Mysisters keeper 6/reflection .....finished.

IF YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING DONT READ THIS> MS> THOLEN YOU SAID IN CLASS YOU ALREADY READ THIS BOOK SO....
I cant believe this stupid book. Why did it have to end like that? Gosh, this whole book brought my day down. Throughout the whole book, i kept thinking Kate was the one to die for sure, my told me one of them was going to die, so Kate for sure, i thought. She was already dieing and Anna just got her permission not to give the kidney. So, i thought that's all to the novel. This makes me so sad, well duh. Everyone told me that they cried and i told myself, oh, i can handle it, who cries after reading a book?! Well, I do. I think it would make Ms.Tholen happy that I got such an emotion out a book, because that means a book made me have such a powerful reaction. The author is an amazing plot person, or however you say it. Who knew that Anna's death would make things happier? For everyone? Jesse is now a mayor?? Wow, the whole time I am so quick to judge, even while reading his part he seemed so immature and pointless. This makes me think anything is possible, and anyone can do it. And the father- remember how i told you I did not like him, because he was so perfect? Well, after Anna's death he became a drunk. I guess everyone deals with death in differently. Jesse was a bad kid who no one cared about, after Anna, it make him stronger, but the dad, it broke him. It makes me so grateful that no one that close to me died. The makes you so involved in the characters that you can feel how the characters feel. Going through this book was almost like having someone you know die- it's that good (the book). It's powerful when Anna dies, that you feel it was your sister too(almost). Sara (the mother) i was quick to judge too, that she was to blame. Mostly because i don't like the situation and its so easy to put the blame on her, because shes the mother. And is seems sometimes that we expect the mothers to do everything. If the child does well, then it's because the mother, if the child is a rotten egg, the mother made them that way. That is also why you are so quick to sympathize with her too. She is the mom and she is the one who has to fix it. She is the one who hurts the most when somebody dies. Kate gets to live- a costly upside. She gets to live her dream as a ballerina teacher, and her parents actually do get to see her grow up. I wonder if they feel the have the same wish now. At the end we finally read what she thinks, she is grateful, and still Anna's sister. No matter if your sister dies, your still going to be her sister. That is going to be with you forever. I have three younger sisters, I hate them and love them at the same time. Siblings are a weird thing. They are not just any old person to you. which means genetics matters, you grow up feeling that way, even if they are awful to you, and you don't know why. I can't image my sisters dieing for me, and I know they would do that for me -and I would do the same. Campbell and Julia get married, wow who saw that one coming... (sarcasm) they stay close to the family which I like because you get go through something like that with someone and not keep in touch. We wish the book had a happy ending, we wish there would be an easy way out... but life is not like that. The book stays true to real life. It outs in right in your face, and that's life. Tough you don't want to deal with but you do anyways. OK, so maybe a don't hate this book- it was a really good read. Now I can be one of those people who say, Oh yea, you'll cry after reading that book, and then someone will think that's stupid... And then they will cry.

sisters keeper 5

The author is very talented, I don't know how she can write so many people's perspectives.

The trial is heating up, and I'm not liking how Anna is being so incentive. She wants the trial, and then she doesn't. I feel bad For Campbell of all people because he is doing this trail for free and Anna keeps disappearing or not cooperating. Well, I'm being harsh, it's a big thing for her, but still.

Also, it's so scandalous and gossip-y but i can't believe Julia and Campbell slept together. I think they will get back dating. Why else would the author put Julia in the story or narrate for them. There chapters pull away from the family drama, to take a breather. Which makes the book smart because if there was too much drama in one thing, it would make my head hurt. Also, i can see why Julia thinks he is a jerk. Campbell is so involved with his work, i feel like he is a robot. Ug, men are so stupid. Why can't he just apologize? Is it that hard? He has too much pride. He needs to be more sensitive. I do like his humor. And I thought I would never learn what his dog was for. Finally, we found out that he is deaf in one ear. I know it was a very minor thing in the story but he would not tell us what it was for, when someone asked Campbell would give some sarcastic response.
The book has been bias, favoring Anna. But in Sara's chapter, when Kate got that boyfriend who was also sick then died, i really felt for the mother and why she was doing that. I finally got it, that Kate never really got to be herself, because she was always sick. Kate always must give up so much. She would have been a different person if she never got sick. The leukemia may have caused her much physical pain, but the biggest hurt the leukemia has caused is that she cannot have a normal life and can't be herself.

my sisters keeper 4

My book is awesome! If Ms.Tholen said we could quit this assignment I would still read it. There is one character that annoys me. The dad, Brain, annoys me. I imagine him very perfect movie character. He is too perfect it seems like. Nobody dislikes him, not even Anna. He saves lives being a firefighter and seems so heroic. Even when it’s his chapter he seems really ideal! And the whole point of them narrating a chapter is to get inside their head! Ug, this really irritates me. I don’t enjoy reading him but I cannot stop. I wonder when Kate will realize that her sister will not give up her liver. Maybe she has already figured it out. The whole plot is so smart. It’s not a yes or no question, it can’t be simply answered. Should Anna keep supplying Kate with her own body organs or does Anna have a right to her own body? Yes Kate could die but Anna is a human too. I really like how the author has no bias. Even though the characters have bias to what should happen, the author is so talented that the characters do not rub you in their direction and still make their point. Also, Julia and Campbell, it is obviously awkward for them. I have a feeling that they will get back together. Otherwise why else would the author have two ex’s working together. Its gets really interesting whenever Campbell has flash backs to when they were dating. I don’t think Campbell is nice to her; he is still attached to what everyone else thinks. Julia is really cool, how she not afraid to be alone, and be herself. I don’t like how she is meant to her twin though, because all Julia’s sister is doing is standing up to her when Campbell is around. I will read on to see what happened to the relationship.

