was before the war. Before he went back home Basie taught him some techniques on how to survive. He became rich again when he found his parents. He also gained some of his sanity back and some of his memories. He started to remember how his mother looked and what she was like.
In a movie as a character develops you might also see some changes that the character might go through. Jim went from Jim to Jamie, from rich to poor, from a brat to a tough guy in one movie.

Nutrition Charts

Walk for Service Learning

We took a walk to look for service learning projects. We went to the Washington Square park and found that we can fix the recycling trash cans. We also went to the Curtis Building and found a lot of opportunities. Some of us were thinking about volunteering at the daycare that is inside. We also went to the fitness center and Sylvan's Learning Center to see if there was anything that we could do but they said they didn't need any help. The daycare center said that we had to write up a proposal. We are going to write up a proposal and take it back to the daycare with our resume.

Service Learning

Ms. Klose was telling us about a service learning project involving drawing on a dollar bill, I think I would like to do that now. If I can't do that then I would like to tutor again.

Independent Service Learning

Last year I didn't do my independent service learning. This year I would like to either work at a nursing home or do recycling. Other things that other people can do is clean up their neighborhood or even help out the senor citizens at their own home. Another good idea is helping out the homeless people. Even though this was a school wide service learning project last year some people can go to elementary schools and help them.

NHD Reflection

I didn't really like NHD this year. I did an exhibit on L.A. Riots. I worked with 5 other people but it seem like I only worked with 3 other people. Some of my group members were not working like they should have been. Last year I did a paper and it was better than doing an exhibit. Some of the challenges that I encountered this year was looking up some stuff about Reginald O. Denny. It was very easy finding stuff about Rodney King. Reginald O. Denny wasn't a very popular search because he didn't want to talk about his incident. If I do NHD next year I'm going to another paper because I know it's going to be easier. I wanted to do a documentary but I don't think I want to work with other people. The conflict of The L.A. Riots is that it effected every race and it wasn't just a black vs. white thing. And the compromise was that the government started alot of organizations to stop violence between different races.

Playing White

• Summary: Bigger walks to his house to the corner of his block to meet up with his gang. While he's waiting he runs into Gus and they began talking. While they were talking they looked up to the sky because they heard a sound, when they looked up they seen an airplane writing letters in the sky about gasoline. Bigger begin wondering what it would be like to fly a plane. But they knew it wasn't possible because they are African American and African American people can't do anything even if you got money. While they were thinking about this bigger asked Gus to play a game. Gus and Bigger began to play, as they were white, they played as the president and the general. After they were done playing they began to laugh and G.H and Jack walked up and they went in to the poolroom.
• Analysis: I think Richard Wright put this scene in the book to let readers know what kind of life African Americans lived. He put the thoughts in readers mind that living where he lived and being the color he was that it ended up being a mistake because no matter what he say or do he will always be Bigger Thomas Big, Black and Mean

Murder Of An Heiress pp. 81-93

• Summary: After a long night of partying and drinking Bigger and Mary returned to the Dalton house. Mary was a bit drunk so bigger decided to walk her to her room when they arrived Mary started to kiss on bigger, not resisting bigger kissed her back. Shortly after Mrs. Dalton came into Mary’s room, afraid Mary would make noise bigger covered her face with a pillow. She was straining to for him to let her go so she started to scratch his wrist. Once Mrs. Dalton left the room he let the pillow go and realized Mary was not responding. Scared out of his mind bigger picked Mary up, put her in a trunk and took her to the furnace before he took her out, he placed a pile of news paper down on the floor and stuck her in. shoving Mary’s head in was a tough task so he took his knife out and tried to cut her head off, when that didn’t work he found a hatchet and with one swing her head rolled onto the blood filled newspaper pill. He quickly shoved her head in and got rid of the newspaper and hatchet. When bigger got home that night boy was he paranoid. What he doesn’t realize is it was an accident and he could have easily confessed.
• Analysis: I believe Richard Wright put this in the book because it is the part in the book where bigger finds a strength he never knew he had, he has the power to assert himself against whites. “Wright’s point is that Bigger becomes a brutal killer precisely because the dominant white culture fears that he will become a brutal killer”. (info from spark notes)

Bloom's Taxonomy

1.Knowledge - What happened when Jack and Bigger left the pool room?
-When they left the pool room they went to tehe movie theatre.

