I am not Esther

I am not Esther Quiz:

1.  where does Kirby's mom go?
2.  where does Kirby go to live after her mom leaves?
3. which child at the Pilgrim house is Esther's favorite?
4. who ran away from the Pilgrim family?
5. where are they when they see Mariam?
6. what do they name Aunt Naomi's baby?
7. what illness does Kirby's mom have in the end?
8. who is the suspicious visitor at the door?
9. where do the children go when they do something really bad?
10. who does Kirby/Esther run away with?

Three themes of the book:

        One of the big themes in this book is that you need to be yourself. Kirby Greenland is a girl who likes to have fun and is confident in her self in the beginning of the novel, but at the end she is starting to wonder who she is. When she is named "Esther," she starts acting and talking like "Esther" would, and she stops knowing who she is, or who she wants to be. And in the end when she is back to Kirby, she starts to miss Esther and wants to talk and act like her again. She can't decide, and the main theme of this book is to be yourself.
       Anther of the important themes is that everyone needs to be loved. In the Pilgrim house, Uncle Caleb calls his wife "Wife," and his children "Child," and their household lacks love for each other. when Kirby does something bad, she is sent to the discipline room to study and be quiet for a whole day. When Naomi is sick, nobody cries or seems sad. Nobody is loved, and Esther/Kirby is the one who needs the most love, but who is getting none.
          The last theme of the book is family is important. When Kirby's mom leaves, Kirby has to go stay with her horrible uncle, Uncle Caleb, who doesn't really believe that family is important. The whole Pilgrim family doesn't really care about family, like when Zillah was very sick and Aunt Naomi was sick as well, the Pilgrims didn't cry or appear to be sad. Esther/Kirby needed a family. When her brother showed up, she is happy because she realizes that she has a family other than the horrible Pilgrims. 
  

Al Jazeera News!

EU launches Google investigation

The company could be fined up to 10 per cent of its revenue, a sum that could total billions of dollars. European Unions are going to investigate if Google has abused its dominant position in the online search market. This will be the first big major injury to Google's business. One of the complaints is that: "it pales next to hundreds of billions of dollars of other companies' revenues that Google controls indirectly through its search results and sponsored links," Says a British guy.

     To see the whole article, click here: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/11/201011301541530892.html

Al Jazeera News!

Many killed in Morocco rains

    At least 30 people have been killed in Morroco because of bad rain and floods. 24 of these people were killed on a bus on Tuesday. The bus fell into a flooded river ad many lost their lives. "The bus fell into a ravine because of the heavy rain," said a police man. A little girl drowned because she was trying to cross a bridge. Another man drowned in the north of the country and seven other people because they were swept away by a river. 


 To see the rest of this article, click here: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/11/20101130135637853788.html

Al Jazeera

         Kyrgyzstan's glaciers are melting at an alarming rate and according to scientists this is because of global warming. Experts say that Kyrgyzstan and neighboring states will have devastation to their local ecosystems and the effect on plants and on wildlife will be very bad. More than four percent of Kyrgyzstan is glaciers. About 90 percent of water in Kyrgyzstan rivers is from the glaciers. The flow of the water is very important to farmers and energy. This country is home to some rare animals, and the glaciers are their home. 


             

Al Jazeera News

Myanmar Refugees return home-

          Refugees who fled along Myanmar's border have been returning home slowly. Fighting between government groups and ethnic fighters made at least 20,000 people go to neighboring Thailand. On Tuesday the government said that the battles had ceased and refugees headed back to Myanmar. Gunfire continued until Monday afternoon. 


         I chose to write about this article because there were a couple of Obama articles on the website and everybody writes about Obama. I also liked this one because I have been to Myanmar and it was pretty cool. I also like doing the ones with videos because when I can read a story and watch a video I am less confused. 


     To see more, click here: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/201011915534116361.html


Cholera spreads to Haitian capital-


          At least 115 cases of cholera, a bad and often fatal disease, including the death of one person, are in Haiti's capital. It has spread from outlying areas to threaten hundreds of thousands of people. Samples from patients are being tested in a laboratory to confirm vibrio cholera bacteria, which has already killed at least 583 people in Haiti. It was first registered in Artibonite Valley where it has done most of it's damage.


         I chose to write about this article because I have been interested in Haiti ever since the big earthquake. It was also one of the big news stories of the week. It was important to me, and I thought that the class would like to know about it. 


       To see more, click here: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/11/2010118225019323724.html

Kick Me

        Kick Me
        
           In Paul Feig's Kick Me, the theme is that popularity isn't everything. Throughout the whole book of different stories, all Paul wants is to be popular and have friends and have a girlfriend. He tried to be popular but gets called names and gets made fun of. Even one of the bus drivers bully him. He wants to be cool, and then at the end of the story, he realizes that he can be whoever he wants. He can be happy dressed up as a girl or as an army elf or even afraid to get undressed in gym class. He excepts that he is a nerd and that he can be happy in the Garage Club. I really liked this book. 


