A Book Review by Mia C.

Eat, Pray Love is a funny, witty and attentive grabbing book.

When writer Liz survives a horrifically difficult and exhausting divorce and her love affair ends badly, she decides to take a year of travel in search of the best of everything across Italy, India and Indonesia.

Italy is famous for its food, India is famous for its devotional prayer and practice, and Indonesia is famous for love and the balance of all things.

Following the many foreign adventures she undertakes made me not only yet again dream of moving to Italy, but it gave me insight into the wonders of Indian and Indonesian cultures which I found to be fascinating.

One of the best components of this book is the fact that it’s a true story. I love the fact that the author actually went to all of the places in the book.

For example, the country that has the best pizza in the world is Italy. In Italy, the small village of Naples is famous for making the best pizza in Italy. In Naples there is one, small, crowded pizzeria that makes the best pizza in Naples.

Therefore, by transitive property, doesn’t that pizzeria make the best pizza in the whole world?

This book is chalk full of humor and innocence like eating the best pizza in the world; or the author’s eyes “burning as the pant size sky rocketed even higher”.

This book offers a nice contrast to have I have recently read; because the author happens not to be a stressed, shallow teenage girl whose life is dominated by the fact she’s a) anorexic or b) is in love with a guy who is dating the “most popular girl in school”.

The author is, in fact, a full grown woman who had real issues and real loves and meaningful thoughts. Liz Gilbert (who is the author and the main character) has a much more complex emotional life and mind than the main character of Confessions of a Not It Girl.

Liz, as a flawed human, is so much more likable and easy to relate to. I especially love her self talk, when you’re not sure if “you” and “your mind” are actually separate or are the same thing.

For example:

Me: Okay, we’re going to mediate now. Let’s draw attention to our breath and focus on the mantra. Oh manah shiva.

Mind: I can help you with this, you know!

Me: Okay, good. I need your help; let’s go. Oh manah shiva.

Mind: I can help you think of really nice meditative images. Oh! Here’s a good one: Imagine you’re on a temple on an isle! And the isle is in the ocean!

Me: Oh, that is a nice image.

Mind: Thanks, I thought it up myself.

Eat, Pray, Love is the kind of book to curl up reading on a rainy day; because it brings a little brightness into your life.

The dialogue is witty and delightful and the characters are completely believable and lovable. Richard from Texas; whom the author calls her “Big Texan Guru” is probably my favorite character of all.

Richard is the kind of person who asked God to give him a sign that his heart was open; and ironically, he ended up having open heart surgery. His heart opened up very wide indeed.

Another thing I love about this book is how this year is only a segment in Liz Gilbert’s life. Eat, Pray, Love was written so well that I was breathless to find out what she did after her adventurous year of world travel.

In fact, I even googled her to find what she does now. (She leads an intriguing life, by the way.) This book was merely a segment in her life.

I wished the book could go on forever with its insights on foreign culture and religion and love. I usually don’t read memoirs, because often memoirs are dry and written in a monotone that drones on forever; stretching across the pages until the blessed day when the book ends.

Sadly, this book ended too fast for me. Like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Eat, Pray, Love is endearing and witty. Compared to Memoirs of a Geisha, the character is just as genuine and affable.

I would rate this book a ‘9’ because I found it to be such a joy to read. It was funny, lighthearted and truly profound.

Eat, Pray, Love was rich in all different types of experiences; from eating the best pizza in the world to talking to Richard from Texas to speaking “American” on a beach in Indonesia.

I wish I could more books that have the same aura and the opportunity to witness character growth as in Eat, Pray, Love.

A Word of Thanks From Mr. Scot

Can't let the Semester go by without a special "Shout Out" to the classroom aides that have made the blog possible this semester....Mia and Luc. Thanks for all your work!

...now get back to work.

The Culturally Shocking Silence by Chelsea O.

I was invited a few months ago to attend a Mediation and Yoga conference promoting world peace. It was very serene, hidden in one of the most beautiful locations known to my eyes, Santa Cruz, California.

Santa Cruz is located in the Northern area of the coastal state and basically anywhere you go in Santa Cruz you'd have a perfect view of the ocean.

My mother and I are rather cacophonous people, so entering into this peaceful resort rather startled us. The resort was a little nook tucked within the rows and folds of perfect forestland.

Our car pulled up with terrible screeches and exhaustion from climbing uphill for about 15 miles. It was 5:30am and the biting cold weather was no bit refreshing.

Some people who attended the retreat were natives to the area and actively went to the events at the retreat location, and others came from out of state to experience something new and different that was my mother and I.

I haven’t done anything similar to that in my entire life so it was shocking how some people handled the situation.

We had activities daily present at such as “mediation sits” and yoga classes. The mediation was so intense for my inexperienced mother and myself! The main idea is to sit cross-legged for long periods of time and to concentrate solely on your breathing.

I have to admit at first I was staring at the clock, counting the seconds go by until the end of the practice. My legs couldn’t stay in the same position for long, and my head couldn’t stand the silence.

Obviously our generation young depends so tremendously on technology and when that resource is taken away, nothing is entertaining- especially not something as simple as your breathing.

My fellow meditaters looked simple and pretty friendly as I made eye contact with a few while passing through the corridor, because of course we had to refrain from sound.

My mother and I did break that rule because we weren't accustom to the practice of silence at all times.

On the breaks between lessons and such there was free time to just walk about the property. It seemed to have dozens of acres of pure beautifully tall trees.

It was fall so leaves covered the forest floor. It was then that my true meditative state came about.

The mixture of the breeze flowing through the trees and the rush of sunshine pouring into my body, and spirit, made myself seem completely content, and somewhat silenced.

Experiencing something so complex at a young age is helpful if you ever plan on achieving it in the future.

The exposure to the Hindu and Buddhist culture really helped me to evaluate what is spiritually available in this lifetime. I wouldn’t of had that experience any other way.

The Outsiders Rewrite Laurel G.

Weekly Focus

I walked through the front door to hear the phone ringing obnoxiously.

Breathing a string of curse words to nobody in particular, I set down the grocery bags that swallowed my arms and ran to get the phone.

I answered it somewhat rudely, I have to admit, only hearing an official sounding voice tell me that his name was Dr. Crastal, and that my son was in the hospital with a serious fire injury.

“Son?”

“Johnny Cade? I’m sorry, do I have the wrong number?” He replied apologetically.

“Oh, Johnny. What about him? What kind of stupid trouble has he gotten into now?” I replied with absolutely no hint of emotion.

Johnny had always been a dumb kid, hanging around with those dumb hoodlums every second of his life. He must have gotten jumped again.

Not too long ago, Johnny had been jumped by a bunch of kids. It seemed to have emotionally scarred him.

He was always moping around, afraid of his own shadow. I could honestly care less. Maybe if he had done something with his life, and just happened to get beat up for cash on the street, then I might have some sympathy.

