Tradition

How could one justify killing someone just because they drew a card? The story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is about the barbarism people would do for the sake of tradition. An example would be the entire lottery overall. It is about stoning a person just because that they drew the wrong ticket, and the refusal to get rid of the practice because of tradition. "There always has been a lottery"

Old man Warner is one of the worst offenders of following tradition blindly. He is 77 years old, and every year there has been one. When he hears that another village plans to give up the lottery, he laughs and calls them a bunch of crazy fools. He calls young people stupid because they thought rationally. It was amazing back then that people would kill someone for the sake of tradition.

(Authors Note: This is a reading response from my book 'World War Z')

What happened in the cave with the terrorists? What was it that ripped them apart? "You could see by the blood trails, the shell casing, and pockmarks that the entire battle had originated from the infirmary,” Because of this, I know it was the infection. After reading a little farther, we know how much panic the people were in. “We discovered several cots, all bloody. At the end of the room we found a headless doctor, lying of the dirt floor next to a cot with soiled sheets and clothes and an old, left-footed , worn-out Nike high-top. The last tunnel we checked had collapsed from the use of a booby-trapped demolition charge. A hand was sticking out of the limestone, and was still moving.” The zombies escaped, and we know that they were not properly quarantined and will continue to infect other people.

Energy of the future

 Joey Fernandez

4/24/12

(Author's note: This is my science piece on energy from algae)

            Algae are commonly referred to as pond scum. People don’t think much of it.  Algae are plants that contain a high amount of natural oil. Researchers today are finding out that they can make biodiesel fuel from this oil, and that algae is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. It is being called “The ultimate in renewable energy” (Algae: ‘The ultimate in renewable energy’, 2008).  Being able to make a lot of oil in a short amount of time gives algae the potential to surpass crude oil and become one of the world’s largest energy producers.

            One of the best things about algae oil is that it is a very practical energy source. It is clean, so it won’t contribute to global warming. Algae are also very versatile; we can grow it almost anywhere in the world. It can be grown in almost any pond, but "A pond has a limited amount of surface area for solar absorption," (Algae: 'The ultimate in renewable energy', 2008). Algae oil is grown in vertical chambers for optimum solar absorption, so it not found, therefore it is a renewable resource. Algae oil is one of the few energy sources that is both clean, and efficient.

            Energy production isn’t the only use for algae. It can be used in a variety of ways. Algae are a food for many types of fish, but humans can eat it too. It is used commercially in many health care products. Algae also are a natural filter, so it is used to clean polluted bodies of water. Algae can get stop pollutants being used, and clean up the damage they already have done.

            It seems that algae oil is the perfect clean energy source, but right now it has one major flaw, it is very expensive. While you may think four dollars a gallon for gas is through the roof, algae oil costs about thirty dollars a gallon. Algae can grow anywhere, but the problem is harvesting it. Scientists haven’t yet found a way to do this cheap and efficiently. However, scientists project that they will keep coming up with technology to help with this problem. It will take another five to ten years until we can actually use algae oil as an energy source practically, but once we get around this problem, algae oil will be used as a very viable resource.

            Algae oil is a great idea and should defiantly be invested in. With all the big oil companies harming the environment, we need a source of clean energy that is reliable and practical. I think algae oil will be the answer or at least a key piece to solving the energy crisis. We may not use it now, but when the technology comes out; I believe algae will become one of the top energy sources.

           

Bibliography

Algae: 'The ultimate in renewable energy'. (2008, April 1). Retrieved April 20, 2012, from cnn: http://articles.cnn.com/2008-04-01/tech/algae.oil_1_algae-research-fossil-fuels-nrel/2?_s=PM:TECH

Bushwick, S. (2012, January 27). Micro-Bubbles Cut Cost of Algae-Derived Biofuel. Retrieved April 19, 2012, from scientificamerican: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=microbubbles-cut-cost-of-algae-deri-12-01-27

Marine algae seen as ideal biofuel source. (2012, April 3). Retrieved April 19, 2012, from UPI: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/04/03/Marine-algae-seen-as-ideal-biofuel-source/UPI-48521333493352/