2. Comprehension - What differences exist between Bigger and Buddy?
-Bigger is the son that does not listen to his mother, he is also the man of his house. Buddy is the obedient son. He cares about his family.

3. Application - What factor cold have possibliy changed if Bigger was th eone found in the fire place?
-The incident wouldn't have made it to the press because he was blacka nd he already had a record.

4. Analysis - What were some of the motives behind Bigger starting a fight with us?
-Bigger was scared of robbing Old Blum's and Gus wasn't sure the he wanted to rob him so they started fighting.

5. Synthesis - Can you see a possible solution to Bigger scaring his sister with the rat?
-There could have been more possible solutions for Bigger when he killed the rat. He could of just tookthe rat to the trash like his mother asked him. Being the disobedient son instead of listening to his mother he scared his sister.

6 Evaluation - How would you have handled the situation when Mary told you that she wasn't going to the university?
-If I was the driver and she told me she was going to meet a friend and she wasn't going to the university I would of drove her where she wanted to go. Even though by doing that I could of got in trouble by her parents I wouldn't of cared. If I would of got in trouble I would of just took the blame because I know her parents wouldn't of believed me. Since I was black I could of lost my job and her parents wold of believed her because they think she is a good girl.

The Fear Inside pp. 22-28

• Summary - Bigger and Gus entered the poolroom and it was empty. They were early and Jack or G.H. hadn't arrived yet so while they waited they started a game of pool. Bigger was playing very poorly because he was worrying about Blum's and the robbery, but he was really afraid of the whole thought. They continued to talk about their plan and thats when Jack and G.H. come in. Bigger hiding his fear tried to make himself feel better picked a fight with his Gus. Jack and G.H. ageed to rob Blum's but Gus was still thinking about it. Bigger got aggravated and started an arguement with Gus. While fighting Biger thought of stabbing him, kicking him, slapping him, and he even made Gus lick his knife. After teh fight they all agreed to their plan. By Bigger starting a fight with Gus that was a way to hide his fear and flip the script to make it seem as if Gus was scared. he hid his fear by acting tough and putting on a front for his friends. By doing that Gus was scrared of him and didn't know what he was capable of so he agreedto rob Old Blum's.
  
• Analysis - Richard Wright was trying to show us two things, the fear inside of Bigger and his fear of showing his friends and even his family who he was. Bigger putting on a front shows that his friends don't really know who he is and their wasn't no family bond between them. Maybe he is scared to show his friends who he really is and they would of took advantage of him because they would of thought he was tough anymore. By letting his guard down he wouldn't feel comfortable his himself. Alot of people hide their fears but some do it in other ways.
  

Fears Of A Teenage Girl Outline

I.School
A.Work
B.Teachers
1.Fighting
C.Peer Pressure
1.Drugs
2.Sex
II.Success
A.Where Will I End Up
B.My Job
C.My House
D.My Kids
III.Doing Things On My Own
A.Growing Up
B.Getting Older
IV.Family
A.Will Something Happen To Them
1.Die
B.Will They Get In The Way Of What I Want Top Do

