The Quintessential Webpage

I have tried other websites such as Facebook and Xanga but my all time favorite is myspace. Xanga is strictly a blogging site where people just write about the day's happenings or their thoughts. It's possible to add music and backgrounds but still, that's the extend of the personalization of this page goes. Facebook, which i just got this year is "safer" because although everyone uses their real names, you can only see someones page if they add you. Maybe I'm just new to it, but i find it a bit more complicated to use. Also, you can't put your own music or backgrounds on your facebook page. There is also random things on it like how you can "poke" people which is quite pointless. Myspace on the other hand has like everything all the other sites does. It now has albums for multiple pictures like facebook, myspace music, videos, events, comedy, classifieds, forums, groups, blogs and films. Basically everything you need is compiled into one website. Myspace also gives you the freedom to choose your own background, music and videos to go on your site. You can post blogs and write comments and post pictures. Myspace takes a while to get used to but once you get the hang of it you'll never get bored because there's always something to do on it.

Lit Circle: Exodus

During our lit circle, my group discussed how we felt about the concluding chapter of The Poisonwood Bible. We all felt like we didn't like it as much because it broke apart the family into separate individual stories. I myself think that although it was a bit disappointing to see the family get split so far apart, we got to see their individual stories and learn about them. I don't think that they would have been able to do what they wanted if they had stayed together with Nathan. I felt that The Mosquito Coast matched the book EXACTLY, down the the death of the father. Both movie and book tried to portray the same message, I think. They both tried to show how the fathers were stuck in their own ways ignoring their families and others around them. I guess the death of both of their characters made everyone realize what the consequences of being ignorant and stuck in their own ways. I also think that Nathan definitely was sad about his family leaving him but he was too stubborn to give up. He didn't find a balance between his job and family which caused all his problems

Lit Circle: feminist

I chose to be the feminist for the Bel and Serpent because i think Leah going on the hunt was a very big thing. Leah first of all is an American girl in the Congolese Village. This makes her stand out twice as much and made the people twice as reluctant to let her join in on the hunt. Tata Ndu is very much against the Western teachings that Nathan is bringing so letting his daughter come along on the hunt would be even worse. But, aside from that fact, the Congolese women don't even hunt with the men so it would be really weird if Leah went. But to settle the decision, Tata Ndu called everyone to vote again...but this time he lost...and Leah was allowed on the hunt. I think the fact that Tata Ndu lost and Leah went on the hunt symbolizes that some old ways are going to change.

passage post

"Tata Ndu turned to Father and spoke almost kindly. 'Jesus is a white man, so he will understand the law of la majorite, Tata Price. wenda mbote.' Jesus Christ lost, eleven to fifty-six."

I found this passage interesting because Tata Ndu in a sense uses Nathan's ways against him. Nathan tried to come in and force the American ways upon the Congolese who rejected it. Tata Ndu doesn't like the American ways and Christian faith that Nathan is teaching but finds that using the majority rule can be a "fair" way of opposing Nathan. This passage shows how the Congolese aren't going to let Nathan have the power/right to tell them what to believe, they're going to do what they want.

live for yourself

Why do people care so much about what others think? I know i do a lot but it doesn't make sense. You should do things that make you happy not what others want. For the past couple of months I've been not doing some things because of what i think this other person will think. That person shouldn't have an influence in my life but they do and because of that I've been worrying like crazy. This past weekend I realized what I was doing and thought that I should do what I want. No one can live their live worrying about what everyone else thinks because in the end you're not going to be happy. So basically we should live our lives for ourselves because in the end you're the one who's gonna have to live it, not someone else...

SAT Practice Essay #2

I believe that schools should help students understand moral choices and social issues, but only to some extent.
When I think of the word moral choices, I think of problems like drugs and alcohol brought on by peer pressure. Social issues to me is defined as issues affecting our world today. One example of this is the war in Iraq.
It would help if part of a teacher's job was to educate students on the right beliefs but I also feel that some of the learning should be found out on their own. Teachers can tell a student that drugs are bad, but I don't think the child will learn the full extent of "bad" until they do it and are overcome with a truckload of its negative effects. I think that it is important that teachers educate students on what the school believes is good and bad but the student is the one who the decision is ultimately going to be up to.
I also believe that it is beneficial that students lean about current social issues. For example, the war in Iraq is not a popular subject between teenagers but if schools supported education on it, we can keep our youth aware of current issues. As an American citizen, I think that I should be responsible for knowing currest world issues. Although the war may not directly affect you, educating yourself will make you a better citizen. If, in schools, we were taught that sort of knowledge, I feel that it would be a better prep for the real world than quizzes and tests.
Lastly, I believe that schools should educate their students on moral and public issues that concern them, to benefit the students. This would better prepare the students for the real world than any other textbook could.