Uses of Algae. (2007). Retrieved April 23, 2012, from Infoplease: http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0856558.html

Walton, M. (2008, April 1). Algae: 'The ultimate in renewable energy'. Retrieved April 2012, 2012, from CNN: http://articles.cnn.com/2008-04-01/tech/algae.oil_1_algae-research-fossil-fuels-nrel?_s=PM:TECH

Moods in writing pieces

Every writing piece ever written has a mood. Moods set the feeling and determine how the piece is read. People sometimes see moods differently when reading poems, but when music is added and poems become lyrics, the mood is much more defined. The mood is the part of the piece that people will never forget. All writing pieces are affected by the mood the author creates.

Many poems are light and happy, while others are dark and gloomy. The mood helps allows you to describe poems with adjectives with feeling. For example, some poems about cozy fires in a cabin in the middle of winter makes you feel warm or a rainy scene of people mourning over something makes you feel sad and cold. Without a mood, poems wouldn’t have any effect on anybody.

When poems are turned into songs, the most challenging part is finding the instrumental background. When songs are made, they want to reflect the mood on the pace and music. If a sad song about death, heartbreak, or failure had an upbeat tempo, it would make it seem that the song was happy, especially if the artist sang it fast and happy too. Moods are the most important part of a poem, and if it doesn’t match with everything else, the poem will seem very contradicting.

            Moods are the soul of any story. If a mood is changed, the story changes drastically. If The Giver had the mood of happy and worry free, it would be a much different book. The mood has the power to shape stories around them. Without a mood, there can’t be a connection between a reader and the book.

            Moods are the voice of the piece. They are the things that communicate feeling to the reader. Without moods, writing would be lifeless and easily forgettable. Each piece has their own unique mood. If this mood was changed, the piece changes drastically. I’m believe that the mood is the most influential part of any piece.

Poems and Songs

The first one sounds happy because of the tone of the instruments. It had a happy feel, even though the poem is about longing for something. The second song however, is very slow and sad. The instruments make it seem dark and gloomy. It is obvious that adding instruments can easily change the tone of a poem. The tone of a song can have the same effect as the lyrics itself.

Nuclear Energy

            What do you think of when you hear the term nuclear? War? Bombs? Destruction? It actually could be a clean and renewable energy that can sustain our country for a long time. Many people are against nuclear energy because of the possibility of an accident and fallout, but I believe America could use this resource to help lower the country’s dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels.

            When you see a nuclear power plant you think that it is hurting the environment because of the giant cooling tower with smoke coming out of it, but that “smoke’ is actually only vapor which is harmless. Nuclear waste is defiantly harmful, but the output of it is low, and can be properly contained. Ronald Regan even said “All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored under a desk.” We need uranium to make nuclear energy, but if our mining technologies continue to improve, our supply should last us roughly 60,000 more years. It is defiantly more reliable for the future that most other energy sources.

            Building nuclear power plants aren’t cheap, but the energy obtained from one will defiantly pay for itself over time. They are cheap to operate, and the energy they produce is cheaper than coal and other fossil fuels. Nuclear energy is basically using uranium to boil water cleanly and efficiently. It is simple idea and the energy output could compare to coal and oil if given the right resources.

            Nuclear energy has been deemed dangerous by the majority of the public.  People remember huge accidents like Chernobyl or Fukushima, and I agree that they were great tragedies. What you didn’t know was that for every person killed from nuclear energy, 4,000 more are killed from the production of coal. As long as regulations are kept, nuclear power plants are a safe place to work.

            Many clean energy sources are cheap and efficient, but don’t always produce a lot of energy. Nuclear energy could be used alongside other clean energy sources to for maximum effectiveness. In the future, nuclear energy should be used more to help ease the reliance on fossil fuels until the point we don’t need them anymore. Nuclear energy is the best choice for the number one energy source for a cleaner future.

 

(This piece is Taro speaking to Hana about her father. It ties into the book because it in the climax, Taro duels Lord Oda and ends up taking his life. He is speaking to Lord Oda's daughter. She realizes that her father was evil, but is still sad for losing the father she thought she knew.)

