Monday, June 6, 2011

Jem Journal Entry: To Kill a Mockingbird

June 1, 1933

Yesterday was Tom Robinson's trail. We went to see it with Scout and Dill… it was pretty rough for them. I should have let them stay. Everyone around is different now, I always thought the Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, but up to yesterday they completely changed except for Cal, Ms. Maudie, and some other folks.

Maycomb has always been my home and I don’t understand why they would do such a thing. After what Mr. Ewell did to my father and what folks have been saying that his going to kill him. I've been scared and so had Scout. I talked to Scout last night, about what kind of folks Maycomb has. There are us, the Cunningham, Ewells and the Negros. Everyone looks down at one, we look down at the Cunningham the Cunningham looks down as the Ewells and the Ewells look down at the Negros. I used to think there was only one kind of folk. Folks. I was wrong. Like Atticus said that all men are created equal... right now the only equal who are treated equal are the white folks.

I wish everyone would not look down at each other. I wish everyone would be fair to one another. That trail was not a fail one and I know that maybe Atticus might not leave to see the change, but when I grow up I'm going to do what Atticus did. He is now every respected by the blacks and some whites. I know I'm going to do the same and more.

Maycomb Daily

Depression in Maycomb

The economic crisis across the country has hit our town hard. Many people in Maycomb have been affected, especially the farmers and the country people. It’s creating bankruptcy, homelessness, collapsing businesses, and leaving many people hungry. Because of this, social classes are more defined and there is a lot of tension between them.

“Living through the great depression has been hard for many families around the community. Bringing bread to the table has been difficult for us, and affects our children and wives,” says Mr. Taylor.

Many people around town have been getting jobs with the WPA (Works Progress Administration). This was recently created to give unemployed people jobs, but it is hard to maintain your spot.

“It’s important for us to maintain our dignity and respect despite the hard time that have fallen upon all of us,” says Mr. Atticus Finch.



Even our children get involved in these hard times.


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Halloween Festivals


Each year, on Halloween night, the town of Maycomb organizes festival where they have plays and pageants. This year the pageant was held in the high-school auditorium. Everyone got to enjoy apple-bobbing and taffy-pulling; pin the tail on the donkey was available for children to enjoy for only one cent. These types of events bring our whole community together, with fun for the children and the adults.
This event was organized so that in order to avoid the unsupervised mischief that typically occurs on Halloween night.

The pageant’s theme this year was agricultural products, such as ham, butterbean, peanut and many others. The pageant was directed by Mrs. Grace Merriweather, who called it Maycomb County: Ad Astra Per Aspera. Many kids from around the neighborhood participated in the pageant, dressing up as various historic icons and agricultural products.

We are proud of the many volunteers who decorated and organized school auditorium. They made this event possible and enjoyable for the Maycomb’s society.
“Hopefully each year the Halloween festivals can be even better than the last. I really enjoyed this year’s festival,” says Mrs. Grace Merriweather.


Children enjoying the festival games, apple-bobbing.
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A Sad Accident: An Editorial

Maycomb, Alabama— A sad accident- or was it? On October 31, 1933, Bob Ewells accidently took his own life in a drunken accident. It was right after the Halloween festival. Mr. Atticus Finch’s children were walking home when they were attacked by Mr. Ewell. It was evident that Mr. Ewell was drunk, and having a grudge against the Finch family caused him to act out in violence. It is unfortunate that Mr. Ewell chose to attack Jean Louise and Jeremy Atticus Finch when it was their father who he had a problem with, as evidenced by the many threats made by Mr. Ewell.

This editor thinks that this problem could have been resolved between the two adults. It is unfortunate that the confrontation ended in accidental self-stabbing, although it is the opinion some people that the death may have not been accidental. It doesn’t take a psychic to see there is an unknown factor in this story. Perhaps the Finch children had a guardian angel watching over them that night.

“'It would be sort of like shooting a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?”
Yes, Jean Louise, that’s exactly what it would be like.
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The Trial: Letter to the Editor

Maycomb Daily,
As a concerned citizen of Maycomb, I was appalled at the outcome of the most recent trial between Ms. Mayella Ewells and Mr. Tom Robinson. Not only was Mr. Atticus Finch’s defense solid and indisputable, but the evidence was clear to many that were present. Mr. Tom Robinson was not guilty. It saddens me to see this town so full of racism and hatred that it would condemn an innocent human being.

The testimonies of various witnesses were shaky and unclear, and the jury was wrong to come to this verdict. This will surely create much controversy in a town that needs to stick together to work against this financial crisis. I realized that we have long way to go we are all equal as even my own friends do not see the problem with bigotry. They are even immune to the suffering of the African children, as shown by their hypocritical actions.
Something needs to be done about this.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Maudie.

