Response to ACT 2

I found that Act 2 of “Twelfth Night” by Shakespeare was a little difficult for me,

because of the old English. But otherwise, I was able to follow along with the story.

The way Shakespeare writes is hard to follow, especially with the iambic

pentameter. I feel that he writes his plays, like he’s writing a song. It’s as if he’s

writing about himself or events he’s experienced, and he’s living through the

characters. But that’s just me. In addition to the “old English, I found that Act 2

was a little boring; because the Duke was sends Viola to tell Olivia about how

much he loves her. Then, Olivia rejected him, and Viola dressed up as a boy. I

would of liked to see Viola’s disguise fall off while she was speaking to Olivia. But

don’t get me wrong the “love triangle” is funny, and the drama. What I did like

about Act 2, was Sir Toby. He acts so silly when he’s drunk, which is all the time.

And its so amazing how Olivia puts up with it. I also like Maria. Her character is

funny to me. She’s the smart, calm, cool, and collected person, who always has

smart remarks. She is just fantastic. I want to say I relate to her, but I can’t I have

a friend that definitely relates to her, but I don’t. I would say that I more am like

the fool. I’m that kind of person, that acts silly, and I have everyone “fooled” that I

am silly and just this carefree person. But, that is so not me. I’m more of like a

person who is a hard worker; that person who is serious and independent, but I

also like to have fun; I have different personalities. Also, I don’t really like Olivia.

She reminds me of those girls who are to stubborn to appreciate what they have,

and that people are throwing themselves at their feet, but they are so blind they

can’t see it; or maybe their noses are to stuck up in the air. Anyway, Olivia need to

recognize that the Duke is a man that would do anything for her, just anything, so

that he can see her and make her happy. Olivia needs to get her act together and

stop being all about “me, me, me, me!” That’s how I feel about her.

Rock on with ADHD

         What! Isn’t ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Yes! But, how can it “rock”? Well, I read this cool article from “TIME”, about how kids with ADHD may learn better by fidgeting. Study shows that kids with ADHD help make their learning easier by moving. Many parents and teachers try to get kids with ADHD to stop fidgeting. But ADHD researcher “Mark Rapport”, says, “Let them move.”

     Studies show that kids with ADHD have a weak memory. Example, telling a kid with ADHD something: “Go to the car, get my keys, bring your sisters toys, and go take out the trash.” The kid would go to the car, and forget what else he was told to do. Sadly, Mark Rapport says there isn’t a cure for ADHD. It’s sad and good. Sad, because there’s no cure and it exists. Good, because we understand more about people with ADHD. And, people with ADHD can cope with their disorder. They won’t worry as much about it being a problem, when fidgeting helps facilitate their learning. This article was really cool, because when people hear ADHD, they think: fidgety, can’t learn, dummy. But now, people can see that there disorder has some good sides to it.

Response to ACT 1

After reading Act 1 in class, I’m a little confused; but I understand everything that we read. What confused me was the character “Viola”. Why did she decide to dress up as a boy, so that he could go work for the Duke? She survived a shipwreck, and washed up on the shores of Lyria. Wouldn’t a regular person try to get back to wherever they came from? That doesn’t make sense. Also, I don’t understand why the Duke is wasting her time with Olivia. She obviously doesn’t want him, and the Duke is just repeatedly asking for her to go out with him. If it were Olivia, I would have up and moved along time ago. Seriously, the Duke needs to move on. Well, those are the only things I am confused with. I get the whole part of Act 1.

Act 1 starts out with the Duke in the garden talking about how love is music. Then, one of the Duke’s loyal men tells him bad new about Olivia. She is psychologically disfigured, due to the death of her brother. Olivia, will not show her face to the sun or anyone for seven years. She will also not see men for seven years too. The duke is discouraged, but sees hope, because he thinks if Olivia falls for him; think of how much love she will give him. Weird! Anyway, the scene switched, and Viola is introduced to the play. She has a twin brother; apparently they are in the wealthy class. Viola was washed up upon the shores of Lyria, due to a shipwreck. Viola decides to lay low, in hopes of receiving news that her twin brother survived the shipwreck as well. She wants to work for the Duke, and so decides to dress up as a boy. The scene is switched, and Olivia is introduced to the play; her lady helper is introduced too, and her drunk uncle, and her drunk uncle’s friend (Sir Anthony). Also, why does Olivia give her uncle hospitality? If I were Olivia, I would have thrown him out, or disown him. I wouldn’t care if it made me look bad. Anyway, Olivia and Viola (dressed as a boy) meet. Viola is there to deliver a sweet love message from the Duke to Olivia. Olivia rejects Duke again, but has the “hoots” for Viola. This book is seriously messed up. But I like the movie, “She’s the Man”.

