Tuesday, June 3, 2008

of mice and men

Of Mice and Men: Symbols

When most people think of an old friend, they think of great memories, shared times, and aging pastures. Who would have ever thought that such a wonderful friend would be seen as some type of dragging agony of suffrage? In the book entitled “Of Mice and Men”, Candy’s old dog symbolized crushed dreams. This symbolism was carried throughout the book until the dog was murdered. When the dog died so did Candy’s aspiration, energy, and hopes of succeeding in life. There was someone that surprisingly lived the same life Candy did in the struggle.
As vividly as I can remember, the sound of the urging bullet tearing through the dog’s head, not only ripped though one’s skull. It also sounded off emotions and signaled fear that Candy was now in this war called life, alone. In desperate measures, Candy turned to his only other option, himself. In a dark corner, he did the only thing that seemed as if could numb his body and hoping to heal his wombs. After thinking of the fatal womb repeatedly, Candy seemed to be the blame because he wasn’t the one to cast his dreams away, somehow to seemingly and infinitively put them to rest.
While reading the book, you could almost see the smile on Lenny’s face as he elaborated on “eating off the fat of the land”, coincidently, Candy wasn’t the only one brewing up unsettled dreams. Somehow it seemed that both George and Candy’s windmills were blowing in the same direction. Seemingly cooperating, Lenny agreed that he would tend the rabbits. In this fantasy world that they hoped to someday be reality, they set aside the drama and the “negative attention” and promised that they would make a family with life. They agreed with a very famous slogan without ever mentioning it, “if you cant beat it then join it, life being their only competition.
With a decrepit hand, bent back, and aging body, it was quite obvious that Candy could not do too much of anything on his own. In this condition, he came to the conclusion that his dog was the only one that felt his pain, breathed his air, the one that was on his side, the one that had to fight the same battle everyday. Not only the fight of life but also the fight with integrity, discipline and his demeanor. Curly was the heir of the throne and these battles were with one of his own, the master. This dream that Candy hoped to grasp, would settle all of these differences that the dog had already tragically lost too.
Like may teams, members lost, no the dog will no longer guard the great house with the white picket fence that once only existed in a dream. Lenny lost the fight to life, dreams were crushed, no, the rabbits will no longer be tamed, nor the chickens be rounded by him. Both Candy and George struggled to get where they felt they belonged in life, where they left there best friends off in the ongoing chapters of aspiration, energy and hopes of struggling in life. If you’re interested in success beyond the struggle and are wondering when will the storm end, it won’t. It would be wrong to convince you otherwise that would be wrong but if you need encouragement to never set aside your dream this is the book for you.

the brotherhood

The Brotherhood
What is brotherhood? Brotherhood is men bonding together for a common good, they ride together and die together. Some times their decision bring life and sometimes it brings death but either way their decision is final. As brothers their goal is to unite as one to protect their own, they unite together to play and relax, they also unite as one to kill another brother.
“Get him Lennie” that was the pleas of George when Curley began to beat Lennie for laughing at him. Lennie is a grown man with a mind of a four-year-old. Whatever George tells him he does. Curley is the boss son so he believes he can do whatever he wants because people are suppose to be scared of him, especially big guys and he hates them for the fact that he is small. Curley walked into the room looking for his wife and Lennie not knowing no better was laughing, and that’s when the fight began. “Ahhaa!” that was the sound of Lennie charging Curley his intention wasn’t to hurt Curley but just to make him stop hitting him. When Lennie got angry with Curley he broke his hand. “I’m sorry George, I didn’t mean to you said it was all right George” those were Lennie words when he realized he made a big mistake. He was just doing what he believed was right. After the fight was over everyone let Curley know that he was going to let people know that his hand got messed up by one of the machines. This was brotherhood.
George was real close with Slim. Even though Slim was his boss he was able to open up to him and be able to tell him things he couldn’t tell anyone else. When they got done working they would play horseshoes. It was a fun game to them to sit back and relax and take the stress off. While they were out having a ball Lennie was in the barn talking with Curley wife even though he was told not to because she would get him into so much trouble. She told him the only reason why she kept coming around was because she needed someone to talk to she was lonely. Lennie told her how he liked to touch soft things and she convinced Lennie into touching her hair she didn’t realized what was going to occur after the touching but she would oh boy she would be surprised.
“I’m going to kill that bastard” Curley yelled. They just found his wife in the barn with her neck broken and they all knew who did it but Curley wanted to kill him for what Lennie did to his hand. Know body knew why Lennie did what he did but George knew the only reason he would do something like that if the person started to get scared and scream. George knew he had to find Lennie before anyone else did because they wouldn’t give him any mercy. When George found Lennie he was hidden in the spot George told him to go. George hugged Lennie and told him it was going to be okay. Lennie told George to tell him the story of there farm. “We going to live in a big house with a wind mill and we going to have all these animals.” “George tells how I’m going to tend the rabbits and feed them alfalfa. “Yeah Lennie you going to tend the rabbits and feed them alfalfa it’s going to be real nice Boom” that was the sound of George blowing Lennie brains out.
In conclusion brotherhood is riding together and dying together. Even though you’re grown men you’re able to relax and be yourself but if something goes wrong you will kill one of your brothers in a heartbeat.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Take 2!!