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Obituary


DUBOSE, HENRY LAFAYETTE, age 75, of Maycomb passed away March 7, 1933 in her home. Mrs. Dubose was born in the town of Maycomb in 1857 lived here her entire life. Many people from Maycomb will remember here as one of the bravest people that have lived in this town. She died beholden to nothing and nobody. Her wake for family and friends will be held on March 12 at Maycomb Church.






Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Newspaper: Lord of the Flies

Opinion: Comic Strip



Lost Boys Found On Island
THREE CHILDREN DEAD AND NO FOUND ADULTS- LONDON, November 18, 1954. - Saturday night a naval officer and his search-group reported that 47 passengers on board crashed on an inhabitant island in the Pacific Ocean. The boys were on an airplane and were being evacuated away from a war zone.

British officer says, “One adult missing the pilot and is assumed to be the only victim in the plane crash. 46 children survived the impact, a group of choir boys and a group of boy who attended various schools in London.” There has been no information toward why the plane crashed, it seems to have been attacked but officials say the cause is unknown.

According to Dr. Robinson from the INH headquarters, “It is not known how long the boys have stayed on the island, it is calculated that they have been there five to six month, but less than a year.”

After speaking shortly with some of the rescuers they said, “Three boys had died during the time on the island.” The three boys were Johnny, one of the youngest in the group, was burnt and killed after the children lost control of a fire trying to make a smoke signal for rescue. Simon, the youngest of the bigguns, was badly beaten and stabbed to death by the other boys they mistook him by the beast they believed in. The last victim recorded dead was a boy called Piggy real name unidentified, he was hit by a great rock by one of the boys and fell into the ocean.

After this incident British Government is focusing on safer flights for children during this dangerous time of war. Mr. Mateo H. Williamson says, “This was a terrible tragedy and I am sure that we will try are best to have better safety measures on our planes and ships.”

Thankfully the rest of the boys are back safe with their family and friends. The parents and/or guardians of some of the children are pressing charges on the airlines. Further information will be received toward this situation.



Editorial School Boys Lost in Savagery

Being on an island, forced to savagery and living civilization, losing your innocence, seeing the reality of death and betrayal and loss of identity and having fear and evil where the last thing the British school boys would think they would encounter.

This adventure as they first called it was fun, but soon turned into a nightmare for all of the boys. After nominating a chief, arguments started on the island for various conflicts and hostilities. Separation and tension grew between them and their hope of being rescued where gone.

It was said that when naval officer had first contact with the boys, they all began to cry (what any child would do in those condition) forgetting who was chief and what tribe they were in. Now normal kid back in into society and civilization with their family. Never forgetting that adventure, that turned into something terrifying, but also bringing some of the boys to the understanding of many life lesson many people will never encounter in their life time.

Profile Piece: Ralph
Crashing on island in the middle of plane ride home was not on 12 year old, Ralph expectations. Everything was fun and gameas for the boys at first on the island, but when quarrels and conflicts began to burst everything was tense and dangerous.

Ralph was a natural-born leader. Taking on the role and setting up rules as soon as he was chosen as chief. “Being on island so long makes you forget the purpose of your goals (making a smoke signal for rescue) and sometimes you needed reminding,” He says. That’s what his loyal friend, Piggy did and was killed for being mature and wise like an adult. Ralph tried to keep the group civilized and most importantly together, but it was hard for him to do so because some of the boys disobeyed his
rules and orders.

It was even harder when there was competition and one of the boys gained the “vote” of the younger ones by promising them protection; something impossible for Ralph, without support from the older boys. Because of the pressure and his two friends Simon and Piggy’s deaths he briefly considered joining the other tribe, which the other boy made. He did not join them because he saw them as savages and dirty. “I felt like cutting my hair and fingernails, washing my clothes, brushing my teeth, and getting a bath. I missed everything back over here,” He continuous “I was frightened, angry, desperate, hungry and tried.

”Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend piggy” –William Golding.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tankas Chapter 10 The Shell and the Glasses

I want to go home
It was an accident, Ralph
You alright Piggy?
Jack"s left hand with his glasses.
Now we are left with nothing.

The Chiefs
Jack the proper chief,
Ralph seen as a failure.
We'll soon hunt again
We keep the fire going.
Tribes seperated by fear.