My sister's keeper

I am almost half way through my book. The novel continues on be very insightful to life and it is easy for me to read yet very exciting. This book knows life. Like when I was in a section in Anna’s part, what she said I found very true in life. She was talking about this kid in her class who was a loser, nobody talked to him. It was like “dorkhood was contagious” which is funny but true, high kids do act like that. Anyways, then that kid was diagnosed with MS. People treated him differently. They smiled at him and talked to him. In our school it’s similar. If a kid has special needs, we will be nice to him. Out of pity I think. I don’t know if this is wrong, but we all feel bad cause they have a disadvantage on life, which we be nice to the special kid because want that kid’s life a little easier. But when we make fun of a kid who is a dork and does not have something wrong with him, but his life is bad because no one talks to him, is that any different? Anyways this relates to the story as a whole because same thing with Kate. Everyone treats their nicely, especially her mother, because she is ill. But all the normal kids in the family suffer. The mother (Sara) gives all her attention to Kate. Yes, Kate does will possible die sooner, but all the other kids are dragged down with. Does Sara’s love make up for her life being shorter? But then again, any of our lives could be cut short, like a car accident. I know Sara loves all her kids its just Kate needs more care. Also in the book, lawyers might move Sara out because she is the lawyer who might be influencing Anna to stop. But luckily Brain (the dad) moved Anna to the fire station were he works. I’m kinda mad because my friend told me that someone dies at the ending, I wish did not tell me that. Oh well, It’s still a page turner and I like it. 

My sister’s keeper 2

I can’t stress enough how great it is to have every chapter switch between characters, that way I get to know what everyone is thinking. Unlike most books, my book gives the benefit of not being in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person speaker but has a first person speaker, alternating between characters. I really love that I get to read about all of them and how all of them feel. In normal books, would not know what they were thinking, and who they really were. But in this book, even if it’s not the main characters speaking, you still get to hear what there true opinions are. I think the author did this to show how sickness not only effects the one who is sick, but everyone around them suffers too. Everyone is scared and concerned for Kate, even though she seems like the one who is most prepared for death. On pages 134 and 135 Anna flashes back to when they were kids. Kate says, “What do you think is the best way to die?” which shows Kate is thinking about death and not afraid of it. I think she is forced to feel ready for death, due to her knowing she will die young from her sickness. Anna on the other hand, responds by telling Kate to shut up and stop talking about death. Also, there was this exciting part in the book were the mom (Sara) says she will be go against Anna in court! It’s like something out of a drama series on TV. I can’t wait to see how that will turn out. I find Anna a very fascinating Character. She is so mature for her age. She is always thinking of others and her plans are very thought out. This is confirmed when Julia first meets Anna. Within minutes of meeting, she states, “But there is a part of me already giving Anna credit for being wary: this is not a child who rushes into headlong situations… she must have thought long and hard about untangling herself from the net of her family,” (109.) I infer that this case is so emotionally tolling on Anna.

meh book

Abby Dauth
Ms. Tholen
English 10
14 April 2009
Outside Reading Reflection Paper
I choose My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult mostly because a lot of people recommended it to me. So many people tell me that it gave them powerful emotions and impacted them so much that it made them cry at the end. I also have heard that it is exhilarating and moves along fast. I like a book like that and it helps me to pay attention, because I am not a big reader. Also the concept of the book interests me, on the back of the book it says, “Can a parent love too much? Or is too much never enough?”

My Mother Pieced Quilts

1. The speaker of the poem is the person was given the quilt. How I know is that they speak as if they were given the quilt and are reflecting on it now.
2. The person is speaking to the person who made the quilt, the mother. The quote "oh mother you plunged me sobbling and laughing" gives it away. Also they keep repeating "you" it was like you made the quilt, and you sowed it together. Also tittle gives it away.
3. The family seems strong, even if something bad happens they are still strong and hold together. The poem gives me a feel that the family is very loving and close.
4. Four fabrics are "black silk you wore to grandmother’s funeral" "my father’s santa fe shirt" "flannel nightgowns" and cotton.
5. They are the memoirs they remember while looking at the quilt.
6. The theme of the poem is love of the family. How it was just a blanket to keep out cold but it is something much more. How hard the mother worked to make it, out of love for the child. All the memoirs built in the blanket.

My paragraph 2

A current Ku Klux Klan member David Duke once said, “White people don't need a law against rape, but if you fill this room up with your normal black bucks, you would, because niggers are basically primitive animals” (ADL) David Duke is a prime example of what people become when they feel superior to another race, which is called white supremacy. White supremacy encourages and one of the main causes to the group Ku Klux Klan. White supremacy bases on fear, nurture, and group acceptance. People who are racist create a feeling of superiority to other cultures or races because they are afraid. Jæger advocates “…above many people are afraid of people that are different from themselves, and in order to reassure themselves, many people imagine that they are superior to who they are afraid of, so that they don’t have to be afraid anymore” (Jæger, Mads). If the Ku Klux Klan does not understand or know others like the African American race, so they will create groups like the Ku Klux Klan to protect themselves from them. Although fear is one cause, many in the Ku Klux Klan were raised to be racists from birth. Jæger states that, “parents who have the idea that they are better because they are white, their children most often will believe the same” (Jæger). When people believe they are better than other races, commonly they have been taught this from a young age. Also, white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan often join because they group acceptance. Okun essentially states that when you cluster yourself with a certain group, you feel a part of something with your “own” people (Tema Okun). People want to be have approval from other people in order to feel fulfilled and happy. White supremacy spreads through fear, nurture, and group acceptance and from there people start groups like the Ku Klux Klan.