Fears Of A Teenage Girl

Geometry Project - Mobious

Valley Forge

My topic for National History Day of 2007 is The American Revolution. The revolution began on April 19, 1775. For about a decade there were tension between Great Britain and the American colonies. The British passed a lot of laws to gain control over the colonies. The colonies thought they were abusing their power. The colonist protested and started a rebellion. They did not know that this would lead to a new nation.
We are working on the Valley Forge because we are also working with two of the freshmen. Since we are working with the freshmen we have to collaborate with them and write about Valley Forge because their topic have to be on something that happened in Philadelphia. Our topic is really focused on Valley Forge because it was where the army took a rest for the Revolutionary War.
We are doing a poster board. I did a paper last year so I wanted to try something new this year and work with some of my friends that I can depend on. Focusing on the battle of Valley Forge will be good because the Revolutionary War is a very broad topic. I want to learn about what exactly happened at Valley Forge that changed the Revolutionary War. I don’t think this topic will be a hard topic to study because I know there will be a lot of information about the War.

Annotated Bibliography

1. http://www.news.bbd.co.uk/i/hi/world/americas/2119943.stm. Flashback: Rodney King and LA Riots. BBC News Wednesday July 10, 2002. This source helps me because this scene gives me the scenario of what was happening at the time of the riots.

2. http://www.archives.cnn.com/2001/law/03/02/beating.anniversity.king.02/. Rodney King reluctant Symbol of Police brutality. Cable News Network 2003. This source gives me helpful information about what happened to Rodney King.

3. http://www.lafire.com/famous_fires/920429_LA-Riots.htm. Charting the Hours of Chaos. Lafire, Copyright 2002. This helps me with my project because it gave me other resources to use.

4. http://www.emergency.com/la-riots.htm. Three Days of Hell in Los Angeles. Staten, Clark Emergency News net. Svc 04/29/92. This source was a primary news source and it gave me a view of what took place that day.

5. http://www.citivu.com/ktla/sc-ch1.htm/. Rodney King and the L.A. Riots. Chambers, Stan and Citivu 1995-7. This article helps me understand my topic because it listed the events that lead to the beating of Rodney King.

6.http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/la_riots/article/0,28804,1614117_1614084,00.html. The L.A. Riots: 15 Years After Rodney King. Time Inc. 2007. This tells me about the result of the beating and the riots. It also says the affect it has on us today.

7. http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_los_angeles_riots. Los Angeles Riots of 1992. Wikimedia Foundation Inc 4-29-92. This source gives me valuable information about my topic.

8. http://www.history.com/media.do?id=tdih_apr29_broadband&action=clip. Riots Eruption Los Angeles. A&E Television Networks 1996-2007. It helps me understand my project better because it tells me what events occurred that day.

9. Cole, D. Micheal Enslow Publishers February 1999. The L.A. Riots Rage in the City of Angels. Rage in the City of Angels. This book gives me first hand experience on what happened the day of the riots.

10. Gibbs, Jewelle Taylor San Francisco Study Center. After the L.A. Riots. Social Works Role in Healing a City. The book talks about the reconstruction of Los Angeles after the Riots.

11. Hacen, Don Independent Pub Group August 1992. Inside the L.A. Riots. What really happened and why it will happen again. This book gives us info and how to prevent future riots like the ones in Los Angeles.

12. Song, Min Hyoung Duke University Press Sep, 2005. Strange future: Pessimism and the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. Los Angeles and the future. This book connects our theme to the world today.

13. Delk, James D. Ect. Pubs Oct. 1994. Fires and Furies. What Really Happened. This book talks about the real problems behind the riots.

Religion in school

I don’t think you should be able to wear stuff about god on your shirt to school. I don’t think religion should be taught in school. Wearing stuff like that will be disrespectful. That is disrespectful because people might feel offended. Example if someone in your school is wearing a shirt that says, “God is the best” then someone that does not believe in god might be offended. Being taught religion in school should be excluded because this is not church or your home. It is okay to believe in a certain god but I don’t think it is okay to bring your beliefs to school.
Abington School District v. Schempp (1963) was trying to decide whether passages from the bible could or could not be read in public school or can the lords prayer be recited in the public schools. The outcome of this case was teachers could not teach religion in school. This case is known as The Day God Was Kicked Out of School.