            Paul Feig is the protagonist in Kick Me. Though there are many stories in this book, in each one of them Paul Feig  is the main character. He is the character who is in every story and the author is Paul Feig. All that he wants is to fit in and be popular. In every story he is a loser or a nerd and he wants friends and to be popular. He wants to fit in and not be called "Paul Fag" or "Fig Newton" anymore. In almost every story he wants to have a girlfriend. The antagonist is his school and peers. Their goal is to humiliate him and make him seem like more of a loser. In almost all of the stories his school and his peers are laughing at him and making fun of him and calling him "Fag" and "Fig Newton." Paul is sort of his own mentor because he keeps telling himself to ignore it and keep going. 
        
           The main character, Paul Feig, learns that being cool is not the most important thing ever. In most of the stories he is being pushed down and he wants power and popularity. In the last story of the book, he realizes that he doesn't need to have sex on prom and he can be happy riding go-carts with his nerdy friend.   He just needs his true friends and not the jocks or cheerleaders. He can be happy dressing like a girl or climbing ropes in the gym. 


        One of my favorite stories was called "My First and Bestest Girlfriend." This story was about Paul in second grade climbing the rope and getting the "Rope-feeling." The "Rope-feeling" is Paul masturbating. This was a very funny story that made me laugh out loud. Another story I really liked is the last one, titled: "The Last and Only Prom." This story was one of my favorites because in this story he asks out his crush Mary to the prom. Later he figures out that everyone gets laid on prom night. Then he is not so excited about going to prom with Mary because they are best friends and have been forever. It was good because he learns that he can have fun on prom night when he goes go-cart driving with his friend. Another one was when he went to the Christmas dance with Cathy. Cathy always was making out with her ex, and now Paul finally gets a chance. He asks her out and she comes down with a weird dress on and her hair is very strange. Then she throws up and eats a steak and onion rings. Then Paul really does not want to kiss her. I like this story because it was very ironic and funny. 


       I really enjoyed the book and I recommend it to whoever wants a good, funny and entertaining book. It's funny and entertaining with good stories that will make you laugh out loud! Paul Feig has a good sense of humor, and you will love this book!!

Parent Conferences

         When my parents meet Martha and Greg, I think they will say that I am a good student. I think they will say that I do not talk out a lot in lit. I think they will say I am their favorite student. Just kidding. I think they will show my parents the World Religion Exam. I also hope they will show them that I get my homework in every single time. I think they will say that I have improved in not chit-chatting in class. In Elementary when we would have side conversations the teachers just said, "Be quiet, if I can't hear you then it's okay." At the beginning of this year I would talk to my friends about irrelevant things not knowing how disrespectful I was being to my teachers. Now I try to wait until lunch or a break to joke and chat with my peers. I hope they will mention more good than bad things because I honestly think that I am a good student.

            I would like you to tell them that during study halls I really get working. At the beginning of the year, a study hall was just a time to talk to my friends. Now that we've gotten into the flow I know that I really have to get my work done during study halls. When people are talking I encourage them to be quiet and work. I also would like you to tell my parents that I am really liking writing. I would like you to show them my good tests, not my bad ones.

           I would not like you to show my parents my grammar test when I got a fifty-two. On that test I didn't actually know that we were having the test that day. I didn't study and I was not prepared. It was my own fault, but I should have studied and tried harder. I would also prefer if you didn't show them the first lit exam, because I failed that one. I don't think that a "B" is necessarily bad, but I certainly don't think it's good. I would also not like you to tell them that I don't talk much in lit. Sometimes I don't think I have good points or symbols and other people may have better things to say.

        

      

Al Jazeera NEWS

       Around 60 people have been killed in Karachi since Saturday. In the deadliest attack on Tuesday, at least 12 people were shot dead when six armed men on motorbikes opened fire in the market. Gunfights were ongoing in different parts of the city and had resulted in more deaths. Several others were injured and the death toll may rise as some of the wounded were in critical condition.

AL JAZEERA NEWS

Crews race to tackle Hungary spill

       

       Rescue crews are working to clear roads and homes after toxic red sludge swept over three Hungarian counties, killing four people and injuring 120. Hungary declared a state of emergency after thick red sludge burst from a reservoir at Ajkai Timfoldgyar Zrt metals plant in Ajka, in the country's southwest.

       There are fears that the pollution has already found its way into the Marcal River, which is connected to the Danube River, one of Europe's major waterways.