Okun, Tema . "White Supremacy Culture." 1999. Prison Activist. 24 Mar 2009 http://www.prisonactivist.org/archive/cws/dr-culture.html

Jæger, Mads . "The opinions of a racist person ." Racism. 1998. Thinkquest. 24 Mar 2009 http://library.thinkquest.org/28172/ropinio2.htm

"On Blacks." David Duke Update. May 2000. ADL. 25 Mar 2009
http://www.adl.org/special_reports/duke_own_words/on_blacks.asp

my paragragh

A current Ku Klux Klan member David Duke once said, “"White people don't need a law against rape, but if you fill this room up with your normal black bucks, you would, because niggers are basically primitive animals” (ADL) David Duke is a prime example of what people become when they feel superior to another race, which is called white supremacy. White supremacy encourages and one of the main causes to the group Ku Klux Klan. White supremacy bases on fear, nurture, and group acceptance. But the Ku Klux Klan believes they are the better race because of fear (thinkquest.) They have a fear of another race, and might threaten their lack of resources for their own people. Also, they don't understand or do not know the African American people, as a result they feel vulnerable and different. So, because of fear the African Americans, the Ku Klux Klan feels the need to act out against them. Another reason why people created white supremacy is because some are grown that way. Parents who have the idea that they are better because they are white, their children most often will believe the same (thinkquest.) That is not always how it happens but most people pick up traits by the way and things they were taught, typically when young. A further explanation of why white supremacy has started is because people want to feel acceptance. When you cluster yourself with a certain group, you feel apart of something with your “own” people (Tema Okun.) The Ku Klux Klan fell closer having a same opponent. We are all humans in we like to group ourselves (emotionalcompetency.) A member the Ku Klux Klan feels they are wanted and follows the groups ideals which makes them feel even more as one to the group. People also have white supremacy to have a scapegoat and need someone to take the fall. “Some of the very common reasons for racism to arise are fear or the need for a ‘scapegoat’ “(thinkquest.) Scapegoats allow the group to rights and more superiority. People want more power and so if your group you belong to does something wrong, you can blame it on someone else to not lose power. All in all white supremacy is just one more way people create such groups like the KKK. The truth is we may have different believes but we are all human.

daivid duke qoutes for kkk paper

"[A] black...gets a job with a white-owned company. He is the only black at the firm. He works hard, but he's fighting a losing battle against his genes."

­­ Duke editorial, "The Black Plague."
NAAWP News, Issue 32, 1985

"White people don't need a law against rape, but if you fill this room up with your normal black bucks, you would, because niggers are basically primitive animals.

"It's really the Jew Marxists who see the nigger as their instrument, as their bullets, by which to destroy our society."

­- The Sun (Wichita, KS), April 23, 1975

link: http://www.adl.org/special_reports/duke_own_words/on_blacks.asp

"On Blacks." David Duke Update. May 2000. ADL. 25 Mar 2009

links...for later

http://library.thinkquest.org/28172/ropinio2.htm

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAkkk.htm

http://www.prisonactivist.org/archive/cws/dr-culture.html

Research 1

Effects of kkk:
Bobby Frank Cherry, Ku Klux Klan member, he bombed a Baptist Church and murdered four black girls in the 1963. (Birmingham, Alabama)

The church itself had become a Symbol for effects between conflict between Civil Rights activists and police.

Five days before hand, schools were desegregated. The bomb was in responds to it.

In 22 May 2002 Bobby Frank Cherry was sentenced to life under murder.


link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2002/sep/08/features.magazine137

Lindsey, Emma . "Southern discomfort." The Guardian. 8 September 2002, 22 Mar 2009.

overcoming odds

This is a true story of someone defying the chances. Ten a.m. on February second two-thousand-and-eight, a hold up in a store killed many, allowing one survivor. A man pretending to be a delivery man walked into the store, and shortly after to pull out a gun and demanded money from the cashier. But he refused and took four women to the back room and tired them with duct tape. One of the victims called nine-one-one, following after to get shot. Subsequently six women were shot when police arrived. The man did all this for a couple hundred bucks he stole. There was only one survivor who was shot but was not died, playing dead so he would not shoot at her again. She was able to describe the shooter in detail, yet there are no suspects to be found. This woman has truly overcome the odds. People like these will live no matter what life will throw at them. This story reminds me of another like it. Caron Butler was once living in jail and looked like he would not have a bright future. But he found his way out when his talent of basket ball made Caron big. Hopefully this story will inspire others to know that when things are bad there is a chance to survival.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/16/grace.coldcase.lane.bryant/index.html#cnnSTCText