Last Thursday, Quincy and I recorded out scene for the documentary. This scene was the beginning of our partnership: Quincy was asking me to be his partner but was kind of beating around the bush because he was nervous, I took it the wrong way and assumed he was asking me out. We became partners and this scene was shot at Franklin Square.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Lights Camera Action

Coming Soon:
Video analysis on the do's and dont's when it comes to NHD. Sneak peak on the actual project aspects and how it can affect both friendships and even your attitude towards partner(s) or rivals.


Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Empire of the Sun

In the 1940’s a young boy was held hostage in china by the Japanese army. As a young boy Jamie had a young adult mentality. He had survival skills. A man named Basie showed Jim a couple of survival skills himself. Basie was from England also. Basie was selfish but he showed Jim a few things about the wild life. Jamie AKA Jim got the name Jim from the Americans. Jim earned his respect from the Americans because he showed the Americans that they could trust him by seeing if there were any traps or bombs for an escape plan. He earned respect from some Japanese troopers because he learned how to speak and respect their Japanese ways. Jim was already English so he was already family to them.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Paper: How To's

-interviews
-library will be your home for a few months
-internet sources aren't always reliable
-teachers can sometimes assist you
-start bibliography as soon as you begin researching

(+)
-don't have to depend on anyone because you work alone
-need a set time for every aspect of the project
-doesn't affect any relationships in anyway

(-)
-working alone
-lot of time revising
-alot of stress on yourself

Survival Tips
-don't wait until last minute to start work
-get advice from teachers
-use as many primary sources as possible
-jot down alot of resources

Performance: How to's

Script: choose characters
research everything
practice alot
choose your partners wisely
memorize your lines/ practice
costume has to connect to your topic or focus
use more than one source
DON'T ASSUME OR MIX HISTORY WITH FALSE TRUTH: SOMETHING THAT MAY SOUND ACCURATE
remember that through time and gathered information, the theme of your play may change: its normal!!

Survival Tips: NHD

-STAY ORGANIZED!!!!
- try to keep your thesis statement is just a thesis statement!!!
-stay calm and keep your cool
-make sure you have a broadened topic
-make sure you keep the focus of your project
-RECORD ALL RESEARCH!!!
-BOOKMARK ALL SITES!!!
-use folders with labels

Service learning: How To's

Pick your topic
- Previous knowledge
- Interests that you have
- Something your currently learning in school
- Something you have experienced

Choose your partner(s)_ things to consider
- similar topic
- work diligent
- attendance
-grades and behavior

service learning: nhd group

The Police Force: Powerpoint
Song Used: Bad Boys
Focus: "Police brutality on both youth and the stress on the population's decrease"
Pictures and quotes to establish a mood
interviews on victims of police brutality
(working theme)

service learning: nhd roup

We made a list that included all types of "topics" that we could use for our documentary. The main priority of this list was to get the focus on what topic could we use to somehow use to be a main factor in our project. This would be our dominate focus, which would be collaborated in a documentary, paper, exhibit, website, and performance. Our winning idea was the police force.

service learning: nhd roup

What is our Focus??

In our earlier gatherings during service learning period, in Mr. Romero's class, we discussed our topic and how we could help get National History Day across to the student body. Not so much as the negative or positive influence it has on you both physically and mentally but more of a guide on how to get it done.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Ape Genius

The documentary entitled "Ape Genius", was a huge blow out! It was a very educational yet engaging comparison between humans vs. apes. Like humans, apes have cultural invasions that are often designated by immitation. Although immitation is a skill that can be inherited by apes, it is not gaurenteed like a mental skill. Humans expect to be taught which is why we repeat senseless routines; such as to continuously add one to a numberal instead of increasing the original value itself by one. Apes however, look for some type of an award which could be an effect or concern that they lack "human communication skills". Although there are a few differences between the two species, we share many of the same qualities, indulge in the same activities, and share many of the same feelings such as: the relationship that a mother shares with her child, mouring when a loved one has pasted away, denial, responsibilities, or even hunting for food. After seeing this documentary, I am now more aware of the control..... my surroundings and can now interepret the responses that i get when involved in certain situations.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Class of 2010 Service Learning: 4 ?'s