US says sorry for Pakistan deaths

        The US apologized for a recent helicopter attack that killed two Pakistani soldiers at an outpost near the Afghan border, saying the American pilots mistook the soldiers for Taliban fighters they were pursuing.

      "We extend our deepest apology to Pakistan and the families of the Frontier Scouts who were killed and injured," Anne Patterson, the US ambassador to Pakistan, said.

Twist

          

             The theme of "Twist" is that there's love in everyone, like the song "Love lies in everyone." In the beginning, you may not think some people have love in them, like Boston. In the beginning he just wants to sell Twist for a profit! He’s really mean to Della, and him and Lucious are going to be partners in crime. At the end of the story, Boston is finally nice and wants to keep Twist. And he didn’t know love could change a man like him.

         Della is a big mentor for Twist. She convinces him not to go with his evil uncle, Lucious, and tells him to believe in himself. She helped him to realize that family is more important than money. Even when they get offered a thousand dollars, Della will never ell Twist. He wants to live with Boston and Pistol and his friends in the Jewel Box. 

         The name twist represents dancing, like twist and shout. Twist’s father was the king of dancing, and when Twist has never danced before, he is great!       

             My favorite thing about the production was the dancing. It was so amazing! My favorite dancing scene was the scene in the orphanage when the boys were telling Twist about meat. The dancing was amazing, especially because it was done by kids. There were kids doing back-flips, cartwheels, leaps and so much more. I don’t know what I would change about this production, it was so good! If I had to change something, I would have a little more about why Twist is named Twist, because that was a little confusing.

Children Inspiring Hope Object

           I would like to send my small stuffed animal dog to the children in Ghana. I chose this item to send because when I was younger, it was one of my favorite stuffed animals. Dogs were my favorite animals when I was younger. They still are one of my favorite animals. I have three dogs  right now. This stuffed dog's name was Lucy. I would sleep with her each night, and sometimes we would have slumber parties. She was brown and white with cute little ears. She was very fast, when I would throw her across the room. She was very playful, when I would pretend she was a real live dog. Now that I don't play with her anymore, she sits on the yellow shelf in my bedroom. 
         
          To me, peace is everyone being happy. It is to have no war, and to have everyone laughing and singing. Peace is no war, and no fighting. Everyone is worry-free and there is no crime or murder. You will be able to breathe clean air because there will be no pollution. Everyone will be carefree having fun with each other. Children will be funning free, smiling and laughing together. 

           In sixth grade, I had heard many rumors about the Junior High. I had heard that we have six hours of homework! I had also heard that in one class the teacher had the guys line up the girls from prettiest to ugliest. I expected it do be a lot of work and a lot of emotional stuff. It's a lot more work than Jonny and Allan's class, but it's not too much to handle. I'm glad that the rumors aren't true.

        

        I like that we have a lot of freedom in the Junior High. Now I see Scott walking the sixth graders up for chorus! It's not even that far. I liked when we went to Atlantic Station, because you trusted us, and we had a lot of fun. I don't know what the worst thing in the junior High is yet. 

          

     I really like my teachers. We are mostly taught by Greg, but Martha is still cool. Olivia, for Spanish is a great teacher. She's so enthusiastic. I really like Che, he's very helpful and  a good teacher. Ali is a great math teacher because he really explains everything. Henry is a good art teacher because he's very good at art and he's willing to help everybody.

           

       Socially, I think I am having a good year. I have a lot of friends, and from a lot of different classes. I don't really have a best friend, but I have a lot of very good friends. I would like to get closer to the people in my class, because I will be in class with them for two years.                                                      

  

Childeren Inspiring Hope

  
      Two days ago, two women named Amy and Mimi came to talk to us about Children Inspiring Hope, A non-profit organization. Children all over the globe can send things to children in Ghana, and it really means a lot to them. Amy and Mimi have been doing this for four years, and they go twice a year. I really think this is good, because If I were a child in Ghana, I would be overjoyed to receive a present from a child somewhere else! I was really excited that we get to do this project, because I think it'll be kind of like a pen pal in Ghana.
    
     When I hear the word, "Peace," I think of no war, and everybody happy together. Singing and dancing and Laughing. And no fighting or sadness. No worries about anything.  I would like a peaceful planet,and we can start with this. I promote peace by trying to make things peaceful. Like stopping arguments and fights.
    
     I would like to create peace through non-violence, but I would also like to create peace through art. Nobody has really created peace through art before, but I could! I would like to because I love to do art like drawing and painting and also I could paint pictures  with peace on them, or something.
    
    For the students in Ghana, I would like to make a big art project. I love art, but also you can create peace through art. Besides creating peace art is super fun! Well to me at least. I really would like to make a big art project to send to the children of Ghana, because I think that they would really appreciate one.

 HELLO!!