Mikkilineni , Rupa . "Witness survived store shooting by playing dead." March 17, 2009. CNN. 22 Mar 2009

love

Dating and love has changed over the years. We now have different ideas of love, expectations, and how and where to find it. Thanks to technology, more and more people are finding love, not like we used to. One in four people say that they have found a relationship through the internet, via facebook, myspace, match.com, ect. And through the ages that number is expected to only get higher. It is certainly easier to browse through your possibilities, without people ever knowing it, and you can see a lot more about them then you would face-to-face. It’s much softer to be rejected through the internet than in real life. You can have a whole relationship with someone without ever meeting them. But is it such a good thing? This article reminds me of another one where a guy had pretended he was someone he was not. People can lie very easily online, and the possibilities of stalkers too. It is a good thing for some because you can meet a lot of people, especially if you’re shy. The internets open up connections and social relationships with a click of a button. It also can keep long distant relationships intact and easier to keep together. Someday you might find your love on the internet too.

http://www.metro.co.uk/metrosexual/article.html?Facebook_and_MySpace_are_most_popular_place_to_find_love&in_article_id=558642&in_page_id=8

"Facebook and MySpace are 'most popular place to find love'." Thursday, February 26, 2009. Metro. 21 Mar 2009

map!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

war

For the war blog I did the conflict in Gaza. From this war, 1,200 or more Palestinians died and 13 Israelis died from this conflict. I personally think that Israel is being a bit of a bully, but both sides have thrown bombs and it is wrong. I wish they could share but that seems like a stretch. To many religions Jerusalem is a holy important place, which has created much fighting over throughout the times. After world war two, Untied Nations gave the Jews a homeland in Jerusalem, the problem was that people were already occupied there. But all politics aside, innocent people living in the Gaza Strip are living in fear, wondering if this is the day there homes will get blown up. These are real hard working people and I don’t see how putting three thousands people homeless who had no intention of doing anything to Israel solves the problem. One man (Mr Atamna) interviewed by BBC news (Palestinian) has just lost his home and is living in a metal shack next to his ruined house along with pregnant wife and seven children. Mr Atamna says he wants the future to be better, but does not see it happening. Safety and comfort is a luxury they live without. They said they have worked so hard for the house and car they once had, is now in ruins. This reminds me of a book I read about a young women living in Iraq. She was going to school working hard for a degree while occasionally hearing bombs dropping. There is nothing good in war, but I guess it is just a way of live it seems. Maybe one day we can be responsible and sensible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7926780.stm

Sharp, Heather . "Homeless in Gaza ". BBC News . 6 March 2009

colonization

Colonization started in Africa around the seventeenth century by the Dutch and English. They made many colonies and exploited Africa from its resources (diamonds, gold, and various kinds of metals.) Worse yet, in the 1960’s to gain control of Africa they created ``Grand Apartheid,'' which is a form of racial separation for white privilege. Even tough Africa is dominated by black population, the colonizers made it impossible for them to have freedom of any kind. Humans were placed into three groups: white, black and mixed decent. Black Africans could not have certain jobs, and couldn’t go to certain areas. Black Africans had been granted less doctors, teachers, and income. While the states were marching for peace against racial separation, Africa’s separation had just begun. Even though there were four million white South Africans, there were nineteen million black Africans who had less than fifteen percent of there own land. All though it was there land, they were the ones without power. Thankfully in the 1990’s (far too late) there was no more Grand Apartheid. In the book Things Fall Apart Okonkwo had no idea what was coming for him. White people were there but they did not do this much damage, but both in the book and the Grand Apartheid had no right doing so.

http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.html

Dugard, John. "The History of Apartheid in South Africa". stanford. March 22, 2009

Global issue

Globally, over Twenty-six-thousand and five-hundred children died around the world just today. That means that every three seconds a child dies, eighteen every minute, and ten million each year. This does not include children who couldn’t have been saved. So these deaths were preventable. The Twenty-six-thousand and five-hundred children that die everyday die from poverty, hunger, and curable diseases or illness. In America, this would not be OK, but if it is a poor country, that is? Do we just expect that and say ‘oh well’? We know what is happening, but we care more about celebrity gossip and such. The media fails to recognize this tragedy, when is the last time you have seen a headline on provable death of children; not many. Even though we are going though hard times ourselves, we are a powerful country. And as a powerful country, I think it is our duty to help other developing countries. But again and again we hand a broken promise. Also, it’s not even including the adults that are dying, but the children who are dying needlessly. We need to do something and turn away no longer.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/715/today-over-26500-children-died-around-the-world#Whyisthistragedynotintheheadlines

Anup Shah, Today, over 26,500 children died around the world, GlobalIssues.org, Last updated: Thursday, January 31, 2008

holidays

Happy national grammar day!!! This holiday (march 4) is pretty self explanatory; it is a day to use the proper mechanics when talking or writing. If you don’t know how, I suggest carrying around a dictionary or something. This day kind of annoys me. But many say it is language is important to one’s society or culture. So some argue that it is important to have our language intact and not loss it’s original state. We also use more and more slang words everyday as generations go on. I predict that in the future we will be speaking in texting words or acronyms. If we do not use good grammar the English language would be lost. A language is an important unifier of a nation. Each nation has its own identity and language is a big part of it. People feel a sense of ownership to their own nation when there is there own unique language to it. I think it is OK in a lot of places, and I respect that but I think America should not have an official language. Even though English is the dominating talk in the US, we should not credit it to be, or announce it is. The US’s idea is that it is based on many cultures coming together and not having a favorite culture. Sense culture is so apart of language; this is why US should not officialize a national language. Anyways this is one holiday I wanted to share with you. Use your proper grammar!


http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/feb/26/news/chi-0226languagefeb26



Bierma, Nathan. "Don’t get carried away on National Grammar Day". Chicago Tribune. February 26, 2008 .