You Can't have it All

But you can have warm chocolate milk every morning,
always being the sweet childhood pleasure.
You can have the small dirty black feet next to your nose,
waking you and not caring enough to push them back because you love her.
You can have the shouts and laughter, the imaginary ship,
that sails to the living room.
You can have the imperfect perfect family picture
that takes hours to take because the dog ate my popsicle and cousin had to sneeze.
You can have laughter, because when you laugh it’s like the sun flower that turns to the light. You can have the smell of fresh clean laundry right down to the socks. You can have breakfast outside at 1:30 in the afternoon.
You can play with the hose in a summer day
because you don’t have a pool.
You can have the daily call of your grandfather
to get his blessing through a camera.
You can’t go to the other side of it and give him a good night kiss in his forehead because you’re too far from home. But you can have the sound of his voice clearly as if he were next to you. And you can be grateful for photo albums;
for if we didn’t, we would forget the good moments.
You can have the noisy stairs, when one descends,
you can figure out who is walking down.
You can have your fathers arm around you. Shoulders watching a cooking show and not hearing a single complains when you know he wants to watch soccer.
You can have the pictures of your sister on your bedroom wall,
you can have fire place and burnt marshmallow.
You can’t count of someone to push you to it all the time
but there is always that one on the stand cheering
as you do a flip turn, as you push off the wall and take a deep breath and stroke.
You can have a mango tree on your yard and pick the juiciest one of them all
and you can have hands dripping with mango juice
and your mom warning you to not stain your clothes.
You can have a friend who knows your melody and can hum it back to you
when you have forgotten.
You can have dirty hands piled up in the center of a chant circle
and a cry of excitement before a soccer game. And you can have that long lost picture
stuffed in a box and the back side written on with your cousins lousy handwriting
letting you know that they love you.
You can’t have your neighbor’s pretty garden filled with flowers and fleshly cut grass, but when you turn around you know you can have your own beautiful, uncut, grassy garden that might not be like the others filled with happiness, love, and the cherishment for the things you can have.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Marley a Dog like No Other

Marley a Dog like No Other by John Grogan
Luciana Paz
HarperCollins Publishers
Memoir
Where I got it from:Marley a Dog like No Other by John Grogan was recommended by my friend, who thought the novel was very touching. I got it from my English teacher Mrs. Meadows.

One sentence summery: John and Jenny a young couple are ready to take there next step of their marriage, it was time for a dog; Maley a dog like no other changes the Grogan family hearts an leads there way until the end with love, loyalty and extreme hyperactive personally.

First chapter: “When I was ten years old, my father caved in my pleas and took me to get my own dog.”
The first chapter “And Puppy Makes Three” is about how John and Jenny are ready to have a third family member. To be exact a dog. They go off to find the perfect dog they look at a littler of Labrador retrievers, the males where $400 females and the males $375. They found that the dog that they wanted was a clearance dog, he passed all the scare tests and he was adorable so they took him right away. What they both didn’t know was that the dog they were adopting was one that was going to change their lives and who came to be as Marley a dog like no other.

Verdict: The memoir was never heart-warming it, almost brought me in to tears. The author writes in humors ways making the book enjoyable. This story shows you values of life and what really matter by a Marley, the yellow fur ball with a pure heart, who quickly grows and never lets go of his over exciting personality. This book would be defiantly but in the “you have to read book even though they might be childlike” pale.

Cover comments: The cover of Marley and me really makes you want to read it. It has the cutest puppy (Marley) in the front part with a red background focusing it on the dog. The saying don’t judge a book by its cover is sometimes wrong because the cover is very important for a reader to pick it up. The cover has a small innocent dog that it fouls you to thinking it’s another “cute puppy old story”, but at the end you see how the puppy becomes the opposite of the cover.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Dream Big and Accomplish




Description:

This poetry notebook is dedicated to my sister, who is graduating. These poems portray how a person can accomplish their goals with a good spirit and courage by setting your mind to what you have put as your finish line. For a finish line does not mark the end of your race, you will continue running and pursuing your dreams.

Synopsis:
These poems will show you that an achievement is a goal that began as a dream and that it has been reached. It will inspire you to reach high for your goals,to succeed and reach for the next dream.

Dream Big and Accomplish



Poetry:



Dreams by Langston
Hughes

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Dare to Dream by Julie Anne Ford

Today's Dreams Are Tomorrow's Successes by Kelly D. Caron

Dream Big by Author unknown

Graduation Is a Time by Nicholas Gordon

Solid Goal by Charles Ghigna

Solid Goal
Charles Ghigna

Don't let the distance to your goals
Keep you from your dreams;
It's never really quite as far
As what it often seems.



Always Keep Your Dreams Alive by Author Unknown


Always Keep Your Dreams Alive
Author Unknown

Now is a time for you to celebrate
the accomplishment of a dream you have worked so hard to realize.
You have shown so many people how special you are.
Now is the time to begin to pursue the next path,
to reach out for the next star,
and to achieve the things that are so important to you.
Always keep your dreams alive.
And keep them coming true.