Yasmine's Blog!!

2007-04-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

The narrator compared the Bingo wheel to his life. The unlucky cards would be the uneven or unlucky days, the wheels speed increases and pulls in the narrator with its power, and "this is God", according to the narrator. The wheel is his fate and fortune. If it lands on the double zero, he will then be able to pay for his love, Laura's, health care because she is sick. At the end of the story, he is getting pulled away from the bingo wheel by two large men, and is inevitably knocked out.

2007-04-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

A tragic here is one who cannot win and is doomed to fail, although he or she has the potential for greatness. However, an anti-hero lives by the guidance of their own flawed morality and completely rejects traditional values or sees morality as irrelevant. Macbeth is an example of an anti-hero. He was originally manipulated by his wife, Lady Macbeth, but then used his own incorrect judgement to justify him killing the king and killing his friend, Banquo. His mind has been changed by his wife and incorrect values and now he has changed from a loyal and good man into a flawed man, with no potential for greatness.

(Sorry for not posting this earlier. Blogger would not post this blog. I tried all week)

2007-03-20T21:00:00.001-07:00

Harriet Tubman, a very ambitious and determined woman, led approximately 300 slaves out of slavery by means of the undergroud railroad. She was known as a "conductor" on the railroad and made 19 trips back and forth to the south to help other slaves escape. Her whole life she had worked as a female slave, doing house work, or farming. Finally, she decided that she had had enough and during the night made plans with the other slaves to escape. At the time, most of the other African American slaves regarded her as a ruthless, go-getting role model to the others, however some felt that she was in way over her head. Of course the white population during her time considered her crazy and a terrible menace; there did exist the few who supported her bravery and courage to take on such a major task though. Today, she is regarded as an amazing woman who helped initiate the freedom of slaves and led to the fight that finally ended slavery. Harriet Tubman is honored all over the world for her determined, brave heart which helped her people out of slavery.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1535.html

2007-02-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

Thesis: Why is HIV/AIDS the leading cause of the death of African-American women?

Organization:
a) Facts of HIV/AIDS
b) Facts of the HIV/AIDS affecting women
c) The affect on women
d) Why it is the leading cause of death

Reason for choice: I am an African-American woman and HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death in the United States. THerefore, this topic interests me.

2007-01-01T19:08:00.000-08:00

Harper Lee titled the novel To Kill a Mockingbird because it relates to the racism occuring during that time period, as well as the internal struggles among people in the little town of Maycomb, Alabama. The trial of Mr. Tom Robinson was biased and racist because the jury was all white and the facts obviously pointed to Mayella not being raped by Tom, but her father beating her, yet the verdict for Tom, an African-American, was guilty. Tom was sentenced to the electric chair, but was killed earliar when trying to escape. The mockingbird relates to Tom because it is known as only a helpful creature, that "sings their hearts out for us." Tom would go to Mayella's house to help her with jobs she could not do herself, such as moving furnature. He never hurt Mayella and the mockingbird does not hurt any human. Therefore it is a sin to kill a mockingbird and it was a sin when Tom Robinson was accused and sentenced for the rape of Mayella. In addition, Boo Radley can be connected to the mockingbird. Boo is known as a torment and a creature to be scared of in the town of Maycomb, yet he did not do anything to the children except for leaving them pressents in the tree, and later saving their lives. He has been hunted down and looked down upon by the townspeople of Maycomb for as long as he has lived there, yet he has in no way done anything wrong. The mockingbird is just a creature, and sings to make music for our pleasure. Boo hasn't hurt anyone, and even gave the children gifts. Therefore, both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley can relate to the mockingbird and the title of the book seems fit since throughout the two main plots of the story, the characters can be compared to mockingbirds. Atticus is trying to teach the children, though making this statement, that people who are accused should not automatically be sentenced or looked down upon on account of past stories or because of race. You must not judge. In the end, the children finally learn this lesson. Although they believed that Boo was a terror and thought he was something to be frightened of, they found that he was only a caring person who has never hurt them, but gave them gifts and saved their lives and they learned that their past opinions on him were wrong. They also learned that racism is not an acceptable practice and that people should not be judged on account of race. The children were horrified when they learned of the injustices occuring because of race and past influences, and they therefore understood why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.

2006-12-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

Maycomb is a town in Alabama which is very hot, esecially when it rains. Because of the heat, "Men’s stiff collars wilted [...] [and] Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’clock naps, and by nightfall [smelled] [...] of sweat and sweet talcum". Maycomb also seems to be a town in which everyone either knows or knows of everyone else. It is a very discreet, not well known, and quite town. "There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County." F.D.R. once said, "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." It is the allusion in this passage. There are some dangers within Maycomb but this allusion was used to help the civilians of the town not be afraid. The diction that Scout uses is very mature for her, being a 10-year old girl. "and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum". This is the simile that Scout used to describe the women of Maycomb. She has such a great mind and uses it well when speaking and describing.

