I have really enjoyed this experience.  I have learned a lot along the way.  My favorite thing to write on here was the Darfur posts.  I learned a lot about the world and as a class we made a difference.

Thanks for sticking with me throughout this year.

GOODBYE

    braces

 im gonna hav 2 gt braces on mondy. duznt that suck. im gonna hav my mouth wired. well its all 4 the beter.  but i hear it hrts. i thnk the bigest chaleng of having braces wil b chusing wich colrs 2 get my rubbr bands in.  i want feedbak so if u dont mind leavng coments on dis page wit colr sugestions, that wud b great.  thnx!!

    Well, I sure am glad that’s ovr (whoops).  But, seriously, please do leave suggestions.  So any way, can you imagine an entire book like that?  I know I would probably give up on trying to read it.   And i got to give you props if you read all the way through my paragraph!  But i also heard about another amazing cell phone feat. Someone produced, directed and shot an entire feature length film on their cell phone.  They  are trying to get it to be marketed by a major film company like Universal or Miramax.  So any way, that’s all this post was really about, amazing phone facts.  That and braces.

C U L8ter.

Last year in English class, we put on a small production of A Midsummer Nights Dream.  This was probably the most fun I have had in English in my entire life.  We performed on a small 5′x10′ stage but the set, aside from our small stage was spectacular.  We had people bring in branches for trees.  We had amazing costumes.  And perhaps best of all, we had a high powered, professional, stage spotlight.  As We prepare for this year’s production, I can only hope that is is as good an experience, if not better, than last year.

As my brother gets ready for Outdoor Education, I start to remember that hectic weekend, right before the trip when everyone is rushing around to all corners of the earth, trying to get everything together for Monday. It is a time when tempers run high in most house holds. All the stress of the trip is pretty much laid on the parents. They start to fell rushed and nagged. “Mom, I need more bug spray.” “Dad, I need to go get hiking boots.”  I can remember all this insanity like it was yesterday.

In fact, I can remember a lot like it was yesterday. But, some memories are more vague than others. For example, I can barely remember the first day of sixth grade, but I can recall fifth grade graduation and the excitement of preparing for middle school vividly. It seems ironic, that in a few months, I will go through this all again. High School awaits.  And even though in the back of every rising ninth graders mind, they know that high school won’t be half as scary as their older friends say it is, they can’t help but freak out at the prospect of a new school.

You spend more than half of your lower education in elementary school. And then it all changes to the world of lockers, cliques and seven teachers. And then the minute you start to get used to middle school, it gets ripped from your hands, and in its place lie SATs, college admissions forms, and crazy football games. It’s education’s cruel joke: just as you get comfortable and understand the way things work, it gets exchanged for a completely new and even more complex system. it was so funny, I forgot to laugh.

1. Fredrick moves to Baltimore.  This is important because it is his first trip away from his plantation. Pg. 43
2. He begins to learn to read.  This is important because it opens his world to literature.  Pg. 51
3. His mistress beigins to be mean.  This is important because his mistress is starting to warp because of her power over him.  Pg. 52
4. He learns to write.  This is important because now not only could he read but he could communicate with others through his writting.  Pg. 57
5. Captain anthony dies.  Pg. 58
6. He goes to be valued.  Pg. 59

But what does all this have to do with Es and foreheads?  Well this article explains that people who are in power are less likely to see things from others peoples point of view.  So some scientist conducted an experiment.  You can do it to if you want.  It will only take about thirty seconds.  Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you to be ready.  Ready? Okay, lets go.

First, take a marker and write an E on your forehead.  Ask someone to read it.  If there is no one there you can just look in a mirror.  Now what does it look like, is it backwards? (note in a mirror, what would apear to be backwards to everyone else would be forwards, and vice versa.)  The study showed that people who feel more powerful would be more likely to write it so that it makes sense for them.  People who feel less powerful are more likley to write it so others can see it.

The point: people who are in places of power are more likely to see only their point of view.  Surprising?  I think so!

But all this has to do with something we are doing in class.

We are curently reading a book called Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas.  We are currently on chapter seven.  In this chapter he explains how his new mistress has turned sour.  At first, when he arrived at her house, she was a beutiful, nice woman, but as the months progressed, she became powerful and, you guessed it, started to see things only her way.

So, are you a backwards E, or a forwards E?  The world needs to know!

Remember to leave a comment here to help stop the genocide in Darfur. (You can comment anytime before 12.00am March 8, eastern Standard Time.)

As the presidential primaries proceed, all of the candidates are promising to do something about the war, or jump-start the housing market. These things are all well and good and necessary, but what about Darfur? The rebel groups in Darfur recently attacked the capitol of Chad, a neighbor to Sudan. The rebels were unsuccessful in their attack, and were forced to pull out. But they have vowed to attack again. This new conflict has added another layer to an already confusing situation.  Focusing all our power on homeland security and economic issues alone is not enough. We, as the richest and most powerful nation in the world, have a global responsibility. And the next president needs to recognize that and do something about it in Darfur.
All the candidates need to focus on what they will do about Darfur if they are elected. I believe, as a country, we need to take immediate action against the Sudanese government. Whether that means imposing sanctions, or refusing to trade with them, or any of their allies, we need to make it clear that we will not allow a genocide to take place for so long. George Bush has ignoring this pressing issue. So I think that the next president, whether it is Mr. Obama, Mr. McCain, or Ms. Clinton, must take a stand.

The next president needs to work with the UN and the African Union to provide support and troops for peace keeping forces to send into Sudan to protect the victims in Darfur. We need to be careful not to take to much control in the policy of other countries, but as the most powerful nation in the world, we have a global responsibility to do something about a genocide that has lasted much too long.

For this reason, I urge the next president, regardless of party affiliation, to provide peace keeping forces for Darfur. In addition, we need to bestow sanctions and economic pressure on the Sudanese government and China, being Sudan’s biggest customer in the oil market. The candidates have done a good job of indicating what they will do for America, but what about the world? The next president needs to know that is is their responsibility to do something about a genocide that needs to end.

For More Info, visit The Truth About Darfur.