culture food

We all have odd foods in every country. One in particular that just came out, Indian corporations are trying to sell gau jal. Translates into cow water, but it’s nearly all made from cow… pee. The marketer’s promise is that it will nor taste or smell like urine. In India, cows are sacred so they cannot hurt the cow and some believe that the urine drink has special healing powers. The cow urine drink is believed to cleanse the body. Marketers say that this drink promotes Hindu-ness. People have been drinking this concoction for years. First this drink was introduced to people of low caste system for rituals and to cure cancer. Now they are thinking to export the gau jal. The gau jal people say they are competing against drinks like cola. I guess every culture has its weird foods. Foods are tired in with culture very strongly. This reminds me of other culture differences in food. Like here, it is very popular to eat a peanut butter and jelly, while Austrians think it’s gross. The Indians have gau jal but we have eggnog and sunny D. We also came up with the Idea for chocolate covered cockroaches so we are just as bad. I should not judge because it may turn out it tastes really great.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article5707554.ece
Kralj, Sasa . "India to launch cow urine as soft drink". Times Online. February 11, 2009 .

Bollywood

In many ways, Bollywood and Hollywood have many similarities between each but some cases can be very different. Bollywood culture is primarily Hindu culture and Hollywood’s culture is more American. But when The Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and American actor Richard Gere made a culture clash, problems between the two arose. In Hollywood’s culture public displays of affection is very ok or even encouraged. When Hollywood stars like Gere, show public displays of affection its fine and people love it. But in Bollywood culture, when actresses like Shilpa Shetty publicly kiss or something when the whole world can see, this is not accepted. In India, many people suffer from HIV so they held an Aids awareness rally. The two actors showed up at the event to talk about safe sex. Gere said “no condom no sex” and then kissed Shetty on the cheek. The crowd and the country did not approve. To make matters worse, the two were an unmarried couple AND Gere was a foreigner. People did not like he was not from their country. This is very not OK in their culture. In following protests began. Protesters burned movie posters of Shetty. The incident is one of few culture clashes. What is OK for one culture is not in another. Gere should have respected their culture, but I’m sure he did not know. In my opinion, I think that he was just making a joke that got way too out of hand.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-448932/Kisses-Richard-Gere-plunge-Shilpa-Shetty-India-row.html.

"Kisses from Richard Gere plunge Shilpa Shetty into India row". Mail Online. 18 April 2007 .

change

Courtesy of http://ftltea.podbean.com

Kim Petras is a German teenager whose name used to be Tim. Kim has become the youngest person ever (so far) to have a sex change. She is sixteen and has been calling herself a girl since age two. She always knew that she want to be a girl and was very unhappy. She called herself “a girl in a boy's body.” As soon as she was allowed, she had the operation. In Germany, people can’t have this sort of operation until eighteen otherwise illegal. Never the less, Kin persuaded doctors and psychologists that she was mature enough and had her heart set on the operation. Even they knew she craved to become a girl. As young as the age of twelve, she began to take hormone treatment for the later sex change, planned to be at eighteen at the time. Lutz, her father says he is supports and is even proud his now daughter. The parents are fine with Kim’s decision. She is presently a model for a hair salon and is a musician with a record deal. Kim says quote, “I was asked if I feel like a woman now but, the truth is, I have always felt like a woman – I just ended up in the wrong body.” I think it’s great that Kim knows who she is and is determined to speak up for herself. Many adults can’t even do that. She has a good future and I like how people are very accepting of who she wants to be. I also like how her parents are behind what she wants to do. Some think sex changes are wrong or gross but transsexuals are unhappy with themselves, so they should be allowed to do it. I’m glad she is happier.

“World's youngest sex change operation at 16.” Metro.co.uk. February 4, 2009 Metro.
March 1 2009. < http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Worlds_youngest_sex_change_operation_at_16&in_article_id=519977&in_page_id=34>

hope

For the hope blog, of coarse I had to do one about Obama! On the BBC news, they reported that Obama announces his plan for the Iraq war (finally we are doing something!) He hopes and will pull out troops. We and the Iraq people hope for a better future. He says by at least the end of 2011 we will totally be withdrawn from Iraq. All combat troops of August 2010 a lot will be gone. Some say Iraq is too dependant on us now, or time of withdraw is too short. Obama reassures people by saying, "Iraq is not yet secure, and there will be difficult days ahead." He also says that Iraq is a great country with great people. To insure the troop’s wellbeing, Obama will be pumping up the veterans' health care, as promised. Iraq will have a new US ambassador, Christopher Hill. Most Iraq people are saying they are very ready for the US to depart. Republicans say they hoped a pull out of 15000 troops but Obama hoped for a lot more, so they reached a compromise of 50000 troops pull out in August. It’s going to take awhile but we will be getting out of there. I don’t think it is best to just leave the Iraqi people hangin but we have done enough damage. It was a war for a “central and democratic government.” If that were true we could have done a better way, not just bomb the place.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7914061.stm

Donnelly, Tom. “Obama outlines Iraq pullout plan.” Politics 27 February 2009: BBC News. March 1 2009.