2006-11-26T14:17:00.000-08:00

“It is a melancholy object […] when they see the streets, the roads and cabin doors crowded with beggars of the female sex […]”. This is the truest statement I read throughout the whole, “A Modest Proposal”, by Jonathan Swift. In this proposal, the speaker tells us about the hardships experienced throughout Ireland, mainly in the female population and their soon to be beggar children. The speaker tells of his ideas to make sure that after the age of one, when a child can no longer live on his mother’s breast milk, the children will be taken care of, by the government or by special needs supporters. The author/speaker is possibly a middle class or upper class member of Ireland’s society because although he wants to start this program for the poor of Ireland, he also stated that he doesn’t have any particular or personal feelings toward the situation and is only doing it for the “public good of my country”. This proposal appeared to be not serious when the speaker started telling about how cannibalism was accepted and the poor people and children were delicious meals and great gifts. My initial response was sincere and understanding of the situation in Ireland, and it still is. But my positive feelings towards the article started to decline as I continued further into the proposal. Although many of the points were necessary in peoples’ understanding, support and care towards the situation, it could have been said in less wording and some of the repetition was not essential in the understanding. I feel that this proposal was aiming at the middle but mainly upper class to take charge, because the lower class had no rights and could not take care of themselves, and their population. The lower class was the minority and had minimal rights compared to the middle and upper classes. They needed those upper groups to help them and their families.

2006-11-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

The article I read on theonion.com was named "African Children Given 30000 Unused 'Save Darfur' T-Shirts". This article is turning the situation of Darfur and our response to it into a joke. Hundreds of Thousands of people are dying in Darfur, and although the U.S. says that they are trying to help the situation, not much has been done, other than producing t-shirts or making a few signs. The article spoke of how the U.S. had made 30000 t-shirts about Darfur, but since the problem had not been as much of a concern as they had thought, they are just going to give the shirts to the children of Darfur. Instead of using the money of making the t-shirts to the people of darfur, they made t-shirts, making fun of the U.S's approach to the unfortunate situation. I think that the article was an example of Horatian Satire. This type of satire is somewhat making fun of a group of people, or an idea, but not in a mean spirited way, as Juvenalian satire is. In this case, the satire is aiming at the United State's response to the cries of help from Darfur. The writing was funny because it was written as if it was an article, but was actually making a joke about the U.S. A sentence that made me laugh was: " 'Frankly, we thought this would be a more popular issue," a Mee Tees spokeswoman said." It is funny because it is actually true. The response the T-Shirt company made to Darfur is funny becuase they did not try and help Darfur, but used it as an excuse for business. This is what the United States has become.

2006-11-12T12:49:00.000-08:00

If I were a soldier fighting in war, the item I would bring is my Teddy bear. I got her when I was born from my aunt and when I look at my Teddy bear or hold her, it reminds me of my family. My teddy is pink, but has faded into almost white. She is about a foot in size, very soft, after all those years, and has a button as a nose. She also has a ribbon around her neck, where a red heart hangs, which says “I love you”. Hopefully, I will never have to experience the tragedies of war or go into the war, but if I had to, I would bring my Teddy Bear, to remind me of my family and how much they love me.

2006-10-29T09:06:00.000-08:00

After reading the American Soldier's blog, I have had many ideas on what is going on in the world today. The American Soldier (AS) was featured in the Sandbox. His story was one that is truly beautiful. He was injured and flown home early, and he met the man who had taken care of him on the plane. The AS had made the other soldiers career "come full circle" through meeting the AS. In another blog entry, the AS spoke about North Korea and its nuclear weapon production. I agree with his view that the United States will retaliate and that North Korea deserves what is coming to them after producing weapons that are clearly prohibited. The United States should not let this slide because NOrth Korea will continue working at the nuclear weapon site knowing that no other country has the boldness to fight back. The AS also spoke about his concern for shootings and violence in schools. What can one do to prevent those problems? Security guards or armed teachers could be placed into the schools, but people could still enter with weapons. It cannot fully be prevented. This is an ongoing concern that may never be put to rest. I was never truly concerned about such violence at our schools because people see these problems on television, but never think that it can happen to them. Violence in schools is a reality, though. Finally, I read the AS's blog entry on where he was on 9/11. The American Soldier was at work, and saw the incident on the news. For the next couple of weeks, he went down everyday to help out. I truly appreciate everything that the AS and all other soldiers and fighters have done for our country. We would not be anywhere close to the same to what we are now without them!!

2006-10-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

2006-10-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

2006-10-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

"Nature is an indifferent force acting on the lives of human beings."
This naturalistic idea can be applied to an event in my life, when I was about years old. At about five o'clock early one morning, there was a lightening storm occuring in New York. A lightening bolt struck a hundred year old tree in our yard, causing it to explode. My parents awoke on account of the noise and the brightness of the explosion. The tree pieces flew all over the place. One even went through the side of my neighbors house, which was made of cinderblock, not wood. Some of the pieces of wood were on fire and the fire department had to come and extinguish them. Thank goodness the no one was hurt, but nature definately affected my life, and especially my neighbors. If the lightening had struck any closer, it could have destroyed my house, or even killed some of my family members, including myself.