But Johnny deserved what he’d gotten.

“It’s actually quite a long story, but we have Johnny here in the hospital with severe burns and other very serious injuries. He-”

“Ha. What did he do, light himself on fire with a cigarette? What a stupid kid.”

“Ma’am, I don’t think you’re really understanding how serious your sons condition is. We are talking possible death here.

He ran into a burning church to save the children that were inside. It was an extremely heroic thing to do, but he just didn’t get out fast enough. He is unconscious, and has been since we brought him in.”

“Alright fine. I guess I’ll be there, oh, tomorrow afternoon? That sound alright to you?”

“Mrs. Cade, your son is in critical condition. We honestly don’t know how long he’ll be with us. It’s best for you to come as soon as possible,” The doctor replied, shocked at the fact that I wasn’t already rushing out the door.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Crastal, but I am just a little bit busy trying come up with the rent and trying to support my family, and that is as soon as possible. So I will see you tomorrow afternoon. Good Day,” I replied, annoyed.

Maybe Johnny was actually stupider than I thought. Saving children from a burning building? Pah! I’d believe that he had turned into Godzilla and destroyed Tokyo before I believe that.

My son was not a hero. He was a no good hood that couldn’t go a week without getting in trouble with the fuzz.

I walked across the kitchen to grab a notepad and a pen, and then sat down at the cluttered coffee table and began to write.

Johnny,

I don’t believe your story about saving children, o try a new one. Honestly Johnny, why can’t you just be a good kid?

Out of all the problems you’ve caused your father and I since the day you were born, this is by far the worst. Do you have any idea what hospital bills are these days?

Prepare yourself to be hungry for months after this is all over. Why can’t you be like that sweet boy Bob who stops by the 7-11 every Tuesday for a coke with his friends? You don’t see him getting into any trouble.

You don’t see him killing anyone, or getting arrested. After all the trouble we went through to give you food and shelter, this is what we get? You stupid hood.

From Mom

The next day was a hard day at the 7-11. I came so close to getting fired because I almost let some kid get away after he tried to walk out with half the store stuffed down his pants.

I was drowsy; too many sleeping pills last night. Today was the day I was seeing Johnny at the hospital. I was planning to just give him a good old dirty look and hand him the note. When I got to the hospital, they made me wait outside while they got the current visitors out.

Who would be visiting my no good boy?

It was those damn greasers. They walked out looking solemn, but their expressions changed immediately when thy saw me.

I tried to remember their names. I knew the smaller on was named horse boy or something dumb like that, but I couldn’t remember the name of the other boy.

They glared at me with such hate that I felt a serious need to take care of them right there and then, but there was no way I would get away with that in the middle of the hospital. I began to complain.

“I have the right to see him! He is my son! After all the trouble his father and I have gone to raise him, this is our reward! He’d rather see those no count hoodlums than his own folks?”

An Audience Letter to a Friend

Dear Other Half!

I can’t believe you’re moving to Africa for three years!!!!!! Not only Africa but Sudan. I’m sooooo worried about you, you better not get hurt or I’ll hurt you worse! Every one says that Sudan is a horrible place to be, yet you reassure me that your going to the “safe” part of Sudan. I’ve done so much research on it that I know that there is no safe place. I think of how you and your family are going to be missionaries and help people. But, that’s not surprising because that’s just the kind of person you’ve always been.

I think back over the past nine years and I can’t stop from tearing up. I think about all the great times we had together.

I remember how in 1^st grade Ms. Lisa called me, you, and Samantha a threesome because we never were away from each other. We would be best friends one day and then be fighting the next. Together we were the stars of our soccer team and we would run to your house after practice every night.

Then in 3^rd grade we were the pet feeders and we got Elijah to teach us how to do the splits. We were always talking about how when we grew up we were going to be professional best friends. I would always go to your house and we would eat noodles with butter because that was the best meal ever for the next three years. We would play with Molly in that ditch behind your house, now it’s not yours anymore. We would always play Frogger on your computer and your brother would beat us every single time.

Then at the end of 3^rd grade we got in a fight, I don’t even remember what it was about. We didn’t talk for almost a year. When I think of how I let myself grow apart from you I feel like slapping myself.

Then in 5^th grade we were friends again. We stayed friends all the way through 7^th grade, but in the past year we have gotten close again. The thing that I will never ever ever forget about you in a million years is that you were always a great friend even if I was a total bitch. You always were there and listened when I needed you.

I LOVE YOU Kassie, I always will. I’ll miss you every second of every day and send you emails every day until I see you again.

I’ll miss you forever,

Josey

Hmm. Perhaps 6th Graders Should Go Back to Elemntary School?

Dear Editor,
I am responding to the article written on whether or not 6th grade should go back to elementary school.

I believe that 6th grade should remain in middle school as it is, and I have several reasons to support this. First of all, having 6th grade in middle school gives students more time to prepare for what is ahead.

High school would be more difficult for kid students if they had one less year to prepare for the complications of high school and college.

Also, if sixth graders go back to elementary school, there will be a better chance of conflict. First graders might get pushed around a lot, and the sixth graders would not like being stuck with a bunch of younger kids.

They might harm or tease the younger kids. If sixth graders were to go back to elementary school, that would mean that many teachers would have to move schools, or even lose their jobs.

This would not be good, because it is so difficult to get a job due to the current economy.
For half of my sixth grade year, I was in elementary school and I absolutely hated it.

All of my friends at other schools were talking to me about their lockers, their different classes, and everything else that’s exciting about middle school.

I felt very immature and lame to be stuck with younger kids instead of going to middle school.
My last reason is that kids get bored with the same old setting.

The transition from elementary to middle school is a much needed change of scenery for kids. Being in the same old school for six years can really bore a child, and then grades could suffer.

If kids are bored and unexcited with what they’re doing, they will stop trying.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that sixth graders should remain in middle school.

Sincerely,


Laurel

Another Disappointment to Twilight Saga Fans

Many young adults, males and females, are most likely eagerly waiting for November 21st. The date is coming and many calendars are marked so that the fans won't forget (which is not likely).

I am referring to the much anticipated Twilight. Last year word got out that Summit Entertainment would be producing the film, instead of Paramount Pictures because the screenplay would have been changed if Paramount had made it.
Many young adults, even adults, have been waiting patiently since the first of the book saga came out for the film.
Twilight sucked in its the readers and made them all fall in love with the leading character, Edward Cullen. He is described to be a prodigiously vampire of 17.

This is where the casting had gone wrong. Robert Pattinson well known for playing Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter: The Goblet of Fire in Twilight he is Edward Cullen.

Many would back me up when I say that I am profoundly disappointed.
I waited to be in love with the actor portraying Edward.