spirituality/religion

This blog about spirituality/religion is about Buddhism. I highly respect and admire the Buddhist faith because you are a good person not because you are obligated to so you can get into heaven, but it’s because you want and choose to, and it just makes you feel good doing so. I also like how they are not hung up on rules. The Buddhist faith is to make a better life for people and to reach nirvana and to have peace with the world. I don’t believe in the whole reincarnation deal, but it’s possible, I guess. I also like how the Buddha is not considered a god, some Buddhism do but not many. I think the Buddha would have wanted it that way. Anyways, this article is about a master and student enlightening each other. It talks about how even you have bad things happen to you, or you have a bad day, you can enjoy it. Plus, it is always more meaningful to figure out something for yourself than a master telling you. Everyone is alone in the world, and that’s scary. Others may be able to get a sense of what we think and feel. But no one else can ever be "aware" of you in the truest sense. Only you can know what you really think, feel and experience. We are alone in the universe because the total universe is us. I think only people who have reached nirvana will understand that completely. There is this never ending cycle that we have. We complain about the sucky thing in our life. And then, when things go right, we worry when this will end and be bad again. But Buddhist does not think that way. Say you have a bad grade; instead of “I have a bad grade” you say I am the bad grade.
“You can't control your circumstances. But how you respond to them is totally up to you. And once you learn to respond better an interesting thing happens. The world starts to behave exactly as you want it to.” –Brad
In “Nectar in a sieve” Rukumani does not think she is the bad drought, but she is having one. But, I don’t really blame her for worrying or being sad.


Brad. “Sit down and shut up: a Buddhist website.” January 31, 2009. Homepage mac. February 15 2009. < http://homepage.mac.com/doubtboy/badhairday.html>

gender roles

Dick Masterson believes are clearly blunt about gender roles. His website http://www.menarebetterthanwomen.com/ says it all. Dick states that, quote;
Every woman is a cheating whore.
Dick refers to women as whores, in all blogs.
Women are good for nothing expect sex and having children.
“A penny saved is a women fired” (women are horrible employees).
Women should not be allowed to vote. So of coarse he is very against Hillary.
Saying Hillary is a disgrace because she could not please her man.
Men created every single thing in the world. (Inventions, cured diseases, built cities.)
Women do not like sex they just use men for money.
All women do with there time is spend men’s money.
And women can’t do math.
What surprises me the most is he has many girlfriends. Even though he treats them like crap, he has girlfriends. He states that he does not expect a women to do things right. A woman is like a dog, he says. If they did something wrong then it’s your fault you didn’t train them properly. He contently says stuff on his blogs like:
“I was getting so many text messages from hot babes on New Year’s Eve that my phone overloaded and permanently shut down. At least that’s what the technician at the Verizon store told me and I have no reason to doubt him. Not only does that mean I am 100% right when I say women love being told their place in life — especially hot women.” And: “Anyone can have a threesome. I’ve had like seven.” (From blog: http://www.menarebetterthanwomen.com/dick-mastersons-2009-man-challenge/#more-1207)
This made me feel very sad and like a lesser human. But I realize only simple-minded and prejudice people believe and read this blog. Most people do not think the way he thinks. No one believes Dick and he will not make a difference and what he says is just not true. So this should not anger anyone, its just stupid. He was on Tyra Banks, Dr. Phil, and The Young Turks. I wish these types of programs would not give him ANY attention. He is clearly just trying to get attention, and make money (book and merchandise) from saying these outrageous things.
Racist and sexist people are just stupid. They want to feel good about themselves, so they pick stupid reasons like gender or race to validate their own lives. Gender and race are attributes that we can not change in ourselves. These attributes do not make who we are. We should be judged on our actions, not our persona; makeup – our DNA. Racist and sexist people must have poor self-esteem because they form opinion around others based on race or gender. . This reminds me of “Nectar in a sieve” when Rukumani thinks she is automatically better than Kunthi because she is a prostitute. Or when people think they are better than Rukumani and Nathan because they are poor when they don’t even know them.

Masterson, Dick. “Men are better than Women.” Men are better then women. January 5th, 2009. FeedBurner. February 11, 2009 < http://www.menarebetterthanwomen.com/>

Culture

Both Buddhist and Hindu’s alike in Nepal choose their new living goddess or, kumari, this past year. Her name is Matina Shakya and she is three years of age. This is a big long time custom from Nepal's monarchy that was stopped legally in May. The priests and President has welcomed there new kumari and was picked by them. Matina is worshipped by many and is thought to be the living form of the influential Hindu god Taleju. The people and whom ever else comes across her way will be routinely kissed her at her feet, which is a highly respectful thing to do. This reminds me on this article on how that one reporter threw his shoes at former president Bush, in their culture this is a huge sign of disrespect. It is always interesting to see which cultures think what is ok within society. Anyways this girl was incompetion with other two to four year olds, considered to be a kumari. They are all from an impoverished Shakya goldsmith caste. First they are examined to see if the have perfect bodily features and she also must not be scared of the dark. Next the remaining contestants are put into a dark room (with no sign of fear) filled with heads of slaughtered goats and buffaloes. When the kumari is chosen, she will live in the capital of Katmandu, until she gets or first period. Then the whole process restarts. Matina’s father has mixed feelings of both sad and pride for his daughter. But this culture is judged for this ritual, saying that this goes against Naples policies on child rights. Also, when the kumari has hit puberty, and goes back to the village it’s not easy to go from national figure to her usual life. But all culture have their critics, when we look at them from our eyes, it is easy to judge, when they can do the exact thing. When we say they are wrong, who ever ‘they’ may be, sometimes we have to look at ourselves. Our culture can be crazy just as any other. When you judge someone else, don’t be so quick to. And first look at yourself. Culture is hard thing to decide who is right or wrong. Maybe we are all wrong, or all right, who knows, I just think you can believe whatever you want, as long as you don’t hurt anyone or judge others for their believes, that all I can say and that’s all I know.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/world/article.html?Nepal_appoints_new_living_goddess&in_article_id=342694&in_page_id=64