2006-10-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

In "The Law of Life", by Jack London, Old Koskoosh, the main character, is part of an Eskimo tribe. Since he is old, lame, blind “And he was very close to death now”, his tribe left him alone to die. The tribe’s tradition suggests that once you have accomplished what you needed to in life and your time has come, you will be left in the snow alone to die. I do not believe that this is in any way a civilized practice. I believe that if one is old and sick, he or she should be especially cared for by his or her family members. Leaving a human being to freeze to death in unethical and hardhearted. The Law of Life is a law that governs how one lives. It basically states that one is born into the world, does what was expected of him or her, and then dies. The Law of Life is very much like a cycle through each generation. Koskoosh recalled an image of an old bull moose being killed by a pack of wolves, after they had “cut him out from his brothers.” The picture of the wolves attacking the moose because of its inability to run and escape as fast as the rest of the other moose has never left Koskoosh’s mind because he is now like that moose. He was left behind because he was old and lame, and not as able and the other tribe members. I had heard of the laws and traditions of the Eskimo tribe so initially I had been surprised, but I then realized that that was their culture. Although I believe that the tradition of leaving the older members of the tribe to freeze to death is immoral, it is part of their way of life and I will respect that.

2006-09-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

Of all the characters, I think that I most relate to Ralph. He took control of the situation when he landed on the island, especially because he was a "biggun". He thought of what people would need. Ralph led the construction of the hut, then sent out a group to find food, and held meetings twice a day. The meetings were held to see progress, give new ideas, and keep track of all the boys. He was as civilized as one can be in a situation like that and at his age. Piggy came up with a lot of the ideas, such as the conch shell, which would have helped me, since I don't always have the best ideas in certain situations.

2006-09-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

In order from the good boys, who will get rewarded in the end, to the "evil", who will be punished, I find that Simon, followed by Sam and Eric (the twins) should appropriately be put into the category of the best. They respect the leaders Ralph and Jack. Simon is kind to all of the boys, and is always lending a helping hand. Sam and Eric, who are still young, are doing what the leaders tell them, so they do not cause trouble. Piggy and then Maurice would be in the middle of this "continuum" between reward and punishment. Piggy, although very smart and rational, did not help when building the hut or getting food. He just lounged around. Even though Maurice has a good conscience, he bothered the "littluns", when they most needed support from the "bigguns". Ralph would then be second to closest to the evil side of the continuum. He cares about helping the boys and is very good with leadership, but was very mean to Piggy, even though Piggy found the conch shell and gave Ralph many ideas for leading the pack. Jack would be as close to evil as the young boys can get. He was horrible to Piggy, and hit him in the face, and even broke his glasses, which were his means of vision. He was only concerned about catching and killing a pig, which I did not even believe he could do because when he got the oppotunity to, he made up an excuse. Jack has some leadership skills, but is only concerned with being wild and is not concerned with actually living on the island.

2006-09-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

Ralph is the leader of the boys on the island. He built the most of the hut, and tries and come up with ideas for their survival on the island. I predict that Ralph will be able to survive well in the wilderness because of his ablility to think about life in the long run on the island and the boys' survival, unlike the other savage kids. Jack is very savage and wild. Because of his more instinctual behavior, he will be happy and may endure on the island in the beginning, but when like gets difficult and rough, he will most likely become frightened and get into trouble. Simon is the kindest of all the boys. He respects everyone and is one of the only ones who actually works and builds the hut. Simon, I predict, will carry on well on account of the fact that if he is in trouble, the boys will want to help him because he helped and cared for them. Maurice seems to have a strong conscience; he still messes with the "littluns", though. I do not predict positive results for Maurice, because although he may feel guilt, it does not change the fact that he bothered the littluns, and even kicked sand into one of their faces. Piggy is the smartest and rational of all the boys. He has the most common sense, but is not respected because of his weight. I predict that Piggy will stay alive on the island because of his common sense and intellect, despite being unwelcomed by the other boys. Finally, the twins, "Samneric", remain close with Ralph, and are always together. As long as they stay with their leader, Ralph, they will be okay due to them following instructions and sticking together.

2006-09-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

The Tropics of New York expressed the speaker's happy and positive memories of being in New York, with a "longing" to be back in "old, familiar ways".

Lady Freedom Among Us showed that the narrator was fond of New York and told of all the exciting, patriotic and posibly new activities one can pursue because of the freedom in this state.

In Mannahatta, the storyteller explained what it is like looking at, enjoying and living in New York. He or she used imagery to display a picture of the city of Manhattan.

The three poems all shared a common theme. They all displayed patriotic and positive feelings towards New York. Some of the narrators demonstrated their ideas of New York through memories, experience or thr0ugh what each one saw, but all together, New York seems to be a place where you can live in happiness and always have something to do.

2006-09-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

This year at Irvington High School, I'm looking forward to the new courses. I'm also looking forward to the teachers and their different forms of teaching. The opportunities for me to meet new people in my classes are exciting to me, too. Hopefully, I will get as much out of my sophmore experience as I am putting into it and am expecting.