Lit Circle

For my job, i was to find out background information on the author and try and connect her experiences with the book. Barbara Kingsolver was born in Annapolis, Maryland but was raised in Kentucky. This is how she probably got the inspiration for the religious Price family. When she was young, her parents who were medical and public health workers ventured to the Congo. She lived there and took in the experiences that she uses to tell the story of the the American Price family living in Africa. Kingsolver uses her experiences to insert facts that make her story come to life.

Orleanna

Coming to _____________ after my stay at the Congo was such a relief. The weather is nice here unlike the scorching savanah sun. As i walked through the campus i also noticed the trash that cluttered such a beautiful place. Plastic bottles and wrappers were scattered among the greenery stunting its beauty. The students here seem as if they don't care that there's trash everywhere. I guess they've lived a privilaged life. I used to share their view until i stayed at the Congo and found out what work the people there had to endure everyday. But, I'm happy for them, especially the girls. Nathan disapproves of girls going to college saying that "it's like pouring water into shoes", but the girls here are driven and they're pursuing their dreams. I think that's a good thing because knowledge can take you places.

ok just a paragraph...if we have to revise i can because idk i don't think it came out too good...doing orleanna is hard...

Poisonwood #2

As my job as a musician I observed the language used in Genesis. One thing I noticed was that the author used language to bring out the characters. I observed that Ruth May talks in childish snetences and uses simpler speech. Leah on the other hnd, usually tlaks about how she respects her father and wants to be like him. Rachel, as I've seen is a typical tenager and talks about how bad the living in the Congo is. Lastly, Adah speaks with intelligence and silently observes what is happening around her. Commenting about what language flows, the first few pages of genesis are the most descriptive and pleasing to the ear. Kingsolver describes the Congo jungle down to the veil of spider webs that Orleanna and her children needed to cross. This book is filled with brilliant, rich language and captures you from the beginning.

Elections

so, after reading susan's blog on elections i decided to post my own about the same topic. well, not many of you know but i'm running for the position of senator this year. Per grade, there are 3 senators and this year only 4 are running for these positions. One thing ive noticed is that the person who wins usually has a fun personality and makes a good entertaining speech. Basically, student elections are a popularity contest though and it doesnt matter if you say you worked ______ amount of carnival hours or are getting straight As or that you can handle the job. It all comes down to who votes for you. I think that is a bad thing about student elections because its mostly based on how many friends you have. Almost no one carefully looks at the canidates and from their speeches decides who would be the most worthy of the job. I think this needs to change and there must be other qualifications to run...idk thats just what i think...im probably just rambling on about totally irrelevant things....ok....
-alysha

Poisonwood Bible: Musician

Ok so for our literature 8 groups, i am the musician. For my job i am to find phrases that flow well or are pleasing to the ear...I asked Mr. Watson and he told me that i should find phrases as well as describe what kind of voice the author uses for different characters. So far i'm still in the process of finishing up genesis but i have noticed that some characters have different ways of speaking. It might actually be a little hard finding good phrases because the author is such a good writer that mostly everything sounds good...well i will post my second one on this a little later....
♥alysha

Reviewing SAT Essays

Our assignment was to read and evaluate 4 people's SAT essays for about 3 minutes each. The purpose of this was for us to understand how our own essays will be graded. From trying to determine a grade on these papers i realized that as an evaluator there is so little time for you to really think this through. I would definetly get bored if i had to sit in a room for hours and read multiple essays about the same topic. I personally liked it when people added examples that i could relate to because i think it made their point stronger. Also Mr. Watson talked about how adding voice can make your essay stick out and be remembered, so it would be refreshing just to hear some personality in the writing instead of monotone examples after examples.
<3alysha

SAT Practice Essay

I believe that in today's world, the media can determine what is important to people.
When watching a simple television program, commercials advertise idea's and products that the media thinks is important. For instance, there are many hair care and facial items being show. Advertising makeup and other beauty products gives the viewer the idea that appearance is very important to our society. People buy these products to fit in with America's values.
Another example of media controlling the importance of things is in the news or tabloids. While everyone is reading the latest magazine with the scoop on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, not many are getting educated with what's really important, the ware in Iraq. Nowadays, people find it more important to know what happened to Meredith on the latest Grey's Anatomy episode, than what's happening around the world. The media's advertising can make people think the wrong things are important.
The media controlling everyone's thought's applies to most people but not all. There are different kinds of media that advertise different things. CNN broadcastsnews about political and global issues, while Entertainment tonight tell watchers about news in Hollywood. People have choices on what kind of media to watch or listen to so it can also be up to the public to decide whether they'd rather tune into a boring broadcast of CNN or exciting gossip on Entertainment Tonight.
I think that the media does have a say in what's important but the choice is ultimately yours whether you want to listen to their ideas.