 I have killed

 Your father

While he was

Trying to kill you

You might have

Loved his good side

And he might have

Loved you

Forgive me

He was very evil

And very much

Better off dead

Stairs

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes tells us that life isn't going to be easy. It compares life to a staircase. Most of our lives aren't going to be decorated with frilly little strings and crystals, there will be patches in it where it seems there is no easy way through. This poem encourages us to keep climbing, even when times get tough, and sacrifices are needed to be made. The author teaches us this through a tough, but wise voice that can't be easily broken.  This piece inspires us to be courageous and to take life by the horns. It tells us to remember that there will be rough spots in life, but if we keep pushing through, it will get better.

Taro

   (Author's note: This piece is revised to be graded on word choice)        

            Taro was a peasant living in a small village in feudal Japan. He is small and fragile boy who’s skills with a bow is second nature. He hunts despite his village’s location on the giving, but unfriendly sea. One night, Taro finds a ninja committing cold blooded murder on his father, when another ninja appears from nowhere and saves him and his mother. This ninja is his guide on the path to his destiny.

            Taro is the protagonist in this novel. When other ninjas came to kill him, he gets severely injured. The ninja who saved him made the choice to quickly perform the ritual to make Taro a vampire. This gives him the strength like a bear with speed to match, and giving him a healing ability to survive almost anything. It is revealed that all ninja are vampires, and Taro is going to become one. He wonders why the ninjas attacked a meaningless peasant until he meets his guide’s friend, a ninja fortune teller. He was told, he was destined to be the next Shogun of Japan.

            Taro affects the people around him in many ways, however the people who are close to him have a way of getting into trouble. He is a good person and wants to save everybody who is in danger, when sometimes the smart thing to do is walk away. He is a friend to everybody he meets, and is destined to be the best Shogun Japan has ever seen.

The Giver Extended Ending

(Author’s note: This is an extended ending to the book The Giver)

Speeding down the snow covered hill, with Gabriel tucked close, Jonas finally skidded to a halt. He has reached his Elsewhere, where there is love and happiness. It took all of his strength to get off the sled and start limping into the town. Despite being numb with cold and starving to death, Jonas was happier that anyone in all of the memories he received. He could finally show Gabriel the hope the world really has to offer. Once he reached town square, he collapsed with exhaustion.

Jonas woke up, still feeling weary, but strangely not hungry any more. He was in a white bed with strange tubes attached to his arm. Suddenly, he realized that Gabriel wasn’t with him. After one frantic moment, he found him lying in a similar bed, sleeping soundly. In a moment, all of his stress left him. We made it. He thought to himself. Finally, he succumbed to the warm temptation of his bed and slept.

Jonas woke to the sound of Gabriel crying. It has been a week since he fainted from exhaustion. He would finally be let out of the hospital. He has been thinking about this day, with fear and excitement at heart. Where would I go? He thought. As the day went on, he finally filled out the paper work, (which was hard to do without a parent) and left the hospital. He stocked up on supplies and headed farther into Elsewhere which held his destiny.

Changes for the Better

(Author’s Note: This is an essay about the change of the main character of The Giver throughout the novel)

Jonas lives in a small community in the future. It is supposedly perfect, where nothing ever goes wrong. Everything is convenient and there are no surprises. A world like this has its disadvantages as well. For example, since the crops need to be grown, there can be no winter snow. Also, since kids need to be treated equally, there can be no specific birthday parties. Every year, all of the kids aged 1 – 11 all advance a year through a ceremony. When they grow up a year, new things are introduced to them. Jonas is 11, so this year he will be assigned an occupation. During the ceremony, he was given the role of “The Receiver of Memory”. It was his job to keep the memories of the past so that the community didn’t have to carry that burden. “You will be faced now with pain if a magnitude none of us can comprehend.” It took a lot of courage to accept that role, but not enough to complete the task at the end of the novel. He changed over the course of his training with the help of his mentor, “The Giver”

Jonas was nervous the first time he walked into “The Giver’s” room, as would anyone be when they blindly walked into an unknown experience. When Jonas met his mentor, he explained the job in better detail. He would be transferred the memories for him to hold onto. He would receive happy memories of sunshine, sledding, rainbows, and animals, but also painful ones of war, and poverty. In the future, people can’t handle more pain than a scrape to the knee. Only a select few can take on the role of “The Receiver”. Lately, he has seen changes in some objects around him. He is now beginning to see the color that lacks in his world.