Contrast Between the book and movie "To Kill A Mockingbird"

In class, we read the novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, and after we read the book we watched the 1960’s movie. The novel and the movie have many differences. During the movie, I noticed that it was anachronistic. The movie starts out with Mr. Cunningham paying Attics back with walnuts. But, in the book, it starts out with Scout and Jem playing scenes from books they’ve read, and meeting Charles Baker Harris (Dill). The movie and the book have many more differences, such as many scenes from the book that aren’t in the movie. For example, the characters “Uncle Jack and Aunt Alexandra (Atticus’ siblings) aren’t there. And, there were some scenes that were out of order.

In the novel, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church (all African Americans). This scene was important, because Jem and Scout see that they aren’t much different from black people when it comes t church. Plus, Calpurnia serves as a bridge between two worlds (the black world and the white world. However, this scene wasn’t in the movie. Also, another important scene from the book that wasn’t in the movie, was Jem receiving a camellia as a parting gift from Mrs. Dubose. In the book, Jem messes up Mrs. Dubose’s camellias because she called Atticus a “nigger-lover”; s Jem had to read to Mrs. Dubose everyday as punishment. This is an important scene, because Jem fails to realize that good and evil can coexist within a person. Another important scene from the book that wasn’t in the move was Tom Robinson’s death. In the book, Tom Robinson was shot at during an exercise period at the jail. However, in the movie, when Tom Robinson was being transported to the “Town Jail” he tried to escape, and was shot at for doing so. The movie and the book were both alike, despite their differences. The book and the movie both had Scout being the narrator, Atticus defending To Robinson, Jem and Scout going through a rough time before the trial (Town People whispering), Tom Robinson’s trial, and meeting Boo Radley.

"The Day the Music Died"

I can still remember how
That music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance,
That I could make those people dance,
And maybe they'd be happy for a while

I know, that McLean wrote this song in remembrance of the three great Rock and Roll artists. These three rock and roll artists lost their lives in a plane crash. They were: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Bid Bopper. They were flying from a show they just performed; they were flying to another one. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Big Bopper introduced Rock and Roll to the world. Now, this song is in remembrance of these three great artists. But what exactly do the lyrics mean? Well, I have chosen to decode the first or second verse of the song to the best of my ability.

Here they are:

Words in Blue: McLean is saying how he can recapture the music that those great artists played; and how it made him smile.
Words in Red: McLean is saying that because of the “Day the Music Died”, people were upset and deeply saddened by the news of the plane crash. There was no music to make those people dance again. But, if McLean were able to bring the music back into the people’s lives, then they would be able to dance and be happy again.

Rhee Tackles Classroom Challenge: Response

I'm surprised that the D.C. school district is not a great system as it should be.  I thought schools in D.C. received an outstanding education, because the President was there improving a better nation. What Rhee is doing for the D.C. school system is amazing! Rhee, by the way, is the Chancellor running D.C.. Many schools that aren't successful with education, are overlooked and don't receive a lending hand to help them.  I'm happy for Rhee that make something happen for the schools of D.C.; that she can make a change. She also made the time to meet with an 11th grader, that wanted to discuss with her the schools problems with education. In my opinion, that's fantastic! Reasons being, not many high officials take the time to meet with students, or people of a lower position.  Usually, students who write letters to important people, end up not getting a response or end up getting a response from the officials secretary. Hopefully, Rhee can accomplish the goal she wants to.  Which is to make the urban kids catch up with the suburban kids.  If she does accomplish her goal, she has done something no one has done before, and maybe help other schools across the nation.  Good Luck Rhee!  Keep Up The Good Work!

DEATH PENALTY FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED?

          THE DEATH PENALTY! Getting the electric chair, getting hanged, becoming decapitated, and enduring a painful injection. What horrible ways for people to die. I don’t believe people should die, because it’s wrong to take someone’s life. But, if the person committed an anise crime, then they should suffer the consequences. Like an eye for an eye, or treat people the way you want to be treated. However, I don’t believe that the mentally handicapped should endure the death penalty. Reasons being, their brains aren’t that well developed; they have the brains of a toddler or baby. Mentally handicap people sometimes don’t realize the actions they commit are either bad or good. The judge or jury should give a little leeway when deciding the death penalty the mentally handicapped. Since it would be horrific to give the death penalty to them, they should be sentenced to community service. Families or love ones close to a person who died because of a mentally handicap person, would want that mentally handicap person to suffer. But really, come on! Give them a break. Their brains aren’t that well equipped. I know that they committed a horrible crime, but would you really want to kill toddler?