Location Passage

Imagine a place, quiet and clean where many hardworking students come and go. Some sleeping on blue, worn-with-age couches, praying to catch up on their sleep they missed from studying all night. The well-lit room assists kids sitting at tables, focused on nothing but finishing their math homework. Then imagine, sitting at a corner table, a bunch of guys and two girls sitting amongst the studying students. One girl spills out her problems to a boy content on listening to her while the rest of the guys joke around about video games. Although this area is reserved for studying, these people are here because they find comfort in place where they can just relax with friends and forget about the hectic school life outside.

So...this is nothing like what Barbara Kingsolver wrote but i tried...if anyone has suggestions they may comment....i might add more...well i will probably have to add more because this is a very rough draft...arghh its soo short...so i'll probably take some pictures on monday at school and put them up monday night maybe...
-alysha

Essential questions reflection

ok so looking back at my posts...i dont think ive gotten very far in my essential questions....they may have changed actually to something that i've been wondering...ive noticed that at our age we should be having fun and being normal carefree teenagers, but at punahou, i can see that mostly everyone takes things too seriously. From grades to relationships we take things like a B- is going to harm our chances of getting into college and soon after ruining our whole life (yeah i do not think like that...i would actually be celebrating for that grade in math) anyways, maybe it's the environment that we're put in at punahou. our school is highly competitive and every single one of the students here is talented in their own way. i might post more on this later....well that's all for now....
-alysha

This I Believe (Final)

random

i was talking to my friend the other night and he told me that there are 2 times wen youre really happy...wen you don't have feeling (romatically) toward any1 and youre just sorta enjoying life with friends etc...and wen youre in love...i think i agree with that because when youre not in a relationship or are hung up over liking someone then youre free to just have fun and not take life too seriously...i didnt realize how fun it was just to chill out and hang with friends until recently...but i also agree with him on the fact that being in love is one of the greatest feelings of all...when youre in love youre basically always happy...idk thats just my opinion...k so this is kinda random i may post other things later....
-alysha

:(

As most of us know, this weekend on the boat trip, Mr. Johnson passed away. When i heard this news i was sad because although i've never had him as a teacher my friend's have and when they talked to him he seemed like such a nice guy. Punahou is really going to miss him and i wish his family the best. I know that he'll be in our prayers and our hearts. I don't know if i have the right to be writing this because i personally didn't know him but i feel that anyone in the Punahou family deserves to be recognized. We will miss you!
-alysha

This I Believe

k so for my this i believe, i think i want to do something dealing with doing things for the wrong reasons. If it's not what you want then you won't be happy. For example giving into peer pressure or doing what your parents want you to do isn't going to leave you satisfied in the long run. My next idea would be dealing with labels. People are always being judged by what kind of clothes they wear or music that they listen to. Lastly i might examine the word love and if we really can tell if we're in love. How do we know that it's real? Comments are welcome....

Essential Questions

So i not sure what i should write so i'll just post my ideas for some of my own essential questions...

the usuals:

-what kind of world is this?

-how are we supposed to live in this world?

Mine:

-how do you know when youre in love/what really is true love?

-is a person who does a ton of community service for the wrong reasons doing more good than a person who does only a little for the right?

sorri thats all i could think of at the moment....

Labels

Why is it that nowadays no one really looks at what clothes really look like but what label they have on it. I have a friend who loves ruehl because she thinks it's "made nicely". Well idk in my opinion abercrombie, hollister, and ruehl things are over priced. I dont own anything from ruehl because i think its just too expensive. abercrombie and hollister are ok but the only thing i'll buy are the t-shirts or jackets beause i think theyre more worth it than the super thin spaghetti strap tops there. I think people are too concerned with name brands. I buy what i think is nice not just because it has a moose embroidered on the corner. Our focus on name brands is kind of worse due to the fact that we have dress code. Dress code only allows us to have our own knee length pants, jackets and jewelry. Because of this, people splurge on buying many pairs of 7 for all mankind, citizens of humanity, and frankie b jeans. These jeans cost at least $100. Then there are the various ruehl, hollister and abercrombie jackets. And of course the many kinds of tiffany's jewelry that adorn almost every girl on campus (except me lol). I think we all just pay too much attention to labels and having clothes that display your wealth.