What may have made this better is if they had made an unknown actor be Edward because most Twilight saga fans have read the Harry Potter series, which may makes the viewers still think of Cedric, not Edward.

Many die hard fans of the saga would also notice that in the movie trailer where Bella tells Edward that she knows what he is, the scene is not taken in the Forrest. This scene most certainly occurred in the silver Volvo when Edward (like many times before) saved Bella in Port Angeles.

This is very piteous! When you expect a book to made into a movie, it unquestionably has to be like the book. Many fans have read the book so many times that they have memorized it.

Well to be even pickier, in the exact same trailer when Bella is in the parking lot at school and is about to be hit by the mini van, Edward's shoulder was supposed to save her.

It was his shoulder because he is suppose to be not entirely embracing her but in a protecting position. When his hand is out, there is still a chance of her getting hurt, and knowing Edward, he would never let Bella get hurt.

Lastly, there are the Nomad vampires who the Cullens (Edward's whole family) come upon when they are playing a baseball game. In a different trailer, they have that police officers are looking into the murder of some people by some sort of animal.

They have the baseball scene perfect, amazingly, but they added some unnecessary material. The Nomad vampires were hunting but did not catch any attention that was recorded in Twilight.

We must take into consideration that many of us at least got what we wanted, a visual to Twilight. Also many trailers aren't shown in the movie, so maybe some parts are just throwing off fans for fun, because how could they get anything wrong?

Meyer was right on scene making sure it went along to plot during filming. All we can do is wait till November 21st, 12 a.m.

A Take On Twilight by Valeria

Hey Yalana, you'd never guess what! I just saw the newest trailer for Twilight and I am just like very very unhappy.
Grrr! Seriously, did they not know that Edward Cullen was supposed to be utterly gorgeous? That guy (Señor McUglyFace) looks like a Señor McUglyFace!
Seriously, don't you think they should have gotten a handsome random guy instead of someone who was already in a like BIG movie you know?
Harry Potter is what is was called. Well Mallory and I were thinking of going to the midnight showing like during the summer but now, I'm just like
"No." GAH! This kind of stuff gets me so mad!
(Hey my tummy is hurting A LOT right now L) Like well, he has a sort of Birtish accent right? Cuz, HP is British right?
Well anyways, I'm pretty sure that Edward is not British, then again since he lives forever he could like go to England live there for a while and learn to have an accent.
That just isn't a possibillity.
And Bella! WTFP (flip phone, good language is keyJ)? I imagined her so different from the book's description!
I bet everyone else who read this book thought of her differently too.
And watching the trailer she does a horrible impersonation of Bella.
Yes I guess it's hard to make an impersonation of someone who isn't a person, but the characteristics are written in black and white.
Unless you got a book where the words are color, different colors, then they'd be written in colors and more colors.
And dude, have you read Breaking Dawn? Seriously, Stephanie Meyer is putting this stuff out, as in the book and movie, and they are just crap.
Like (ok I know I'm making a lot of referalls to HP but hey I'm a nerd) in HP#5 it like didn't go along with the story at all.
This is just going to be like the book, something people are gonna stay up till 12 a.m. to get then just be uber disappointed.

A Study on Courtesy by Carmen K.

As a student in middle school, it is rare to hear the words please or thank you. It has become apparent that teenagers of modern times don’t believe etiquette is an essential aspect of everyday life.
I have attempted to count the number of polite words or phrases being used in a middle school and was shocked by the outcome.
During the entire day, I would go out of my way to receive the reply from a compliment, holding the door, or getting bumped into. The outcome was three instances where the known polite words or phrases (please, thank you, you’re welcome, excuse me) were used.

I purposely was trying to do everything in my power to receive these phrases of courtesy, but was unfortunately not given them. I complimented my teachers in several periods, but was shocked to not even be recognized to have said anything that should be responded to.

These teachers must be accepting manners displayed by the students and after many years of teaching have tolerated and began to show the same decency.

During the lunch passing period, I held one of the double doors open that lead to the hallway that was the direction to the cafeteria. In my efforts to receive some form of statistics, I continued to hold the door for over five minutes.

Within that time span, there was only two “Thank you”s said and about sixty-five teenagers walking through. It was obvious that the door wasn’t light and I certainly desired to go to lunch as much as the next person, but no one even made the slightest gesture as to take the door themselves.

I can’t help but wonder if this form of behavior will only get better or worse. The last courtesy word was spoken because a young girl was in desperate need of the restroom.

She finally said, “PLEASE” because she realized that was the only edict she’d be successful in using to reach her requested destination.

The question that I ponder about is, will teenagers be successful in the future having no common knowledge of how to be courteous or will they fail to get jobs and have prosperous lives? Should etiquette be taught in schools or is it the responsibility of the parents or even use common sense?

With the challenges being faced by the United States as a whole, maybe there isn’t any time to spare on teaching our youth manners and we have just accepted this form of attitude about being polite.

There is option to rely on the future to bring common etiquette, but without the past giving the future a push to educate their children with courtesy, will there ever be the proper assumption that manners matter?

More Scheduling Arguments by Brain B.

All of us should seriously consider making P.E. in the 8th grade a requirement, instead of typing, and computers.

Physical education is a favorite activity for many students and not having P.E. in the eighth grade may help students in various ways. Some of these ways maybe helping kids focus in the classroom and enjoy school more than they do.

One way physical education will help children out in the average school day is they have a chance to get their energy out. They only have about 30 minutes of recreation time anyway, and most of it is spent retrieving and consuming lunch.

With P.E. in the eighth grade kids will not be as energetic in the classroom setting and will be able to focus better on their work. Also it makes the average school day more exciting for the average they would be allowed to play with friends or even make new friends.

Another good thing about adding physical education to the eighth grade list of required classes is students will learn further about the principles, of teamwork, and sportsmanship, which they will use extensively in their adult life.

Also another reason for physical education to be required for the eighth grade is it will help kids keep in shape. Without P.E. in the eighth grade many students may not want to play sports or be active, which can lead to many things.

One of them obesity without physical activity kids will gain weight which in the long run can be very unhealthy. Also if they do not exercise, children may become out of shape and may not have a very good chance of making after-school physical activities.


P.E. teaches kids how to exercise safely in a controlled environment so they learn how to exercise properly on their own without injuring themselves. Physical education can be taken as an elective, but very few students take it as it means that a student might give up their elective.

Kids would be giving up things like art, band, orchestra, drama, or other electives?
Those are the reasons that the school board should seriously consider this issue.

They don’t even have to require it for all the schools they could test it and if it works consider the idea for more schools. Adding 8th grade P.E. will help better the learning environment for students in many ways mentally and physically.

Schools should seriously consider this proposal in the near future.

Tim's All Too True Take on Homework

Homework: A JMS Student’s Shocking Reality
by Tim C.