1. School Wide Service Topic: Public Service Announcements??
2. My group members: RaShaniqua Sanders, Natina Garner, Kameko, Nikki, David, Harry, Veisna,
3. Mr. Romero and Ms. Thompson
4. Im not really sure most likely at a school or a hair dresser.s

ALD

ALD is a disease that attack the myelin in the brain of young men which is inherited through the mother chromosomes. This disease is very deadly and effective to the immune system and can be very damaging if it is not caught in time. Like most diseases, once the disease has began its journey, your functioning in your brain will never be the same: you can lose your hearing, eye sight, sense of communication, walking, and interacting with people. It is a very daedly disease and with out treatment your only expected to live 24 months maximum.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Knowledge

Q: What was it that awoke the family to what might have been a bad day?
A: An alarm clock woke the family hesitantly to a horrible morning.

Comprehension

Q: What differences exist between Bigger’s reflected attitude and his hidden emotion?
A: The differences between Bigger’s reflected attitude and his hidden emotion are quit obvious. Bigger appears to be this big, fearless, black man that only cares for himself and to top it off, he’s poor. Inside Bigger is this guy that is still finding himself, trying to be a man, in a hidden racist society. Bigger was never able to say the sky is the limit because his feet were plotted on the ground. Wingless, thoughtless, and blinded by the prosperity that was delivered to him by a visionless group, Bigger broke the chains and released some anger. He struck back and hit them where it would hurt, not in their wallets but in those deep blue eyes.

Application

Q: From the information given, can you develop a set of instructions about succeeding in a racist community without demeaning anyone?
A: If I were o write a set of directions to the African American community about succeeding in a racist community without demeaning anyone, my first and final rule would be to live your life accordingly. I say this because you’re only expected to see a certain age and many of us live up to those expectations and few of us prove them wrong. This rule also allows you to choose your path.

Q: Analysis - What were some of the motives behind Bigger starting a fight with us?
A: Bigger was scared of robbing Old Blum's and Gus wasn't sure the he wanted to rob him so they started fighting.

Q: Synthesis - Can you see a possible solution to Bigger scaring his sister with the rat?
A: There could have been more possible solutions for Bigger when he killed the rat. He could of just tookthe rat to the trash like his mother asked him. Being the disobedient son instead of listening to his mother he scared his sister.

Q: Evaluation - How would you have handled the situation when Mary told you that she wasn't going to the university?
A: If I was the driver and she told me she was going to meet a friend and she wasn't going to the university I would of drove her where she wanted to go. Even though by doing that I could of got in trouble by her parents I wouldn't of cared. If I would of got in trouble I would of just took the blame because I know her parents wouldn't of believed me. Since I was black I could of lost my job and her parents wold of believed her because they think she is a good girl.

Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Knowledge

Q: What was it that awoke the family to what might have been a bad day?
A: An alarm clock woke the family hesitantly to a horrible morning.

Comprehension

Q: What differences exist between Bigger’s reflected attitude and his hidden emotion?
A: The differences between Bigger’s reflected attitude and his hidden emotion are quit obvious. Bigger appears to be this big, fearless, black man that only cares for himself and to top it off, he’s poor. Inside Bigger is this guy that is still finding himself, trying to be a man, in a hidden racist society. Bigger was never able to say the sky is the limit because his feet were plotted on the ground. Wingless, thoughtless, and blinded by the prosperity that was delivered to him by a visionless group, Bigger broke the chains and released some anger. He struck back and hit them where it would hurt, not in their wallets but in those deep blue eyes.

Application

Q: From the information given, can you develop a set of instructions about succeeding in a racist community without demeaning anyone?
A: If I were o write a set of directions to the African American community about succeeding in a racist community without demeaning anyone, my first and final rule would be to live your life accordingly. I say this because you’re only expected to see a certain age and many of us live up to those expectations and few of us prove them wrong. This rule also allows you to choose your path.

Q: Analysis - What were some of the motives behind Bigger starting a fight with us?
A: Bigger was scared of robbing Old Blum's and Gus wasn't sure the he wanted to rob him so they started fighting.

Q: Synthesis - Can you see a possible solution to Bigger scaring his sister with the rat?
A: There could have been more possible solutions for Bigger when he killed the rat. He could of just tookthe rat to the trash like his mother asked him. Being the disobedient son instead of listening to his mother he scared his sister.