Struggle/difficulty

My blog on Struggle/difficulty is about a woman in South Korea who is struggling to pass the written drivers test. She has a record of the numbers of times she has failed.
She has failed 771 times, and still counting.
Since her first test in April 2005 she has taken it almost daily. Her name is Cha and is now a 68 year old woman who has spent an equivalent of 4 million American dollars. With that amount of money you’d think she could buy her own driver. I guess it is a dream for her, and also admire how persistent she is in doing so. But it appears that money is no problem she I don’t know why she doesn’t take a class or study before hand. Maybe she has a weak memory or something, the article did not say. The standard score you must have in South Korea is sixty, and she alleges that she has gotten up to fifty. She has gotten to know the people at the DMV. One traffic police officer says that he is rooting for her and hopes she passes. But this is my question for you; do you think she should be able to drive? If she has been taking the test for this long, does it mean she is a bad driver? Or maybe the test will be so written in her mind she’ll be an excellent driver. I feel bad that she does not have the freedom to go wherever she wants because she can not drive herself, but still.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Woman_fails_driving_exam_771_times&in_article_id=521759&in_page_id=2&expand=true#StartComments

Natural disasters

I read this article on the New York Times online about how illegal immigrants would not seek help or evacuate because there were afraid that they would arrested. This was an old article, more focusing on the situation of Katrina. How the specifically Latin residents did not evacuate, fearing that when they got into the shelters they would be arrest by the federal government and bring them back to there home land. But the Red Cross did something about it. Making a quiet statement that; unless feds. Had a warrant of some sort, they could not enter the Shelters and bust people for being illegal. Further more, they said that; no one ask if they are illegal nor deny there rights to come in. I think it was important that that made this a quiet change; it was the responsible thing to do. If they made a big deal about it, people would make a fuss saying illegal immigrants have no right to be there and such. But since it was a hushed movement they were able to make the change without anyone getting hurt. I also agree that illegal immigrants have the right to be safe. Some may argue that they have no right to be here but it’s a human right to have safety, and not die because you’re in fear of the government. It would be very inhuman to let those people drown or starve in the hurricane; the Red Cross did the right thing.

Downes, Lawrence. “Hurricanes and the Price of Fear.” The New York Times September 11, 2008
Website address: http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/hurricanes-and-the-price-of-fear/#more-323

In class activity

When doing this activity, the things I gave away was in this order: hair color, skin color, eye color, can’t remember, girl, and my religion (atheist/wanna be Buddhist… I don’t know how that works out but that’s what it is.) This was typical as Ms. Tholen explained. I kept my religion card because that stuff I can change and it’s me who decides what that is, and of coarse it’s a big deal to many of us. But on the other hand when I gave away the hair color so quickly It’s because I dye my hair and its not really part of my identity. Maybe if I had something like full pink hair I would keep it but I don’t it’s kind of not a big deal to me. This put in perceptive of how people that are forced in new cultures feel, even through I could never imagine how that feels, we got a teeny tiny taste. I think we keep the thing most unique about us because we want to feel like we are important. It’s nice to have something that others don’t, we feel like its ours, and it should never be taken away.

Butt bandit caught!

Articles: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Butt_Bandit_jailed_for_one_bum_imprint_too_many&in_article_id=437924&in_page_id=2
And
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Butt_Bandit_terrorises_town&in_article_id=306495&in_page_id=2

In Valentine, Nebraska a man named Thomas Larvie, 35, has been arrested. He leaves his butt imprints on various car windows, businesses windows, school and church windows, eight times, that they know of. I’m not going into detail but he smears lotion and sometimes KY jelly on his you know were and presses up against the windows. Sometimes he has reportedly made not just butt implants everywhere, but for that extra special touch, he’ll do genital implants too. Store owners, church workers and school janitors of coarse wash this off, and that must suck. Some found it funny but when Larvie started doing it to churches, people got all crazy and that’s when police staked it out. When they caught him he was convicted of eight misdemeanor counts of public indecency and one of disturbing the peace. Of coarse this man deserves punishment, but in my opinion the punishment given was not fair. Larvie was sentenced to thirteen months in jail! That’s more than a whole year! It was a stupid gag, and it was funny. If he did that to my house or church or something, I would be pissed, yet it is really funny. Plus I think the town needed this, I mean how much do they have going on in Nebraska? I think a fine would be fair, not jail. Jail time just takes up space and money for Larvie to be in when real criminals need to be in there.
Come on people! It was kinda funny! Its just a butt we all have one, let him out of jail!!!

Sex demand

http://www.sharedhope.org/what/storiesofhope_tanya.asp

~I read this story about this girl named Tanya. ~
~It’s a good example of what sharedhope.com is all about and there points they make. ~

There is the supply, manufactures, and the demand. On shared hope it talks about the sex industry and how by even watching porn would contribute into the increasing number of victims.

I think they make a real good analogy by saying prostitution is like a business. Of course, businesses only care about money, no matter how they do it, like the sex industry. This is a modern day slavery trade. Real human beings being sold and used to have your few minutes of pleasure. The supply, the humans, like Tanya are victims. The manufactures are the pimps, “boyfriends” (as Tanya had) and other people who lure young people to their business. The demand, something no business can live without. The demand is people who go and have sex with hookers, buy porn, ECT. And just think if there were no demand, there would be no need for supply and no manufactures. I know that it’s natural to want sex and such, but at what price?