Almost every day, middle school students come home from a lengthy day at school with an excessive amount of work that they must complete. In addition, teachers are using the class time they posses to have their students work on the extensive assignments they issue for class work.
Handouts for students to complete at home tend to be practice work from the daily class work.

Students should be spending around 70 minutes a night on homework. However, some students have to stretch that time into a few hours a night. While this is not consistent for the entire school year, there are periods of time in which this occurs. Some students in classes obviously do not require the homework that becomes tedious for them.


There are other schools in Albuquerque that have a daily schedule that permits students to complete the majority of their homework in the class it was assigned. This is because class periods are longer than those at Jefferson Middle School. Thus the diligent students who finish the class assignments have additional time in the class, which they use to finish the homework.

Aside from extended class periods students can take advantage of the time for lunch.
The lunch period at JMS is 30 minutes long give or take. A longer lunch period would amount to about a full hour in length. If students would not like to have homework when they travel home, they have sufficient time to eat and tackle assignments which they could not complete in a class period. With longer amounts of time in class and at lunch, students could reduce the amount of work they have to worry about, when they arrive home.


We must at least consider the advantages of making drastic changes to school schedules. Students would have time to finish their homework in class and therefore have more time outside of class. With this time, students could participate in practice for sports and/or music lessons, without having to worry about fitting a night’s worth of homework into their schedule.


There may also be positive effects on student attitudes. Without the fear of getting more homework, causing them to dread the next school day students may wish to attend school and possibly even enjoy the day. Students may then be more willing to work in the classroom and socialize with the other students.


In the long-term, students who would not do their homework may eventually see the light and change their motives in the classroom and maybe even themselves altogether. We could also see a decrease in the drop out rate of high school graduates in New Mexico. Students who would otherwise not engage in extracurricular activities may even be compelled to do so.


The proposals above offer ways to improve schooling in New Mexico. Homework is an issue in some schools that must be dealt with.

Daily Trivia

'Tis the time for Thanksgiving, so here is some trivia with a Thanksgiving theme:

You know how Thanksgiving is called "The All American Holiday"? Actually, there are seven more nations that have an official Thanksgiving day. They are: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Liberia, and Switzerland.

I'm not sure if they all eat turkey, however.......

A Review of Juno by Mia C.

A Movie to Watch with Your Kids

Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, and Jennifer Garner; Juno has become a hit movie amongst everyone. A satirical piece on a teenage girl becoming pregnant, Ellen Page (who plays Juno) has touched the hearts of millions with her witty, off beat humor. The acting is fantastic, as well as the extraordinary script.
Throughout the movie I was captivated in the plot and laughing hysterically. Every sentence was crafted carefully and stylishly, to keep viewers enthralled for the whole two hours. This movie is just as witty and wonderful as Diablo Cody’s Thank You for Smoking.

Juno is not only written well, but has a bite to it that always makes a movie unique and brilliant. What makes this movie so great is the fact that we’re dealing with a serious issue which affects millions of teenagers every year. Yet here is this movie, starring a pregnant teenager who goes through with the pregnancy and gives her child to a woman who desperately wanted to be a mother. However, the movie gives you the feeling that being pregnant didn’t change Juno’s life. It was as if she just kept up her personality and her social life and hanging out with her friends. She didn’t let the fact she was pregnant get in the way of anything.

When the baby was finally born, only then did the impact of her decisions really sink in. Only then do you really realize the importance of being pregnant. It was heart breaking to see Juno cry at the end after giving away her baby to a woman who was ready to have one.

The only thing that I would change is how the movie makers portrayed being a pregnant teen in such a positive light. They romanticized this issue to such a degree, that it actually felt favorable to be a pregnant sixteen years-old. I just hope that this would not influence or encourage teens to become pregnant because of this movie. There were many messages in this movie, but I think one of the strongest was the message of love.

Juno showed that is possible to love someone no matter what they look like. If they are the right person for you; then you have to be forgiving, and love them anyway. For example, Juno’s father loved Juno to pieces, even though she slipped up and got pregnant. To really love someone, you have to love them through all of their hard times, too.

The creators of Juno did a phenomenal job. The acting was superb, the characters were completely endearing and down to earth; the plot was utterly fantastic and the message of love and friendship was strong. I found this movie to be one of the best in 2007.

Letter to The Journal

Letter to Albuquerque Journal

by Claire C.

Being the common theatre go-er that I am had to see at least one play for the passed Halloween. As it turned out, my luck fell rock bottom, considering I chose the seemingly worst play I could've chosen. I landed at UNM, in Rodey theatre, with a program and high expectations.

This happened to be a surprisingly mediocre "abstract" version of Frankenstein. Frankenstein was a short and bald, pot-bellied man whose voice reminded me of a pre-pubescent cartoon character. He was not in the slightest fitting the profile of a pitiable man whose life has been destroyed. The only thing I could bring myself to pity him for, much less any of the other actors and actresses, was for being cast in such a pitiful play. He reminded me of a pervert you'd see laying under bus stop benches.

The play began with several mangy looking women, howling and twitching like a coyotes in the midst of a terrible seizure. This neither intimidated nor scared me. The trauma was that of the poor women's voices! Their screaming hurt my voice just to listen. These actresses obviously had no experience in theatre screaming, and I'm positive they'd lost their voices by the end of the run.

Then there was a deluge of feverish scenes consisting of actresses who were sometimes dead, and sometimes not, but always the same character. I was completely unable to discern the plot of the story and would have been completely lost if I had not already known the plot of the story.

Frankenstein's sister, Elizabeth, scared me deeply. Not for her character, but for her real-life sanity. This woman belonged in an interpretative dance studio, and not a college theatre. She was constantly dancing, making it extremely hard to concentrate on the overly dramatic lines the two were constantly spewing out of their mouths. At one point in time, after bluntly stating that another character in the play wanted to kill her brother, she made a gesture as if she was decapitating him herself. This caused the entire audience to burst into a series of muffled giggles, myself included.

As if this weren't enough, this version of the play was corrupted by amounts of incest between the two. Frankenstein and Elizabeth were to end up married. This aspect threw off my entire perspective on the couple's relationship, which confused me further!

The most perplexing thing in the entire play was the placement of costume designer jobs. I was bewildered by the design of Frankenstein's creation's costume. This was a white spandex jumpsuit. The spandex was obviously too small, and exposing, for the actor. He wore white six-inch platform laced boots that could only remind me of a disco dance. His entrance also caused a sudden eruption of snickering. And during the second act, his second entrance was even more obtuse. His once blank white spandex was covered with jewels and ornate hand made designs. He wore a cape. It can only be described as Liberace. And it was repulsive.