Q: Evaluation - How would you have handled the situation when Mary told you that she wasn't going to the university?
A: If I was the driver and she told me she was going to meet a friend and she wasn't going to the university I would of drove her where she wanted to go. Even though by doing that I could of got in trouble by her parents I wouldn't of cared. If I would of got in trouble I would of just took the blame because I know her parents wouldn't of believed me. Since I was black I could of lost my job and her parents wold of believed her because they think she is a good girl.

Hidden Fears

Summary -
Bigger and Gus entered the poolroom and it was empty. They were early and Jack or G.H. hadn't arrived yet so while they waited they started a game of pool. Bigger was playing very poorly because he was worrying about Blum's and the robbery, but he was really afraid of the whole thought. They continued to talk about their plan and thats when Jack and G.H. come in. Bigger hiding his fear tried to make himself feel better picked a fight with his Gus. Jack and G.H. ageed to rob Blum's but Gus was still thinking about it. Bigger got aggravated and started an arguement with Gus. While fighting Biger thought of stabbing him, kicking him, slapping him, and he even made Gus lick his knife. After teh fight they all agreed to their plan. By Bigger starting a fight with Gus that was a way to hide his fear and flip the script to make it seem as if Gus was scared. he hid his fear by acting tough and putting on a front for his friends. By doing that Gus was scrared of him and didn't know what he was capable of so he agreedto rob Old Blum's.

Analysis -
Richard Wright was trying to show us two things, the fear inside of Bigger and his fear of showing his friends and even his family who he was. Bigger putting on a front shows that his friends don't really know who he is and their wasn't no family bond between them. Maybe he is scared to show his friends who he really is and they would of took advantage of him because they would of thought he was tough anymore. By letting his guard down he wouldn't feel comfortable his himself. Alot of people hide their fears but some do it in other ways.

Murder of Heiress

Summary: After a long night of partying and drinking Bigger and Mary returned to the Dalton house. Mary was a bit drunk so bigger decided to walk her to her room when they arrived Mary started to kiss on bigger, not resisting bigger kissed her back. Shortly after Mrs. Dalton came into Mary’s room, afraid Mary would make noise bigger covered her face with a pillow. She was straining to for him to let her go so she started to scratch his wrist. Once Mrs. Dalton left the room he let the pillow go and realized Mary was not responding. Scared out of his mind bigger picked Mary up, put her in a trunk and took her to the furnace before he took her out, he placed a pile of news paper down on the floor and stuck her in. shoving Mary’s head in was a tough task so he took his knife out and tried to cut her head off, when that didn’t work he found a hatchet and with one swing her head rolled onto the blood filled newspaper pill. He quickly shoved her head in and got rid of the newspaper and hatchet. When bigger got home that night boy was he paranoid. What he doesn’t realize is it was an accident and he could have easily confessed.

Analysis: I believe Richard Wright put this in the book because it is the part in the book where bigger finds a strength he never knew he had, he has the power to assert himself against whites. “Wright’s point is that Bigger becomes a brutal killer precisely because the dominant white culture fears that he will become a brutal killer”.

Wake- Up Chicago!!

With no privacy, Bigger is immediately awaked at his mother's first panic attack, as one unexpected guest gets the day started a little earlier. Screaming, Bigger's mother is hesitant about killing the rat and scaring her daughter, constantly taunting her all hours of the night. With this vivid picture in her mind, it was only a mother's depiction to ask Bigger to be " the savior, their nigth in shining armor." As the man of the house he deheaded the intruder (the rat).

Analysis
Richard Wright sent a wake- up call to Chicago and all of the U.S. Warning them of the monster that they were creating, hopefully giving society time to make changes. Unfortunately, the damage had already taken place because Bigger was the man of the house he was expected to make the money even if it meant changing the tune of the alarm.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Personal Interests w/ School wide

Community Service
- working with children
- helping out the elderly
- murals or community gardening
- one on one tutoring
- hospitals??
- retirement centers/ rehabilitation for the elderly
- animal care

Independent Service Activities

1. Volunteer at senior homes
2. Go to elementary schools and help with after school (neighborhood)
3. Help out at comunity faclities
4. Volunteer at Children's Hospital
5. Join the Big sister or Brother Program
6. Help out at daycares

NHD Conflict and Compromise

Theme: conflict and compromise
The hard part about nhd this year was basically the whole thing. Although i had an idea of what I wanted to do my project on since the end of nhd last year, I never thought that it would have went the way it did. To avoid many of the problems that I contracted this year, I should have continued to work alone. One good thing about the project was that i finished it....... alone. It started off as a play but because of mishaps it had a new title and was in the form of a paper. Last year NHD wemt pretty smooth. I also did a paper last year. this year my topic was completely different i went from the study of understanding an accused murderer to studying the huge impact that radicalist played in women's fashion and politics.