Many young girls are arrested because they were prostituting, and go to jail. But if they had the choice, they would not want to hook. Like Tanya, she went to jail at seventeen for hooking. When she went to jail, it only made things worse, because she needed help with the things she had gone through.
The girls should not be the one arrested; they are the ones who need help. Many of them had no choice in hookering.
Tanya was twelve when she met this guy. She only had a mom and she was alcoholic, she was looking for someone who cared about her and this man was there for her. He was the only person she had and when Tanya found out that he was a pimp, he asked her to join. She was a young girl, she did hook. It was horrible, not allowed to talk to anyone but the people in “the family.” The family was the pimp and the other hookers. Every cent went to her pimp, or he would kill her. Often beaten and raped, Tanya’s live was bad.

Many hookers can not leave because the pimps have their information on them. When they get them in “the family”, usually they will have a wallet. The pimps will look at it, and write down they info. So if the hooker turned them in to the police or run, they say “well, I know were you and your family are living and I’ll kill them.”
Many hookers need a pimp because people could abduct them or not give the money.

Tanya got rescued by the shared hope foundation and is doing well. Now finishing up school and helping other girls in same situation.

Society has a common misconception that hookers are dirty and deserve jail, when really they are victims. I know no one would want to do this.
This is one business that should be stopped NOW!

Bodhisattva Thích Quảng Đức

http://www.quangduc.com/BoTatQuangDuc/01selfimmolation.html

June 11, 1963, in Saigon, Vietnam, a Buddhist monk sets himself on fire (kind of suicide) and died. It wasn’t that he wanted to end he’s life, he was making a point; a peaceful protest. President Ngô Đình Diệm’s administration was tyrannizing the Buddhist religion. People watching were too horrified to even cry, smelling the burn human flesh. Is was a public suicide and did this in the middle of a busy intersection.
He didn’t hurt anyone but himself and sure made a point. It shows you don’t need to go to war or set off bombs to have yourself heard. You don’t need to set yourself on fire but you can make a difference by a peaceful non-violent way. Gandhi did it, so did Dr. Martin Luther King, and makes a huge positive difference. It’s not a weak way to prove your point; in fact it’s a very manly way to do it. You could get arrested and beaten when in peaceful protest. It’s the right way though it may be a harder way. Setting bombs and war is just ignorant, dumb and irrational thing to do. In fact it makes you more likable and people will most likely be on you side. Thích Quảng Đức is prove.
No one has been so courageous and passionate about what they are fighting for. Could you ever light yourself on fire to make a point? Setting yourself on fire is one of the most horrific ways to go. Thích Quảng Đức will be remembered and be missed.
There is also a famous picture from New York Times:
Courtesy of http://www.quangduc.com

Abusive bus driver

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=534319

On some buses they have been putting up cameras and in Ambridge, Pennsylvania here is what they found. A bus driver named William McCartney warns the kids that he will “gonna knock you down. I mean I'll knock you down". He threatens the kid twice, while slamming on the brakes hard and kids go flying. These were elementary children and one of them called the bus driver a name. Being a bus driver is a hard job for anyone. William was maybe having a bad day. I’m not defending the guy but he should not have done that. Kids should feel safe even while misbehaving. Hitting the kid does nothing. Do we really want to teach children violence is ok? Even if the bus driver was just treating them. Children don’t learn respect from being hit. Its fear. He was the adult and should have been the adult. The article never said anything about him knowing the camera was there or not but if he did then it is worse cause who knows what he would’ve done without a camera on.

Franken’s up 225 votes

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/37047159.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU

They have recounted all the votes from November’s race and Franken is in the lead of Colman by 225 votes. It’s been a shaky and we have all been biting our nails but Franken looks like he has won. It’s not official and will be announced by court on Monday. It is speculated that Colman will take this to court and argue it was fair. I don’t like that Colman is doing this. He is a baby but that’s just what my opinion. They didn’t do that in Gore/Bush race. The difference was sum in that race was 500 votes that made the variation. This really shows you that what a difference you make in the elections. How you could decide the next person in charge, witch is the way it should be. That even the smallest people make a huge difference. It makes you feel important and your voice is heard as it should. Everyone deserves to make a difference, but I’m getting really cheesy now. Anyways I just think that this election was exciting. Demonstrates democracy in action.

Mary’s sweet dreams

Mary Wollens of Toronto is arguably the luckiest women on earth. You’re blessed if you win one lottery but she won the lottery twice. Mary even says quote “I don’t really play the lottery, it’s an occasional thing.” witch in proving how lucky she is. In more fascinating, its how Mary got the numbers. BOTH times she dreamed of what numbers to pick, she just knew to buy a ticket. If that’s true or not it’s on her, but it’s an amazing story. According to the article, she is a kind of person deserving of money. In Mary’s younger days she worked on a farm with immigrate parents and after a family her daughter died, shortly after her husband’s death too. It’s a no wonder why Mary would have trouble sleeping. The numbers, 1, 10, 18, 24, 31 and 46 came to her in her second win. She got two-thirds of the lottery second time around (16 million dollars.) some says it’s crazy to buy two tickets; the odds of coarse are slim. Mary is reportedly not spending too much and staying down to earth.
This sort of story makes me think that maybe there’s some out there in the universe. I don’t know but it’s a remarkable story. And it’s nice to hear these kinds of happy stories.http://www.dailygrail.com/node/3716