The only useful object in this play was the sound design. It created a relentless pattern in my mind, always setting the mood and reminding me of the intensity of this play. The down side to that is the ever-present 2-platform sounds played in the background. It was always sad music or high-tension music, but there was no calm. No median, and never silence. This left me annoyed and continuously humming the two tunes days after the performance. So, as you can see, the only upside has been canceled out by an equally important down side. The cast and crew managed to ruin every part of this play, be it acting, sound, costume, and plot. I am extremely disturbed that such people can call themselves actors, much less theatre folk, if they can not put on a decent, classic play. Frankenstein is one of the easier plays, and was extremely disturbing to see fail in a college level theatre.

Sorry For the Downtime, We've Been Busy

Mr. Scot made us install Microsoft Office on all these laptops because he is evil and controlled by the Microsoft Corporation to do the bidding of the ultimate evil....Bill Gates. So we haven't been able to post to this blog for almost a week now.

We feel bad about that, but not as bad as Mr. Scot does. He feels so bad he is typing this post to tell you how bad he feels, and that he also feels bad for saying that Bill Gates is the ultimate evil, especially since we know that he is only assistant to the ultimate evil, and a lowly assistant at that. And Microsoft Office is a lovely product and now Jefferson has a site license for it, so we really need to stop slamming it and how awful it is and how it's really awful that the whole world is seemingly in thrall to this buggy, RAM-hogging software program.

So we're stopping. No more Microsoft bashing here. And Bill Gates really isn't even an assistant to the ultimate evil. Angelina Jolie doesn't need an assistant.

We kid, of course. We're joking. What a bunch of kidders we are. But we're not kidding when we say we're going to start posting plenty of new "lit blog" pieces in upcoming days, especially now that evil Mr. Scot has assigned a "creative writing" assignment that has led to several great students writing some really great short pieces on subjects ranging from penguin attacks to meditation.

Look for those in upcoming days. And again, we're sorry. Especially Mr. Scot.

Post Baby Post!

Hello Jefferson students if you find some thing you think is cool or funny or might just be good on the blog please send it to jettrailsjms@gmail.com.

The Painter, post 2 by Mia

Th rain drummed outside. Cool and calming, a never ending symphony of tiny, water droplets fell onto already wet pavement. The air was tangy and delicious with rain. I closed my eyes. I was so exhausted, but even now I felt a dull happiness. My painting of Ocean hung on the wall, my latest break through in my path of art discovery. She look tranquil and beautiful. It reminded me a bit of the paintings in Italy, though not nearly as good. My breathed deeply, feeling the muscles of my flex and relax with every breath.
The phone rang shrilly and annoyingly. I waited to see if anyone would pick it up, but of course, my mom was waiting for me to pick it up. Therefore, I had no choice. I ran into the living room, full of it's colorful chairs and oddities.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me."
"Oh, hey Mandi."
"Hey, can I come over?"
"Ummmm...Sure. I think."
"Okay, good. I'm in your driveway."
I sighed. "Do you always drive somewhere before you ask if it's okay if you come?"
"Totally. See you in a sec."
I hung up. "Mom! Is it okay if Mandi comes over?"
I waited fro the response. "YEAH!" My mom shouted back. She was deep in architectural thought. "Is she here?" My mom asked.
"She's Mandi, of course she's already here."
"That girl needs to learn how to--"
But just then, the door burst open to reveal a completely different Mandi than the one I had known.

Progress Reports

Well hello, progress reports are coming out soon and you know what that means, miss prints^-^. Every single time we get cards saying report card and then we get freaked out and then people say no it is just a progress report. What is wrong with the system even when we get report cards they say progress reports. I personally think that it is a conspiracy to see if we notice thing so that the administration can take control of our minds. And I have proof, the text books we have are dull and tedious which, in turn makes us dull and tedious. When we have become so compliant with everything the administration will rule the earth. But remember this is just a theory. Hope you got good grades and see you later Jets.

A Review of a Review by Mia

The Phantom of the Opera is the tragic tale of a love triangle taking place in the center of France, in the Paris Opera House. This book leaves the reader just wanting to read more as the story progress and develops into the classic tale of love, reality and illusion that has captured the hearts of readers since 1911.

This book has been qualified as a A-list book because of the fact it has captured hundreds, maybe millions, of people's hearts, not to mention the movies that have been made out of it. This simple telling of a tragic love triangle has caught the valuable attention of the public and has stayed alive due to the fact that it had good details about life and not have happened just then, but still happens today and will always happen until humans go extinct.

Everyone will feel love, despair, and cheated on at some point of their lives....

The report is much longer, but I have graciously cut out the other three pages. This is one of the best book reviews I have ever read. It is not only in a sense poetic, but really makes you want to grab a copy of The Phantom of the Opera RIGHT NOW. I have never read the book, but I have seen the latest movie remake of the book. I really dislike the movie of the "Phantom of the Opera".

In fact, I don't like the whole idea of a young dancer and singer being hypnotized by a phantom who lives under a opera and then who leaves him for her childhood love. But after reading this report by a student who wants to remain anonymous, I actually wanted to give The Phantom of the Opera a second chance. That is sign of a powerful piece of writing. This type of power is what people strive to get across, and rarely do. So well done, student X!

Mia

A Review of a Beowulf Review

Beowulf is a book written sometime in the seventh century and the tenth century A.D. The original poem was written in old English , or Anglo-Saxon. I think Beowulf is an A-list book for two reasons. First the book is about 1,000 years old. It has been described as being the beginning of English poetry.

Second Beowulf is the 'epic poem of England.' Two man eating monsters are killed, as well as a dragon, all by the hero of the story. I think in a way that the hero of the story, Beowulf, is a little bit of a 'superhero' type. The land of the Southern Danes has been under threat from a man eating monster named Grendel. For many years, the king, Hrothgar, has been under torment from this monster, and nobody seems to be able to kill I, though the book never mentions anyone trying. Then from over the sea, from the land of Geats ( modern day Southern Sweden,) comes a mighty warrior.

He singlehandedly kills Grendel (without the use of weapons), and even Grendel's mother....

Student "X" does a good job telling us about the story, but I feel like I am hearing a summary of the book. I don't know what they liked about it that is not plot other than the reasons that they gave to justify it being an A-list book. But other than that this was a great review and I do admit that this is not the whole review. I also acknowledge that it is easier to be cynical than it is to like something, as Mr. Scot has stated.

Did You See The Post Before This One?!?

You should really read the short fiction piece posted below. I'm a Literature teacher, and I know what I'm talking about. In fact, not only should you read it, but you should consider sending in a piece of your own, oh Jefferson MS student.

You never know if a "famous literary agent" might be reading this blog. A "famous agent" with a checkbook, armed and ready to sign hot, new authors. Really. It could happen.

Scot Key
Literary "Blog" Manager Emeritus (a self-created title)

The Painter by Mia

I blew gently in the smeared powder on the page. The fine, chalky vibrant color lay think on the page. I backed up to examine what I have done so far. My model is perfect, the light making her fair complexion look creamy and soft.