As Jonas’s training goes on, he begins to receive more and more complex feelings. One day, he receives the memory of love. He is a little confused about this feeling, so when he goes home, he mentions it to his parents. They laugh at him and tell him that the word was maybe the most meaningless word in their time. It would be crazy for a child in our time to go home and ask their parents if the loved them, and get this for an answer. From this moment on, Jonas believes that his world that he grew up in wasn’t fit to live in. He began to want something more.

As his want grew, the need for action did also. He could not stand it any longer. He talked with his mentor, and they both agreed that action was necessary. They took days, but they devised a plan. It was dangerous and could get Jonas killed, but Jonas felt that it wouldn’t matter. His current life wasn’t worth living. It was that kind of bravery that made Jonas the character he was at the end of the book. When he heard his named called at the ceremony, he had no idea what obstacles lie ahead. He developed the courage needed to save himself from his world.

The novel mainly revolves around Jonas's courage, and the source of this strength came from his love of Gabriel. Jonas's love drove him to taking  him along even though he knew if they were caught, they would be killed. Jonas ends up saving Gabriel by taking him before he could be released. Having Gabriel along did bring advantages. It gave him the morale to continue onto his duties of giving the memories back. Without Gabriel, Jonas would have never made it.

Jonas could have never made it to Elsewhere in the beginning of the book, nor would he want to. Jonas learned many lessons through the memories, lessons teaching him what he truly wants in the world. His goal in the end was to find a safe place for Gabriel, and this drove him to becoming what he was at the end of the book. Jonas learned many lessons from the memories, and we can learn some from his struggle against society. We must remember “Memories are forever”.  It may seem that things in life such as a nice house, a job, or a car could be the most crucial thing to focus on, but the simplest things like love and family should always be more important.

Changing a World

(Authors note: This piece is about an important quote from The Giver)

            Jonas lives in a small community in the future where there is just sameness. He lives with his parents, little sister, and a troubled toddler named Gabriel who his father is taking care of.   In his community you do what you are assigned and that’s that. However, when he turned twelve, everything began to change. He was assigned the honorable role as ‘The Receiver of Memory’ and was scheduled to begin training immediately. His role was to carry the memories of the past. In the future, there is no true pleasure and no pain. His mentor is ‘The Giver’ who was the previous receiver and he teaches him about the past. He shows Jonas wonderful things like animals and sledding, but also very painful things, like war and poverty. The only reason for him is to hold memories so that other people don’t have to.

            As Jonas’s training goes on, little Gabriel is restless at his house. He has a year to learn to sleep soundly at night so he can be assigned to a family. Jonas had to promise the government that he would not get attached to this child, because if he failed, he would be put down. Jonas keeps Gabriel calm by feeding him just portions of peaceful memories. Jonas loved Gabriel very much, like a little brother. One day, The Giver gave Jonas the memory of love. It was a family gathered around a Christmas tree opening presents. Jonas was changed by this. He wanted more out of the worthless life people were living in the community. That night, when he was comforting Gabriel, he told him “Things could change Gabe. Things could be different.”

            This quote was pivotal in the novel, because it gave him the drive to do something about the lack of emotion in the community. He and The Giver devised a plan, a plan so simple, but would change the future for the entire community. He would give the memories back to the people. Jonas would be killed if he were caught, so he ran away in the black of night leaving the memories behind. Gabriel was scheduled to be killed, so he took him too. His love for him urged him onward into the unknown. Jonas rode on his bicycle for days until he and Gabe were starving to death. Just as he was about to give up, he reached a place in his memories. He saw civilization, then he collapsed.