This i Believe Reflection

For homework, I reviewed three "this i believe" articles dealing with the broad category of love.
1. The Power of Love To Transform and Heal
2. People Who Love You When No One Else Will
3. Faithfulness
After reading all three, i realized that love can become a part of your life in so many ways. In the power of love, a woman adopts a child from asia who was abused and scarred for the six years of his life that he had been living. The orphanage owners quickly dropped the boy off in her custody and sped off only bothering to tell her his favorite thing was noodles. He put up a fight for a little six year old, but throughout his tantrums that night, she held him close. She showed him love when he seemed not to show her any in return. He was terrified of his change in environment and was confused. She constantly showed compassion towards the poor little boy and four years later he is in the fourth grade. He's now a smart, hard working, and happy child, all because of the love he was shown.
The second essay involved a woman who as a 15 year old was taken in by her best friend's family. She could have been treated like an outsider but her new family welcomed her with open arms and treated her like their own daughter. Since her real dad couldn't handle taking care of her and her mom had died, she always thought that the only person she could rely on was herself. Without her friend's family's unconditional love she would've turned into a lonely self dependant woman. But she is now a woman touched by the power of love.
The third essay was about a woman's faithfulness to her husband in jail. Her husbad was convicted of a terrible crime and instead of running from it, she stood by his side through the court hearings, and jail time. She visits her husband often and calls him and never once has she thought of leaving him. He really needs her and she believes in the definition of marriage and that nothing can tear them apart. Without the love she has shown her husband in his time of need, he may have given up hope and lost faith in turning his life around.
These three essays taught me that giving love unconditionally always creates good things. These people gave or were given love and it stayed with them forever. Connecting this to the singer solution and water buffalo, instead of giving away as much money as you can to the unfortunate, simple acts of kindness can go much farther. When you show love it's like a chain that keeps going and if you do one good deed to another person, chances are they will want to do more.

Water Buffalo

For our homework, we were asked to watch the short movie "4 Generations", and juxtapose it with the Singer solution essay. After viewing the short film, I realized that if I were to ever help out overseas, I would want to do what Robert Thompson did in his film instead of what Peter Singer suggested. Singer's thoughts were to give all the money you could to others who needed it more, while Robert Thompson chose to do a simple but truly wonderful act upon a needy family. The 4 generations video sent out a message opposing Singer's, which was that sometimes you can do more good with a simple act of kindness rather than excessive donating. Robert Thompson's team was connected to the family in a more personal way because they themselves bought the gift and presented it. Americans reading Singer's essay on the other hand may consider themselves good Samaritans just because they type in their credit card number once a month on a random poverty site. This helps but in a less personal way. It takes less effort to give some money to a website than it is to actually pick out a gift and deliver it to a chosen family/person. This impersonal way of giving money for others reminded me of the book Woman Warrior. (yeah idk how i still remember that) Well, i forget who but one lady's husband lived in America as a rich doctor, while she lived in China collecting a monthly envelope full of money from him. He didn't bother to tell her that he had gotten remarried and that he tried as hard as he could to distance himself from his Chinese heritage. He thought that he was doing a good thing by just sending money to her, but what she really needed was to talk to him. Simply sending money isn't always the most thoughtful way of aiding poverty. If i had the choice, i'd chose a less expensive and more personal way of giving.

Singer's Solution to World Poverty

In his essay, Peter Singer raised quite a few interesting and original analogies to the poverty that our world has at hand. The line that struck me the most was a question about two given situations..."In the end, what is the ethical distinction between a Brazilian who sells a homeless child to organ peddlers and an American who already has a TV and upgrades to a better one-knowing that the money could be donated to an organization that would use it to save the lives of kids in need?" Obviously most everyone say that the Brazilian is ethically wrong because a life is being lost due to that decision. But, as Singer investigates the scenario, he reasons that the American has the money and the opportunity to use it but choses not to. The middle-class citizen instead is sitting back enjoying his new television ignoring the needs of others. Because of their decision, even though they're not witnessing it, children across the world die because they lack the money for even a bit of food. This told me that we are all at fault in some way for what's happening around the world. Instead of purchasing my cherry chocolate cellphone, my family could've donated the money. But this point draws us to Singer's other point that addresses the question "Are you therefore obliged to keep giving until you have nothing left? At what point can you stop?" Well, all a person really needs to survive is food/drink, shelter, healthcare, and in this world, education. Does that mean that as long as my family has enough to eat and drink, a shelter to live under, can support eachother financially if we become ill, and keep sending me to school, the rest of our money should go to others? As you can see, this is an impossible thing to ask of the average American citizen. We have all gotten used to checking out myspaces on our laptops and looking for new songs on itunes for our ipod nanos. Peter Singer's solution is an interesting one but in this current world as I see it, it is impossible.

Introduction (first post)

Hey! this is Alysha and this is my commonplace blog for english...i'm unsure of what my essential question will be so i'm looking at different ideas that i drew from my brain box. btw using a blog for english is so much more fun than writing it in a journal ;)
♥Alysha