The blue shirt is bright and fuzzy. It goes so perfectly with her blue eyes. I am a artist, and Ocean, my model, is my one of my best friends. I think when she was born, her parent's saw those big, swimming blue eyes and knew there was no way that their babies name could be anything but Ocean. Because Ocean's eye's were, obviously, the exact shade of the blue the sea.

Ocean's mom was a model, and I guess the photogenic awesomeness of being a model passed onto her incredibly beautiful daughter. I say this from a artist's point of view, of course.
"Are you done yet?" She asked. I felt sorry for her. She's had to sit that way for two hours.

"Photo shoots never take this long."

"That's because this isn't a photo shoot. Real art takes time."

I forgot to mention, Ocean's a model for some famous French magazine, so she goes out of country a lot for her oh so precious photo shoots. Man, with gas prices as high as they are, she's lucky the magazine pays for her to fly out to France. "I'm almost done!" I assured her. She groaned.

I added red highlights to her hair, and cast a slightly blue shadow under her chin, because the light reflects the blue of her shirt upwards. I was glad it was fall, because the fall light is really bright, but cold. In winter, the natural light is too dark and cold to do any really cool paintings. So the spring, fall and summer are the best times to do model drawings; especially in Ocean's case. Her skin had a very warm, spring tone.

I closed my eyes, they burned from looking so hard for so long. My back hurt, despite the ugly but comfortable "croc" shoes. My arms and fingers were covered in pastel dust, so it was impossible not to get anything dirty.

"Okay," I said. "I'm done."

Happy Guy Fawkes Day

Remember, remember the Fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, twas his intent to blow up the King and Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below, poor old England, ready to blow. But by God's providence, he was catch'd with burning candle and flaming match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring. Holloa boys, holloa boys, god save the king.

Happy November the fifth to day a man named Guy Fawkes tried to blow up The British Parliament. So every year the people of England burn a of him to celebrate his failure.

Election day

Election day is tomorrow! So, here's a small amount of election trivia:
There was more early voting this year than ALL the voting four years ago. ( That includes early voting and the actual November 4th voting.)
The economy benefits from the campaign because of all the thousands employed making campaign advertisements, signs, and T-shirts.
Make sure to vote!!!!!!

All Hollows Eve

The holiday Halloween comes from a centuries old holiday known as Samhain. Samhain is the end of the year in some religions, and the time when the vale which separates the spirit world and the world of reality grows thin. The reason that people dress up in masks is to blend in with the spirits that pass through the vale. The reason for this is the living wish to converse with the dead. The tradition of giving treats is like what they do on Day of the Dead. They puts the treats out for the dead. Oh, one more tidbit of info the day after Halloween is All Saints Day; the Roman Catholic Church moved it from May to November the 1st to try to counter act the pagan holiday.

Happy Halloween!

Hey everyone! Halloween is tomorrow, of course. It's too bad that comapnies made it into what it is today, full of blood and gore and skittles. Because, Halloween used to be a time where the dead could be with the living. It was kind of like a twisted family reunion. Anyway, happy Halloween!

The Film Crew -_-

So the film crew is here. Yippee. So what is going to happen to all the people not chosen as extras? Well, let me count the ways: we can't go near the trailers, we can't go down some hallways, we must change our schedule to help Jakie Chan, oh, and last but defiantly not least, STAY AWAY FROM THE ACTORS. Well, Jets, this is going to be a fun couple of days so bring you running shows and get a map, because thing only go down from here.

An Election to Remember

Remember remember the 4th of November the cheese campaigns a plots, I know of no reason why the lip stick and treason should ever be for.

Birds by Mia

The feathers of the crows are glossy and black.
In the sun they glimmer subtly.
They swoop, the sharp beaks nearly
as piercing as their eyes. I feel as if
they are watching me. Through the
glass of the window, I feel their
penetrating stare. They come and go.
Every once in a while pure white birds
fly along with the black birds. The
contrast in striking. I wish I could
soar with them, up into a world
unknown to me. Flying high, into
the cool sea of blue we call the sky.

Daily Trivia

Most lipstick contains fish scales. Yum.

Ah, lipstick. Lipstick is so wonderful. But, would you like to know what is often in lipstick? Fish scales. Yum, right?

Useless Soda Fact

Ever seen a 7UP coke can? If you have, you'll notice the red dot. This red dot is the eye ofthe inventor of 7UP. He was albino. A little creepy, huh?

Wicked book review by Ali

Wicked is the story of Elphaba, who by some strange twists of fate is born with green skin. This girl, who has a terrible childhood, grows up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West.
Capital letters play an important role in Wicked. In the story there are two types of animals. There are animals and Animals. Animals can talk and are capable of deeper thought; animals are regular beasts that we know. Through the story Elphaba is fighting for Animal rights. This is one aspect of the story that makes it a classic tale. Elphaba could be fighting for the rights of any group of people, things or any morals. People will always think that something is wrong with their society and want to fight to change that aspect of it.

Halloween Trivia

The first Jack-o-Lanterns were made out of what?

Choose Your Answer:
1)Watermelons 2) Coconuts 3) Turnips 4) Pumkins

Correct answer: Turnips

Thy Daily Trivia

Who ran for President of the United States with the campaign slogan "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage"?

Choose Your Answer: A: William McKinley, B: Woodrow Wilson, C: Herbert Hoover , D: Calvin Coolidge

Correct answer' Revooh Trebreh

Book Report by Mia

The book I read this time around was called The Nature of Jade, by Deb Caletti. I believe this jewel of a novel is one of the best books I have ever read. Set in Washington State, the heroine of the story is the ever so lovable Jade, an eighteen year old girl who was diagnosed with panic disorder and has a dysfunctional family. Jade’s mother, who cannot get her own life; shadows Jade’s every move in a highly annoying fashion. In the other hand, her father is so sports obsessed he cannot think of anything else. Then of course, there is Jade’s adorable little brother, Oliver, who cannot possibly escape their father’s sports madness when he would really rather be reading his Narnia books. With her illness, Jade is never able to relax. But all that changed when Jade sees “red jacket boy” at the zoo on her bedroom webcam looking at the elephants.

Read More Here

Daily Trivia

What singer is known as the "Empress of the Blues"?

Choose Your Answer: A: Bessie Smith, B: Ma Rainey, C: Etta James, D: Dinah Washington

Answer (written backwards, Da Vinchi style) Htims Eisseb

Ocean by Mia

Balmy and sweet, the air swirls in salty currents.
The trees sway, the red flowers merely black
outlines against a brillliantly orange, pink and
purple sky. The sun sets farther beneath the
mountains, and the car turns. Then it is there.
Its vast expanise goes go forever in a silvery glow.
The ocean is black now, but the moon highlights
the waves. I close my eyes. I am home.