            Looking back, this quote set up the climax. It showed the drive Jonas had to make the world a better place. He loved Gabriel in a place where love doesn’t exist. His parents ‘liked’ him and ‘enjoyed his company’, but never loved. Jonas and Gabriel shared a bond that no one had felt for decades, maybe even centuries. It was that bond that led Jonas to the final destination in this book, and to freedom.

Jonas's World

 (Author's Note: This is a Character development piece)
Jonas is a normal kid living in the future where there is neither pleasure nor pain. That is until he has been given the high honor of receiving all the memories from the past. His mentor, “The Giver”, teaches him about how many necessary things in our time get lost into a future with no difference. Jonas receives memories of sledding, sunshine, sailboats, and other fantastic things, and he is the only one who can actually feel happy. However, he also acquires memory of war and hate, making him the only one who can feel pain. He feels alone, because he wishes some of his friends could comprehend what he is feeling.

                 

As Jonas’s training goes on, the urge to show people the memories of the past grows. The only time in recallable history where the citizens actually had memories was when the last receiver died. After that, all the memories went loose and the citizens took hold of them. There was much chaos and confusion, and The Giver had to step in to help everybody. Jonas now realizes that this world isn’t worth living in if no one can experience what true love and true pain really is. The Giver feels the exact same way so they devise a plan. Jonas needs to give away all the memories he received from The Giver to the public. The whole purpose of The Giver is to hold all the burdens of emotion, but he and Jonas want to give all of it back. Jonas will be killed if anybody found out what he was doing, so he took his bike and ran for it. He peddled and peddled until he reached a place from his memories, where he finally collapsed.

           
Jonas came a long way from the small 11 year old he once was. He used to wonder what job the government and was afraid of choices. With such little age, he acquired so much wisdom. He is a dynamic character because his whole perspective of life changes in the span of this book. He realizes there are more important things than work and games, things like love and compassion; things that his world lacked. This novel teaches us that everyone has the right to live and to love, and no one should say otherwise.

Change

            Roger was a thug before he met one woman who changed his life. He felt like the only way he could get what he wanted was to steal it. He wanted some new shoes, so he thought that if he stole a purse, he would get the money. He found a good victim, so he tried to snatch the purse and take off running. When things went wrong, he tripped and was caught in a headlock. He did not know at the time that this woman would help him find his way in life.

            It was by chance he found this influential person on the street. She brought him to her home and gave him dinner. Roger found out that she did things when she was young, and found that he could relate to her. By setting the example of a once-criminal staying out of trouble, it showed Roger that he could have a chance by staying out of a life of crime. In the end, he even got money for his shoes. This shows that staying out of crime can pay dividends.

            Although doing the right thing doesn’t always get you what you want, it still shows that you didn’t take the easy way out. Roger left Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’ house with a different goal in life in mind, therefore he is a dynamic character. Roger never intended to change his ways before he met this character. Sometimes it is funny how life works out.

S.O.P.A.

As you probably already know, there is a bill currently being reviewed by the U.S. Congress called the S.O.P.A. bill. It stands for the Stop-Online-Piracy-Act, and was created by large movie corporations that are losing money from piracy. Piracy is when you illegally take information like movies and music to use without paying for it. While Piracy is an issue, the S.O.P.A. bill is not the solution. This bill will change the internet. It will give large companies the power to shut down websites and videos that aren’t actually causing any harm. Many internet companies such as Google, Facebook, and Wikipedia realize this and are leading the public with a charge against this bill.

On January 18^th, 2012, these companies led an internet wide black-out, protesting against S.O.P.A. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, was one of the supporters. He wrote on his Facebook page that S.O.P.A. was “Poorly thought out” and encouraged readers to contact their local representatives. He said that “The internet is the most powerful tool we have for creating a more open and connected world. We can't let poorly thought out laws get in the way of the internet's development.”

The internet companies believe that this bill will cause censorship throughout the internet. Much of the public agrees with this. If a small video uses a little bit of music, the recording company has the right to shut it down. I don’t believe this is right. Internet video watching sites like YouTube already have a top notch security system against copyright infringement. This bill will obviously do more harm than good. If it is passed, entire sites can be shut down from just a single copyright violation.

I believe that the bill should be rejected in congress. It breaks the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” S.O.P.A. would threaten our rights as Americans. We should have the authority to use the information we want as long as it is in fair use. Obviously, S.O.P.A. is a terrible idea, and I urge everyone reading this to take action immediately by contacting your local representative.

Superbowl

Predicting the outcomes of sporting events comes with the uncertainty. People who gamble use investing-like strategies to do it for an occupation. In the NFL playoffs, there are four teams still standing. Two will fall this weekend. Each team deserves to be there, and all have a chance to win the eternal glory that is the Lombardi Trophy. There are enough statistics available to find out who has the best chance. This information is very valuable when it comes to gambling.

            The Ravens, Patriots, Giants, and 49’ers all have great teams, but the most valuable player in the Superbowl is almost always the quarterback. The quarterback is the captain of the offense and is the most influential player on the team. If the quarterback is doing well, then the offense is doing well. The Patriots and the Giants both have solid players at the position. Tom Brady practically carried his team to the playoffs, the Patriots had an ineffective running game and a less than stellar defense. Eli Manning is also a great quarterback with almost 5000 passing yards this season. Alex Smith on the 49’ers is a good player, but he is a rookie and  isn’t as experienced. Joe Flacco is an average player and just that. He is inconsistent and not the best clutch player. The main reason why he got to the playoffs was because of his team’s exceptional defense.

            “Offense wins games, defense wins championships.” Nobody knows the origin of this quote, but it is one of the truest statements ever proclaimed about football. If the other team doesn’t score points, you can’t lose. A defense isn’t the most glamorous part of the game, but it is half the battle. The Ravens and the 49’ers have the best defenses in the league, and the Giants have a pretty good one too. The Patriots, however have one of the worst defense against the pass. The Patriots have a high powered offense, but the opposing team just plows them over. It is hard to win without a respectable defense.

            Each of the four teams is there for a reason. For the Ravens, it is their rock solid defense that stops the opponents from scoring more than them. The 49’ers have their great defense and a talented young quarterback to propel them to victory. The Giants have a well rounded team with a proven quarterback, a great rushing game, and a solid defense. The Patriots are an offensive powerhouse with one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. All are great teams, but who is the best of them? Three games will soon decide that.

            Based on the stats, I can make a logical conclusion on what I think will occur in the playoffs. In the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Patriots, I believe that the Ravens defense will slow down Tom Brady, and the game will turn to Joe Flacco. I don’t think he can handle with the game on the line, so I think that the Patriots will win. In the NFC championship, I expect Eli Manning to have a pretty good game, considering he is on a hot streak. The game will be decided on whether or not the Giants defense can hold against the exceptional 49’ers running game. In the Superbowl game, I predict that it will be a rematch of 2007’s, Giants versus Patriots. I feel this match-up would result in a shoot-out. In the end however, I believe that Tom Brady will put the Giants in a deficit that they can’t overcome. Based on my research, there is a lot of evidence stating that the Patriots will win the Superbowl.

Hawks and Eagles

Michael Obi is a young man excited about his new position as head master of Ndume Central School. He wants to revolutionize the grounds, so he and his wife decorate it with colorful flowers and bushes. Soon, it looked like an oasis of beauty in a run down village of Africa. He raised the standards of teaching, and it became a successful school. One day, Michael saw a old woman hobble through his bushes and right across the compound. Upon farther investigation, he found an old path that connects the school to the village's place of burial. He puts heavy stakes and barbed wire to cut off the path where it enters and leaves the school grounds. A few days later, the head priest of the village visits Michael and explains that the path is sacred to the religion of the village. Michael ignores him, and in two days, a tragedy occurs when a woman died in childbirth. Michael woke up next morning to the ruins of his school. It was later shut down because of the tribal war situation between the school, and the village.

Michael couldn't have prevented the tragedy, but he could have prevented the village blaming it on him. He could have compromised with the priest better then he did. He could have told the priest that the path was off limits to people outside of school, but kept it open for the so-called spirits. Michael's overconfidence fully blinded to everyone else's.  "Let the  hawk perch and let the eagle perch."