Trivia.....

7) What is the tallest mountain in the world?

Choose Your Answer: A: Aconcagua, B: Qogir, C: Mount Kilimjaro, D: Mount Everest

Answer:(this is spelled backwards...) Tsereve Tnuom

Sarah Palin Flow Chart

• Vice Presidential Debate
  
  
  
  
• Sarah Palin
  
  
  
  

An image making the rounds among Democrats (the site behind it, adennak.com, is down, but here is a Daily Kos diary on it): ...

An image making the rounds among Democrats (the site behind it, adennak.com, is down, but here is a Daily Kos diary on it): ...

Obama Flow Chart

• profile
  
• sign out
  

---

The Stock Market

All I see is all that's there,
the falling lines and points,
the pain of our dieing assets,
but the powers that be,
gave them all that money,
but we're the ones going down hill.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a great monument. The domes and towers are spectacular. It is remarkable the King of India made this palace for his wife, Shah Jahan, out of love. The palace was a mere gift to her to show how much he loved her.

Time 3

So finally I have posted three times and still none of you have posted back. This really bugs me that it has taken you this long to do nothing. But this brings but a question, and that question is time linear. Is the future always in the future. Please comment on this topic and I will answer any questions you have.

Unwritten Words, post three

I was sitting inside a small, bright cafe. It was surprisingly warm, and the red chair I was seated in was velvety. I held a cup of bon chocala in my hand. Hot chocolate. I still couldn't believe what I had done. It felt weird to be sitting here in this chattering warm room full of the steamy smells of hot milk and chocolate. Looking, rather curiously at a guy whom I had ran into on a street. I don't know why agreed to go get hot chocolate. I feel stupid right now. I guess something felt safe about Orlando. I guess I just followed that instinct that he was okay. Maybe is was one of those subconscious things that my mom always talked about.
"So, you are American?" Orlando asked.
I jumped. I had zoned out again. " Yeah, I'm a Junior on college. What about you?"
"I live here," Orlando said slowly. " I work in the vine yards with my dad. For now, anyway. I'm studying photography and science."
"Really? I'm majoring in writing."
"Really?"
I knew then I had found someone worth keeping.

Time 2

Ah time because none of you bothered to answer my question about what is time. I will give you one of the most accepted answers. Time is a measurement of how something changes. So if you watch a flower open then you are experiencing time. Speaking of flowers there is a clock that tells time with flowers. The clock uses different flowers that open at different times in the day. There is also a spice clock. It came before clocks could lite up you would smell or taste the time.

Time

Ah, Thursday the day before Friday. But what is it really other than a measurement of time? Well, drifting away from Thursday I ask you what is time? If you choose to answer this question in the comments box, describe time without a clock. Without something to measure time. How does it work? In Einsteins Theory of Relativity, Einstein says that time is relative. This means time is different for all of us. This has been scientifically proven. Scientists have set two clocks to the identical time and put clock one on a plane then fly it around the world. When the plane comes back to where it began, the clocks have a different time on them. The clock one on the plane will be behind the clock two that was stationary. This is because the faster you go the slower the time that effects you .
Tomorrow I will continue to talk about the strange phenomenon of a thing called time.

Hello Jets today is October first and this blog has been running for almost 2 months and you have not sent us anything. Zip nada nil so send us something we need it. This is a blog for the students, but you need to help. So email your art, poems, or stories to jettrailsjms@gamil.com.

Useless Fact Of the Day

Your useless fact for 10/1 is,
there is a snail who has its rectum running through its heart.

Useless Fact

Your useless fact for 9/29is,
we only use 10% of our brain if we used 100% we would be so smart. But the trade of is everyone would die really really early about 20 years of age. The human race would die out.

Intelligent Design and Why I Don't Like It!

From now on I shall refer to intelligent design as I.D. because I don't like to dignify it with a name. So I.D. say every thing was created and design by on "Intelligent being".( Yes we know your talking about god you don't need to hide it.) Well people such as Dr. Behe a very respectable scientist say that things that are so complex in nature they could not have been created by natural selection. Well why not, something is to complex for your little brain to comprehend that god must have done it. So does I.D. have any so called proof. Oh what, they do,I just walked into that one. So one example that is used for I.D. is the microbial flagellum. Simple to some but it's is so advanced, it has approximately 45 different proteins to make it into a little motor. Well the I.D. crowd says."If we don't understand it then our answer is an intelligent being(God) did it." That is so simple, but hay wait a minute that sounds like Medieval science to me. But why should you listen to the ravings of a lunatic namely me. Well I'll tell you why because I'm right every signal time. This is possible because I like many other sane people trust science.


P.S. If I offended you I'm sorry this is just a dramatized opinion.

Unwritten Words, post two

I had just turned the corner onto the street where Hotel Azzi was located when a figure ran into me at full speed. The next thing I knew I was on the ground, sputtering, shocked, wet and looking up into a face I didn't know. I could tell, even though it was dark, the figure looked surprised to see me.
"Sorry! I didn't see you. Oh-jeez sorry! I'm so clumsy and in a hurry it didn't register---" I interrupted him in Italian.
"No, it's fine." I stood up. My butt was completely soaked and frozen in the grimy water from the street. Oh god. How embarrassing. I quickly wiped my hands on my thighs. I turned to go, hoping he wouldn't notice how wet I was. But he held out his hand and smiled.
"I'm Orlando. Nice to meet you."
" Yeah right, you stupid Italian bozo." I felt like saying. But I didn't.
"I'm Claire." I shook his hand, and a warmth passed through me. Something I had never felt before.
"Do you like hot chocolate?" Orlando asked.

Useless Fact Of the Day

Your useless fact for 9/26 is,
your finger nails grow faster on your dominant hand because you use it more.

Unwritten Words by M.J.

The streets of Italy are glossy and dark. The cobblestones reflect the Christmas lights strung above the houses on the clothes line. Italian cigarettes lay forgotten and wet in the gullies, and the air smells sweet and sharp. It is the mixture between cold air and old, Italian stones. The language floats to me as the glass door of La Bella opens. So lyrical and fluid. It is most beautiful sound that exists.
I walk quickly.
It is so cold here and none of the buildings are heated. In fact, Azzi hotel (the hotel I am currently staying at) opens the windows in December; for the rain sneaks into the walls and makes them rot. "Noi bisogno tu ottenere aria flusso!" We need to get the air flowing. I don't mind really. I love Italy. I love the cold as long as I have adequate clothes to bundle up in.
I'm an exchange student here in Fiorenze. The city where the Renaissance began. I have always felt somehow attached to this city. Everything about it seems part of me. I came here the first time when I was seven; the second time when I was eleven. It seems so long ago, looking back. The life I've lead seems so long ago. So much has change. My sister is married and has two kids now. My brother is married, too. I am not, thankfully married yet. In fact, I'm a junior in college. For years I would long to come here again. I would dream about Italy. I would cry when I couldn't stand the longing to rush onto a plane to Italy. Italy, particularly Florence feels like home. It is as if my soul resides there. So desperately I rushed through high school to get here. Now that I am, I only feel relief. My classes in art, science and literature don't start for three more weeks. But, following my mother's advice, I came early to explore. She herself had gone off the France in her Junior year of college.
It is when I am thinking these thoughts that the moment that changed my life took place.

Useless Fact of The Day

Your useless fact for 9/25 is,
98%of our DNA is not associated with making any kind of enzyme or protein for our body.

Snow by M.J.

The crystal spheres fall gently and unhurried onto a already
sparkling blanket of snow. Its so magical. The untouched cool
white that hasn't been imprinted with footprints. Its so quite,
as if waiting patiently for something. Waiting in its
sharp and sweet manner. So cold and pure. So simple
in such a beautiful way. Snow, on a Winter's day.


Written by M.J.

News!

NEWS!!
If you look to left of the page you will find a increasing number of links to other blogs by middle schools from all over the country. Even though they are marked as "educational" blogs; there is actually a lot of cool stuff on them. So check them out! Also Jets, we really need more of your poems, short stories and artwork to post. PLEASE email your stuff to jettrailsjms@gmail.com or give your artwork to Mr. Scot in room 114. Tell your friends about it, too.

Useless Fact

Your useless fact for 9/24 is,
If you are good at sports you probably lie, a lot. You are lying to yourself, you may tell yourself "I can do this" right before a big sports meet. This is lying, you don't know if you actually can do it, so therefore it qualifies as a lie. Also people who have depression tend to see the world for what it really is, because they don't lie to themselves . By not "lying" to themselves (which translates to your own self talk) they become depressed. To find more information on this intriguing topic, download a podcast called "Radio Lab".

Pay Attention!

Okay people, if you look to the left of your screen you will see a link to the New York Times online site. You should really read the news! Anyway, with all this "Depression" rumors and Wall Street blow up, you may want to pay attention. It's getting exciting.....

Useless Fact

Your useless fact for 9/23 is,
If we did not have beer we would not have soda. When water is placed over fermenting beer is becomes carbonated, That how soda came to be.

Tis' Now Offically Fall

As of 9:45 am, on September 22, we are no longer in Summer! Wow, who knew you could be so accurate as to the minuet it turns to Fall, cool, huh?

Fall At Last

Ah summer how great it is, but move over fall is here. What is not great about fall people make money by raking leaves, the temperature is not too hot but not too cold. But lets not forget All Hallows even that is the best Autumn holiday there is. Now I know some of yo will disagree with this but I'm right, so enjoy this wonderful season as it roles by.

Useless Fact

Your useless fact for 9/22 is:
In Belgium there are two languages spoken, which are French and Flemish. Don't get in a shouting match with a Felm; you will wish you hadn't.

Useless Fact

Your useless fact for 9/19,
If you compare our lives to the whole time humans have been on this earth our time amounts to about one fifth of a second.

M.J.'s satire on Sarah Palin......

In the history of the world, women have never had a huge role in politics. Not until recently were women even allowed to vote. Now, we have had women all over the world who have become presidents; but oddly enough, not here in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. In this election, things have changed. We had Hillary Clinton, a truly amazing woman run for president. Now, we have Governor Sarah Palin. At first, many Americans were rather skeptical at John McCain's picks of vice president. After all, Governor Palin is a mother of five children, has no real experience with foreign policy what so ever, and was quoted last month What does a vice president do anyway?
But, you know, I find it extremely inspirational that Sarah Palin has taken such a role in politics. After all, she seems like a regular woman; one of us. With an unwed, pregnant, seventeen year old daughter and a five month old baby with Down syndrome; Palin has been able to leave her children and pursue her career for America. Governor Palin makes me, and I'm sure other people, feel like I can be the next vice president of America with only a journalism degree.


Read the rest here.


(p.s., just so everyone is informed, M.J. despises Sarah Palin......)

Sage's AWESOME satire on Sarah Palin....

Today, just hours ago, Sarah Palin confessed to something so unreal, many people are still in denial. So shocking, that some have committed suicide. So incredible, that the smartest man on earth, George W. Bush, even had a hard time taking in the news. Wait, it has just been brought to my attention that George W. Bush is actually a chimpanzee, so scratch the last comment about him being the smartest of mankind. So incredible, that the smartest chimpanzee on earth, George W. Bush, even had a hard time taking in the news. During her final speech on November 21st, after the presidency was given to Barack Obama, Sarah Palin confessed to being a man.

Read the rest here.

Carmen's "Tag Your Tots"

“Tag your Tots” immediately makes you think about putting labels on your tater tots at Burger King. Instead this deceitful title is referring to a new program that law enforcers have created “keeping your children safe.” This plan makes finding your child, after being kidnapped, much easier and efficient.
The State Fair is loaded with creeps, people ready to eat your “tots.” Law enforcers can now easily return children to their parents after they left their poor children alone at the State Fair. Why would any family want to leave their child at the State Fair? To get kidnapped, duh.

Fernanda F. On The Baby Saved By Disposable Diapers

Disposable Diaper Saves Baby!

A diaper saved a 2 month old baby's life! While his parents were in the living room looking the other way, this baby crawled out of his crib, out of his room, onto the couch (in the living room), and jumped through the window.

After this happened he caught onto one of the 100 sharpened and very dangerous spikes on the side of the apartment wall. Then his diaper opened and the baby slowly fell down ten stories down, and onto the ground like an angel.

“It was an incredible miracle” says the officer, who was just down the block eating doughnuts when the incident happened. “I don’t understand why we’re not ALL wearing these diapers to save us from anything,” he said. “Why didn’t we think of this sooner?” The U.S. president said with anger. “I don’t know why, but I could’ve used this at the war in Iraq!”

Want to read more? Read it here.

Trivia for the Day:

In 2001, there were more than 300 banana accidents in Britain. Sad, though comically, most were due to slipping on the skins....


Crazy, huh?

Public Schools

Weekly focus by: Brian B.
Public schools have tons of problems; gang violence, drugs, not enough creativity in students, and a lack of discipline. Teachers cannot even touch a student without getting sued. For example, kids could be killing each other and all a teacher could do is yell and give them lunch detention. We need to find a solution to the problem other then giving children lunch detention, or letting them go home after being suspended so they can watch T.V. all day while their parents are at work. We need to find another solution to this problem other then letting uncaring parents let them do whatever they want without a little bit of discipline. We need to find another solution then simple oral punishment which can be easily ignored. We need to do something about this now!
Read more here.